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Desert Cat is the first novel in Garrison Allen's Penelope Warren series, in which a former Marine sergeant runs a mystery bookstore in a small Arizona desert town accompanied by an Abyssinian cat named Mycroft. The setup is irresistible to the cozy reader: ex-military protagonist, cat-genre furniture, Western desert setting that gives the books a slightly tougher feel than the cozies of New England.
Allen's strengths are the desert atmosphere and the bookstore patrons. The case here, the murder of a wealthy local widow during a dog show, is competently handled, with motive and clue distributed fairly. Penelope is a more believable narrator than the cat-cozy genre usually delivers, which makes Mycroft's appearances feel less performatively cute.
Three stars. A solid genre entry that does what its fans want. The series stays consistent across its short run.
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If you liked Desert Cat
Royal Cat
by Garrison Allen
The second Penelope Warren cat cozy. A Renaissance Faire, a death, and Mycroft the Abyssinian still attending royally.
Stable Cat
by Garrison Allen
The third Penelope Warren cat cozy. Garrison Allen takes Penelope and Mycroft to a horse-racing track. Reliable cozy comfort.
Baseball Cat
by Garrison Allen
The fourth Penelope Warren cat cozy. Garrison Allen putting his Marine bookstore owner at a desert spring training camp. Reliable cozy comfort.
Movie Cat
by Garrison Allen
The sixth Penelope Warren cat cozy. Garrison Allen takes Penelope and Mycroft to a Hollywood film shoot in the desert. Series in late-comfortable form.
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