Cattery Row    by Clea Simon Order:  USA  Can Poisoned Pen, 2006 (2006) Hardcover     Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth Freelance writer Theda Krakow has hit bad times. Not much work is being channeled her way and bills need to be paid. Her cat Musetta is not much help. Nor is Theda's wavering between the affections of two suitors. Theda is caught up in the music scene in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and would prefer her writing to reflect that. But beggars can't be choosers and she takes what comes her way. What she hadn't wanted to come her way was the murder of a friend. Somehow the murder seems to be tied up in a scheme to extort money from cat breeders. Pay up or your cats die! Clea Simon is knowledgeable about the world of cats - she is the author of The Feline Mystique: On the Mysterious Connection Between Women and Cats. Cattery Row is the second in the Theda Krakow series. Theda is delightful. An everyday person, she can recognize her own flaws as well as those of others. She's a little harder on her own than that of her friends. Theda is a strong and loyal friend. Most of the action takes place offstage although the climax is scary. I learned a lot about cats. Don't know what I can do with that knowledge, but it's interesting, and obvious that Theda and her creator are soft on the feline world. Cattery Row is good beach reading. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews