Book Review: The Cat and the Jack of Spades

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Cat and the Jack of Spades     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Carole Nelson Douglas
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Cats
Series: Midnight Louie # 4
Five Star, Nov 2000

In Vegas, for the fourth straight night, the “tourist” appeared playing nickel slots near Solitaire Smith, who represents the house at the baccarat tables. Every time he looks at the woman, she seems to know and gazes back with a longing that leaves Solitaire uncomfortable.

Like her friends, Kansas banker Gayle Tyson has come to Vegas for relaxation and perhaps a man or two. However, she has set her eyes on the baccarat referee, who seems more likely will ignore her. Gayle and Solitaire finally meet and share an intimate night of sex. She returns to her room filled with doubts and guilt only to be accosted by thugs demanding Solitaire’s location. She escapes and the adventure of a lifetime continues as goons seek the banker and the card shark.

THE CAT AND THE JACK OF SPADES is a “revised” reprint of the fourth Midnight Louie adventure. The story line still contains all the magic that made this and the other novels in the original quartet and the follow-on books so much fun to read. However, this time the book is more complete as the full story as written by Carole Nelson Douglas and not the edited somewhat crammed tale released a decade ago is finally here. Louie is a minor player narrating parts of the tale, but foretells his future stardom. Fans of the series will enjoy this “retelling” of the original stories.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner