Reviews
Five Questions with Shawn Cosby
I first heard of Shawn Cosby when he won an Anthony for his short story "The Grass Beneath My Feet," at last year's Bouchercon. I mean, the first line alone slayed me: "Anyone who tell you that they don’t mind going to jail is a goddamned liar." That led me to his...
“Gentle humor permeates this novel…”
"Clea Simon stays very true to cat psychology throughout these books despite their fantastic premise. In fact, a large part of the series’ charm comes from the cats and their idiosyncratic view of Becca’s doings. Humans are portrayed with no less affection: it’s...
Five Questions with Jeannnette de Beauvoir
Provincetown, on the very tip of Cape Cod, is a magical place. Part summer resort, part arts colony, this diverse and very LGBTQIA+ friendly village still shows its roots in the Portuguese- American fishing community too. And while I'm one of the thousands who fill...
How Clara came to be a calico…
Clara was supposed to be a tortoiseshell. Although, Clara – the heart, if not exactly the heroine – of my new cozy cat mystery An Incantation of Cats is now a calico, she was a tortie through at least two drafts of A Spell of Murder, the first book...
It’s “Incantation” Day!
An Incantation of Cats is out today! So thrilled – and I hope you will celebrate with me. "Simon expertly casts suspicion on one member of her tiny human cast after another ... for readers who want all cats, all the time." – Kirkus Reviews "Cat lovers, even if not...
Five Questions with Clea Simon
After grilling dozens of authors, it's only fair I answer my own questions, right? And with my new An Incantation of Cats (Polis Books) out tomorrow, now is as good a time as any. This is the second in my "Witch Cats of Cambridge" cozy series, so expect the return of...
Booklist “enchanted” by INCANTATION
"Cat lovers, even if not fans of the paranormal, will be enchanted," says Booklist about AN INCANTATION OF CATS. I am overjoyed! Full review as follows: Advanced Review – Uncorrected Proof Issue: December 15, 2019 An Incantation of Cats. By Clea Simon Jan. 2020. 288p....
Don’t kill the cat!
Ever! Of course, you know that. But I shared other tips for writing mysteries with animal characters earlier this week over at the wonderful Career Authors blog. Don’t Kill the Cat! And Other Secrets to Writing about Animals Posted by Our Special...
“I could not put the book down…”
Review of An Incantation of Cats posted today on the MWA Raven Award-winning book blog Dru's Book Musings: "This was an enjoyable, fast-paced and well-written drama that quickly became a page-turner, as I could not put the book down. The heart of this story is told...
Five Questions with Triss Stein
Triss Stein and I have been colleagues for years, via Poisoned Pen Press, and I've always enjoyed seeing her at conferences such as Bouchercon. Although I'm no longer a New Yorker, I'm still referring to her hometown when I say "the City," and I love hearing about her...