The First of Nine: The Case of the Clementhorpe Killer (1) (The York Cat Crime Mysteries) - Softcover

"Brilliant! Compulsive reading! A murder on one's back doorstep! Theodore the cat, whose musings are very human and observant, engenders much empathy. Not all the humans in this novel are quite so endearing! A story with a moral or two. Full of humour." Claire I. "I enjoyed reading this. I love York and cats, and mysteries. The device of having a cat leading the reader through the story worked really well, love the humour as well." Mrs H. "The First of Nine is more than a shaggy cat story. It's pre-Brexit Britain in a nutshell, or a back alley in York to be more accurate - and seen through the eyes of a cat... I'm never going to look at my own cat in the same light again." Mr. W Wolfe. "The idea of cat as detective is not new: Lilian Jackson Braun and Shirley Rousseau Murphy are two who spring to mind. Theodore has several hard acts to follow, and, to be fair, he does quite well. He certainly behaves like a cat... he gets full marks for grit, determination, and intelligence - it's a pity several of his two-legged (unfeathered) neighbours aren't up to his standards..." Annie W. "I was expecting a cute fluffy cat story. Instead I was presented with a tale of murder, sex and drugs, all seen through the eyes of an intelligent feline sleuth. Did not disappoint. Highly recommended." Ms Milne.

In the outbuilding of a terraced house in Clementhorpe, York, the body of pigeon-fancier Peter Morris lies waiting to be discovered. In the grey light of dawn a large grey fluffy cat enters the yard - just because the gate has been left open. The cat is called Theodore. 

Theodore looks at the dead body with the same interest he would a dead moth. Murder, he thinks, and goes to alert his owner Emily. Within the hour Theodore is accused by the newly-widowed Wendy of eating one of Peter’s pigeons. He resolves to clear his name and unmask the Clementhorpe Killer.

Suspects include Wendy; Craig Foster – a red-haired loner; Ahmet and Zeynep – the Turkish couple up the street; artist Michael and his boyfriend Philip; divorcee Diane, and then there’s Emily’s new boyfriend Jonathan.

The First of Nine is Theodore’s first foray into crime investigation. It is a cat’s take on the murder mystery novel.  It is the first of his nine lives.