Clea Simon is quite deft at weaving her tale - lots of side streams to confuse and mislead; a bit of romance with Theda's long-time lover, injured police officer Bill; and strange goings-on with her large group of friends. Ms. Simon is obviously a serious cat lover and her character's relationship with her cat seems much like that of a parent and child.

There is interesting information subtly woven into the story as well, the case for the care and neutering of feral cats, and lots of fascinating tidbits about jazz, rock and roll, and the club-band scene. The dénouement is ingenious and somewhat unexpected, so that the reader has a definite "ah-ha" moment. Although care needs to be taken while reading so you don't get sidetracked with the red herrings, it is a delightful read, with delightful and well-sketched characters. Its December release makes it the perfect read for a cold winter's night.