Curiosity Killed the Cat Sitter

Dixie Hemingway Mysteries, Book 1

By: Blaize Clement

Narrated by: Julia Gibson

Length: 9 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

Dixie Hemingway is a pet sitter for some of Florida's most pampered pets. But when she happens upon a man drowned in a cat's water bowl, Dixie's sleuthing powers from her time as a deputy sheriff return full-force. And as more bodies keep turning up, she'd better find out whodunit.

©2006 Blaize Clement (P)2007 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

"Dixie is a complex, well-conceived character and the plot fast-moving and believable." ( Kirkus Reviews)

Excellent story

Julia Gibson is perfect as Dixie Hemingway. She doesn't let you down if you have read the book before and formed a picture in your mind as to how Dixie would sound. Blaize Clement is an outstanding author. These books have deep characters with many layers to them. You come to care about these people and what happens to them. I'm in love with this series.

Great read!

I wasent sure about this book, not my normal cozy mystery. But it's a really nice change. I thought I was into the series more then book one, because she wasent talking about her past. But it is. That was nice too though, normally a lot of time is wasted on the story of there past and how they got to where they our now. I like it!
The narrator is very good to, that can be very important in an audio book.

Thoroughly enjoyed this listen - I'm hooked!

What did you love best about Curiosity Killed the Cat Sitter?

It was unexpected.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Surprising turns and reveals.

Have you listened to any of Julia Gibson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Nope, but I will listen to more now.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Any additional comments?

Enjoyed it!

I loved the reader. I look forward to listening to more books in the series.

Cat Sitter Surprise

Would you consider the audio edition of Curiosity Killed the Cat Sitter to be better than the print version?

Yes, the audio is very nice.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Curiosity Killed the Cat Sitter?

Every new encounter Dixie has is memorable because she has such a different way of bonding with people - or not.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

All the moments with Dixie interacting with her animal clients are moving. She shows such sensitivity to their needs.

Any additional comments?

This is a rare change from your usual "character turn sleuth" story. Dixie comes with a skill for "detecting" and knows what she's doing. The baggage she carries around seems just a bit heavy, however.

Cats and Killers!

If you could sum up Curiosity Killed the Cat Sitter in three words, what would they be?

Enjoyable "chick" mystery.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

The plot was relatively predictable but the story kept up a decent pace. I wasn't suprised by the ending but enjoyed the "ride".

What aspect of Julia Gibson’s performance would you have changed?

There were times when the narration was too fast, especially when one chapter ended and another began. The words ran together and it was irritating at times. It isn't enough to keep me from listening to other books by this narrator.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I thought by the title that there might be some humor in the book, but that wasn't the case. If you are looking for a lighthearted murder mystery, this really isn't it. There were parts of the book that were very sad, but not enough to evoke tears.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed the story and will listen to other books by this author and narrator. If you like mysteries and animals you will like this book.

Delightful listen!

Where does Curiosity Killed the Cat Sitter rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I've listened to hundreds of audiobooks. I listen to my favorites again and sometimes again. To me it's like listening to music. We don't just listen to songs once and say, "Oh, I've heard that before." I listen to good audiobooks more than once and repeat good videos. On the scale of 1 - 10 of audiobooks I listen to again, I'd rank Curiosity Killed the Catsitter as a 9. The story was creative and both funny and poignant. The narration was excellent. The pet parts really added to the interest.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

I had a little trouble hitting that pause button. Throughout, there was just enough information given that I always had an idea of where it was going next. I was surprised some, but that's great, because anticipation is an enjoyably involving aspect.

What does Julia Gibson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Julia Gibson has one of those voices that make me feel very comfortable. The inflection in her reading is very natural. When she is frightened, she sounds frightened and the speed and intensity of reading speeds up. Her different voices sound like different people, and natural rather than affected. When she reads, I almost feel like she is right there in the room with me telling me the story.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes. In fact I was glad that I was in a position to finish it in one weekend, which I did. I carried my iPhone around with me as I did other things and just kept this going.

Any additional comments?

I am a voracious reader. I love the written/spoken word. Fiction or non-fiction, reading is always my "downtime" activity." I've been in a shift toward audio over the past 10 years. I loved being read to as a child. I now find that listening to a really good narrator read me a story is a very comforting experience--whether the book is a romantic comedy, a mystery, or a thriller. I get lost in the story that I'm listening to. This one was a pleasure indeed. Can't wait to listen to Duplicity Dogged the Dachshund!

A good mystery with great characters

Any additional comments?

We listened as a family and really enjoyed the story. The plot was engaging and the ending wasn't obvious. I would say if listening as a group 12+ is best for mature themes. It was disappointing to discover that other works by the author wouldn't be available.

I learned so many things about MY cat

Not only did I get a great mystery in this book - it also gave me a few tricks that my cat my cat enjoyed.

The characters in this book were fun, the story line interested me to the end and though I saw some parts of the ending coming - many I didn't.

What a fun read!!!

Fun Cozy Mystery

Any additional comments?

I loved how this mystery took place in Sarasota, Florida. This is a fast paced easy to follow mystery. Kept me guessing until the end.