Ah, mention of Ghost and legacy. I love continuity between series novels. ( )

A great plot, although the twist at the end was a dead giveaway to me from the beginning. The murderer completely escaped me however and the story line was intriguing. Not my favourite in the series because the author messes with some of the main characters in ways I am not a fan of. Still, I grew up on Siesta Key and reading one of these books is like being home, so I'll always be a fan of the series. ( )

"Fresh Meat" by Terrie Farley Moran for Criminal Element

I met Blaize Clement in 2006, a little more than a year after her first book in the Dixie Hemingway series, Curiosity Killed the Cat Sitter, was published. She was a presenter on a panel for new writers. I was a new writer and very impressed with her advice. In a kind yet firm voice Blaize emphatically told us to believe in the importance of our work and to protect the integrity of what we write. I had only to read a few chapters of her first book to recognize that she practiced what she preached. Her writing is crisp and clear, with shades of gritty darkness brightened by straight forward humor and the always delightful animals Dixie hangs out with in the course of each book.

The Cat Sitter’s Pajamas is the soon-to-be-released seventh book in the series. Always upfront in her conversations with the reader, Dixie describes the resort atmosphere around Sarasota which includes her home on the barrier island, Siesta Key.

(Read the rest at http://www.criminalelement.com/blogs/2011/12/fresh-meat-blaize-clements-the-cat-... )

I have read all others in this series and this one was a little disappointing--no Guidry (well hardly) and very little of an animal "costar." The plot was also a little thin--hope this is not a sign of things to come. ( )

Dixie is taking care of the Tampa Buc's Cupcake Trillen's two cats. When she stops there one morning, she finds a nearly-naked model, Briana, inside the house. Stepping outside, Dixie calls the police. By the time the police arrive, Briana has vanished, but now there is a dead woman lying on the floor. The police remain mum over the next few day's about the deceased's identity. Dixie convinces Briana to surrender to them, but she is released from custody after a brief stay in jail. Of course, Dixie remains involved in the case whether she wants to or not. Things get pretty dicey at the end of the book although the ending is not totally surprising if one has picked up on clues dropped throughout the book. A good read, as well as a somewhat sad one, as this was Clement's last book before she died in 7/11. Her son John Clement is supposed to continue the series, and it will be interesting to see where he takes Dixie. ( )