THE COLORFUL MIDNIGHT LOUIE ALPHABET SAGA CONCLUDES…
Follow the clues from the Cat in an Alphabet Soup foundation novel through a colorful kaleidoscope of crimes as the bestselling cat mystery series goes from A to Z to the final book of the alphabet series Cat in a Alphabet Endgame
LONG AWAITED! In the twenty-eighth and last Midnight Louie alphabet mystery, New York Times Notable Book of the Year author Carole Nelson Douglas’s cast of four human crime solvers, plus feline PI Midnight Louie, must not only stop a massive Las Vegas conspiracy involving international terrorism, but Midnight Louie’s roommate, PR powerhouse Temple Barr, is on the brink of marriage. Will syndicated radio counselor and ex-priest Matt Devine’s inside track lose out to the return of that wily dark horse, magician Max Kinsella? The suspense is killing somebody.
Meanwhile, a Strip-wide resurgence of the long-vanquished Las Vegas mob could have Temple in search of an undertaker rather than a Justice of the Peace. Luckily, Midnight Louie and the Las Vegas Cat Pack are planning their finest moments to bring down the baddies. But no one can help Temple find which direction her wayward heart must go. Fans of foul play, feisty female detectives, and feline forensics will find Cat in an Alphabet Endgame the perfect cat treat.
DEAR READERS: Since Midnight Louie’s mystery adventures began in 1992, the series is a retro-modern saga that portrays twenty-five years of amazing Las Vegas Strip reinvention from then to today. Yet the story only covers a couple of years in the lives of the four human characters: two women, two men; two pro and two amateur detectives. It’s like the old movies that filmed a foreground couple walking on a treadmill against a constantly changing background. You will watch the Las Vegas Strip, technology and detection methods evolve as the characters veer from allies to antagonists to…romantic quadrangle anyone? And even the irreverent rascal, Midnight Louie, will become politically correct in one key department.
As Louie says, “Any surprising developments do not surprise me. Everything is always up for grabs in Las Vegas 24/7…guilt, innocence, money, power, love, loss, death, and significant others. Like Las Vegas, The City That Never Sleeps, Midnight Louie, private eye, also has a sobriquet: The Kitty That Never Sleeps. With this crew, who could?”
For more on the series, subscribe to Midnight Louie’s Scratching Post-Intelligencer newsletter. Louie would love reviews and good ratings on online book sites if you want to lend him a hand.
Praise for the Midnight Louie series
“Move over, Koko and Yum Yum (and Sneaky Pie too): Midnight Louie’s back, prowling the sin-soaked streets of Las Vegas once again.”
—The Purloined Letter
“Everything you might want in a mystery; glitzy Las Vegas, real characters, suspense, a tough puzzle…a fine sense of humor and some illuminating social commentary.”
—The Prime Suspect
“a finale that’ll run you within a whisker of your ninth life.” —Kirkus Reviews
And Praise from a Famous Feline:
“MIDNIGHT LOUIE IS ONE HEAVY DUDE. Gourmand, ladies’ man and world-class dog-baiter, this feline detective attacks crime tooth and nail. But if he lays a paw on my lasagna, he’ll tangle with a real heavyweight.”
—Garfield the cat, as told to Jim Davis
CAT IN AN
ALPHABET ENDGAME
THE TWENTY-EIGHTH
MIDNIGHT LOUIE MYSTERY
by
CAROLE NELSON DOUGLAS
A Wishlist Book
This book and series are dedicated to all our wonderful and loyal readers and their feline friends who’ve joined Midnight Louie and me on this incredible journey
Acknowledgements
We’ve loved and kept your cards and letters and now emails, and appreciate the thousands of stamps you’ve sent to help snail-mail the annual newsletter, and those of you who’ve bought the books and T-shirts. We’re amazed you always say you know how busy we are. How do you know? We try not to whine, because we are so privileged to be doing what we’re doing. Yes, a writing career is 12/7. I’m often surprised it’s a national holiday. I’m always wishing I could answer you more, but deadlines never die! Those of you I’ve been in contact with have been delightful and so inspiring and understanding.
Writing a series as long as this, over 25 years, means we’ve written more than three million words in this series alone. We started out sure we’d remember everything that had been done, and somewhere along the way realized we were not human computers. Books are proofread and edited many times, but errors still slip through because most of us read what we expect to see. Some imperfections can’t be fixed right now, because control of the books are in other hands. There are dozens of people (and cats) to thank, but two brave readers have volunteered to read the entire series over for errors and typos, and they deserve our heartfelt thanks for helping make us as perfect as we can be for ourselves and our readers.
They are the indefatigable Ken Green and Denise Thompson.
Indefatigable is a funny-sounding word for tireless, determined, and dedicated.
Another long-distance runner for 21 years in supporting Midnight Louie’s saga is my former student assistant, now an author on her own as Diane Castle, Jennifer Null.
These folks are beyond generous and have our whole-hearted gratitude, as do all of you.
Carole Nelson Douglas & Midnight Louie, Esq.
Table of Contents
Dear Readers
CAT IN AN ALPHABET ENDGAME
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Previously in Midnight Louie’s Lives and Times…
Chapter 1 ~ Five-Alarm Fire Power
Chapter 2 ~ Three-Cat Night
Chapter 3 ~ Midnight Stalkers
Chapter 4 ~ Home Evasions
Chapter 5 ~ The Wrong Arm of the Law
Chapter 6 ~ Midnight Prowler
Chapter 7 ~ Being Frank
Chapter 8 ~ Ring Around the Ritz
Chapter 9 ~ Serpentine Schemes
Chapter 10 ~ The Tony Awards
Chapter 11 ~ The Mysteries of Molina
Chapter 12 ~ Strapless in Sin City
Chapter 13 ~ Mother Confessor
Chapter 14 ~ The Skype Hype
Chapter 15 ~ Dumped by a Diva
Chapter 16 ~ Bless Us, Father
Chapter 17 ~ Holy Cats
Chapter 18 ~ Bloody Mary Morning
Chapter 19 ~ Don of the Dead
Chapter 20 ~ Intervention Convention
Chapter 21 ~ Midnight Louie’s Dream Wedding