Cat Sitter Among the Pigeons by Blaize Clement

Charlaine Harris' Lily Bard series featured a damaged character, a woman gang-raped who struggled to face life.  Blaize Clement's Dixie Hemingway is also a damaged character, only finding herself after five books in the series.  But, I'm afraid, in the sixth one, Cat Sitter Among the Pigeons, Dixie went off the deep end with her reckless actions.

Dixie Hemingway was a deputy with the Sarasota County Sheriff's Department in Florida until the tragic death of her husband and young daughter.  After an emotional break-down, she turned for refuge to the family home on Siesta Key, living next to her fireman brother and his partner, where she worked as a pet sitter.  Dixie poured most of her emotions into her relationship with animals, and it's a job with a cat that traps her.

Dixie's first day assisting a man with his cat, Cheddar, was interrupted when his granddaughter, Ruby, showed up with her baby in arms, wanting to stay there.  When she went to leave the house, Dixie was followed from the house, kidnapped, and then released when the kidnappers discovered they had Dixie, and not the younger, Ruby, who resembled her.  It seems Ruby was caught up in a real estate scheme, and the threatened people would do anything to keep her from testifying.  Dixie wanted to help, but when the baby was kidnapped, she insisted on involving herself.

I had a problem with Dixie's personality in this book, and one major decision can't even be discussed without spoiling the book.  But, I did find Dixie's immersion in this kidnapping case to be out-of-character.  Maybe it isn't out-of-character for the woman she has become following her daughter's death, but it certainly is reckless behavior considering her former career as a deputy.  Within a few days of meeting Ruby's baby, she ignores all reasonable behavior.  I can't really discuss it more, but I'd like to hear your opinion once you've read the book.  My sister emailed me before I read this, so I moved it up on my TBR pile.  Once I finished, we had a lengthy discussion about Dixie's personality, and her decisions.  Despite our sorrow over a major decision, we understood.  But, I'm still convinced a former deputy wouldn't have acted as recklessly as Dixie did in the course of the kidnapping case. 

I love the cover of Blaize Clement's Cat Sitter Among the Pigeons.  And, as a former Florida resident, familiar with Dixie's home county, I've always enjoyed the descriptions of the setting.  But, I think I'm giving up on Dixie as a character.  I just can't trust her behavior anymore.

Blaize Clement's website is http://www.blaizeclement.com/

Cat Sitter Among the Pigeons by Blaize Clement. St. Martin's, ©2011. ISBN 9780312643126 (hardcover), 272p.

*****
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