The Unscratchables
Cornelius Kane, . . Scribner, $14 (259pp) ISBN 978-1-4165-9641-7
Det. Max “Crusher” McNash, a fearless bull terrier in the slaughter unit of the San Bernardo police dog force, must overcome his distrust of special agent Cassius Lap, a very Zen Siamese of the FBI (Feline Bureau of Investigation), in their pursuit of a serial killer cat targeting dogs in this off-the-leash hard-boiled satire from the pseudonymous Kane. The fur begins flying when two rottweilers are torn apart. Later victims include a retriever attending a museum shindig, movie star Jack Russell Crowe and a newshound. Crusher and Cassius deal with gangsta hounds as well as visit Kathattan, an island where dogs are unwelcome, and Cattica Correctional Facility, where convicted murderer Quentin Riossiti, a debonair psycho cat, offers his help for a price. Billed as “a well-known Australian author,” Kane offers plenty of tongue-in-muzzle insights into bestial behavior, political chicanery and assorted foxy topics.
Reviewed on: 04/27/2009
Genre: Fiction
Hardcover - 373 pages - 978-1-4104-1860-9
Open Ebook - 224 pages - 978-1-4391-0966-3