No Cooperation from the Cat

At the outset of Babson’s lively eighth mystery featuring aging London actresses Evangeline Sinclair and Trixie Dolan (after 2003’s The Cat Who Wasn’t a Dog), Trixie’s daughter, Martha, and Martha’s book editor, Jocasta, are busy testing recipes for a new cookbook in Evangeline and Trixie’s kitchen when an unexpected guest arrives at the actresses’ apartment. Banquo Fitzfothergill, who’s “just returned from a solo mission to the North Pole to monitor the retreating glaciers,” demands to see his “beautiful bride,” Melisande, who he believes is the one putting together the new cookbook. Alas, Melisande dropped dead after giving a cooking demonstration while Banquo was away, and Jocasta, afraid to tell Banquo the bad news, hides until he departs. Meanwhile, Martha is annoyed to learn that she was the second choice to edit the cookbook. Fans of frothy, dialogue-heavy British cozies will be in heaven right up to the madcap climax. Agent: Dominick Abel, Dominick Abel Literary Agency. (Mar.)