Industry Reviews
THE NINTH LIFE is a tour through a criminal wilderness of alleys and gutters, guided by a hunter as canny and fierce as they come. While Care is a smart, tough, and vulnerable young protagonist, narrator Blackie steals the limelight, showing us these dark places through his sharp feline eyes. A good noir tale will reveal a shadowy existence that parallels our own; Clea Simon goes many steps beyond, creating a terrific story that draws us in and makes us relate to a narrator whose life is a world away from our own -- Dana Cameron; multiple Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity award winner "Forget everything you think you know about 'cat mysteries.' THE NINTH LIFE is a dark and gritty story of life on the streets, told from the unique point of view of a narrator who sees things humans can't. Clea Simon has given us a window into a world of constant and surprising dangers, frustrations and almost unbearable tension, and it's one I won't soon forget." -- Joseph Finder, New York Times bestselling author of The Fixer and Suspicion "A tour de force of point of view--the talented Clea Simon flawlessly portrays a main character the likes of which we'e never encountered! With skill and style and profound understanding, she entertains readers with an exciting, compelling, and utterly unique adventure." -- Hank Phillippi Ryan - Agatha, Anthony and Mary Higgins Clark Award winning author "The Ninth Life is one of Clea Simon's best novels yet, showcasing her talent for creating vibrant characters both human and animal and for developing an unforgettable story. Her books have pioneered a new genre of animal mystery - pet noir. If you love animals and mysteries, you should never pass up the opportunity to read Clea Simon's novels." -- S. Sasse, reviewer "Noir fans who are fond of felines will find a lot to like." -- Publishers Weekly "If Sherlock Holmes were a cat, this is the sort of cat he would be." -- Jeanne, Bristol Public Library "Clea Simon has twisted my brain with this book. I have been taken to the dark, damp underbelly of a drug infested, money greedy, mob-like world. My tour-guide, a cat. Normally, this would sound silly to me, but Blackie is amazing. Anyone else telling the story would be all wrong. We would know nothing like we know had she written in a different narrator. My mind is blown by this angle and I love it. Brilliant Clea, just brilliant." -- S Booth, reviewer "Clea Simon has clearly spent some time considering what it's like to be a cat. Blackie (and Care, ultimately) moves through the city as both hunter and prey, vulnerable and dangerous at the same time, depending on who the foe is." -- S Andrews, reviewer "I loved the writing perspective of this new series. I can't imagine the creativity of Clea Simon. She is amazing... Never thought that I would be reading a cozy/thriller strictly narrated by a feline. BRILLIANT!" -- P Marks, reviewer "The Ninth Life is one of Clea Simon's best novels yet, showcasing her talent for creating vibrant characters both human and animal and for developing an unforgettable story. Her books have pioneered a new genre of animal mystery - pet noir. If you love animals and mysteries, you should never pass up the opportunity to read Clea Simon's novels." -- Crittermom - muttcafe.com "We found The Ninth Life to be true edge-of-your-seat reading. The story is stark, as is the setting, yet Simon dots it all with moments of insight and small beauties that offer hope. We're left feeling that as long as Care and Blackie have each other, they'll somehow be okay. This story isn't cute and cuddly, but oh, is it good! Highly recommended!" -- Miss C - The Cuddlywumps Cat Chronicles "A delight for anyone who relishes cat mysteries" Library Journal "The Ninth Life is a unique mystery and I am definitely curious to see where the Clea Simon goes with the characters next." -- Wendy R, reviewer
