Cat Out of Hell - Hardcover

Truss, Lynne

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1612194427 ISBN 13: 9781612194424

Publisher: Melville House Publishing, 2015

Synopsis

Acclaimed "New York Times" bestselling author Lynne Truss ("Eats, Shoots & Leaves") is back with a mesmerizing and hilarious tale of cats and murder For people who both love and hate cats comes the tale of Alec Charlesworth, a librarian who finds himself suddenly alone: he s lost his job, his beloved wife has just died. Overcome by grief, he searches for clues about her disappearance in a file of interviews between a man called "Wiggy" and a cat, Roger. Who speaks to him. It takes a while for Alec to realize he s not gone mad from grief, that the cat is actually speaking to Wiggy . . .and that much of what we fear about cats is true. They do think they re smarter than humans, for one thing. And, well, it seems they are! What s more, they do have nine lives. Or at least this one does Roger s older than Methuselah, and his unblinking stare comes from the fact that he s seen it all. And he s got a tale to tell, a tale of shocking local history and dark forces that may link not only the death of Alec s wife, but also several other local deaths. But will the cat help Alec, or is he one of the dark forces? In the deft and comedic hands of mega-bestseller Lynne Truss, the story is as entertaining as it is addictive ("The Sunday Telegraph") an increasingly suspenseful and often hysterically funny adventure that will please cat lovers and haters alike. And afterwards, as one critic noted, You may never look at a cat in quite the same way again ("The Daily Mail")."

About this title

Review:

"One cat at the hole can keep in one thousand mice - this cat can keep in New York City! Hell's-a-poppin'." --Rita Mae Brown, bestselling author of the Sneaky Pie mystery series
"A masterpiece of comic writing . . . a novel as entertaining as it is addictive."--"Sunday Telegraph"
"One of those rare books that actually makes the reader laugh out loud . . . Impossible not to read in one sitting."--"Sunday Times"
"An incredible tale...You may never look at a cat in quite the same way again."--"Daily Mail"
"A wonderful tale full of parodies, pastiches and paradoxes. Pure joy."--"Telegraph"
"It is good fun and the perfect lesson in how to use the power of punctuation to your advantage."--"Evening Standard"
"Truss brings an eerie, 19th-century kind of horror into the present-day world."--"Guardian"
"Tremendous fun."--"SciFi Now"
"This wickedly funny murder mystery will be enjoyed by cat lovers. But cat haters will enjoy it even more, finding that it confirms all their suspicions about cats." --Elizabeth Lumpkins, Creek Valley Middle School Librarian
"Cat Out of Hell by Lynne Truss is a strange, funny, scary story of unusual cats full of black humor and interesting characters. I loved it!" --Barbara Thompson, Children's and Young Adult Librarian, Rum River Branch, Anoka County Library System
"In her first foray into fiction, punctuation expert Lynne Truss brings us an absurd, completely horrifying novel about the evil inner lives of cats. I'd forgotten how subversively funny Truss can be, but her nonfiction books were both informative and hysterical. This novel sneaks up on you with the laughs ... and the cold heebie jeebies. A man on a grief sabbatical gets bored and begins reading a document emailed to him by a former colleague. What starts out fantastical and unbelievable begins slowly to make more and more sense until you're scared of your own housecat and can't put the damn book down. It's a gothic horror premise: Let me tell you my tale of death and immortality. But it's told in a more contemporary manner, in a shifting variety of forms: sometimes it's straight narrative, other times it's transcripts of oral recordings, descriptions of images, email correspondence and more. I love horror, and I have a cat. That said, I had to put this down for a bit in the middle because I made it half-way through after dark and I got the creeps. I finally got up the guts to finish, and I loved it--but I'm still giving my cat the side-eye treatment. --Trisha Frankland, Lodi Public Library
"In Cat Out of Hell, Lynne Truss explores the 'cats have nine lives' adage with tremendous imagination and cleverness. Retired widower Alec sequesters himself in a seaside cottage to grieve for his beloved late wife, Mary, and there he opens some documents one of Mary's old colleagues sent him for an unknown reason. Though the reason remains murky for some time, the story the documents tell is an absorbing one, involving a kindhearted but hapless man and an evil (or is he?) talking cat called Roger who is 'one in a million.' Sherlock Holmes fans will be delighted; cat lovers might look askance at their pets. But as Roger says, "Once someone has shown you a convincingly different way of looking at the world, it's hard to remember how you saw it before." --Jenny Arch, Adult Services Librarian at Robbins Library, Arlington MA

"I couldn't put down Cat Out of Hell once I started to read it. Cats don't live nine lives. They survive eight deaths. There's something special about Roger, the cat, and it's not that he can talk. Lynne Truss spins readers through a hauntingly portentous tale. When my cat's tail thrums, I'll forever wonder what devilment will follow. " --Ann Lemke Williams, Collection Coordinator, Tippecanoe County Public Library, Lafayette IN

"Meow, what a story! As I have recently acquired a cat I am looking at her very suspiciously. This is a fun, quick, quirky, & evil read. The retired librarian Alec goes to the coast, and finds the tale (or is it tail), about Roger a talking cat, a satanic cult, and Captain. This had lots of oddities in the story, but it was so fun and fascinating. Can cats talk? Can they murder? Can they...." --Dawn Cronk, Meridian Library District, Meridian ID
"This is not your average quirky novel. Truss keeps the reader guessing and laughing the entire time." --Kristin Whitehair, Johnson County Library in Overland Park, KS
"With a unique format that manages to lend credibility to the story, Lynne Truss leads you through a fun, yet chilling romp that will leave you looking at your cat askance. While set in modern times, the language is reminiscent of Edgar Allan Poe or Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and it gives the story a gothic twist with moments that turn your spine to ice water. I would recommend this novel to lovers of mysteries, occult and gothic literature, and those who might enjoy a small moment terror when they hear their cat meowing at the door." --Mandie Roberts, Library Director, Spencer Public Library, Spencer, Iowa
"Devil worship, immortality, and evil talking cats...What more could one need? And at last the true meaning behind a cat's nine lives!" --Lisa Annas, Caldwell County Public Library
"Cat Out of Hell quickly captivates and charms the reader with its fun and cleverness. Whether you hate or love cats, you'll be convinced that Lynne Truss truly understands the feline persona. Perfect for that rainy afternoon." --Donna McEachern, Cobb County Public Library
"Frightening, amusing and wry by turns, Cat out of Hell is not a book to read with a feline on your lap. And if you're not a librarian, you may never look at one in quite the same way. (If you are, there may be uncomfortable moments of recognition.) A fast-paced read alternating between light and dark, leaving you in the end with decided ambiguity about the advantage of a cat's nine lives." --Sarah G. Wenzel, University of Chicago Library

"A potent and darkly humorous tale... Cat lovers (or cat haters) and fans of gothic fiction will devour this creepy, paranoia-inducing morsel."
--"Publishers Weekly"
"An unusual mystery for cat lovers and haters alike... A fun format for an equally entertaining quick read."
--"Library Journal"
"Punctuation czar Truss...turns her very special talents to a cat mystery with a twist."
--"Kirkus Reviews"
"A nimble mix of horror, Gothic mystery and dark comedy that will delight fans of authors like Neil Gaiman and Susanna Clarke... "Cat Out of Hell" is a brisk, clever, darkly hilarious book that begs to be read in one gut-busting sitting."
--"BookPage"
"One cat at the hole can keep in one thousand mice - this cat can keep in New York City! Hell's-a-poppin'."
--Rita Mae Brown, bestselling author of the "Sneaky Pie" mystery series
"A masterpiece of comic writing... A novel as entertaining as it is addictive."
--"Sunday Telegraph" (UK)
"One of those rare books that actually makes the reader laugh out loud... Impossible not to read in one sitting."
--"Sunday Times" (UK)
"An incredible tale...You may never look at a cat in quite the same way again."
--"Daily Mail" (UK)
"A wonderful tale full of parodies, pastiches and paradoxes. Pure joy."
--"The Telegraph" (UK)
"It is good fun and the perfect lesson in how to use the power of punctuation to your advantage."
--"Evening Standard" (UK)
"Truss brings an eerie, 19th-century kind of horror into the present-day world."
--"The Guardian" (UK)
"Tremendous fun."
--"SciFi Now"

"The creepy scenes are all sandpaper-tongue-in-cheek, but there's something genuinely spooky about realizing that the purring is coming from inside the house!... If jokes about acerbic pets, library carrels and funerary archaeology are catnip to you, then by all means curl up next to the fire with this diverting comedy."
--"Washington Post"
An "io9" Science Fiction And Fantasy Book You Can't Afford To Miss
"It's no surprise that when "Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation" author Truss writes a novel about a talking tabby named Roger, his syntax is simply flawless."
--"New York Post," Must-Read Books

"A potent and darkly humorous tale... Cat lovers (or cat haters) and fans of gothic fiction will devour this creepy, paranoia-inducing morsel."
--"Publishers Weekly"

"An unusual mystery for cat lovers and haters alike... A fun format for an equally entertaining quick read."
--"Library Journal"
"Punctuation czar Truss...turns her very special talents to a cat mystery with a twist."
--"Kirkus Reviews"
"A nimble mix of horror, Gothic mystery and dark comedy that will delight fans of authors like Neil Gaiman and Susanna Clarke... "Cat Out of Hell" is a brisk, clever, darkly hilarious book that begs to be read in one gut-busting sitting."
--"BookPage"
"Rich characterizations and the inventive structure of Truss's clever, comic novel all serve to enhance this endearing, insightful and often wicked mystery that ratchets up suspense and intrigue while exploring aspects of mortality."
--"Shelf Awareness"
"One cat at the hole can keep in one thousand mice - this cat can keep in New York City! Hell's-a-poppin'."
--Rita Mae Brown, bestselling author of the "Sneaky Pie" mystery series
"A masterpiece of comic writing... A novel as entertaining as it is addictive."
--"Sunday Telegraph" (UK)
"One of those rare books that actually makes the reader laugh out loud... Impossible not to read in one sitting."
--"Sunday Times" (UK)
"An incredible tale...You may never look at a cat in quite the same way again."
--"Daily Mail" (UK)
"A wonderful tale full of parodies, pastiches and paradoxes. Pure joy."
--"The Telegraph" (UK)
"It is good fun and the perfect lesson in how to use the power of punctuation to your advantage."
--"Evening Standard" (UK)
"Truss brings an eerie, 19th-century kind of horror into the present-day world."
--"The Guardian" (UK)
"Tremendous fun."
--"SciFi Now"

The creepy scenes are all sandpaper-tongue-in-cheek, but there s something genuinely spooky about realizing that the purring is coming from inside the house!... If jokes about acerbic pets, library carrels and funerary archaeology are catnip to you, then by all means curl up next to the fire with this diverting comedy."
"Washington Post"
An "io9" Science Fiction And Fantasy Book You Can't Afford To Miss
It s no surprise that when "Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation" author Truss writes a novel about a talking tabby named Roger, his syntax is simply flawless."
"New York Post," Must-Read Books

A potent and darkly humorous tale Cat lovers (or cat haters) and fans of gothic fiction will devour this creepy, paranoia-inducing morsel."
"Publishers Weekly"

An unusual mystery for cat lovers and haters alike... A fun format for an equally entertaining quick read."
"Library Journal"
Punctuation czar Truss...turns her very special talents to a cat mystery with a twist."
"Kirkus Reviews"
A nimble mix of horror, Gothic mystery and dark comedy that will delight fans of authors like Neil Gaiman and Susanna Clarke... "Cat Out of Hell" is a brisk, clever, darkly hilarious book that begs to be read in one gut-busting sitting."
"BookPage"
Rich characterizations and the inventive structure of Truss's clever, comic novel all serve to enhance this endearing, insightful and often wicked mystery that ratchets up suspense and intrigue while exploring aspects of mortality."
"Shelf Awareness"
One cat at the hole can keep in one thousand mice - this cat can keep in New York City! Hell's-a-poppin'.
Rita Mae Brown, bestselling author of the "Sneaky Pie" mystery series
A masterpiece of comic writing... A novel as entertaining as it is addictive.
"Sunday Telegraph" (UK)
One of those rare books that actually makes the reader laugh out loud... Impossible not to read in one sitting.
"Sunday Times"(UK)
An incredible tale You may never look at a cat in quite the same way again.
"Daily Mail" (UK)
A wonderful tale full of parodies, pastiches and paradoxes. Pure joy.
"TheTelegraph"(UK)
It is good fun and the perfect lesson in how to use the power of punctuation to your advantage.
"Evening Standard"(UK)
Truss brings an eerie, 19th-century kind of horror into the present-day world.
"The Guardian" (UK)
Tremendous fun.
"SciFi Now""

"The creepy scenes are all sandpaper-tongue-in-cheek, but there's something genuinely spooky about realizing that the purring is coming from inside the house!... If jokes about acerbic pets, library carrels and funerary archaeology are catnip to you, then by all means curl up next to the fire with this diverting comedy."
--Washington Post

An io9 Science Fiction And Fantasy Book You Can't Afford To Miss

"It's no surprise that when Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation author Truss writes a novel about a talking tabby named Roger, his syntax is simply flawless."
--New York Post, Must-Read Books

"A potent and darkly humorous tale... Cat lovers (or cat haters) and fans of gothic fiction will devour this creepy, paranoia-inducing morsel."
--Publishers Weekly

"An unusual mystery for cat lovers and haters alike... A fun format for an equally entertaining quick read."
--Library Journal

"Punctuation czar Truss...turns her very special talents to a cat mystery with a twist."
--Kirkus Reviews

"A nimble mix of horror, Gothic mystery and dark comedy that will delight fans of authors like Neil Gaiman and Susanna Clarke... Cat Out of Hell is a brisk, clever, darkly hilarious book that begs to be read in one gut-busting sitting."
--BookPage

"Rich characterizations and the inventive structure of Truss's clever, comic novel all serve to enhance this endearing, insightful and often wicked mystery that ratchets up suspense and intrigue while exploring aspects of mortality."
--Shelf Awareness

"One cat at the hole can keep in one thousand mice - this cat can keep in New York City! Hell's-a-poppin'."
--Rita Mae Brown, bestselling author of the Sneaky Pie mystery series

"A masterpiece of comic writing... A novel as entertaining as it is addictive."
--Sunday Telegraph (UK)

"One of those rare books that actually makes the reader laugh out loud... Impossible not to read in one sitting."
--Sunday Times (UK)

"An incredible tale...You may never look at a cat in quite the same way again."
--Daily Mail (UK)

"A wonderful tale full of parodies, pastiches and paradoxes. Pure joy."
--The Telegraph (UK)

"It is good fun and the perfect lesson in how to use the power of punctuation to your advantage."
--Evening Standard (UK)

"Truss brings an eerie, 19th-century kind of horror into the present-day world."
--The Guardian (UK)

"Tremendous fun."
--SciFi Now

Book Description:

By acclaimed storyteller Lynne Truss, author of the bestselling Eats, Shoots & Leaves, the mesmerising tale of a cat with nine lives, and a relationship as ancient as time itself and just as powerful.

About this edition

• Publisher: Melville House Publishing
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1612194427
• ISBN 13: 9781612194424
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 163