Familiar Lullaby

by Caroline Burnes

Book Overview

Familiar Lullaby (Fear Familiar) This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0373226144
• ISBN13: 9780373226146
• Release Date: May 2001
• Publisher: Harlequin
• Length: 249 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 4.2" x 6.6"

Customer Reviews

Familiar--Accept no substitutes

Since Familiar's adventures started before any of the books jlauer2 mentions, I fail to see how this is "an obvious takeoff" of them. I've read many of the cat detective series. Fear Familiar is still my favorite, possibly because it was one of the first. This book isn't as much of a mystery as the other Familiar books. It's more action and suspense. It's still great reading. And Clotilde's in this one! If you like this series, feel free to try the others. You'll be back!

Familiar...The Original and Still The BEST!

I loved this book. Familiar is the smartest cat detective on the scene and I always enjoy reading about his adventures. This book was thoroughly inventive and original. For the record, the original Fear Familiar book came out in March of 1990, BEFORE Sneaky Pie Brown and Midnight Louie arrived on the scene. I think only Lillian Jackson Braun's cats beat him on the scene, and hers don't get into the cat's head the way the Familiar books do. Familiar was a groundbreaker, especially in romance, and this book is a good example why. Compelling characters and loads of humor and suspense. I feel this series is far superior to the others, proving that the original version is usually the best. People accusing authors of ripping off other authors should know what they're talking about before doing so.

Familiar Lullaby

Familiar the feline detective is back at last in "Familiar Lullaby," another top-notch entry in this long-running series. A baby is found on the doorstep of a prominent Washington D.C. couple, and Detective Mel Haskin is on the case. Everywhere he looks, reporter Lily Markey is there. Mel suspects the beautiful lady knows more about the baby than she's saying. Can Lily trust the by-the-book cop with her secrets?"Familiar Lullaby" is a prime example of why this series is so good. Burnes somehow manages to combine all the elements of a great read in one smooth, fast-paced tale. One of the author's trademarks is her strong heroines and Lily is no exception. She's the kind of strong, feisty woman who will do anything to help someone in need, never mind the risk to herself. Mel is her equal, a hard-headed cop with a strong sense of duty and honor. He also has a moving back story that's seamlessly introduced, sad without being overwrought. There's genuine tension between them as they clash over this case. Familiar fans will be happy to know that Clotilde takes a starring role of her own this time. The kitty detective is his usual genius self, knowing exactly what clues to give the humans and when to play matchmaker when he has to. Most of all, "Familiar Lullaby" is just plain fun to read. Many Intrigues are able to provide the romance and the suspense, but I can't remember the last time I had this much fun reading a book. The line "I laughed, I cried," is a cliché, but with this book I did that and more. I laughed at Familiar's antics and couldn't help being impressed at how much smarter this cat is than most humans. I shivered at the terrible villain and was moved by the dilemma faced by the baby's mother. I was left holding on to the edge of my chair at the suspenseful passages, which made up most of the book, because Burnes is always surprising the reader. Most Intrigue writers these days settle for straightforward stories with few twists. With Burnes, I know I can count on a complex plot with plenty of unexpected turns along the way. Somehow the author is able to juggle so many diverse elements into one seamless, delightful read. Her books feel like bigger stories, because she gives you so much more in them. The result is sheer reading pleasure. To be honest, I'm not crazy with how many Intrigues these days are about the same subject. Three of this month's books (out of four!) are about babies. If you can only get one, this is the one to choose. It may be based on a hook, but this is a story you haven't read before. Whether this is your first Familiar book or your fourteenth, "Familiar Lullaby" is a must-read.