Country Cat Blues

“A purrrrfect read in every sense . . . keeps you guessing right to the end.” —Amazon reviewer, five stars This English village may look peaceful, but a cat can smell trouble from a mile away . . . When pet cat Aubrey moves to the picturesque village of Fallowfield with his family, he is keen to explore the delights of the English countryside. However, the idyllic peace is shattered when a gruesome murder takes place at the village fete. Tensions run high as spectres from the past begin to emerge. Aubrey is particularly bothered when suspicion falls on Morris, who may be eccentric, but is also a good friend to the local felines. It’s time for Aubrey to step up. Can he solve the mystery before it’s too late?

“One of the best books I’ve read.” —Amazon reviewer, five stars A jaded tabby cat suspects everyone when an elderly neighbour gets put down in this witty mystery series debut . . . After spending several months banged up in Sunny Banks rescue centre, life is looking good for Aubrey, a large tabby cat who has finally found his forever home with Molly and Jeremy. However, all that changes when a killer begins to target elderly people in the neighbourhood. Aubrey wasn’t particularly upset by some of the previous deaths—particularly that of Miss Jenkins, who enjoyed throwing stones at cats. But the latest victim, Mr Telling, was one of the good humans. Aubrey may be a pampered house pet now, but he still knows his way around the streets—and along with a few other local felines, he intends to pounce on this two-legged predator . . .

When a charity’s annual dinner becomes a murder scene, Aubrey the cat donates his sleuthing services . . . In addition to feeding the felines Aubrey and Vincent, Jeremy Goodman has a new responsibility: filling a recently vacated trustee role at a local charity that works tirelessly to house the homeless. Jeremy is initially enthusiastic—but soon begins to suspect that all is not as it seems at the nonprofit’s headquarters. When the unexpected death of the Chairman of Trustees at the annual dinner fans the flame of suspicion, Jeremy puts up his guard. Aubrey and Vincent, and their new friend Eric, agree. It seems that charity may not always begin at home and that kindness can be a killer . . .

Something sinister is happening at a care home in a British seaside town—and Aubrey the cat is perfect at sniffing out trouble . . . Aubrey had initially dreaded the move to the coast with the Goodmans, but now he loves it. All those rock pools to muck about in, caves to explore, and endless food opportunities from the beach huts means life is good. And he’s especially pleased that his best friend, Vincent, has joined the household. But the sun slips behind a cloud when a body is found near Lilac Tree Lodge, the home for the elderly in which Molly Goodman works. Not to mention that items have been going missing from the residents’ rooms. Suddenly it doesn’t all seem quite so jolly. But Aubrey and Vincent have been spending some time on the premises as part of a visiting-pet program, and they’ve seen enough to know that a game of cat and mouse is afoot . . .

Sometimes a cat just needs to get away from it all—but humans and their murderous misbehaviour will get in the way . . . The children of Sir William Pelham are less than pleased when their father and his new wife decide to turn the family home into a hotel and spa. So when they gather to celebrate their father’s birthday, old resentments fester and tensions bubble to the surface. Blissfully unaware of the trouble brewing at the main house, the Goodmans and their cats Aubrey and Vincent are enjoying a short break in one of the luxury apartments on the grounds. However, their jolly holiday is disturbed when a child goes missing and a body is found floating in the pool. Determined to get to the bottom of it, Aubrey and Vincent set out to solve the mystery. But will the cat get the cream?

Five mystery novels in one volume: Follow the adventures of Aubrey the jaded tabby cat as he eats, sleeps, and sniffs out two-legged predators . . . He may be a pampered house pet now, but he still knows his way around the streets—and in these five sharp-witted novels, Aubrey the cat recounts his crime-solving exploits. Includes: Street Cat Blues Finally freed from the rescue centre and settled in his forever home with Molly and Jeremy, Aubrey considers everyone a potential suspect when an elderly neighbour gets put down. Country Cat Blues When Aubrey moves to the village of Fallowfield with his family, he’s keen to explore the English countryside. But a murder shatters the idyllic peace, and Aubrey isn’t happy when an eccentric local is accused. After all, he’s been a good friend to the local felines . . . Beach Cat Blues Cats can smell trouble a mile away. So Aubrey and his friend Vincent know something sinister is happening at the care home where they’ve been serving as part of a visiting-pet program . . . Summer Cat Blues Aubrey and Vincent are enjoying a short break at a family estate that’s just been converted into a luxury hotel and spa. That is, until a body is found floating in the pool—then it’s time to get to work. Christmas Cat Blues When an annual charity dinner becomes a murder scene, Aubrey the cat donates his sleuthing services . . .

During the years before World War II, hundreds of traditional musicians were sought out by commercial record companies, brought to New York or into local—often makeshift—studios, to cut recordings that would be marketed as "race" and "hillbilly" music. Virginia was home to scores of these performers, several of whom were to become internationally known. Among them were the Carter Family, the Golden Gate Quartet, Charlie Poole, and the Stoneman Family, whose music has touched millions of listeners far beyond the confines of the Old Dominion. It is this historically important body of recordings from this unique period that forms the focus of Kip Lornell's study. In it he combines biographical sketches and bibliographies of the artists and groups with comprehensive discographies of each, covering not only the original 78-rpm issues but also American and foreign long-play releases. The entries incorporate new primary research and contemporary interviews with veterans of early recording sessions. Numerous vintage photographs are also included, some reproduced here for the first time.

More than twenty years in the making, Country Music Records: A Discography, 1921-1942 documents all country music recording sessions from 1921 through 1942. Until now, discographies of pre-World War II country music recordings were only to be found scattered in journals and fanzines, or in books devoted to single artists. With primary research based on files and session logs from record companies, interviews with surviving musicians, as well as the 200,000 recordings archived at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's Frist Library and Archives, this notable work is the first compendium to accurately report the key details behind all the recording sessions of country music during the pre-World War II era. In doing so it tells the commercial story of the music's first two decades. From the first recordings of country music, this discography documents--in alphabetical order by artist--every commercial country music recording, including unreleased sides, and indicates, as completely as possible, the musicians playing at every session, as well as instrumentation. This massive undertaking encompasses 2,500 artists, 5,000 session musicians, and 10,000 songs. An introduction explains how to use the book, research methodology, and editorial policy; summary histories of each key record company are also provided, along with a bibliography. The discography includes indexes to all song titles and musicians listed. Country Music Records is an indispensable resource for anyone seriously interested in early country music recordings.