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Brimful Coffers #1
Canapes for the Kitties
When writer Lucinda Lucas tries to dispose of three fictional characters, the town the characters live in, along with Lucas's hometown of Brimful Coffers, dissolves into a chaos that Lucas and her three cats--Had-I, But-Known, and Roscoe--must solve.
220 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1996
33 people are currently reading
252 people want to read
About the author
Marian Babson
62 books88 followersMarian Babson, a pseudonym for Ruth Stenstreem, was born in Salem, Massachusetts, but lived in London for the greater part of her life.
She worked as a librarian; managed a campaign headquarters; was a receptionist, secretary, and den mother to a firm of commercial artists; and was co-editor of a machine knitting magazine, despite the fact that she can’t knit, even with two needles.
A long sojourn as a temp sent her into the heart of business life all over London, working for architects, law firms, the British Museum, a Soho club, and even a visiting superstar.
She also served as secretary to the Crime Writers’ Association. She became a full-time writer whose many interests included theatre, cinema, art, cooking, travel, and, of course, cats, which feature in many of her mystery books. Her first published work was 'Cover-Up Story' in 1971 and 'Only the Cat' (2007) was her 44th novel.
The publisher's tagline for her style is "Murder Most British," a style reflected in each of her novels. Any violence is not graphically described and the sleuths are usually amateurs.
She re-used certain characters, such as the publicity firm Perkins & Tate, and a couple of ageing actresses, her books all stand-alone and can be read in any order.
Gerry Wolstenholme
September 2010
She worked as a librarian; managed a campaign headquarters; was a receptionist, secretary, and den mother to a firm of commercial artists; and was co-editor of a machine knitting magazine, despite the fact that she can’t knit, even with two needles.
A long sojourn as a temp sent her into the heart of business life all over London, working for architects, law firms, the British Museum, a Soho club, and even a visiting superstar.
She also served as secretary to the Crime Writers’ Association. She became a full-time writer whose many interests included theatre, cinema, art, cooking, travel, and, of course, cats, which feature in many of her mystery books. Her first published work was 'Cover-Up Story' in 1971 and 'Only the Cat' (2007) was her 44th novel.
The publisher's tagline for her style is "Murder Most British," a style reflected in each of her novels. Any violence is not graphically described and the sleuths are usually amateurs.
She re-used certain characters, such as the publicity firm Perkins & Tate, and a couple of ageing actresses, her books all stand-alone and can be read in any order.
Gerry Wolstenholme
September 2010
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
November 4, 2019
Brimful Coffers, England, has become a haven for mystery writers...but now, there is a real mystery in their midst. Someone is killing off authors, and it appears to be their characters! Lorinda Lucas has found pages of manuscript, apparently written by her, in which her own characters plot her demise! But how can this be? And she discovers that she isn't the only one! Lorinda and her writer friends MUST solve this mystery before it becomes the final installment for ALL of them!
FUN book, well-written, kept me guessing to the very end. And has a cast of enchanting cats who, although "just" cats (my own "just cat" swatted me for the comment), have all of the personality, intelligence and winning ways of their real counterparts. I am particularly taken with Roscoe, a rather rotund fellow who is plucky to the bone!
FUN book, well-written, kept me guessing to the very end. And has a cast of enchanting cats who, although "just" cats (my own "just cat" swatted me for the comment), have all of the personality, intelligence and winning ways of their real counterparts. I am particularly taken with Roscoe, a rather rotund fellow who is plucky to the bone!
October 16, 2012
BOTTOM LINE: #1 of 2 satirical "village cosies" concerning Lorinda Lucas, author, in peculiar Brimful Coffers, rural England, what a trip!
A burgeoning artists colony of writers in a small English village finds themselves not only in the sights of a dastardly practical joker, there’s also a serial killer lurking... The body count and the amount of mayhem is quite high, but it’s mostly played for laughs and has layers and layers of innuendo and irony, a number of totally ludicrous situaions and resolutions, and a great deal of wit. All in all, a lot of fun for those who like cats, cosy villages, spinster sleuths, maniacal artistes, loopy photographers, a dog or two, a rampaging child, deadly cocktail parties, *and* a denouement set on a foggy night, plus a spooky cemetery thrown in for good measure. Brim full of fun, this ‘way-over-the-top spoof is recommended to those who have a silly sense of humor - it’s not everyone’s cuppa.
A burgeoning artists colony of writers in a small English village finds themselves not only in the sights of a dastardly practical joker, there’s also a serial killer lurking... The body count and the amount of mayhem is quite high, but it’s mostly played for laughs and has layers and layers of innuendo and irony, a number of totally ludicrous situaions and resolutions, and a great deal of wit. All in all, a lot of fun for those who like cats, cosy villages, spinster sleuths, maniacal artistes, loopy photographers, a dog or two, a rampaging child, deadly cocktail parties, *and* a denouement set on a foggy night, plus a spooky cemetery thrown in for good measure. Brim full of fun, this ‘way-over-the-top spoof is recommended to those who have a silly sense of humor - it’s not everyone’s cuppa.
February 6, 2018
"Dead Writers Tell No Tails
"The cat's out of the bag: dead bodies are piling up in Brimful Coffers, a picturesque English village. Among the deceased is Boswell, a pet white rat. His killers were caught: Had-I and But-Known, two mischievous felines belonging to Lorinda Lucas, mystery writer. Unfortunately, the other victims were all too human -- and their killer remains at large.
"The danger in Brimful Coffers was unforeseen when several authors created an informal writers' colony in this lovely town outside of London. In fact, the location was heaven until the undesirables -- critics and scholars -- began to show up. Soon Lorinda and her friends feel as if they're living in a fishbowl. Worse, they're getting chilling threats, supposedly from their fictional characters! But when fatal 'accidents' begin to claim the colony's residents, death isn't make-believe. And unless Lorinda can sniff out the filler, even a cat's nine lives might not be nearly enough."
~~back cover
Why did I even have this book? I already knew she wasn't an author I enjoyed ... I guess somewhere I read a favorable review, and after all, I do love little English villages and cats. Unfortunately, they weren't enough to save this book, imho. The plot was dreary ... absolutely nothing happened for the first 3/4 of the book. Then the killer became all too evident, at least to me & I'm not very good at figuring out who done it. The cast of characters was trite, and annoying. The cats were good though ...
"The cat's out of the bag: dead bodies are piling up in Brimful Coffers, a picturesque English village. Among the deceased is Boswell, a pet white rat. His killers were caught: Had-I and But-Known, two mischievous felines belonging to Lorinda Lucas, mystery writer. Unfortunately, the other victims were all too human -- and their killer remains at large.
"The danger in Brimful Coffers was unforeseen when several authors created an informal writers' colony in this lovely town outside of London. In fact, the location was heaven until the undesirables -- critics and scholars -- began to show up. Soon Lorinda and her friends feel as if they're living in a fishbowl. Worse, they're getting chilling threats, supposedly from their fictional characters! But when fatal 'accidents' begin to claim the colony's residents, death isn't make-believe. And unless Lorinda can sniff out the filler, even a cat's nine lives might not be nearly enough."
~~back cover
Why did I even have this book? I already knew she wasn't an author I enjoyed ... I guess somewhere I read a favorable review, and after all, I do love little English villages and cats. Unfortunately, they weren't enough to save this book, imho. The plot was dreary ... absolutely nothing happened for the first 3/4 of the book. Then the killer became all too evident, at least to me & I'm not very good at figuring out who done it. The cast of characters was trite, and annoying. The cats were good though ...
August 11, 2008
Pokes a lot of fun at serial mystery writers. I was awfully put off by the fact that the cats were unnecessarily in just about every scene - and if they weren't actually in the scene, the characters were talking about them. It was a cute enough book, but it took a very long time to get to the actual mystery. I was probably halfway through the book before I even discovered what the problem was. A harmless summer's day read for pet lovers and light serial mystery fans... otherwise, you'd be best to avoid this one.
August 11, 2008
Dorian sets up a small writers colony type living community in a small British town. A place for writers to support each other. Only some of the residents are not a good fit at all.
What I really enjoyed was the characters. Lorinda, the main character is so sick of her series characters that she writes chapters killing them off as a form of release.
The mystery itself was rather weak. The killer and motive, forgettable. But it was still an enjoyable and funny (very tongue-in-cheek)read. And oh yes, I loved the cats. LOL
What I really enjoyed was the characters. Lorinda, the main character is so sick of her series characters that she writes chapters killing them off as a form of release.
The mystery itself was rather weak. The killer and motive, forgettable. But it was still an enjoyable and funny (very tongue-in-cheek)read. And oh yes, I loved the cats. LOL
June 5, 2009
A great fun read. Light British lit with an interesting plot of mystery writers who live in a village together and end up having the sort of thing they normally write about actually happening to them in real life. Combined with the whimsy of their pet cats, it made a nice read
January 12, 2010
This book is nothing but fun fluff. A village of mystery writers find themselves confronting all kinds of evils including their own detectives coming to life! Kitties and doggies and annoying Americans add to the fun. Nadia May is a wonderful narrator!
April 20, 2022
Several authors are lured into the lovely village of Brimful Coffers a small writers colony is formed. All is quiet and productive until critics and publishers start showing up. The authors cats like to visit with each other and occasionally others authors homes. Sometimes they bring home things they have appropriated like hair ribbons and once the pet rat of another writers granddaughter. There are the odd cases of food poisoning and accidents but isn’t that in any village? But when the writers characters start sending them threatening chapters and then people start having fatal accidents the writers must save themselves. A good read.
June 10, 2023
Good story but at times it just failed to engage. Overall it’s a neat lighthearted mystery to read/listen to nothing fancy or difficult to figure out.
March 4, 2011
This was a darling book. I listened to it on my MP3. The woman who did the reading had a wonderful british accent. She read all the parts wonderfully. The story takes place in Brimful Coffers, a lovely little colony of writers. But all is not well when there are some accidents and a few murders. The main characters have a variety of cats and dogs. Sometimes these cats and dogs don't get along which adds to the whole character of the place. I will be reading/listening to more books of this author.
March 9, 2017
I listened to this on audiobook.
This was my first book by Babson so I didn't know what to expect. I assumed it would just be another cat themed cozy mystery. It was more than that.
The book was surprisingly funny. It parodied its own genre in so many ways and even had a meta textual element to it.
The cat element was entertaining and quite endearing- especially Roscoe.
I look forward to reading more books by this author.
This was my first book by Babson so I didn't know what to expect. I assumed it would just be another cat themed cozy mystery. It was more than that.
The book was surprisingly funny. It parodied its own genre in so many ways and even had a meta textual element to it.
The cat element was entertaining and quite endearing- especially Roscoe.
I look forward to reading more books by this author.
February 11, 2017
I didn't think from the start of the book that I was going to like this, but I did. The only thing I didn't really like was that there were so many characters, the British words I got to know over the course of the book. There were quite a few twists and turns and I will probably read more of the author's books. She was a new author to me
May 7, 2008
I really enjoy light mysteries, and Marian Babson's cat books fit the bill. You won't figure out whodunit, but just sit back with a cup of tea and enjoy the atmosphere. ***I have read other books of hers, but have found them slightly more disturbing and less fun than the ones that feature cats.
May 7, 2008
eh...not so good. i love mindless mysteries, but this was pretty mindless. I read through til the end, so it was good enough, and I didn't peg the murderer, which was also good, but i wouldn't necessarily go running out to buy this book.
January 25, 2013
I really enjoyed the bits about how the main characters, mystery novel writers, were sick of their protaganists and fantasized about killing them off. The murder and mystery are really secondary to the characters. Good escape.
July 30, 2025
This book MIGHT answer the question: What does an author do with a long running series that he/she has become tired of writing, and how do you dispose of the characters to start fresh on a new series? This was an entertaining and unique plot, a fast read, very funny in spots, and well written. It combines fictional reality and fantasy and includes red herrings, twists, turns and plenty of quirky characters. It's also a parody on several levels (see below). This is my first Marian Babson book so I can't compare it to her other books.
Dorian King has talked several writer friends into moving to Brimful Coffers outside of London to form a colony of mystery writers all located in one place. They will experience life in a charming English village and get away from the normal rat race. Three of the main characters who live in quaint cottages next to each other are: 1) Lorinda Lucas writes a series about three spinster sisters who live in St Waldemar Boniface and like to sleuth out mysteries. Lorinda brought along her two ordinary cats named Had-I and But-Known. 2) Macho Magee (A.K.A. Lancelot Dalrymple) is an ex-history teacher who has taken the name of his character, a hard-boiled private eye named Macho Magee who drinks nothing but Mexican tequila with a worm curled at the bottom of the bottle. The real Magee hates tequila, does not look at all like his character, and has a sweet cat named Roscoe who is often teased by Had-I and But-Known. 3) Fredericka Carlson (Freddie) lives in a semi-detached and writes a mystery about a ghost named Wraith O'Reilly who also likes to sleuth.
Other characters include: Plantagenet Sutton is a venomous book critic; Gemma Duquette serializes books in her magazine, Woman's Place; Jack and Karla Jackley are a bickering American couple who live on the other side of Freddie and drive her nuts with the racket they make. They are collaborating on a coffee table book about life in a quaint village. He supplies photographs and she writes the content; Rhylla Montague who's granddaughter Clarice is coming to visit so how will she meet her deadline on her next book?; Betty Alvin is a freelance secretarial service for the writers; Professor Borley is doing research on the "Wellsprings & Influences of Popular Culture as evinced in the Mystery Field"; and more.
Well, Lorinda keeps a secret file folder of alternative endings to her book series on ways to dispose of her characters Miss Petunia, Lily, and Marigold. Then she begins to find pages she doesn't remember writing where those same characters are plotting to get rid of her! And what's a mystery without a mystery so someone in the village begins killing off authors who live there. Could their characters actually be out for revenge? At a Guy Fawkes Night party Jack Jackley is shoved into a bonfire but survives, Gemma is taken to the hospital with what looks like food poisoning; Plantagenet Sutton is found murdered; Ondine van Zeet, a new resident of the village, is pushed down an elevator shaft, and Dorian is also taken to the hospital when he's mysteriously hit in the head. Not one of the mystery writers figures out who the murderer is until he/she confronts them in the climax.
Some of the parodies mentioned above include:
- Cocktail parties - some of the guests bring baggies and totes, etc. to secretly sneak home canapes as treats for their pets. The caterer makes plenty of extra for this "theft".
- Names of the pets (and the characters as well) - Besides the cats mentioned above Gemma's small pug dogs are named Conqueror and Lionhart, Clarice brings her white rat named Boswell when she comes to visit her grandmother (she really wanted a Gila monster), and, of course, Had-I and But-Known, etc.
-Check out a couple of Lorinda's alternative endings. The funniest is one featuring the Nob Squad from Scotland Yard made up of Lords, Viscounts, a Baroness, a Lady, The Sergeant Hon. Jasmyn, etc. Hilarious.
-Jack is a camera toting menace as flashbulbs go off blinding everyone he targets. Many of the other characters have their own quirks and all spend a lot of time drinking.
Everything comes together in the end. Is the murderer part of the reality or the fantasy? The descriptions of the cats and dogs in action are vivid and a pleasure to read. The last chapter is titled Chapter One. Is Lorinda writing a new series? Recommended reading.
Dorian King has talked several writer friends into moving to Brimful Coffers outside of London to form a colony of mystery writers all located in one place. They will experience life in a charming English village and get away from the normal rat race. Three of the main characters who live in quaint cottages next to each other are: 1) Lorinda Lucas writes a series about three spinster sisters who live in St Waldemar Boniface and like to sleuth out mysteries. Lorinda brought along her two ordinary cats named Had-I and But-Known. 2) Macho Magee (A.K.A. Lancelot Dalrymple) is an ex-history teacher who has taken the name of his character, a hard-boiled private eye named Macho Magee who drinks nothing but Mexican tequila with a worm curled at the bottom of the bottle. The real Magee hates tequila, does not look at all like his character, and has a sweet cat named Roscoe who is often teased by Had-I and But-Known. 3) Fredericka Carlson (Freddie) lives in a semi-detached and writes a mystery about a ghost named Wraith O'Reilly who also likes to sleuth.
Other characters include: Plantagenet Sutton is a venomous book critic; Gemma Duquette serializes books in her magazine, Woman's Place; Jack and Karla Jackley are a bickering American couple who live on the other side of Freddie and drive her nuts with the racket they make. They are collaborating on a coffee table book about life in a quaint village. He supplies photographs and she writes the content; Rhylla Montague who's granddaughter Clarice is coming to visit so how will she meet her deadline on her next book?; Betty Alvin is a freelance secretarial service for the writers; Professor Borley is doing research on the "Wellsprings & Influences of Popular Culture as evinced in the Mystery Field"; and more.
Well, Lorinda keeps a secret file folder of alternative endings to her book series on ways to dispose of her characters Miss Petunia, Lily, and Marigold. Then she begins to find pages she doesn't remember writing where those same characters are plotting to get rid of her! And what's a mystery without a mystery so someone in the village begins killing off authors who live there. Could their characters actually be out for revenge? At a Guy Fawkes Night party Jack Jackley is shoved into a bonfire but survives, Gemma is taken to the hospital with what looks like food poisoning; Plantagenet Sutton is found murdered; Ondine van Zeet, a new resident of the village, is pushed down an elevator shaft, and Dorian is also taken to the hospital when he's mysteriously hit in the head. Not one of the mystery writers figures out who the murderer is until he/she confronts them in the climax.
Some of the parodies mentioned above include:
- Cocktail parties - some of the guests bring baggies and totes, etc. to secretly sneak home canapes as treats for their pets. The caterer makes plenty of extra for this "theft".
- Names of the pets (and the characters as well) - Besides the cats mentioned above Gemma's small pug dogs are named Conqueror and Lionhart, Clarice brings her white rat named Boswell when she comes to visit her grandmother (she really wanted a Gila monster), and, of course, Had-I and But-Known, etc.
-Check out a couple of Lorinda's alternative endings. The funniest is one featuring the Nob Squad from Scotland Yard made up of Lords, Viscounts, a Baroness, a Lady, The Sergeant Hon. Jasmyn, etc. Hilarious.
-Jack is a camera toting menace as flashbulbs go off blinding everyone he targets. Many of the other characters have their own quirks and all spend a lot of time drinking.
Everything comes together in the end. Is the murderer part of the reality or the fantasy? The descriptions of the cats and dogs in action are vivid and a pleasure to read. The last chapter is titled Chapter One. Is Lorinda writing a new series? Recommended reading.
November 25, 2025
I know people talk to their pets. But the author goes a little too far in having these pets respond as though they understand every word and nuance the humans around them utter (Though they do not actually talk. Thank goodness.)
Also, the humans are all admittedly financially capable of buying their own kitty treats, but seem obsessed with sneaking sausages and canapés from parties to surprise their pets. One character “rammed the prawn-laden cocktail stick into his jacket pocket.” Another brought plastic baggies specifically for treat smuggling. They ALL do it. Why.
I don’t find the characters particularly relatable or likable. They all seem a bit too over the top to me.
Also, the humans are all admittedly financially capable of buying their own kitty treats, but seem obsessed with sneaking sausages and canapés from parties to surprise their pets. One character “rammed the prawn-laden cocktail stick into his jacket pocket.” Another brought plastic baggies specifically for treat smuggling. They ALL do it. Why.
I don’t find the characters particularly relatable or likable. They all seem a bit too over the top to me.
July 24, 2021
The wonderful audiobook performance by Nadia May brings out the best in this unexpectedly enjoyable book. A somewhat engaging, if thin, group of characters, including Macho McGee, the pen-name of an ex-history teacher. The abilities of the cats are exaggerated but their behavior realistic enough to make them a pleasant element. Also interesting: a set of fictional characters tries to decide how to do away with their "chronicler," who is planning to end them. However, all of these survive and continue happily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2022
This was tough to get through. At about the 40% mark, nothing had happened, so I came onto the book page to read a synopsis and some reviews. This was advertised as a book about mystery writers receiving mysterious chapters, written by their characters and portraying their own demise at the hands of said characters. That sounded great, and I wanted to read that book. Unfortunately, by the time the first such chapter shows up, I was uninterested, and it wasn't enough to reengage me. The pacing remained slow, the bad guy was obvious, and it just wasn't for me.
February 7, 2022
Das Buch hat ungefähr 318 Seiten, ab der Hälfte geht die Geschichte dann erst richtig los und ist meiner Meinung viel zu schnell und hastig abgeschlossen, so dass ich leider nicht wirklich mitfiebern konnte.
Es liest sich sehr kurzweilig und wer eine leichte Lektüre braucht (und die Geduld hat 150 Seiten Einleitung zu lesen) wird trotzdem Spaß haben.
Es liest sich sehr kurzweilig und wer eine leichte Lektüre braucht (und die Geduld hat 150 Seiten Einleitung zu lesen) wird trotzdem Spaß haben.
January 13, 2024
The premise was a good one--a colony of writers where murders crop up. But, I wasn't a huge fan of the characters; they were just okay. I did like the back and forth between the present timeline and one author's story characters. The mystery itself was pretty standard, so I overall enjoyed my time with the book.
December 22, 2024
Had-I But-Known
First book of another scenario for Babson cat-aholics. A clutch of mystery writers in an English village, dire goings on, a couple of deaths ... not to mention annoying children, even more annoying critics and string-pullers, cats (of course), dogs, spooky events … all the ingredients for a fun-filled mystery.
First book of another scenario for Babson cat-aholics. A clutch of mystery writers in an English village, dire goings on, a couple of deaths ... not to mention annoying children, even more annoying critics and string-pullers, cats (of course), dogs, spooky events … all the ingredients for a fun-filled mystery.
March 24, 2018
A group of writers decides to take a year and live near each other in the country and then they started being harassed and start getting bumped off. Who would want to kill them?
The title of the book comes from each time the writers go to a party they sneak canapes home for the cats.
The title of the book comes from each time the writers go to a party they sneak canapes home for the cats.
August 18, 2020
The culprit wasn't particularly difficult to figure out, but I did enjoy the characters and the notion of a village full of mystery writers. Babson is a better storyteller than mystery writer, and I suppose that's why I keep reading her books.
July 28, 2022
I have read all three books in the series: Canapes of the Kitties, Miss Petunia's Last Case, and Please Do Not Feed the Car. The books were charming and engaging. Definitely a light, interesting read.
September 28, 2022
Cute cats, fun characters, low risk mystery? I can't complain. The main character writes chapters killing off her popular mystery series characters to let off steam and they're so fun. Obviously Had-I, But-Known and Roscoe (the cats) are my favorite characters.
February 22, 2025
Okay, this is definitely quirky. Would you expect anything else from Marian Babson? Watch for the switching between what the mystery writer is writing and the real living in this village of mystery writers and you'll be fine! Great fun.
August 16, 2020
OK. Interesting plot. But took too long before things started happening, and then seemed rushed.
June 13, 2021
Really enjoyed this! Way above the usual mysteries that include cats. Kept me guessing as to what was going on never mind who the murderer was. Will def read more.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews