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Kat Colorado #3
Kat's Cradle
She's a hard-boiled Sacramento P.I. with a soft spot for the unlucky, the unloved, and one special cop named Hank. Her name is Kat Colorado and in her line of business curiosity can be more than an occupational hazard -- it can be murder.
She said her name was Paige Morrell and she came to Kat Colorado hoping to untangle the twisted mystery of her past. She was a twenty-one-year-old "orphan," a poor little rich girl on the verge of inheriting a wealthy old river estate -- and some very nasty surprises. But when Kat set out to solve the case, she found herself following a thread of lies, greed and deceit that led straight to the corpse of a key source to Paige's past. Now the Sacramento private eye was about to learn that in the California Delta some family secrets were better left buried . . . because uncovering them could be murder.
She said her name was Paige Morrell and she came to Kat Colorado hoping to untangle the twisted mystery of her past. She was a twenty-one-year-old "orphan," a poor little rich girl on the verge of inheriting a wealthy old river estate -- and some very nasty surprises. But when Kat set out to solve the case, she found herself following a thread of lies, greed and deceit that led straight to the corpse of a key source to Paige's past. Now the Sacramento private eye was about to learn that in the California Delta some family secrets were better left buried . . . because uncovering them could be murder.
244 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 1992
4 people are currently reading
243 people want to read
About the author
Karen Kijewski
28 books83 followersKaren J. Kijewski was born in Berkeley, California. Her father taught at the University of California, and she later attended the school, earning a BA and a Masters degree. Karen is a past president of the northern California chapter of the Mystery Writers of America. She has two daughters, and is currently living in Sacramento, California with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
October 19, 2018
A mystery from the 1980's that seems more dated than many written 100 years earlier.
Baby boomer female private eye gets hired to look into the past of a young woman so that she can inherit a big mansion on a delta island on the Sacramento River. It doesn't turn out the way either of them hoped.
Somebody watched The Big Chill way too many times.
Baby boomer female private eye gets hired to look into the past of a young woman so that she can inherit a big mansion on a delta island on the Sacramento River. It doesn't turn out the way either of them hoped.
Somebody watched The Big Chill way too many times.
May 24, 2020
Kat's Cradle by Karen Kijewski is the third book in her Kat Colorado mystery series. If you haven't yet tried the series, 9 books in total, Kat is basically Kinsey Milhone, a private eye working out of California. Kijewski wrote the nine books between 1989 and 1998 and then seemed to disappear. I've read the first 3 books so far and enjoyed them all.
Kat is hired by Paige Morrell to find out about her family, especially her mother and father. She grew up with her grandmother, since deceased, an evil woman, who told Paige nothing about her past. Paige stands to inherit the estate but only if no other relative (her mother specifically) turns up to claim the estate. There is much anger and frustration in Paige's soul and Kat is hesitant to take the case. Can Paige actually handle the truth?
So Kat begins the investigation and there will be more deaths and threats to Kat. As well, Kat is dealing with her own life, her strange family and group of friends and whether she wants to move her relationship along with Las Vegas cop, Hank. It's a well-paced and at times exciting story, the best of the ones I've read so far. There is love, romance, tension, danger, all of the good things. Kat is not perfect by any means but still a character with whom you can empathize. Now to find the fourth book (4 stars)
Kat is hired by Paige Morrell to find out about her family, especially her mother and father. She grew up with her grandmother, since deceased, an evil woman, who told Paige nothing about her past. Paige stands to inherit the estate but only if no other relative (her mother specifically) turns up to claim the estate. There is much anger and frustration in Paige's soul and Kat is hesitant to take the case. Can Paige actually handle the truth?
So Kat begins the investigation and there will be more deaths and threats to Kat. As well, Kat is dealing with her own life, her strange family and group of friends and whether she wants to move her relationship along with Las Vegas cop, Hank. It's a well-paced and at times exciting story, the best of the ones I've read so far. There is love, romance, tension, danger, all of the good things. Kat is not perfect by any means but still a character with whom you can empathize. Now to find the fourth book (4 stars)
July 6, 2014
'Kat's Cradle' is almost impossible to put down! Every time I thought I had the mystery figured out, new twists and turns popped up that turned everything inside out! I enjoyed reading this one very much.
Kat Colorado undergoes horrendous personal tests and deep traumas which will change everything. There is something peculiar going on with everyone in the book, but unfortunately for Kat, she uncovers the terrible secrets too late to prevent multiple disasters. There is a huge crowd of messed up and quirky characters and Kat is overwhelmed.
As book 3 of the series begins, Kat has a new cat. And dog. But she is losing the Las Vegas cop boyfriend, Hank. He has had the audacity to propose marriage - and Kat could not accept. She is afraid to love and be loved. That seems more dangerous than anything! She yearns for a distraction.
Until Paige Morrell hires her to find Paige's mother's death certificate.
Paige's grandmother, Florence Edna Mae Morrell, recently died. Florence left a huge house, land and money to Paige, along with a mysterious past and a miserable loveless childhood. The problem is probate will take at least 6 months due to issues surrounding if Paige is actually next in line to inherit. Unfortunately, the Morrell family was full of hellish cruelties because Florence was a martinet determined to hide any improprieties, as well as a woman who hated children, and Paige's mother might have run away years ago and drowned, or maybe not. All Paige has is passed down stories and rumors - there is no paperwork or certificates. Now that everything must be made official with documentation, and there is only a muddled verbal history of disappeared relatives and unproven facts, she has decided to speed things up and get a private detective.
Florence tried to suppress everything about Paige's mother and that generation of Morrells from being known - and she didn't care how far she had to go to do so. Kat finds people who know parts of what happened and now that Florence is dead they want to talk, if conditionally. In hope of putting together some of the disturbing facts she has already uncovered, Kat arrives at the Morrell's old family lawyer's house for a meeting. Herb Sanderson has promised to reveal what he knows to several interested parties, and he has set up this meeting so that he can speak truth to all of them at once.
Unfortunately, the morning of the meeting his body is discovered slumped over his desk, and his files on the Morrell family have been removed. Kat is shocked. She liked the man very much. However, his will not be the last body she encounters before all is revealed!
Whatever Kat must reluctantly learn about herself and human nature by the last page of this adventure, she has the support of her previously introduced adopted family and Henley, all of whom make lovable appearances bringing affection and cookies when most needed. Except Henley. Being a policeman, it's handcuffs and suspicion with him. Oh well. We all know he secretly likes her like a father. Sometimes.
Kat Colorado undergoes horrendous personal tests and deep traumas which will change everything. There is something peculiar going on with everyone in the book, but unfortunately for Kat, she uncovers the terrible secrets too late to prevent multiple disasters. There is a huge crowd of messed up and quirky characters and Kat is overwhelmed.
As book 3 of the series begins, Kat has a new cat. And dog. But she is losing the Las Vegas cop boyfriend, Hank. He has had the audacity to propose marriage - and Kat could not accept. She is afraid to love and be loved. That seems more dangerous than anything! She yearns for a distraction.
Until Paige Morrell hires her to find Paige's mother's death certificate.
Paige's grandmother, Florence Edna Mae Morrell, recently died. Florence left a huge house, land and money to Paige, along with a mysterious past and a miserable loveless childhood. The problem is probate will take at least 6 months due to issues surrounding if Paige is actually next in line to inherit. Unfortunately, the Morrell family was full of hellish cruelties because Florence was a martinet determined to hide any improprieties, as well as a woman who hated children, and Paige's mother might have run away years ago and drowned, or maybe not. All Paige has is passed down stories and rumors - there is no paperwork or certificates. Now that everything must be made official with documentation, and there is only a muddled verbal history of disappeared relatives and unproven facts, she has decided to speed things up and get a private detective.
Florence tried to suppress everything about Paige's mother and that generation of Morrells from being known - and she didn't care how far she had to go to do so. Kat finds people who know parts of what happened and now that Florence is dead they want to talk, if conditionally. In hope of putting together some of the disturbing facts she has already uncovered, Kat arrives at the Morrell's old family lawyer's house for a meeting. Herb Sanderson has promised to reveal what he knows to several interested parties, and he has set up this meeting so that he can speak truth to all of them at once.
Unfortunately, the morning of the meeting his body is discovered slumped over his desk, and his files on the Morrell family have been removed. Kat is shocked. She liked the man very much. However, his will not be the last body she encounters before all is revealed!
Whatever Kat must reluctantly learn about herself and human nature by the last page of this adventure, she has the support of her previously introduced adopted family and Henley, all of whom make lovable appearances bringing affection and cookies when most needed. Except Henley. Being a policeman, it's handcuffs and suspicion with him. Oh well. We all know he secretly likes her like a father. Sometimes.
April 23, 2008
This was my first encounter with Karen Kijewski's detective Kat Colorado, but it's her third book about her. (I bought three, and then didn't think to check the publication date to see which came first. Duh.) And I like Kat. She reminds me a little of Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone, with the dead parents the solo living, the difficulty managing romantic relationships, and the elderly man who's nearby and kind of close to her. Oh, and they both work in California.
Kat is a bit more hardboiled than Kinsey, though; at least on the surface. And she has an interesting substitute family. This book is an exploration of a mother who didn't love her daughters, who were identical twins (which opens up lots of interesting possibilities), and the effect that had on the next generation. Kijewski's characterization is excellent - her people all but jump off the page - and the plot and subplot are intricately woven enough without becoming obscured and unfollowable. The nasty people are truly nasty, the good ones truly good, and the mad ones truly mad.
SPOILER: My only complaint is that Paul, the menacing boyfriend of Kat's client, Paige, threatens to "get" Kat, one way or other, about 2/3 of the way through the book, and then is never seen again. (Another character then takes up the mantle of villain.) Paige explains this, at the end, by saying that he was too stupid and she broke up with him, and to me this smacked of a patch job because the publisher or agent or someone said "hey, what about Paul?"
Kat is a bit more hardboiled than Kinsey, though; at least on the surface. And she has an interesting substitute family. This book is an exploration of a mother who didn't love her daughters, who were identical twins (which opens up lots of interesting possibilities), and the effect that had on the next generation. Kijewski's characterization is excellent - her people all but jump off the page - and the plot and subplot are intricately woven enough without becoming obscured and unfollowable. The nasty people are truly nasty, the good ones truly good, and the mad ones truly mad.
SPOILER: My only complaint is that Paul, the menacing boyfriend of Kat's client, Paige, threatens to "get" Kat, one way or other, about 2/3 of the way through the book, and then is never seen again. (Another character then takes up the mantle of villain.) Paige explains this, at the end, by saying that he was too stupid and she broke up with him, and to me this smacked of a patch job because the publisher or agent or someone said "hey, what about Paul?"
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2013
I think this series is so good that I am re-reading it. I do not agree that Kat Colorado is not a "hard-boiled" detective. She does keep her emotions hidden and reluctantly becomes involved personally with others. The plot is complicated with people claiming they are someone else. Kat figures out who is who, which explains the motivations for the murders. The Sacramento area is well described. Kat grows in understanding her own actions and feelings in each novel.
November 5, 2020
I started reading this series as the setting is in a town I know well. Now I'm reading it because the mystery and tale-telling is great, well-paced, and interesting. The main character is likable. Overall an enjoyable, escapist read.
October 23, 2023
The family that Kat Colorado is checking into for her client Paige has many, many twists and turns. Paige said she knows nothing about her family and her grandmother would not tell her. Kat finds out some family secrets are better left buried.
October 23, 2024
This isn't my usual type of read but, based on the writing and story, it was worth my time.
No real satisfying ending to the plot and the characters were forgettable, but I assume with this genre the plot itself is the most important and it was intriguing.
No real satisfying ending to the plot and the characters were forgettable, but I assume with this genre the plot itself is the most important and it was intriguing.
July 30, 2017
Not as enjoyable, or as intriguing as some of author's other works
June 19, 2018
This is a good mystery with lots of twists and turns. This is the third Kat Colorado book I've read and really do enjoy the series!
February 24, 2021
convoluted but interesting. Kat gets too philosophical at times but generally I like the character.
May 23, 2021
It's really is a stormy, sensational, crime thriller!
April 14, 2022
A good quick mystery, set in California. The sleuth, Kat Colorado, is likable with faults.
September 2, 2024
This was enjoyable though the story seemed a bit scattered at times (or maybe that was me!) A 3.5,will definitely read the other two in this series that I picked up at a book market.
July 6, 2008
KAT'S CRADLE - VG
Kijewski, Karen - 3rd in series
Kat agrees to help presumed orphan Paige Morrell find out about her parents now that her grandmother Florence, who refused to discuss them, has died. Little by little, Kat peels away layers of the past, discovering that Paige's mother, one of twin daughters mistreated by Florence, may still be alive. Enhancing the story and complicating Kat's life as she travels to Lake Tahoe, Calif., and to Omaha are her lover Hank, her "self-appointed grandmother" Alma and her unstable best friend Charity, an advice columnist .
Great characters, a very good series.
Kijewski, Karen - 3rd in series
Kat agrees to help presumed orphan Paige Morrell find out about her parents now that her grandmother Florence, who refused to discuss them, has died. Little by little, Kat peels away layers of the past, discovering that Paige's mother, one of twin daughters mistreated by Florence, may still be alive. Enhancing the story and complicating Kat's life as she travels to Lake Tahoe, Calif., and to Omaha are her lover Hank, her "self-appointed grandmother" Alma and her unstable best friend Charity, an advice columnist .
Great characters, a very good series.
March 9, 2016
Kat Colorado works as a PI in Sacramento. A young lady hires her to find out who her parents. She was raised by an unloving grandmother who only told her parents died young.
At the beginning of each chapter, there is a quote. Some are only listing of statistics about some odd thing or another. The last chapter's quote is, "Hopes and dreams, nightmares and fears,reality, it gets tangled up. That's how life is."
All I can say about this book is, yes, things get tangled up.
At the beginning of each chapter, there is a quote. Some are only listing of statistics about some odd thing or another. The last chapter's quote is, "Hopes and dreams, nightmares and fears,reality, it gets tangled up. That's how life is."
All I can say about this book is, yes, things get tangled up.
January 28, 2016
Kat Colorado is hired by Paige Morrell to find her mothers death certificate. Paige was raised by her grandmother and she can't inherit the family farm and orchard until it's proved that her mother is dead. As Kat investigates she uncovers a web of family secrets and lies. This is the third book in the series and i haven't read the other two. Kat makes some questionable choices which might be better understood if I had read the previous books.
January 2, 2009
I'm liking this series of mysteries. I like the recurring characters, the relationships they build and the plots they get involved in. This was no exception. A nice break from heavier, more demanding books. Some day I should tackle Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle. And someday, I should see if I still remember how to do the cat's cradle string game.
December 31, 2013
I have now read a few books in this series and so far I have really enjoyed them. However, this one just didn't seem to flow as easily as the others. Most of the main characters are involved in this book, but they just seemed a little flat this time. I will keep reading on and hope the next book reverts back to her original style.
July 5, 2014
Two and one half stars. First, there was a lot of back story and the author tried to bring a new reader up to speed, but it didn't work for me. Second, even though the initial mystery was interesting, the author seemed to feel obligated to create several plot twists and, by the end of the book, it was simply too much.
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April 6, 2014The principle character in this series is Kat Colorado, a private detective in Sacramento, California.
Kat Colorado is a wise-cracking, thirty-something California bartender-turned-P.I., a curious cat with nine lives.
Kat Colorado is a wise-cracking, thirty-something California bartender-turned-P.I., a curious cat with nine lives.
October 15, 2015
#3 in the Kat Colorado series.
Sacramento PI Kat Colorado - is hired by Paige Morrell to find out about her parents. She was told they were killed when she was an infant. The truth reveals a manipulative grandmother, blackmail, confused identities, fraud and multiple murders.
Sacramento PI Kat Colorado - is hired by Paige Morrell to find out about her parents. She was told they were killed when she was an infant. The truth reveals a manipulative grandmother, blackmail, confused identities, fraud and multiple murders.
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April 14, 2008Mystery
August 24, 2009
Very Good; Continuing character: Kat Colorado; investigator looks into a sordid family history to discover who inherits a fortune.
May 29, 2010
Another Kat Colorado Mystery.
I was surprised about the ending. Never guessed.
I was surprised about the ending. Never guessed.
May 30, 2010
Not as good as the first two in the series.
January 28, 2011
Pretty enjoyable mystery. This is the third one I've read, and it mostly reminds me of Sue Grafton's books. The ending is a bit convoluted, but still enjoyable.
August 21, 2014
Having read book #3 in the series (I don't have #2), I'm not inclined to read the rest that I have on my shelves. I find the characters are caricatures.
March 14, 2016
Entertaining story.
March 17, 2016
Karen Kijewski is a fun read. Her character is Kat Colorado, a bartender turned P.I., who loves to solve the mysteries she gets involved with throughout her life.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews