Golden Age of Detective Fiction

Hello readers! Today is a day of double delight: it’s my lovely sister’s birthday and the first day of our simple and fun event, Reading the Meow 2024. This event, hosted by Literary Potpourri, is a celebration of cats in books, and it’s a breeze to participate. Just read a book with a cat in it and share your thoughts on your blog, Instagram, twitter, or Goodreads. I’ll be sharing about cats in mysteries, but you can contribute about cats in any genre: fiction, poetry, whatever you fancy. Reading the Meow runs from June 10 – June 16, and you can find more details about the event and its participants here.

My first book for #ReadingtheMeow2024 is The Alarm of the Black Cat by Dolores Hitchens–which unfortunately is the second book in the Rachel Murdock series, but I don’t think that ultimately hampers the story or makes it difficult to read, it just happens to be the second book in this cat series. You should probably read them in order, if you have your life together, but I don’t.

The Alarm of the Black Cat is the sequel to The Cat Saw Murder, published in 1939. The Cat Saw Murder and The Alarm of the Black Cat, which American Mystery Classics has lovingly reprinted, have a fantastic introduction by David Handler, who details how animals and cats especially have been faithful sleuthing companions since the inception of crime fiction. The cat, having been somewhat co-opted by the cozy mystery genre as its unofficial mascot, is not its primary purview, and cats have been using all of their nine lives to catch killers.

The Alarm of the Black Cat has all the outward trappings of a cozy mystery. A spinsterly elderly lady named Rachel Murdock and her cat, Samantha, are taking a little vacation after the particularly stressful ending of their first adventure, The Cat Saw Murder. They are looking at possible vacation rentals and eventually decide to stay in one squalid, out-of-the-way house due to the death of a toad.

It sounds very Jessica Fletcher-ish, but the book’s tone quickly dashes any coziness- this is a cruel and sinister tale from page one. Here’s a quote from the opening:

It was the toad, in the role of innocent bystander, who first savored the particularly brutal kind of death which hovered over the four houses at the end of Beecher and Chatham streets. The toad, drowsy in the heat of the underside of a rosebush, looked up to meet the face of Murder, and he died as befits a gentleman, quietly and without too much struggle. Perhaps he knew at that moment, by some divine dispensation, that his dying lessened and relieved, though only temporarily, the stored hatred which was soon to infect the neighborhood.

Hitchens, Dolores. The Alarm of the Black Cat (The Rachel Murdock Mysteries) (p. 6). MysteriousPress.com/Open Road. Kindle Edition.

The Alarm of the Black Cat is unabashedly about hatred. The little toad was the pet of a young girl named Claudia, who had very little love. Her family has been fractured by the death of her mother several years before, and rumors swirl in the neighborhood that a love triangle and domestic abuse led to her early death. Claudia, who lives with her father and his relations, is at the center of family pain and drama. The potential affair partner and her mother’s family comprise the rest of the neighborhood, and relations between the three families are tense. Growing up surrounded by resentment and hatred, Claudia loves her toad unconditionally. The toad’s death has only one purpose: to hurt Claudia.

Having witnessed the toad’s death, Rachel Murdoch moves into an empty house in the neighborhood with her cat Samantha to observe the three families. She believes that the cruel malice between the families has reached a boiling point and won’t stop at killing a mere toad. Unfortunately, she’s correct; this killer is just getting started.

As Rachel Murdock plunges into the murky history of Claudia’s family, she uncovers a large fortune that Claudia is set to inherit. Murdock’s investigation is tense and full of gothic allusions and many bodies. When Claudia’s Great Grandmother is found bludgeoned in Murdock’s basement, and after a prowler breaks into Rachel’s rented house, injuring Samantha, the two interlopers, with the aid of Detective Mayhew, decide to get to the bottom of what is happening.

The Review

The Alarm of the Black Cat is a gripping thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. With its atmospheric dark houses, mysterious break-ins, and suspicious characters lurking in the shadows, the book unfolds like a complex puzzle that you, as the reader, must decipher. I particularly enjoyed the puzzle aspect, which only serves as a stepping stone towards unraveling the mystery.

The motive for all of the strange events is provided for the reader; the death of Claudia’s mother has put in motion several painful and shocking events. Everyone in the neighborhood is dealing with their grief, and we, through Rachel Murdock, observe everyone trying to move on with their lives. There’s a buffet of psychological motives that we must weigh- and several that mimic hatred when they are grief, confusion, hopelessness, and sadness. The extreme sorrow mixed with the pervading air of hot-blooded anger puts everyone, including the reader, on a knife’s edge- the characters interpret each other’s motives often uncharitably, so the reader has to spend a lot of mental energy decoding what is happening versus what other characters believe is happening because they hate each other. Writing that out makes the book sound dull but lends itself to some great tension and noirish moments.

Our guide through all of this sorrow, grief, and malice is the impetuous Rachel Murdock, who is deeply troubled by the atmosphere in the neighborhood and firmly believes Claudia is in mortal danger. Murdock is reckless and daring, going into situations that she knows are deadly and confronting long-held beliefs with new evidence- which is met with skepticism and spurns on more killings. Murdock stays above the fray and keeps her emotions in check until her cat, Samantha, is grievously injured.

Unlike the toad at the beginning of the book, Samantha is not done away with quickly. She protects her owner fiercely and is the main reason Murdock isn’t killed in her sleep. When Samantha is locked away, Murdock unleashes a fury on the neighborhood and becomes recalcitrant in her desire to find this killer who delights in hurting things they see as weaker than them. Samantha also has all her claws out and is instrumental in catching the killer, which I won’t spoil for you.

I was captivated by Samantha’s pivotal role in the case and her distinct personality. She’s not just a decorative element- without her, the killer would have likely succeeded in eliminating Murdock and anyone else who crossed their path. Considering they managed to eliminate several people and a toad without detection, Samantha’s intervention adds a compelling layer to the book’s structure and emotional depth.

The Alarm of the Black Cat has one strange element that continuously distracts me throughout the book. Samantha on the cover, is portrayed as a black cat; the book is called The Alarm of the BLACK CAT. Samantha is described in the story’s text as honey-colored, having marmalade-colored fur, etc. I was driven almost crazy trying to figure out this discrepancy; my first thought was that a black cat would figure in the story in some way. No. Samantha, the yellow-orangy cat, is the only cat in the story. I don’t know if Samantha is described as black in the first story and Dolores Hitchens forgot that detail….but I feel like an editor would have noticed, right? This weird quirk led me to read several other book reviews in case I somehow missed the titular black cat- no. There is no black cat. I don’t know why Samantha is now a yellow cat, but you’ve been warned. 

The mystery of Samantha’s fur color notwithstanding, The Alarm of the Black Cat was a stellar read for me, and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.

Dolores Hitchens Biography

Dolores Hitchens, born Julia Clara Catherine Maria Dolores Robins (December 25, 1907 – August 1, 1973), was an American mystery novelist best known for her hard-boiled detective fiction. Writing under various pseudonyms, including D.B. Olsen, Noel Burke, and Dolan Birkley, Hitchens had a prolific career that spanned several decades.

Dolores Hitchens was born in San Antonio, Texas. She was the daughter of a Canadian soldier and an Irish mother. After her father’s death during World War I, her mother moved the family to California. Hitchens attended the University of California, Berkeley, and later studied at the University of Southern California.

Hitchens began her writing career in the early 1930s, initially focusing on traditional mystery novels. Her first book, “Blood on the Cat,” was published in 1939 under the pseudonym D.B. Olsen. Over the years, she wrote numerous novels, often featuring female protagonists and amateur sleuths.

One of her most well-known works is “Fools’ Gold,” published in 1958. This novel gained renewed attention when it was adapted into the French film “Band of Outsiders” (1964) by the renowned director Jean-Luc Godard.

Hitchens also collaborated with her second husband, Bert Hitchens, a railroad detective, on several mystery novels. This partnership produced the “Jim Sader” series, which combined Hitchens’ writing skills with her husband’s insider knowledge of railroad operations.

Dolores Hitchens’ writing is characterized by its intricate plots, well-developed characters, and a blend of hard-boiled and traditional mystery elements. Her works often explore themes such as justice, morality, and the complexities of human nature.

Though not as widely known as some of her contemporaries, Hitchens made a significant impact on the mystery genre. Her ability to weave complex narratives and create memorable characters has earned her a place among the notable mystery writers of her time.

Dolores Hitchens passed away in 1973 in Orange County, California, leaving behind a rich legacy of crime fiction that continues to be appreciated by mystery enthusiasts.