ONE FOR THE MONEY

D.B. Borton’s One for the Money is a classic cozy mystery set in Cincinnati. Widower Cat Caliban is set on starting over and becoming a private investigator following her husband’s death when the perfect first case comes to her - a murder in the apartment above hers, in the building she owns.

Borton’s mystery is fun and easy-going. Reminiscent of the tv series Rosemary & Thyme, it was a joy to read Cat discovering her craft as an investigator and making friends along the way.

Recently widowed, Cat Caliban has lived through what our society deems a woman’s usual existence; daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, etc but now she wants to stretch her legs and expand her boundaries. What better way to accomplish that than by buying an apartment house in a rundown area of Cincinnati and deciding to hang out her shingle as a private investigator? Never mind that she lacks even the most basic knowledge and skills required to be a licensed P.I. That’s what the public library is for. When Cat finds one of her tenants has been stabbed to death with her own knife she considers it an omen that her new career choice is the right one for her and she sets out to catch herself a killer.

“One for the Money” is set in the mid-1980s and Cat’s personae is one of a middle-aged, salty tongued woman who could give any sailor a run for his money in the language department. She’s witty, sarcastic and an all ‘round hoot. And then there’s Cat’s close friends and family and the people she meets in the course of her investigation. All told, there are so many characters in this story that you need a program to keep track of who’s who. The plot is original but gets bogged down with unnecessary details and too many characters to keep track of. And who really cares what Cat is wearing? How and why is that important? It’s not as if she is a fashion plate showing off some designers creations. The significance of her wardrobe choices totally escapes me.

Where this novel shines is in the dialogue. Author D. B. Borton has either lived among the street people or spent lots of time studying the street vernacular because the dialogue is absolutely spot on in its authenticity and accuracy, including the dropped syllables. It’s as if you can actually “hear” the accents and the unique manner in which information is exchanged on the street. This aspect alone is sufficient to recommend “One for the Money” as a worthwhile and entertaining read.

Originally published in 1993, this and two other titles by Borton are being reissued this year.

My thanks to NetGalley and to author D. B. Borton for the privilege of previewing “One for the Money”. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#ONEFORTHEMONEY #NetGalley

Thank you, Net Galley and Boomerang Books for the opportunity to read and offer my review.

One for the Money is a tasty recipe for an old-fashioned mystery. Toss in a little Jessica Fletcher (Murder She Wrote) and a sprinkling of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple and you have a wonderfully entertaining read.

Cat Calaban is a more “mature”, unlicensed as yet, sleuth. I say sleuth, she says private detective - some of this/some of that. Really not much difference when she inserts herself into a murder investigation. One the police likely wouldn’t have even investigated without her insistent prodding, since it was the death of an apparent homeless person found in Cat’s own apartment building. As you can imagine, this could go wrong in so many ways and it does from time to time, especially when she crosses Detective Fricke (assigned to the case) and a lengthy list of suspects.

However, Cat has skills! Some learned by raising three kids. Anyone who has children knows you have to have an inquiring mind and she certainly has that in abundance. In fact, at some points in the case her inquiring mind seems on the verge of tipping over into fantasy, but she stops at the precipice, hones in and solves the case.

Was this great literature? Maybe not, but it certainly was fun! I understand there are three more books in the series. I’m looking forward to having a gin and tonic with Cat and her neighbors.
#NetGalley, #ONEFORTHEMONEY

I love Cat she isn’t your typical granny! She is recently widowed and decided to completely have a life style change. That includes studying to be a private instigator. This was a really fun story and lots of laughs. It’s based in the eighties an Cat has a foul mouth. In her new apartment building she just bought she finds a dead body and decides to test her skills!
#ONEFORTHEMONEY #NetGalley

It took me a bit to get into the book but overall I loved it. A perfect lighthearted funny murder mystery book. I can’t wait to see what happens to them next.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Boomerang Books for an advance copy of One for the Money, the first novel to feature budding PI Cat Caliban, set in Cincinnati in the 80s and originally published in 1993.

Recently widowed at 59 Cat decides on a change of direction so sells up, buys a property with rentable apartments and starts training as a PI. She gets her first taste of investigation when she discovers a dead body in the empty flat upstairs.

I thoroughly enjoyed One for the Money which is a fun read that doesn’t take itself too seriously. I wondered at first if I would like the novel as the wise cracking seems a bit forced and self conscious but it soon settles down and becomes just another facet of the absurd plot. No, I’m not going to issue spoilers but a small hint about hidden pasts and priceless gems and doesn’t give too much away and gives the reader a taste of the absurdity. It is well done with a mixture of comedy and a well disguised perpetrator.

Cat assembles a motley crew of assistant investigators from her tenants, Kevin, Mel and Al. All have something to bring and are unabashedly enthusiastic. Again it’s fun. Cat, herself, brings her experience of motherhood and years of domestic investigation to the table and has a rather jaundiced view of human nature.

One for the Money is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

One for the Money is the first in a new mystery series by author D. B. Horton. Cat Caliban is a saucy Cincinnati grandmother with the cursing ability of a sailor. After her husband dies, she starts looking for a new job and decides to become a private detective. She deems she’s qualified because she’s raised three children and is used to seeking out the criminal who spilt grape juice on the couch, and she’s been reading detective novels for years.

She is as-yet unlicensed when she discovers a dead body in one of the apartments in the small complex she’s just bought. The police appear to be letting the investigation slide as the murdered woman was a street person known as Betty Bags, so Cat inserts herself into the fray, eager to gain detective experience.

Cat at times verges on falling into fanciful thoughts, pulling in ideas from Miss Marple, Nancy Drew, and Jessica Fletcher, to help solve her crimes. Fortunately, she is able to tell cozy mystery from reality and eventually solves the crime.

I enjoyed this fun look at women-of-a-certain-age who refuses to do what is expected. Also I was happy Cat not only finds a new vocation in her post-menopausal years, but she discovers a compatible group of new friends and allies in the tenants of her newly-purchased apartment complex. Another plus is that a young man of limited mental resources helps her out, and she graciously allows him to enjoy the accolades, thus increasing his self-worth. One for the Money isn’t great literature but is definitely a fun read during the Covid pandemic.

Cat Caliban is a private investigator. Not yet licensed. Past her first youth. She can be rather loud. And rather rude. And swear a fair bit. The sort of person you are either going to love or hate.
D.B.Borton's novel opens a series featuring Cat Caliban and her cats. It was first published in the 1980s. Today it's worthy of classic status.
There's lots of humour and a plot that doesn't disappoint. A book to lose yourself in on a cold winter's night. This is a series I think I could easily get addicted to before much longer.

One for the Money by D. B. Borton was one of the best books I have read in a long while. Cat Caliban has it all, feistiness, amazing neighbors and attack cats. What more could one ask for? I can't wait to read the next one.

Introducing Cat Caliban....
Introducing Detective in training Cat Caliban. She’s looking for a new career and crime falls into her lap with a thud. Surely it’s the obvious choice? Fun and fast cosy mystery with a delightful protagonist, pitch perfect narrative and a colourful cast of supporting characters. A promising start to a new series.

If you are looking for a book with great characters, especially the main one, and humour ,pull up a chair and put your feet up. Also cats, what is not to like ! I have 5 cats myself and I loved this book. Good story plenty going on, and it's a feel good book, happy to recommend it.

A highly entertaining and well written cozy mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed it and want to read other in this series.
The characters are well thought and interesting, the solid mystery kept me guessing.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

One for the Money is the first Cat Caliban cozy mystery by D. B. Borton. Originally published in 1993, this reformat and re-release from Boomerang Books is 226 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. This, the first book in the series, is also currently available at reduced cost (or free in some places).

This is a well written, genuinely funny murder cozy set in Cincinnati with a feisty protagonist who's survived raising a family and isn't inclined to put up with anyone's crap. She's salty, down-to-earth, and kind and loyal to her friends. The mystery itself, the plotting, and the pacing are very well done. The author definitely has a solid handle on her craft. I found myself engaged in the story and never felt it dragged or raced. The dialogue is superlative. It flows naturally and believably. It has a delightful retro vibe being set in the 1980s and the author's references to cultural icons of the time ("Cagney & Lacey" for example) will make those of us who remember the 1980s smile, or maybe wince. Writing humor is challenging. This one actually surprised a bark of laughter out of me a couple times. That happens very very rarely. There are also positive (admittedly stereotypical) depictions of people who are LGBTQIA+ in the book, as well as a warm fuzzy theme of "found family". Slight warning for rough language (sort of Bea Arthur Golden Girls level snark here).

I was previously unfamiliar with the author and have added her to my "update regularly" list. Looking forward to more.

Five stars. Tone perfect, very entertaining.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Cat Caliban is in her fifties, recently widowed, a mother and a grandmother and she now wants a new career. Since "suspicion is second nature to any woman who's raised three kids", what better career option than to become a private investigator! She sells her suburban house, buys an apartment building and begins her training and soon gets a chance to put her skills to use when she discovers a murdered body of a homeless woman in one of her apartments.

This was a fun read. The series is based in the 1980s and was initially published in the early 90s but it still felt fresh. Cat is witty, sharp, snarky, not shy about using cuss words and with the help of equally eccentric and interesting supporting characters she does a fine job of solving the murder mystery, much to the chagrin of the police.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Boomerang Books and the author D. B. Borton for the e-Arc of the book.