They say behind every strong woman, there’s a strong man. That’s so not true. If you really want to know what’s behind a strong woman, ask her cat. Hayden Kent belongs to me. She thinks it’s the other way around. I let her believe the fantasy.
My name is Tiger Cat. At least that’s what Hayden calls me. It’s not my real name. I’m not telling her though. The truth could jeopardize my supply of those tasty treats called Florida lobsters. Now that I mention it, those crustaceans aren’t real lobsters. There’s a pattern here. In the human world, nothing is as it seems. Not names, not even food.
I was a two-month old whippersnapper when she found me huddled next to a box alongside the shoulder on the Florida Turnpike. As soon as she pulled over, I knew she needed me. So I let her coax me into her truck. She had a big Chevy Tahoe in those days. Not like the Subaru she has now. Then I waited while she called the police about the box. But that’s another story. And Hayden isn’t ready to tell it yet, I’ll be there for her when she is.
We’ve been together five years now. Took a while, but I think I have her fairly well trained. She knows what I like to eat when I wake up. Sometimes she lets me pick out my own food. On weekends, we share lunch. At least when she isn’t diving. Diving. That’s something I don’t understand. I haven’t been able to break her of the habit yet. Why would anyone want to jump off a perfectly good boat and immerse themselves in water? Deep water. I don’t get it, and if it weren’t for those wonderful lobsters. . .I’d claw a hole in her air hose.
What really worries me about her underwater habits, besides the fact I’m afraid she’ll figure out a way for me to join her, is her lousy luck. Last summer she found a dead guy. I know, I know, I tried to warn her. Don’t go down there. She wouldn’t listen. She says it’s peaceful. Really? How peaceful is finding a dead guy. Especially a dead guy that the cops think you killed. I’ll tell you, I had a heck of a time keeping her out of jail. She thinks the investigation was all her doing. Sure it was, for the parts that needed walking around and talking, but the solution. I tried to tell her so many times. She never listened.
Then, this winter, her friend’s son died. Yes, it was in the water. He found treasure. Some treasure. There is no luck in dying. Now if he’d stayed in the boat, he’d be alive today. I tried to convince her to leave it alone. The humans thought it was an accident. I begged her to agree. Nope, she had to go jump in the water again. Go down to the treasure site. I almost lost her too. I heard them talking. Scared me so much I watched her for two nights straight. Didn’t sleep a wink. Someone had to keep her safe. I could taste the danger surrounding her. Almost got her killed. Then where would I be?
Now she’s safe again, but I know it won’t last. What’s that saying people have, not the one about strong men, you know, the one about curiosity. It’s not going to kill this cat, but I’m not so sure about what it can do to my human. Maybe I will go claw that air hose.
Death by Sunken Treasure is the second book in the Hayden Kent mystery series, published by Henery Press, March 2016.
When Hayden Kent’s mentor and friend discovers her son Mike’s dead body, dressed in full scuba attire, washed up on Pigeon Key, she needs Hayden. Her paralegal and dive skills may help unravel the tragedy of Mike’s last days. He’d recently discovered a sunken Spanish galleon and rumors that he hit the mother lode ran through the Keys like wildfire.
Hayden’s dive on the treasure site uncovers gold, and clues that Mike’s death was something far more sinister than an accident. When two different wills, both signed the day Mike died, are delivered to the courthouse, the suspect list grows, as do the threats against her. The danger escalates as she tries to save herself, discover the motive, and find the killer.
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About the author
Kait Carson spent a lifetime living and working in the tropical paradise of south Florida. She opted for a day job as a paralegal practicing in the world of high-end estates and probate litigation. Legal pads give way to a keyboard in the evening and Kait spins tales of murder and mayhem set in the steamy Florida heat. Kait writes two series, the Catherine Swope series, set in the Miami area, and the Hayden Kent series set in the Fabulous Florida Keys. Like her protagonist, Hayden Kent, Kait is an accomplished SCUBA diver. She lives with her husband, six rescue cats and four tropical birds at an airpark in Florida. Not too far from the water.
Visit Kait at kaitcarson.com and on Facebook.
Giveaway: Leave comment below for your chance to win the Kindle edition of Death by Sunken Treasure. US entries only, please. The giveaway will end March 28, 2016 at 12 AM EST. Good luck everyone!
All comments are welcomed.
The cat’s perspective is cute. Thanks for the chance to enter!
Good luck!
Sounds like an interesting and fun book. Would love to win a copy.
I hope you do. Good Luck!
Great review and I’ve added this to my wish list. Thanks for the chance to win.
Thanks Doward!
This is a nice approach for an interview. Being owned by two cats I often wonder what they are thinking. Thanks for the opportunity to enter your giveaway. robeader53@yahoo.com
Isn’t it the truth! Only another cat owner truly understands that they DO consider us staff.
I’d like to give this one a go. I could just see a little kitty in a diving bell as I read this.
I once had a T-Shirt of a cat in a diving bell and the caption was “Window Shopping.” I think I wore it until I wore it out!
Sounds good to me.
Thanks, Gram! Good luck.
Another “new-to-me” author. Thank you for introducing me to Kait Carson and for this chance.
Thank you, Peggy, good luck!
I love snorkeling, but scuba diving is something Ive been fearful of trying because I have phobias…add murder? I may never be the same.
As for the cat…clever! Thanks.
Thanks Kathleen. Both snorkeling and scuba are fantastic sports. Here’s a tip though, less sunburn with scuba! Something to think about. Good luck!
The thought of diving scares the begeebers out of me, think I’ll leave that to the pros. Thanks for the chance to win.
Thanks Mary Jane. And good luck!
My son is a certified diver, wreck diver and also rescue. He can be seen every other Sunday as a volunteer tank cleaner at our local aquarium. Yes he’s in there with the sharks and other predators. He loves it. He even beat out older more experienced divers for the unpaid position.
So I figured that after I won the book and enjoyed it I’d share it with him. LOL
Sounds like a plan, Nora Adrienne. And kudos to your son for volunteering his time at the aquarium. The sea is really the final frontier, we know so little about it. Good luck with the drawing.
I can appreciate a cat not understanding the appeal of diving. But those lobsters are pretty darn good, aren’t they?
Yes, indeed they are. And Tiger knows it well!
I’m not a scuba diver, but love reading about underwater adventures ~ Thanks for the giveaway!
Thanks Celia, good luck!
Sounds great reading
Thanks Betty!
Going to order right now! Sounds good!
Thank you, Linda. Hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
I love books where the animal is in charge. So like my house.
Oh, I know what you mean! They certainly are in charge. Ever try to sleep past feeding time. Hah, can’t happen.
Thank you, Dru, and thank all the commentators. I’m sorry I was so late to get here and respond. Unfortunately, I had to take three (count ’em) cats to the vet this morning. All are well, but they all needed something. Given the topic of this post and many of the comments–I’m sure you all understand!
Sorry to hear about your cats but glad they are okay.
Yep, they are fine. It’s always an adventure when you have six. Thank you!
I think this is a great setting for a book. Scuba diving is an interesting topic for a mystery. Adding to my TBR list.
Thanks Dianne!
I can relate to this–I have 4 strong rescue cats behind me–sounts like a great read.
This mystery by a new-to-me author sounds exciting! And as I have rescue cats, also, love mysteries in which a cat is included.
sounds like another great series!
Thanks for the chance to win looks like a great book iamabho (at) gmail.com
Tiger Cat is so right. Rarely are things as they seem. This looks like a great read and I am grateful for the chance to get it sooner, rather than later. Awhile back saw on animal Planet about a guy that had scuba gear made for his cat. They dived often. Maybe Tiger Cat can join Hayden. Instead of trying to convince her not to dive
New-to-me author/series…thanx for the intro & giveaway….