by Edie Claire
Signet, September 2002
272 pages, $5.99
ISBN: 0451206835
Leigh Koslow series #5
Leigh Koslow, ad copywriter, is in the midst of contemplating unpacked moving boxes in her new suburban Pittsburgh home when a sudden knock on her living room window interrupts. Elderly Adith Rhodis's grandson Ricky has been arrested for breaking into an animal clinic--Koslow Animal Clinic--owned by Randall Koslow, Leigh's father. Mrs. Rhodis is positive that Ricky wasn't trying to steal drugs--he has cryptically told her that he was trying to return something that belonged to someone else. Leigh agrees to talk to her father but she knows it won't be easy--her father has no sympathy for drug traffickers.
At the clinic, she casually interviews the employees--Nancy Johnson, the office manager; Jeanine, the senior tech; and Jared Loomis, born with Down Syndrome & in charge of keeping the kennels clean. Jared tells her that a cardboard cat carrier and a trash bag filled with used cat litter were found near the kennels that morning. The only cats in the kennels the evening of the break-in were two Siamese and an old sick black cat. Creepy Lilah Murchinson owned the two Siamese cats.
Then Nikki Loomis, Jared's sister and Lilah's personal assistant, breaks the news that Lilah is presumed dead--she was a passenger on a private plane that went down into Lake Michigan the day of the break-in. Is there a connection? Leigh is determined to find out.
It comes as a surprise to everyone that Lilah has left a half million dollars to the cat charities of Randall Koslow's choice as well as a generous retainer to him to oversee the care of her twenty-three pet Siamese cats. Even more shocking is the news that her greedy son, Dean Murchinson, is not her real son. The majority of the estate has been left to her true blood heir--he or she only needs to come forward with proper ID within the next five years in order to claim it.
Back at her dad's animal clinic, Leigh finds anonymous threats aimed at someone at the clinic. And in spite of warnings from family and friends, Leigh is positive that the threats are connected with both the break-in and the contents of Lilah's will. Leigh keeps investigating and never realizes that her actions have put not only her life in danger but other people's lives as well.
Never Tease a Siamese gives you enough suspects to keep you guessing throughout the book even though it is difficult to understand why anyone would ever put up with Leigh's level of nosiness. If you have never read anything in this series, it may feel like you have just entered a roomful of strangers--all of whom know each other very well. However, the story has enough momentum to propel you through to the ending and may pique your interest enough to investigate the other books in this series.
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