When an unhappy young boy tries to kidnap a cat, he stumbles onto the scene of a brutal murder in progress.

Eleven-year-old Robin's new in town, foisted on his young Auntie Mags and her resentful live-in boyfriend when his mother remarries and blithely embarks on an extended honeymoon trip. Wanting to fit in somewhere, Robin agrees to a challenge from a gang--if he can sneak into the Nordlings' house and "borrow" Mrs. Nordling's prize-winning pussycat, a beautiful Norwegian Forest cat named Leif Eriksson, they'll let him join.

But Robin's barely gotten into the house when he overhears the sounds of Mr. Nordling beating his wife to death. When the enraged murderer hurls the poor cat out of the bedroom, Robin retrieves the stunned animal and then, chased by Nordling, manages to escape without being recognized.

Robin's too scared to tell what he knows, especially when Nordling fakes an alibi and sets up the murder scene as a burglary gone wrong, and, after all, Robin did technically burgle a valuable cat--and an even more valuable bracelet that Leif was wearing around his furry neck. And now panicky Nordling's looking for the cat as his clue to the only witness who can identify him as his wife's murderer, Robin's trying to learn about cats and hide Leif from Mags and her boyfriend and everyone else, and Leif's looking for a litterbox and some security.

Marian Babson does a great job of weaving the disparate elements of the story into a satisfactory denouement. Though there are surprises along the way, the groundwork for them is carefully laid, making them quite logical and always believable. Robin's compassionate bonding with Leif is touching without being overly sentimental, and his attempts to care for and hide the cat--including clipping and coloring his distinctive, lush coat--are gently amusing.

The supporting characters are all well drawn, from the Nordlings' neighbors Edith and Edward; to Robin's imperious grandmother who suddenly swoops into town with her own agenda; to schoolmates Jamie and Kerry, with whom Robin tentatively begins to forge friendships.

The few violent scenes are a bit intense, but they are not gratuitous. Although the overall tone is that of a cozy, Babson never falls into the trap of trivializing the reality of murder, but neither does she sensationalize it.

All in all, Babson has carefully crafted a very satisfying and enjoyable story. Highly recommended.