Katapult

Karen Kijewski

Kat cannot believe Johnny is dead. Her adopted grandmother wakes her up with the news that the police are trying to tell her this news. Kat goes over to straighten out the information. Her adopted cousin Johnny was murdered, possibly in a drug deal. Alma, Kat's "grandmother", and Kat refuse to believe that of Johnny. He was a veterinary student and not the type.

Alma tells Kat about the money Johnny was supposed to inherit within the next year. She begs Kat to find Johnny's runaway sister, Micah. Kat is now looking for Micah, helping Alma through the crisis, and checking with Johnny and Micah's father regarding the status of the inheritance. Then, to add to the complications in her life, a teen age hooker drops into her life.

Lindy, the hooker, wants Kat to investigate the murder of her best friend, another teen hooker. Kat wants to help Lindy both professionally and on a personal level. She tries to get Lindy settled temporarily to stay off the streets, then concentrates on Alma, Johnny, and Micah. When someone starts shooting at her car she begins to believe there is more going on that she first suspected.

I like Kat Colorado. She is portrayed as a fairly independent female private investigator who is not afraid to lean on her boyfriend (for lack of a better term) for emotional and physical support. She can grieve over death, yet keep going to investigate it. She can take care of herself, yet is not in the class of hard boiled. This book rounds out her personality as well as giving an intriguing mystery to solve.

Katwalk
Katapult
Kat's Cradle
Copy Kat
Wild Kat
Alley Kat Blues
Honky Tonk Kat
Kat Scratch Fever
Stray Kat Waltz

Desert Heat by J.A. Jance