Dead Cat Alley

About the Book

In the year 2025, newspaper editor Justin Wright takes on the establishment to find justice when a homeless woman is murdered and one of his young reporters is assaulted. The crime takes place in a Sacramento alley, the famous Dead Cat Alley, known for its public arts project: ceramic rooftop cats with over-sized eerie eyes. Soon it appears that the murder and assault may have been unrelated and that the reporter may have been working on a story with important implications for a local politician. Despite the futuristic time frame, Dead Cat Alley is anything but sci-fi. Rather, the book is a straightforward mystery in which people struggle with the same problems as today: relationship issues, balancing work and home life. Politicians are still caught up in power grabs; local governments are still arguing over funding issues. But the heart of this story is a subject clearly near and dear to veteran journalist Chatfield: the survival of newspapers. While editor Wright laments the slow demise of the newspapers of his day (“We’d bleed for stories, and some guy in a suit who never even saw the inside of a newsroom decided we should put our work online for nothing”), the Newspaper Preservation Act of 2014 has made papers viable again. Information is conveyed and constantly updated on thin sheets of plastic embedded with multicolored silicon particles that rearrange themselves via micro electric currents. The so-called ipapers can be folded, pocketed, unfolded and recharged. The mystery is a puzzler – even down to the last page – but in a good way: Readers wondering whether their take on the whodunit is what the author intended will want to discuss the ending with others. - Blue Ink Reviews In the year 2000 Dead Cat Alley had been declared an historic landmark. But by 2025 it had become a haven for Sacramento’s underclass, and then murder scene. Author James Chatfield takes readers on a thrilling ride in the year 2025 as Sacramento Valley Times Editor Justin Wright — himself on the edge of career burnout uses futuristic technology to solve the murder of an old woman and death a young reporter. As he probes deep into his investigation, Wright uncovers a complex web of deceit, politics, and murder that could very well cost him his life or the life of the woman who shares his passion for the written word. Filled with unpredictable twists and turns, Dead Cat Alley is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats as they unravel the mystery. For more information on this book, interested parties may log on to www.Xlibris.com.

About the Author

James Chatfield lives in Northern California with his family, where he has been writing and editing newspapers since coming to California in 1980. He has personally received statewide awards for writing and photography. The newspapers at which he has served as editor have received awards for writing, photography, layout, and design. This book is dedicated to my wife, who has patiently put up with my “Type A” personality for nearly thirty years. I could not have written this novel without her faith in my skill and “gentle nudges” to enjoy the experience as a form a relaxation and not another task to be finished with all possible speed. I also want to credit our daughter, for her ideas and inspiration, particularly when it came to understanding so-called “new media.” Finally, I want to acknowledge the invaluable assistance of my sister, who pushed and pushed and pushed to add more depth and color to the characters and setting. Without her drive this work may never have been completed. This is a work of fiction. While inspired by real people, events, and places, the story is a product of the author’s imagination. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.