William Heads to Hollywood

Life for feline detective, William, aka ‘International Cat of Mystery’ has become mundane after tracking down that ‘Missing Masterpiece’. He’s longing for another big case to solve when he receives a scented letter requesting his urgent assistance. In no time at all he’s flown the Atlantic and become embroiled in the world of glamour as he goes hot on the trail of the missing Golden Cuckoo Awards.

No Hollywood mystery would be complete without its femme fatale so on cue, enter stage right Audrey, glamour puss star of stage and screen, and off go the two of them to track down the ten statues in time for the presentation. Without suspects it’s a case of grabbing any clues they can, but before following any leads a spot of lunch is the order of the day. It’s in the canteen that William and Audrey come face to face with past-her-prime top star, Ms Vivienne Baxter, who oddly seems to know something about the Cuckoo case already. But, there’s no time to lose so appetites sated, the two sleuths continue their work in the props department. Therein an exhaustive search yields zilch and William is more than a little dispirited. Audrey however, remains upbeat and she suggests waiting for the pre-presentation fancy dress party.

Evening comes and the party is crammed with all manner of costume-clad characters, but there’s someone who really stands out from the crowd and there’s something strangely familiar about her attire.

From then on the action really hots up: there’s a breathless car chase, a heroic rescue, a final confession and a retrieval of the missing awards just in time for the ceremony. But even that is not quite the end of the story. I won’t spoil Helen Hancock’s delectable finale though.

Helen Hancock’s scenes, executed in subdued hues, evoke a gloriously glamorous technicolour Hollywood of a bygone age, and the costumes and props are out of this world. Delectable stuff for adults too.