We often do beginnings on Sunday, taking a look at the start of one of my novels. CAT ON A HOT TIN WOOF, the 16th novel – but not the last! – in the Chet and Bernie mystery series -comes out April 14 (preorders make the publisher happy and therefore me). We’re now doing the beginning of each one, going backwards (since the series can be read in any order) and on the 16th Sunday we’ll do CAT ON A HOT TIN WOOF. Today we’re at SCENTS AND SENSIBILITY.

Home at last! We’d been away so long, first in swampy country, then in a big city – maybe called Foggy Bottom – that confused me from the get-go. Is there time to mention the air in both those places before we really get started? Soggy and heavy: that sums it up.

Where were we? Was it possibly … home? Yes! Home! Home at last! Our home – mine and Bernie’s – is on Mesquite Road. Mesquite Road’s in the Valley. Quite recently I might have heard that the Valley’s in Arizona, but don’t count on that. What matters is that right now I was inhaling a nice big noseful of Valley air. Light and dry, with a hint of greasewood and just plain grease: perfect. I felt tip top. Bernie opened our door, kicked aside a huge pile of mail, and we went in.