MIDNIGHT LOUIE
THE PREQUELS
by Carole Nelson Douglas
There are two prequel series, the "Crystal" series and the "Cat and a Playing Card" series. Both series tell the same basic story.
The Crystal Series
There are two stories in each book, which are shortened versions of the cat and a playing card series.
Crystal Days
contains the stories in
The Cat and the King of Clubs
The Cat and the Queen of Hearts.
Crystal Nights
contains the stories in
The Cat and the Jill of Diamonds
The Cat and the Jack of Spades.
The cat and a Playing Card Series
Carole Nelson Douglas' preferred editions - Original text restored
The Cat and the King of Clubs
This story tells about Nicky Fontana and his quest for 'class'. He hires Van Von Rhine to help him remodel his hotel, the Joshua Tree, and turn it into the Crystal Phoenix. Midnight Louie brings help to rescue the Hotel from thugs hired by ugly Al Fresco.
The
Cat and the Queen of Hearts
A Vegas showgirl. Darcy McGill, who loves to dance, but also likes to write, is falling in love with her prudish professor, Stevenson Eliot Austen. He likes her writing, and tries to help her. She pretends to be her make believe sister and seduces him (what a lucky guy!). She is later kidnapped by a sheik and Midnight Louie points the way for her rescue.
The
Cat and the Jill of Diamonds
Jill O'Rourke, brought up in the desert and tough as cactus, a sharpshooter, who plays poker professionally, is hired to provide a diversion (card playing) for a night club singer, Johnny Diamond. When the singer's life is threatened, Midnight Louie brings Jill to him in time for a rescue from ugly Al Fresco's hit man. Some treasure is discovered.
The
Cat and the Jack of Spades
A Gayle Tyson, a woman from Kansas, falls hard for a baccarat dealer in Vegas known as Solitaire. When hit men come after Solitaire, her life is in danger, too. He steals some roast beef from the kitchen of the Crystal Phoenix, a map from Van's office, and takes her for a wild ride into the desert to escape, and they discover the rest of the treasure. Midnight Louie unjustly takes the blame for the missing roast beef and the map. Solitaire finds out his real name.