Wilfredo is a schlubby theater stagehand still recovering from a breakup. Cassandra is an aspiring actress stuck in a miserable relationship. Theirs is an extraordinary meeting: Wilfredo saves Cassandra after she gets caught in a subway door. There’s an immediate attraction between them, but then Wilfredo loses Cassandra’s phone number in a street mugging. So he dons an old theater costume and becomes Foxman—an urban vigilante and a viral internet sensation. Meanwhile, Cassandra deals with the stress of her failing relationship by engaging in not-so-petty theft dressed as a Cat Burglar. Even as our protagonists search for each other, their alter egos clash on the streets of Manhattan.
Both Cassandra and Wilfredo are relatable, decent people. However, their idea of good deeds differs. While Wilfredo wants to assist ordinary citizens by preventing street crime, Cassandra wants to steal from the rich and give to the poor. Despite that, they are a good match. The only obstacle in their way is bad luck. To overcome it, our protagonists must face their insecurities, remove their masks, and take control of their lives. In brief: they need to grow up. This subtext gives the novel some welcome substance.
Delas Heras’s FOXMAN AND THE CAT BURGLAR has such good vibes that even the villains come off as at least somewhat sympathetic. This is most apparent with the famous TV star (and Wilfredo’s old high school crush) Ruby, and, to a lesser degree, with Cassandra’s obnoxious fiancé Gregory. On the downside, the story feels a bit predictable. Even those unfamiliar with romantic comedies will easily spot twists and turns from far away. It doesn’t help that, all too often, the plot progresses not because of the characters’ actions but due to lucky coincidences and unfortunate mishaps. This stretches the believability and makes the characters’ achievements feel unearned. But these are all minor quibbles. FOXMAN AND THE CAT BURGLAR is a charming, lighthearted novel that’s perfect for summer vacation. It may not look like it, but it takes both work and skills to tell a story that’s seemingly so effortless and light. With this novel, the author proves he possesses those skills.
FOXMAN AND THE CAT BURGLAR by Delas Heras is a charming romantic comedy of errors. With its likable protagonists caught in a series of ever-escalating comedic mishaps, this breezy novel is a perfect beach read.
~Danijel Štriga, for IndieReader