Cat with a Clue by Laurie Cass is
the fifth in A Bookmobile Cats Mystery series.
Minnie Hamilton is the interim Director of the Chilson Public Library since
the director left for a better position.
She is still driving the bookmobile as well. Minnie arrives two hours early for work to
get ahead and starts by shelving books.
Minnie is naturally reading while walking to the shelves (and not
watching where she is going) and stumbles. She looks down to find the body of a woman
with a knife sticking out of her. Minnie
immediately calls 911 from the reference department phone. The Chilson Police Department Chief of Police
is happy to turn the case over to Detective Inwood and Ash Wolverson (who is
training to be a detective). Minnie is
happy to see Ash and get a little comfort (he is her boyfriend which is
mentioned frequently throughout the novel).
The woman is Andrea Vennard who is related to Talia Dekeyser who just
passed away. Why was Andrea in the
library after hours? Minnie knows this
will cast a pall over the library and make patrons (as well as staff) a little afraid
of her beloved library. Minnie cannot
let this happen and is determined to find the killer. Then the Friends of the Library sale room is
broken into and disturbed. Nothing seems
to have been taken, but it is hard to tell (they do not keep records). After the local antique store is broken into,
Minnie begins to notice the pattern. The
killer is looking for (spoiler)! Minnie
just has to find out what (spoiler) they are looking for and find it before the
culprit. The staff at the library is
trying to get Minnie to apply to be the permanent director of the library. But Minnie is not sure she wants the
responsibility full-time. After the
board interviews each candidate, the pressure is increased. Will Minnie apply for the position?
Cat with a Clue is a cute
story. Minnie was a little too spacey
(instead of quirky) in this novel (more than normal). She seemed to always be walking, wandering, or
riding her bike and not paying attention.
Her employees even commented that she seemed to have checked out at
work. The book is nicely written and
easy to read. But I found more of the
book devoted to Minnie talking to her cat, Eddie, than to the mystery. The mystery was not complicated (I kept
hoping for a curveball) and I knew who did it as soon as the character was
introduced. I give Cat with a Clue 3 out
of 5 stars (it was okay). I have read
all the books in the series and Cat with a Clue is my least favorite. I just expected more. While Cat with a Clue is the fifth book in A Bookmobile Cats Mystery series, it can be read alone. The author updates the reader on Minnie’s
background (how she came to the town, opened bookmobile, etc.). There is some romance in the book. Aunt Frances being squired about by Otis
Bingham and Minnie dating Ash (we get details on their dates—kayaking, water
skiing, etc.). Will I read the next book
in this series? Probably. I hope that there will be character
development and a more complex mystery. We need more development of Minnie’s
character. It is time for her to stop
daydreaming (she can still daydream some) and decide what she wants (her work goals
and maybe a permanent home).
The other novels in A Bookmobile Cats Mystery series
are Lending
a Paw (currently $1.99 on Amazon), Tailing
a Tabby, Borrowed Crime, and Pouncing
on Murder. You can follow
Laurie Cass on Amazon as well as Facebook and get updates on her latest
releases. I received a complimentary copy of the novel in exchange for an
honest review. The comments
and opinions expressed are strictly my own.
Thank you for visiting! I will return tomorrow with Where Hope Prevails by Janette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan. May all of you have a nice, relaxing evening (we can hope). Take care and Happy Reading!
Kris
The Avid Reader
No comments:
Post a Comment