Whiskers and Lies by Sofie Kelly

 Whiskers and Lies

Book Summary

Librarian Kathleen Paulson is always willing to help a friend, but to save one from a wrongful arrest, she’ll need magical backup from her affectionate cats in the newest installment of this New York Times bestselling series.

Baker Georgia Tepper has been hired to provide delicious and spooky cupcakes for the Reading Buddies Halloween Party at the library, and she and Kathleen are meeting to finalize the menu of festive confections. Unfortunately, once Georgia’s former mother-in-law ambushes her at the library and threatens Georgia with legal action, the afternoon of fun is soured.

When Georgia’s litigious in-law is later found dead and the friendly baker is implicated, Kathleen is eager to help prove her innocence. Luckily, Kathleen and her intrepid magical cats, Hercules and Owen, have solved their fair share of mysteries. As a result, she knows that in life as well as crime solving, it is all relative, but with hard work, she can make sure the right criminal is booked.

My Thoughts

Whiskers and Lies by Sofie Kelly is a charming cozy mystery.  I like the characters in this series especially Kathleen.  Her cats, Owen and Hercules are adorable and clever.  I also like Marcus’s cat, Micah.  The characters are developed and relatable.  I love the interactions between Kathleen and her cats.  They seem understand Kathleen and react appropriately.  The cats and their antics (especially Hercules) add humor to the story.  I like the descriptions of Mayville Heights.  It is a town filled with friendly people who watch out for one another.  The prankster and the pranks were entertaining.  It added another mystery to the story.  The main mystery was interesting and entertaining. Georgia Tepper moved to Mayville Heights a few years ago with her daughter, Emmy.  She was running from her in-laws who were determined to gain custody of Emmy.  Unfortunately, Margery and Hugh Wyler have found them, and they have not given up the fight.  When Margery ends up dead, all evidence points to Georgia as the killer.  Kathleen with help from her two feline sidekicks works to uncover the truth.  

I liked this mystery.  It was different.  There are clues to help readers solve the crime before the tense reveal.  I like how Hercules and Owen help by finding clues and leading Kathleen to them.  Their magical abilities are helpful (becoming invisible and walking through walls) when investigating a murder or facing down a killer.  Kathleen knows that her cats have her back.  Kathleen is good at asking questions without being aggressive or accusing.  The reveal was tense and illuminating (there was a touch of humor too). Whiskers and Lies is the fourteenth A Magical Cats Mystery.  It can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series.  I did find the pacing to be a little on the slow side.  I wish there had been more action.  The book does contain a small amount of foul language (less than six words).  I enjoyed the Halloween party planning and the descriptions of Georgia’s spooktacular cupcakes.  The ending will surprise readers and will make fans of the series happy.  Whiskers and Lies is a magical tale with appealing pranks, Halloween happenings, clever kitties, a murdered mother-in-law, delectable cupcakes, an alarming arrest, and an unexpected present.

Whiskers and Lies is available from Amazon*.  You can find the other thirteen A Magical Cats Mysteries here.  You can follow Sofie Kelly on Amazon to receive an email when she has a new release.  She also writes A Second Chance Cat Mysteries as Sofie Ryan.  Scaredy Cat will be the tenth book in the series, and it will be out on July 4, 2023.  You can learn more about the author by visiting her website.  Thank you for joining me today.  Next time I am sharing my thoughts on A Quilt for Christmas by Melody Carlson.  I hope that you have a fun day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

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