Purrder, She Wrote: A Cat Cafe Mystery

Felicitations!  A Thief Revealed by Heather Sunseri is the first book in her new International Thief series.  It will be out on August 14.  The Christmas Prayer by Wanda Brunstetter releases on August 15. For those who enjoy crafty cozy mystery, check out A Crafter Knits a Clue by Holly Quinn.  The first book in A Handcrafted Mystery series and it comes out on October 9.  It is time to start hinting for Amazon gift cards for Christmas!

Purrder She Wrote by Cate Conte is the second A Cat Café Mystery.  Maddie James is having the grand opening of JJ’s House of Purr’s, a cat café, on Daybreak Island.   It is a chance for people to spend time with adorable felines and enjoy a snack at the same time.  It is Maddie’s goal to find loving, stable homes for the cats in her care.  The first day gets off to an explosive start when volunteer, Adele Barrows gets into an altercation with Holly Hawthorne.  Holly wishes to adopt a cat and Adele has no intention of letting Holly get her claws into another innocent feline.  Before Maddie ends up with a cat fight on her hands, she diffuses the situation.  That evening Sgt. Mick Ellory stops by asking about the shop’s signature cat toys which are made by Adele and exclusive to JJ’s House of Purr’s.  Unfortunately, someone used them to silence Holly forever.  With Adele at the top of the suspect list and the shop the subject of hot gossip, Maddie, with the aid of Grandpa Leo, digs into the case.  She will need to work in her investigating in between handling the café, spending time with her new boyfriend, listening to Ethan’s new ideas for the café’s kitchen, handling the hospital gala for her father, delivering for the new Pet Meals on Wheels program and dealing with her sister’s marital woes.  Maddie will need to work in a cat nap or two if she is to keep up with her responsibilities.  She will need to be stealthy in her investigation or Maddie may use up the last of her nine lives.

Purrder She Wrote is easy to read and has a steady pace.  There is a lot going on in this book.  I do not quite understand why the author felt the need to jam so much into one story.  I would prefer she take the time to fully flesh out her characters.  I would like to know more about Grandpa Leo and have him take a more active role in the investigating.  I also could do with less of Maddie’s father who comes across as self-centered.  He cares more about how events affect his career than his family.  There was a great Emily Gilmore (of Gilmore Girls) reference in the book as well as one referring to Lord Voldemort.  It was clever how the author included Stan and her pet treats from the Pawsitively Organic Mystery series.  The whodunit was straightforward, and readers will have no problem identifying the guilty party.  Maddie was intensely focused on solving the crime.  She went from suspect to suspect to obtain information and kept in touch with her contact at the local newspaper for the latest news.  There is speculation, rumors, and red herrings.  I do wish that the case had been solved differently by Maddie (I would say more but I do not want to spoil it for you).  There is some mild foul language in the story.  Maddie is dating local pet groomer, Lucas Davenport but an old beau is also trying to capture her attention.  Personally, I prefer the old beau over Lucas.  I would prefer the romance to be less prominent in future books.  I enjoyed the descriptions of the adorable felines and their antics.  However, we do not need to know how often or when the litter boxes are scooped (no matter how necessary the chore).  The cat café concept is unique, and I had not heard about them until I read Cat About Town (you should look it up online to see the various designs).  While Purrder She Wrote is the second novel in A Cat Café Mystery series, it can be read alone.  My rating for Purrder She Wrote is 3 out of 5 stars.

Thank you for reading my review.  Next time I am reviewing A Simple Singing by Leslie Gould.  The second novel in The Sisters of Lancaster County.  I hope that you have a fulfilling day.  Take care, stay cool (I am grateful for whoever invented air conditioning) and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Cat About Town: A Cat Cafe Mystery

Welcome!  Thank you for visiting today.  I wanted to share some of the new books coming out this week.  All Signs Point to Murder by Connie di Marco, The Paris Spy by Susan Elia MacNeal, The Amber Shadows by Lucy Ribchester, Any Dream Will Do by Debbie Macomber (08/08)  and A Pinch of Salt by Eileen Ramsey (08/10).

Cat about Town by Cate Conte is the first novel in A Cat Café Mystery series.  Madalyn “Maddie” James has returned home to Daybreak Island for her grandmother’s funeral.  At the cemetery, Maddie spots an orange cat peeking around a gravestone.  Later at Grandpa Leo’s beautiful old Victorian home, he tells Maddie that Frank O’Malley is trying to force him to sell the house.  Frank has big plans for the island which include a transportation rental center on Leo’s property (tearing down their family home).  Maddie arranges to meet Frank at a local restaurant and heated words are exchanged.  After walking around town, she ends up at her grandmother’s grave where she meets up with the orange cat again. The cat follows Maddie to the Food Stroll where she meets up with her friend, Becky Walsh.  Suddenly, the cat takes off with Maddie quickly following behind him.  She finds her furry friend under a table staring at a deceased Frank O’Malley.  The police put Maddie and her grandfather, Leo at the top of the suspect list.  Maddie and her new feline companion, J.J. (who is being hailed a hero) set out to discover Frank’s killer. Will the killer strike again before Maddie uncovers his identity?

Cat about Town started off at a good pace and I was intrigued by the story.  The further I progressed into the book, the more mundane it became.  It seemed like the author had followed a formula or outline for a cozy mystery.  We have our female protagonist, two male suitors, a cute cat, nasty guy who gets himself murdered, our suspects, rude investigator, protagonist investigates to clear her name or that of loved one, life threatened, and bad guy apprehended.  I liked the addition of the mysterious benefactor and the idea of a cat café (for details about a cat cafe click here).   I not heard of cat cafes prior to this novel.  I am giving Cat About Town 3 out of 5 stars.  The murder of Frank O’Malley was easily solved.  There is some misdirection, but the killer’s identity was not a shocker.   There is a little twist that will surprise most readers (I would say more but it is a spoiler).  I do wish the author had not given Maddie two beaus.  The last thing I want (or readers need) is another love triangle in a cozy mystery.  I like how close Maddie is with her grandfather, Leo.  They have a sweet relationship.  I wish there had been less repetition of case details and more solid content (less fluff and romance).  I will read the next book in A Cat Café Mystery series.  I am curious to find out more about the mysterious benefactor and see the development of the cat café.  FYI--Cate Conte is a pseudonym for Liz Magavero who writes A Pawsitively Organic Mystery series (humorous cozy mysteries).

May each of you have a nice, relaxing Sunday.  I am reading Amber Shadows by Lucy Ribchester (I am having trouble getting into it).  I am will be sharing my review of To Wager Her Heart by Tamera Alexander on Monday.  Take care, stay cool in this heat and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader