Happy Labor Day! A day for family, friends, games and barbeque (unless it is raining again). I want to share with you some of the new books that will be out on September 4. They include In His Father's Footsteps by Danielle Steel, The First Love by Beverly Lewis, An Hour Unspent by Roseanna M. White, Deadly Dram by Melinda Mullett, Christmas is for Children by Rosie Clarke, A Deadly Brew by Lynn Cahoon (A Tourist Trap Novella), Die Me a River by Denise Swanson, and A Christmas by the Sea by Melody Carlson.
The Trouble with Truth by Kathy Krevat is A Gourmet Cat Mystery. Colbie
Summers lives in Sunnyside, California with her twelve year old son, Elliott
along with her father, Hank and Trouble, the cat. Colbie is getting ready for her cat food line,
Meowia Batali Gourmet Cat Food to launch at Twomey’s Health Food stores. Her part-time employee, Mira recently won a
contest for the play she wrote based on her life in foster care. It is being produced by the Playwrights
Project at The Old Globe Theater in Balboa Park. Mira’s former foster family, The Franklin’s
are less than thrilled and threaten Mira.
Colbie gets a late night call from Lani Nakano, her best friend and
social worker. Mira needs their
help. Dennis Franklin is dead, and the
police are looking for Mira. Colbie knows
Mira did not harm Franklin and sets out to prove the young woman’s
innocence.
The Trouble with Truth is written
in a conversational writing style that makes for an easy to read book. I also felt it was just the right length. While this is the second book in A Gourmet Cat Mystery series, it can stand on its own.
The author provides Colbie’s background story and a quick summary of
what occurred in The Trouble with Murder.
I enjoy Colbie’s interactions with Trouble. Colbie talks with her cat as many pet owners
do especially when no one else is around.
We get to experience Colbie’s everyday activities (cooking, laundry,
shopping) as she takes care of her son, spends time with her father, manages
her cat food business, and enjoys time with her friends. Colbie questions a variety of people in her
quest to clear Mira’s name. She needs to
work on her questioning technique since she lacks subtlety. There are a couple of suspects, good clues and a red
herring. I thought the killer stood out
like muddy pawprints on a white blouse.
There was another element to the mystery, though, that may surprise
readers. I like Detective Norma Chiron. She is friendly detective who listens to
Colbie. At the same time, she does warn
her to be careful and not get involved (knowing she will not listen). While getting ready to launch her cat food at
Twomey’s and working to solve the murder, Elliott’s father makes an
appearance. He has decided to be
involved in Elliott’s life and Colbie worries that Richard will try for
custody. The story started to resemble a
telenovela with the added family drama.
I would like to see Colbie have more of a presence. She is lacking in personality and comes
across as bland at times. My rating for
The Trouble with Truth is 3 out of 5 stars.
The Trouble with Truth is a cute cozy cat mystery that will have you chuckling
at Trouble’s antics.
I appreciate you stopping by today and reading my review. I will be sharing my thoughts on K Street Killing by Colleen Shogan tomorrow. It is the fourth book in A Washington Whodunit series. Take a moment to stop by and enter the giveaway for a $50 Amazon gift card (Rafflecopter giveaway). May you have a day filled with sunshine (I am tired of rain). Take care and Happy Reading!
Kris
The Avid Reader
