Read on Arrival by Nora Page

Welcome!  More than Words Can Say by Karen Witemeyer releases on June 4 along with The Farmer's Bride by Kathleen Fuller, The Book Supremacy by Kate Carlisle and Murder at Royale Court by G.P. Gardner.  Cherry Scones and Broken Bones by Darci Hannah comes out on June 8 with A Shot of Murder by J.A. Kazimer.  The Daughter's of Temperance Hobbs by Katherine Howe and Toxic Toffee by Amanda Flower will be out on June 25.  What books are you looking forward to reading this summer?

Read on Arrival by Nora Page takes us on a journey to Catalpa Springs, Georgia in November.  Cleo Watkins preparing for the reopening of the library in three weeks when Mercer Whitty, president of the Library Board throws a wrench in the works.  Belle Beauchamp arrives in her vintage airstream which she has transformed into BOOK IT!, a colorful bookmobile with gaming consoles, televisions, laptops and a couple of color coordinated books.  Belle, who is not a librarian, promotes herself as an innovator who has great ideas to modernize Cleo’s library.  Mercer, who is smitten, hires Belle as a consultant.  Dixie Huddleston borrowed a book from the library forty years ago and has refused to return it (despite many attempts on Cleo’s part).  Dixie drives up and claims she is ready to return the tardy tome because she has seen the signs that state she is dying and wishes to settle her affairs.  Cleo and her beau, Henry Lafayette (best to take a witness in case Dixie pulls one of her tricks again) arrive at Dixie’s home the next morning to find the back door ajar and they smell smoke.  They find Dixie dead in the pantry courtesy of the swarm of bees locked in with her.  Chief Silas Culpepper arrives and puts Cleo at the top of the suspect list because of her long standing feud with Dixie over the library book.  Cleo immediately sets out to clear her name plus find Dixie’s killer.  As if there is not enough going on in their small town, citizens begin receiving death threats causing paranoia and panic.  Cleo questions likely suspects and gathers clues trying to pinpoint the guilty party while trying to reign in Belle with her outlandish ideas.  Cleo will need to keep her wits about her to thwart a killer and outwit Belle.

Read on Arrival is the second novel in A Bookmobile Mystery series.  While it can be read alone, I believe it is best to indulge in Better Off Read first.  Read on Arrival is nicely written with steady pacing and unique characters.  Cleo Watkins is 75 ¾ and has no intention of retiring from her position as head librarian at Catalpa Springs Library.  She has discovered she enjoys tootling about the countryside in her bookmobile-Words on Wheels.  Cleo has Leanna, her assistant, to keep an eye on things at the library for her.  There are a variety of quirky characters in the story ranging from Cleo’s gentleman friend, Henry to Deputy Gabby Honeywell to Rhett, the bookmobile’s Persian cat mascot.  Catalpa Springs is a typical small Southern town where gossip spreads faster than maple syrup on a hot stack of pancakes and there are some unusual residents like Dixie.  Humor is rampant throughout the story.  It reminded me of the slapstick comedy reminiscent of I Love Lucy and The Three Stooges.  There is plenty of activity in Read on Arrival with Dixie’s murder, death threats on coffin shapes items, Cleo investigating, and Belle trying to ruin the library.  I did have to remind myself that this was a work of fiction (reality cannot be applied).  Someone cannot get away with keeping a book checked out for 40 years today (twenty years ago, but not now).  The situation with Belle is also unrealistic.  Libraries do wish to attract readers, but they will not toss out their books to accomplish it (or rip off the covers because the colors do not match their color scheme).  The mystery was straightforward, and I easily identified the killer (it was a piece of cake).  There are pointed clues and a limited number of suspects.  My favorite phrase from Read on Arrival is “don’t wake the slumbering human bed” from Rhett, the cat.  Read on Arrival is a lighthearted, humorous cozy mystery with killer bees, death threats, a delinquent book, mimes, two dead bodies, a sleuthing librarian, an “innobrarian”, and a mascot named Rhett.

I appreciate you stopping by today.  I will be reviewing The Inn at Hidden Run by Olivia Newport tomorrow and there will be a giveaway!  I hope you have a fulfilling day.  Take care, stay cool and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Kitty Confidential by Molly Fitz: A Pet Whisperer PI

Welcome!  The Memory House by Rachel Hauck comes out on April 2 along with Half Finished by Lauraine Snelling.  Foul Play on Words by Becky Clark releases on April 8.  It is the second A Mystery Writer's Mystery.  I am featuring Molly Fitz today is who is also known as romance writer Melissa Storm.

Kitty Confidential by Molly Fitz is the first Pet Whisperer PI Mystery.  Angie Russo is a paralegal (who dislikes lawyers) at Fulton, Thompson, and Associates in Blueberry Bay.  She rushes into the office (late) and is asked to make coffee for an important will reading.  Angie plugs in the ancient coffee maker and receives an electric shock that knocks her unconscious.  When she wakes up there is a cat on her chest whom it talking to her and Angie can understand the uppity feline.  His name is Octavius Maxwell Ricardo Edmund Frederick Fulton which Angie promptly shortens to Octo-Cat (poor thing).  Octo-Cat is at the office for the reading of Ethel Fulton’s will who was his owner.  He states that Ethel was murdered, and he needs Angie’s help in finding the killer.  Since Angie is the only person who can understand the little guy (and he is quite persistent), she decides to help him. Angie convinces Mr. & Mrs. Fulton to let her take Octo-Cat home with her with a little psychological double talk.  Octo-Cat is shocked when he arrives at Angie’s home (it is not up to his standards) and is further devastated when he is given tap water in a bowl from the local dollar store (Angie’s favorite shop).  But if Octo-Cat wants justice for Ethel, he will have to adapt.  Angie and Octo-Cat join forces to prove that Ethel was murdered and identify the guilty party.  There is one little problem.  Octo-Cat cannot tell humans apart visually.  Can Angie and Octo-Cat accomplish their mission?

 

Kitty Confidential is a quirky and humorous cozy mystery.  Angie Russo loves to learn and has earned seven degrees from the local community college. But a girl needs to work if she wants to take more classes (I know the feeling).  She loves shopping at the local dollar store and her clothing has an  80s vibe (she really does not fit in at the law office).  After being shocked by the old coffee maker, Angie can now talk to Octo-Cat.  He needs her help in proving his deceased owner was murdered.  Kitty Confidential is a story that will keep you laughing.  There is one zany incident and unique character after another.  Octo-Cat grows on you as the story progresses.  I loved the cat’s reaction when he was served tap water in a dollar bowl (he only drinks Evian in crystal or Lennox).  Octo-Cat’s snide comments had me chuckling (and looking at my cats in a new light).  I like the author’s casual writing style and the story progresses at a speedy pace.  Kitty Confidential is one of those books that you need to suspend your disbeliefs and reality.  You just need to read the story and go with the flow.  The mystery is unassuming, but there is misdirection to distract readers.  Kitty Confidential is a cute, entertaining cozy mystery that will brighten your day and tickle your funny bone.

The next book in Pet Whisperer PI is Terrier Transgressions which releases May 1.  Hairless Harassment is the third tale in the series and it will be available on May 30.  I appreciate you visiting today and I hope you have found a new book (and series) to read.  I am featuring Chutes and Ladder by Marc Jedel tomorrow. It is the second A Silicon Valley Mystery.  Please stop by then to see what I thought about this new cozy mystery.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader