The Persian Always Meows Twice
A Cat Groomer Mystery, Book #1
Eileen Watkins
5 Stars
Synopsis:
Cat lovers are thrilled to welcome an expert groomer to the picturesque town of Chadwick. But scratch below the surface, and unmasking a killer becomes a game of cat and mouse . . .
Professional cat grooming isn’t all fluff–when the fur starts flying, Cassie McGlone, owner of Cassie’s Comfy Cats, handles her feistiest four-legged clients with a caring touch and nerves of steel. While these qualities certainly help keep her business purring, they also come in handy when she makes a house call to her best client, millionaire George DeLeuw, and discovers his murdered body next to his newly orphaned Persian, Harpo.
To help the local police find the actual killer, Cassie begins her own investigation. But no one, from George’s housekeeper to his vindictive ex-wife, is giving up clues. Not until Cassie is given permission to temporarily board Harpo does anyone show interest in the Persian’s wellbeing. Someone is desperate to get their paws on Harpo before the feline helps untangle a felony. Are there deadly truths that a cat whisperer like Cassie can coax out? She needs to tread lightly and remember she gets one life, not nine. . . .
“A delightful debut mystery. It’s smart, well-plotted, and features a cast of characters–both human and feline–that I want to see more of. This book will be catnip for cat lovers.” –Laurien Berenson, author of Wagging through the Snow
“The purr-fect mystery to curl up with for a lovely cozy read, preferably with a cup of tea, cuddly cat optional but recommended.” –Leslie Meier, author of Turkey Trot Murder (Goodreads)
Review:
Cassie is a hard worker who wants to make her cat grooming/boarding house a success. So far things are working out well for her, but when one of her best customers is found dead, she is worried the death will change that. Not only will she not have his business to count on, since she is the one that found the body, she is afraid that will negatively affect her. Being somewhat nosy by nature, she decides to help in the investigation any way she can.
The characters are well rounded and well developed. I liked Cassie, I thought she was a no-nonsense type of woman. The secondary characters, including her friend Dawn and her employee Sarah, were also well developed and people I would like to get to know better. There is also a possible love interest for her, the local vet, Mark. And all of the cats had their own personalities and added so much to the story.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. I thought the mystery was well thought out and had enough suspects and twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. I liked the fact that Cassie did not put herself in danger while investigating the murder like so many protagonists do.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy. If you love cats, all the better. I am looking forward to reading the next one when it is published.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Purring Around The Christmas Tree.
A Pawsitively Organic Mystery
Liz Mugavero
5 Stars
Synopsis:
In the New England town of Frog’s Ledge, the Holiday Light Festival is a Christmas tradition. Killing Santa is not. To bring joy back to the season, organic pet patisserie owner Kristan “Stan” Connor will have to find another Santa before it’s too late . . .
To the townspeople’s delight, the annual lighting of the tree is a spectacular success. Unfortunately, Santa pulled up in his sleigh, DOA. At first Stan is sure it’s Seamus, her boyfriend’s uncle, inside the red suit. But the victim turns out to be an employee from the town’s Christmas tree farm. Rumor has it the deceased was a mean drunk with a soft spot for feral cats. Stan has no idea why he was dressed as St. Nick–or why he’s dead.
Meanwhile, Seamus, a jolly Irishman who comes to America every December to visit his pub-owner nephew, is nowhere to be found. Could he just be off on a Boston bar crawl? Or is something more sinister under the tree? Seamus was supposed to be dressing up and posing for pet pictures with Santa at the shop, but the dogs and cats might have to find another lap to curl up in if Stan doesn’t solve two mysteries soon. Or murder might be the only thing under the mistletoe this holiday . . .
Includes Gourmet Pet Food Recipes! (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Stan is a hard worker who loves owning her own business. She has good friends and employees who have helped her make her dreams come true. Two people that really surprised Stan with their helpfulness is Stan’s mother and sister. That was not always the way things worked with them and it was nice to see that their relationships have grown and matured.
The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book I felt like I was right there, watching all the action taking place. I felt like I could see and smell all of the great pet treats that Stan creates. She is also very talented in creating a small town setting that you would want to visit.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The murder was well plotted and carried on well throughout the book. There were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through that I did not figure out the culprit until the reveal at the end. I liked the fact that there was more than one mystery to solve in this book, that made things even more interesting.
I would recommend this book (and series) to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. And if you like animals in your cozies and great characters, then this book is for you.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.
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