Book 10, 2023

A Case of Cat and Mouse by Sofie Kelly

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Earlier this evening I finished reading A Case of Cat and Mouse by Sofie Kelly. This is the 12th book in the "Magical Cats" series, featuring librarian Kathleen Paulson and her extraordinary cats, Owen and Hercules.

Everyone in the small town of Mayville Heights is excited that the reboot of a popular baking show is being filmed there. Adding to the interest is that a couple locals, Rebecca (a friend of Kathleen's) and Ray (a member of the artists' co-op) are participating. Kathleen has been tabbed to do some research for the show to take advantage of the local fare and flair. When Kathleen discovers the body of one of the show's judges and Ruby's friend, Elias, is considered the primary suspect, Ruby begs Kathleen to investigate. Kathleen reluctantly agrees, and soon she's delving into the pasts of everyone involved with the show and checking out alibis. With the help of Owen and Hercules, she closes in on a killer. The killer, however, is closing in on Kathleen.

This series is delightful, and this book was no different. I know I've mentioned it before, but it's refreshing to read about Kathleen going about her life rather than immersing herself completely in her investigation. There were subplots going on as well, involving the feral cat colony at Wisteria Hill and a prankster who keeps leaving oddball items in the library's gazebo. If I have a complaint about this book (and the series) it's that Kathleen is the one who always discovers the victim, and she always seems to end up in mortal danger at the end. Honestly, how many of us ever see a dead body in our lives that isn't at a funeral/visitation? Why not have the main character simply learn that so-and-so died and the police are considering it a suspicious death? Guh.

Favorite lines:
♦ "I have never met a carbohydrate that didn't make me say, 'Come to Mama.'"
♦ I thought about how when it came to families I had won the life lottery no matter how crazy mine made me sometimes.
♦ "If Hercules was a Great Dane instead of a cat, it would have been an episode of Scooby Doo."

And, my favorite--the 'holding my breath' line:
- I was holding my breath, I realized.

This should be a solid five stars, but I'm knocking one off for the annoying, repetitive fact that Kathleen keeps finding bodies at the beginning of each book and nearly getting killed at the end. Four stars.