Book 23, 2024

Hooked on a Feline by Sofie Kelly

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Late last night (or early this morning!) I finished reading Hooked on a Feline by Sofie Kelly. It's book #13 in her "Magical Cats" mystery series, featuring librarian Kathleen Paulson and her extraordinary cats, Owen and Hercules.

Kathleen, along with most of the population of Mayville Heights, is eager to attend the concert that brings a local music festival to an end. To everyone's delight, hometown boy turned star Johnny Rock is on stage, along with his former friends and band mates. It's a surprise that no one saw coming, as the musicians had kept it a secret. Just days later, one of the bandmates is found dead, his death ruled a homicide. At first it seems like a robbery gone wrong, but Kathleen recalls that Mike had been doing some genealogical research at the library. When the police begin to suspect that the death of one of Mike's older family members may have also been murder, Kathleen begins to wonder just what Mike was researching that was worth killing for.

Wonderful story, peopled with familiar characters you'd like to get to know. Kathleen isn't just good at putting clues together, she's also good at getting people to open up and talk to her. However, not all of the narrative was consumed with her investigation. Kathleen went to work, hung out with friends, and relaxed at home. As a bonus, she did not stumble upon any bodies. Keep letting go of those cozy mystery tropes, authors!

Favorite line: "What binds people is love, not strands of DNA."

Very good, four stars