chez_jae | Entries tagged with series: magical cats

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

Current Mood: tired

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.

Current Mood: okay
Current Music: "La Bamba" ~ Los Lobos

A Night's Tail by Sofie Kelly

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Yesterday evening, I finished reading A Night's Tail, which is the 11th book in author Sofie Kelly's "Magical Cats" mystery series. The main characters are Kathleen Paulson, librarian, and her two cats, Owen and Hercules.

Kathleen is delighted that her brother, Ethan, is spending some time in Mayville Heights, along with the members of his band, the Flaming Gerbils. Kathleen is busy spending time with Ethan, working at the library, going to her tai chi classes, making time for boyfriend Marcus, and helping to organize a quilt show at the library. The last thing she needs is another murder on her plate, but that's just what happens when an abrasive businessman, whom one of Ethan's friends had an altercation with, is found dead in a meeting room of the hotel where he was staying. Ethan knows Derek wouldn't have killed anyone, and he asks Kathleen to prove Derek's innocence. Kathleen would rather stay out of it and let Marcus and the rest of the police force handle the case; however, she can't help but be curious. After all, Lewis Wallace had a lot of enemies, and it seems there's no shortage of suspects.

Meanwhile, Kathleen is wavering over whether to tell Marcus that not only do her cats have special abilities, but so does his cat, Micah. Kathleen has seen Micah disappear, a talent she shares with Owen. It's not so surprising, considering all three cats came from the feral population at Wisteria Hill. Kathleen knows she needs to come clean, but there never seems to be a good opportunity to do so.

It's going to take all of her skills at research, along with some help from Hercules and Owen, to find out who killed Wallace.

Very good book. Lots going on, and just when I was certain I knew "whodunnit"...( MAJOR Spoiler Alert!!! )

Favorite lines:
♦ "Why am I explaining myself to a cat?"
♦ "My living room has been invaded by ginormous hockey players who can somehow fly down the ice at lightning speed and swat a little piece of frozen rubber into a net but can't walk across the floor without bumping into something."
♦ "I had to deal with a cookie emergency," I said. // "As in we don't have any?"

Excellent characterizations, well-crafted plot, and a great surprise ending. Five stars!

Current Mood: cheerful
Current Music: Live Coverage: Hurricane Delta

The Cats Came Back (A Magical Cats Mystery #10)

The Cats Came Back by Sofie Kelly

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Earlier this evening, I finished reading The Cats Came Back by Sofie Kelly. It's her 10th entry in the "Magical Cats" mystery series, with main character Kathleen Paulson, and her cats Owen and Hercules.

Kathleen and everyone else in Mayville Heights is excited for the annual music festival. Things go sour, however, when Hercules discovers a body down by the river. The victim was a close friend of popular singer Emme Finley, and the two young women looked enough alike that they could pass as sisters. Kathleen can't help but wonder if Emme was the target, and someone mistook Miranda for her. Nevertheless, she is determined to stay out of it and let the police, including her boyfriend, Marcus, do their jobs. What Kathleen hadn't counted on was so many friends coming to her and asking her to investigate in her own, unique way. Kathleen reluctantly agrees to do so.

In addition to her unscheduled sleuthing, Kathleen is trying to help her friend, Roma, prepare for her upcoming wedding, she's transporting her cats here and there for another friend, Ruby, to photograph them, and she still has her job at the library to tend to. Fortunately for her, both Owen and Hercules lend their own, peculiar talents to the investigation, and between the three of them, they may end up solving this murder after all.

I was pleased that I was able to suss out the murderer fairly early in the book, but I still enjoyed the process of seeing Kathleen work it out. As I've mentioned with this series previously, I appreciate that Kathleen is still doing "normal" things, and that the entirety of the book isn't devoted to her investigation. The only thing that annoyed me was ( Spoiler )

Favorite lines:
♦ Once again, here I was, explaining myself to a cat.
♦ "Sometimes love takes the long way home."
♦ "What part of 'don't do that' are you having trouble with?"
If I had a dollar for every time I've said something similar to my cats...
♦ "It will give you pickle breath."

This was headed towards an automatic five stars, but I'm knocking one off for that lather, rinse, repeat ending.

Current Mood: irritated
Current Music: Blackhawks at Coyotes

A Tale of Two Kitties (A Magical Cats Mystery, #9)

A Tale of Two Kitties by Sofie Kelly

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wednesday night, I began reading A Tale of Two Kitties by Sofie Kelly, and I finished it last night. It's the ninth book in the author's "Magical Cats" mystery series, which features librarian Kathleen Paulson and her extraordinary cats, Owen and Hercules.

When Victor and Leo Janes return to Mayville Heights, their arrival sets tongues to wagging. The twin brothers had a falling out years ago, when Victor had an affair with Leo's wife. They are interested in a tentative reconciliation, but before that happens, Kathleen finds Leo dead. Now his son (and Kathleen's friend), Simon, is a potential suspect, but Kathleen knows Simon would not have killed his father. She begins asking some questions around town, trying to get to the heart of the original falling out, as well as to who may have actually murdered Leo. Kathleen is aided by her cats, who turn up several clues during her investigation. Unfortunately, Kathleen's digging may put her in the killer's sights.

An enjoyable story, as all of these are. Again, Kathleen pursues other activities than simply investigating a murder. It was fun to reconnect with familiar characters and meet new ones. One thing did take me aback, and that was that Kathleen's tai chi classes seemed to meet several times a week...? In other books in this series, I got the impression it was a once-a-week thing. No explanation given.

Favorite line: "It's okay to feel mean and petty, just try not to act that way."

Not my favorite of this series, but still a very good read.

Current Mood: mellow
Current Music: Avalanche at Sharks game 1

Paws and Effect (A Magical Cats Mystery, #8)

Paws and Effect by Sofie Kelly

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

On Wednesday, after finishing the final chapter of one book, I got ambitious and finished another. It was Paws and Effect by Sofie Kelly, and it's in her "Magical Cats" mystery series, featuring small town librarian Kathleen Paulson, and her unusual cats, Owen and Hercules.

When Kathleen and her boyfriend, Detective Marcus Gordon, go to the local diner for breakfast, they unexpectedly run into three friends from Marcus' college days. The trio are in town to look into the possible environmental impact of a proposed development. Two of the three, John and Danielle, seem happy to see Marcus, but the third, Travis, appears to be holding a grudge. Kathleen learns that Travis and Dani were dating in college, until Travis caught her with Marcus, and he's still bitter about it.

Later, Dani is found dead, and once it becomes clear her death may not have been an accident, Marcus is tabbed as a suspect, since he was the last one to see her alive. He's taken off the case, but that doesn't stop Kathleen from doing some investigating of her own. She knows Marcus would never harm someone, but she also can't help but feel he's keeping secrets from her. Fortunately, Marcus' partner on the force is still looking into the case, too, and she and Kathleen team up to prove he's not a killer.

Very good story, with twists and turns aplenty. As always, I enjoy reading about Kathleen's real life. She goes to work at the library, meets up with friends, has dates with Marcus, attends her regular Tai Chi class, and spends time at home cooking, cleaning, and hanging with her cats. The cats, of course, play an important role in the story, too.

( Minor complaints/Spoiler alert )

Favorite line: Micah leapt into the air and caught the furry corpse with her two front paws like Lynn Swann catching a forward pass from my dad's favorite quarterback, Terry Bradshaw. Micah is Marcus' cat, and I liked this quote for two reasons: 1) it reminded me of the time my Annalise sprang into the air and snagged a bat out of flight, and 2) I loved the Pittsburgh Steelers of the late 70's/early 80's era. Terry Bradshaw, Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, Franco Harris, Jack Lambert...

Wonderful book, loved the characterizations, including the 'regulars' like Maggie and Eric and Roma, along with the 'transients'. Five out of five!

Current Mood: lazy
Current Music: "Right Here Waiting" ~ Richard Marx

Faux Paw by Sofie Kelly

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I finished reading Faux Paw on Thursday night. It's part of Sofie Kelly's "Magical Cats" mystery series, starring small town librarian Kathleen Paulson and her two rescue cats, Owen and Hercules.

The Mayville Heights library is getting ready to host an art exhibition, featuring prominent works from artists in the midwest, along with a few select pieces from local artists. It's exciting, but it would be more enjoyable if the curator, Margo Walsh, wasn't such an overbearing perfectionist. When Kathleen finds the woman murdered and the exhibition's most valuable piece of art missing, it's going to be difficult to determine not who had motive, but who didn't.

Kathleen wants the killer brought to justice, but she also just wants her library back. For those reasons, she isn't reluctant to conduct a stealthy investigation of her own, which includes calling in some favors in exchange for information. In the meantime, she finds herself deflecting the flirtations of Gavin Solomon, who was brought in as the security consultant for the exhibition. Kathleen's boyfriend, Detective Marcus Gordon, gets jealous, but so does Kathleen when he begins spending extra time with his ex, fellow Detective Hope Lind. Fortunately, they are able to talk things through.

As usual with these books, I liked reading about Kathleen's everyday life, not just her job and the investigation. She has carved out a life for herself in Mayville Heights, and she loves the town, the library, and her friends.

Favorite line: "Just because you get the monkey off your back doesn't mean the circus has left town."

Wonderful story. I had some things figured out, but not all of them. Looking forward to the next installment. Five stars:

*****

Current Mood: peaceful
Current Music: "Angel" ~ Shaggy

Yesterday, I started reading A Midwinter's Tail by Sofie Kelly, and I finished it tonight. The book is part of the "Magical Cats" mystery series, featuring small town librarian Kathleen Paulson and her two extraordinary cats, Owen and Hercules.

Kathleen is busy organizing a fundraising event for the library's Reading Buddies program, which she hopes will allow the program to not just continue, but expand. The gala event is ruined, however, when one of the guests dies of anaphylactic shock after eating a truffle. The victim was none other than the estranged wife of one of Kathleen's friends, gruff Burtis Chapman. Dayna Chapman hadn't been back in over twenty years, and it seems too coincidental that she returned just in time to die. Knowing that Burtis will be a main suspect, Kathleen begins a subtle investigation of her own, taking care not to interfere with the official investigation being conducted by her boyfriend, Detective Marcus Gordon.

In addition to making inquiries about Dayna, Kath is busy with her job, helping her friend Rebecca plan her upcoming wedding, getting ready for the holidays, and refereeing the recent squabbles between her cats. It's their behavior, however, that helps Kathleen put the clues together. Unfortunately, she's been asking too many questions, and now Kathleen may be in danger herself.

A charming cozy mystery, as the others have been in this series. Once again, I really appreciate reading about Kathleen's day-to-day activities. The author doesn't just concentrate on the investigation, which would make it seem as if that's all the main character is doing. There was one thing that I found terribly irksome, and that was the constant vacillation between spelling the victim's name as Dayna or Dana. Grah!

Favorite lines:
♦ "If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, you'd better start making the orange sauce."
♦ "It was actually Skeletor from He-Man and the Masters of the Universe."
♦ "Don't wait too long for your happily ever after."

Other than the spelling schmozzle, an excellent book. Five stars:

*****

Current Mood: mellow
Current Music: "Unstoppable" ~ Sia

Thursday night, I completed the book Final Catcall by Sofie Kelly. It's part of her "Magical Cats" mystery series.

Kathleen's budding relationship with Detective Marcus Gordon seems to have fizzled out before it really began. He has become frustrated with her inability to keep her nose out of his cases, and she refuses to sit idly by when it's one of her friends that is suspected of a crime. To complicate matters, Kathleen's former fiance, Andrew, arrives in town, intent on winning her back. He claims he's changed and that he's still in love with her. Having him so near only serves to remind Kathleen that things were once good between them.

Mayville Heights is excited to host an acting troupe, who will be conducting a theater festival. Kathleen soon learns that one of the directors, Hugh Davis, can be abrasive. When she stumbles over his dead body, Marcus is removed from the investigation, because his sister is one of the prime suspects. Suddenly, the shoe is on the other foot. It's Marcus who can't quit poking into things, while Kathleen admonishes him to "let the police do their job". Although the story is written in Kathleen's pov, it's easy to see that both of them are coming to a new understanding of one another.

Of course, Kathleen's magical cats, Owen and Hercules, keep finding clues, which keeps Kathleen in the loop. Soon, the questions she's been asking put her in the killer's sights, and Kathleen's life is in danger.

I enjoy these books. I like that the author has the main character doing real things, not just "investigating". Kathleen goes to work, meets up with friends, attends her tai chi classes, and spends time at home with her cats. If I have any complaint, it's the fact that she can't seem to solve a murder without ending up in mortal peril herself, and getting injured in the bargain.

Favorite lines:
♦ "What's meant to be always finds a way to be."
♦ We were never, ever getting back together. I think I'd heard that line in a song.
♦ Nobody had cats like mine. Sometimes they really were like little people in fur suits. Manipulative little people.

Very good book, five stars!

*****

Current Mood: relaxed
Current Music: Live Coverage: Hurricane Irma

Stayed up late last night to finish reading Cat Trick by Sofie Kelly. It's the fourth book in her "Magical Cats" mystery series.

The residents and businesses of Mayville Heights are hoping to convince Legacy Tours to add their town to its listing of vacation packages. It should be a lock, considering local-boy-turned-big-city-big-shot, Mike Glazer, is back in Mayville, representing Legacy. However, he's no longer the affable young man he used to be. Instead, Glazer is abrasive, and it seems everyone in town has a run-in with him. It's shocking, but not surprising, when Glazer turns up dead.

This time around, Kathleen promises herself, and her beau, Detective Marcus Gordon, that she will not interfere in the murder investigation. However, Kathleen finds herself drawn into the middle of it when both of her cats begin nosing around, and some local residents ask her to "look into it". Working at the library puts Kathleen in a position where she can subtly ask people about their dealings with Glazer and what he was like before he left town years before. All she finds out is that he used to be well-liked, but that almost everyone had a bone to pick with him over his recent dealings. Kathleen can't help but think there's something she's missing, and it may not be tied to the town of Mayville Heights at all. In the meantime, her meddling strains her relationship with Marcus, leaving Kathleen to wonder if she should renew her contract with the library when it's up, or if she should just return home to Boston.

The book was engrossing, and the pace moved along. I always enjoy reading about Kathleen's day to day life, in conjunction with her sleuthing. Her cats are utterly adorable, and it was nice to reconnect with familiar characters. My only complaint is that I don't feel I (as the reader) was given a fair chance to figure out who the murderer was.

Favorite line: "Could we just keep the doors locked and maybe stay here and eat muffins all morning?"
That gets my vote!

Very good story, with likable characters. Five stars:

*****

Current Mood: good
Current Music: "Days Go By" ~ Dirty Vegas

Was up until almost midnight last night, finishing Copycat Killing by Sofie Kelly. It's the third installment in the "Magical Cats" mystery series, featuring librarian Kathleen and her talented cats, Owen and Hercules.

After days of torrential rain, everyone in the town of Mayville Heights are sick of the weather. The library's parking lot is flooded, which means Kathleen can't work. She keeps busy helping her friend Maggie move items from the art studio's ground floor to the second level. On one such excursion, they find a body in the flooded basement. Jaeger Merrill was making a nuisance of himself, and someone may have silenced him for good. When another artist recognizes him as a former forger who was arrested and did his time, Kathleen can't help but think Merrill's past caught up with him. Fortunately, police officer Marcus is on the case.

When Kathleen and Marcus go out to feed feral cats at the rundown Wisteria Hill manor, Kathleen is drawn to the creek bank. The wet ground gives way beneath her feet, unearthing skeletal remains. Now, it seems that the local police have two crimes to solve, and Kathleen is right in the middle of both of them. With a little help from her cats, she starts working to unearth the clues that can lead to not one, but two killers.

I'm not sure I've read a mystery with two such different cases before. I couldn't help but think they must be connected. I like this verse and the town and its characters, so it was fun to revisit. Kathleen's attraction to Marcus moves along at a snail's pace, but I find that refreshing for a change.

Favorite lines:
♣ Not only do cats not get sarcasm, they don't get shameless bids for sympathy either.
♣ Even cats know stupid when they hear it.

Very good, four stars:

****

Current Mood: tired
Current Music: "My Songs Know What You Did In the Dark" ~ Fall Out Boy

On Thursday, I finished reading Sleight of Paw by Sofie Kelly. It's the second book in her "Magical Cats" mystery series.

It's the height of winter in Mayville Heights, and everyone is getting ready for Winterfest. When an old woman is run down in an alley and left to die, One of Kathleen's young friends is initially tabbed as a suspect. Kathleen knows Ruby wouldn't harm anyone, least of all Agatha, whom Ruby shared a rapport with.

Aided by her cats, Owen and Hercules, Kathleen starts doing some investigating of her own, in spite of police officer Marcus Gordon's warnings to keep her nose out of it. As Kathleen begins questioning the people she'd seen in heated discussions with Agatha, she discovers some surprising secrets about her new friends and neighbors, but nothing that seems worth killing for. Intent on uncovering the truth, Kathleen involves others in her investigation, and her cats are keen to help, too.

This was a delightful story. It didn't simply focus on the crime and the ensuing investigation; it also touched on Kathleen's daily life, from her job at the library, to her tai chi classes, to her socializing with her friends. She even talks to her cats like I do! I did figure out the killer early, but the author threw some red herrings out that made me waffle a bit in my conviction.

Favorite line: Sulking went a lot better with some chocolate.

Fantastic read, five stars!

*****

Current Mood: okay
Current Music: "Want to Want Me" ~ Jason DeRulo

Today, I finished reading Curiosity Thrilled the Cat by Sofie Kelly. It's the first book in her series about librarian Kathleen Paulson and her two cats, Owen and Hercules.

The Mayville Heights library is in the midst of renovations, and the computer room is not yet ready. This fact vexes the eccentric musician and conductor who is in town to lend his talents to their local music festival. He and Kathleen have words, although Kathleen mollifies the man and sends him on his way. The following morning, she goes to the theater early in hopes of finding a local carpenter to ask him to help out with the renovations. Instead, Kathleen finds Gregor Easton, dead at the piano.

Kathleen is now a "person of interest" in the crime, meaning she must field questions from Detective Gordon. In the meantime, she has come to the realization that her cats are not simple house cats. Owen can become invisible, and Herc has the ability to walk through doors, leaving Kathleen wondering about her own sanity. On top of making inquiries of her own into Easton's life and death, Kathleen still has to deal with the renovations, which seem to be moving at a turtle's pace.

The book was fun, but I just could not shake the feeling that I've read it before. I always, ALWAYS put my initials inside a book I've finished reading, even if I plan to give it away, and yet...it was so darned familiar. I even went back through all of my book reviews posted here, but I didn't find it. I'm still not convinced I didn't already read this one. Nevertheless, it counts towards books read for the year, even if it was a re-read.

Favorite line:Plus, I had my big flashlight, my pepper spray, a cat, and six brownies.

Looking forward to reading more. Four stars:

****

Current Mood: confused
Current Music: "Escapade" ~ Janet Jackson