There's a cat in the stacks...
...and he makes the purr-fect partner for a librarian-turned-sleuth.
Everyone in Athena, M... read full description
...and he makes the purr-fect partner for a librarian-turned-sleuth.
Everyone in Athena, M... read full description
reviews
Dec 21, 2011
I tried. I was only 11 pages in when I realized I really didn't like the protagonist, Charlie. He comes across as a fussy old coot. When his college freshman border leaves the kitchen a mess, he takes that and a few days of moodiness to assume that something is wrong and that the kid may have turned to drugs. Because God knows, when I was messy and in a bad mood for a few days my freshman year it was because I turned to drugs. Or something.
When Justin, his border, returns, Charli More...
When Justin, his border, returns, Charli More...
Jul 29, 2011
Michelle
rated it: 
Cozy Mystery - a subgenre of the mystery genre, usually defined by the atomsphere of the book, such as the coofeeshop, the bookshop, the tea shop, knitting or other craft. Of all the cozy mysteries I have read, 99% feature a woman as the lead character who is unwittingly dragged into investigating the mystery.
This book is classified as a Cozy Mystery, in that it features a Maine Coon cat as the lead character, Disel. He is a fixture in town and goes everywhere with his owner, Charlie More...
This book is classified as a Cozy Mystery, in that it features a Maine Coon cat as the lead character, Disel. He is a fixture in town and goes everywhere with his owner, Charlie More...
Jan 25, 2011
Grey853
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Sep 17, 2010
Alison
rated it: 
Refreshing!
The first cozy mystery in a long long time that I read in a single sitting. I didn't feel weighed down by the usual A+B+C+D equals cozy mystery plot devices and characterizations that are seemingly overwhelming the genre of late, commonalities which ultimately forced me to step away from the genre until recently. I feel my delight can be attributed equally to the frothy yet fast paced writing style with the occasional "big word" thrown in when you least expected, More...
The first cozy mystery in a long long time that I read in a single sitting. I didn't feel weighed down by the usual A+B+C+D equals cozy mystery plot devices and characterizations that are seemingly overwhelming the genre of late, commonalities which ultimately forced me to step away from the genre until recently. I feel my delight can be attributed equally to the frothy yet fast paced writing style with the occasional "big word" thrown in when you least expected, More...
Mar 23, 2011
Mayda
rated it:
If you are looking for a clever cozy to while away an afternoon, look no further than Murder Past Due. Charlie Harris, a people-friendly librarian, along with Diesel, a people-pleasing Maine coon cat, find themselves entrenched in a murder of a best-selling author that everybody loves to hate. Charlie is really new at the amateur sleuth game, and commits a few (legal) errors of his own, all with good intentions. Diesel has no supernatural cat powers: He doesn't talk to other animals or peopl
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Dec 12, 2011
Dawn
rated it: 
The main character of this cozy mystery is a librarian who owns a Maine Coon cat that he walks on a leash and brings with him to work. Cats + libraries = I'm intrigued. The writing was a bit above the usual average level of the typical cozy. The characters were a bit more fleshed out and not so stereotypical or cookie-cutter. Also, the main character is male, which is unusual in a cozy series. Charlie works as a cataloger in the rare books department of a university and also volunteers in a publ
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Jan 14, 2011
Patty
rated it:
Wow. Just Wow. This is an amazing first book in a series! Miranda James is a pseudonym for another author so this isn't a first book but still, this is a good one.
Charlie is an archivist and a librarian for a special library in a small town, for a small college, in Mississippi. He recently lost his wife and a beloved wife and with his children grown and off on their own careers he has adopted a Maine Coon cat. The cat plays a significant part in the book, but not for talking or co More...
Charlie is an archivist and a librarian for a special library in a small town, for a small college, in Mississippi. He recently lost his wife and a beloved wife and with his children grown and off on their own careers he has adopted a Maine Coon cat. The cat plays a significant part in the book, but not for talking or co More...
Dec 04, 2010
Amy
rated it:
In "Murder Past Due" Charlie Harris is a librarian who takes his cat Diesel with him everywhere, walking him on a harness and leash. An old classmate comes back to town to be honored for being a best-selling novelist, but ends up dead-the victim of a brutal murder. Charlie is asked by the lead investigator's mother to poke around for information to help her daughter solve the case. As it turns out, the investigator doesn't really need the help and Charlie (already on her bad side) seem
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Feb 23, 2011
Viccy
rated it:
This is a very nice cozy murder mystery featuring a lovely Maine Coon cat named Diesel. Charlie Harris has lost both his wife and his beloved Aunt Dottie. He lives in Aunt Dottie's house in Mississippi and works part-time as a cataloger at Athena College. He volunteers at the public library. He is a nice guy. Godfrey Priest, best-selling author, shows up in Charlie's office one morning and tells Charlie he plans to leave his papers to Athena, along with a stipend to pay for their maintenance. He
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Aug 28, 2011
Patricia
rated it:
Just my kind of cozy mystery--a librarian with a cat who solves a murder after the fact. Charlie Harris and his coon cat (that's a really big cat) Diesel are forced into investigating the killing of Athena College alum Godfrey Priest after the man is found shot in his hotel room. This follows shortly after Priest reveals to Charlie that he is not only donating all of his papers to the college, but that he is also the biological father of Charlie's roomer. What follows is a delightful intellec
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Aug 13, 2010
Gail
rated it:
This was definitely a Cozy mystery. It had a quiet tone and a civilized atmosphere all through it.
The amateur sleuth is a widowed academic librarian who lives in a Mississippi college town and takes college student boarders in his inherited Victorian home. He works part time in the rare books and archive section of the college library. He has a large, not-quite-full-grown Maine coon cat named Diesel who goes everywhere with him, except to church and a few other places. Diesel is mor More...
The amateur sleuth is a widowed academic librarian who lives in a Mississippi college town and takes college student boarders in his inherited Victorian home. He works part time in the rare books and archive section of the college library. He has a large, not-quite-full-grown Maine coon cat named Diesel who goes everywhere with him, except to church and a few other places. Diesel is mor More...
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Aug 11, 2010
Snap
rated it: 
MURDER PAST DUE is the first book in a new series by Miranda James (Dean James). I really like Dean's Trailer Park mysteries and his cozy vampire. I didn't like his Bridge mysteries and MURDER PAST DUE is somewhere in between the Bridge mysteries and the Trailer Park mysteries!!! Charlie Harris is a good natured, widowed, librarian (Dean is a librarian so he knows what he is writing about). He has a Maine Coon cat named Diesel who walks on a leash and goes everywhere with Charlie. Charlie lives
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Apr 16, 2011
Babs
rated it:
Cute, little book. Nothing earth shattering, thoughtful, or intriguing, but enjoyable.
Don't understand, though, how the protagonist can "get by" in his current position. He is not what is considered retirement age, yet (only in his fifties, from what I can determine), but only works part time. I want this gig. I guess it helps he inherited his current home from an aunt. If you don't have a mortgage to pay off, that really eases the financial stress.
He also ta More...
Don't understand, though, how the protagonist can "get by" in his current position. He is not what is considered retirement age, yet (only in his fifties, from what I can determine), but only works part time. I want this gig. I guess it helps he inherited his current home from an aunt. If you don't have a mortgage to pay off, that really eases the financial stress.
He also ta More...
Jun 12, 2010
Jeannie
rated it:
This book reflects life inside the world of a public Library, as well as, the world of book writing. Within the quiet Southern setting is a long-held secret which leads to a crime.
Charlie Harris, with his Maine Coon Cat, Diesel, is thrown into the situation of trying to solve the crime, even though he would prefer sitting quietly among his 'rare' books.
I laughed, I felt anger, disgust, and sadness while reading this novel. At the end, I was sympathetic with the person who More...
Charlie Harris, with his Maine Coon Cat, Diesel, is thrown into the situation of trying to solve the crime, even though he would prefer sitting quietly among his 'rare' books.
I laughed, I felt anger, disgust, and sadness while reading this novel. At the end, I was sympathetic with the person who More...
Feb 04, 2012
Marcia
rated it:
Actual Rating: ***1/2
Having once been owned by a big, handsome Maine coon cat, it was inevitable that I would be drawn to this series by Miranda James featuring Diesel and his owner Charlie Harris, a librarian. This first series installment finds Charlie "assisting" the local sheriff's office in solving the whodunit surrounding the death of best-selling but not-well-liked author Godfrey Priest.
Despite a few story-halting bumps that could have benefited from b More...
Having once been owned by a big, handsome Maine coon cat, it was inevitable that I would be drawn to this series by Miranda James featuring Diesel and his owner Charlie Harris, a librarian. This first series installment finds Charlie "assisting" the local sheriff's office in solving the whodunit surrounding the death of best-selling but not-well-liked author Godfrey Priest.
Despite a few story-halting bumps that could have benefited from b More...
Aug 02, 2011
Mare
rated it:
This is a charming cozy in a nice setting with an interesting range of characters. The victim is one I found myself rooting for as a victim, but for some reason this book just didn't quite catch me. It was quick read and it has all of the elements I enjoy, murder, red herrings, cats, libraries, but for whatever reason I just didn't warm up to the characters. I will read the second book in case it was my mood, or the weather, or some other distraction that made this a middle of the road story for
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Mar 16, 2011
Susan
rated it:
A librarian with an empathetic Maine coon cat--what's not to like? And when the librarian, Charlie Harris, finds the body of a famous author who was also his high school classmate, he decides he and his cat Diesel will give the police a hand. Actually, there are a lot of Charlie's classmates around--the college student he's boarding at the house he inherited from his aunt is the son of one of them, and several also work at Athena college, where he works several days a week. And maybe it's tim
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Dec 31, 2010
Marci
rated it:
Charlie is a part time archivist at his alma mater a small college in Mississippi. He lives a quiet life with Diesel his Maine Coon cat and a college student boarder. The big buzz on campus is the return of it's most famous alum, Godfrey a thriller writer is returning home on the heels of his latest bestseller. Godfrey was a jerk to Charlie all those years ago, but Charlie wasn't the only one in town to dislike Godfrey. When Charlie finds Godfrey dead in his hotel room Charlie is landed in
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Aug 07, 2010
Sheila
rated it:
This cozy mystery has an irresistibly attractive cover, and I'm happy to report that the story inside is just as good! I liked the characters, including the good-natured, compassionate librarian Charlie Harris, the delightful small-town Southern setting, the way all the supporting characters were so well portrayed, and the clever whodunit plot. Most of all, I loved Diesel, Charlie's friendly Maine coon cat, who loves attention, walks on a leash, and chirps and warbles rather than meowing. A fun
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Mar 02, 2011
Charlie Harris, of Athens, Mississippi is a librarian and archivist. His former high school/college classmate is a best selling author and wishes to leave his papers to the college. He's obnoxious. Charlie's roomer, a college student and son of another classmate is told the best selling author is his biological father. The author is killed and the roomer is a suspect. It turns out the roomer is innocent, his mother is the murderer and the author was not his father. Great cat - Maine coon c
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Oct 18, 2010
Patty
rated it:
This was good escapism which was just what I wanted. Miranda James (who is apparently Dean James) has written a fun, light book which will appeal to cozy fans as well as cat fans. All the violence occurs off stage, which makes it a good cozy mystery and as far as I am concerned, no one will miss the murder victim. What a great way to write - kill off the obnoxious folk.
Truly, if you like mysteries and you are at all interested in Maine Coon cats, this is worth your time. Nice, well More...
Truly, if you like mysteries and you are at all interested in Maine Coon cats, this is worth your time. Nice, well More...
Oct 14, 2010
Cathy
rated it:
It is a very tame and grown-up little mystery. It was a surprisingly fast read, perhaps because although exhaustive details were given about Charlie's day and activities, not much actually happened. There was a lot of charm, I enjoyed my visit with Charlie, but there wasn't much of a story here. Diesel is clearly the star and the reason the book was published, he's an adorable side-kick. I predict a rise in Maine Coon Cat adoptions as a result of this book.
What I liked best was how r More...
What I liked best was how r More...
Sep 10, 2011
Jadetyger
rated it:
I enjoyed this quite a lot. The sleuth in this series is actually Charlie Harris, not Diesel the cat. However, Diesel /was/ a presence, and I was pleased to see that the author made the cat intelligent, but not excessively so. I love my Maine Coon, too, but I don't think he'll be solving crimes anytime soon. ;)
That being said, I appreciate Ms./Mr. James' attention to detail with regards to Coon personality traits. Diesel was charming to read about(However, I hope the next book doesn't More...
That being said, I appreciate Ms./Mr. James' attention to detail with regards to Coon personality traits. Diesel was charming to read about(However, I hope the next book doesn't More...
Dec 12, 2010
Amelia-Irene
rated it:
The first book in a new series that I really enjoyed. Charlie & his pet cat Diesel, are a familiar duo on their trips around town. Charlie has returned to Athena after the death of his wife & aunt, to make a life for himself in his former hometown as a part-time librarian at the college campus. When a former high school mate is found dead, Charlie looks into it to protect a young boarder in his home.... Interesting and a bit tricker to figure out than most of the who done it have been lately
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Feb 03, 2012
Kevin
rated it:
This was a two and a half star book for me, the mystery being the strongest part of the story. I went for the red herring hook line and sinker. My problem with the novel was the characters I really didn’t like any of them except for Diesel the cat. The main character was too prissy, his friends and co-workers were either gossips or pompous, the victim was so unlikeable everyone in the town hated him. For me the mystery or story or plot always is secondary to the characters so this book just didn
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Jul 16, 2011
Karen B
rated it:
I had ordered this book before I got my Kindle and so I was putting off reading it because it is in paperback.
I am so glad I read it recently.
I learned a lot about Maine Coon cats (I had no idea they were so large). But I loved that the person to solve the murder, or at least to get the information was a librarian.
Anyone who enjoys light mysteries that are fun to read and a quick read would probably enjoy this one. I am looking forward to reading the next.
I am so glad I read it recently.
I learned a lot about Maine Coon cats (I had no idea they were so large). But I loved that the person to solve the murder, or at least to get the information was a librarian.
Anyone who enjoys light mysteries that are fun to read and a quick read would probably enjoy this one. I am looking forward to reading the next.
Nov 02, 2011
Nola
rated it:
Two things elevate this book from the standard mystery (don't get me wrong the plot is well done and the writing is good - but it has to be to get published - I hope - so I figure this should be pretty standard) the library setting and the Maine Coon cat. So ... if you've ever met a Maine Coon cat you'll understand what makes them special and have a reason to enjoy mysteries set in libraries or book type areas, you'll enjoy this. I'll be looking for more.
Jan 23, 2012
RC
rated it:
Charlie and Diesel (his Maine Coon cat) work at a local university. One of Charlie's former high school classmates, Godfrey Priest, returns to town for a presentation to the university. This now famous author is not short of best selling thriller and a list of enemies to match. When Godfrey is found murdered in his hotel room, Charlie (who discovers the body) finds himself drawn in to the investigation because his boarder is a potential suspect.
I checked the second one in the series o More...
I checked the second one in the series o More...
Jan 22, 2012
Vickie
rated it:
Cats and cozies seem to go together. I like the mixture most of the time. This is one of those times. The cat in question here, Diesel, is pleasantly not too precious for words. He's a man's cat, perfect for Charlie, the main character. And perfect for me, a reader who doesn't dig too precious for words very well.
A darn good mystery even if I did figure out most of the action mid-book. I didn't mind since I was enjoying the dialogue and the scenery and Diesel. All of th More...
A darn good mystery even if I did figure out most of the action mid-book. I didn't mind since I was enjoying the dialogue and the scenery and Diesel. All of th More...
Oct 24, 2010
Donna
rated it:
Librarian sleuths with personable cats seem to be popular protagonists for readers of "cozy" mysteries. I guess people who read for pleasure and fun can relate to others who sometimes seek a cozy corner and a light, quick read. I see no reason why Charlie Harris and Diesel, the feline costar of the "Cat in the Stacks" series, shouldn't join the others in eventually filling up a few feet of space on bookstore shelves.
