What do you think?
Rate this book
Second Chance Cat Mystery #12
Cat Got Your Killer
Sarah Grayson, secondhand store owner, and her clever rescue cat Elvis are right on the tail of a criminal in the charming new Second Chance Cat Mystery.
Summer is around the corner and Sarah is making sure the store is stocked and ready for tourist season. But while the weather’s heating up, Sarah gets involved in a case that is decidedly cold, when a man who was linked to a drowning death years ago is found dead himself, on the same stretch of beach. Some of Sarah’s friends from the store knew the victim—and the young woman who drowned—very well and are concerned they could be dragged into the case.
It’s beginning to look like an innocent man may be in prison and that drowning death might in fact be the work of a killer who has struck again. Between Charlotte’s Angels, the group of senior citizen private detectives who operate out of the store, and Elvis’s abilities to sniff out trouble, Sarah won’t let a second chance at catching this purr-petrator pass her by.
Summer is around the corner and Sarah is making sure the store is stocked and ready for tourist season. But while the weather’s heating up, Sarah gets involved in a case that is decidedly cold, when a man who was linked to a drowning death years ago is found dead himself, on the same stretch of beach. Some of Sarah’s friends from the store knew the victim—and the young woman who drowned—very well and are concerned they could be dragged into the case.
It’s beginning to look like an innocent man may be in prison and that drowning death might in fact be the work of a killer who has struck again. Between Charlotte’s Angels, the group of senior citizen private detectives who operate out of the store, and Elvis’s abilities to sniff out trouble, Sarah won’t let a second chance at catching this purr-petrator pass her by.
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 25, 2025
68 people are currently reading
865 people want to read
About the author
Sofie Ryan
13 books571 followersPseudonym for Darlene Ryan. Also writes under Sofie Kelly.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 70 reviews
March 29, 2025
Another wonderful adventure in one of my favorite series! I don't know how anyone could not love this crew! Sarah is a smart, thoughtful, and caring main character. The cast around her is just as stellar! The Angels are a woot, Avery is a delightful teenager with an edge, Mac is a perfect companion, and the rest of the friends, family, and townspeople add a wonderful backdrop to an interesting tourist town. Then, of course, we have Elvis, the lie detecting cat with the most adorable swagger. In this book, history comes back to haunt a lot of the townspeople when a murder occurs in the same location where there was a tragic murder 15 years before. This murder victim was at the original event. Is there a tie-in, or was this just a new situation in a familiar location. When one of the Second Chance's fellow business neighbors is suspected of the murder, the crew know they have to get to the bottom of things. With all hands on deck, can Elvis and the crew figure it out. You are definitely going to want to spend some time in North Harbor, Maine!
October 4, 2025
I learned a lot by reading this story.
It's a bit turgid at times, but the story does keep moving. The characters don't indulge in contemplating their existence and the author doesn't try to impress the reader with her vocabulary and learned philosophical understanding of the meaning of life.
There's a lot of conversation between characters who've known each other for years. Everyone in North Harbor (sic) Maine is gainfully employed. mostly working in businesses they've set up themselves. Most of them are good neighbours. The cat, called Elvis, doesn't have a huge impact on the story.
It's a satisfying ending with a definite twist to normal murder / mystery stories.
It's a bit turgid at times, but the story does keep moving. The characters don't indulge in contemplating their existence and the author doesn't try to impress the reader with her vocabulary and learned philosophical understanding of the meaning of life.
There's a lot of conversation between characters who've known each other for years. Everyone in North Harbor (sic) Maine is gainfully employed. mostly working in businesses they've set up themselves. Most of them are good neighbours. The cat, called Elvis, doesn't have a huge impact on the story.
It's a satisfying ending with a definite twist to normal murder / mystery stories.
April 25, 2025
The book starts with the dream like scenario where a dead body is found on the beach. The victim was linked to a drowning at that site years earlier, and never would have gone back there voluntarily. The usual investigation ensues.
The book tries to be literary, but doesn't quite make it.
The book tries to be literary, but doesn't quite make it.
March 28, 2025
4.5 stars
Cat Got Your Killer by Sofie Ryan follows Sarah as she finds a body and must figure out who killed him. The interesting part is that it might be tied to a could be wrongful conviction from years ago. The group of older ladies and one gentleman that solves crimes with Sarah get together and try to figure out whodunit before someone else gets hurt.
This book was absolute delight. I had a great time! I thought the interpersonal issues made the story feel very real. I thought that the mystery had nice twists and turns. I was shocked when some revelations came out and the ending itself was so good. I do think you could read this book without the context of the 11 that came before it but you might miss some sweet little throwbacks that Sofie Ryan puts in. Overall I would highly recommend this book as it was a delight to read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley, and Sofie Ryan for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Cat Got Your Killer by Sofie Ryan follows Sarah as she finds a body and must figure out who killed him. The interesting part is that it might be tied to a could be wrongful conviction from years ago. The group of older ladies and one gentleman that solves crimes with Sarah get together and try to figure out whodunit before someone else gets hurt.
This book was absolute delight. I had a great time! I thought the interpersonal issues made the story feel very real. I thought that the mystery had nice twists and turns. I was shocked when some revelations came out and the ending itself was so good. I do think you could read this book without the context of the 11 that came before it but you might miss some sweet little throwbacks that Sofie Ryan puts in. Overall I would highly recommend this book as it was a delight to read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley, and Sofie Ryan for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 7, 2025
Cute and enjoyable. Started to suspect the identity of the killer but not until pretty far into the mystery.
December 19, 2025
Ms Ryan keeps us guessing until the final chapters of this mystery. I was totally shocked by the naming of the murderer in this cozy.
May 8, 2025
I LOVE these books! Keep them coming!!!!
March 26, 2025
I always look forward to a new book by Sofie Ryan (or Sofie Kelly). I love the regular characters in the Second Chance Cat series, especially Elvis. Unfortunately, the mystery in this one fell flat for me. Even the writing felt flat. None of it came to life.
It got off to a slow start as Sarah kept repeating the story of finding the body over and over again. Then as new clues came in, those got repeated over and over again. The characters involved in the murder itself were not interesting. They seemed like one dimensional paper dolls with no personalities. I know what a fantastic writer Sofie Ryan can be. That crisp, sharp writing did not show up in this book. The ending was particularly unsatisfying. After the book ended, there was a "teaser" chapter from her first Magical Cats book. I usually skip teasers, especially when I've already read the book, but I read this one to remind myself how that series started. The improvement in writing style was immediately noticeable. It made me want to start that series over again. I was left wondering if somebody gave the author's plot outline to a less talented writer. I still liked it; I just didn't quite love it. It makes me sad to find so much to criticize.
Where were the editors? Somebody should have told her the first few chapters needed to be tightened up and brightened up. Where were the proofreaders? This book was full of typos, some leaving me having to try to figure out what she had meant. I expect that in self published books. I do not expect it in commercially published books by an established author. I don't blame the author. I blame the publisher.
I hope this book is not an indication that Ms. Ryan is losing interest in the series. I'm holding out hopes there will be a next book. I will definitely continue the series if it continues. I'm also holding out hope for a new Magical Cats book. Time will tell.
It got off to a slow start as Sarah kept repeating the story of finding the body over and over again. Then as new clues came in, those got repeated over and over again. The characters involved in the murder itself were not interesting. They seemed like one dimensional paper dolls with no personalities. I know what a fantastic writer Sofie Ryan can be. That crisp, sharp writing did not show up in this book. The ending was particularly unsatisfying. After the book ended, there was a "teaser" chapter from her first Magical Cats book. I usually skip teasers, especially when I've already read the book, but I read this one to remind myself how that series started. The improvement in writing style was immediately noticeable. It made me want to start that series over again. I was left wondering if somebody gave the author's plot outline to a less talented writer. I still liked it; I just didn't quite love it. It makes me sad to find so much to criticize.
Where were the editors? Somebody should have told her the first few chapters needed to be tightened up and brightened up. Where were the proofreaders? This book was full of typos, some leaving me having to try to figure out what she had meant. I expect that in self published books. I do not expect it in commercially published books by an established author. I don't blame the author. I blame the publisher.
I hope this book is not an indication that Ms. Ryan is losing interest in the series. I'm holding out hopes there will be a next book. I will definitely continue the series if it continues. I'm also holding out hope for a new Magical Cats book. Time will tell.
March 28, 2025
https://openbooksociety.com/article/c...
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
North Harbor, Maine, is one of my favorite places to visit. Entering the Second Chance shop, part repurposed goods and part thrift store, is the best of any store of its kind. Those involved with the shop feel more like family than many blood kin. Sarah owns the shop, and Elvis, her sleek black cat, believes he is her right paw. Mac, the second in command, is also her boyfriend. Enjoying a cup of coffee and seeing this one-of-a-kind shop is the perfect way to spend a day.
It is outrageously, over-the-top, laugh-out-loud fun when Charlotte’s Angels, a Private Investigations firm of seniors get together with Sarah, Mac, and their friends. The women are close friends of Sarah’s grandmother since they were schoolgirls together. Sarah used to spend summers there with Gram and her friends, and she feels lucky to be part of this family of knowledgeable, hard-working, wise women. Alfred Peterson, nicknamed Mr. P or Alf, is Rose’s gentleman friend and holds the PI license in the firm. Their business office is at Second Chance. Sarah is always involved with their investigations. Rose, Charlotte, and Mr. P also work in the shop, as well as Liz’s granddaughter, Avery. They are engaging and realistically portrayed, and one’s life would be enriched to have even one person in their lives like these characters. The era is established by Elvis’s affinity for Jeopardy! He still insists on watching it on TV every evening, even after the passing of Alex Trebek.
It isn’t always giggles and grins. It is sometimes dead serious, especially considering the number of murders they have helped solve in their tourist town since Sarah bought the shop. While Elvis has been known to nap on the job, he also contributes to solving the mysteries. Sometimes it seems he actually understands what they discuss! He has a superpower that they make use of on almost every case. He is a feline lie detector, better than any machine, with 100% accuracy.
Almost fifteen years ago, a young woman drowned, believed to have been pushed by someone she was in grad school with. He has been in prison since, even though he declared his innocence. One evening, Mac and Sarah were at the garage of their friend, Memphis, while his brother Cleveland was down at the nearby beach. Cleveland is one of several “pickers” who scour the area and sell their treasures to Sarah and others. She was going to ask Cleveland to add a couple items to her “wish list”, and found him looking at a tangle of branches, a tarp, and other materials in the water. In that tangled detritus was the body of Michael, who had been at that long-ago party, now at that same stretch of beach. Michael couldn’t swim well, and would never willingly go back to that area of the beach with its bad memories.
Within days, Charlotte’s Angels were on the job, on behalf of Glenn, a friend who had an argument with Michael the day of his death. Michael had a secret about that night, and told it to Glenn that morning. What they learn, among other things, is that the man who spent 15 years in prison might be as innocent as he has stated. And the real murderer might be out and about town.
This mystery with its twists and turns kept this reader engaged throughout. I couldn’t get a solid feeling for anyone to be my top suspect, especially since I really wanted everyone in North Harbor to be innocent of murder. My feelings about the resolution were mixed. The real bad guy was caught, but I was sad to learn whodunit. This novel shows us some of the very best people of North Harbor, Maine, and that is exactly who I am looking forward to seeing on the next armchair visit, including Elvis! I highly recommend this cozy mystery and series! Each can easily be read as standalones, as there is sufficient backstory of people and events.
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
North Harbor, Maine, is one of my favorite places to visit. Entering the Second Chance shop, part repurposed goods and part thrift store, is the best of any store of its kind. Those involved with the shop feel more like family than many blood kin. Sarah owns the shop, and Elvis, her sleek black cat, believes he is her right paw. Mac, the second in command, is also her boyfriend. Enjoying a cup of coffee and seeing this one-of-a-kind shop is the perfect way to spend a day.
It is outrageously, over-the-top, laugh-out-loud fun when Charlotte’s Angels, a Private Investigations firm of seniors get together with Sarah, Mac, and their friends. The women are close friends of Sarah’s grandmother since they were schoolgirls together. Sarah used to spend summers there with Gram and her friends, and she feels lucky to be part of this family of knowledgeable, hard-working, wise women. Alfred Peterson, nicknamed Mr. P or Alf, is Rose’s gentleman friend and holds the PI license in the firm. Their business office is at Second Chance. Sarah is always involved with their investigations. Rose, Charlotte, and Mr. P also work in the shop, as well as Liz’s granddaughter, Avery. They are engaging and realistically portrayed, and one’s life would be enriched to have even one person in their lives like these characters. The era is established by Elvis’s affinity for Jeopardy! He still insists on watching it on TV every evening, even after the passing of Alex Trebek.
It isn’t always giggles and grins. It is sometimes dead serious, especially considering the number of murders they have helped solve in their tourist town since Sarah bought the shop. While Elvis has been known to nap on the job, he also contributes to solving the mysteries. Sometimes it seems he actually understands what they discuss! He has a superpower that they make use of on almost every case. He is a feline lie detector, better than any machine, with 100% accuracy.
Almost fifteen years ago, a young woman drowned, believed to have been pushed by someone she was in grad school with. He has been in prison since, even though he declared his innocence. One evening, Mac and Sarah were at the garage of their friend, Memphis, while his brother Cleveland was down at the nearby beach. Cleveland is one of several “pickers” who scour the area and sell their treasures to Sarah and others. She was going to ask Cleveland to add a couple items to her “wish list”, and found him looking at a tangle of branches, a tarp, and other materials in the water. In that tangled detritus was the body of Michael, who had been at that long-ago party, now at that same stretch of beach. Michael couldn’t swim well, and would never willingly go back to that area of the beach with its bad memories.
Within days, Charlotte’s Angels were on the job, on behalf of Glenn, a friend who had an argument with Michael the day of his death. Michael had a secret about that night, and told it to Glenn that morning. What they learn, among other things, is that the man who spent 15 years in prison might be as innocent as he has stated. And the real murderer might be out and about town.
This mystery with its twists and turns kept this reader engaged throughout. I couldn’t get a solid feeling for anyone to be my top suspect, especially since I really wanted everyone in North Harbor to be innocent of murder. My feelings about the resolution were mixed. The real bad guy was caught, but I was sad to learn whodunit. This novel shows us some of the very best people of North Harbor, Maine, and that is exactly who I am looking forward to seeing on the next armchair visit, including Elvis! I highly recommend this cozy mystery and series! Each can easily be read as standalones, as there is sufficient backstory of people and events.
March 28, 2025
Sarah Grayson owns the local secondhand store in North Harbor, Maine. She lives with her cat Elvis in a house that has 3 other apartments, all filled with family and friends. And she’s dating Mac, who works at the store with her. Mac helps with repairing and upgrading the furniture while Sarah helps customers and works to keep the store stocked. Mac has also taken on a personal project of building a boat, and Sarah rented a local garage for him to build it in.
When they visit the garage one night, Sarah sees her friend Cleveland standing close to the water. As she gets closer to him, she sees what he’s staring at, a body in the water. She starts running to try to save them, but it’s too late. As she gets closer, her friend stops her, knowing it’s already too late. And he’s called for help already. The only thing they can do now is to pull the body onto the shore, as it’s getting swept out slowly by the tide.
By the time the police and ambulance show up, Sarah and Cleveland have pulled the body free of the water, but Sarah doesn’t know who he is. It’s not until the next day that Sarah learns the body they pulled out was a man named Michael Norris, who notoriously hated the water. As it turns out, when he was in college, he’d been at a party where a woman had drowned, right there at that spot.
As Sarah and her friends, a private investigative team they call Charlotte’s Angels (Charlotte is Sarah’s grandmother), decide to look into the death of Michael, which also leads them to question whether the right person went to jail for the original drowning. But the closer they get to the answers, the closer they get to a killer. Will they figure out who the killer is in time, or will the danger follow Sarah back to the shore where others have lost their lives?
Cat Got Your Killer is a cozy mystery filled with thrifting and decorating, friendship and cake, and some amateur investigating. It’s well balanced, not letting the crime take over but keeping the investigation moving forward step by step. But the best part of this series, the one who steals every scene he’s in, is clearly Elvis, the black cat who can sense lies and beg for treats with the best of them.
I am a fan of this series. It’s gentle and graceful, inviting and warming. And while there are crimes to solve, including murder, these characters emphasize self-care and kindness, making a soothing balance to the harshness of the world. Cat Got Your Killer is book 12 of the Second Chance Cat Mystery by Sofie Ryan, and these mysteries just put the cozy back in cozy mystery. These are the perfect books for readers who like gentle mysteries with a solid community of nice people. And a scene-stealing cat.
Egalleys for Cat Got Your Killer were provided by Berkley through NetGalley, with many thanks.
When they visit the garage one night, Sarah sees her friend Cleveland standing close to the water. As she gets closer to him, she sees what he’s staring at, a body in the water. She starts running to try to save them, but it’s too late. As she gets closer, her friend stops her, knowing it’s already too late. And he’s called for help already. The only thing they can do now is to pull the body onto the shore, as it’s getting swept out slowly by the tide.
By the time the police and ambulance show up, Sarah and Cleveland have pulled the body free of the water, but Sarah doesn’t know who he is. It’s not until the next day that Sarah learns the body they pulled out was a man named Michael Norris, who notoriously hated the water. As it turns out, when he was in college, he’d been at a party where a woman had drowned, right there at that spot.
As Sarah and her friends, a private investigative team they call Charlotte’s Angels (Charlotte is Sarah’s grandmother), decide to look into the death of Michael, which also leads them to question whether the right person went to jail for the original drowning. But the closer they get to the answers, the closer they get to a killer. Will they figure out who the killer is in time, or will the danger follow Sarah back to the shore where others have lost their lives?
Cat Got Your Killer is a cozy mystery filled with thrifting and decorating, friendship and cake, and some amateur investigating. It’s well balanced, not letting the crime take over but keeping the investigation moving forward step by step. But the best part of this series, the one who steals every scene he’s in, is clearly Elvis, the black cat who can sense lies and beg for treats with the best of them.
I am a fan of this series. It’s gentle and graceful, inviting and warming. And while there are crimes to solve, including murder, these characters emphasize self-care and kindness, making a soothing balance to the harshness of the world. Cat Got Your Killer is book 12 of the Second Chance Cat Mystery by Sofie Ryan, and these mysteries just put the cozy back in cozy mystery. These are the perfect books for readers who like gentle mysteries with a solid community of nice people. And a scene-stealing cat.
Egalleys for Cat Got Your Killer were provided by Berkley through NetGalley, with many thanks.
October 24, 2025
Ahoy there me mateys! Though this log’s focus is on sci-fi and fantasy, this Captain does have broader reading tastes. So occasionally I will share some reads that I enjoyed that are off the charts (a non sci-fi or fantasy). This series was brought to me attention by
Matey Nicole @ BookWyrmKnits
. It consists of 12 books. I bought them all from Audible during their summer sale. At this time, there is no indication that the author will write more in this series. So another series done! Of course, if that changes and other books are written, then I will likely read them too.
Sarah Grayson owns the store Second Chance, a secondhand and thrift shop in the (made-up) coastal town of North Harbor, Maine. Sarah has a group of elderly friends of her grandmother who are like family. These friends run an investigative agency called the Angels.
Where does the cat come in? Elvis was a stray wandering around the waterfront. "The big black cat with a scar across his nose turned up at a local bar when the band was playing the King of Rock and Roll’s music and [then one day] hopped in Sarah’s truck. Since then, he’s been her constant companion and the furry favorite of everyone who comes into the store." And aye, Elvis does play a part in helping solve crimes (in a mostly realistic way).
This time someone else finds the dead body but Sarah helps drag the dead man to shore. This was an enjoyable listen because I still love the characters but it also had a weird background where the current dead person is linked to a drowning 15 years before. The killer was absolutely ridiculous. The only reason Sarah figures things out is because the killer follows her and tells her why they did it. And then there is a side revelation about the original drowning that seemed to come out of nowhere. A lot in this book was repetitive. Is the author actually burnt out about writing this series. Is this the last book? The party at the end kinda felt like it. Only time will tell. Arrr!
Side Note: It is weird how the longer the series got the less we saw of two of the original elderly friends of Sarah. Rose and Mr. P. become the secondary focus. Charlotte and Liz are practically non-existent. Gram has moved back to town but never actually seems to be around despite living in the same house in the upstairs apartment. Weird. Is it because Mr. P. is one of the better characters?
Sarah Grayson owns the store Second Chance, a secondhand and thrift shop in the (made-up) coastal town of North Harbor, Maine. Sarah has a group of elderly friends of her grandmother who are like family. These friends run an investigative agency called the Angels.
Where does the cat come in? Elvis was a stray wandering around the waterfront. "The big black cat with a scar across his nose turned up at a local bar when the band was playing the King of Rock and Roll’s music and [then one day] hopped in Sarah’s truck. Since then, he’s been her constant companion and the furry favorite of everyone who comes into the store." And aye, Elvis does play a part in helping solve crimes (in a mostly realistic way).
This time someone else finds the dead body but Sarah helps drag the dead man to shore. This was an enjoyable listen because I still love the characters but it also had a weird background where the current dead person is linked to a drowning 15 years before. The killer was absolutely ridiculous. The only reason Sarah figures things out is because the killer follows her and tells her why they did it. And then there is a side revelation about the original drowning that seemed to come out of nowhere. A lot in this book was repetitive. Is the author actually burnt out about writing this series. Is this the last book? The party at the end kinda felt like it. Only time will tell. Arrr!
Side Note: It is weird how the longer the series got the less we saw of two of the original elderly friends of Sarah. Rose and Mr. P. become the secondary focus. Charlotte and Liz are practically non-existent. Gram has moved back to town but never actually seems to be around despite living in the same house in the upstairs apartment. Weird. Is it because Mr. P. is one of the better characters?
April 9, 2025
This twelfth book is another fun outing with the folks at the Second Chance store.
The structure of this series is so solid. A group of seniors led by one who is a licensed private investigator makes their forays into mysteries a wee bit more logical than the average cozy.
All the characters are likeable. The author avoids the very common mistake of making one recurring character a pain in the behind for the sake of conflict. Everyone is nice but not icky sweet nice. They are each given realistic personalities. Everyone is capable. And everyone acts like an adult.
I recommend reading this series in order because the character development is fantastic. If this is your first, you are going to miss that Elvis is a feline lie detector. His reactions here are downplayed to the extent of not being relevant.
If I were to find any fault with this edition it would be the same as noted in my review of book 11. The workload of mystery solving is again not evenly divided among the Angels. For the most part all sleuthing is done by Mr. P, Rose and Sarah. Liz is barely heard from and Avery pops in and out. The Friday Night Jam remains a staple. Mac is visited by his younger brother adding a new character and a fun diversion.
The structure of this series is so solid. A group of seniors led by one who is a licensed private investigator makes their forays into mysteries a wee bit more logical than the average cozy.
All the characters are likeable. The author avoids the very common mistake of making one recurring character a pain in the behind for the sake of conflict. Everyone is nice but not icky sweet nice. They are each given realistic personalities. Everyone is capable. And everyone acts like an adult.
I recommend reading this series in order because the character development is fantastic. If this is your first, you are going to miss that Elvis is a feline lie detector. His reactions here are downplayed to the extent of not being relevant.
If I were to find any fault with this edition it would be the same as noted in my review of book 11. The workload of mystery solving is again not evenly divided among the Angels. For the most part all sleuthing is done by Mr. P, Rose and Sarah. Liz is barely heard from and Avery pops in and out. The Friday Night Jam remains a staple. Mac is visited by his younger brother adding a new character and a fun diversion.
December 19, 2025
When Sarah goes to the shore to see how her boyfriend, Mac, is progressing on the boat he’s building, she ends up helping to pull a body out of the water. The dead man was involved in another drowning that happened along that same beach fifteen years ago. People who knew the victim were convinced there was no way he would have returned to a place where a friend drowned, and when the police determine he was murdered, Sarah’s friend Glenn is implicated. Soon, the senior citizen PI’s that work out of Sarah’s shop are on the case. Sarah is certain the current murder is tied to the former death. All she needs to do is prove it.
A fun and charming story, as each book in this series has been so far. However, once again my enjoyment was tainted by Rose. I assume the author intended for the feisty senior citizen to provide some comic relief, but I do not find Rose amusing at all. She comes across as smug and condescending, which really just gets my hackles up. Who finds this funny? Moving on. Characterizations were stellar, from familiar people to those we meet in this book. The plot moved at a steady pace without any unnecessary meandering. The narrative was balanced nicely between the investigation, Sarah’s job, and her downtime.
Very good, four stars
A fun and charming story, as each book in this series has been so far. However, once again my enjoyment was tainted by Rose. I assume the author intended for the feisty senior citizen to provide some comic relief, but I do not find Rose amusing at all. She comes across as smug and condescending, which really just gets my hackles up. Who finds this funny? Moving on. Characterizations were stellar, from familiar people to those we meet in this book. The plot moved at a steady pace without any unnecessary meandering. The narrative was balanced nicely between the investigation, Sarah’s job, and her downtime.
Very good, four stars
January 18, 2025
"Cat Got Your Killer" is a cozy mystery. It's the 12th book in the series, but you don't need to read the previous books to understand this one. This book didn't spoil any of the previous mysteries.
The main characters were generally nice people. More time was spent describing refurbishing furniture and eating food than on actual detection. Sarah and the PI detectives asked questions, mostly about the past murder. I identified whodunit for the current murder, how, and why from the first time we met that character. Whodunit for the old murder was a little less clear-cut, though the clues did point a certain way and I had that correct. However, no one suspected whodunit because Sarah made a bad assumption. I was a little annoyed with several main characters, too. For example, Mac tried to control his little brother and just couldn't understand why he (an adult) might want to make some decisions on his own.
There were only a few uses of bad language. There were no sex scenes. Overall, I'd recommend this mystery, but the earlier mysteries were better.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
The main characters were generally nice people. More time was spent describing refurbishing furniture and eating food than on actual detection. Sarah and the PI detectives asked questions, mostly about the past murder. I identified whodunit for the current murder, how, and why from the first time we met that character. Whodunit for the old murder was a little less clear-cut, though the clues did point a certain way and I had that correct. However, no one suspected whodunit because Sarah made a bad assumption. I was a little annoyed with several main characters, too. For example, Mac tried to control his little brother and just couldn't understand why he (an adult) might want to make some decisions on his own.
There were only a few uses of bad language. There were no sex scenes. Overall, I'd recommend this mystery, but the earlier mysteries were better.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
June 14, 2025
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Cat Got Your Killer is book 12 in the Second Chance Cat mysteries by Sofie Ryan and the first book I have read by this author. You do not need to read the first 11 books to follow this one. I have read a few of her Magical Cat mysteries and was excited to give this series a try. I don't know about the rest of the series, but I was immediately disappointed that Elvis did not have a much more prominent role in this one. He was, after all, the selling point for me. As far as the story goes, we have drowning that is linked to a past case and our shop owner/amateur sleuth delves in with the elderly detectives running their agency out of her shop. This book started very slow and was rather repetitive. I did enjoy the book, but thought it took way to long to get where we needed to go, was somewhat predictable and had way too little of Elvis. I would still recommend it over all and will probably try some of her earlier entries in this series as well. Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this work.
July 6, 2025
Sarah Grayson owns Second Chance, a charming shop in the small town of North Harbor, Maine. She and her rescue cat, Elvis, are busy as she makes sure her store is stocked for summer and the tourist season. But Sarah's soon entangled in a mystery where a man who was linked to a cold case is found dead along the same stretch of beach. When one of Sarah's friends becomes the prime suspect, Charlotte’s Angels takes on the case with help from Sarah and Elvis who has his own abilities.
This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series and this book's a prime example of why. The book was well-written with well-developed and believable characters and a fast-paced plot. The relationships are done well with strong friendships and deep familial bonds although the family in question is a "found" family. I was drawn into this fascinating tale and kept hooked from start to finish. I was totally engrossed in the story and didn't want to put the book down. This was an absolute can't-miss with an intriguing mystery full of red-herrings and twists and turns. I have loved this series and I really enjoyed this book. I truly hope there's more to come.
This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series and this book's a prime example of why. The book was well-written with well-developed and believable characters and a fast-paced plot. The relationships are done well with strong friendships and deep familial bonds although the family in question is a "found" family. I was drawn into this fascinating tale and kept hooked from start to finish. I was totally engrossed in the story and didn't want to put the book down. This was an absolute can't-miss with an intriguing mystery full of red-herrings and twists and turns. I have loved this series and I really enjoyed this book. I truly hope there's more to come.
August 7, 2025
I couldn’t download the ARC for the book I’d planned to read and review, so I grabbed the next print books in line. This one grabbed me because I’ve read one of this author’s books before, loved her voice, and the heroine cool’s kitty, Elvis.
This book is in a series so go back to the first book when you’re finished and immerse yourself in this universe.
Sarah is living the good life, runs a thrift store, has good friends, and a cool cat. Then, a dead body washes up on the beach and it has connections to a previous drowning. Turns out, the poor guy hated water, so it was probably not an accident. The local senior group who calls themselves Charlotte’s Angels pokes around and Sarah gets herself swept up into the investigation. A man was convicted of manslaughter for the first drowning and they’re not sure it was his fault. Maybe the killer is still out there.
This book has a great voice, a cool cat, and it’s easy to kick up your feet and believe you live there.
This book is in a series so go back to the first book when you’re finished and immerse yourself in this universe.
Sarah is living the good life, runs a thrift store, has good friends, and a cool cat. Then, a dead body washes up on the beach and it has connections to a previous drowning. Turns out, the poor guy hated water, so it was probably not an accident. The local senior group who calls themselves Charlotte’s Angels pokes around and Sarah gets herself swept up into the investigation. A man was convicted of manslaughter for the first drowning and they’re not sure it was his fault. Maybe the killer is still out there.
This book has a great voice, a cool cat, and it’s easy to kick up your feet and believe you live there.
March 2, 2025
I love visiting North Harbor, Maine and the Second Chance shop with Sarah, Elvis and Charlotte's Angels. In this 12th book of the series, the discovery of the body and the suspicious circumstances grabbed my attention in the first couple of chapters and I couldn't put it down until I reached the end.
Sarah and the Angels are soon searching for clues and following leads to make sure that a friend is removed from the suspect list. A smartly paced story with limited suspects and clever twists and turns kept me turning the pages. The strong bonds between Sarah, Rose, Charlotte, Liz, and Mr. P. are evident in their banter and conversations which caused me to laugh out loud often. I would really enjoy meeting all of them.
I voluntarily reviewed a digital Advance Reader Copy of this book from Berkley Publishing via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
Sarah and the Angels are soon searching for clues and following leads to make sure that a friend is removed from the suspect list. A smartly paced story with limited suspects and clever twists and turns kept me turning the pages. The strong bonds between Sarah, Rose, Charlotte, Liz, and Mr. P. are evident in their banter and conversations which caused me to laugh out loud often. I would really enjoy meeting all of them.
I voluntarily reviewed a digital Advance Reader Copy of this book from Berkley Publishing via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
March 25, 2025
Cat Got Your Killer is book #12 in the Second Chance Cat Mystery series by Sofie Ryan.
It was good to catch up withSarah, Elvis, and Charlotte‘s Angels again. While I enjoy the mysteries, my favorite part of the series is the characters and their relationships. The author does a great job of creating characters I’d like to be friends with. The death of the person Sarah finds appears to be an accident at first. When it is determined to be a murder and the police are looking at a friend as a suspect, Sarah and Charlotte’s Angels are on the case. It was interesting to see if this was tied to an older murder. I couldn’t put the book down!
Thank you to the author, Berkley, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
It was good to catch up withSarah, Elvis, and Charlotte‘s Angels again. While I enjoy the mysteries, my favorite part of the series is the characters and their relationships. The author does a great job of creating characters I’d like to be friends with. The death of the person Sarah finds appears to be an accident at first. When it is determined to be a murder and the police are looking at a friend as a suspect, Sarah and Charlotte’s Angels are on the case. It was interesting to see if this was tied to an older murder. I couldn’t put the book down!
Thank you to the author, Berkley, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
March 20, 2025
Sarah, Elvis, and the Charlotte's Angels are back in this latest in a long running series that will also be just fine as a standalone. Sarah's pals- the Angels-hang out on the porch of her thrift store- get very involved when a body is found in the same place and killed the same way as someone was years ago. And why- because the finger is pointing at one of them! Or is it someone else they know? No spoilers but this is a classic cozy that's also fun for the personalities. I'm an Elvis the cat fan and was a bit disappointed that we didn't see more of him in this installment so here's a nudge to Ryan for the next one. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read for fans of Ryan and all who just enjoy cozies.
February 6, 2025
3/5 Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC
Sarah's small town is once again the scene of a mysterious death - it turns out to be a murder that's linked to one that happened many years ago.
Is the man who went to jail for that death connected to this one? Is he innocent?
Sarah's senior sleuth friends help her investigate, there's lots of talk about recycling and food, and early summer social events unfold.
I didn't get really engaged by the mystery or excited by the resolution, but these books are more like cozy little interludes with people you want to catch up with, so they're good escapism.
Recommend to fans of cozy small town contemporary mystery series.
Sarah's small town is once again the scene of a mysterious death - it turns out to be a murder that's linked to one that happened many years ago.
Is the man who went to jail for that death connected to this one? Is he innocent?
Sarah's senior sleuth friends help her investigate, there's lots of talk about recycling and food, and early summer social events unfold.
I didn't get really engaged by the mystery or excited by the resolution, but these books are more like cozy little interludes with people you want to catch up with, so they're good escapism.
Recommend to fans of cozy small town contemporary mystery series.
March 27, 2025
I adore this series and was thrilled to find that a new book released this week. Elvis (feline) is back and just as debonair as ever. Love the way the author writes the bond between Sarah and Elvis. Makes me smile all the way through the story. And Charlotte's Angels are back on a challenging case that stymied me right up until the end. Love a good armchair sleuthing workout! Definitely a series you should read in order because of character / relationship growth throughout the series. As well as continuing themes around Sarah's Second Chance shop and the Angels' PI firm. The perfect blend of cozy and mystery with a hint of romance to spice things up.
April 19, 2025
I didn't enjoy this Second Chance mystery as much as previous ones. The mystery took a good quarter of the book to get started and was a little too slow to keep me that interested. I was also pretty annoyed that Sarah and the Angels kept pushing Michelle and Nick to give them information when they couldn't. I felt that there was no sympathy for the fact that Michelle and Nick could lose their jobs if they helped with the case.
I like Sarah and Mac and I am looking forward to seeing where their relationship goes. Avery was also much much better than she has been in the past, she seemed like she was actually the age that she was supposed to be.
Overall 3/5 stars.
I like Sarah and Mac and I am looking forward to seeing where their relationship goes. Avery was also much much better than she has been in the past, she seemed like she was actually the age that she was supposed to be.
Overall 3/5 stars.
July 1, 2025
GOD SOFIE RYAN YOU HAVE A NEW FAN! i love how cozy and lovely this was for a mystery!! I *WILL* be reading more of her books & if u follow me on her i say u should too! such a quick and easy read that had me hooked by the end of the first chapter. Also love how vocal Elvis the kitty is!! all characters are genuinely entertaining & i love that all of these books are surrounding them! ALSO THE SECOND HAND STORE SCENES I WAS EATING TF UP!!!! like yes girl explain the mid century table u got!! cats, senior citizens, second hand stores, and a lil mystery was slay. genuinely her and emily henry r together to me for fave authors!!!
December 4, 2024
We are back at second chance with Sarah and her senior sleuths. After Sarah finds a body and it looks like it might be an accident, she feels there is no way they will be dragged into the investigation. Until the police rule it a homicide and a friend becomes the number one suspect. Can the Angels find the killer before trouble finds them? As always this is a well written story with some surprising twists and turns. The characters are amazing and lovable, especially Elvis. I can't wait for the next book.
I received this arc from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this arc from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 16, 2025
Sarah approaches her friend Cleveland just as he calls 911 to report a dead body. Sarah and Charlotte’s Angels are soon investigating since there is a chance the current death might be linked to a 15-year-old murder case.
The crew is now looking for clues – Sarah, Rose, Liz, Mr. P, Mac, and Charlotte – in the past and the present. And, of course, Elvis provides his expertise as their feline rescue sleuth. Sofie Ryan writes an intriguing mystery with well-developed and interesting characters in this 12th Second Chance Cat Mystery.
The crew is now looking for clues – Sarah, Rose, Liz, Mr. P, Mac, and Charlotte – in the past and the present. And, of course, Elvis provides his expertise as their feline rescue sleuth. Sofie Ryan writes an intriguing mystery with well-developed and interesting characters in this 12th Second Chance Cat Mystery.
April 9, 2025
3.5 stars. It's always fun to meet Sarah, Elvis and team, but this one dragged a bit. The mystery was fine, I liked the final twist as well, but there was a lot of repetition in the early parts that this series doesn't rely on normally - there's enough Sarah working on something in her shop or Avery putting up a display to keep it fresh. The book does get around to all that and more once it hits its stride, but it does spend inordinate amounts of time recounting the same facts in the first few chapters.
May 25, 2025
An absolutely amazing series!
I love this series and anxiously await each new addition to it!! Just wish it wasn't so long in between each book! This was a fascinating storyline and extremely interesting. I was so engrossed in it the entire time I was reading that I couldn't hardly put it down at bedtime. Needless to say, I was up not long after going to bed to finish it. I live Elvis, the feline detective!! He absolutely wonderful!! Can't wait for the next book to come out!!!!
I love this series and anxiously await each new addition to it!! Just wish it wasn't so long in between each book! This was a fascinating storyline and extremely interesting. I was so engrossed in it the entire time I was reading that I couldn't hardly put it down at bedtime. Needless to say, I was up not long after going to bed to finish it. I live Elvis, the feline detective!! He absolutely wonderful!! Can't wait for the next book to come out!!!!
October 31, 2024
Another solid entry in the series, albeit without much Elvis (the cat) action. When Sarah helps pull a body out of the water before it washes away, she is naturally interested in what happened. It appears to be murder--and one of her friends is a suspect. Naturally the elderly detective agency operating out of Sarah's porch gets involved. It kept me guessing, and the character interactions are enjoyable.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 70 reviews