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Conrad the Cat Detective #4
The Cat and the Christmas Kidnapper: A Cosy Christmas Cat Crime Mystery, with Claws!
'Conrad is a delight' – S.J. Bennett
Join Lulu Lewis, a retired detective with a knack for uncovering secrets, and Conrad, her extraordinary talking cat, as Christmas cheer gives way to festive fear . . .
❄❄❄
Hoping for a relaxing festive break, Lulu sets off with Conrad on her canal boat, The Lark, to the picturesque city of Bath to visit friends. But when the pair arrive, they learn of a ruthless kidnapping plot that is plaguing parents in the area.
As the kidnappers fuel panic with further demands, the pair must unravel clues faster than Conrad can charm with his witty banter. That is, if they are to stand any chance of bringing the criminals to justice in time to save the holidays . . .
The Cat and the Christmas Kidnapper by L T Shearer is a charming cosy crime read for fans of Richard Osman and S. J. Bennett.
❄❄❄
Praise for LT
'Charming and original - this is the cat's whiskers' – Anthony Horowitz, Sunday Times bestselling author of Close To Death
'Perfect for all those who love their crime cosy' – Peter James, Sunday Times bestselling author of the Roy Grace series
'My favourite detective duo . . . had me curled up and purring from first page to last' – Orlando Murrin, author of Knife Skills for Beginners
'A terrific read' – J.M. Hall, author of A Spoonful of Murder
Join Lulu Lewis, a retired detective with a knack for uncovering secrets, and Conrad, her extraordinary talking cat, as Christmas cheer gives way to festive fear . . .
❄❄❄
Hoping for a relaxing festive break, Lulu sets off with Conrad on her canal boat, The Lark, to the picturesque city of Bath to visit friends. But when the pair arrive, they learn of a ruthless kidnapping plot that is plaguing parents in the area.
As the kidnappers fuel panic with further demands, the pair must unravel clues faster than Conrad can charm with his witty banter. That is, if they are to stand any chance of bringing the criminals to justice in time to save the holidays . . .
The Cat and the Christmas Kidnapper by L T Shearer is a charming cosy crime read for fans of Richard Osman and S. J. Bennett.
❄❄❄
Praise for LT
'Charming and original - this is the cat's whiskers' – Anthony Horowitz, Sunday Times bestselling author of Close To Death
'Perfect for all those who love their crime cosy' – Peter James, Sunday Times bestselling author of the Roy Grace series
'My favourite detective duo . . . had me curled up and purring from first page to last' – Orlando Murrin, author of Knife Skills for Beginners
'A terrific read' – J.M. Hall, author of A Spoonful of Murder
342 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 16, 2025
20 people are currently reading
199 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
September 5, 2025
This book had not been released and no preview copies had been made available (my comment is being posted on 6 September 2025) when the first 'star review' was posted.
I believe this review is damaging to the author and publisher. It is fundamentally dishonest behaviour by the person who does not even leave a review to justify their four stars.
It is common practice, if someone is given a review copy, for the poster to acknowledge this in their review and review with this in mind. This is right and fair but reviewing a book that is 1) not published, 2) for which they do not acknowledge a review copy and 3) give a less than five star rating is not honest or fair.
I believe this review is damaging to the author and publisher. It is fundamentally dishonest behaviour by the person who does not even leave a review to justify their four stars.
It is common practice, if someone is given a review copy, for the poster to acknowledge this in their review and review with this in mind. This is right and fair but reviewing a book that is 1) not published, 2) for which they do not acknowledge a review copy and 3) give a less than five star rating is not honest or fair.
December 29, 2025
Probably the only type of Christmas book I can read haha
December 23, 2025
Truly dreadful stuff yet again. At least half the pages could be saved by not having full conversations written out 2-3 times as the same character explains the same thing to different people, even more could be saved without "it is, isn't it?" and "it does, doesn't it?" and "it won't, won't it?" occurring in pretty much every bit of dialogue. The 150 or so pages that were left after this edit would still leave plenty of the crackling dialogue that we know and love, as LT cuts and pastes facts from Wikipedia and presents them as conversation between the characters with a shameless unwillingness to hide it. LT's obsession with Teslas could easily be a parody of Steve Bruce's obsession with his XJ8 in his own crime fiction books, whilst the sponsorship deal with Waitrose is still going strong from the first three books. If you were a fan of the banal conversation with Uber drivers leading to a request from the driver for a 5 star rating from book three, it's very much back again in this one. With the constant mention of Waitrose, Maida Vale etc, LT once again isn't shy of letting you know she's got money, and she's not ashamed to milk this absolute twee dross for even more. I can't wait for the fifth instalment though, I will absolutely read every single one that's ever released. In fairness, as is always the case the plot is coherent enough and I didn't figure out who did it... although this is in large part due to the tendency to make all innocent characters look so guilty that it leads you to expect she's phoned it in and it's one of them (eg. the mum of the second kidnapped girl is so insistent on just paying the ransom and not listening to anyone's advice that I thought she was trying to extort her own husband for about 250 pages)
P.S. inventing pun names for boats on the canal and having the characters comment on how clever and funny they are makes me laugh every single time.
P.S. inventing pun names for boats on the canal and having the characters comment on how clever and funny they are makes me laugh every single time.
October 23, 2025
I absolutely had to grab this book with both hands as soon as I spotted it!
It totally encapsulates my whole personality!
Books - Cats - Christmas and of course throw in some Mystery too and I'm beyond sold!
Just look how glorious this front cover is!!
Now, I know that this is the fourth book in the Conrad The Cat Detective series and I also know that it's a crime that it's my first read of this series - but the books have been on my radar for a long time and I was so happy to grab this chance to finally read one.
Despite not having read the other books, this book works really well as a standalone read. The mystery at hand is complete and finished off nicely within this book - but obviously I did feel as though I'd been missing out on the character development just a little - especially as Conrad is such a major personality within the story.
Did I mention - Conrad can talk!
A talking cat you say - strange you say?
Well, it did take me by surprise at first, but then I just settled into it and absolutely loved him to bits!
I mean, there was no doubt really!?
This was a great cosy mystery that was well worked though to keep us guessing and turning those pages.
I loved that this was set over the festive period which honestly, has got me going with the Christmas vibes.
It was interesting to see Lily and Conrad living on a canal boat.
After what must have been a super stressful career at the MET, this sounds like the ideal way to relax into retirement - although having holidayed here many times, I'm not sure I could do it - but the descriptions here made it sound idyllic and serene.
This was such an easy and fun read and makes the perfect book for a cosy weekend in - especially in the run up to our own festive period.
I can't wait to dive into the rest of the series soon and find out what Lily and Conrad have been getting up to.
It totally encapsulates my whole personality!
Books - Cats - Christmas and of course throw in some Mystery too and I'm beyond sold!
Just look how glorious this front cover is!!
Now, I know that this is the fourth book in the Conrad The Cat Detective series and I also know that it's a crime that it's my first read of this series - but the books have been on my radar for a long time and I was so happy to grab this chance to finally read one.
Despite not having read the other books, this book works really well as a standalone read. The mystery at hand is complete and finished off nicely within this book - but obviously I did feel as though I'd been missing out on the character development just a little - especially as Conrad is such a major personality within the story.
Did I mention - Conrad can talk!
A talking cat you say - strange you say?
Well, it did take me by surprise at first, but then I just settled into it and absolutely loved him to bits!
I mean, there was no doubt really!?
This was a great cosy mystery that was well worked though to keep us guessing and turning those pages.
I loved that this was set over the festive period which honestly, has got me going with the Christmas vibes.
It was interesting to see Lily and Conrad living on a canal boat.
After what must have been a super stressful career at the MET, this sounds like the ideal way to relax into retirement - although having holidayed here many times, I'm not sure I could do it - but the descriptions here made it sound idyllic and serene.
This was such an easy and fun read and makes the perfect book for a cosy weekend in - especially in the run up to our own festive period.
I can't wait to dive into the rest of the series soon and find out what Lily and Conrad have been getting up to.
October 20, 2025
3.75⭐️💫 Hoping for a relaxing festive break, Lily Lewis, a retired detective with a knack for uncovering secrets, sets off with Conrad, her extraordinary talking cat, to the city of Bath to spend Christmas with friends. But when the pair arrive, they learn of a ruthless kidnapping plot that is plaguing parents in the area. As the kidnappers fuel panic with further demands, the pair must unravel clues faster than Conrad can charm with his witty banter. That is, if they are to stand any chance of bringing the criminals to justice in time to save the holidays . . .
After reading the previous two books in this series, the premise of a festive mystery meant I was pleased to have the opportunity to be reunited with this unique crime-solving duo.
We join Lulu and Conrad in the festive setting of Bath, which is beautifully described by the author during the pair’s travels through the city, and thrown into a new police case of kidnapping that they are able to provide their expertise to help solve.
A darker crime than in previous titles but still perfectly paced, the clues building up throughout. This is a title that, despite being part of a series, also works well as a standalone as there isn’t any background knowledge from the previous titles imparted within this to confuse the reader in any way.
My only slight criticism was that at times it felt a little too repetitive, for instance the numerous times the opening times of police stations were mentioned seemed a little unnecessary, and unfortunately there was just too little Conrad! He seemingly took a bit of a back seat with only minimal insight from him which was definitely a shame, taking away from the uniqueness of this duo.
This is still a throughly enjoyable, feel-good, cosy crime read that is very easy to become absorbed in due to the likeable characters & an intriguing plot.
After reading the previous two books in this series, the premise of a festive mystery meant I was pleased to have the opportunity to be reunited with this unique crime-solving duo.
We join Lulu and Conrad in the festive setting of Bath, which is beautifully described by the author during the pair’s travels through the city, and thrown into a new police case of kidnapping that they are able to provide their expertise to help solve.
A darker crime than in previous titles but still perfectly paced, the clues building up throughout. This is a title that, despite being part of a series, also works well as a standalone as there isn’t any background knowledge from the previous titles imparted within this to confuse the reader in any way.
My only slight criticism was that at times it felt a little too repetitive, for instance the numerous times the opening times of police stations were mentioned seemed a little unnecessary, and unfortunately there was just too little Conrad! He seemingly took a bit of a back seat with only minimal insight from him which was definitely a shame, taking away from the uniqueness of this duo.
This is still a throughly enjoyable, feel-good, cosy crime read that is very easy to become absorbed in due to the likeable characters & an intriguing plot.
December 19, 2025
I listened to this on audiobook format. My interest in the story ebbed and flowed throughout.
Had to suspend disbelief quite a few times, and no, not because there was a talking cat character, or because the protagonist went just about everywhere with him on her shoulder. There were other aspects that had been going “oooohhh-kay”. Won’t go into details here to avoid spoilers.
The Christmas element to the story was so very minor that it barely rated. And despite having a cat character, this series doesn’t quite fit in the cozy mystery genre. It feels more like police procedural with a talking cat thrown in as a gimmick.
Had to suspend disbelief quite a few times, and no, not because there was a talking cat character, or because the protagonist went just about everywhere with him on her shoulder. There were other aspects that had been going “oooohhh-kay”. Won’t go into details here to avoid spoilers.
The Christmas element to the story was so very minor that it barely rated. And despite having a cat character, this series doesn’t quite fit in the cozy mystery genre. It feels more like police procedural with a talking cat thrown in as a gimmick.
December 30, 2025
Great fun to read, this is the 4th book in the series and I’ve read and enjoyed them all. This one kept me guessing until the end.
While reading this book I was surprised and shocked in a nice way when I discovered one of the characters was called Rachel Woodisse! My name! The character was a police officer who also had an interest in feline behaviour and had a certificate in feline behaviour, the same course that I have studied!!
My surname is very unusual and all the Woodisse family are related in the UK and I’m intrigued as to how the author found my name?
So L T Shearer do you know me? Have we met? I would love to connect as maybe your author’s name isn’t your real name and we know each other? I’m a cat sitter, have I ever looked after your cat?
Please “Let the cat out of the bag” so to speak?
Best Wishes “Constable “ Rachel Woodisse x
While reading this book I was surprised and shocked in a nice way when I discovered one of the characters was called Rachel Woodisse! My name! The character was a police officer who also had an interest in feline behaviour and had a certificate in feline behaviour, the same course that I have studied!!
My surname is very unusual and all the Woodisse family are related in the UK and I’m intrigued as to how the author found my name?
So L T Shearer do you know me? Have we met? I would love to connect as maybe your author’s name isn’t your real name and we know each other? I’m a cat sitter, have I ever looked after your cat?
Please “Let the cat out of the bag” so to speak?
Best Wishes “Constable “ Rachel Woodisse x
December 30, 2025
3.5 stars
it’s very bizarre to read a book set in your local area, especially one that goes into so much geographical and cultural detail (and when the criminal mastermind is from your town…) but this was great fun. the writing style is still a little clunky, repetitive in places and suffers from way too much detail (we don’t need to know the opening times of every police station lulu goes to, or the brand and style of every outfit she wears). lulu has an annoying habit of either guessing or finding out through conrad (the talking cat) a vital piece of information that helps them crack the case. but the mystery was good and the plot kept me hooked across the 24 hours it took me to read it.
it’s very bizarre to read a book set in your local area, especially one that goes into so much geographical and cultural detail (and when the criminal mastermind is from your town…) but this was great fun. the writing style is still a little clunky, repetitive in places and suffers from way too much detail (we don’t need to know the opening times of every police station lulu goes to, or the brand and style of every outfit she wears). lulu has an annoying habit of either guessing or finding out through conrad (the talking cat) a vital piece of information that helps them crack the case. but the mystery was good and the plot kept me hooked across the 24 hours it took me to read it.
December 4, 2025
Conrad had a bit more involvment this time which was nice to see, but I still think its more of him assisting Lulu, albeit this is probably the most involvement he's had since book one. I also felt that it wasnt much of a christmassy read, even though the story happened during christmas, it wasnt really something i thought adhered to the story much, minus it meaning it could make things more difficult because of short staffing and whatnot. The story mystery wise was a good read and its definitely a cosy writing style imo. I look forward to Conrad's next adventure when it comes out 😊
January 18, 2026
Another brilliant cozy crime story. The cat "Conrad" continues to be an asset to these crimes and always gets the job done! Really love how he gets involved and only will speak to Lulu. And actually a pretty good story line! clearly lots of thought went into the plot. Really enjoyed to story and I hope there will be more!
November 16, 2025
3.7⭐︎
A fantastic premise (love the idea of a talking cat helping to solve mysteries) and overall very well done I think in terms of plot - I do wish there’d been more of the cat (other reviews suggests he features more prominently in other books, so might have to keep an eye out for those) and some of the narrative felt a bit over-explained but maybe it would be more helpful/necessary for a different audience. Overall though good little mystery and enjoyed the Juliet/MC policewoman friendship most (aside from the talking cat)
A fantastic premise (love the idea of a talking cat helping to solve mysteries) and overall very well done I think in terms of plot - I do wish there’d been more of the cat (other reviews suggests he features more prominently in other books, so might have to keep an eye out for those) and some of the narrative felt a bit over-explained but maybe it would be more helpful/necessary for a different audience. Overall though good little mystery and enjoyed the Juliet/MC policewoman friendship most (aside from the talking cat)
January 4, 2026
Fair enjoyable, easy read, but truly terribly written. I enjoy Conrad, but the characters lacked any level of depth and all spoke like robots lol
November 7, 2025
Tää on vaan niin kiva hyvän mielen dekkarisarja ❣️ tää oli mun mielestä tähän astisista osista paras! 😍
October 11, 2025
Thank you to Random Things tours and L T Shearer for my copy of this book, this is my honest review.
This book is a standalone but is part of a series, there was enough detail in the book that I quickly picked up the relationship between Conrad the cat and Lulu Lewis, the retired Met Detective. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story, it was the perfect amount of detail and intriguing storyline that it kept me entertained throughout.
Lulu lives on a narrowboat with Conrad, they're on their way to see Lulu’s Goddaughter to stay for Christmas. Conrad is a very unique cat in that he can talk to Lulu, something she does not let on to anyone else, it is also the reason he accompanies her everywhere. On their gentle canal journey they see a local paper showing a school girl has been kidnapped and the parents are distraught. Upon arriving at their destination and settling in with the family she feels the underlying tension and discovers that they have received a note from the criminals threatening to kidnap their daughter if they don't pay up!
Lulu is able to contact the police on their behalf and becomes involved in the ongoing investigation. The story has great details of modern policing and techniques, the bureaucracy of neighbouring police forces and budget constraints. It also incorporates fantastic insights and help from Conrad, who picks up on details that human noses and eyes just can't see!
The dynamics of the police officers involved across a cross county investigation was interesting and I felt like I was involved in a modern police drama which was great. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and the build up of tension throughout the story.
I loved that the ransom is to be paid in bitcoin, so relevant to today and the moral and ethical dilemma of how the press portray and apportion air time depending on your perceived status in society. Fascinating!
I will go back and check out the other books from this author as I enjoyed this so much.
This book is a standalone but is part of a series, there was enough detail in the book that I quickly picked up the relationship between Conrad the cat and Lulu Lewis, the retired Met Detective. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story, it was the perfect amount of detail and intriguing storyline that it kept me entertained throughout.
Lulu lives on a narrowboat with Conrad, they're on their way to see Lulu’s Goddaughter to stay for Christmas. Conrad is a very unique cat in that he can talk to Lulu, something she does not let on to anyone else, it is also the reason he accompanies her everywhere. On their gentle canal journey they see a local paper showing a school girl has been kidnapped and the parents are distraught. Upon arriving at their destination and settling in with the family she feels the underlying tension and discovers that they have received a note from the criminals threatening to kidnap their daughter if they don't pay up!
Lulu is able to contact the police on their behalf and becomes involved in the ongoing investigation. The story has great details of modern policing and techniques, the bureaucracy of neighbouring police forces and budget constraints. It also incorporates fantastic insights and help from Conrad, who picks up on details that human noses and eyes just can't see!
The dynamics of the police officers involved across a cross county investigation was interesting and I felt like I was involved in a modern police drama which was great. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and the build up of tension throughout the story.
I loved that the ransom is to be paid in bitcoin, so relevant to today and the moral and ethical dilemma of how the press portray and apportion air time depending on your perceived status in society. Fascinating!
I will go back and check out the other books from this author as I enjoyed this so much.
Read
October 15, 2025I was intrigued by the premise of this story, A retired metropolitan detective Lulu Lewis and Conrad the calico cat travelling the canals of England solving crime.
Lulu is navigating her canal boat down to bath to visit her God-daughter Amanda for Christmas festivities, but as we all know Christmas doesn’t always go to plan and Conrad and Lulu find themselves thrust into the middle of a kidnapping case.
I found the book to have very detailed scene setting which was a style of writing I am not used to. It was almost like a stage play, you knew where characters were in the room, what they are doing, their expressions and the narrative included lots of information that sometimes felt superfluous to the plot (such as police station opening hours and what drinks people were having).
I like the fact that Conrad the cat went everywhere, an extra detective and enjoyed his ruse of nipping to the garden to impart some wisdom to Lulu at key points.
The story itself centres on some very heavy topics of child abduction, blackmail and money extortion but the style of the book doesn’t really probe into the darker aspects of these topics, only as a reference to say what could have happened, so for those readers who don’t enjoy darker scenes this story would be ok.
There were a few moments of repetition which distracted me but the writing style was still very readable and I learnt a lot of information that was included, especially about emerging technologies such as bitcoins which made the story feel very current.
Readers who enjoy cosy-crime or cosy-mystery would probably enjoy this story.
Lulu is navigating her canal boat down to bath to visit her God-daughter Amanda for Christmas festivities, but as we all know Christmas doesn’t always go to plan and Conrad and Lulu find themselves thrust into the middle of a kidnapping case.
I found the book to have very detailed scene setting which was a style of writing I am not used to. It was almost like a stage play, you knew where characters were in the room, what they are doing, their expressions and the narrative included lots of information that sometimes felt superfluous to the plot (such as police station opening hours and what drinks people were having).
I like the fact that Conrad the cat went everywhere, an extra detective and enjoyed his ruse of nipping to the garden to impart some wisdom to Lulu at key points.
The story itself centres on some very heavy topics of child abduction, blackmail and money extortion but the style of the book doesn’t really probe into the darker aspects of these topics, only as a reference to say what could have happened, so for those readers who don’t enjoy darker scenes this story would be ok.
There were a few moments of repetition which distracted me but the writing style was still very readable and I learnt a lot of information that was included, especially about emerging technologies such as bitcoins which made the story feel very current.
Readers who enjoy cosy-crime or cosy-mystery would probably enjoy this story.
October 28, 2025
💭 #Qotd What's your pet's favourite thing to do?
🐈🎄🐈🎄🐈🎄
Title: The Cat and the Christmas Kidnapper
Author: L.T. Shearer
Pages: 400
Available Now. Published by @panmacmillan
(Synopsis added to comments)
Talking cats and cosy crime? Count me in!
Lulu and Conrad are visiting Lulu's God-Daughter for Christmas. They find themselves involved in aiding the local police to help solve a kidnapping.
This book is part of a series but can be a standalone read. I felt I didn't need to read the past books to understand what read going on.
The plot was easy to follow, and used dialogue to move the story along. I did find the over explanation of things took me out of the narrative sometimes, however it was still a great read.
There were some twists and at one point I felt my heart catch to the point I couldn't stop reading until I reached the end!
I loved the talking cat Conrad, and the easy feel lifestyle of a narrowboat. (I actually want one now)
A nice palate cleanser between the dark psychological thrillers I've been reading as of late!
This was a pleasant, feel good cosy read (albeit a bit of a darker crime). Purrfect for slowing down during the festive period.
🐈🎄🐈🎄🐈🎄🐈🎄🐈🎄🐈
You'll love this book if you like books that include;
- talking cat
- cosy crime/ mystery
- retired fmc
- no romance
- seasonal read
🐈🎄🐈🎄🐈🎄🐈🎄
Is this your purrfect read? Let me know in the comments.
👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻
🎀 Review copy
🐈🎄🐈🎄🐈🎄
Title: The Cat and the Christmas Kidnapper
Author: L.T. Shearer
Pages: 400
Available Now. Published by @panmacmillan
(Synopsis added to comments)
Talking cats and cosy crime? Count me in!
Lulu and Conrad are visiting Lulu's God-Daughter for Christmas. They find themselves involved in aiding the local police to help solve a kidnapping.
This book is part of a series but can be a standalone read. I felt I didn't need to read the past books to understand what read going on.
The plot was easy to follow, and used dialogue to move the story along. I did find the over explanation of things took me out of the narrative sometimes, however it was still a great read.
There were some twists and at one point I felt my heart catch to the point I couldn't stop reading until I reached the end!
I loved the talking cat Conrad, and the easy feel lifestyle of a narrowboat. (I actually want one now)
A nice palate cleanser between the dark psychological thrillers I've been reading as of late!
This was a pleasant, feel good cosy read (albeit a bit of a darker crime). Purrfect for slowing down during the festive period.
🐈🎄🐈🎄🐈🎄🐈🎄🐈🎄🐈
You'll love this book if you like books that include;
- talking cat
- cosy crime/ mystery
- retired fmc
- no romance
- seasonal read
🐈🎄🐈🎄🐈🎄🐈🎄
Is this your purrfect read? Let me know in the comments.
👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻
🎀 Review copy
October 27, 2025
Full review on my blog: https://www.pagetostagereviews.com/20...
It was an absolute delight to be reunited with the smart investigative duo of Conrad and Lulu. I've really grown fond of them throughout the books and it's always great to get to know more about them with each new instalment, from old police friends coming back into Lulu's life through to now seeing her with Amanda and her family.
And the mystery at the heart of this festive novel was another corker. This time around it doesn't start with a murder (thankfully), but that doesn't make it any less tense. In fact, with kidnappers targeting children in the region I was on the edge of my seat throughout.
Lulu and Conrad's help has never been needed more so it was great they were able to tag along once again (albeit reluctantly on the part of the police force). Without Lulu combining her insider's knowledge with her expertise on police procedures (and, of course, Conrad's unique skills) it could've been a much worse Christmas for all involved...
The Cat and the Christmas Kidnapper is clever crime at its finest. This book series may sound a bit silly on the surface – a talking cat solving crimes – but it is honestly SO good. Conrad only speaks to Lulu (it's more like them having a very close connection) and she's an ex-police detective, so very astute in her own observations.
The police investigations was once again incredibly complex and clever; filled with captivating insights into the process. This makes it one of the best crime series out there right now. And the books just keeps getting better and better – bring on the next one!
It was an absolute delight to be reunited with the smart investigative duo of Conrad and Lulu. I've really grown fond of them throughout the books and it's always great to get to know more about them with each new instalment, from old police friends coming back into Lulu's life through to now seeing her with Amanda and her family.
And the mystery at the heart of this festive novel was another corker. This time around it doesn't start with a murder (thankfully), but that doesn't make it any less tense. In fact, with kidnappers targeting children in the region I was on the edge of my seat throughout.
Lulu and Conrad's help has never been needed more so it was great they were able to tag along once again (albeit reluctantly on the part of the police force). Without Lulu combining her insider's knowledge with her expertise on police procedures (and, of course, Conrad's unique skills) it could've been a much worse Christmas for all involved...
The Cat and the Christmas Kidnapper is clever crime at its finest. This book series may sound a bit silly on the surface – a talking cat solving crimes – but it is honestly SO good. Conrad only speaks to Lulu (it's more like them having a very close connection) and she's an ex-police detective, so very astute in her own observations.
The police investigations was once again incredibly complex and clever; filled with captivating insights into the process. This makes it one of the best crime series out there right now. And the books just keeps getting better and better – bring on the next one!
October 30, 2025
This is the next captivating read in L T Shearer’s Conrad the cat and Lulu Lewis series. As with the previous books they are an easy read to settle down with whilst you wonder what it would be like to live on a narrow boat and gently travel up and down the country’s canal networks solving mysteries as you go with a talking cat for a companion.
The Cat and the Christmas Kidnapper is also thought provoking in making you ask yourself what you would do if, heaven forbid, you found yourself in the situation Amanda and Donald found themselves in . I also found myself thinking what a bonus it would be having a talking cat that could share all its knowledge and heightened senses with you. It could make some aspects of life much simpler.
Shearer’s narrative flows easily and , even though it centres around every parents nightmare, the story progresses gently without any real heart lurching moments to its conclusion, making this one of the books that is worth adding to your festive reading pile.
The Cat and the Christmas Kidnapper is also thought provoking in making you ask yourself what you would do if, heaven forbid, you found yourself in the situation Amanda and Donald found themselves in . I also found myself thinking what a bonus it would be having a talking cat that could share all its knowledge and heightened senses with you. It could make some aspects of life much simpler.
Shearer’s narrative flows easily and , even though it centres around every parents nightmare, the story progresses gently without any real heart lurching moments to its conclusion, making this one of the books that is worth adding to your festive reading pile.
October 17, 2025
I have a habit of diving into a book blindly. I do not read the blurb, generally picking it based on the genre. You can imagine my surprise when Conrad started talking. What a delight this book turned out to be! The Cat and the Christmas Kidnapper is the perfect cosy mystery to curl up with on a chilly evening — full of warmth and wit.
Lulu Lewis, a retired detective who just can’t seem to stay away from trouble, and her wonderfully clever (and very chatty) cat, Conrad. The pair set off for what’s meant to be a peaceful Christmas getaway on Lulu’s canal boat, The Lark, as they head to Bath to visit friends. Of course, their quiet holiday plans are quickly derailed when a shocking kidnapping plot begins to unfold, and Lulu and Conrad are soon drawn into an investigation to bring the culprits to justice.
This is a charming, feel-good story. The balance between cosy mystery and heartfelt storytelling is spot-on — there’s just enough tension to keep you turning the pages, but the overall tone remains light, festive, and comforting. The setting along the canals and the wintry atmosphere in Bath really added to the magic. I could almost smell the mulled wine and hear the carols in the background.
Conrad absolutely steals the show. His sharp wit and feline sass bring so much personality to the story, and his bond with Lulu is genuinely touching. Their partnership feels natural and heartwarming — it’s a joy to watch them work together to untangle clues and outsmart the criminals.
If you enjoy mysteries that don’t rely on gore or grit but rather on clever plotting, character charm, and a lot of explanations, this book is a must-read. It’s clever, funny, and full of heart — a light read that reminds you that kindness and courage matter just as much as catching the bad guys.
A mystery with a talking cat you can’t help but love. Perfect for fans of gentle crime stories with enough mystery to keep you turning pages.
https://featzreviews.com/the-cat-and-...
Lulu Lewis, a retired detective who just can’t seem to stay away from trouble, and her wonderfully clever (and very chatty) cat, Conrad. The pair set off for what’s meant to be a peaceful Christmas getaway on Lulu’s canal boat, The Lark, as they head to Bath to visit friends. Of course, their quiet holiday plans are quickly derailed when a shocking kidnapping plot begins to unfold, and Lulu and Conrad are soon drawn into an investigation to bring the culprits to justice.
This is a charming, feel-good story. The balance between cosy mystery and heartfelt storytelling is spot-on — there’s just enough tension to keep you turning the pages, but the overall tone remains light, festive, and comforting. The setting along the canals and the wintry atmosphere in Bath really added to the magic. I could almost smell the mulled wine and hear the carols in the background.
Conrad absolutely steals the show. His sharp wit and feline sass bring so much personality to the story, and his bond with Lulu is genuinely touching. Their partnership feels natural and heartwarming — it’s a joy to watch them work together to untangle clues and outsmart the criminals.
If you enjoy mysteries that don’t rely on gore or grit but rather on clever plotting, character charm, and a lot of explanations, this book is a must-read. It’s clever, funny, and full of heart — a light read that reminds you that kindness and courage matter just as much as catching the bad guys.
A mystery with a talking cat you can’t help but love. Perfect for fans of gentle crime stories with enough mystery to keep you turning pages.
https://featzreviews.com/the-cat-and-...
October 12, 2025
Conrad is a fab detective! Lulu is the one who is actually qualified for the job but Conrad is a great sidekick with skills that help solve crimes!
I haven't read any in this series before but do have one on my TBR so going to push that up my list.
Child abduction is an emotive theme and Lulu does her best to reach out to the right people to help move the investigation along. Unfortunately it's a tricky case and it takes time to join things up.
I quite liked Juliet and thought her and Lulu made a great team - with Conrad's help of course.
This slowly takes us through the case giving us plenty of time to get to know the characters. It creates suspicion around a couple at times and it's easy to assume you know who's in on the crime but things are quite that obvious!!
A fun read and I'm looking forward to reading more of Lulu and Conrad's adventures.
I haven't read any in this series before but do have one on my TBR so going to push that up my list.
Child abduction is an emotive theme and Lulu does her best to reach out to the right people to help move the investigation along. Unfortunately it's a tricky case and it takes time to join things up.
I quite liked Juliet and thought her and Lulu made a great team - with Conrad's help of course.
This slowly takes us through the case giving us plenty of time to get to know the characters. It creates suspicion around a couple at times and it's easy to assume you know who's in on the crime but things are quite that obvious!!
A fun read and I'm looking forward to reading more of Lulu and Conrad's adventures.
November 3, 2025
I have listened to the Audible version of this book.
This is an excellent fourth instalment in the Conrad the Cat Detective series. I found it a totally immersive listen as Lulu and Conrad are drawn into the search for a kidnapped young girl, whose captors are using her to extort money from wealthy residents in the Bath area.
The story blends festive charm with mystery and suspense perfectly, and the characters remain as endearing and clever as ever. Imogen Church’s narration is spot-on, making this a highly recommended listen.
This is an excellent fourth instalment in the Conrad the Cat Detective series. I found it a totally immersive listen as Lulu and Conrad are drawn into the search for a kidnapped young girl, whose captors are using her to extort money from wealthy residents in the Bath area.
The story blends festive charm with mystery and suspense perfectly, and the characters remain as endearing and clever as ever. Imogen Church’s narration is spot-on, making this a highly recommended listen.
November 30, 2025
Lulu and Conrad are looking forward to spending Christmas with Lulu’s goddaughter Amanda and her family in the beautiful city of Bath. It is obvious to Lulu that Amanda is hiding something and eventually she reveals that they have received a letter threatening to kidnap their daughter if a ransom isn’t paid.
Lulu goes to the local police and offers her expertise in helping to track down the extortionists. Conrad is as entertaining as ever and proves instrumental in helping solve the crime. A thoroughly enjoyable fourth book in the Conrad the Cat series.
Lulu goes to the local police and offers her expertise in helping to track down the extortionists. Conrad is as entertaining as ever and proves instrumental in helping solve the crime. A thoroughly enjoyable fourth book in the Conrad the Cat series.
December 31, 2025
TW: S.A. It had potential to be an interesting book but the writing style is definitely lacking. A lot of repetitive information, not very gripping sentence structures and unnecessary detail. Not really sure there’s a need for reference of S.A. towards children throughout the book considering its nature (I’d assume this was child friendly based on the title, cover photo & location in book shops). Plot 6/10 the rest was 2/10 - I skimmed a lot of the pages as so much was there that really wasn’t needed or was already explained/included five times earlier in the book.
September 21, 2025
This is book 4 in the Conrad the Cat Detective series. I've read them all and it's nice that they were traveling in this Christmas setting. Lulu and Conrad set off on their boat to Bath for the holidays with friends. A young girl has been missing, never getting home from school. Lulu's friends get a letter demanding money or their young daughter will go missing too. As a retired police inspector, Lulu begins investigating with her remarkable talking cat, Conrad.
October 18, 2025
Cats AND Christmas...two of my favourite things EVER!
How have I not known about this series before now? I love anything to do with our feline friends...although I think I'd draw the line at a talking one!
My favourite character obviously was Conrad. He really stole the show for me.
It was a fun read that has all the appeal of a cosy crime mystery with the added enjoyment of it being set around the festive period.
Purrfectly enjoyable.
How have I not known about this series before now? I love anything to do with our feline friends...although I think I'd draw the line at a talking one!
My favourite character obviously was Conrad. He really stole the show for me.
It was a fun read that has all the appeal of a cosy crime mystery with the added enjoyment of it being set around the festive period.
Purrfectly enjoyable.
October 20, 2025
It’s always a treat to catch up with Lulu Lewis and her talking cat, Conrad, as they travel on their narrowboat and investigate crimes. This time they’re in the beautiful city of Bath, visiting Lulu’s goddaughter, Amanda and her family. In this instalment Lulu and Conrad find themselves involved in kidnapping and extortion demands. Filled with gentle humour and Conrad’s antics this an engaging and delightful cosy mystery.
December 27, 2025
Hoping for a relaxing festive break, Lulu sets off with Conrad on her canal boat, The Lark, to the picturesque city of Bath to visit friends. But when the pair arrive, they learn of a ruthless kidnapping plot that is plaguing parents in the area.
As the kidnappers fuel panic with further demands, the pair must unravel clues faster than Conrad can charm with his witty banter. That is, if they are to stand any chance of bringing the criminals to justice in time to save the holidays . . .
As the kidnappers fuel panic with further demands, the pair must unravel clues faster than Conrad can charm with his witty banter. That is, if they are to stand any chance of bringing the criminals to justice in time to save the holidays . . .
January 14, 2026
I've read all 4 of the cat mysteries now. I stumbled upon the 1st one by chance. Although I enjoyed this book, there are a few issues worthy of criticism.The author over describes everything. A premise which drives the plot is actually wrong. But, it's fiction and the reader has to suspend disbelief and just sit back and enjoy the ride!
December 27, 2025
another lovely adventure with Conrad and Lulu
I have read all 3 in the series and have enjoyed them all. I thought they might be a bit too cute but haven’t found this to be the case. The puzzles are always very satisfying.
I have read all 3 in the series and have enjoyed them all. I thought they might be a bit too cute but haven’t found this to be the case. The puzzles are always very satisfying.
January 2, 2026
Absolutely brilliant! What a perfect way to start the year with a Christmas cracker! There was some clever red herrings in this book, leading you off down the path away from the culprit! I think this is the best one yet in the series, I am already eagerly awaiting the next book!
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