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A Cats in Trouble Mystery #3
The Cat, the Lady and the Liar
Cat quilter Jillian Hart finds a gorgeous stray cat belonging to the fabulously wealthy Ritaestelle Longworth, who believes she's being drugged. Before Jillian can get to those charges, a body turns up in the lake-and her cat Chablis finds Ritaestelle nearby. Can Jillian's cats aid her in solving a mystery with decades old roots?
272 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
92 people are currently reading
979 people want to read
About the author
Leann Sweeney
27 books524 followersLeann Sweeney was born and raised in Niagara Falls and educated at St. Joseph's Hospital and Lemoyne College in Syracuse, NY. She also has a degree from the University of Houston in behavioral science and worked for many years in psychiatry. Her short fiction won many awards and several mysteries were published in small market mystery magazines. Leann has written 13 cozy mysteries: 5 in The Yellow Rose Mystery Series and 8 in the Cats in Trouble Mysteries. #9 is being written now that Leann is recovering from a three year illness after a fall. Both series are published by Berkley and several titles made the NY Times bestseller list.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
January 30, 2023
I stocked up on so many series novels decades ago, choosing my reading is a delicious treat. Leann Sweeney’s subjects are serious, especially pertaining to cat safety and rescue but I savour her realistic portrayal of cat intelligence, loyalty, and their families. Cats lead to or entail Jillian Hart’s mysteries. The are beloved pets, not decorations for the home setting or book covers. I was so pleasantly surprised by the first novel that I gave it five stars. These next two have received three stars, to appreciate what I like but with honest critiques of how the mysteries and character behaviour are written.
“The Cat, The Lady, And The Liar” maintained my interest at a four or five star rate but like many novels, the dénouement was flimsy. It was one of those grudges so far in a past that readers have not seen, we do not care about it. It was also so stupidly implausible as a motive for murder, my immediate reaction to it could only be: “Grow up and get a life”. Killing is never justified but especially with Leann’s psychology background, there must be a way for writers to pen endings that readers deem understandable by some stretch.
We care about the wealthy, loveable lady, whose relatives want her confined at home and who appallingly ejected her dear cat! Jillian’s rescue partner found the kitty and asked Jillian to return her. The mystery heightens when Rita Estelle evades her bizarre household and stays with Jillian and her own kitty. Her motley relatives all yield suspicious backgrounds for readers to ponder. I enjoyed learning about Rita Estelle’s childhood connections with elder townspeople, like Tom’s Mom’s secretive boyfriend. I heartily object to Leann describing the widowed Jillian as matronly, having discovered she is only my age: under 50!
“The Cat, The Lady, And The Liar” maintained my interest at a four or five star rate but like many novels, the dénouement was flimsy. It was one of those grudges so far in a past that readers have not seen, we do not care about it. It was also so stupidly implausible as a motive for murder, my immediate reaction to it could only be: “Grow up and get a life”. Killing is never justified but especially with Leann’s psychology background, there must be a way for writers to pen endings that readers deem understandable by some stretch.
We care about the wealthy, loveable lady, whose relatives want her confined at home and who appallingly ejected her dear cat! Jillian’s rescue partner found the kitty and asked Jillian to return her. The mystery heightens when Rita Estelle evades her bizarre household and stays with Jillian and her own kitty. Her motley relatives all yield suspicious backgrounds for readers to ponder. I enjoyed learning about Rita Estelle’s childhood connections with elder townspeople, like Tom’s Mom’s secretive boyfriend. I heartily object to Leann describing the widowed Jillian as matronly, having discovered she is only my age: under 50!
March 14, 2017
I love this series and have been looking forward to catching up with it for awhile. I finally had the chance. It was well worth the wait.
Jillian Hart, once again, finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery. Not only are her cats involved, but so is the stray that she found. She tries to return the cat to her human, Ritaestelle, but she’s not sure she’s fit to be taking care of a cat. She can’t even take care of herself, plus there are a ton of rumors surrounding Ritaestelle and they aren't good rumors. Until Jillian can get to the truth, she’s not releasing the cat.
When a dead body turns up and her cats are threatened, Jillian is even more determined to uncover what’s going on with Ritaestelle. Thanks to the help of her cats and a couple of friends, Jillian’s investigative work is a bit easier.
Jillian has grown quite a bit since the first book. I adore her. The relationship she has with a local private investigator is slowly moving forward. It’s going at a wonderful pace since she’s only been widowed for a couple of years. It’s a growing realistic relationship.
The storyline moves at a steady pace. I didn’t figure out whodunit, but I did have my suspicions. The regular characters in this series have become old friend who I enjoy re-visiting now and then. I’ll definitely be continuing with this series.
Jillian Hart, once again, finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery. Not only are her cats involved, but so is the stray that she found. She tries to return the cat to her human, Ritaestelle, but she’s not sure she’s fit to be taking care of a cat. She can’t even take care of herself, plus there are a ton of rumors surrounding Ritaestelle and they aren't good rumors. Until Jillian can get to the truth, she’s not releasing the cat.
When a dead body turns up and her cats are threatened, Jillian is even more determined to uncover what’s going on with Ritaestelle. Thanks to the help of her cats and a couple of friends, Jillian’s investigative work is a bit easier.
Jillian has grown quite a bit since the first book. I adore her. The relationship she has with a local private investigator is slowly moving forward. It’s going at a wonderful pace since she’s only been widowed for a couple of years. It’s a growing realistic relationship.
The storyline moves at a steady pace. I didn’t figure out whodunit, but I did have my suspicions. The regular characters in this series have become old friend who I enjoy re-visiting now and then. I’ll definitely be continuing with this series.
July 28, 2013
After Isis is found abandoned on the side of the highway, Jillian is enlisted to investigate her food woman and find out if she is fit to own a cat.
When she first arrives at Jillian's home, she isn't too happy, hissing and arching her back at Jillian's three cats, Merlot, Syrah and Chablis. But Jillian's cats won't take any stick from the spoiled Isis and before long she knows her place in the pecking order.
When Isis's food woman turns up on Jillian's doorstep one night, she couldn't know that her very future hangs in the balance. Her food woman is suspected of murder and needs the help Jillian and her cats to clear her name.
The Cat, the Lady and the Liar very much follows the same formula as all the books in this series. There's nothing ground-breaking about it but it's an entertaining cozy murder mystery and well worth the effort.
August 21, 2011
Barely okay. Silly plot. Silly heroine. Terrible proofreading, as in "The cop waived their car through" (I'm assuming this is not the author's fault). However, the dialogue is the author's fault and I can't tolerate "if only they would have . . ." especially twice in one paragraph.
January 16, 2016
Jillian Hart is back with her three wonderful frisky felines, Chablis, Syrah and Merlot, for another Cat In Trouble Mystery. This time they are joined by yet another feline who was found near the highway. This rescued kitty's high brow attitude has proved to be too much for shelter rescue owner Shawn Cuddahee. He has begged Jillian to take the royal Isis and help him determine if she should be returned to her rightful owner, who has not returned any of his calls, or be put up for adoption for someone that truly wants her.
This leads Jillian to a huge mansion in nearby Woodcrest, the home of Ritaestelle Longworth, the registered owner of the lovely long haired, green eyed, black cat with diamond studded collar. Unfortunately the meeting doesn't go as planned and Jillian ends up making a hasty exit from the grand estate.
Jillian soon learns the town gossips are questioning the incredibly wealthy Longworth's sanity due to some unusual behavior and when Ritaestelle shows up at Jillian's door clad in a bathrobe, wearing slippers claiming she is being drugged and is in fear for her life Jillian starts to believe the gossip.
But before Jillian can even start to can get to the bottom of Ritaestelle's claims a body is found in the lake behind Jillian's home and the eccentric Longworth is standing at the end of the pier holding Chablis, and both she and the cat are covered in blood. Ritaestelle begs Jillian to help her and she can't say no. So with the help of her intuitive feline companions she begins her quest to claw and paw out the clues to solve yet another murder mystery.
The last book in this series was my favorite cozy of 2010, so you already know I love this series, but Leann Sweeney has outdone herself with yet another purrfect paws down marvelous mystery.
The new characters added from Woodcrest to the already beloved characters from Mercy are well defined and cleverly written. You can envision them popping right off the page, from the eccentric Ritaestelle and each of her quirky relatives, down to the gossiping Dolly at a local coffee shop. Have to say I loved Dolly, reminded me of someone, just can't put my finger on who :)
The plot is strong, smart, intriguing, and will keep those pages turning one right after another until the very end. The cat's antics will have you chuckling throughout. Why are cats whiskers a certain length? The answer can be found within the pages of the truly wonderful story.
If you are already a fan of this series you are going to absolutely love this next edition. If this series in new to you and you love a fun mystery that will engage you immediately and/or love cats, pick up the first two novels so you are ready when this one is released in April. I promise you will love each and every word!!
Thank you Leann for allowing me to read an advance edition and not making me wait until April to enjoy this awesome cozy, kitty treat.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
This leads Jillian to a huge mansion in nearby Woodcrest, the home of Ritaestelle Longworth, the registered owner of the lovely long haired, green eyed, black cat with diamond studded collar. Unfortunately the meeting doesn't go as planned and Jillian ends up making a hasty exit from the grand estate.
Jillian soon learns the town gossips are questioning the incredibly wealthy Longworth's sanity due to some unusual behavior and when Ritaestelle shows up at Jillian's door clad in a bathrobe, wearing slippers claiming she is being drugged and is in fear for her life Jillian starts to believe the gossip.
But before Jillian can even start to can get to the bottom of Ritaestelle's claims a body is found in the lake behind Jillian's home and the eccentric Longworth is standing at the end of the pier holding Chablis, and both she and the cat are covered in blood. Ritaestelle begs Jillian to help her and she can't say no. So with the help of her intuitive feline companions she begins her quest to claw and paw out the clues to solve yet another murder mystery.
The last book in this series was my favorite cozy of 2010, so you already know I love this series, but Leann Sweeney has outdone herself with yet another purrfect paws down marvelous mystery.
The new characters added from Woodcrest to the already beloved characters from Mercy are well defined and cleverly written. You can envision them popping right off the page, from the eccentric Ritaestelle and each of her quirky relatives, down to the gossiping Dolly at a local coffee shop. Have to say I loved Dolly, reminded me of someone, just can't put my finger on who :)
The plot is strong, smart, intriguing, and will keep those pages turning one right after another until the very end. The cat's antics will have you chuckling throughout. Why are cats whiskers a certain length? The answer can be found within the pages of the truly wonderful story.
If you are already a fan of this series you are going to absolutely love this next edition. If this series in new to you and you love a fun mystery that will engage you immediately and/or love cats, pick up the first two novels so you are ready when this one is released in April. I promise you will love each and every word!!
Thank you Leann for allowing me to read an advance edition and not making me wait until April to enjoy this awesome cozy, kitty treat.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
March 12, 2017
Jillian Hart is at it again! There is a cat in trouble and she must help out. A gorgeous stray cat has been found by the local animal shelter and Jillian has agreed to help track down the owner, who happens to be none other than Ritaestelle Longworth, the fabulously wealthy owner of a large estate in a neighboring town. Rumor has it that there is something wrong with Ritaestelle and her family claims she's been stealing form stores around town. Ritaestelle claims someone has been drugging her and spreading lies. Before Jillian can get to the bottom of things a body turns up in the lake behind Jillian's house with none other than Ritaestelle standing nearby.
The Cat, the Lady and the Liar is the third in Leann Sweeney's Cat's in Trouble series. I am absolutely loving these cozy mysteries. The characters have grown on me to the point I feel like I'm visiting old friends. Jillian is back along with her best friend Deputy Candice Carson, step daughter Kara and new boyfriend/PI Tom Stewart. We are also introduced to the Longworth family and in the next town over. What a group of characters! It is unfortunate and completely believable that a group of people would behave so badly to towards their benefactor. Leann Sweeney knows her cats! Jillian's cats contributed greatly to the story, helping to provide clues without being overly obvious.
The mystery is well done, lots of clues and small town gossip, with nice little twists and a misdirection that kept me guessing almost to the end. It was a satisfying read.
The Cat, the Lady and the Liar is the third in Leann Sweeney's Cat's in Trouble series. I am absolutely loving these cozy mysteries. The characters have grown on me to the point I feel like I'm visiting old friends. Jillian is back along with her best friend Deputy Candice Carson, step daughter Kara and new boyfriend/PI Tom Stewart. We are also introduced to the Longworth family and in the next town over. What a group of characters! It is unfortunate and completely believable that a group of people would behave so badly to towards their benefactor. Leann Sweeney knows her cats! Jillian's cats contributed greatly to the story, helping to provide clues without being overly obvious.
The mystery is well done, lots of clues and small town gossip, with nice little twists and a misdirection that kept me guessing almost to the end. It was a satisfying read.
March 19, 2011
I love the Cats in Trouble series. From the small-town South Carolina setting, to the cast of interesting characters, to the memorable animals, reading these books are like going out for coffee with old friends. In this third installment, a cat with a diamond collar is in trouble and behind the closed doors of her antebellum mansion, all is not as polished and genteel as it appears. Jillian sets out to aid the abandoned animal and, in her gentle manner, uncovers an even more serious crime. The perfect read for a lazy spring or summer afternoon!
January 16, 2017
Needed a mental rest following my previous book, and this was perfect. This is an adorable series!
February 18, 2021
I found this 3rd book in series better than the first two. I hope that book 4 continues to be as enjoyable. 3.5 stars
February 21, 2012
I have really tried to like this series. It has the cozy atmosphere, cats and quilts. But now that I have read this third installment, I have to concede that there is just something missing. My main problem with the books are the plots. The reasonings for the crimes are a little far fetched and really don't meld at all. This latest installment is the worst of it. You just can't believe the ending. It is not developed enough as plausible, and the cliched characters do not help in the matter. I don't think I will try again with this series.
September 13, 2016
To be honest, I read about halfway and put it down. I just couldn't get past some of the problems I had with book #1 - I felt they had gotten worse. I felt that the explanations of why the main character did what she did were weak at best, and I couldn't get behind her.
January 11, 2012
This book was just ok. I found the plot over-wrought and tedious and a chore to finish. The characters' feelings and actions were inconsistent and overly dramatic.
April 10, 2018
Jillian finds a stray cat belonging to a very wealthy woman, Ritaestelle Longworth, and is charged with returning the cat to her owner. Things seem a little suspicious at the Longworth residence and when a dead body turns up in Jillian’s backyard, it’s up to Jillian to figure out what’s really going on.
•
One of the best cozy mysteries I’ve read. I never found myself bored with the storyline, and it kept me guessing who was the culprit. I loved how much the cats played into the story and the fact that they were named after different types of wine, endeared me to the story even more! If you’re a fan of cozy mysteries and are also a cat lover, then I definitely recommend you try this series out. This is the third book in the series and I haven’t read the first two, but I had no problem following along with the storyline.
•
One of the best cozy mysteries I’ve read. I never found myself bored with the storyline, and it kept me guessing who was the culprit. I loved how much the cats played into the story and the fact that they were named after different types of wine, endeared me to the story even more! If you’re a fan of cozy mysteries and are also a cat lover, then I definitely recommend you try this series out. This is the third book in the series and I haven’t read the first two, but I had no problem following along with the storyline.
June 19, 2019
I wanted to like this book because I was looking forward to reading a series of cat mysteries but the cats were the only good characters in the book. The human characters are totally ridiculous.
Jillian Hart is a volunteer for Mercy Animal Sanctuary. It is their policy to speak with the owner before returning a stray animal. The director picked up a stray but, when he called the owner's home, he was told by the owner's assistant that the owner was "indisposed." So Jillian decides to go to the owner's house pretending to be a newspaper reporter. When the assistant discovers that Jillian is an imposter, Jillian is kicked out of the house and warned to stay out of town by the local cop. So Jillian's Plan B is to return to the house disguised in a blond wig and dark glasses. I continued reading in hopes that things would improve.
In many series there are amateur detectives who are made to look smart by surrounding them with stupid cops but there have never been cops more stupid than the cops in this book. Many cop partners play good cop/bad cop when questioning suspects but, in this book, a cop working alone plays good cop/bad cop with himself.
On page 202 a cop who is bummed at not being assigned to lead the investigation insists that "This should have been my investigation from the beginning. I consider these people friends of mine." speaking of the suspects.
On page 86 the author trips all over herself trying to explain how Lydia (a character who is beyond stupid) is investigating deaths without being a doctor because she is the assistant to the coroner, implying that a coroner is a doctor. Qualifications for coroners are set by individual states and counties. Many places don't require any medical training at all. So, assuming that Mercy is one of those places, Lydia could be the coroner -- could have just said that. Some coroners are elected, and others appointed. Ours is elected and he is an undertaker.
Also on page 86 the term medical examiner is used as if it is interchangeable with coroner but it's not. Medical examiners are usually appointed officials and, in most places, are doctors. Some places not only require a medical degree but also additional training in pathology.
Jillian Hart is a volunteer for Mercy Animal Sanctuary. It is their policy to speak with the owner before returning a stray animal. The director picked up a stray but, when he called the owner's home, he was told by the owner's assistant that the owner was "indisposed." So Jillian decides to go to the owner's house pretending to be a newspaper reporter. When the assistant discovers that Jillian is an imposter, Jillian is kicked out of the house and warned to stay out of town by the local cop. So Jillian's Plan B is to return to the house disguised in a blond wig and dark glasses. I continued reading in hopes that things would improve.
In many series there are amateur detectives who are made to look smart by surrounding them with stupid cops but there have never been cops more stupid than the cops in this book. Many cop partners play good cop/bad cop when questioning suspects but, in this book, a cop working alone plays good cop/bad cop with himself.
On page 202 a cop who is bummed at not being assigned to lead the investigation insists that "This should have been my investigation from the beginning. I consider these people friends of mine." speaking of the suspects.
On page 86 the author trips all over herself trying to explain how Lydia (a character who is beyond stupid) is investigating deaths without being a doctor because she is the assistant to the coroner, implying that a coroner is a doctor. Qualifications for coroners are set by individual states and counties. Many places don't require any medical training at all. So, assuming that Mercy is one of those places, Lydia could be the coroner -- could have just said that. Some coroners are elected, and others appointed. Ours is elected and he is an undertaker.
Also on page 86 the term medical examiner is used as if it is interchangeable with coroner but it's not. Medical examiners are usually appointed officials and, in most places, are doctors. Some places not only require a medical degree but also additional training in pathology.
August 31, 2011
The Cat, the Lady, and the Liar
By Leann Sweeney
Copyright April 2011
Publisher Obsidian Mystery
When cat quilter Jillian tracks down the owner of a gorgeous stray cat, the trail leads her to none other then fabulously wealthy, undeniably quirky Ritaestelle Longworth. The gossips in town are questioning Ritaestelle’s sanity, and the high-society grande dame isn’t helping matters with her wild accusations that someone is drugging her to keep her away from her beloved cat.
Before Jillian can get to the bottom of Ritaestelle’s charges, a body turns up in the lake behind her house, and her cat Chablis discovers Ritaestelle standing nearby. Can Jillian’s three wise cats aid her in solving a mystery with roots that are decades old? Jillian knows from experience that to find the purr-petrator, she’ll have to prick up her ears and follow the paw prints straight to a killer….
Jillian is a bit of a soft touch when it comes to animals, especially cats. So when her friend Shawn asks for her help with a lovely long haired black cat names Isis she tells him she would take her in till Shawn can arrange her return to her owner. Isis was saved from near certain death when she was found along a busy highway. Unfortunately Isis does not get along with the other cats in the shelter Shawn runs (which is why she ended up with Jillian).
Jillian is going to find herself dragged into all the dirt and hidden feelings of Ritaestelle Longworth’s family. She is will become deeply involved and have to deal with a murder and keep Ritaestelle out of trouble, proving to the town that she is not crazy or involved in the murders.
As the third book in Leann Sweeney’s “Cats in Trouble” series continues to thrill and entertain me. I find that her main character Jillian is becoming more 3-D with each outing. I can just picture her in my mind as I enjoy the book.
Leann Sweeney is also the author of the Yellow Rose Mysteries and she can be found hanging out at www.leannsweeney.com
FTC Full Disclosure: I received this book as a gift from a friend and decided to share my thoughts on it.
By Leann Sweeney
Copyright April 2011
Publisher Obsidian Mystery
When cat quilter Jillian tracks down the owner of a gorgeous stray cat, the trail leads her to none other then fabulously wealthy, undeniably quirky Ritaestelle Longworth. The gossips in town are questioning Ritaestelle’s sanity, and the high-society grande dame isn’t helping matters with her wild accusations that someone is drugging her to keep her away from her beloved cat.
Before Jillian can get to the bottom of Ritaestelle’s charges, a body turns up in the lake behind her house, and her cat Chablis discovers Ritaestelle standing nearby. Can Jillian’s three wise cats aid her in solving a mystery with roots that are decades old? Jillian knows from experience that to find the purr-petrator, she’ll have to prick up her ears and follow the paw prints straight to a killer….
Jillian is a bit of a soft touch when it comes to animals, especially cats. So when her friend Shawn asks for her help with a lovely long haired black cat names Isis she tells him she would take her in till Shawn can arrange her return to her owner. Isis was saved from near certain death when she was found along a busy highway. Unfortunately Isis does not get along with the other cats in the shelter Shawn runs (which is why she ended up with Jillian).
Jillian is going to find herself dragged into all the dirt and hidden feelings of Ritaestelle Longworth’s family. She is will become deeply involved and have to deal with a murder and keep Ritaestelle out of trouble, proving to the town that she is not crazy or involved in the murders.
As the third book in Leann Sweeney’s “Cats in Trouble” series continues to thrill and entertain me. I find that her main character Jillian is becoming more 3-D with each outing. I can just picture her in my mind as I enjoy the book.
Leann Sweeney is also the author of the Yellow Rose Mysteries and she can be found hanging out at www.leannsweeney.com
FTC Full Disclosure: I received this book as a gift from a friend and decided to share my thoughts on it.
March 5, 2011
Leann Sweeney's "The Cat, The Lady, and the Liar" was suspenseful from sentence one, "I try not to lie." I was hooked. I mean held in my excited palms is a wonderful book filled with all sorts of possibilities and so I quickly read the next sentence, "Honestly."...
If this doesn't intrigue you, how about Cats with personalities, abilities to sleuth, and comfort? Not to mention their intriguing names: Merlot, Syrah, and Chablis? What does a Black Cat have to do with a murder?
Jillian Hart, pet quilt maker and sleuth will find out but not until you go through many breath-catching moments.
This book is due out on shelves April 5th, 2011 per Amazon.Com. I was given the gift of an advanced copy by the truly gifted Author.
If this doesn't intrigue you, how about Cats with personalities, abilities to sleuth, and comfort? Not to mention their intriguing names: Merlot, Syrah, and Chablis? What does a Black Cat have to do with a murder?
Jillian Hart, pet quilt maker and sleuth will find out but not until you go through many breath-catching moments.
This book is due out on shelves April 5th, 2011 per Amazon.Com. I was given the gift of an advanced copy by the truly gifted Author.
June 2, 2012
Jillian has to gather all her wits about her and use her feline intuition to know whom to believe in this tale. A wealthy aristocrat is said to be losing her mind, or maybe, her relatives are just making it seem that way. Did she really throw her beloved cat outdoors to fend for herself and then claim she didn’t? Is that wild talk indicative of her condition or is she really being drugged? It’s up to Jillian to sort it all out and protect both cat and owner from harm. You’ll want to cuddle up to this cat cozy and not miss a word of this intriguing mystery.
May 13, 2014
It took me awhile to get interested in this cozy mystery. It turned out to be ok and I got over my dislike of Ritaestelle's name, something that made early reading uncomfortable. I very much disliked the addition of lots of explaining of things that were already perfectly clear from the context. It really felt like I was being 'written down to'. Lots of the book seemed forced and it's not one that I'll re-read nor will I search out another by this author but it was still an ok read.
April 29, 2011
This is the third book in a series about Jillian Hart and her cats. Ms Sweeney has introduced what I hope to be a recurring character in the form of Ms Ritaestella Longworth, she is a charmer. The characters that have been in the previous books have expanded so that we are learning more about them and yet I'm sure there is more to learn.
Anyone who loves Cozies should love this one.
Anyone who loves Cozies should love this one.
November 3, 2014
Isis is one privileged cat. She is the pet of the richest woman in the county and she gets kicked out of her house. What happened? Jillian, the famous cat quilter, takes Isis in until the mystery can be solved. These books have a pretty good mystery and I really enjoy the antics of Jillian's three cats. This one was especially cute. Have enjoyed the series.
July 12, 2011
One of the characters is named Ritaestelle, which is fine except they call her that over, and over, and over again. No shortening to Rita. Ritaestelle this, and Ritaestelle that. After a while I just skipped over the word entirely. Yes, it was bad enough to make my book review go down a star!
August 14, 2018
Loved it.Its nice to have cat books that really have cats dominant in the story line.Will be reading all the other books.
August 19, 2011
Enjoyed this book in the series like I did the others and look forward to reading the next one :)
October 9, 2022
Cat lover Jillian Hart helps out at the animal rescue shelter. Jillian is a fairly recent resident (only has been in the town for a few years – most others have lived there all their lives.) A week ago a lovely black cat wearing a diamond collar was found wandering on a road. They believed they knew the owner, a very rich elderly woman living in the nearby town, but needed to talk to her before they would give the cat back. They could not contact her by phone so Jillian was to pay the very rich older lady a visit. – Her visit was quite unsatisfactory and she could not get to talk to Ritaestelle who seemed to be ill. Jillian had a strange feeling about what was going on. Jillian took the cat, Isis, home with her and introduced to Jillian’ 3 cats. …. Of course things get messy – especially when one of Ritaestelle’s helpers wound up dying in Jillian’s backyard. Yes, the cats are around, but they don’t have any super-natural abilities (thank heavens!) … Old rivalries dating from Ritaestelle’s high school days come into play.
November 24, 2017
Another fun cats in trouble mystery… So this time it seems that the plot is a little more complex. It was very interesting though. I really thought that there are a lot of very good red herrings to distract the reader from who may have been the real culprit. I still like Jillian quite a bit. And the more I get to see her stepdaughter the more I like her as well. I also like Tom quite a bit and Candace of course. I’m kind of hoping Candace ends up with somebody nice because she seems like a nice girl. Anyway I love reading about the antics of the cats in these books and how they involve themselves in the human affairs going on around them. The author has something fresh and different to say each time she writes a book and a new way to involve the cats in the plot. I’m looking forward to reading the next books in the series. I love cats and reading about someone else who loves them is very enjoyable and relaxing
January 19, 2019
I am a cat lady, so I am truly enjoying this series. I love it how Jillian's cats *help* her solve mysteries.
Jillian is asked to go to the home of a very rich lady, Ritaestelle Longworth, to report to her that she has Ritaestelle's cat. When she arrives, she is told that Ms. Longworth is not seeing anyone. There is a commotion upstairs and Jillian being just a tad nosy goes up the stairs to see what the commotion was all about. She briefly sees Ms. Longworth but is hurriedly ushered out the door.
In the middle of the night Ritaestelle finds Jillian and comes knocking on her door. That same evening a body is found by the lake by Jillian's house. Ritaestelle is found nearby and she is soon # suspect, but Jillian can not believe that this older lady could commit this murder.
It took Jillian, Tom (Jillian's close friend) and her cop friend Candace to figure out the real murderer and to save Ritaestelle's life.
Jillian is asked to go to the home of a very rich lady, Ritaestelle Longworth, to report to her that she has Ritaestelle's cat. When she arrives, she is told that Ms. Longworth is not seeing anyone. There is a commotion upstairs and Jillian being just a tad nosy goes up the stairs to see what the commotion was all about. She briefly sees Ms. Longworth but is hurriedly ushered out the door.
In the middle of the night Ritaestelle finds Jillian and comes knocking on her door. That same evening a body is found by the lake by Jillian's house. Ritaestelle is found nearby and she is soon # suspect, but Jillian can not believe that this older lady could commit this murder.
It took Jillian, Tom (Jillian's close friend) and her cop friend Candace to figure out the real murderer and to save Ritaestelle's life.
June 15, 2021
After I read one of the stories a few weeks ago, I ordered a few more. They are what I call a fluff book, easy to read, quick and enjoyable.
Story, Jillian is a widow, she has a step-daughter who lives close by, a boyfriend named Tom, and a friend who is a policewoman. Jillian is a quilter of cat quilts and has three cat friends of her own. She loves helping out at the local shelter, and when the Shelters manager asks her to take care of a prissy cat, she takes the cat in. They know where the cat comes from, however the manager is getting no response from the residence. Jillian goes to find out what is going on.
Start the detective work, Jillian finds herself in the middle of a mystery and a murder. Who dun it, with the help of the cat and a button the murderer is unmasked!
Story, Jillian is a widow, she has a step-daughter who lives close by, a boyfriend named Tom, and a friend who is a policewoman. Jillian is a quilter of cat quilts and has three cat friends of her own. She loves helping out at the local shelter, and when the Shelters manager asks her to take care of a prissy cat, she takes the cat in. They know where the cat comes from, however the manager is getting no response from the residence. Jillian goes to find out what is going on.
Start the detective work, Jillian finds herself in the middle of a mystery and a murder. Who dun it, with the help of the cat and a button the murderer is unmasked!
December 6, 2017
I do love Leann Sweeney's books. She hooked me with her Yellow Rose mysteries, then with her Cats in Trouble mysteries. The setting is neat, the characters are engaging, the cats aren't too precious for words [they are just right]. Ornery and keep Jillian, the main character, on her toes.
There's also a love interest and a woman who is trying her darndest to keep Jillian and love from finding a way. I really like not-liking Lydia. I like when a character is so well-written that I want to smack them.
This time around, though, it was mostly cats and investigations for Jillian and not as much of the quilting she does. I missed the quilting.
A really good mystery with plenty of suspects and a heckuva whodunit. I didn't see it coming. I like that.
A definite recommend.
There's also a love interest and a woman who is trying her darndest to keep Jillian and love from finding a way. I really like not-liking Lydia. I like when a character is so well-written that I want to smack them.
This time around, though, it was mostly cats and investigations for Jillian and not as much of the quilting she does. I missed the quilting.
A really good mystery with plenty of suspects and a heckuva whodunit. I didn't see it coming. I like that.
A definite recommend.
July 3, 2018
I was concerned about beginning the third book in this series having not read the second, but I need not have worried because it all made sense to me without skipping a beat. While this could easily be read as a stand-alone mystery, I recommend reading #1: The Cat, the Corpse and the Quilt, first, just to get the lay of the land. I actually like this book better than the first but both fall perfectly into the cozy mystery genre. Main character, Jillian, is a widow who makes quilts for cats when she is not solving Scooby Doo-esque mysteries with her beau, Tom and fellow citizens of Mercy. The author describes an idyllic town in which the reader feels comfortable and at home. Our book club read #1 and liked it so much that our librarian graciously bought the entire series for us.
May 11, 2018
I am enjoying the series, and the writing is good, but there are a few things that do irritate me and make this a three star instead of four. Lydia flat out told Jillian and Tom that Jillian wouldn’t come between her and Tom. Evidently Tom has no intention of setting the record straight as he could easily have done when he walked Lydia to her car. Guess he likes the drama. And Jillian, why would anyone feel like a failure because they couldn’t bring a dead woman back to life with cpr? Not only feel like a failure, but dwell on it every chance she got? And Jillian sure has a nervous stomach, every little thing seems to set it off.
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