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Magical Cats Mystery #15
Paws to Remember
Librarian Kathleen Paulson and her enchanted felines get involved in a cold case that is putting people in very hot water in the newest installment of this New York Times bestselling series.
When a water leak repair results in a body being found behind the walls of the store run by the artists’ co-op that Kathleen's friend, Maggie, is part of everyone is completely mystified as to whose body it is and who hid it there. But as the dust settles, her boyfriend, Detective Marcus Gordon, begins to suspect the body could belong to a young woman who disappeared more than thirty years ago.
When a friend with a connection to the young woman asks Kathleen to look into the circumstances around the disappearance, she and her cats—who have special feline talent for catching felons—find themselves digging up secrets that at least one person in Mayville Heights would much prefer stay buried.
When a water leak repair results in a body being found behind the walls of the store run by the artists’ co-op that Kathleen's friend, Maggie, is part of everyone is completely mystified as to whose body it is and who hid it there. But as the dust settles, her boyfriend, Detective Marcus Gordon, begins to suspect the body could belong to a young woman who disappeared more than thirty years ago.
When a friend with a connection to the young woman asks Kathleen to look into the circumstances around the disappearance, she and her cats—who have special feline talent for catching felons—find themselves digging up secrets that at least one person in Mayville Heights would much prefer stay buried.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 17, 2023
88 people are currently reading
494 people want to read
About the author
Sofie Kelly
17 books1,110 followersSofie Kelly is the pseudonym of young adult writer and mixed-media artist, Darlene Ryan. Sofie/Darlene lives on the east coast with her husband and daughter. In her spare time she practices Wu style tai chi and likes to prowl around thrift stores. And she admits to having a small crush on Matt Lauer.
She also writes as Sofie Ryan.
She also writes as Sofie Ryan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews
November 23, 2024
Come visit Mayville Heights and get to know librarian Kathleen Paulson. She moved here for a temporary job but fell in love with the town and people… as well as adopting two cats that she discovered have magical abilities.
On second thought, maybe you don’t want to visit this town… for a small town there sure are a lot of murders! And once again, Kathleen is there when the body is found.
This time the body they discover is of a missing person of more than 30 years. When one of the townspeople asks Kathleen to help her find out information, she once again can’t refuse. This cozy mystery series is so much fun, and just what I need when I need something light-hearted. Can a murder mystery be light-hearted??? I think so!
On second thought, maybe you don’t want to visit this town… for a small town there sure are a lot of murders! And once again, Kathleen is there when the body is found.
This time the body they discover is of a missing person of more than 30 years. When one of the townspeople asks Kathleen to help her find out information, she once again can’t refuse. This cozy mystery series is so much fun, and just what I need when I need something light-hearted. Can a murder mystery be light-hearted??? I think so!
November 5, 2023
Dollycas's Thoughts
Kathleen and her frisky felines are back and wrapped up in a cold case brought back into focus when a water leak repair exposes a gruesome find at the artists' co-op. Kathleen's boyfriend, Detective Marcus Gordon, is investigating, but a friend has asked Kathleen for help too. So she, along with Owen and Hercules and their special talents, start digging through clues and uncovering secrets. Secrets that could solve a 30-year-old case, but could also put Kathleen in grave danger.
____
The characters in this series are some of my favorites. The humans, the felines, and a canine too. Each has their own unique traits and personalities. Kathleen is so genuine and caring. She jumps in to help wherever she can which is why she was right there when this body was found. Her relationship with Marcus has grown so much and they are so comfortable together. Owen, Hercules, and Micah steal my heart every time. Fifi, the next-door neighbor's German shepherd, has wiggled his way in there too. All of Ms. Kelly's characters continue to evolve and feel fresh even after 15 books in this series. She introduces relevant new characters that have depth in each story too.
The cold case mystery was complex and Kathleen was very careful with the questions she asked. Observations and research on the computer with feline assistance helped bring everything together but Kathleen still wasn't 100% sure if she was right. I wanted to jump into the book to stop Kathleen when she wanted to get the final answers she thought she needed. But she went there, and what a showdown and rescue followed. Some of it was pretty freaky.
There was one situation where I had to suspend reality a bit. There should have been aftermath or evidence of an event that happened 30 years ago that wasn't mentioned, but that may just be me being too picky. It didn't detract from enjoyment but I did make note of it while reading.
I do enjoy visiting Mayville Heights. A great midwest town filled with wonderful people. It reminds me of the way my small town was growing up.
There was a subplot of Marcus and Kathleen's plans to go to Boston to spend the holidays with her family that wove through the book. There were outside elements that kept popping up to try to ruin their plans but I have to say I loved the heartwarming conclusion. It gave me some great holiday feels.
Paws to Remember is a solid addition to this series. Engaging characters, a compelling mystery, set in a charming small town. I am looking forward to my next visit.
Kathleen and her frisky felines are back and wrapped up in a cold case brought back into focus when a water leak repair exposes a gruesome find at the artists' co-op. Kathleen's boyfriend, Detective Marcus Gordon, is investigating, but a friend has asked Kathleen for help too. So she, along with Owen and Hercules and their special talents, start digging through clues and uncovering secrets. Secrets that could solve a 30-year-old case, but could also put Kathleen in grave danger.
____
The characters in this series are some of my favorites. The humans, the felines, and a canine too. Each has their own unique traits and personalities. Kathleen is so genuine and caring. She jumps in to help wherever she can which is why she was right there when this body was found. Her relationship with Marcus has grown so much and they are so comfortable together. Owen, Hercules, and Micah steal my heart every time. Fifi, the next-door neighbor's German shepherd, has wiggled his way in there too. All of Ms. Kelly's characters continue to evolve and feel fresh even after 15 books in this series. She introduces relevant new characters that have depth in each story too.
The cold case mystery was complex and Kathleen was very careful with the questions she asked. Observations and research on the computer with feline assistance helped bring everything together but Kathleen still wasn't 100% sure if she was right. I wanted to jump into the book to stop Kathleen when she wanted to get the final answers she thought she needed. But she went there, and what a showdown and rescue followed. Some of it was pretty freaky.
There was one situation where I had to suspend reality a bit. There should have been aftermath or evidence of an event that happened 30 years ago that wasn't mentioned, but that may just be me being too picky. It didn't detract from enjoyment but I did make note of it while reading.
I do enjoy visiting Mayville Heights. A great midwest town filled with wonderful people. It reminds me of the way my small town was growing up.
There was a subplot of Marcus and Kathleen's plans to go to Boston to spend the holidays with her family that wove through the book. There were outside elements that kept popping up to try to ruin their plans but I have to say I loved the heartwarming conclusion. It gave me some great holiday feels.
Paws to Remember is a solid addition to this series. Engaging characters, a compelling mystery, set in a charming small town. I am looking forward to my next visit.
November 30, 2023
The pipes burst at the artists' co-op, librarian Kathleen Paulson finds a dead body, mummified over the years. The body might be that of a girl who disappeared 40 years ago. Kathleen is asked to investigate, and reluctantly does so.
It all comes down to a volleyball tournament, and some very bad decisions.
Pretty good. Keeps you engaged.
It all comes down to a volleyball tournament, and some very bad decisions.
Pretty good. Keeps you engaged.
December 11, 2024
Kathleen and Marcus got engaged in the last book so I'm sure an adorable wedding is in the future. Kathleen is present for yet another dead body, this time a body shaped piece of people jerky shoved between the walls of a building 30 years ago. There was a surprising lack of Christmas in this book.
October 23, 2023
I always love visiting with Kathleen, Hercules and Owen. This is a wonderful addition to the series, when a power outage causes a burst waterline at the Art Co-op, Kathleen shows up to help Maggie and Harry deal with the aftermath. Not only do they find wet drywall, they find a body behind it. When the body appears to have been there for 36 years will they ever be able to find answers? You know someone is going to ask Kathleen for help, and with holiday spirit running rampant you know she won't be able to say no. A very interesting mystery with apperances by all our favorite, two footed and four and lots of holiday cheer, I strongly recommend!
December 23, 2023
I just love these magical kitties and the relationships in this story. This town becomes a little more real with each installment in this series.
February 3, 2024
I have read several books from the Magical Cat series by Sofie Kelly. They are easy to read, fun, and relaxing. I love the magical cats; they give charm and charisma to the story. The plot in this one is good and kept me guessing for some time.
If I had one complaint, it would be that there are too many secondary characters for me to remember. I'm thinking that if I read all the books in the series in order, I may have been more familiar with the characters and would have been able to remember them more easily however.
Overall, this is a cute cozy mystery and I look forward to reading more from the series.
If I had one complaint, it would be that there are too many secondary characters for me to remember. I'm thinking that if I read all the books in the series in order, I may have been more familiar with the characters and would have been able to remember them more easily however.
Overall, this is a cute cozy mystery and I look forward to reading more from the series.
September 25, 2024
Lots of Owen and Hercules which is a very good thing!
December 22, 2024
It was fun returning to Mayville Heights and I really liked the case in this one!
Though if everyone could stop asking Kathleen to investigate, that would be great. I don't get how all of them don't realise by now that they're putting her in danger, surely someone should catch on since she's almost died like ten times already.
If you ignore this ridiculousness, the series is still charming and enjoyable.
Though if everyone could stop asking Kathleen to investigate, that would be great. I don't get how all of them don't realise by now that they're putting her in danger, surely someone should catch on since she's almost died like ten times already.
If you ignore this ridiculousness, the series is still charming and enjoyable.
October 11, 2023
Another delightful book in this series. Okay, yes there is murder, but my attachment to this town and these characters and especially the magical cats trumps all that and it's like jumping into a cozy setting just at the right time. This book deals with a cold case that is just heartbreaking in so many ways, but especially for the daughter that wants to find her birth mother, but gets disappointed all over again. This is a really tough one for Kathleen to look into as so many people are gone or passed that she would want to interview, but luckily it's something that sticks in the mind of everyone else who was around. I was absolutely shocked by the ending and it made me so angry. I always love Owen and Hercules and their antics and dare I say I wish we had more of them in this book. This book takes place before Christmas and despite mentions of carols, Christmas cookies, and holiday plans... I wish there was more of a festive feel to remind me of the holiday. I can't wait to continue this series with Kathleen, Marcus (who I just love so much for how he allows Kathleen to be involved in his investigation) and their marvelous cats!
July 6, 2025
It takes a village, and two furry four-legged friends, to solve this 36 year old murder.
November 16, 2023
As always in this series, this book delivers a good mystery with a cast of characters that we have all come to love. Perfect holiday read.
January 27, 2024
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC
I initially requested this title as I was interested in reading a Canadian author writing cozies - and I did read most of the rest of the series first, as I wanted to be familiar with all the characters.
In Paws to Remember, small town librarian Kathleen Paulson is helping a friend clean up the local artists’ co-op after a pipe bursts, and they discover a mummified body behind the old drywall. Kathleen, as usual, tries to find out who, and then why the victim ended up hidden in the wall, as it turns out one of Kathleen’s friends, Ella, is actually the victim’s daughter.
Meanwhile, it’s almost Christmas and the neighbour’s dog wants to make friends with Kathleen’s unusual cats, Owen and Hercules; and Kathleen and now-fiancé Marcus are trying to plan a trip to visit Kathleen’s family in Boston.
This book is a fine addition to the series, but I didn’t find it as entertaining as some of Kathleen’s other investigations. All of Kathleen’s friends make an appearance, but for most of them it's very brief and they’re not much involved in the story. There’s a lot of detailed descriptions of making lunch and breakfast, and all the Christmas cookies and hot chocolate being consumed by everyone.
SPOILERS below:
Some quibbles that made this book less enjoyable for me:
For an engaged couple, Kathleen and Marcus barely touch or even spend time with each other here - they mention several times that ‘they’d just get married right now’ if there was a minister around, and then go off on their separate ways again - I’m very frustrated by the depiction of a relationship of two adults who are supposed to be madly in love who act more like casual lunch date acquaintances.
I don’t know where the author came up with a ‘36-year-old’ mystery (maybe so the killer wouldn’t have died of old age?), but it works out to mean that Ella got pregnant when she was around 17 if her daughter is in first year college - I found that strange for someone who grew up as an abandoned baby.
A large part of Kathleen’s investigation involves trying to figure out the events of the deceased’s last days - this is someone who was 9 months pregnant in the middle of a Minnesota winter, and it’s dealt with almost as an aside - so maybe there was an hour that involved the actual labour and birth, no problem, and we’ll take the baby to the church - it was just so unrealistic that it really disrupted the flow of the narrative for me.
The final confrontation with the killer is also pretty contrived here - Kathleen goes to have a quick look at something, which she shouldn’t have done alone, and runs into the killer - suprise! - and there is no reasonable explanation of how the villain got there.
I’d normally rate the books in this series at a 4, but this one only gets a 3 from me.
I initially requested this title as I was interested in reading a Canadian author writing cozies - and I did read most of the rest of the series first, as I wanted to be familiar with all the characters.
In Paws to Remember, small town librarian Kathleen Paulson is helping a friend clean up the local artists’ co-op after a pipe bursts, and they discover a mummified body behind the old drywall. Kathleen, as usual, tries to find out who, and then why the victim ended up hidden in the wall, as it turns out one of Kathleen’s friends, Ella, is actually the victim’s daughter.
Meanwhile, it’s almost Christmas and the neighbour’s dog wants to make friends with Kathleen’s unusual cats, Owen and Hercules; and Kathleen and now-fiancé Marcus are trying to plan a trip to visit Kathleen’s family in Boston.
This book is a fine addition to the series, but I didn’t find it as entertaining as some of Kathleen’s other investigations. All of Kathleen’s friends make an appearance, but for most of them it's very brief and they’re not much involved in the story. There’s a lot of detailed descriptions of making lunch and breakfast, and all the Christmas cookies and hot chocolate being consumed by everyone.
SPOILERS below:
Some quibbles that made this book less enjoyable for me:
For an engaged couple, Kathleen and Marcus barely touch or even spend time with each other here - they mention several times that ‘they’d just get married right now’ if there was a minister around, and then go off on their separate ways again - I’m very frustrated by the depiction of a relationship of two adults who are supposed to be madly in love who act more like casual lunch date acquaintances.
I don’t know where the author came up with a ‘36-year-old’ mystery (maybe so the killer wouldn’t have died of old age?), but it works out to mean that Ella got pregnant when she was around 17 if her daughter is in first year college - I found that strange for someone who grew up as an abandoned baby.
A large part of Kathleen’s investigation involves trying to figure out the events of the deceased’s last days - this is someone who was 9 months pregnant in the middle of a Minnesota winter, and it’s dealt with almost as an aside - so maybe there was an hour that involved the actual labour and birth, no problem, and we’ll take the baby to the church - it was just so unrealistic that it really disrupted the flow of the narrative for me.
The final confrontation with the killer is also pretty contrived here - Kathleen goes to have a quick look at something, which she shouldn’t have done alone, and runs into the killer - suprise! - and there is no reasonable explanation of how the villain got there.
I’d normally rate the books in this series at a 4, but this one only gets a 3 from me.
December 12, 2023
So glad to have another book in this series. Love the cats, wish Kathleen didn’t so often put herself in a dangerous situation, but the story was good and she had me guessing most of the book for who dunnit. Free ebook from the library.
December 5, 2023
One of my current favourite cozy series; cats, crime, and books! This holiday instalment was delightful and I'm already looking forward to the next book :)
ARC Provided by NetGalley
ARC Provided by NetGalley
September 3, 2024
It's the Christmas holiday season. Marcus and Kathleen are going to Boston to celebrate with her family and make wedding plans. Then, Kathleen finds a body while helping a friend clear out furry vermin after a pipe bursts. Kathleen and Marcus are both trying to solve a decades old murder with ties to current friends and acquaintances. They're also trying to cope with events that are keeping them from traveling to Boston. Kathleen still puts herself in danger for what seems to me to be dumb reasons. The cats magic keeps to the background until the end. It was good. It was slightly less predictable, and I liked that. Can't believe I've caught up with the series! Now I have to wait and hope for a new book.
October 18, 2023
Audible audiobook
Sometimes Kathleen can be such a STUPID person.
Sometimes Kathleen can be such a STUPID person.
October 3, 2025
Starts okay, but quickly sours. MC inserts herself into the investigation in obnoxious ways and the outcome is vile. This one needs trigger warnings. Truly none of it makes sense. And the typical stupid in this series is in full force here.
The MC credibility is about a 1 of 10 here. The 'bad guy' talking for a long time to the unsecured 'hero' is cute in cartoons - and somehow, this MC gets EVERY SINGLE killer to talk to her before making their move. Because, they've wanted to tell someone for SO long? NOT. Blatantly gratuitous and ill-conceived.
This book surprisingly long and a lot of discipline to get through, because of the issues written into it and the trivial way they're handled. The details are truly horrifying in this one, and the path so irrational the reader keeps looking for bits that seem at all credible. Which is a shame, because the writer introduces some very heavy topics with so much potential, and then ignores the real issues.
Instead the writer simply pops out unreasonable, heinous, horrendous, and wraps it up with a giggle and an awww. Ugh. STRONGLY advise skipping this one entirely. Horrible as a murder mystery, weak as a 'cozy'. And again, the MC's 'finds' and 'intuition' simply highlight inept police work.
The MC credibility is about a 1 of 10 here. The 'bad guy' talking for a long time to the unsecured 'hero' is cute in cartoons - and somehow, this MC gets EVERY SINGLE killer to talk to her before making their move. Because, they've wanted to tell someone for SO long? NOT. Blatantly gratuitous and ill-conceived.
This book surprisingly long and a lot of discipline to get through, because of the issues written into it and the trivial way they're handled. The details are truly horrifying in this one, and the path so irrational the reader keeps looking for bits that seem at all credible. Which is a shame, because the writer introduces some very heavy topics with so much potential, and then ignores the real issues.
Instead the writer simply pops out unreasonable, heinous, horrendous, and wraps it up with a giggle and an awww. Ugh. STRONGLY advise skipping this one entirely. Horrible as a murder mystery, weak as a 'cozy'. And again, the MC's 'finds' and 'intuition' simply highlight inept police work.
November 23, 2023
https://openbooksociety.com/article/p...
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Cold cases fascinate me, and to have one of my favorite series include a cold case is like hot fudge on a dish of ice cream. The challenges are so different, especially with the lack of technological advances of this century. Kathleen, the library director, came to Mayville Heights, Minnesota, several years ago to be a temporary director and oversee renovations planned for it. She loves the people of the town as much as they love her, making it a simple decision to stay on when renovations were complete. I enjoy every aspect of this novel and series, including the library, Kathleen, her friends and the groups they are part of, and her two very special cats, Owen and Hercules.
Kathleen’s fiancé, Marcus, is the detective at the local police department. It hasn’t been an easy road for them, as she is quite good at solving homicides if someone she cares about is affected by the murder. Marcus prefers that she didn’t get involved, but there are times when someone will beg her to look into it for them. Any information she finds is turned over to Marcus, and she and her close circle of friends compare thoughts about clues or other information.
When power went out and pipes froze in some of the downtown areas, unfortunately, some pipes burst, and could quickly cause water damage and mold if not acted upon. Early one morning, Kathleen received a call from her friend Maggie, the former president of the artists’ co-op. Despite the early hour, she asked Kathleen if she could bring one of her beloved cats to help with a pesky rodent at the co-op building. She and Owen, who has more unusual feline talents than simply rodent patrol, joined Maggie and the handyman, Harry, in the shop area of the co-op. Much of the water had already been vacuumed up, and Harry began pulling out drywall in the area that required repair. Owen quickly handled the furry intruder. Kathleen had time before work to help pull down drywall. Owen began to stare at an area of the wall. When a piece of drywall had been removed, Kathleen saw something large wrapped in heavy plastic between the studs, and Harry removed it. They opened it to find every remodeler’s nightmare, the mummified remains of a person wrapped in a heavy blanket, then in the heavy plastic sheet.
The room will be almost dry enough to replace the wall by the time the police are finished with their investigation. Harry knew the last time a major renovation had been done in the shop area was almost forty years ago. Somebody remembered a young woman had disappeared about that time but was thought to have left town. Then a woman came forward who thought that the missing teen, who would now be old enough to be a grandmother, was her birth mother.
I would love to spend time with most of the three-dimensional characters! The women are very close friendships, as do many of the couples. They are not shallow friendships; they have a depth that comes from similar values, loyalty and respect, and in many cases, even a shared love of cats. They welcome newcomers, and Kathleen appreciates being counted amongst them. They share laughter, joy, and sorrow, and some help Kathleen when she is on the trail of a killer. The men in their lives are similar with regards to close friendships, similar values, and willingness to help others. One of the endearing traits of Kathleen’s, along with her affinity for cats, is her memory for many unusual tidbits of fascinating information that would make her a popular partner when playing trivial pursuit.
Her cats are amazing! Kathleen had learned something very quickly about them when they were kittens in a feral colony she sometimes helped feed and care for, as is Marcus’s cat. They have special talents that Kathleen prefers nobody find out about, and their antics will keep the cat-loving reader entertained.
This fast-paced mystery is very well plotted and executed, with plot twists that kept this reader guessing throughout. There is comic relief interspersing serious scenes or struggles. I would not have guessed who the bad guy is, and was completely surprised – and sad – when I found who did it and why. The end was very satisfying with no outstanding issues. I highly recommend this cozy mystery!
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Cold cases fascinate me, and to have one of my favorite series include a cold case is like hot fudge on a dish of ice cream. The challenges are so different, especially with the lack of technological advances of this century. Kathleen, the library director, came to Mayville Heights, Minnesota, several years ago to be a temporary director and oversee renovations planned for it. She loves the people of the town as much as they love her, making it a simple decision to stay on when renovations were complete. I enjoy every aspect of this novel and series, including the library, Kathleen, her friends and the groups they are part of, and her two very special cats, Owen and Hercules.
Kathleen’s fiancé, Marcus, is the detective at the local police department. It hasn’t been an easy road for them, as she is quite good at solving homicides if someone she cares about is affected by the murder. Marcus prefers that she didn’t get involved, but there are times when someone will beg her to look into it for them. Any information she finds is turned over to Marcus, and she and her close circle of friends compare thoughts about clues or other information.
When power went out and pipes froze in some of the downtown areas, unfortunately, some pipes burst, and could quickly cause water damage and mold if not acted upon. Early one morning, Kathleen received a call from her friend Maggie, the former president of the artists’ co-op. Despite the early hour, she asked Kathleen if she could bring one of her beloved cats to help with a pesky rodent at the co-op building. She and Owen, who has more unusual feline talents than simply rodent patrol, joined Maggie and the handyman, Harry, in the shop area of the co-op. Much of the water had already been vacuumed up, and Harry began pulling out drywall in the area that required repair. Owen quickly handled the furry intruder. Kathleen had time before work to help pull down drywall. Owen began to stare at an area of the wall. When a piece of drywall had been removed, Kathleen saw something large wrapped in heavy plastic between the studs, and Harry removed it. They opened it to find every remodeler’s nightmare, the mummified remains of a person wrapped in a heavy blanket, then in the heavy plastic sheet.
The room will be almost dry enough to replace the wall by the time the police are finished with their investigation. Harry knew the last time a major renovation had been done in the shop area was almost forty years ago. Somebody remembered a young woman had disappeared about that time but was thought to have left town. Then a woman came forward who thought that the missing teen, who would now be old enough to be a grandmother, was her birth mother.
I would love to spend time with most of the three-dimensional characters! The women are very close friendships, as do many of the couples. They are not shallow friendships; they have a depth that comes from similar values, loyalty and respect, and in many cases, even a shared love of cats. They welcome newcomers, and Kathleen appreciates being counted amongst them. They share laughter, joy, and sorrow, and some help Kathleen when she is on the trail of a killer. The men in their lives are similar with regards to close friendships, similar values, and willingness to help others. One of the endearing traits of Kathleen’s, along with her affinity for cats, is her memory for many unusual tidbits of fascinating information that would make her a popular partner when playing trivial pursuit.
Her cats are amazing! Kathleen had learned something very quickly about them when they were kittens in a feral colony she sometimes helped feed and care for, as is Marcus’s cat. They have special talents that Kathleen prefers nobody find out about, and their antics will keep the cat-loving reader entertained.
This fast-paced mystery is very well plotted and executed, with plot twists that kept this reader guessing throughout. There is comic relief interspersing serious scenes or struggles. I would not have guessed who the bad guy is, and was completely surprised – and sad – when I found who did it and why. The end was very satisfying with no outstanding issues. I highly recommend this cozy mystery!
December 28, 2023
I loved this newest installment of the Magical Cats series! Some of my favorite ingredients are included, including humor, three-dimensional cats, and libraries. It is December, and the local library director Kathleen, and her fiancé, Marcus, a police detective, are planning to spend Christmas with her parents in Boston. It has been a cold winter so far in Mayville Heights, Minnesota, and frozen, then burst pipes in the artist co-op building opened up a new case for Marcus – and Kathleen.
Kathleen found the new case when she was helping local jack-of-all-trades, Harry, remove wet, damaged drywall at the co-op. Kathleen has several close women friends, one of whom called quite early when she found the broken pipe. Maggie had been called due to her knowledge of the building and long-term affiliation with the members. Maggie called Harry to see the damage, and Kathleen to bring Owen, one of her beloved cats, as he is an expert at cornering frightening rodents.
Harry needed to see the full extent of the damage and begin the drying-out process so he could get the materials he would need. Kathleen has helped remove drywall in other buildings, and stayed to help pull it down after Owen did his feline duty. Kathleen saw something large that had been behind the wall for a long time. There was a heavy, plastic-wrapped object that turned out to be someone’s remains. They couldn’t tell if it had been a man or a woman, or even the age of the person.
Cold cases are appealing to me, in part because I enjoy reading about history and forensics. I thought through some of the challenges as I peeked over Kathleen’s shoulder when she did her research. The remains are thought to have been there from a major renovation thirty-plus years ago. Would people who worked on the building still be alive, or any friends or relatives of the person? Would dental records be available? Records from that time were not digitized, so information that a detective could find at their fingertips today may not even exist. There is minimal information on a young woman who disappeared about the time the last renovation was underway. It was not pursued very thoroughly at the time because she was considered a runaway.
A special request from a young woman led Kathleen to find out all she could about the case, including who the victim was and whodunit. Marcus has more resources, but most people know Kathleen from the library and trust her enough to tell what they know. In the meantime, due to some challenges within the airline regulations, Kathleen and Marcus are struggling to get to Boston on time as their airline may cancel the flight – as will other airlines who will not have pilots to fly planes.
This is a fabulous mystery to read and try to solve along with Kathleen and her friends! I love the cats and their feline tricks; with the exception of skills unique to Kathleen’s and Marcus’s cats, I recognize and enjoy seeing feline behaviors occurring between other people and their cats!
The plot twists kept me riveted to the story. Whodunit was somewhat surprising, as I had to eliminate some of my “pet suspects” who seemed to have motive, but Whodunit did not. Something sweet and totally surprising ended the novel, so there was happiness despite the loss. I highly recommend this novel to those who enjoy well-written cozy mysteries with a side of humor, libraries, cats with special talents, cold cases, and light paranormal elements.
Kathleen found the new case when she was helping local jack-of-all-trades, Harry, remove wet, damaged drywall at the co-op. Kathleen has several close women friends, one of whom called quite early when she found the broken pipe. Maggie had been called due to her knowledge of the building and long-term affiliation with the members. Maggie called Harry to see the damage, and Kathleen to bring Owen, one of her beloved cats, as he is an expert at cornering frightening rodents.
Harry needed to see the full extent of the damage and begin the drying-out process so he could get the materials he would need. Kathleen has helped remove drywall in other buildings, and stayed to help pull it down after Owen did his feline duty. Kathleen saw something large that had been behind the wall for a long time. There was a heavy, plastic-wrapped object that turned out to be someone’s remains. They couldn’t tell if it had been a man or a woman, or even the age of the person.
Cold cases are appealing to me, in part because I enjoy reading about history and forensics. I thought through some of the challenges as I peeked over Kathleen’s shoulder when she did her research. The remains are thought to have been there from a major renovation thirty-plus years ago. Would people who worked on the building still be alive, or any friends or relatives of the person? Would dental records be available? Records from that time were not digitized, so information that a detective could find at their fingertips today may not even exist. There is minimal information on a young woman who disappeared about the time the last renovation was underway. It was not pursued very thoroughly at the time because she was considered a runaway.
A special request from a young woman led Kathleen to find out all she could about the case, including who the victim was and whodunit. Marcus has more resources, but most people know Kathleen from the library and trust her enough to tell what they know. In the meantime, due to some challenges within the airline regulations, Kathleen and Marcus are struggling to get to Boston on time as their airline may cancel the flight – as will other airlines who will not have pilots to fly planes.
This is a fabulous mystery to read and try to solve along with Kathleen and her friends! I love the cats and their feline tricks; with the exception of skills unique to Kathleen’s and Marcus’s cats, I recognize and enjoy seeing feline behaviors occurring between other people and their cats!
The plot twists kept me riveted to the story. Whodunit was somewhat surprising, as I had to eliminate some of my “pet suspects” who seemed to have motive, but Whodunit did not. Something sweet and totally surprising ended the novel, so there was happiness despite the loss. I highly recommend this novel to those who enjoy well-written cozy mysteries with a side of humor, libraries, cats with special talents, cold cases, and light paranormal elements.
October 19, 2023
When Kathleen Paulson was asked to bring Owen to the art co-op building for his assistance, she wasn’t sure what to expect. Owen is a cat, after all. But when they got there, they found her friend Maggie and Harry already in the basement. A power outage in the cold Minnesota winter meant that a pipe froze and then burst. Maintenance man Harry had started to pull off the drywall, and that’s when Maggie saw a flash of fur, so they decided to call in an expert before they got much further. Owen got right to work and caught the rat in record time.
Maggie is one of the artists who works at the co-op, and she was filling in for the co-op president, who was working on her art exhibit in Minneapolis. And with the rat out of the way, Harry and Kathleen get back to the drywall, to see what damage may be hiding in the wall. But that’s not all they find hidden in the wall. Kathleen finds a large package wrapped in plastic. When she and Harry pull it out and she takes a peek inside the plastic, Kathleen is certain that she’s found a body.
While the police are called in and start to investigate the crime scene, Kathleen talks to her friends about how long that body could have been there. When they think about how long that drywall had been up, it’s possible that the crime went back almost 40 years.
It doesn’t take long for the newspaper to announce that the woman found in the wall was Lily, a local teenager who had been seven months pregnant when she went missing 36 years ago. At the time the police had assumed she had run away, but her brother always knew that something had happened to her. But when a friend comes to Kathleen and admits that she thinks that Lily had been her mother, Kathleen and her librarian instincts kick in. Hercules agrees, and he’s a cat with excellent research abilities.
So armed with her ability to connect with people, her investigative experience, and her magical cats, Kathleen sets out to figure out what had happened to Lily all those years ago. But what if the killer finds her first?
Paws to Remember is book fifteen in Sofie Kelly’s Magical Cats Mysteries. While the cats do tend to steal the scenes they are in, there are also lots of charming holiday touches throughout (like the Cookie Monster Christmas Tree) and lots of talk of delicious food. It’s Minnesota in winter, so there is plenty of snow and cold temperatures, and talk of the differences between so cold, freezing cold, and bitterly cold as well as the types of snow. And there is a lot of time for Kathleen and her fiancé Marcus to talk about the case, play games, make plans for holiday time with their families and plan their upcoming wedding.
I really enjoy Sofie Kelly’s Magical Cats books, and I thought the cold case written into this one was compelling. It was fun to see all the touches from that time in history—the disposable camera, the videotape, the jewelry, the fashions. Overall, I think Paws to Remember is smart, cozy, and magical. Sardine crackers for everyone!
Egalleys for Paws to Remember were provided by Berkley through NetGalley, with many thanks.
Maggie is one of the artists who works at the co-op, and she was filling in for the co-op president, who was working on her art exhibit in Minneapolis. And with the rat out of the way, Harry and Kathleen get back to the drywall, to see what damage may be hiding in the wall. But that’s not all they find hidden in the wall. Kathleen finds a large package wrapped in plastic. When she and Harry pull it out and she takes a peek inside the plastic, Kathleen is certain that she’s found a body.
While the police are called in and start to investigate the crime scene, Kathleen talks to her friends about how long that body could have been there. When they think about how long that drywall had been up, it’s possible that the crime went back almost 40 years.
It doesn’t take long for the newspaper to announce that the woman found in the wall was Lily, a local teenager who had been seven months pregnant when she went missing 36 years ago. At the time the police had assumed she had run away, but her brother always knew that something had happened to her. But when a friend comes to Kathleen and admits that she thinks that Lily had been her mother, Kathleen and her librarian instincts kick in. Hercules agrees, and he’s a cat with excellent research abilities.
So armed with her ability to connect with people, her investigative experience, and her magical cats, Kathleen sets out to figure out what had happened to Lily all those years ago. But what if the killer finds her first?
Paws to Remember is book fifteen in Sofie Kelly’s Magical Cats Mysteries. While the cats do tend to steal the scenes they are in, there are also lots of charming holiday touches throughout (like the Cookie Monster Christmas Tree) and lots of talk of delicious food. It’s Minnesota in winter, so there is plenty of snow and cold temperatures, and talk of the differences between so cold, freezing cold, and bitterly cold as well as the types of snow. And there is a lot of time for Kathleen and her fiancé Marcus to talk about the case, play games, make plans for holiday time with their families and plan their upcoming wedding.
I really enjoy Sofie Kelly’s Magical Cats books, and I thought the cold case written into this one was compelling. It was fun to see all the touches from that time in history—the disposable camera, the videotape, the jewelry, the fashions. Overall, I think Paws to Remember is smart, cozy, and magical. Sardine crackers for everyone!
Egalleys for Paws to Remember were provided by Berkley through NetGalley, with many thanks.
November 21, 2023
Series: 15/15 in the Magical Cats mystery series
In my review for the previous book in this series, Whiskers and Lies, I outlined all the ways in which the book was a perfect example of a cozy mystery. This addition to the series is also a quintessential cozy. The sleuth is librarian Kathleen Paulson, who has to be one of the kindest and most likable sleuths ever written. The reason she is able to solve the cases--aside from the help of her magical cats--is that everyone trusts her and is willing to share what they know. She always urges people to go to the police when they share information with her. She always has compassion for the suffering of others and doesn't judge others based solely on their mistakes. I love her!
The murder in this case is one that happened long ago. When Kathleen is helping clear out some drywall after a broken water pipe floods the artists' co-op, she discovers a body wrapped in plastic and blankets. The body is that of a young girl who disappeared over 35 years ago, after refusing to give up her soon-to-be-born baby for adoption. The authorities at the time concluded that she had run away, but her brother never believed it and continued to harass her former boyfriend, believing he had done something to her. But now the brother is dead and Kathleen's friend, who was adopted as a newborn, asks her to help find out if the murdered woman was her mother. There were some sad elements to this story, but the author handles it with sensitivity.
This is another time when Kathleen puts herself in personal jeopardy to prove her suppositions about who the murderer is, but once again she is . Once again, many residents of the small town where Kathleen lives pop up in the book and it is nice to visit with them again. And Kathleen's cats, Owen and Hercules, provide all types of assistance from clearing out unwanted rats to guiding Kathleen in her online searches. An all around great read.
In my review for the previous book in this series, Whiskers and Lies, I outlined all the ways in which the book was a perfect example of a cozy mystery. This addition to the series is also a quintessential cozy. The sleuth is librarian Kathleen Paulson, who has to be one of the kindest and most likable sleuths ever written. The reason she is able to solve the cases--aside from the help of her magical cats--is that everyone trusts her and is willing to share what they know. She always urges people to go to the police when they share information with her. She always has compassion for the suffering of others and doesn't judge others based solely on their mistakes. I love her!
The murder in this case is one that happened long ago. When Kathleen is helping clear out some drywall after a broken water pipe floods the artists' co-op, she discovers a body wrapped in plastic and blankets. The body is that of a young girl who disappeared over 35 years ago, after refusing to give up her soon-to-be-born baby for adoption. The authorities at the time concluded that she had run away, but her brother never believed it and continued to harass her former boyfriend, believing he had done something to her. But now the brother is dead and Kathleen's friend, who was adopted as a newborn, asks her to help find out if the murdered woman was her mother. There were some sad elements to this story, but the author handles it with sensitivity.
This is another time when Kathleen puts herself in personal jeopardy to prove her suppositions about who the murderer is, but once again she is . Once again, many residents of the small town where Kathleen lives pop up in the book and it is nice to visit with them again. And Kathleen's cats, Owen and Hercules, provide all types of assistance from clearing out unwanted rats to guiding Kathleen in her online searches. An all around great read.
October 23, 2023
"Paws to Remember" is a cozy mystery. This is the 15th book in the series. You don't need to read the previous books to understand this one, and this book didn't spoil the mysteries in the previous books.
It's a clue-based mystery. Kathleen asked questions without being pushy or accusing, but she also seemed unusually reluctant to ask natural questions that needed answers. The cats helped out a lot with this one. The cats are intelligent and have cat abilities (disappearing and getting out of places) taken to a magical degree. Their actions drew attention to clues but they also provided humor. The police seemed content to leave the investigating to Kathleen. I mean, the obvious suspects would be the men working on that wall back when the girl disappeared, but Kathleen eventually had to ask a friend to find out who those people were and what had happened to them.
I correctly guessed whodunit shortly before Kathleen did (and I had no firm suspect before then). When she figured it out, she foolishly tried to confirm her guess by herself. The clue she was trying to double-check wouldn't hold weight in a court of law, so why bother? Instead, whodunit saw her and attacked her. Kathleen? You ARE allowed to hurt murderers trying to kill you. You had a weapon, hit back once, and knew whodunit was still aggressive. You're allowed to take whodunit down and not just hope someone will come and rescue you...
There was no sex. There were only a few uses of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this fun mystery.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
It's a clue-based mystery. Kathleen asked questions without being pushy or accusing, but she also seemed unusually reluctant to ask natural questions that needed answers. The cats helped out a lot with this one. The cats are intelligent and have cat abilities (disappearing and getting out of places) taken to a magical degree. Their actions drew attention to clues but they also provided humor. The police seemed content to leave the investigating to Kathleen. I mean, the obvious suspects would be the men working on that wall back when the girl disappeared, but Kathleen eventually had to ask a friend to find out who those people were and what had happened to them.
I correctly guessed whodunit shortly before Kathleen did (and I had no firm suspect before then). When she figured it out, she foolishly tried to confirm her guess by herself. The clue she was trying to double-check wouldn't hold weight in a court of law, so why bother? Instead, whodunit saw her and attacked her. Kathleen? You ARE allowed to hurt murderers trying to kill you. You had a weapon, hit back once, and knew whodunit was still aggressive. You're allowed to take whodunit down and not just hope someone will come and rescue you...
There was no sex. There were only a few uses of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this fun mystery.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
December 28, 2024
Sofie Kelly's Paws to Remember is a feel good Christmas mystery. But, readers won't realize this until the end. Until then, it's just a cat cozy mystery. The body of a woman who died thirty years ago is discovered in a wall. Lily Abbott apparently died just after giving birth. Ella King, an adopted woman, believes the woman was her mother. Kathleen Paulson is a librarian and amateur sleuth who is engaged to a police detective. She gets involved because her friend manages the store where the body was discovered and asked her to help Ella. Once a DNA test confirms the relationship, Kathleen starts talking to everybody who is still alive who knew or dated Lily. As usual in mysteries like this one, some people lie, some refuse to talk, and some are hard to find. Kathleen gets most of the people on her list to talk, but the most likely suspects have alibis. She finally gets herself into a dangerous situation confronting a killer. It takes one of her cats and a neighborhood dog to save her. If you are a cat owner, you will find yourself wishing you had some of the cat treats on offer to share with your pets. Most of the animal stuff is believable, the plot is creative, and Kathleen's day job meshes well with her sleuthing.
September 28, 2025
It's the holiday season. Librarian Kathleen Paulson and her fiance Marcus are planning a trip to Boston to spend Christmas with her family. And everything is going wrong....including finding the body of a teenage girl who disappeared 36 years before. Can they solve a cold case....and still have a family Christmas?
I ended up totally binge reading this book. One day - done. I couldn't put it down. Cold cases are so intriguing, and the plot just sucked me right in. For me, this is the best book in the series so far.
A bit of a surprise at the end made me smile. Not going to say what, but Hercules (one of Kathleen's cats) and his friend have a great moment. Loved it! Best moment in the series as far as I am concerned.
I now have the next book -- and potentially the final book in this series -- on my desk ready to read. It seems weird to think I may be starting the last book featuring these characters. What a ride! I've loved each book...and I enjoy all the characters, the cats, and all the amateur sleuthing. And....maybe....just maybe Furever After will turn out to not be the last book after all....
We shall see. :)
I ended up totally binge reading this book. One day - done. I couldn't put it down. Cold cases are so intriguing, and the plot just sucked me right in. For me, this is the best book in the series so far.
A bit of a surprise at the end made me smile. Not going to say what, but Hercules (one of Kathleen's cats) and his friend have a great moment. Loved it! Best moment in the series as far as I am concerned.
I now have the next book -- and potentially the final book in this series -- on my desk ready to read. It seems weird to think I may be starting the last book featuring these characters. What a ride! I've loved each book...and I enjoy all the characters, the cats, and all the amateur sleuthing. And....maybe....just maybe Furever After will turn out to not be the last book after all....
We shall see. :)
October 19, 2023
I adore the Magical Cats series so I absolutely had to preorder the audible edition of Paws to Remember. It is set during the Christmas season so I had every intention of ignoring it until at least November but that resolve lasted maybe an hour on release day...what can I say, Hercules and Owen are irresistible! And Kathleen and Marcus are pretty nifty human sidekicks. :-)
This time it's a cold case that has Kathleen delving into a mystery while Marcus goes about investigating the traditional way -- as a police detective. Really interesting mystery with lots of potential suspects and one person determined to keep the past a secret. We get to meet up with fave Mayville Heights citizens which makes me all kinds of happy. I want to live in this town! Hang out with these people! Get a job at Kathleen's library!
Oh -- and the villain take-down is epic! Like stand up and cheer between bouts of laughter fantastic. The only thing I have to complain about this 15th Magical Cats book is that it was over all too soon! Sob.
This time it's a cold case that has Kathleen delving into a mystery while Marcus goes about investigating the traditional way -- as a police detective. Really interesting mystery with lots of potential suspects and one person determined to keep the past a secret. We get to meet up with fave Mayville Heights citizens which makes me all kinds of happy. I want to live in this town! Hang out with these people! Get a job at Kathleen's library!
Oh -- and the villain take-down is epic! Like stand up and cheer between bouts of laughter fantastic. The only thing I have to complain about this 15th Magical Cats book is that it was over all too soon! Sob.
December 14, 2023
A water leak in the artists' coop building results in a body being found. The body is soon identified as a young woman who disappeared over 30 years ago. Kathleen and her magical cats are soon looking inti things for a friend who may have a connection to the woman.
I absolutely love this series, and this book is a prime example of why. The author does a magnificent job of keeping the series fresh with each book being somehow better than the one before resulting in an extraordinary series. This book was well-written, and the characters were well-developed. I was drawn into this enchanting tale immediately and kept hooked throughout, reading it in one sitting. The mystery will most definitely arouse your curiosity and keep you on your toes. This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series, one where I automatically request each book from my library as soon as it's available. I sincerely hope there's a lot more to come and I highly recommend both book and series. I believe the series is best read in order to get the most out of things, but each book does have its own mystery.
I absolutely love this series, and this book is a prime example of why. The author does a magnificent job of keeping the series fresh with each book being somehow better than the one before resulting in an extraordinary series. This book was well-written, and the characters were well-developed. I was drawn into this enchanting tale immediately and kept hooked throughout, reading it in one sitting. The mystery will most definitely arouse your curiosity and keep you on your toes. This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series, one where I automatically request each book from my library as soon as it's available. I sincerely hope there's a lot more to come and I highly recommend both book and series. I believe the series is best read in order to get the most out of things, but each book does have its own mystery.
October 25, 2023
Heroic effort
Kathleen and Harry discover the body of a woman while pulling drywall from the art center’s walls, after a broken pipe caused a lot of water damage. The woman turns out to be the mother of Kathleen’s friend Ella; she had disappeared as a teen, long thought to have run away when she was pregnant with her child. Knowing now that she was murdered leads to questions: who killed her and why? And who was the baby’s father? Ella had been raised by loving adoptive parents, but knew nothing of her birth family; wanting to help her friend resolve her questions, Kathleen digs into the past, tracking the boyfriend and some of Lily’s friends, hoping to glean enough information nearly 4 decades later to at least satisfy the basic question. Meanwhile, the holidays are approaching, but Kathleen and Marcus’s plans to fly to Boston to be with her family are being thwarted at nearly every turn - what sort of heroics will it require to achieve both of her desires?
Kathleen and Harry discover the body of a woman while pulling drywall from the art center’s walls, after a broken pipe caused a lot of water damage. The woman turns out to be the mother of Kathleen’s friend Ella; she had disappeared as a teen, long thought to have run away when she was pregnant with her child. Knowing now that she was murdered leads to questions: who killed her and why? And who was the baby’s father? Ella had been raised by loving adoptive parents, but knew nothing of her birth family; wanting to help her friend resolve her questions, Kathleen digs into the past, tracking the boyfriend and some of Lily’s friends, hoping to glean enough information nearly 4 decades later to at least satisfy the basic question. Meanwhile, the holidays are approaching, but Kathleen and Marcus’s plans to fly to Boston to be with her family are being thwarted at nearly every turn - what sort of heroics will it require to achieve both of her desires?
December 2, 2023
This is the ninth in the Magical Cats mystery series. I like this series as Kathleen usually doesn’t place herself in dangerous situations, in this book she did. When she realized that the killer knew that she knew, she was in boat load of trouble.
I listened to this via Hoopla from my library. The narrator did an excellent job. The author weaves the murder investigation and the subplot of Marcus and Kathleen getting to Boston for Christmas flawlessly. Neither plot detracts from the other.
This author is on my must-go-to -list. Her books take longer to get to market but are well edited, have more length than self-publishers, and are well crafted. I always enjoy visiting Mayville Heights and its residents. The residents are part of my book family with the best part being if I disagree with their actions, I do not get harassed about it.
Looking forward to the next installment.
I listened to this via Hoopla from my library. The narrator did an excellent job. The author weaves the murder investigation and the subplot of Marcus and Kathleen getting to Boston for Christmas flawlessly. Neither plot detracts from the other.
This author is on my must-go-to -list. Her books take longer to get to market but are well edited, have more length than self-publishers, and are well crafted. I always enjoy visiting Mayville Heights and its residents. The residents are part of my book family with the best part being if I disagree with their actions, I do not get harassed about it.
Looking forward to the next installment.
April 18, 2024
Water damage at the artists’ co-op led to the discovery of a body hidden for decades in the wall. Kathleen just happened to be there when the body was pulled out from behind the damaged drywall. Her detective boyfriend, Marcus Gordon, suspects it to be the body of a missing girl who disappeared 30 years ago. A young girl who may have a connection to this case asks Kathleen to look into the identity of this body, and the history behind the disappearance. Of course, she does, and of course, it gets her into trouble. It’s a good thing she gets some help from her friends and her magical felines as well as the neighbor’s dog. It’s an entertaining mystery, and the cats are always a delightful addition. These characters are starting to seem like old and dear friends, and it’s always nice to visit them.
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