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Book # 1.Murder Past Due
by Miranda James Finished 01/17/2021
Charlie Harris, a widower who works
part-time at the University of Athena’s
archive section. He inherited his Aunt
Dottie’s home. Like his Aunt, he rents
rooms to the college students.
Charlie owns a Maine Coon cat named
Diesel who he walks on a leash and goes
with him almost everywhere.The town
loves the cat.
A former classmate arrives in town. The
classmate has become a famous author.
But he is not well like. Then he turns up
dead in his hotel room. Since the border
at Charlie’s is the dead man’s relative
both Charlie and Diesel look into who
could have murdered him. They discover
a lot of suspects that add to the mystery.
Lots of twists and turns kept my attention
to this drama.
Diesel was a supportive force throughout
the book.
Book # 2.Classified as Murder
by Miranda JamesFinished 03/19/2021
Charlie Harris, a widower who works
part-time at the University of Athena’s
archive section. He inherited his Aunt
Dottie’s home. Like his Aunt, he rents
rooms to the college students.
Charlie owns a Maine Coon cat named
Diesel who he walks on a leash and goes
with him almost everywhere.The town
loves the cat.
A former classmate arrives in town. The
classmate has become a famous author.
But he is not well like. Then he turns up
dead in his hotel room. Since the border
at Charlie’s is the dead man’s relative
both Charlie and Diesel look into who
could have murdered him. They discover
a lot of suspects that add to the mystery.
Lots of twists and turns kept my attention
to this drama.
Diesel was a supportive force throughout
the book.
This is book #2 in the Cat in the Stacks
Mystery series. It can be read as a stand alone.
Book # 3.File M for Murder
by Miranda JamesFinished: 06/01/2021
4🐾🐾🐾🐾
Charlie Harris is a widower works part-time in the University of Athena’s Archive section. He and his Maine Coon cat, Diesel, go almost everywhere together. Diesel is loved by the town. Charlie’s son, Sean is back home with his dog, Dante. Now Charlie’s daughter, Laura has come home from Hollywood to work as a fill in professor at the Athena college. Laura’s old boyfriend, Connor Lawton, is also working at the college as a writer-in-residence. One of his girlfriends has followed Connor to Athena to make sure he stays away from Laura. But when Connor turns up….Dead….Laura becomes the prime suspect. Charlie and Diesel must match wits with Charlie’s housekeeper’s daughter, Deputy Kanesha Berry. A fast paced, well plotted murder mystery with a cast of artfully created characters. The family relationship between Charlie and Laura was very heartwarming. This is book # 3 in the Cat in the Stacks Mystery series. It can be read as a stand alone.
Book # 4.Out of Circulation
by Miranda JamesFinished: 06/16/2021
Rating: 5 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
Review:
Charlie Harris is a widower works part-time
in the University of Athena’s Archive section.
He and his Maine Coon cat, Diesel, go almost
everywhere together. Diesel is loved by the
town.
This year Charlie finds himself on the
library’s Fundraising gala committee. This
means he is being put into the middle of
Vera Cassity and Miss An’gel and Miss
Dickce Ducote who are known to always
disagree regarding the gala.
Nobody really cares for Vera. Charlie’s
housekeeper, Azalea has a very strong
dislike of Vera Cassity but won’t open up
the reason.
The gala where all the guests are dressed
as mystery writers and fictional detectives
turns deadly when Vera Cassity body is found…
Dead. More intriguing is that Charlie finds
Azalea standing over the body. Now he and
Charlie must prove Azalea’s innocence.
Deputy Kanesha Berry has been removed
from the case seeing that her mother, Azalea
is the chief suspect. So now the unlikely two
Charlie and Kanesha need to put their heads
together to save Azalea. Plus Diesel don’t
forget to included in the solution.
Lots of secrets are exposed.
A cast of well defined, colorful and vivid
characters mix with the southern charm
found in Athena, Mississippi.
This is book # 4 in the Cat in the Stacks
Mystery series. It can be read as a stand alone.
Book # 5.Two Bites Too Many
by Debra H. GoldsteinFinished: 02/12/2021
Rating: 4🐾🐾🐾🐾
Review:
Finished: 06/01/2021
Rating: 4 🐾🐾🐾🐾
Review:
Sarah Blair divorced has moved back to
Wheaton, Alabama where she works as a
secretary for a lawyer. She has learned the
job well. Sarah and her Siamese cat, RahRah
live in an inherited carriage house. Sarah
is the chairperson for the Wheaton YipYeow
Days which includes an animal parade and
various activities to raise money for an animal
rescue group. When denied a bank loan for
the group, Sarah and her mother, Maybelle
go to the bank to see the President Mr.
Knowlton. It seems Sarah’s twin sister, Emily
has also been denied a loan which would
help her open a restaurant. Maybelle gets
very upset with Mr Knowlton as she has
been a loyal customer of his bank for many
years.
Mr Knowlton is found dead in his office later
that day and Maybelle becomes the main
suspect.
Thus Sarah needs to begin her own
investigation to prove her mother’s innocence.
The characters are well defined, crafty, all
with interesting backstories to add to the
puzzling murder.
RahRah serves as the grand marshal of the
animal parade and Fluffy, the little white town
mutt gets a home.
I found this to be an enjoyable, entertaining
and intriguing read.
Recipes included at the end are for!
Sarah’s Sweet Potato Puffs the Convenient Way
Classic Wine Spritzer
Howellian Catnip
This is book # 2 in the Sarah Blair Mystery series,
the author provides enough backstory that the
past and present are presented effortlessly
Book # 6.A Catered Cat Wedding
by Isis CrawfordFinished: 10/01/2021
Rating: 4 🐾🐾🐾🐾
Review:
Boris and Natasha are getting married!!
Bernie and Libby Simmons who run A
Little Taste of Heaven are catering the
wedding reception at the request of
Susie Katz. Susie is a very rich woman
and has planned an elaborate ceremony
for her two Russian Blue cats.
The reception will be catered for those
people she invited and all her cats.
No one invited likes Susie but all attend
the ceremony.
After the cats are married, a wedding
gift arrives. When opened a slew of mice
jump out and chaos ensues.
While Bernie and Libby are busy trying to
capture the runaway cats chasing the
mice….Susie is murdered.
Who murdered her? Bernie and Libby
start to investigate.
A creative plot with a cast of unusual,
quirky, spiteful, underhand characters
make for a lot of suspects.
An interesting, different, catful read.
Book # 7.Hemlock for the Holidays
by Paula DarnellFinished: 10/02/2021
Rating: 5🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
Lonesome Valley, Arizona is the new home
for Amanda Trent. She is a divorcee in her
fifties. She is now living the life of an artist.
She has become a part of the Roadrunner
Gallery in town and runs an alternate Friday
night open house tour.
Amanda is working a shift at the
Roadrunner’s booth at the annual Christmas
craft fair at the local high school. When she
is finished her time and leaving to go home
she notices several ambulances going to
the high school. What is happening?
Turns out several people were poisoned from
bake goods brought at the fair. No one can
trace back who brought them to the fair.
But worse than that Amanda goes with her
friend at her request to visit a local artist at
his home.
They find him….Dead. There are crumbs in
his kitchen from the poisoned bake goods.
It is discovered that the poison is hemlock.
An intriguing murder mystery with a steady
stream of suspense, thrills, chills plus
diversion that keep the plot flowing at a
fast paced from beginning to end.
The fur babies, Mona Lisa the cat and
Laddie the dog added to the story.
With family coming for Christmas, hopefully
the culprit will be found before the holiday.
This is book # 3 in the Fine Art Mysteries
series. It can be read as a stand alone as
the author provides enough backstory with
the present.
A Highly Recommended Read!!!
I volunteered to read Homicide for the
Holidays. Thanks to the Cozy Mystery Review
Crew for the opportunity. My opinion is
voluntary and is my own.
Book # 8.Deck the Donuts
by Ginger BoltonFinished: 10/23/2021
Rating: 5 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
Review;
Fallingbrook, Wisconsin is where the annual
Ice and Lights Festival is held every Christmas
season.
It is the home of Emily Westhill, a widow and
a donut shop co-owner with her father-in-law.
She lives with her fur baby cat named Deputy
Donut, kicknamed Dep who adds flavor to the
story.
Emily and her co-worker have created an
ice sculpture in the town square naming it
Frosty the Donut.
Emily is skiing with Fallingbrook’s detective
who is her good friend when he gets called
to an accident involving a tour bus. The bus
ran off the road in the snow storm and
the driver is hurt.
Emily follows him to the scene of the accident
to see if she can assist.
The driver is taken to the hospital while the
town arranges for the passengers on the tour
to be housed in the town’s homes.
Emily ends up housing the tour guide who is
the driver’s girlfriend at her home.
The next morning on the way to work Emily
discovers Frosty the Donut knocked down.
Upon closer inspection, Emily discovers the
body of the driver….Dead under the knocked
down sculpture.
There is a multitude of well defined, colorful,
three dimensional and multifaceted characters.
They are all involved in a complicated,fast paced,
dynamic, intriguing mystery which takes place
during the Christmas season.
There is a dog, named Ivan who belongs to
a detective in State’s police force that is sure
to entertain the reader.
I felt the Christmas spirit of the Cider Cove
residents with all the town’s decorations,
ice sculptures plus I loved how the town
volunteered to feed and house the bus
passengers in the their own homes after the
bus accident.
In addition to its holiday charm the town
showed the unconditional friendships among
its residents.
A snow storm increases the drama but painted
a beautiful detailed picture to enjoy.
Come along with Emily as she helps investigates
who murdered the bus driver.
Although this is book # 6 in the Deputy Donut
Mystery series, it was the first of the series that
I read. It was so well written mixing the past and
present that I had no trouble following the book
as a stand alone.
I volunteered to read Deck the Donuts. Thanks
to the Cozy Mystery Review Crew for the opportunity.
My opinion is voluntary and my own.
Looking forward to start reading the series from the
beginning.
Book # 9.Kittyzen's Arrest
by Addison MooreFinished: 10/22/2031
Rating: 4 🐾🐾🐾🐾
Review:
Welcome to Cider Cove! Maine and the home
of Bizzy Baker. The nickname Bizzy was the
result of a sibling unable to pronounce her
real name and it stuck with her.
Bizzy can read minds, not everyone’s and
not all the time. She can also communicate
with animals. Only one other person knows
of her special ability. Bizzy does not want to
end up caged in a government paranormal
agency because of this ability.
It is Autumn in Cider Cove where people come
to see the changing leaf colors. There is a
Harvest Festival at the Cove and Haunted
Harvest Festival at the pumpkin patch.
Down on the beach Bizzy’s cat which is a
black and white longhaired tabby named
Fish is being chased by a freckled mixed
breed named, “Sherlock Bones”. Sherlock
owner is Jasper Wilder who everyone calls
a vampire. Their is an instant attraction
between Bizzy and Sherlock.
During a bonfire on the beach, Bizzy
discovers one of her waitstaff stabbed to
death.
Turns out Jasper is actually a detective
who will handle the murder investigation.
Bizzy decides to start her own investigation
even after Detective Wilder warns her to not
get involved due to the danger involved.
A myriad of cleverly created characters, some
quirky, some zany, but all well defined.
I felt the murder mystery mixed with romance
enhanced the book.
Recipe for Café Apple Walnut Cinnamon Rolls
given at the end.
Book # 10Ruff and Tumble
by Chelsea ThomasFinished: 07/10/2021
Rating: 4
Review:
A quick, enjoyable and humorous read!!
Amy and her card shark grandmother, Petunia
are dog groomers. Their friend, Betsy works
with them at Creature Comforts.
Setting out to groom a dog for a Hollywood
personality, Margo Edmonds, they find her
dead body. But when the police arrive the,
body is not there? What happened to the body?
Amy decides to solve the mystery along with
Petunia and Betsy who provide a lot of humorous
moments.
The reader will also meet Lucky the dog Amy owns,
Jonathon the bulldog, Majesty the afghan, Mary
the dog Petunia brings into the shop, various other
dogs that get groomed.
***A subplot is written by Fluffy the cat Amy owns
which adds zest to the story.***
The book does need better editing but is still very
entertaining and an enjoyable read.
I volunteered to read Ruff and Tumble. I received
a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am
voluntarily leaving a review.
Book # 11Purrfect Heat
by Nic SaintFinished: 11/22/2021
Rating: 5😻😻😻😻😻
Review:
A new cat has entered Odelia Poole’s
life and is causing an uproar among
the cats already in the house.
There is Max, the blorange (his word
for blonde + orange color) flabby
ginger tabby who belongs to Odelia.
She is a reporter for the Hampton Cove
Gazette and a civilian consultant to the
police department. Sh helps investigate
crimes by interviewing suspects.
The Poole women are special as they are
able to communicate back and forth
with the cat.
Max’s clowder of cats include Odelia’s
grandmother’s cat, Dooley who is a beige
ragamuffin cat and Harriet who is a white
Persian owned by Odelia’s mother. Brutus
is a black cat who belongs to Detective
Chase Kingsley. He was Max’s nemesis
until this new cat named Diego appeared
on the scene. Now he is hanging around
with Max and Dooley down in the dumps
because Diego has taken Harriet away
from Brutus.
In the midst of Max’s complications, a
famous chef is found dead….roasted in
an oven at the restaurant where the chef
was taping his television show.
The cats finally start to help in the investigation.
But before they can discover the murderer, they
uncover a sweatshop.
Meantime, Gram has a new man friend and is
running around town acting out in an
embarrassing manner.
Will Max and his clowder be able to put the new
cat in his place? Will they be able to find the
murderer to help Odelia out?
This is book # 4 in the Mysteries of Max series.
It can be read as a stand alone.
Enjoy the antics of the cats as they move
around Hampton Cove hoping to solve all the
complications in their fur baby lives.
Thank you, Now I must add this to my reading list. It sounds like so much fun.
Book # 12The Silence of the Library
by Miranda JamesFinished: 05/15/2031
Rating: 5🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
Review:
We are back in Athena, Mississippi visiting
Charlie Harris who works part-time at the
University of Athena’s Library in the
archive section. Charlie is always
accompanied by Diesel, a very tame Maine
Coon cat. Diesel walks on a leash and goes
with Charlie almost everybody.
National Library Week at the Athena Public
Library is being planned. It is to feature amateur
sleuths we loves as young children…such as
Nancy Drew, Cherry Ames, the Hardy Boys
and Veronica Thane.
Charlie is surprised to discover the author of
the Veronica Thane mysteries is still living and
about to turn 100. The author lives very close
to Athena. Her fans flock to town when they
hear she will be there. They want her to sign
her old books plus one man wants to buy her
old books and her unpublished books rumored
that are hidden away.
Then one fan is murdered. Charlie, Diesel and
Detective Kanesha Berry work together to find
the culprit.
A plot within a subplot with interesting, well
built characters.
I enjoyed reading about Nancy Drew, Cherry
Ames, the Hardy Boys and other character’s
books mentioned.
Book # 13Arsenic and Old Books
Miranda JamesFinished: 12/09/2021
Rating: 5🐾🐾🐾🐾
Review:
Charlie Harris works part-time at the
University of Athena’s archive section.
He Maine Coon cat, Diesel goes almost
everywhere Charlie goes.
Charlie is thrilled when the mayor of
Athena’s town donates four books of her
husband’s ancestors to the library.
Word spreads and before Charlie can
catalog the volumes, a professor and a
reporter are requesting access to them.
Then the books are stolen, the professor
is murdered followed by the mysterious
return of the four volumes. Plus the mayor
has discovered a fifth volume in the bottom
of an old trunk in the attic. But is this volume
authentic or fabricated.
Charlie, Diesel and Detective Kanesha Berry
combine their information so Kanesha will
be able to make an arrest.
Meanwhile there is canvassing of two
candidates for an upcoming election which
the diaries must influence.
A intriguing, interesting read with information
about the dating back to Civil War times. It
shared a look of how the people lived, what
they wore and how it solved the mystery of
the death of three children and their mother
back during the Civil War times.
This is book # 6 in the Cat in the Stacks
Mysteries series. It can be read as a stand
alone.
Book # 14No Cats Allowed
by Miranda JamesFinished: 12/12/2021
Rating: 5🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
Review:
Charlie Harris who works part-time at the
University of Athena’s archive section has a
Maine Coon cat, Diesel. Diesel goes almost
everywhere Charlie goes. Everyone loves to
see Diesel. Well almost everyone, except for
the new interim library director, Oscar Reilly.
Reilly wants to cut cost and the archive and
the rare book collection is one of the targets.
Reilly is a very annoying person who seems to
raise issues with all the staff.
Then Reilly turns up dead.
Charlie and Diesel jump right into the investigation
when Melba at the library comes under suspicion.
After Reilly’s death, Charlie is appointed interim
director. In his new role he starts looking into
various happenings at the library such as why
the old director up and left his position abruptly,
the financial statements, one of his co-workers
who is very defiant, a stranger hanging outside
the library.thus leading to Charlie being shot at
plus his windshield shattered.
This is book # 7 in the Cat in the Stacks Mystery
series. It can be read as a stand alone.
Come along with Charlie and Diesel while they
prove Melba’s innocence. An exciting adventure.
Book # 15Murder at Catmmando Mountain
byAnna Celeste BurkeFinished: 08/01/2021
Rating: 4🐈🐈🐈🐈
Review:
Let’s visit Marvelous Marley World’s Arcadia
theme park in Orange County, California
Georgina Shaw better known as Georgie is a
25 year employee. She is a mature, good looking
and smart addition to the Public Relation Division.
She is the Assistant Director. Prior to being
promoted Georgie was second in command of
their Food and Beverage Division until Maximillian,
the owner brought in his daughter, Mallory
Marley-Marston to head the department. Mallory
was not a very nice person. She was rude, conceited,
condescending and vicious to all the employees.
So when she ends up dead, no one is surprised.
But concern that Georgie’s scarf is with her body
raises questions. Did Georgie kill her? Who had it
in for Mallory? Who want to frame Georgie?
A real well plotted whodunnit with a large array of
characters to suspect.
Homicide Detective Jack Wheeler is on the case.
He and Georgie have an undeniable chemistry
going on between them. Will this lead to anything?
The characters are well defined, artfully created,
and very realistic. Even Georgie’s Siamese cat,
Miles adds to the story with his antics.
A good read with mature sleuths, good humor and
a touch of romance.
Finished Challenge Kneading - Read 11-20 cat mysteries
1. Murder Past Due Murder Past Due (Cat in the Stacks, #1) by Miranda James by Miranda James…Finished 01/17/2021
2. Classified as Murder Classified as Murder (Cat in the Stacks, #2) by Miranda James by Miranda James….Finished
03/19/2021
3. File M for Murder File M for Murder (Cat in the Stacks, #3) by Miranda James by Miranda James….Finished: 06/01/2021
4. Out of Circulation Out of Circulation (Cat in the Stacks, #4) by Miranda James by Miranda James….Finished 06/16/2021
5. Two Bites Too Many Mollie Katzen's Vegetable Heaven Over 200 Recipes for Uncommon Soups, Tasty Bites, Side-By-Side Dishes, and Too Many Desserts by Mollie Katzen by Debra H. Goldstein….Finished 02/12/2021
6. A Catered Cat Wedding A Catered Cat Wedding (A Mystery with Recipes #14) by Isis Crawford by Isis Crawford….Finished 10/01/2021
7 Hemlock for the Holidays Hemlock for the Holidays (A Fine Art Mystery #3) by Paula Darnell by Paula Darnell….Finished 10/02/2021
8. Deck the Donuts Deck the Donuts by Ginger Bolton by Ginger Bolton….Finished 10/23/2021
9. Kittyzen's Arrest Kittyzen's Arrest (Country Cottage Mysteries #1) by Addison Moore by Addison Moore….Finished 10/22/2021
10. Ruff and Tumble Ruff and Tumble (Dog Groomer Mysteries Book 2) by Chelsea Thomas by Chelsea Thomas….Finished 07/10/2021
11. Purrfect Heat Purrfect Heat (The Mysteries of Max #4) by Nic Saint by Nic Saint…Finished 11/22/2021
12. The Silence of the Library The Silence of the Library (Cat in the Stacks, #5) by Miranda James by Miranda James….Finished 05/15/2021
13. Arsenic and Old Books Arsenic and Old Books (Cat in the Stacks, #6) by Miranda James Miranda James…Finished 12/09/2021
14.No Cats Allowed No Cats Allowed (Cat in the Stacks, #7) by Miranda James by Miranda James…Finished 12/12/2021
15. Murder at Catmmando Mountain Murder at Catmmando Mountain (Georgie Shaw, #1) by Anna Celeste Burke by Anna Celeste Burke…Finished 08/01/2021
16. Twelve Angry Librarians(Cat in the Stacks, #8] by Miranda
James…Finished 12/28/2021
Book # 16Twelve Angry Librarians
by Miranda JamesFinished: 12/28/2021
Rating: 5🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
Review:
Charlie Harris is working as the interim
library director at University of Athena
in Mississippi. He must deliver the
welcome speech to the Southern Academic
Libraries Association. Charlie does not look
forward to this.
The Association has Mr. Gavin Fong as the
keynote speaker. He is a nemesis of Charlie’s
from back when they were in college. Mr. Fong
is not a likable person. So when he drops over
dead while speaking, it presents a lot of
potential culprits as suspects.
Charlie and Diesel, his Main Coon cat who
goes everywhere with him help in the
ongoing investigation of Deputy Kanesha
Barry to uncover what happened.
This is book # 8 in the Cat in the Stacks
Mystery series. It can be read as a stand alone.
Cat Mystery Readers
Books mentioned in this topic
Twelve Angry Librarians (other topics)Twelve Angry Librarians (other topics)
Murder at Catmmando Mountain (other topics)
Murder at Catmmando Mountain (other topics)
No Cats Allowed (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Miranda James (other topics)Anna Celeste Burke (other topics)
Anna Celeste Burke (other topics)
Miranda James (other topics)
Miranda James (other topics)
More...
1. Murder Past Due
2. Classified as Murder
03/19/2021
3. File M for Murder
4. Out of Circulation
5. Two Bites Too Many
6. A Catered Cat Wedding
7 Hemlock for the Holidays
8. Deck the Donuts
9. Kittyzen's Arrest
10. Ruff and Tumble
11. Purrfect Heat
12. The Silence of the Library
13. Arsenic and Old Books
14.No Cats Allowed
15. Murder at Catmmando Mountain
16.Twelve Angry Librarians
17
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19
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