REVIEW: Murder Past Due

Murder Past Due
Author: Miranda James
294 pages
Cozy mystery

Librarian Charlie Harris and his Maine Coon, Diesel, live in Athena, Mississippi. Everyone in town knows the widower who walks his cat on a leash. When a local author is murdered, Harris discovers that a lot of people in town had a motive to kill the arrogant, underhanded man. With so many people having a score to settle with the murdered man, Charlie and Diesel have to reveal the murderer before an innocent person is arrested.

I enjoyed this book. The characters are likeable, and the plot is engaging and well-written. I really enjoyed reading a cozy mystery where the main character is male. It was also nice that the mystery plot wasn't watered down with a romantic angle. Romance is great...don't get me wrong. But, many times, it becomes a trite, formula story element in cozy mysteries -- main character finds body, police come to investigate,main character becomes romantically involved with cop investigating murder case...    This book does not follow that formula. It was so nice to read a cozy that was different! Still has cat....a librarian....and a few formula characters in it. But, overall, it was a fun read and a nice change!

The mystery plot was well done and interesting. I will definitely be reading more books by Miranda James in the future! Murder Past Due is book #1 in the Cat in the Stacks Mystery series. There are six books in the series so far.

My rating: 7/10
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