A Tale of Two Kitties
Author: Sofie Kelly

A Tale of Two Kitties is the 9th book in the Magical Cats Mystery series. 

This time, an old scandal is dredged back up when an unexpected visitor shows up in town and turns his twin brother's life upside down. The situation is tense and uncomfortable. But when things escalate to murder, the situation isn't just small town gossip and family squabbles anymore. 

This is probably my favorite book in the series so far. I've enjoyed them all, but I liked how several characters got some additional development moments in this story and the plot really grabbed my attention. As usual, I also enjoyed how the cats were an active part of the plot. I just really enjoyed this one from start to finish!

The Magical Cats Mystery series is definitely on my list of favorite cozy mysteries. I like the characters, the plots, the background theme.....and I love the kitties! :) 

 Moving on to the next book in this series!  

REVIEW: Which Witch?

 Which Witch? 
Author: Simon R. Green

Television celebrity and Bishop Alistair Kincaid is paired up again with his actress sidekick Diana Hunt to investigate supernatural events. This time they are up against the famous Scottish Play and its supposed curse. 

The director is at his wit's end....whatever can go wrong with their production of the cursed play is going wrong. The supernatural sleuthing duo is on the case because the events ruining the play are escalating. 

I love this series. I do have to admit some bias here, as Simon R. Green is one of my favorite authors. If he wrote the Illustrated History of Toilet Paper I would read it and love it. But I really do enjoy this new series. Alastair and Diana are a surprisingly well-matched pair when it comes to investigating weirdly dangerous supernatural shenanigans.  

I eagerly await each book in this series. Simon R. Green comes up with such interesting plots (love that this one centers around Mac..... no wait....That Play)! I can't wait to find out what the duo will be investigating next!! 

Great addition to this series. I listened to the audio book. Story kept my attention from start to finish as usual! 

 

REVIEW: Leave No Trace

 Leave No Trace
Author: A.J. Landau

A.J. Landau is the pen name used by the writing team of Jon Land and Jeff Ayers. I've enjoyed other thriller (and mystery) series set in US National Parks so grabbing this book at the library was an easy decision!

Leave No Trace starts out with the destruction of the Statue of Liberty and the danger spreads to attacks at other National Parks across the United States. Special Agent Michael Walker with the National Parks Service and FBI Agent Gina Delgado team up to investigate and stop a domestic terrorist group. The terrorists are planning a chemical attack that could kill millions. 

The action started early in this first book of the National Parks Thriller series. Boom....Statue of Liberty topples over. Can you even imagine? 

But....in several places the action and drive of the story lost focus and fizzled for me, or just got bogged down in melodrama. This is why I have sort of mixed feelings about reading books by Jon Land.  I constantly felt like scenes were added to make this story viable as a movie script.  Blow up the Statue of Liberty. Throw the NPS agent into a flooded river where he loses his prosthetic limb. Put a Native American activist on top a semi truck where he holds on for dear life for hours to trace the bad guys to their base (is that even possible??). And, tie the cause of the whole attack plot back to a serious prior incident in the life of a main character. 

It's a bit like a script from a TV movie. I rolled my eyes more than once. 

But....I didn't hate it. And I would watch the movie. 

Not a great thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat.....but definitely readable. 

I liked how each chapter started out with a fact about a US National Park. 

The main characters are interesting and engaging. I'm hoping there is more character development for them in the second book....and less weird military patriotism. 

I listened to the audio book version of this story [Recorded Books, Inc, 2024, 10 hrs 43 minutes, narrated by Gregory Abbey]. Gregory Abbey read at a nice, even pace and was easy to understand. He keeps an even tone so I was quickly able to lose myself in the story. 

All in all, a nice start to a new series. I'm hoping the characters and concept find stronger footing in book 2.  The blurb for the second book -- a group of scientists disappearing in Glacier National Park -- is what started me reading this series. I had to read book one before I could jump into book two. 

 

  

REVIEW: No Paw to Stand On

 No Paw to Stand On
Author: Laurie Cass

I've been reading this series since Book 1 first came out. No Paw to Stand On is the 12th book in the Bookmobile Cat cozy mystery series. 

I love this series and eagerly await each new book. But, with that, I also have to say that I miss the earlier feel of the series when Minnie lived on her houseboat and there was much more Eddie (the cat) in the books. As I listened to the audio book of this book, I found myself thinking that I'd really really like much less Rafe and talk of a wedding and a lot more sleuthing and Eddie instead. The wedding angle is getting old. Just get married already....

Ok....my curmudgeon moment is over. 

This time, Minnie is investigating a string of attacks on local restaurants after her best friend's restaurant gets closed down after waffle cones served at Kristin's business make several people sick. When an employee at another business in town is found murdered, things get much more dire. Why is someone targeting restaurants in Chilson? With the crimes getting much more serious, Minnie and her crew of friends are on the case to catch a killer. 

I listened to the audio book version of this story (Tantor Media, 9 hrs 34 min, narrated by Erin Bennett)

I enjoyed the audio. Erin Bennett has a pleasant voice and does a great job with Eddie's Mrrrrr moments.  :)  

The plot kept my attention from start to finish, with occasional grumblings when wedding planning interrupted the main plot too many times. There were a couple main characters that were acting oddly throughout this story as well. I kept waiting for Minnie to say something, as it got a bit aggressive. It definitely kept me glued to the plot because I was really wondering what was going on. 

I don't really care for Rafe (Minnie's fiance). He makes odd comments to Minnie and makes fun of her a bit too much. At one point in the book he tells her it's time for her to go to bed and shuts her laptop while she's doing research. Pulled me right out of the story. I just don't like the character and I find his behavior at times obnoxious.  

Eddie was his usual lovely self. Mrrrrr. 

The constant romance angle this series is taking is starting to make me enjoy these books less and less. I find Rafe condescending and almost abusive at times. Yuck.  

I still love this series....and I'm moving on to my review copy of the next book!! Yay! But.....less Rafe/romance....more sleuthing/Eddie....I hope. :)  

REVIEW: Paws and Effect

 Paws and Effect
Author: Sofie Kelly

This 8th book in the Magical Cats series gave me wonderful moments of escape from a ridiculously busy week at work. When I needed to find moments of peace in the morning or evening, I grabbed up this book and spent some time with the characters from Mayville Heights. :) 

This time, the residents of Mayville Heights are split about a proposed development coming to town. A group of experts shows up to find a way to block the project. Turns out, the group of three people are also old college friends of Librarian Kathleen Paulson's boyfriend. When one of the trio turns up dead, Marcus is a suspect. Can Kathleen find a killer and prove Marcus is innocent? 

I enjoyed this story from start to finish. The plot kept my attention. The kitties were their usual magic selves. And there was some nice character development as well. Definitely a great book to read when I needed to find some peace before and after work. 

On to the next book!!  

 

REVIEW: Faux Paw

 Faux Paw
Author: Sofie Kelly

Faux Paw is the 7th book in the Magical Cats Mystery series.  

Ever been part of planning and facilitating a public event that just keeps getting more and more complicated, annoying and difficult? I sure have. In Faux Paw, Librarian Kathleen Paulson is dealing with a library event that is becoming almost more hassle than it's worth. 

An art show. 

Added security. Juggling an insurance company. A strict contract. The curator is an ever-present and overbearing problem. Constant phone calls. Texts. The issues are just exhausting. 

But it gets worse. Add in a theft and a dead body to the list. 

Kathleen and her magical cats Hercules and Owen are once again on the trail to catch a killer. 

The entire time I was reading this book, I felt sorry for Kathleen. No matter how hard she tried to pull this event together, it went wrong....from the very beginning. We've all been there in one way or another at least once in life....and I remember exactly what it felt like!!

I enjoyed this book. The story kept my attention from start to finish. There were plenty of suspects and some great amateur sleuthing, as usual.Add in some good character development moments and the usual antics of Herc and Owen, and it was a perfect addition to this series! 

I'm almost halfway through this series....having a great time!  On to the next book! 

REVIEW: Stone Certainty

 Stone Certainty
Author: Simon R. Green

I've been a big Simon R. Green fan for years. His Nightside series was my first journey into Urban Fantasy and I've been reading his stuff ever since then. 

Stone Certainty is the second book in the Holy Terrors series. The books are shorter reads (sort of like the Gideon Sable or the Ismael Jones series) with a supernatural feel. 

The duo of Bishop Alastair Kincaid and Actress Diana Hunt are once again at the scene of supernatural events. This time, they have traveled into the English countryside to attend the setting of the final stone into a stone circle. The circle was damaged and dilapidated, and a local landowner decided to reposition the stones back into their original formation (against the warnings from locals, of course). 

Odd things start happening the minute the last stone is settled into position. Has the project let loose the powers of hell? 

I enjoyed this second story in this series! Alastair and Diana make great main characters. The investigating and the ending are still a bit Scooby Doo, but the stories are very entertaining!

I listened to the audio book version (Blackstone Publishing, narrated by Tim Bruce, 6 hrs 15 minutes). Tim Bruce did a great job of narration and brought the story alive. The plot kept my attention from start to finish. I wasn't sure what the ending was going to be......but was satisfied with it once it all played out. 

Moving on to book 3 -- Which Witch? Woot!!