REVIEW: A Midwinter's Tail

 A Midwinter's Tale
Author: Sofie Kelly

As I finished this 6th book in the Magical Cats Mystery series, I got curious. I remember reading the first book in this series when it first came out. I tried to keep up with each new book, but life got in the way. I lost track of these cute cozy mysteries for several years....came back and found there are now 16 books in the series.  So....I checked to see when I first started reading. The first book came out in 2011. 

14 years. Nothing is going to get in my way this time! I have most of the remaining books on my bookshelves....and the 3 I'm missing I put on hold at my local library this morning. I am determined! I am not stopping in my enjoyment of this series until I have caught up all the way to the newest book. 

That's the joy that creating a new life for myself where nobody tells me what I can and can't do (outside of of obeying the law lol) has done for me. Peaceful -- and I can finally read this entire series!! And, nothing is stopping me this time! Woot!! 

Ok....after that outburst....on to the book! 

I enjoyed reading a cozy set in wintertime when it's 90 degrees outside. Reading about snow and cold actually made it feel a bit more comfy this afternoon. I totally forgot about it being hot and just enjoyed the story! 

This time, Kathleen has planned a fundraiser for a reading program at the library. She really needs the night to go perfectly so the Reading Buddies program can continue. But.....an unexpected person arrives in town. That causes enough drama. But when that person also chokes on a chocolate and dies.....in the middle of the fundraiser....it not only ruins the evening, but makes several of Kathleen's friends murder suspects. Kathleen and her two amazing kitties, Owen and Hercules, are once again on the trail of a killer! 

This book kept my attention from start to finish. There was some nice character development, and a good amount of amateur sleuthing. Two events with Marcus has me wondering what might happen in the next book -- I can't wait to see what develops!  

On to the next book!! I have lots of reading to do!  

REVIEW: Final Catcall

 Final Catcall
Author: Sofie Kelly

Final Catcall is the 5th book in the Magical Cats mystery series. 

Librarian Kathleen Paulson has a lot on her plate...  ex in town, a local theater festival relocating to Mayville Heights with little notice, relationship problems...   It only gets worse when she finds the director of the theater festival dead. 

This story kept my attention from start to finish. Drama all around. I wanted the icky ex fiance to go home. I wanted Marcus and Kathleen to make up. And, I wanted to know who bumped off the horrible director. Felt like a soap opera done cozy mystery style. :) Loved it! And, once again, I picked my favorite suspect for the murderer.....and was wrong. One of these days I will guess right!! I am no Sherlock Holmes, obviously. 

Owen and Hercules were once again wonderful. And they are still my favorite characters in this series. I can't resist cute kitties, especially magical ones! 

Moving on to the next book!  

REVIEW: Cat Trick

 Cat Trick
Author: Sofie Kelly

I'm enjoying this series! I started reading these books a few years ago, and then life events happened and I lost track of the series for several years. Back now -- and started reading all over again from the beginning. 

Cat Trick is the 4th book in the Magical Cats series. 

This time, Mayfield, MN is preparing a food tasting event to woo a Chicago travel agency to offer travel packages to their little town. The local art community, small town life, great food and a real relaxing get-away might sound heavenly to people wanting to get out of the city for awhile. Things go south when one of the travel agency's partners is found dead.  Can Kathleen and her two cats figure out what happened? 

Another enjoyable book in this series! As usual I had a suspect picked out and convicted in my mind.....and I was wrong. I'm glad I'm not a detective! 

I love the setting and background theme of this series, the characters and the mix of humor and amateur sleuthing. My favorite characters? Owen and Hercules of course! Kathleen's kitties firmly believe they are just furry people....and they have a bit of magic about them! 

On to the next book in this series!  

REVIEW: The Holy Terrors

 The Holy Terrors
Author: Simon R. Green

(2024 review) Simon R. Green is one of my favorite authors. I will have to be totally honest here and say I am not totally impartial/neutral when I write reviews of his books. If Simon wrote a lengthy novel about assembling bookshelves while doing hot yoga, I would read the book and give it 5 stars. I've been addicted to his books since the Nightside series.

The minute I saw he had a new series about a ghost hunting television show that encounters a very dangerous situation, I knew I had to read the book! And, as usual, Simon did not disappoint. I loved this book!

Can you imagine the crew of Ghosthunters if they entered a spooky location and REAL spooky shit started happening? What if they suspected one of their crew/cast was a really bad person? What if the whole situation was actually really dangerous....and not just fake BS? They would totally freak out....and I would watch every second of that shit. Definitely.

I love the mix of humor and scary. The premise is fun and entertaining. And, it immediately had me hooked. A bunch of celebrities gathering for another fake reality show.....but they end up in a dark, twisted situation. The end wasn't my favorite -- but it worked. Totally satisfied and ready for more!

Loved it! Can't wait for the next book!

UPDATE 2025: I read this first book and then lost track of this series due to life happenings. I happened to see that a 3rd book is coming out, so I started back at book one so I can read my way through all 3! I listened to the audiobook version of The Holy Terrors (Blackstone Publishing, 2025, 6 hrs 14 minutes. Narrated by Tim Bruce)

The narrator did a great job! I loved revisiting this spooky tale! Things really went downhill quickly when a faked reality show about hauntings actually encountered a truly dangerous situation! Can you imagine celebrities, fake paranormal experts and mediums all facing a real situation? Wouldn't that just be a hoot to watch! The ending is a bit Scooby Doo....but it works.  

REVIEW: 31 Days of Spooky

 31 Days of Spooky
Author: various

Yep -- my spooky reading is starting ultra early this year. Woot woot! 

The awesome cover art on this book caught my eye, and I had to read these 31 stories! 

Each story is different. Some are better than others, but that's true of any story collection. 

Every story is PG13, and not overly scary. Just a bit creepy. The stories are relatively short. Each one could be easily read in just a few minutes. 

Enjoyable quick read to get my brain primed for spooky season reading!! I liked the colorful pictures throughout -- nice touch! 

 **I read a review copy of this book from Harper Celebrate. All opinions are entirely my own.**

 

REVIEW: Copycat Killing

 Copycat Killing
Author: Sofie Kelly

I started reading this series years ago, and then lost track of the books when life took unexpected turns. Darn adulting getting in the way of my reading! 

Now I'm back...and I started reading the series again from the start. Just finished book 3 - Copycat Killing. It was nice to check in again with the cast and crew at Mayville Heights!

This time, constant rain is causing flooding issues in town. When rising water floods the basement of the local artists' co-op, Kathleen jumps in to help her friend Maggie. It gets more serious than threatened artwork when an artist is found drowned in the basement. Kathleen, and her two genius kitties, are on the case again! 

Another great book in this series! Owen and Hercules are always wonderful. Nice mix of humor and mystery. A bit of possible romance. And, a lot of amateur sleuthing, much to the chagrin of a local detective. 

I had what I thought was a good guess about the identity of the killer. And, I was totally wrong! Glad I'm not the sleuth!! 

On to the next book -- Cat Trick!  

REVIEW: An Amateur Sleuth's Guide to Murder

 An Amateur Sleuth's Guide to Murder
Author: Lynn Cahoon

Meg's having a hard time lately. A lost job. Her fiance ran off with her bridesmaid. And, she's had to return home to live near family. Starting over seems dismal, but then she finds a part-time job. Researcher for a mystery writer. Just as her new life and career are starting to form, she gets pulled into a real murder investigation. 

Can Meg put her new-found knowledge about murders and murder to good use and catch a killer? 

I loved this book from start to finish! Meg is a great main character. I love the setting and the background theme. There's a nice mix of humor and mystery as well. 

Great start to a new series! I will definitely be reading more! I look forward to the next book.