Book Review: Cat Got Your Diamonds by Julie Chase

Grandeur and opulence are everything in the famed New Orleans Garden District where pets are family and no bling is too big. Opening Furry Godmother, pet boutique and organic treat bakery, is Lacy Marie Crocker’s dream come true--until the glitter gun used to make her Shih Tzu tutus becomes a murder weapon. And Lacy becomes public enemy #1. 

Now Detective Jack Oliver is hounding Lacy, and her Furry Godmother investor wants out before his name is tarnished by association. To make matters worse, a string of jewel heists with suspicious ties to the murder case has New Orleans residents on edge. To save her dream, Lacy must take a stand, put her keen eyes to work, and unravel what really happened at her shop that night. But can Lacy sniff out the killer cat burglar in time to get her tail-raising designs on the catwalk? [summary via Amazon]

Animal lovers everywhere are going to be completely enraptured with this new, delightful series from Julie Chase.

Meet Lacey Marie Crocker. She's back in her hometown, in the New Orleans Garden District, and making a name for herself as owner of the Furry Godmother, a pet boutique that will entice even the fussiest pet. As if running her own business and contending with her wealthy socialite mom aren't enough, she gets involved in a murder mystery, when a dead man is found in her shop.

I loved every page of this debut!! Being a cat owner myself, I was delighted by all the delicious treats that Lacy sells at the Furry Godmother, and all the delightful costumes she creates. From the start to finish it is clear that Julie Chase is an animal lover, as animals of all shapes and sizes appear in Cat Got Your Diamonds. My favourite of course being... llamas in leg warmers!

Cat Got Your Diamonds had a very enticing mystery, that had me guessing until the end. Coupled with a strong romantic angle, this made this debut a unputdownable read for me!

In addition to the wonderful mystery, there are three mouth-watering recipes in the back. I'm planning to make some Tuna Tarts for my fussy felines!

Book Review: Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris

Since Louisiana cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse has so few living relatives, she hates to lose one—even her cousin Hadley, undead consort of the vampire queen of New Orleans. Hadley’s left everything she had to Sookie, but claiming that inheritance has a high risk factor. Some people don’t want her looking too deeply into Hadley’s past or Hadley’s possessions. And they’re prepared to do anything in their power to stop her...[summary via Amazon]

I'm currently re-reading the Southern Vampire mysteries. I started them some years, and lost track of where I was up to, so I'm re-reading the earlier books. This was a re-read for me.

The Southern Vampire Mysteries are very popular, especially as they were turned into the television series True Blood, and after reading several I can see why. They are addictive, easy reading, and so very enjoyable.

This time we see Sookie Stackhouse travelling to settle her late cousin's estate in New Orleans. Of course where supernatural creatures and Sookie Stackhouse travel, trouble follows them.

I like that this story takes place outside of Bon Temps. It's nice to mix it up and see another city, especially one I haven't visited but want to one day. 

We're thrown into the story of Sookie's cousin demise, which is told in the short story One Word Answer. Although it's not necessary to have read the short story, as the author fills in the history.

For me, Definitely Dead was another enjoyable read in the series. I like that the characters are constantly evolving, and I don't want to spoil too much, but this is a good thing - especially if you think Sookie should be with someone other than a vampire! If you like supernatural mysteries, with a strong romance component you will love this series!

Audiobook Review: A Rumpole Christmas by John Mortimer

Rumpole at Christmas - the hilarious festive stories of John Mortimer's greatest character 'Without Rumpole, the world would be a poorer place' Daily Mail Horace Rumpole is not overfond of the rituals of Christmas: turkey, tinsel and the like. But happily the festive season is not one respected by the criminal fraternity; meaning that celebrations in the Rumpole household are frequently disturbed in most-welcome ways. There's the suspicious Father Christmas at Equity's Court's festive party. The actor who goes missing from the panto on the night of a major crime. As well as the body cluttering up the health farm (where the great barrister is gloomily restricted to a diet of yak's milk and steamed spinach to please She Who Must Be Obeyed).[summary via Amazon]

While I'm not sure that the Rumpole of the Bailey books are strictly a cozy mystery, they are such a delightful read that I'm going to review them here, as I re-read them.

Many years ago (many, many) there was a television show called Rumpole of the Bailey, based on the books by John Mortimer, and my young self enjoyed it thoroughly. I was interested in a career in law, and I found Horace Rumpole such a delight. I've seen abandoned any law career but I still find these stories a delight. So much so that I'm re-reading them now.

This is a collection of 7 Christmas stories, that I listed to on audiobook narrated by Bill Wallis. I don't want to make this a lengthy review by reviewing all of them, but I did enjoy all of them thoroughly. My most favourite is the last story, Rumpole and the Health Farm Murder. This story comes the closest to a cozy mystery, in my mind. Rumpole's wife, Hilda, who he called "She Who Must be Obeyed", tells Rumpole they are spending the holidays at a health farm. Of course, alcohol swigging, steak loving Rumpole is horrified at the suggestion!! While there they witness the murder of a fellow guest, and in this beautiful, old manor house Rumpole gets his chance to play amateur detective, outside the court room!

This was my second time reading this book (first time on audiobook) and I loved re-visiting with Rumpole, his fellow barristers, the criminals he represents and of course She Who Must Be Obeyed! If you haven't picked up the Rumpole books yet, you really should.

Book Review: Survival of the Fritters by Ginger Bolton

Emily Westhill runs the best donut shop in Fallingbrook, Wisconsin, alongside her retired police chief father-in-law and her tabby Deputy Donut. But after murder claims a favorite customer, Emily can’t rely on a sidekick to solve the crime—or stay alive. 

If Emily has learned anything from her past as a 911 operator, it’s to stay calm during stressful situations. But that’s a tall order when one of her regulars, Georgia Treetor, goes missing. Georgia never skips morning cappuccinos with her knitting circle. Her pals fear the worst—especially Lois, a close friend who recently moved to town. As evening creeps in, Emily and the ladies search for Georgia at home. And they find her—murdered among a scattering of stale donuts . . . 

Disturbingly, Georgia’s demise coincides with the five-year anniversary of her son’s murder, a case Emily’s late detective husband failed to solve before his own sudden death. With Lois hiding secrets and an innocent man’s life at stake, Emily’s forced to revisit painful memories on her quest for answers. Though someone’s alibi is full of holes, only a sprinkling of clues have been left behind. And if Emily can’t trace them back to a killer in time, her donut shop will end up permanently closed for business . . .[summary via Amazon]

It's been a while since I've read a cozy mystery, and I thought I would dip my toe back into the genre, with this new series from Ginger Bolton. I couldn't have picked a better choice! From the first chapter, this story featuring amateur sleuth Emily Westhill grabbed me and didn't let go, until the final denouement.

Emily and her father-in-law run a donut shop, the Deputy Donut. She's still nursing heart ache, following the death of her husband, Alec, who died on the job as a police officer. She's a heartwarming and caring woman, and I think readers will warm to her instantly.  

When one of her donut shop regulars turns up dead, she naturally is determined to find out who the killer is. Her method of investigating what one of my favourites. While she does ask questions, she isn't overly nosy and doesn't go looking for trouble. With an adorable sidekick in her feline companion "Dep", she goes hunting for clues.

Survival of the Fritters was a delightful first novel in this series. I really enjoyed the Threadville mysteries (written under the name Janet Bolin), and I can't wait to see what Ginger Bolton dishes up next. If you enjoy culinary mysteries, with beautiful constructed characters, and a cute feline too, you will certainly love this series!

Book Review: Cat About Town by Cate Conte

The first novel in a frisky new mystery series set in a small New England town, where an unlikely citizen is called in to solve the purrfect crime. . . 

Maddie James has arrived in Daybreak Island, just off the coast of Massachusetts, eager to settle down and start her own business—and maybe even fall in love. When a stray orange tabby pounces into her life, she’s inspired to open a cat café. But little does Maddie know that she’s in for something a lot more catastrophic when her new furry companion finds the dead body of the town bully. Now all eyes are on Maddie: Who is this crazy cat-whisperer lady who’s come to town? If pet-hair-maintenance and crime-fighting weren’t keeping her busy enough, Maddie now has not one but two eligible bachelors who think she’s the cat’s pajamas . . . and will do anything to win her heart. But how can she even think about happily-ever-after while a killer remains on the loose—and on her path? [summary via Amazon]

Cat Conte (also known as Liz Mugavero) previously wrote the Pawsitively Organic Mysteries, and I was thrilled to hear she had written a new series.

Cat About Town is a most delightful debut in a new series. From the very first flick of the tail of an adorable stray, who later becomes known as JJ, until the finale denouement, this is a story to delight even the pickiest of feline mystery lovers. 

Maddie James is in town for her grandmother's funeral, but when she meets a new feline friend (enter the ever adorable JJ), she takes the first steps into an adventure that will see them solve a murder together. I adored Maddie with her inner "crazy cat lady" persona. Of course JJ was delightful. He had me thinking that maybe I should put a harness on my cats and take them for a walk!!! (Of course my own cats had other ideas!).

I really liked the mystery. This one stumped me, and I didn't manage to solve it before Maddie and JJ. In the process of trying to solve the mystery, I fell in love with this little beach side town, with its interesting residents, and delightful shops.

All in all Cate Conte delighted me (and I'm sure other readers) with Cat About Town and I can't wait for another visit with Maddie and JJ.

Purchase Cat About Town at Amazon.com.