Book Review: Plot Boiler by Ali Brandon

It’s almost Fourth of July, and to boost customer traffic in their Brooklyn neighborhood, bookseller Darla Pettistone decides to throw a block party. All the local shop owners are thrilled—except the proprietor of Perky’s Coffee Shop, who thinks Darla is trying to poach his customers by selling her own caffeinated brew in her new bookshop café.

But when Hamlet comes upon the owner’s not-so-perky wife, it’s clear a killer has crashed the party. And when a second local business owner shuffles off this mortal coil—as Hamlet’s namesake would say—Darla and her curious cat must perform some fancy footwork to shine a spotlight on a secret worth killing for…[summary via Amazon]

Since the very first Black Cat Bookshop Mystery, I have been smitten with Hamlet, the black cat in this series. He is feisty, fun and he has a host of humans at his beck and call. Those humans sometimes get up to adventures too!!

In their fifth adventure, Darla, and the shops in her neighbourhood, are organizing a block party. They're hoping to bring new shoppers to the neighbourhood, and celebrate the 4th of July at the same time. The day looks to be a perfect day, that is until Hamlet discovers the dead body of one of the owners of the local coffee shop. Who would kill the quiet wife of the boisterous Coffee King? It's up to Darla and Hamlet to put their nose to the crime and find the clues!!

I love this series! Books within books? Check! Adorable cat? Check! Memorable characters? Check! A great whodunnit? Check! It honestly has it all, and I'll be very sad when I read the last book the series. Thankfully Plot Boiler isn't the last book!!

The mystery itself was really interesting. I didn't guess who the killer was before Darla, even though looking back the author did lay a few clues down. The killer's identity totally blew me away. I read 50+ mysteries a year, and so this is hard to do! I definitely was surprised, which made me enjoy the mystery even more!!

I'm very much a character-driven reader and I love the characters in this series. They've grown and changed since the first book. Barista Robert, with his "goth dude" love for Hamlet is so adorable!! And, our amateur sleuth, Darla? She has settled into her life, as a bookstore owner, and life with "Hammy", and I like that she is her own woman. Maybe if the right man came along, but being in a relationship isn't central for her. I like that the author hasn't tried to fit her into common tropes in other series, like making a romance between the sleuth and detective. It's very refreshing.

I simply adore this series so much!!! Plot Boiler was another great addition and I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

Book Review: Literally Murder by Ali Brandon

After a video of Darla and Hamlet performing at a martial arts tournament goes viral, the Florida chapter of the Feline Society of America invites the "Karate Kitty” to be the guest of honor at their championship cat show in Fort Lauderdale.

Upon arrival, Darla discovers that not everyone in the Sunshine State has a sunny disposition. Animal rights activists are on the march, and a cat show contestant stages his own angry protest when his special breed Minx—half Sphynx, half Manx—doesn’t win. Then Hamlet disappears—only to be found next to the dead body of the Minx owner. Now it’s up to Darla and Hamlet to take best in show and collar the killer…[via Goodreads]

Another adventure with the charming Hamlet, and his owner, Darla! This time Hamlet, Darla and Jake are heading for some sun, sand and surf in Florida. Hamlet has been invited to be a guest at a cat show and Darla and Jake are happy to join him on a mini holiday. However, where Hamlet goes adventure and mayhem follows, and soon the three are thrust into the middle of a murder investigation. 

Don't tell my cats, but I think Hamlet might just be my favorite cozy cat. He reminds me a lot of my tuxedo cat, Agatha, who is also full of spunk, attitude and likes to act like a boss! Hamlet is all these things and more, and he's a huge part as to why I enjoy this series so much. He's always right in the middle of the action, right along with his human friends! Every adventure with this cast of characters is never boring!!

I like that Ali Brandon has taken the action away from the store for this adventure. I did miss seeing more of Robert and James, the ying and yang of bookstore workers, as I like to call them! However, they're soon forgotten as the adventure takes hold. Readers get to learn more about Jake, when we meet her mom, who lives in Florida, and a host of eclectic, interesting people, that belong to the "cat show" community! It all added up to one of their best adventures yet, and I'm eager to find out what is next for my favorite adventurous trio!

You don't need to be a cat lover to love this series, with so many bookish references and different personalities amongst the cast, there really is something for everyone. However,  if you're a cat lover, then you're going to be absolutely smitten with this series. Once Hamlet puts his paw on your heart, you know you're going to be coming back for every adventure!!

Buy Literally Murder from Amazon.

Book Review: Words with Fiends by Ali Brandon

In the latest instalment of the Black Cat Bookshop Mysteries, Ali Brandon tantalizes readers with an action-packed mystery featuring karate, cat whispers and even the Mob!

Hamlet is feeling a little blue following his last entanglement with a murderer. In an attempt to feel more confident against further attacks, Darla, owner of Pettistone’s Fine Books, and Robert, a goth teen working at the store, have taken up karate at the local dojo. All is going well until they discover the dead body of their beloved Sensei. What first looks like suicide turns out to be murder, and finding a killer might be just what Hamlet needs to bring him out of his funk!

I’ve been singing the praises of this series since Double Booked for Death first hit the shelves. Since I love cats and mysteries, this has always been the perfect combination in a cozy mystery series for me. I’ve enjoyed each book in this series more and more, and always anxiously await the release of the next book. With her latest book I think Ali Brandon has hit it out of the park. There is more of Hamlet to adore in this one, more mystery to try and solve, and lots of interesting happenings in the bookstore and the dojo!

I enjoy watching characters progress as a series develops, and I like how Ali Brandon does this so well. It’s not just solve a mystery and done with it. She really brings the fictional characters to life with their own problems and events, just like any real-life person. Professor James might have a romance on the horizon, and Darla is battling her feelings for Reese. Not to mention the fact that Hamlet gets a visit from a “cat whisper” and makes a new friend in a fellow animal, and not of the feline persuasion!!! When you add in the mystery you’ve got one of the best cozy mystery series that is currently on the shelves!

If you haven’t visited Pettistone’s Fine Books yet, I highly recommend you take a visit. Pick up Double Booked For Death and get to set to enjoy three fabulous mysteries, with hopefully more to come!