From the publisher: Since inheriting her mother’s sandwich shop, Nora Charles is more about hot grilled paninis than cold-blooded murder—until her sister Lacey is arrested. The victim, an esteemed art collector and Lacey’s bullying professor, was stabbed in the heart. Apparently, all over a lousy grade.
Off campus, things were just as dicey. The prof had an ex with secrets, a trophy wife set to inherit a fortune in masterworks, and a scorned student mistress. Going undercover, Nora realizes that investigating this crime is the biggest test of her sleuthing career. Because if she fails, even Nick’s animal instinct won’t be enough to rescue Lacey from a perfectly executed framing.
Last year Nick and Nora made their debut in Meow If It's Murder as a crime-solving team to be reckoned with, and they're back with their second adventure, Claws for Alarm.
When the story begins Nora is happily running her sandwich shop while still attempting to locate Nick's missing owner, PI Nick Atkins. A new lead promises to take her near her Aunt Prudence's house, but when she calls her aunt to make plans for a visit, she learns that her estranged sister Lacey is being accused of murdering one of her art professors. The hunt for Nick is forced to take a backseat to clearing Lacey's name, but Nick and Nora have no idea what they're up against. Nora goes undercover and meets a cast of shady characters, all whom had reason to want Professor Pitt dead.
Nick once again uses Scrabble tiles and pieces of paper to communicate clues to Nora, and ends up being a furry hero when Nora finds herself in extreme danger. A love triangle is in the works as the lead detective on the case ends up being a familiar face from Nora's college days. I adored the scenes between Aunt Prudence and her childhood friend Irene, who is staying with Prudence while her house is being fumigated (long story). Their squabbling was a hoot.
This complex mystery is filled with twists and turns and even included a brilliant tie to PI Nick's disappearance. By the end his fate is still in question, but the set up for book 3 is purr-fect.
Long live Nick and Nora!!!
Giveaway: Leave a comment by noon eastern on Friday, November 13th for your chance to win a copy of Claws for Alarm. (US entries only, please.)
Love stories on cats would love to win, plus love to read
ReplyDeleteSounds very interesting!! Thanks for recommending, Mudpie!
ReplyDeleteClaws for Alarm sounds like a great cozy, and the cover art is awesome. Thank you for the giveaway.
ReplyDeletemyrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
Oooh, Yay, two of my favorites kitties and cozy mysteries.
ReplyDeleteI've been waiting for the next installment in this series - Meow if it's Murder was terrific - and it sounds like it'll be terrific, too! Nick and Nora make a super pair.
ReplyDeletekpbarnett1941[at]aol.com
Toni LoTempio has constructed a great team of sleuths in Nora and Nick (the cat). I enjoy the ways of communication Nick has developed to get across his clues for Nora. I am sure this next in the series will hold the interest of the reader as much as the first. robeader53@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteI would love to read this book—thanks for the chance to win a copy!
ReplyDeleteskkorman AT bellsouth DOT net
We don't actually want to enter this giveaway because we're overflowing with hard copy books as is, but we had to comment and say this may be the cutest kitty cozy cover we've seen in a very long time!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Melissa! I'd love to win a copy! patucker54 (at aol dot com)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a lovely series! Always looking for a good read, thanks for the heads up.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteKit3247(at)aol(dot)com
Claws for Alarm sounds like a great cozy read. Love the cover art. Thank you for the giveaway.
ReplyDeletepeggyhyndman(at)att(dot)net
Looks good and I love the cover :)
ReplyDeleteI got a surprise package in the mail only to find that the publisher was kind enough to send me this book! Now I'm super excited to dig into it! :)
ReplyDeleteThis cozy would be extremely enjoyable. Thanks for this great feature and giveaway. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteNick and Nora and cats are a great combo. Love it. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteThis is a great series. I look forward to this latest installment.
ReplyDeletelibbydodd at comcast dot net
I love Nick and Nora! Thanks for the chance!
ReplyDeleteTracy Shafer
This is a fun series. Thanks for the review
ReplyDeletegibsonbk at hiwaay dot net
A new cast of Nick and Nora Charles. Grew upon the old Nick and Nora mysteries. Now a new Nick and Nora with cat. Need to put this on my TBR list. Please enter me in the giveaway. rose_red2@cinci.rr.com
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for another great cat book giveaway.
ReplyDeleteI read the first book from this series and LOVED it. Must get my paws on this one, too.
ReplyDeletePurrs,
Seville
I read the first book from this series and LOVED it. Must get my paws on this one, too.
ReplyDeletePurrs,
Seville
I would love to read this series, it sounds like a lot of fun.
ReplyDeletekaye dot killgore at comcast dot net
thank you for all your kind comments! We'll be writing Nick and Nora as long as Berkley keeps wanting to publish them!
ReplyDelete