Book Review: The Cat, the Collector and the Killer by Leann Sweeney

From the publisher: In the latest mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of The Cat, the Sneak and the Secret, a cat collector is suspected of murder.

Jillian Hart and police chief Tom Stewart are enjoying peaceful, newly wedded bliss in Mercy, South Carolina, until a woman is found wandering the streets one night. She's in her night clothes, disoriented, and carrying a kitten in a tote bag. A search of the woman’s house reveals many more cats, a maze of cardboard boxes—and a dead man.

Although the evidence suggests the frail woman is the killer, Jillian doesn’t believe she’s capable of such a crime. The dead man had many enemies in town, which means finding the real murderer may prove to be its own cat and mouse game...

Leann Sweeney's adoration of cats shines through in every line she writes of the Cats in Trouble mystery series. Through the years I've come to love these characters and now that Tom and Jillian have married a whole new world of story lines are waiting to be written.

In this eighth book in the series Jillian's newlywed bliss takes a back seat when her dear friend Shawn, owner of Mercy Animal Shelter, needs her help. Complaints have been coming in from cat lady Minnie Schultz's neighbors that she's letting her cats roam free, but because there's a restraining order against him by animal control officer Chester, he can't intervene. Jillian agrees to look into the situation, only to find Chester dead in Minnie's home alongside stacks of boxes and cats everywhere. Worse yet, poor Minnie is found roaming downtown in her nightclothes with a kitten in her tote bag, unable to answer any questions about what's going on.

Jillian always becomes emotionally involved with the people she meets in each book, and this time is no exception. She takes the kitten home, befriends Minnie, her family, and other innocent victims who become ensnared in a killer's trap. Speaking of the killer - while I had my suspicions about this character I was stunned nonetheless. And the part dirty kitty litter played in the capture had me cringing and howling with laughter!

If you're a cat lover who doesn't typically read cozies...you'll love this series.

If you're a mystery reader who's not a cat person (I'll try to forgive you)...you'll love this series.

Start from the beginning and read all eight. You'll see for yourself why the Cats in Trouble series is one of the most beloved on bookstore shelves today. I know it's at the top of my list!

The Cat, the Collector and the Killer will be released on August 2nd. Pre-order today!

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.