Tortie Shorties Book Reviews

Meows from Mudpie!

Today we're reviewing two pawsome new cat cozies. We hope you enjoy our choices!

Claws for Concern (Cat in the Stacks Mystery) by Miranda James

From the publisher: Charlie Harris is busy enjoying his new grandson when a mysterious man with a connection to Charlie's family starts visiting the library, bringing with him troubling questions about an unsolved murder...

Charlie may be a proud new grandfather, but he and Diesel still have work to do at Athena College and the small Mississippi town's public library. He's too busy to deal with true-crime writer Jack Pemberton, who wants Charlie as the subject of his latest book--and who won't take no for an answer.

A more appealing proposition for Charlie is spending time helping a kind, elderly man navigate the library's genealogical database. But he's shocked when he learns that the visitor's search is focused on a member of his own family: his late aunt's husband.

Charlie befriends the man and considers inviting him to stay in his home, but he's soon given reason to question that notion. Jack is certain that Charlie's new houseguest was involved in a shocking homicide that took place years ago in a small town near Athena. As this cold case heats up, Charlie and Diesel have to uncover a killer who may already be too close to home...

Tortie Shorties Review: It's hard to believe this series is 9 books old now and has even inspired a spinoff. It's every bit as fresh and enjoyable as the one that started it all, and the characters - both human and feline - have become treasured friends.

In this book Charlie and Diesel team up with a true crime writer to solve a horrific quadruple murder from two decades ago only to learn the main suspect is a cousin that just showed up in Charlie's life. There's no present day murder this time around, but it's not even missed because the facts surrounding the cold case are so riveting, yet the unsolved mystery is still recent enough that the killer can be brought to justice even though it ends up being a very sad "tail". The bond between Charlie and Diesel is as deep as ever, and Diesel even has a new best friend - Charlie's very first grandchild! If you aren't familiar with this series we highly recommend a binge read to meet this very special cast of characters!

The Valentine's Cat Burglar (Beatrice Young Cozy Cat Mysteries Book 13) by Alannah Rogers

From the publisher: Valentine's Day is set to be a very special day indeed for new couple Beatrice and Matthew, in their mid-sixties and back together after forty years apart. And it's going to be magical for their small town of Ashbrook, New Hampshire, too. A massive skating party is planned and the whole town is excited!

But, then a traveling medium predicts that the party will end in disaster. A scary editorial is printed in the local newspaper. And there's a rash break-in involving arson. The whole town is on edge and it seems that the town's heroic effort to rebuild is going to, perhaps literally, go up in smoke.

Beatrice has to put aside managing the Cozy Cat Cafe, dodging rumors of an upcoming run for mayor, and planning her wedding to put her amateur detective hat back on. Thankfully, her four crime-fighting cats are always there to back her up. And this time, the most underrated of Beatrice's feline troupe might just be the one to save the day.

Tortie Shorties Review: There's never a dull moment in Beatrice's little world, but this Valentine's Day all she wants is to enjoy life as a newly-engaged woman to her one and only love Matthew. They soon realize that's unlikely to happen when they attend a good old-fashioned seance (arranged by their prior mayor who got the town into a bit of financial trouble), and the medium announces that chaos will reign at the town's upcoming holiday skating party. Once again it falls on Beatrice and her four fabulous felines to save the day, and this time around they're in for the ride of their lives! Every visit to Ashbrook is a frolicking adventure and pure escapist fun!

Disclaimer: I received free copies of these books from the publishers or authors in exchange for a fair and honest review. As members of the Amazon Associates affiliate program, if you click on our links and buy something Mudpie gets a little money for her piggy bank!