Whisker Jog, New Hampshire, celebrates all things Christmas, and few things are more beloved than the town’s annual holiday cookie competition. Lara Caphart, who runs the High Cliff Shelter for Cats with her Aunt Fran, is waiting for the green light for a brand-new category: pet-friendly cookies. But when the woman filling in as a last-minute judge dies after sampling someone’s Santa-themed treat, Lara’s recipe for healthy cat snacks will have to be put on the back burner.
The victim, Gladys Plouffe, was the town’s roundly despised former home economics teacher. The chief suspect is the mother of Lara’s best friend, who was hellbent on walking away with the bake-off’s cash prize. Cryptic clues from beyond the grave only deepen the mystery, pointing to a cat with striking blue eyes—a cat who bears an uncanny resemblance to Lara’s mysterious Ragdoll. As Lara begins a dangerous game of cat and mouse, not even her significant other may be able to stop a perfectly clawful killer from getting away with the purr-fect crime . . .
If you have a little quiet time over the upcoming holidays I recommend cozying up with a mug of cocoa and a copy of Claws for Celebration. It's easily my favorite entry so far in one of the very best cat mystery series on store shelves today.
It's Christmas in Whisker Jog and the tiny New Hampshire town is abuzz with excitement over the annual holiday cookie competition. Lara has proposed adding pet-friendly cookies to the contest but when she's rejected she decides to sell her homemade cat treats to raise money for the cat shelter. Lara's aunt Daisy does enter the competition, as does the mother of her best friend Sherry, but excitement turns to horror when despised home ec teacher Gladys Plouffe, one of the judges, dies from an allergic reaction to something in one of the cookies. At the same time Lara finds a letter in a library book written by someone who witnessed a murder that took place the week Lara was born, 28 years ago! I always love when mysteries have both a modern day murder and one from the past, and the way the two crimes are linked is a real puzzle and page turner.
Just as in previous books, the star of the show is Blue, a ghostly Ragdoll cat only Lara can see. Claws for Celebration finally gives us some answers about Blue's past, and Lara is forced to admit some truths to her loved ones about the mysterious feline. This series is a dream come true for cat-loving mystery readers, and I hope it enjoys a long and happy nine lives!
11 comments:
Mum has read the first two books and enjoyed them.
THis one also sounds good.
Purrs Georgia,Julie and JJ
Oh that sounds good and that cover is a good one too!
That sounds like a great book.
The Florida Furkids
Thanks, Melissa and Mudpie. I love this series!
I really enjoyed the first book in the series, and will look for this one (#3) and #2 at the library! Thanks for the review!
We think this sounds like a really good read. MOM can you get this and read it to us....
I honestly cannot wait to read this festively fun book! Some of my favorite holiday reads have been books that I learned about from you and your reviews. Thank you for sharing your reads and reviews with us!
That sounds like a good book.
Nice cover!
A GHOST cat? COOL!
You had me at Whisker Jog, New Hampshire..her books are great! Again, if anyone needs absolution for their crimes, no matter how minor, they can come to me..- Tom x
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