In the charming town of Mayville Heights, librarian Kathleen Paulson and her two cats pounce on clues to catch a killer, in the eleventh installment of this New York Times bestselling series.Spring is coming to Mayville Heights, and Kathleen’s brother, Ethan, has arrived in town with his band, The Flaming Gerbils. But not everything goes as scheduled when one of Ethan’s bandmates gets into a … bandmates gets into a fight with a man interested in investing in the town. When the businessman’s body is later found, Ethan’s friend is implicated in the crime.
Kathleen wants to help her brother by solving the case, but she has no shortage of suspects from which to choose. Prior to his death, the investor was fighting like cats and dogs with lots of people. If this librarian wants more than a whisker’s chance of solving the case, she will need to rely on her trusty feline sidekicks, Owen and Hercules.
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Love these books. I feel like I can curl up in the books and watch friends solve a murder and deal with relationships. The mysteries are great and the personal stories of the wonderful characters are even better. It is delightful watching Kathleen and her brother interact. You can tell they love each other but they are hilarious teasing one another.
I still love the ensemble in Second Chance Cat but Magical Cats is gaining.
I dove into this series with this book being my first to read, so it was a tad confusing for me, I found it hard to keep up with the characters. I read in another review that I should have at least read Curiosity Thrilled the Cat first. With that being said, the magical cats Owen and Hercules are my favorite characters, the second being Kathleen who is the head librarian at Mayville Heights Free Public Library in Minneapolis. I believe that if I would go back and read the start of this series, I would enjoy it so much more than I have. Do not get me wrong this sounds like a wonderful series and I do look forward to starting at the beginning to read much more about the mystery-busting trio.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.
*I received a free copy of this copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
I so love the kitties!! Though I must say Kathleen is pretty awesome herself as she goes About working at the library and living her life. The book is fantastic at drawing you in with characters you can relate to both old and new. Kathleen brother is there for a visit which is going great until they stumble across a dead body of a very cranky business man who had some shady deals in n the past. This leads to a quirky investigation with the assistance of the magical kitties who really make this series with their personalities. Total must read for fans of cozies, kitties, and a touch of magic. I totally loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
We are back in Mayville Heights and librarian Kathleen Paulson is thrilled that her brother has come to visit. His band, The Flaming Gerbils, is playing some gigs nearby and have organized a song-writing workshop at the St. James Hotel. When they and Kathleen arrive at the hotel to check out the space they find a man the had encountered the night before deader than a doornail. Lewis Wallace has been in town trying to work out a deal for a new business venture and it isn’t long before his true colors are exposed opening up a large variety of suspects. Because of the band members recent history with the man Kathleen, with a little assist from her magical felines, Owen and Hercules, strive to get the right person booked for the crime.
I love this series! Owen and Hercules are such amazing kitties and so is Micah! Marcus just doesn’t know it yet They are absolutely priceless. Owen with his catnip chickens, Hercules snaking off to have breakfast across the backyard with Everett and Rebecca, and Micah’s little antics just crack me up.
In this installment, we meet Kathleen’s brother Ethan. I was thrilled that she had a little piece of home with her but it leads her to realize that Mayville Heights is home too. Right now at the library, she is helping set up a quilt show. The organizer is a real micro-manager but Kathleen understands and they make a great team. The show sounded quite impressive. Her boyfriend Marcus would like her to stay out of his case but Kathleen always seems to find the right answers just before he does. Of course, he doesn’t have a set of magical cats helping him investigate.
Ms. Kelly continues to create great characters while letting established characters to grow. They are three-dimensional and the dialogue rings true. This time she not only had to give us a despicable victim, you will see what I mean early in the story, she also brings us The Flaming Gerbils! I love that name! She has to give them all enough depth so that readers become invested and keep those pages flipping. She does this so well. I love the little snarks between brother and sister. It sounded a lot like my house when the kids are together.
Sofie Kelly also pens a twisted mystery with plenty of clues pulling both Kathleen and readers in different directions. I thought I had it all figured out only to keep reading to find I was completely wrong. It turned out to be quite a puzzler until the final clue slid into place.
Readers will get a kick out of this well-plotted mystery with terrific characters, a great dose of humor, just a little bit of romance and cats that will absolutely, positively steal your heart. A Night’s Tail has it all and was truly A Perfect Escape!
The question isn’t so much who wanted to kill Lewis Wallace, rather who didn’t or why did it take so long? The brusque former offensive NFL player offended people wherever he went and in so many ways. He was a womanizer, a business cheat and even such a mean drunk that he would kick a service dog belonging to a disabled veteran!
Kathleen and friends (plus her brother and a couple of magical cats) get involved to put this man in his place, which then puts one of them in the place of top suspect in his murder. With a multitude of suspects, motives and personalities to sort through, this book may confuse a bit if you have not read previous books in the series. Stick with it and all will come into focus. There is enough backstory and reference to catch you up. The cats help. Plus, Detective Marcus (Kathleen’s boyfriend) adopts another special kitten. Does this mean more magical surprises in the future?
In this book we also get to know more about Kathleen’s family and see her relationship with the detective weather some stormy times. The clues are well hidden within everything else that is going on. This series seems to have all the elements cozy reads look for in a favorite series.
A Night’s Tail by Sofie Kelly is the eleventh A Magical Cats Mystery and a joy to read. I like the author’s casual and engaging writing style. I was quickly drawn into this cute cozy mystery with librarian, Kathleen Paulson and her two magical cats, Hercules and Owen. The beginning with Mary is hysterical (I do not want to spoil it for you). Kathleen’s brother, Ethan is visiting town with his band, The Flaming Gerbils. The group recently lost one of its members to art school, so Derek Hanson has been playing with them. Derek ends up the top suspect in a businessman’s murder after having an altercation with him at a bar. Ethan asks Kathleen to prove Derek’s innocence. Kathleen soon finds the victim had a checkered past which leads to multiple suspects. There are good clues to help readers in solving the whodunit before Kathleen zeros in on her quarry. The cats help guide Kathleen along the way and provide some pivotal clues. There are charming cozy moments as Kathleen spends time with brother, enjoys outings with friends, plans a quilt show at the library, dates with her boyfriend, and interacts with her cats. Owen and Hercules are cute and clever felines. I like how Kathleen talks to them (uses them as a sounding board) and they respond with their little noises. Owen, of courses, manages to dismember a catnip chicken or two (he is addicted to catnip much to his brother’s disgust). Kathleen finds it is time to tell Marcus about his feline’s special ability, but she is not sure how he will react to the news. If you are new to A Magical Cats Mystery series, I recommend reading Curiosity Thrilled the Cat first. It will provide you with needed background information. I wish there had been less repetition of case details as Kathleen shares what she has uncovered with others and discusses the case with her cats. I had to laugh when Kathleen called Owen and Hercules “two mooching furballs” as they tried to acquire human food from Ethan (I had a cat like that). A Night’s Tail is a spellbinding tale with a catnip chicken catastrophe, quilt show quandaries, a cookie calamity, and a busy brother with a bothersome bandmate.
Thanks to Penguin’s First to Read Program for an ARC of this book. The following is my honest review:
I have to wonder if I would have enjoyed this book more if I would have started at the beginning of the series. At a minimum, it probably couldn’t have hurt to be more familiar with the characters and their history. With that said, this book could still be read as a stand alone.
This is a quick, easy read. Kathleen is a librarian with 2 magical cats, Owen and Hercules. What makes them magical? One has the ability to walk through doors and the other can make himself invisible at will. The two kitties are comical and mischievous and I would love to learn more about the Hill where these two feral cuties were discovered and why Kathleen thinks that the place where she found them is the reason behind their magical abilities.
The murder mystery was an interesting plot. Kelly leads the reader in several directions as far as potential suspects. Once a certain bit of info is revealed, it’s fairly easy to ascertain who did it and why.
My main complaint is that I felt like the first third of the book is little more than a laundry list of characters. The reader is introduced to quite a few people. Unfortunately, there was usually only a sentence or two about them so it was hard to commit them all to memory. Perhaps most of these individuals were introduced in prior books and therefore there was no need to elaborate? I’m not sure. Unfortunately, while all the introductions are being made, it takes a long time to get to the heart of the story: the murder.
My only other wish was that the powers of the cats be more integral to the story and the murder mystery. The cats played a small part but for the most part they were little more than sounding boards for Kathleen to bounce ideas off of.
Not a bad book. I would recommend it for a quick read if you’re looking for a cozy and don’t have a lot of time!
Love this series and the magical abilities of Kathleen’s two felines, Owen and Hercules. It was fun to meet Kathleen’s brother in this book and we saw a bit more of Marcus’s cat, Micah’s abilities. When a businessman who has been proposing a business in town is found murdered, Kathleen’s brother’s friend is the prime suspect since he had recently had two alterations with the man. Ethan, Kathleen’s brother, asks her to get involved, but she doesn’t want to. An intriguing story with lots of suspects. Kathleen also realizes that she is going to have to talk to Marcus about the magical abilities of the cats. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more adventures with Kathleen and her furry friends as well as more of Kathleen and Marcus’s relationship!!
Spring is on its way to Mayville Heights and Kathleen’s baby brother is in town for a visit along with members from his band, The Flaming Gerbils. While they were out one night there’s a confrontation in the bar when a man kicks a veteran’s service dog. When the man is later found dead at the hotel where he’s staying, Kathleen is pulled into the investigation along with her magical cats, Hercules and Owen. In addition, Kathleen knows it’s time to tell Marcus the secret she’s been keeping.
I absolutely LOVE this series and this book is not exception. I especially love Hercules and Owen with special abilities and ways to ferret clues. This book is well-written with well-rounded characters you’ll enjoy getting to know. I highly recommend this book and the series which I recommend reading in order.
This latest version of the Magical Cats series is great fun. There’s a good mystery as always and Owen and Hercules are up to form. I only wish my cat was so insightful!
A Night’s Tail by Sofie Kelly is a terrific story about family, friends, lies, and judgment all with a side of murder.
Why would anyone want to kill Lewis Wallace?
Kathleen and Marcus
Kathleen is our sleuth, head librarian, and she lives with Hercules and Owen two magical cats. Kathleen is involved in many things in Mayville Heights, especially if they include the library. She is one of those people who see a puzzle and has to know how to solve it.
Marcus is a police detective in town, and he has a magical female cat. Marcus is a nice guy; he always seems to help out with a local cause. In this installment, Marcus is coaching the girls’ hockey team.
Kathleen and Marcus make an adorable couple. It’s nice that they take the needed time to make a relationship work when they are both so very busy. They are a well rounded, happy, and healthy couple.
Friends and Family
Kathleen’s younger brother, Ethan and his bandmates, Derek and Milo. Derek is a temporary member of the Flaming Gerbils. But he fits in and the band has been doing better now. Their music and songwriting skills have improved.
Kathleen’s friends, Maggie, Roma, Rebecca, and Ruby are still there for her. In fact, without them who would tag along when she wanted to do some sleuthing.
Mystery
Lewis Wallace is found dead in the conference room reserved by Ethan and his bandmate Derek. The mystery was laid out well with plenty of red herrings to go around. But who did it? The answer to that question you will have to read this fantastic book.
5 Stars for A Night’s Tail by Sofie Kelly
This book is my first in the Magical Cats Mystery Series, and I enjoyed everything. My mom has read most of the series. I loved Hercules with his wet feet issue and Owen with his chicken addiction. A Night’s Tail by Sofie Kelly gets five stars, and this is a must-read for those who like cozies with cats.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of A Night’s Tail by Sofie Kelly.
Anyways, until next time,
Karen the Baroness
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I love this series!!!
Mayville Heights Free Public Library is
located in Minnesota. The head librarian
is Kathleen Paulson.
Kathleen lives with her two special once
feral cats who followed her home. She kept
both cats, Hercules & Owen.
Hercules has a knack finding websites on
her lap plus he can walk through wall.
Owen has the knack of becoming invisible
when he wants plus he loves taking things
away by mouth.
Kathleen’s brother and his band are visiting.
One prospective band member gets into a
fisticuff in a bar. The man who he fights with
is in town because he wants to invest in the
town. This man kicks a service dog of a veteran.
Later the man is found dead. Who is this man?
What is his background? Why did he pick this
town?
Kathleen along with her boyfriend, Marcus and
the cats are on the case to find the killer.
There is a quilt festival at the library which provides
a colorful experience for the town and reader.
A fast paced story from beginning to end with
a cast of multifaceted, vivid, complex characters.
The cats make the story more interesting.
This is book # 11 in the Magical Cats Mysteries
series. It can be read as a stand alone.
A well written story for everyone to enjoy.
I volunteered to read A Night’s Tail. Thanks
to Penguin’s First-to-Read Program for the
opportunity. My opinion is my own.