‘Talk about inconvenient. Not only did I have a dilapidated mansion and no money to repair it, two uppity cats and some cranky guests waiting for breakfast, there was also a dead body in the stairwell.’Josie Waters is the enthusiastic new owner of the Oyster Cove Guesthouse – a ramshackle Victorian mansion high on a hill above the breezy seaside town of Oyster Cove, Maine. Josie has a history in … has a history in Oyster Cove, but she’s not going to let anyone – from her crazy friend Millie to her old flame Mike – stand in the way of making this venture a success.
But then Josie’s first guest – a stuffy food critic – is murdered before breakfast, and the town sheriff suspects Josie could be to blame. Thank goodness Nero and Marlowe – the guesthouse’s resident cats – are also on the case. Little does Josie know, this isn’t their first investigation… but can they find the clues to the real killer before another guest is targeted?
Following her cats’ noses, it isn’t long before Josie discovers that the critic ruffled more than a few feathers in his day. In fact, from the rule-obsessed local Building Inspector to the guesthouse’s pernickety maid, there’s not a person in Oyster Cove who doesn’t have a secret to hide… could one of the locals be a cold-blooded killer in disguise? And with her beloved guesthouse’s very future on the line, can Josie solve the case in time?
A joy to read, with a twist you’ll never guess! From the award-winning author of the USA TODAY bestselling Mystic Notch series. Purrfect for murder mystery fans, cat lovers and everyone in between.
Readers can’t get enough of A Twist in the Tail!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘This was soooooo good! …No doubt about it: this was one of THE best cozies out there. Such fun, full of (cat) humor. I can honestly say I was totally stunned at whodunit… I loved everything about this book, but I especially loved the cats. Nero and Marlowe have captured my heart!’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘This book is fantastic… The characters that the author has created are realistic, fun and relatable… This is a page turner that I could not put down. If you love a well written mystery with a small town and cats, this one is for you! I cannot wait for the next book to come out.’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘I loved the cats in this book. It was a fun new perspective in solving the mystery. With all the fun twists this mystery has, it was a very satisfying read. Mrs. Dobbs new series is sure to please fans of cozy mysteries, I would highly recommend this book!’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘If you like mysteries, detective work, and cats this book is for you!’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘This is another fun addition to the repertoire to Leighann Dobbs vast collection of stories’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘This was an absolute joy to read! It’s the perfect blend of mystery and fun with crime solving cats thrown into the mix… humour that will have you laughing your socks off! …I for one cannot wait for the next one! A Twist in the Tail is a must for animal lovers and cosy mystery fans!’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Just brilliant! Funny and wonderful, a fast paced, delightful read. I really enjoyed this book. Five well deserved stars. Highly recommended to everyone.’ Renita D’Silva
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Ms Dobbs wields a magic touch when it comes to storytelling. A Twist in the Tail is an enchanting read for cozy fans who enjoy feline fun.’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐‘As cozy mysteries go, this is a wonderful tail (!) …very cleverly done, can’t wait for the next book in this series.’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐‘This book is a lot of fun… I had a smile on my face the whole time.’ Goodreads reviewermore
A Twist in the Tail is a lighthearted, engaging tale. Josie Waters is recently divorced from her chef hubby and has returned to her hometown where she can keep an eye on her mother plus start over. She has purchased the Oyster Cove Guesthouse which needs massive amounts of renovations (a beautiful yet rundown Victorian). I like that the protagonist is in her 40s and starting a new chapter of her life. The chapters alternate between the human and the cat’s point-of-views. The cat chapters are entertaining and will have you chuckling. Marlowe and Nero are not certain about the new human in their lives. They are working on training her, but they have a long road ahead of them. Josie fails to understand them, and she actually believes she owns the felines (she has not been around cats before this as we can tell). Josie’s mother, Rose and Minnie Sullivan have a police scanner app on their cell phones and usually arrive at crime scenes before Sheriff Seth Chamberlain (who should have retired years ago). Mike Sullivan, Millie’s nephew, is doing the renovations on the guesthouse. He broke Josie’s heart back in high school and Josie would rather avoid Mike especially since the old attraction is still present between them. It does not help that Stella Dumont, her high school nemesis, seems intent on flirting with Mike and keeps popping up in her kitchen. Now Josie has a dead guest which can ruin her new business venture before it begins. It does not help that Sheriff Chamberlain considers Josie his prime suspect and Barbara Littlefield, the town building inspector, has issued another fine. Josie must investigate the murder to clear her name and save the guesthouse from ruin. Millie and Rose are determined to help along with Marlowe and Nero (want to guess which pair are the better sleuths). The mystery was straightforward with the murder occurring in first chapter. There are good clues to aid readers in solving the crime before the reveal. There are multiple suspects, misdirection and plenty of action. Avid cozy mystery readers will have no problem solving this whodunit. I would have liked less repetition of case details and speculation. There are recipes at the end of the book. There is a hint at what will happen in A Whisker in the Dark. A Twist in the Tail is a humorous cozy mystery with sleuthing cats, meddling seniors, a handsome handyman, a clueless sheriff, scintillating secrets, and one new guesthouse owner who is in over her head.
A Twist in the Tail is the first book in the Brand New Oyster Cove Guesthouse series by the well known Leighann Dobbs.
In this book we meet Josie Waters who has just moved back home to Oyster Cove , Maine and put all her money into the Oyster Cove Guesthouse. She purchased the guesthouse from a senior friend of the family, Millie Sullivan. Along with the guesthouse she inherited two cats, Nero and Marlowe.
Things go from bad to worst when one of her Inn’s guests is found murdered in an area of the Inn that his dilapidated.
This book is fantastic. Did I mention that Nero and Marlowe are talking cats that help solve the mystery along with their “gang” down by the water? The characters that the author has created are realistic, fun and relateable.
There are actually two mysteries seamlessly intertwined and though there were plenty of clues, I did not guess the ending.
This is a page turner that I could not put down. If you love a well written mystery with a small town and cats, this one is for you! I cannot wait for the next book to come out~
I love a good cozy mystery and A Twist in the Tail by Leighann Dobbs is just so much fun. I enjoyed it so much that I am already reading book 2 which is available (along with book 3) on Kindle Unlimited.
I laughed out loud so many times during this book and it was truly a joy to read. There is a light mystery with a surprising ending that I didn’t have figured out, plus you get to have a cat’s point of view! I loved Nero and Marlowe almost (or maybe more if we’re being really honest) as much as I loved Josie, her mom, and Millie. There are so many likable characters and really only a couple that I didn’t like. After all the thrillers and unlikable characters I’ve been reading lately, A Twist in the Tail was a nice little break that I had a lot of fun reading. It is also incredibly short at just over 200 pages so it only took a couple of hours to read which I didn’t mind one bit.
If you are looking for a light, escape read that will make you laugh I highly recommend checking this one out. A Twist in the Tail is book 1 in The Oyster Cove Guesthouse series and ends on a tiny bit of a cliffhanger. Nothing major, but it definitely had me itching to read the next book right away and continue the fun of this series.
Thank you to the publisher for my advance review copy via NetGalley. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
This is the first book in this cozy mystery series, and it kept my attention throughout. It has intrigue, different POVs, and a dash of humor, which makes for a fast-paced read.
The characters were introduced well; however, I would’ve liked a little more backstory and connection among them. I didn’t really get a sense of who they were as people. A few more descriptors could have helped with the visuals. Although we did get to know that Josie is humorous, clever, and also caring. The other characters that brought something to the book were Nero and Marlowe, the cats, and Josie’s mom, Rose. All of these characters helped Josie investigate the murder in the guesthouse, and they all made me laugh at some point. Nero was probably the most notable because he seems to be portrayed the most vividly, and really allows the reader inside the mind of a cat, with all of his superiority, defiance, and overall nonchalance.
The story moves quickly and doesn’t have a lot of stillness, which I appreciate. Giving Nero have his own POV and having his group of cat friends aid in the investigation of the murder, gives a unique perspective. The various paths the “investigators,” the cats, and the cops went down, take the reader on a winding road.
Overall, if you are looking for a book that is a quick read, with playfulness and drama, then A Twist in the Tail, will be a good choice for you.
What a fun read!!
Josie Walters buys a family friend’s Bed
and Breakfast in Oyster Cove, Maine. She
has divorced her husband and is starting
her life all over again.
The Oyster Cove Guesthouse is in need of
a lot of restorations which is being done as
Josie can afford to have the work done.
What Josie didn’t realize was that the property
came with two cats: Nero, a large black and
white tuxedo cat and a tortie named Marlowe.
These two cats are essential in finding clues
when a murder occurs in the Oyster Cove
Guesthouse. The cats provide clues to the
Sheriff and Josie to catch the culprit responsible
for the murder.
The two cats confer with the town cats consisting
of: Poe is the largest cat who is solid gray, Stubbs
has a short tail and is orange striped, Boots is a
black cat with white paws, Harry is a fluffy Maine
Coon while Juliette is a gray cat with a white
diamond on her forehead who lives in the rectory
of St Michael’s Church.
Along with the cats working on solving the murder,
Josie, Millie (the former owner) plus Josie’s mother
all get involved.
A well written plot with a creative cast of characters.
In a good adventure.
There is humor plus a hint of romance in the air.
Very poor editing.
so i may be a sucker for a spectacular feline-packed cozy but i actually do not like them all. some are laden with too many characters to keep track of, minutias that are heavy and burdensome to weed through… aaahhh… but there are some… like this with nero and marlowe and crew that are clever and superb. just a jaunty trip of mystery magic. and the writing from the cats points of view… magnificent…
I enjoy her writing.
An easy and fun book
As usual, I love her books!
What a nice new story line. Josie Waters moved back home and purchased the Oyster Cove Guesthouse, and is struggling to make ends meet when she discovers the body of a guest in a closed off portion of the building. When she bought the Guesthouse, two very cute cats came with it, and throughout the story they are bonding with Josie, as well as watching out for her and helping her figure out who murdered her guest! This is perfect for mystery lovers as well as cat lovers, as the felines in the town are very talented in solving crimes!! Very cute series, full of excitement, drama, and just plain ‘ole cat cuteness! Looking forward to the next in the series.
Didn’t like it which surprised me as I usually like her books. I didn’t finish it because I just couldn’t relate to the characters. They weren’t very likable.
A Twist in the Tail is the first book I have read by Leighann Dobbs and I really enjoyed it! I will be looking for more books written by Ms. Dobbs. This was an easy read with great characters. I particularly loved Nero’s and Marlowe’s group of cat friends. It’s a cozy mystery where a guest turns up dead but without the need for descriptive gore. The cats try to help Josie find the clues to solve the murder, but every time you think they have it solved, there is a twist in the plot. A fun story that kept me guessing until the end.
I really like this author but not this collection. The cats bug me. So, not my favorite
Josie Waters is now wishing she had taken more time in thinking about buying The Oyster Cove Guesthouse and adopting the two cats that live there. This place is a huge money pit! The cats think they own the place and there are regular guests that are royal pains. Not to mention Millie, she is always stopping by with unwanted advice. Just when Josie thinks things can’t get any worse…BOOM! one of her guests die!! Well, that’s a great how do you do! There is a surprise ending to this book and that is all I am going to say about that. I voluntarily reviewed a free ARC of this book. Get it! It is a hoot!!!!
A Twist in the Tail by Leighann Dobbs is the first in the new series, The Oyster Cove Guesthouse series. What a great intro to the series.
Josie has returned home to Oyster Cove, Maine and bought a run down guest house. She has plans to renovate it and has her first guests checked it. When one of those guests is found murdered in the closed off section of the house, everyone is looking at her. Not only does she now have a murder on her hands but is trying to figure out to deal with the two felines that came the house.
This cozy has it all, plenty of twists and turns, loveable, relatable characters. a great setting and also has some humor and romance. The favorite part of the book for me was reading the commentary from the cats, Nero and Marlowe. This is an entertaining and easy to read cozy. I can’t wait to return to Oyster Cove.
I was given an ARC by NetGalley for an honest review.
Cozy Coastal B&B Mystery
This is truly a different sort of cozy mystery. A group of cats helps to solve murders and communicate well with each other. Meanwhile, a group of people is also sleuthing crimes. The problem is the communication issue between the cats and the people. It makes for a cute sideline to the story. The basic murder/crime plot is very good. Just as the reader and the heroine decide on a culprit, a better one reveals itself. The final reveal was quite a surprise. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.
Very well written book I have read the Mystic Notch series by Leighann Dobbs and was just as pleased with this new series she has started all the characters are great but I really love the cats being owner by a cat myself I always love a mysteries that have cats as main characters can’t wait to see where this series takes us in the future
“A Twist in the Tail” by Leighann Dobbs is a great start to a new series and is everything you want in a cozy. I have been a fan of this author for years when I read her Mystic Notch books which also featured cats!
‘Talk about inconvenient. Not only did I have a dilapidated mansion and no money to repair it with, two cats I had no idea how to care for and a room full of cranky guests waiting for their breakfast, I also had a dead body on my hands.’
Josie Waters has to admit she may have acted a bit hastily when she agreed to purchase the Oyster Cove Guesthouse – a charmingly gabled Victorian mansion on the breathtaking Maine coast – from elderly family friend Millie Sullivan. But Josie was desperate to flee Ohio and in particular her ex-husband, a chef who loved his job so much he left her for it. And anyway, how hard can running a guesthouse be?
The truth is, Oyster Cove Guesthouse is a mouldering money pit with falling-in roof and a cohort of regular guests who are as mischievous as a litter of kittens. And Millie keeps dropping by to dispense unasked-for advice. And Josie might have made a mistake in promising to adopt Oyster Cove’s two resident cats Nero and Marlowe, and treat them in the manner to which they’ve become accustomed. Josie has never had a cat before… let alone two feisty felines who think they own the place.
Ok, it’s not going well. At least it can’t get any worse, Josie thinks. Until her first guest ends up dead.
The protagonist Josie is a likable main character, with quirky supporting characters Millie, her mother and Nero & Marlowe. I wasn’t sure if I liked the book at first but a few chapters in I got use to how it is written from different prospective, Josie’s, cats etc. Cats having conversations who wouldn’t love that.
There were twists and turns and a well-paced story. I enjoyed this book and recommend to my friends and any fan of Leighann Dobbs.
I requested and received an advanced reader copy from Netgalley and Bookouture. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
A Twist in the Tail is a sweet and sassy cozy mystery that will have you purring with delight. Crime solving kitty’s help solve the murder of a thoroughly repugnant individual. There are no shortage of suspects but it takes a feline mind to figure it out. Fun, fun, fun.