‘I am in book love with this series!’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 starsDiscovering the 300-year-old skeleton of shipping tycoon Jedediah Biddeford in the ballroom wall is a big old hassle for Josie Waters, owner of the Oyster Cove Guesthouse. Especially when Biddeford’s descendants turn up, certain that a family legend about treasure buried nearby must be true.Josie is too busy dreaming up the perfect … too busy dreaming up the perfect cake for the Oyster Cove’s 250th anniversary celebration to worry about the Biddeford family – plus half the town – digging up her yard… until one of her guests is murdered in the guesthouse garden.
With worries that her guesthouse will get a reputation for being the kind of place you only leave in a body bag, Josie must put her detective skills to work to find the killer. Lucky for her, Nero and Marlowe and their gang of cat sleuths are also on the case.
From the old wharf, to the town common, to the guesthouse itself with its many nooks and crannies, the cats are sure to sniff out the killer… but can they help Josie stop the person behind the mysterious murder before they strike again?
A fantastic page-turner from a bestselling author, purrfeect for fans of Agatha Christie, Adele Abbott, cat lovers and everyone in between!
What readers are saying about A Whisker in the Dark…
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘I LOVE this new series!!!!!… Marlowe and Nero and their little street gang of pawsome detectives make this book truly loveable and such a joy to read… The story is an extremely well written mystery with humans and cats both on the search for the killer. The author crafts a mystery with twists and turns that leave the reader guessing until the end.’ Goodreads Reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘This is quickly becoming one of my favourite series!… Not only are the characters (human and feline) awesome, the mystery was complex and I didn’t figure out who-done-it until it was revealed.’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐‘The second in this series, I have found it to be just as delightful as the first… a mystery that keeps you guessing. A wonderful cozy mystery that is quite a tale (tail)!’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘This book was an absolute joy to read! I feel in love with Nero and Marlowe. The story is full of twists and turns and will keep you guessing.’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐‘A purrfect addition to your summer reading list.’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Ms. Dobbs writes an entertaining and amusing story – a fun summer read and a treat for fans of feline sleuths.’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘A fast-paced read that is even better than its predecessor… I love this series and am very excited to read more.’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘A cute mystery with great characters… The book will keep you entertained till the last page.’ Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐‘What could beat a murder mystery, with crime busting cats?! This book was great, both funny and intriguing. I enjoyed it very much.’ Goodreads reviewermore
A Whisker in the Dark is the second book in The Oyster Cove Guesthouse series. I recommend reading A Twist in the Tail before starting this latest tale. Josie Waters needed a new start after her divorce and purchased the guesthouse from Millie Sullivan even though she cannot cook (plus cannot keep the books and lacks marketing knowledge). Josie’s cooking skills have not improved despite having Millie’s recipes (she really needs to invest in a timer too). I enjoy Leighann Dobbs relaxed writing style and the fact that the story progresses at a zippy pace (which makes for an easy to read story). I enjoy the sections told from the cat’s perspective. They are intelligent and perceptive felines who are working to train Josie. The cat’s sniff out clues that they share with the humans. It is cute that there is a network of cat’s around town who help to solve the mysteries. The modern whodunit has multiple suspects (the whole Biddeford clan) and misdirection. Flora, Josie’s maid who prefers to watch television to cleaning, is at the top of the suspect list. Millie has known Flora for decades and knows she would not commit murder. But they need solid proof for Sheriff Seth Chamberlain. Solving the mystery is child’s play, but readers will enjoy following the characters as they work to expose the truth. We are left to wonder, though, about what really happened to Jedidiah Biddeford and is there a treasure. We will have to wait for A Purrfect Alibi to get answers. A Whisker in the Dark is a lighthearted caper with quirky characters, zany antics, and madcap humor. A Whisker in the Dark has old bones, hidden treasure, friendly felines, bickering Biddeford’s, burnt bread, and three nosey parkers.
“A Whisker in the Dark” the second installment in the “The Oyster Cove Guesthouse Mystery Series” by Leighann Dobbs is quickly becoming one of my favourite series!
Discovering the 300-year-old skeleton of shipping tycoon Jedediah Biddeford in the ballroom wall is a big old hassle for Josie Waters, owner of the Oyster Cove Guesthouse. Especially when Biddeford’s descendants turn up, certain that a family legend about treasure buried nearby must be true.
Josie is too busy dreaming up the perfect cake for the Oyster Cove’s 250th anniversary celebration to worry about the Biddeford family – plus half the town – digging up her yard… until one of her guests is murdered in the guesthouse garden.
With worries that her guesthouse will get a reputation for being the kind of place you only leave in a body bag, Josie must put her detective skills to work to find the killer. Lucky for her, Nero and Marlowe and their gang of cat sleuths are also on the case.
From the old wharf, to the town common, to the guesthouse itself with its many nooks and crannies, the cats are sure to sniff out the killer… but can they help Josie stop the person behind the mysterious murder before they strike again?
The protagonist Josie is a likable, fun main character, with quirky supporting characters her mother Rose, her BFF Millie (prior owner of guesthouse) the cats Nero and Marlowe. I enjoyed this installment and was drawn in from the get go. I love cats and ones that help solve the murder and you know their conversations who wouldn’t love that.
The mystery was well written with plenty of twists and turns and had a steady pace. I didn’t figure out whodunit until it was revealed at the end. Also by the end you could sense a few of the characters have a crush on Josie…
I enjoyed this book and recommend to my friends and any fan of Leighann Dobbs.
I requested and received an advanced reader copy from Bookouture and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
A Whisker in the Dark by Leighann Dobbs is another fun installment of the Oyster Cove Guesthouse series!
I love being immersed in the world of this series and being a cat lover, I adore Nero and Marlowe and their cat gang. A Whisker in the Dark is very funny and it’s a perfect read if you don’t want anything too serious but would still like a little mystery. Even though this is book 2 of a series, I think it would be just fine as a standalone. However, I highly recommend reading them in order, so you get the full picture of the guesthouse as well as Josie. The books tie together nicely as well and only leave a tiny bit of a cliffhanger, although there wasn’t much of one in this book but just enough to leave you wanting more.
There are also recipes in the back which is fun, and it was a nice quick read as well. I didn’t guess the ending, but it may be easier to guess for the readers who play detective as they go. I am so glad I found this lovely cozy series and I’m already reading book 3 because I can’t tear myself away. Highly recommend to all the cat lovers and cozy mystery fans!
This book has an unusual perspective, since it has two different POVs; the main character Josie and also the cat, Nero. It’s a unique take for a cozy mystery and it provides something a little different to ponder.
Josie is a likable main character and she’s persistent. Even though this is the second book in the series, it could be read as a standalone. I found that some of the other characters, such as Josie’s mom, were also amusing, and they seemed to grab my attention more than Josie herself. I also thought that Nero, the cat, and all the cats in this book, were entertaining and brought a different vantage point that allowed the reader more detailed insights. The cats are well-written in the sense of really capturing the essence of a cat’s personality.
The plot is engaging but, it moved a little slow in spots. There are some lulls in the progression of the storyline, but I did enjoy the added, humorous, potential love interest.
Overall, the book has good bones. The plot did keep my interest and the ending was satisfying. I think future books will definitely touch more on Josie’s relationships, and that will add a different dynamic among the characters. If you’re looking for an easy read with murder, old wives’ tales, and treasure, A Whisker in the Dark could be the book for you.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Cute book, but very poor editing.
great setting, clever cats, and twists and turns to keep you turning the pages!
Cozy Coastal B&B Mystery
Josie and her superior pussy cats solve the mystery of a skeleton found inside a 300-year-old plaster wall. This is a slightly 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. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.
A Whisker in the Dark by Leighann Dobbs is the second book in The Oyster Cove Guesthouse series.
I enjoyed the first in the series and was excited to read book two and I was not disappointed.
When the skeleton of the original owner of the inn, Jedediah Biddeford, turns up buried in the walls, talk of a hidden treasure starts and shovels are flying of the shelves at the local stores. Throw in the remaining Biddeford family that happen to be staying at the inn, and did I mention, they get along like the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s, the hunt is on. When a body is found floating in a pond, Josie knows she will have to move fast to solve the murder, after all, her livelihood depends on it. What Josie doesn’t know though is the residence cats, Nero and Marlowe along with their feline friends are already ahead of her.
There is plenty of plot twists that have you guessing until the end along with humor, a hint of romance and cats. Over all this is a fun, easy to read cozy mystery. You will want to visit Oyster Cove.
I was given an ARC by NetGalley and the publisher and have given an honest review.
What a great second book!
The cats are meowing again, in that eery way. Yes, another dead body… MUCH to Josie’s despair. It turns out to be old though, centuries old, so investigating this death will be impossible. It does set other things in motion: a treasure hunt. And then one of the guests is found dead… This is the last thing Josie needs…
I loved the first book in this series and I was glad Dobbs was able to maintain that high level. The kind of book that makes you wiggle with excitement. So much fun! I continued to love Nero’s POV. Oh, how superior he is! Lots of humor in this story. And WHAT a finale! I was on the edge of my seat! I loveloveloved it!
Nero (the most superior cat) has something to say: “I have been put in charge of the guesthouse, even though Josie thinks she’s bought it, but it’s MY responsibility. Mine and Marlowe’s, she’s my protégé. We have been trying for weeks to notify Josie of the dead body in the wall, but does she listen? That silly human. She keeps on thinking she owns us. As if a cat can be OWNED. But it seems the bones are old, really old, so this death doesn’t warrant a feline investigation. Our skills are much-needed though for the new case! Josie needs me – okay, US – to help her solve it. It’s quite a trick to point Josie toward clues; she’s such a slow learner. Sometimes we have to take drastic action just to make her understand. Humans just lack common sense, they are just not that advanced. And why can’t she see that Mike’s perfect for her? But she IS practical and that’s good.
And of course this book was good. I was in it! I am the best cat detective and this is the best cat cozy! So just listen to me, the superior cat detective, and buy this book!”
A Whisker in the Dark is Book 2 in the Oyster Cove Guesthouse Cozy Mystery Series.
I loved that the story line was about a 300 year old mystery intertwined with a current mystery. There is a treasure map, cheese sculpting, and lots of suspects. Lets not forget the beautiful coastal setting of Oyster Cove and not to mention a the town’s 250 year celebration festival.
I LOVE this new series!!!!! I am a huge cat lover and I love that the cats have dialogue with each other. Marlowe and Nero and their little street gang of pawsome detectives make this book truly loveable and such a joy to read. The author knows her cats and describes them perfectly in appearance and language.
The main character, Josie, is relatable, likeable, and fun. All of the secondary characters are anything but secondary because they each bring so much to the story and the mystery.
The story is an extremely well written mystery with humans and cats both on the search for the killer.
The author crafts a mystery with twists and turns that leave the reader guessing until the end.
I cannot wait for the next book in this series!