It’s promising to be a picture-purrfect Christmas at New England’s favorite cat cafe . . . but instead of jolly old St. Nick, residents are being visited by murder. The fourth in a mystery series from author Cate Conte, A Whisker of a Doubt is filled with felines and crime. The holiday season on Daybreak Island is a mixed bag for Maddie James. On the one hand, her Christmas spirit is in the … Christmas spirit is in the doghouse after a break-up. On the other, she’s busy enough that she doesn’t have to pretend to be merry. Business at her cat café is booming, and Maddie’s care-taking of a feral cat colony in one of the area’s wealthiest communities only helps her bottom line.
But tensions between the homeowners and animal activists are escalating to catastrophic levels. . .and before long a body is found dead in a snowbank. To prove that her accused friend is innocent of the crime, Maddie will have to prowl the island for clues to the real killer before everyone on the island goes completely hiss-terical–and more than nine lives are lost.
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Book four in this wonderful series! We are back on Daybreak Island where Maddie the owner of Cat Cafe is having to deal with plenty of strife during the holiday season! while dealing with her break up and keeping the cat colony going as well as her cafe she now has to deal with her friend being accused of a murder after a body is found. A fun read fast paced and interesting. Loved it Looking forward to seeing where life takes her next.
A Whisker of a Doubt is the fourth book in the Cat Cafe Mystery series. I’m not a cat person, but I find this to be a very enjoyable series. It has great characters that are all hitting their stride. Maddie James is a bit impetuous, but her heart in the right place. She is loyal to her friends and can bit a bit stubborn when she is defending them. Maddie is surrounded by a wonderful cast of characters that include her Grandfather, sister, business partner, and parents. The one thing they can’t seem to help Maddie with is her penchant for finding dead bodies or getting herself into trouble. This time around, Maddie stumbles upon a dead body close to Christmas and her close friend is accused and arrested for the murder.
The mystery was well done. It was interesting because the book started out with Maddie discovering the body and then goes back a couple of days prior to that to establish the circumstances that led up to the death of this person. There is plenty of intrigue and suspects to choose from. It seems like everyone in this neighborhood has a secret to keep and as they come to light the list of suspects grows. I enjoyed trying to unravel this mystery and figure out the identity of the killer. There was a nice twist thrown in as to the identity of the victim but that didn’t help me guess the right suspect.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, St. Martin’s, through Netgalley. The thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Good intentions can get you into trouble and how!
This is the first book by Cate Conte I’ve read, so I walked into the story fresh. The writing is good and I was transported to the cat cafe in the story. I liked the idea of the story – helping feral cats and controlling the population humanely. I even liked the idea of the cat cafe. Why not? It’s a cute story and worth the read.
I have to admit the protagonist, Maddie, did drive me crazy a few times. I guess it’s a thing with cozy mysteries, but the amateur sleuths always seem to get right into the investigation and circumvent laws to get there. Seems like that’s not safe, but this is fiction, so it’s still a good read. Maddie does tend to waffle concerning her boyfriend and that got a tad old. I get she wanted a clean break, but I’m the type who wants closure for my characters and I wanted to see her get it. Plus, there aren’t many mentions of cats in this book. I expected more, but there weren’t. Oh well.
It’s still an interesting mystery and I had no idea whodunit until the end. I liked how this story had a small town feel and am interested in reading more in this series.
If you’re looking for a cute holiday mystery, then this might be the one for you.
A fun and intriguing cat-lover mystery! It’s Christmas time in Daybreak Harbor and Maddie isn’t really feeling in the holiday spirit. She hasn’t heard from Lucas, the guy she had been dating, in weeks after he had left for a conference off the island and the neighborhood where she and some other volunteers are taking care of a feral cat colony is being less than welcoming. One night when going to feed the cats, Maddie stumbles across the dead body of Virgil Proust, one of the neighbors. Maddie’s friend and local animal control officer, Katrina, is arrested after evidence seems to point to her. Maddie knows Katrina didn’t murder Virgil and with the help of her grandfather sets out to find the real killer. Adding to the damper on the holidays is the return of Lucas, who is determined to talk to Maddie and explain everything despite Maddie not wanting to listen. This was a very intriguing book and I definitely did not figure out the killer. It seems like most of the people living in the neighborhood had some kind of secret. I love this series and the idea of a cat café where you can spend time with cats while having pastries and hot beverages. I was glad that Maddie finally decided to hear Lucas out and they seem to be on the mend. Looking forward to more adventures with Maddie, her cat JJ, and her grandfather helping to sleuth!
A good read.
Clever concept with a cat café to help find homes for homeless cats.
Interesting characters.
And a good mystery.
A Whisker of a Doubt by Cate Conte is book four in the A Cat Cafe Mystery. This is a great series especially for cat lovers. It can be read as a stand alone.
This easy to read Cozy is a great to read at Christmas time. Conte has given plenty of suspects and plot twists to have you guessing to the end, likeable characters, romance, humor and lovable cats. I couldn’t put it down.
I was given an ARC by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an honest review.
Maddie James and her friend Katrina have learned about a colony of feral cats near one of the richest neighborhoods on Daybreak Island, so they are working to take care of it. However, the neighbors are resistant to their efforts, going out of their way to be a pain. Just a couple of days before Christmas, Maddie finds the body of one of them, Virgil Proust, outside his house. Virgil and his wife were some of the loudest people fighting against the cats and Maddie’s efforts to feed them. When the police focus on Katrina as their prime suspect, Maddie knows it is up to her to find the truth. Can she do it?
I’ve been waiting impatiently for this book due to the cliffhanger the previous book left us with. I was thrilled to get back to Maddie and find out what happened there. Even if you haven’t read the books that came before this one, you’ll still be able to jump in here and follow along. I will say that Maddie’s attitude in this sub-plot bothered me a bit at times, although I always understood where she was coming from. The main mystery is good with a few nice surprises on our way to the solution. The suspects could have been stronger, and I struggled at times to remember all of their relationships, but I was still invested in the story. The regular characters are strong and charming, as are the cats at the cat café where Maddie works. The Christmas setting adds an extra level of cozy. Fans new and old will enjoy this festive entry in the series.
This series caught my attention from the first book as the subject is a cause close to my heart, feline rescue. Maddie has returned home to Daybreak Harbor and lives with her grandfather since her grandmother died. He is the former police chief and Maddie, it turns out, is pretty good at solving crimes. Together they maintain a cat shelter/cat cafe. Her business partner is also dating her sister. Cats are dear to their hearts and now Maddie is maintaining a feral colony in a very posh community. Not everybody is a cat lover and soon a dead man is found in his back yard, murdered and dumped in a snow bank. Was he done in over the feral colony or was it a neighbor trying to keep a secret? Maddie’s friend, as an animal control officer, had a run-in with the community and was banned from further contact. Maddie took her place but who would have imagined that it would lead to homicide and her friend behind bars for the crime. (I know who I wanted to put behind bars in that neighborhood)
Feral cats are seen by some as pests and disposable. Others see them as animals who deserve the best we can do for them. I am firmly in the camp that supports trap/neuter/release programs and giving the cats the chance to decide if they want to hand in their feral card to become a pampered companion. Given the chance, many do go from feral to a loving family companion.
As for the mystery, it’s well crafted and complex enough to keep me guessing. The characters of Maddie, her grandfather, Leo and Maddie’s cat, JJ are fun to hang out with. If I had a cat cafe nearby I would be there every day both as a customer and as a volunteer to care for the cats awaiting adoption.
My thanks to the publisher, St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
It’s the holiday season on Daybreak Island but Maddie isn’t feeling very merry since she hasn’t heard from Lucas. Fortunately, things are busy enough to keep her occupied. In addition to everything with the cafe, Maddie is also taking care of a feral cat colony. Unfortunately, the cats chose an area in one of the wealthiest communities and not all of the neighbors like them being there. But things go too far when a man is murdered and when a friend is arrested, Maddie and Grandpa are on the case. Can they find the killer before it’s too late?
I love this series and this book is no exception. It’s well-written with wonderful characters whom you’ll enjoy getting to know. It’ll keep you guessing and surprise you throughout the book. I was drawn in from the start and kept hooked until the end. I’m really looking forward to the next book. I highly recommend both book and series which I suggest you read in order.
A good mystery that also brings awareness to a real problem. Maddie operates a cat cafe and also volunteers with a cat rescue that works with helping feral cats. The newest colony is in the woods adjacent to a well-to-do neighborhood and opposing views about the cats cause problems, maybe even murder.
This story has an interesting group of characters and some funny moments too. You do not need to be a cat lover to enjoy this book but if you are you will love the story. Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
What a great story dealing with a subject close to my heart, feral cats. I loved this story and the way Katrina, Maddie and crew take care of these special animals. Unfortunately, they do meet some opposition. Some of these rich folks are certainly interesting. Who will come out the winners and what obstacles will be thrown in the way? This is a great story line with wonderful characters. I hope I get to hang out with them again soon. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.
JJ’s House of Purrs is the happening place in Daybreak Harbor on Daybreak Island, especially for Christmas! Open only a short time, even in the winter the cat shelter and café have begun popular for people on and off the island.
Maddie came back to the island for her grandma’s funeral after being away several years in California. She was followed home by the cat she lovingly named JJ when he decided she was going to be his person. Maddie lives with her grandfather now; her business partner and her sister later joined her. As a pet lover with a close friend in the pet rescue community, she and retired police chief Grandpa Leo converted part of his home into a cat café and shelter without cages for several cats.
Maddie’s friend Katrina is an animal control officer under the supervision of the police chief, so in many ways, she has been like family to Maddie, her parents, and Leo. Maddie helps Katrina care for feral cat communities until neighborhood people are ready to take on the responsibility. In the woods behind one of the most exclusive neighborhoods on the island is one such colony. Katrina was told by the police chief to not go to that colony any longer as she upset a few of the neighbors when threatening with animal cruelty charges. Can you believe there were people there who wanted to poison the cats?
Maddie, now the person in charge of the colony, is goes in to feed and set up water for the colony, getting to it through the yard of a family who allows access. She happened to see a dark blotch in the snow of the next back yard. Checking to make sure it isn’t an injured cat, she is horrified to find the body of the man who lives in that home, assaulted and now dead. He and his wife have been loudly against the cat colony, but that didn’t matter right now – getting the police there is priority.
Katrina is arrested on Christmas Eve and will have to be in jail for the weekend until the court reopens. She was seen in the vicinity of the Proust home that night and didn’t deny being there or explaining why. As family and friends scramble to get her an attorney and raise bail money, Maddie and Grandpa Leo begin to ask questions and look into the death of Mr. Proust, learning that the Prousts and several neighbors had ongoing feuds. None sounded serious enough to kill for, but who knows?
This mystery is very well plotted and executed, and the characters are engaging and almost come to life. The flow is a little choppy as there were several flashbacks to the couple weeks leading up to the murder. I love the ongoing focus on cat rescue, feral cat colonies, and the cat café. Plot twists continued to change my attention of who the best whodunit could be, and was I ever surprised! It is not somebody even as a last-ditch guess on my suspect lists! All loose ends are tied up, and the end is satisfactory. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves cats, New England Christmas holidays, and very likable, unique characters.
From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary copy of this novel, and this is my honest review.
Author Cate Conte dishes up an excellent cozy story for cat and mystery lover’s. Scooping up an enticing murder plot with a dwindling list of suspects due to Conte’s creative plotting; savvy protagonist Maddie James tunes in to her sleuthing vibes and goes after some vigilante cat hater’s who need to be behind bars.
I found this story steadily entertaining with lots of humor and action. I enjoyed re-visiting many of the secondary characters from previous books in the series—Ethan, Val, Grandpa Leo, Cass, Officer Craig, and my favorite, Leopard Man. The enigmatic JJ, Maggie’s rescue cat, always deserves a big shout-out for the love and personality he brings to the story. This is a solid, entertaining cozy series that I highly recommend!
I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. All opinions are my own. Thank you.
This was a new to me series and I felt like there was no problem picking up with book 4. I ended up deleting the book rom my reader at 68% though. I really disliked Maddie and when you don’t like the main character of a cozy, well, it’s not the series for you. I tried. Maddie, herself, mentions she is the oldest of three and it showed. I just found her too judgmental and her response to her boyfriend (?) Lucas unexplainable and immature (perhaps the other three books would have set it up better for me).
There are a lot of potentially interesting suspects and secondary characters but they didn’t get enough page time to interest me enough to finish the book.
I have another Cate Conte book, the first in a series, which I am going to read soon. Even long time favorite authors write other series which don’t appeal.
I got my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.