Feline deadly this Christmas . . . 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 … 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 . . .
Praise for Linda Reilly’s Mysteries
“I was kept guessing until the final chapter. . . . A perfect cozy mystery.”
—Susan Furlong, author of the Georgia Peach Mysteries, on Escape Claws
“I thoroughly enjoyed this puzzler of a mystery. Reilly cooks up a perfect recipe of murder and mayhem in this charming cozy.”
—Jenn McKinlay, New York Times bestselling author of the Hat Shop Mysteries, on
Fillet of Murder
“Smart, sassy, and a little bit scary. Everything a good cozy should be!” —Laura Childs, New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, on Fillet of Murder
more
It was so much fun to return to Whisker Jog once again for Lara’s latest mystery. This cozy was perfect for reading over the holidays. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series!
Just an all around nice series. Nothing graphic, a hint of romance, great for curling up with on a cold winter day.
In this next book of the series Whisker Jog has an upcoming cookie contest that it is quite the holiday tradition. Lara was hoping the company that sponsors the event would have a category for pet cookies but they denied her request. She looks on the bright side thought, not only does she make her own pet cookies she rents a booth at the competition to sell them. All is going well until one of the judges drops dead after sampling one of the competition cookies. It looks like she had an allergic reaction to something on the cookie. She was a much despised woman so the suspect list is quite long but What pushed the killer over the edge and why? The cookie that killed her happened to be the entry of Lara’s best friends mom and the police are looking at her as the killer. Meanwhile when Lara was researching recipes for pet cookies she came across a letter in a book she checked out from the library. The letter was a confession to being a witness to a murder, one committed thirty years ago. It is real or is it just a prank by someone. Lara knows she must figure out the truth. Follow along as she looks into both murders hoping to find the truth in both cases. Will she be able to or will she find herself to busy to do the work needed to find answers. This is such a great series filled with a plethora of unique cats waiting to be adopted, a mystery that begs to be solved, and a setting that brings a small town to life. I look forward to seeing what cats show up next and how Lara handles the next mystery.
Had a put your brain to work mystery puzzle to it.
I loved this book! Least a review on Amazon!!!
Another fun book from Linda Reilly! I love the small town charm and the characters and cats in this series. Being a cat lover, I always wish I could have all the cats in this series! In this latest book, Lara’s friend, Sherry’s, mother has entered a cookie competition. When one of the judges, a former home ec teacher, dies after eating one of Daisy’s cookies, Daisy becomes a suspect in the woman’s murder. Lara does her best to help find out the truth. Also, there is a mystery within the main mystery after Lara finds a letter in a library book that someone has written stating they witnessed a murder. We also get to see Lara’s mother in this book. I can’t wait to read more and see more of the relationships with each couple in this series as well as more of the fun cats, including Blue, Lara’s spirit cat!
Linda Reily creates great characters and edge of your seat mysteries that will keep you coming back for more. I totally love this series and hope it never ends.
Caws for Celebration, is my favorite so far, in the series. I enjoyed the twist of the cookie contest and I really enjoyed how the mystery began, who would have ever thought a library book would be the start of an awesome mystery.
If you love cozy mysteries this series is a must try.
Loved it. Any book about cats is my kind of book.
Claws For Celebration
Cat Lady Mysteries, Book #3
Linda Reilly
5 Stars
Synopsis:
Feline deadly this Christmas . . .
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 . . .
Praise for Linda Reilly’s Mysteries
“I was kept guessing until the final chapter. . . . A perfect cozy mystery.”
—Susan Furlong, author of the Georgia Peach Mysteries, on Escape Claws
“I thoroughly enjoyed this puzzler of a mystery. Reilly cooks up a perfect recipe of murder and mayhem in this charming cozy.”
—Jenn McKinlay, New York Times bestselling author of the Hat Shop Mysteries, on
Fillet of Murder
“Smart, sassy, and a little bit scary. Everything a good cozy should be!” —Laura Childs, New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, on Fillet of Murder (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well developed and well rounded. Lara is a hardworking smart woman who is not afraid of very much. She loves her Aunt Fran and I enjoy reading about the relationship between them. They make a great team and they are doing good things, and even though they do not always see eye to eye on everything, they never stop loving each other. All of the cats have distinct personalities and I love reading about all of their antics.
The writing style flows smoothly and it defined the characters very clearly through their actions and words. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and I was pulled right into the story because of this. I enjoyed the fact that there were a couple of mysteries to solve in this book, and both were well plotted and well paced.
I would highly recommend this book, and series, to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy. Each book just keeps getting better and I am already looking forward to the next one.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
This was a delightful cozy mystery that contained not one but two murder mysteries for the main character, Lara Caphart, to solve. The first was the ill-fated judge in an annual holiday cookie contest, with the mother of Lara’s best friend the leading suspect. The second was a mysterious murder from over 20 years ago, that may have a connection to Lara’s mysterious ghost cat, Blue. While I have not read any of the previous two novels in this series, it was easy to get into the characters and their relationship with each. I adored the various cats that were housed in Lara’s house, officially the High Cliff Shelter for Cats. The cats with their different personalities were the highlight of this story, especially in the case of Blue (the ghost cat) and I really like the idea of adopting cats through a housing environment instead of the normal sterile cage shelters. This is definitely a series that I want to continue to follow. Disclosure: I am voluntarily reviewing this book, with all opinions my own.
I was kept guessing until the final chapter… A perfect cozy mystery.
Claws For Celebration by Linda Reilly is book three in the Cat Lady Mystery series. This is one of my favorite series. Though it is book 3, it can be a read alone.
Reilly takes us back to the High Cliff Cat Shelter in Whisker Jog, New Hampshire where it’s the holiday season and a Christmas cookie challenge is going on. When one of the judges, Gladys Plouffe, drops dead from an allergic reaction there are plenty of suspects. After all, the retired home economics teacher did not have any fans. Then when Lara finds a mysterious letter in a library book about a murder over 30 years ago, she is again in search for the murderers.
The characters are very real and likeable. You get humor, romance, an angel/ghost cat, Christmas, plenty of mystery, and of course, cats. The plot twists and turns and you are kept guessing until the end. Reilly also focuses on cat shelters and will have you wanting to visit the shelter. This is an easy, enjoyable read that will have you wanting to sit by the Christmas tree.
I was given an ARC by Netgalley and Lyrical Underground for an honest review.
Welcome back to Whisker Jog, New Hampshire and the High Cliff Shelter for Cats! Third in the Cat Lady Mysteries, this continues to be one of my favorite “new” cat mystery series. The characters are likable and drawn with care, the cats are adorable, and the mystery is complex. It is fun to see how this little town celebrates Christmas, from decorations to the annual Cookie Challenge.
Lara Caphart and her Aunt Fran began the High Cliff Shelter for Cats, which gave their cat-loving hearts a new purpose. It is housed on the first floor of Aunt Fran’s Folk Victorian home, and they live on the second floor. People regularly brought abandoned cats to Fran; now she can give them good homes. Lara is also a watercolor artist and Fran will return to teaching next term.
Sherry Bowker is Lara’s best friend. She and her mother, Daisy, own Bowker’s Coffee Stop, where they serve Daisy’s baked goods. Daisy has been trying to make the best cookie for the annual Cookie Challenge. She placed second in the past and is determined to win the challenge and the $1,000 prize money. Daisy’s main competition is Loretta Gregson, the mother of Sherry’s boyfriend David. Loretta has begun to wear her makeup, hair, even hair coloring, to match Daisy’s.
Much to their horror, Gladys Plouffe is a judge in the Challenge this year. She was the Home Ec teacher until her recent retirement. Gladys didn’t like anyone who didn’t excel in sewing, including Sherry. Lara had contacted the sponsor to see if they would consider adding a division for cat (treat) cookies but was turned down. Lara got a library book about making healthy cat treats and would try baking and selling some in the high school with others selling cookies. Hidden inside the book, however, is a handwritten letter dated a week after Lara was born, and with the writer claiming to have seen someone murdered exactly one week before, on the day Lara was born.
The morning of the Cookie Challenge arrived. Daisy’s ornately-decorated cookies are the most beautiful on display. Just as the last bag of cat cookies sells, someone ran from the room where the judging was underway, yelling for someone to call 911. Gladys couldn’t breathe, had one of Daisy’s cookies in her hand, and CPR was not working. When the dust settled, it is determined that the cause of death was something Gladys was severely allergic to.
Lara, Sherry, Fran, and Daisy are my favorites, due to their long-term friendships, loyalty to the town, and courage and ability to work their dreams. Lara is the most 3-dimensional, then Fran; others are defined as suiting their roles.
This is a fabulous mystery, one that confounded me. Plot twists kept me on my toes. There were a couple stunning surprises waiting at the end! There is more than meets the eye in this mystery, especially when considering how the murder of 28 years ago ties in to a murder in the present. Just when I thought I had solved the mystery, there was another turn that changed my perception. I love how the author describes the cats and their antics, and I especially enjoyed Lara’s secret ‘helper’ and her struggles of how to reveal how she gets some of her answers. I highly recommend this cozy mystery, whether during the Christmas season or the heat of summer, when the thought of snow is a pure delight!
From a grateful heart: I received an e-Arc of this book from the publisher through NetGalley, and this is my honest review.
Claws for Celebration is the third book in Linda Reilly’s Cat Lady Mystery series. This is a light cozy with a well-plotted storyline and a great cast of well-developed characters, both human and feline. The story flows at a steady pace, with an intriguing mystery, and a hint of the paranormal. In this book, Ms. Reilly presents the reader with a current murder mystery and a possible thirty-year-old murder. There are lots of twists and turns and plenty of viable suspects to keep the reader engaged and guessing. I’m looking forward to reading the next installment in this series.
Lara Caphart is a talented watercolor artist who moved back to Whisker Jog, New Hampshire to help her aunt, Fran Clarkson, who recently had her second knee surgery. Blue, the stunning Ragdoll cat who only Lara can see, has a penchant for pointing out clues to mysteries both past and present. High Cliff Shelter for Cats, the unique animal shelter Lara and Fran operate in their home, has been successful in placing cats in forever homes. Lara enjoys spending time with her old friend, Sherry Bowker, who owns and operates Bowker’s Coffee Shop with her mom. The relationship between Lara and Gideon Halley, a lawyer, is progressing nicely, but she has a nagging feeling that something might be wrong. Fran and Police Chief Jerry Whitley are still spending time together, but she’s had to accept the fact that he’ll never love cats. Sherry and David Gregson, a salesperson for a regional tractor company, have been dating for about five months and he’s already proposing. Lara wanted to enter the contest with cookies made for cats, but the sponsor nixed the idea, and she decides to sell them at the event. Lara discovers a letter in a pet cookbook she borrowed from the library that says the writer observed and didn’t report a murder nearly thirty years ago, on the day she was born, and Kayla Ramirez, the shelter’s part-time assistant, helps her do some research and to try to figure out what happened. Sherry’s mom, Daisy, and David’s mom, Loretta, are among the thirty finalists in the Whisker Jog Annual Cookie Challenge sponsored by The Bakers Thryce Flour Company. Laura finds herself in the middle of another murder when Gladys Plouffe, one of the two judges, has a fatal reaction to one of the cookies, and the authorities think she died from an allergic reaction, some form of shellfish on one of Daisy’s cookies.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
This is a cute little cozy with a little bit of paranormal mixed in. Lara has decided to create some cat cookies (treats) to sell at an upcoming cookie contest. To this end, she goes to the library to che k out a book on cooking for animals. Inside a book is a letter that alludes to a murder that happened 30 years ago. Lara is intrigued. At the cookie contest, her best friend’s mother is competing and soon becomes a suspect in murder. A retired home ec teacher has been killed. The teacher was either greatly hated or much loved, depending on who you talked too. Lara doesn’t mean to get involved in the current murder, but is it linked somehow to the 30 year old letter?
I enjoyed this story and I love all the cats! I figured out one murderer, but the other one was a surprise. Fun, Fun series.
I received this book through a GoodReads Giveaway.