FIRST IN THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING CAT IN THE STACKS MYSTERY SERIES!Everyone in Athena, Mississippi, knows Charlie Harris, the good-natured librarian with a rescued Maine coon cat named Diesel that he walks on a leash. He’s returned to his hometown to immerse himself in books, but soon enough he’s entangled in a real-life thriller… A famous author of gory bestsellers and a former … gory bestsellers and a former classmate of Charlie’s, Godfrey Priest may be the pride of Athena, but Charlie remembers him as an arrogant, manipulative jerk—and he’s not the only one. Godfrey’s homecoming as a distinguished alumnus couldn’t possibly go worse: by lunch, he’s put a man in the hospital. By dinner, Godfrey’s dead.
Now it’s up to Charlie, with some help from Diesel, to paw through the town’s grudges and find the killer before an impatient deputy throws the book at the wrong person. But every last one of Charlie’s friends and co-workers had a score to settle with the nasty novelist. As if the murder wasn’t already purr-plexing enough…
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I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the first in the series, CAT IN THE STACKS. I had started it with a later book and then went to the beginning. I liked Charlie Harris, the main character and archivist at a college in a small town in Mississippi and his LARGE Maine coon cat, Diesel who goes everywhere with him–and on a leash too.
The mystery revolves around a best-selling author, an alumnus of the college and old “pal”–make that an old enemy of the main character–who comes to town. But he doesn’t stay long–at least alive, that is.
I don’t enjoy a mystery that I can solve easily and this one had a wonderful cast of likely suspects. Note to self–DO NOT live in such a way as to amass a sizeable number who would be glad to see me dead. So far I think–hope–I’ve lived far away from the murder victim’s penchant for leaving human wreckage in his wake. But such people do exist and most of them don’t get murdered. Still…I wouldn’t chance it myself–Start mending fences, people!
I chose this one because it takes place in the south and in a library setting. I was curious where the author would go with it given I read another series with a main character who is a cat (Lilian Jackson Braun’s “The Cat Who Books”) and another one with a library setting (Jenn MCKinlay’s “Library Lovers cozy series”)… fits right in.
I like the main character but I’m not overly fond of him where I feel the need to continue reading the next book in the series immediately. I would read more of them, but when it happens, it happens.
Good plotting, excellent characters and one terrific cat. I don’t often prefer books with animals, but here the cat is a wonderful companion, nothing in terms of being a “super sleuth”, so my credibility isn’t taxed. I like the protagonist and even the “supporting” characters who help make up the town. I would definitely be interested in reading more books in this series.
Charlie Harris, a widower who works
part-time at the University of Athena’s
archive section. He inherited his Aunt
Dottie’s home. Like his Aunt, he rents
rooms to the college students.
Charlie owns a Maine Coon cat named
Diesel who he walks on a leash and goes
with him almost everywhere.The town
loves the cat.
A former classmate arrives in town. The
classmate has become a famous author.
But he is not well like. Then he turns up
dead in his hotel room. Since the border
at Charlie’s is the dead man’s relative
both Charlie and Diesel look into who
could have murdered him. They discover
a lot of suspects that add to the mystery.
Lots of twists and turns kept my attention
to this drama.
Diesel was a supportive force throughout
the book.
I don’t read mysteries as often as most mystery fans, mostly because I find them to be boring and drawn out far longer than they need to be. You are stuck reading things that you had figured out long ago and were just waiting for the main character to catch up. This story had some points like that, but I wasn’t bothered by them. I wasn’t able to guess a major twist at the end of the story. In hindsight it makes sense and I am surprised I didn’t figure it out before. The characters were interesting. The pace was medium, maybe a little slow in places. I was interested enough to keep reading. I had to know how it all ended.
Wow. Can you love a book because of a cat? Perhaps it’s because one of my favourite cats from long ago was part Maine coon, or perhaps it’s because Miranda James is a terrific writer. The plot, the characters, the town, the cat – it draws you in and keeps you turning page after page. It’s a good thing there are a lot of books in this series! I plan to read them all
Absolutely love this new series and author I discovered recently. He is an excellent story teller in my book…no pun there Love Diesel the Maine coon, Charles’s companion he makes the story so much more interesting. I enjoy how Charles communicates with Diesel often, and includes him in just about everything he does daily, just captivating. It’s a cozy, wonderful and exciting read…so glad i stumbled upon this little treasure and i’m not even a cat person…
Good points:
Male point of view. Different than many others.
Cat that goes everywhere. And is liked by everyone.
Librarian main character.
The murdered person is someone who shouldn’t be allowed around people.
Bad points:
A murder(crime) not a mystery.
Some sexist talk and other (verbal, financial, physical, sexual) abuse issues. However, they are almost blended in to show how bad and dangerous those ways of life, including abuse by religion, can be.
The librarian, in particular, swallowed a thesaurus. It breaks up the writing flow to constantly have to look up words, when the more recognized word would do just as well, or often better. A thesaurus can be a writer’s friend, to find the more perfect word, especially when word recall starts to go. However, it is easy to overdo. Of course, if a contextual clue, or clues, are added, then the reader doesn’t have to stop reading to figure out what the missing word is.
As a cat lover, I’m fascinated with Deisel, a Maine coon that steals the show.
I like cat and librarian books!
If you like cats this is the series for you…….Diesel is amazing. Good stories that keep you guessing.
I love Charlie and Diesel – these are sweet little mysteries and I can’t wait for the next installment
Love this series. Diesel the cat is great.
Love the cat!
loved this book
Liked this mystery and recommend to others.
A few characters my favorite about a book, not teeming with scenery and just a ton of people requiring you to run back a chapter to find out who they are talking about, a real twist at the end, the nice guy in the beginning stays that way, I like that.
I really enjoyed this book. I liked all the characters (even the murderer) except for the deputy. I know a Main Coon Cat and that makes this book even more fun.
I found it easy to read, engaging and entertaining, believable characters, even the Maine coon cat. The plot offered up a few clues but it took awhile to decipher between the red herrings and the pertinent information.
I love Miranda James characters Diesel the cat and his owner Charlie this series of books. Together they solve every mystery that comes to their small town. There is a lot of suspense and whimsy together. Very good read
Cozy reading I get audiobooks and it is relaxing to rest to