How is one to start again after losing the one thing that speaks to your heart and fuels your passion?After a serious accident leaves Calliope Rose Collins unable to continue with the career that has owned her soul for most of her life, she returns to Foxtail Lake, Hollister House, and Great Aunt Gracie, only to find, childhood friend, Officer Cass Wylander, knee deep in a murder mystery … mystery involving a twelve year old girl who died in the exact same manner as Callie’s best friend Stacy had died twenty years prior. Callie is certain the two deaths must be linked, but Cass has a suspect in custody and the Chief of Police wants the case closed in order to get the mayor off his back, so in spite of the fact that Callie is certain that they have the wrong man, it looks like the case will be closed. Callie knows that she owes it to both victims to find the truth, so she decides to look into things on her own, giving her not only a way to fill her days, but a means of renewing her passion.
Join Cass and Callie, along with Alastair the cat, as they seek out the hidden truths that will allow them to see what no one else seems to be willing too.
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This is a little bit of a darker book. I enjoyed the story arch and the characters, but the overall theme is a little heavy.
The author did a good job of making the main character, Callie, realistic and believable; however, I think I might have preferred her to have a little humor in her personality. I wouldn’t say I disliked her, but her seriousness made it a harder to connect to her. That being said, I did enjoy that she is a determined and driven woman who is trying to find a new path after unexpected circumstances occurred. She’s also very caring, kind, and hardworking. The supporting cast is great, and they work well together, but I would like to see (and assume there will be) more character development in future books.
The storyline is edgy and on the thrilling side. There isn’t really anything light about this book, but that’s okay because it’s quite engaging. There were some small hints of romance between Callie and Cass, and I’m looking forward to that playing out in the future as well.
Overall, this book is a little different from some of the other cozies I’ve read recently. It’s on the ominous side and is set in reality vs. a paranormal world. I was curious to know how it ended, and I did feel invested in the story, but I wasn’t totally emotionally connected to the characters. If you’re looking for something believable and intriguing, I think this could be a book for you.
Once again, Kathi Daily has a winner! The first book in this new series is wonderful. The author has the ability to pull you in and make you feel the emotions of the characters. You sympathize with the struggles the main character is going through as she recovers from and accident that changed her life. You cheer her on as she begins to get interested in her old home, from renewing friendships, volunteering where needed and finally trying to help her old friend solve a murder that reminds her of another that happened when she was a child. The comfort of the attic and the antics of a certain cat are wonderful additions to the story.
The Curse of Hollister House
Cat in the Attic, Book #1
Kathi Daley
5 Stars
Synopsis:
How is one to start again after losing the one thing that speaks to your heart and fuels your passion?
After a serious accident leaves Calliope Rose Collins unable to continue with the career that has owned her soul for most of her life, she returns to Foxtail Lake, Hollister House, and Great Aunt Gracie, only to find, childhood friend, Officer Cass Wylander, knee deep in a murder mystery involving a twelve year old girl who died in the exact same manner as Callie’s best friend Stacy had died twenty years prior. Callie is certain the two deaths must be linked, but Cass has a suspect in custody and the Chief of Police wants the case closed in order to get the mayor off his back, so in spite of the fact that Callie is certain that they have the wrong man, it looks like the case will be closed. Callie knows that she owes it to both victims to find the truth, so she decides to look into things on her own, giving her not only a way to fill her days, but a means of renewing her passion.
Join Cass and Callie, along with Alastair the cat, as they seek out the hidden truths that will allow them to see what no one else seems to be willing too. (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. I enjoyed getting to meet Callie, Aunt Gracie, Paisley and Cass. You could feel the love between Callie and Aunt Gracie, and you could tell how much they cared for each other. And Paisley is such a sweet child, and you cannot help but feel sorry for her. Bur with Callie and Aunt Gracie’s love, I am sure she will be alright. And she gave as much to Callie as Callie gave to her. I hope she makes an appearance in future books.
As is usual with this author’s writing, the setting drew me in right from the very beginning of the book. Her descriptive writing added so much to the book and took me on a fantastic ride. The mystery was well plotted and there were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider. I was not completely sure of the culprit until it was revealed at the end, which is great with me.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery with a feel-good vibe. I am looking forward to reading the next one.
A strong start to a new series by beloved cozy mystery author Kathi Daley. This series again proves to have all the elements cozy mystery readers love with the addition of a hint of paranormal that is not over the top.
After being gone nearly fifteen years, Callie returns home when her dream life is shattered.
Reuniting with high school friends and the Great Aunt who raised her, Callie spends much time in an attic window pondering where her life will go from now. Fortunately her old friends are accepting and supportive and help get her involved back into community activities.
An animal shelter and a harvest festival are among the attractions and activities.
On the darker side is murder, both a cold case and a potential serial killer.
Can Callie help figure out who killed her own best friend from middle school and two other girls more recently? Will she lose her potential (and potentially forbidden) romance in the process?
Delightful New Series!
The Curse of Hollister House is the first book in Kathi Daley’s A Cat in the Attic Mystery series. The storyline flows smoothly, and Ms. Daley provides great background information about the characters in this awesome and delightful new series. The characters are well rounded and affable, and the mystery is well plotted. As with all her books, Ms. Daley has provided readers with a clean, fun read, with caring and compassionate characters, and an intriguing mystery to try to solve. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading well-crafted cozy mysteries.
Calliope “Callie” Rose Collins has returned home to Foxtail Lake, which is nestled in the Colorado Rockies, and is living with her great-aunt Gracie in Hollister House. Gracie raised Callie after she lost her parents when she was four years old. As a child, Callie spent hours in the attic, her safe haven, trying to adjust to losing her parents and dreaming of her future. It was in that attic that Gracie taught her how to play the piano. Callie, an extremely talented concert pianist, had her dreams shattered when she was T-boned by a drunk driver. Callie finds that the attic still offers her solace, and enjoys spending time up there with Gracie’s cat, Alastair, while she tries to recover both physically and mentally. When Callie learns that her childhood friend, Officer Cass Wylander, is trying to solve the murder of a twelve-year-old girl, she realizes there are glaring similarities to the unsolved murder of her best friend, Stacy, twenty years ago. A suspect is in custody, but Callie doubts he committed the murder. Believing the murders are linked, Callie approaches Cass with her concerns.
I loved this new first in the series by Ms. Daley. Callie comes home to her aunt to recover from and accident and decide what to do with her life. While home a young girl is found dead in the exact same manner as her friend was found many years ago. Naturally Callie is drawn in to the mystery and helps her old friend Officer Cass try to find the answers.
The characters are likable and real. The mystery was excellent and kept me guessing, I also enjoyed Alastair the cat giving a little nudge in the right direction. I will continue on with this series.
Another good read from Kathi Daley – debut of a new series. I was somewhat surprised as the story is darker than the cute cover indicates, but I guess it is still a cozy with the typical sense of community, animals and a bit of romance.
The protagonist has returned to the small town where she was raised by her grandmother after a horrible accident ends her career as a concert pianist. At a crossroads and with time on her hands, she finds herself involved with the decades-old murder of her best friend from childhood and its possible tie with two recent murders in town. I really liked the cold case concept and the book is very well-written. Will be looking for more in this series!
“The Curse of Hollister House” earns 5/5 Notes of Murder…Engaging Fun!
Wow, another excellent series! The mind of Kathi Daley is so creative, it blows mine! Calliope Rose Collins mother died in an auto accident, with her father, when Calliope was only four years old. Orphaned and deeply distraught, she is taken in by Aunt Gracie who shares with her the magical possibilities within the old attic and introducing her to music that becomes a life-long a passion. However, she suffers a crushing blow in another senseless accident, destroying her life as a concert pianist, and although physical therapy has been helpful, the severity of her injury has left her without the dexterity needed to return to her professional career. Adjusting to her disability, she retreats to the comfort of her childhood home and the arms of Aunt Gracie. But, a body of a young girl is found, and the details immediately sound eerily familiar. Like Stella Steinmetz. Calliope’s junior high best friend went missing, and sadly, her terribly damaged body was found in a shallow grave. The mystery has gone unsolved as a bear attack seemed to be the rushed conclusion. Now a new death, and accidentally finding an old newspaper report of another suspicious death, Callie feels “No way this is a coincidence.”
Kathi Daley’s writing style is always entertaining, descriptive, delving into more than the murder mystery with family, friendships, and a protagonist dealing with her own personal tragedies. She incorporates unique and fascinating crimes, cold cases are my favorite, and several suspects with motives to ponder. And in the end, the revelation was…intense! This first-in-the-series seems a bit longer allowing for more engaging, in-depth exploration of Calliope, her friendship with Stella, the other characters, their connections, and events happening during the fall season. My own memories were sparked learning Calliope and her friend had acted like young Nancy Drews solving several little mysteries like The Case of the Too-Salty Casserole. Calliope is reunited with a childhood friend, Cass Wylander, who is is now the investigating officer, providing her a close connection to law enforcement, staying in the loop, but not out of trouble. This is gonna be a favorite Top Ten series!
In this first book of this new series Calliope has returned home, she was in an accident that took away the use of one of her hands and it will never be the same. Even though she is doing therapy on the hand she knows that she will never be the concert pianist that she once was and her future doesn’t seem as bright. While taking some time to figure out what direction she wants to take she becomes involved in a mystery involving the death of a young girl. The crazy thing is the exact thing happened to her best friend when they were in middle school. Her friend walked home alone one afternoon and turned up dead not long after sporting some weird injuries, her case was never solved. Callie hopes that she can help figure out who the killer is and why they have returned. She feels guilty about a fight she had with her friend and thinks she has some responsibility in her death even though she herself was a child. Follow along as Callie takes a dip into the detective pool and feels her way around in a town that she left behind as soon as she could. Will she be able to find a killer or will the town be terrorized again? Will she figure out what direction she wants to take in her life? Will past friendships help her in solving this mystery and can they lead to new friendships? This was such a great start to a series it left me excited to see what comes next. I look forward to seeing what direction the author takes in the next book.
The Curse of Hollister House is book one in the Cat in the Attic series. A cat alone is enough to intrigue me. I love stories that include animals like this one does. And a new series to start, knowing it will expand and bring me great joy, is so exciting. I loved this story, and I highly recommend it. You’ll love it too!
fter suffering severe injuries in a car accident, Calliope Collins had to give up her promising career as a pianist. She returns home to the small town of Foxtail Lake and the Hollister House where her great aunt, Gracie, still lives. Shortly after arriving home, a 12 year old girl is found murdered and the case is eerily similar to one that happened 20 years earlier and another that occurred in a nearby town 10 years earlier. Calliope’s childhood friend, Cass Wylander, is the lead detective and they begin working together to solve the mystery. Calliope spends lots of time in the attic room with the cat, Alastair, and comes across some clues to the murder of her best friend 20 years ago. Calliope soon befriends a young neighbor girl who is interested in playing piano and wants Calliope to teach her. Can Calliope get beyond her fears and move on with her life?
I absolutely loved this book! The first in a new series, “The Curse of Hollister Hose” grabs your attention immediately and keeps you hooked throughout. Kath Daley’s books are always a winner in my opinion. This book is well-written with well-rounded characters whom you enjoy getting to know. I’m really looking forward to the next book. I highly recommend this book especially to those who love animals and cozy mysteries.
A brand new series written superbly by Kathi Daley. The main character named Callie Hollister has striven all of her live to reach the goal of a professional piano player. Finally heading towards that goal, Callie has it suddenly all taken from her by a drunk driver. She returns to Foxtail Lake, her childhood home of her Aunt Gracie’s to recuperate from this tragedy. Callie attempts to find comfort in the attic, her favorite place when she was a child, nestled in the window seat with Aunt Gracie’s cat Alistair. Having no idea what she was going to do with the her life now, Callie searches for answers.
I loved the well written story and the characters development was believable. Reuniting with former classmates and the towns people gave a small town feel. Written around Halloween season it added another dimension. I am looking forward to see where this series will lead.
I loved it! An awesome new series! I have a question for the author, Why did he kill those girls? That is my only complaint. Other that, it’s awesome! This is a must read series! I can’t wait for the next book!
The Curse of Hollister House is the first book in the fabulous new A Cat in the Attic cozy mystery series by Kathi Daley. This book is filled with elements of a cozy mystery including suspense, romance, humor, love, friends and family, and a sense of community.
The story takes place at Foxtail Lake in the Colorado Rockies. The main character is Calliope Rose Collins, a professional pianist living in New York who, after suffering a devastating car accident that leaves her unable to perform, moves back to her hometown which she left 14 years ago and hadn’t returned. While Callie enjoys reconnecting with her Aunt Gracie and friends and acquaintances from her past, the body of a missing 12 year old girl is found in an unmarked grave. This case strongly resembles the disappearance and murder of her best friend, Stella, when they were 12 years old. Callie works with Deputy Cass Wylander (an old friend), Alistair the cat, and other friends to discover the identity of the murderer
This book is filled with the sights of Halloween. The fall season and upcoming Harvest Festival with fun Halloween games and activities, lots of fantastic Halloween decorations, and an old haunted barn make for a festive and spooky atmosphere. As always, Mrs. Daley’s writing flows smoothly, and her setting and relatable characters make for an extremely enjoyable and quick read. I really look forward to reading the next book in this series.