When Charlie Harris decides to go back to school, he and his Maine Coon cat, Diesel, find themselves entangled in a deadly lovers quarrel on campus in the latest installment of the New York Times bestselling series. In addition to his library duties and his role as doting grandad, Charlie has enrolled in an early medieval history course offered by young, charismatic professor Carey Warriner. … professor Carey Warriner. Charlie feels a bit out of place- his fellow classmates are half his age- except for Dixie Bell Compton, another ‘mature’ student. When Charlie hears an angry exchange between her and their professor, his interest in piqued. He’s even more intrigued when she shows up at his office asking for a study partner. Charlie turns her down and is saddened to learn just a few days later that Dixie has been killed.
Charlie wonders if Professor Warriner had anything to do with Dixie’s death. Warriner is married to a fellow professor who happens to be a successful author. There are rumors on campus that their marriage was on the rocks. Was Dixie’s death the result of a lovers’ triangle gone bad? Charlie soon discovers that the professor’s wife may have some secrets of her own and his suspect list is only getting longer.
As he and Diesel step further into the tangled web of relationships, someone else is viciously killed. Whose jealousy finally erupted into murderous rage? Was it a crime of passion or is there another more sinister motive? Charlie races to unravel this mystery: and to draw out the culprit, he may just have to put his own life on the line…
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The Pawful Truth is the 11th book in the Cat in the Stacks cozy mystery series written by Miranda James. The series takes place in Athena Mississippi and focuses on Charlie Harris, a retired and part-time librarian who spends his free time babysitting his grandchildren, running a boarding house, and solving murders. He’s a likable guy, very smart, and opens his arms to many people. At the same time, he is careful not to get himself hurt or trust everyone he meets. All-in-all, I like him a lot as a protagonist, and his supporting cast (Deputy Kanesha Berry, her mother Azalea-Charlie’s housekeeper, several boarders, Charlie’s family and girlfriend, Diesel the Maine Coon cat, and Melba the bestie) are all fun to read about.
In this caper, Charlie’s auditing a history class. Another mature student asks him to be a study partner, but Charlie senses danger and declines. The next day, she’s dead. Then, the professor is murdered. Who had it out for them? The wife? The best friend? The new boarder? Another professor? The woman he had an affair with? A few others infiltrate this bird’s nest, a la Othello. Will Charlie figure out who was the jealous man or woman, and which person was truly playing Iago behind the scenes?
This was another great story, and I enjoyed the mystery a lot. It was full of suspects, almost a little much at times trying to figure out who was cheating with whom. I liked the tale but wish it had a longer ending to flush out the details on how and why the two victims were killed… but that might just me liking more detail. The subplots with Charlie’s cats and his relationship with Helen Louise and Melba were interesting and kept me entertained. These are the kind of books I will always read, as they are super-well-written and have great characters. I recommend them to light readers and those who like a little sass and pomp to their cozies.
I’m current now… and I’ll have to wait until early 2020 for the next issue. Oh no!
As always, just love her books. Will read all of them. Well written, love the characters and plot
Very good book! Charlie has decided to audit a history class and meets a young woman who also appears to be an older student. The woman is later found dead. Shortly thereafter, Charlie’s professor is found dead after being released from jail due to fighting with another man at his wife’s book-signing event. Lots of suspects abound and it seems like both murders could be connected. It was intriguing trying to figure everything out and the killer was a complete surprise to me. Loved reading Charlie and Diesel the cat’s latest adventure and it was fun to see Miss Angel and Miss Dikce again! Excited to read more of this great series!!
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Grandpa, Dad, Archive Librarian, Landlord, Student, and Diesel’s person, Charlie Harris has a very full life. Being a student is new as he is auditing an early medieval history course at the college taught by Professor Carey Warriner. Charlie is not the only “mature student” taking the class. Nowhere close to his age but older than the rest in the class Dixie Bell Compton is taking the class for credit and offers to be his study partner. Since he is just auditing the class he turns her down. Charlie is very impressed with Warriner’s lecture skills but after overhearing the professor’s after-class conversation with Dixie and the rumors he has heard about him and his wife, Irene, another professor, he is concerned about his other qualities. When Dixie is killed a few days later he truly wonders if Warriner is involved.
Charlie also takes in a new boarder, a man Stewart and Haskell met at the gym. He also has ties to the college. Dan Bellamy teaches history with a focus on Regency England. He is close to Irene Warriner who is also an author with books set in the time Bellamy specializes in.
All the rest of the cast we have come to love over the course of this series return including Dante, Stewart’s poodle, my favorite fictional feline, Diesel, and the new kitten in residence, Ramses. We are also introduced to a large number of people as the story proceeds in Charlie’s effort to investigate. I was thrilled to see Miss Dickce Ducote make more than a cameo appearance.
The first part of the book gives background for new readers and introduces some of the new characters all before the murder occurs. Since Charlie is now known for his investigations people seem to come out of the woodwork to offer their assistance. There are plenty of suspects and Charlie works hard to pare those down as quickly as possible. Diesel also offers his opinions with a variety of chirps and head bumps. Fans of the series realize his talents and in this installment, he gave a clear indication of who he had his sights on earlier than usual.
I do enjoy the way Ms. James constructs her stories. We get to drop in on the entire Harris family and catch up with them. His daughter-in-law was having a hard time in a previous book and we learn that she is still working through something many women deal with and that there is no quick fix. I appreciate the way all the family storylines continue to evolve and are allowed to run their course. She entangles the murder mystery in key and meaningful ways. The pace she sets is very comfortable at first but as we get deeper into the story and clues start to fall into place the pace picks up until we get to the big reveal. At that point, pages can’t flip fast enough and the reader’s heartrates increase.
This entire series is wonderful. Miranda James is an excellent author. Her characters are some of my cozy favorites. Seeing that cat on the cover always brings a huge smile to my face. You truly can’t go wrong with any book by this author.
Charlie Harris has decided to indulge his love of history by auditing a class at Athena College. On his first day, he is impressed with his professor, Dr. Carey Warriner, who is obviously popular not only because of his good looks but also because of his abilities as a lecturer. However, part of an exchange between Dr. Warriner and a fellow student as Charlie is leaving concerns Charlie. When that student dies under mysterious circumstances, the campus rumor mill heats up, and Charlie is left to wonder if he is taking a class from a murderer.
Before you ask, yes, Diesel (the “Cat” of Cat in the Stacks) is a very active part of this mystery, and is as charming as ever, although the new kitten in Charlie’s life does his best to steal the show. Honestly, the entire cast of regulars, human and animal, are at their best, and it is always a delight to spend time around these characters. The plot is a little weak, however, feeling more like a soap opera at times and filled with speculation at others. However, it does reach a logical conclusion. Honestly, time with these characters is never really wasted, and I enjoyed my time with them again here.
The Pawful Truth by Miranda James is the eleventh A Cat in the Stacks Mystery. There is background information in the first half of The Pawful Truth to aid those who are new to A Cat in the Stacks Mystery. Personally, I suggest you begin with Murder Past Due. I always enjoying picking up the latest installment in A Cat in the Stacks Mystery series. Charlie Harris has always been interested in medieval history, so he decides to audit Dr. Carey Warriner’s class. While Dr. Warriner is a captivating instructor, his behavior outside the classroom leaves a lot to be desired. The green monster seems to have taken a hold on Dr. Warriner with regard to his lovely wife, Irene. After two people end up murdered, the Ducote sisters (on the board of Athena College) visit Charlie. They want him to delve into the case to help Kanesha Berry wrap it swiftly. I thought The Pawful Truth was well-written and the pace moved along steadily. Athena, Georgia is a small Southern college town with charming shops and some quirky residents. I like the cast of characters which includes Charlie, Diesel, Melba, Azalea, Helen Louise, Stewart, Haskell, the Ducote Sisters, and, the newest member, Ramses. I like that Charlie is an older protagonist along with his love of books. He is a good man who loves his family, friends and fur babies. Charlie’s family is included so we can find out how his daughter-in-law is doing after her bout with postpartum depression. I can tell that the author has cats from the way she describes their behavior especially Ramses. When Ramses uses Charlie’s leg for a climbing tree, she perfectly described how it feels to have those sharp little claws digging into your leg. I just love Diesel’s little chirps. Those two cats are such charmers and their antics had me chuckling. The mystery had several viable suspects and there were good clues. It is a whodunit that can be solved before the solution is revealed, but that did not deter my enjoyment of this cozy mystery. I did feel there was to much speculation and repetition of case details. I did like seeing more of Miss Dickce Ducote. She has a mischievous side that likes to come out now and then. We also get to meet to two new ladies who are administrative assistants at the college, and they provide some helpful information. The Pawful Truth has rampant gossip, two suspicious deaths, a curious kitten, a distrustful spouse, a tolerant Maine Coon Cat, and an admittingly nosey librarian.
I received a digital ARC of this book from Penguin’s First to Read program. The following is my honest review:
3.5 stars rounded up (since this is the first I read in the series and do not know all of the back stories!)
Charlie Harris is a university librarian. He’s quite active and well known around town, especially for his Maine Coon Cat Diesel. Charlie often seems to find himself caught up in the various on-goings of the people in town. When Charlie decides to take a university class and a fellow student is murdered, Charlie once again finds himself in possession of valuable information that could give some insight into the case.
This is a cute cozy mystery. Charlie is quite a likable character and Diesel adds some humor into the mix. Charlie is older, has grandchildren, and rents his home out to boarders. The combination of these things gives a fresh, unique take to the cozy genre. Beyond that, the supporting cast of characters are all interesting and their shared history keeps the reader involved with elements beyond the mystery itself.
The murder plot was okay. I had an idea of who I thought the culprit would be BUT I wasn’t sure of the motive.
If I had one complaint, it would be that the author uses Charlie as a soundboard for questions. Charlie is always pondering possible suspects, motives, and why or why not each scenario works (or doesn’t work). As a reader, I would prefer to think these types of things through myself and not have them repeatedly pointed out to (for) me.
Overall a good book that I would recommend to others. At some point, I may go back and start at the beginning of this series and read them all!
Great book for the continuation of reuniting the characters in a fun and continued adventure with unknown finish
I get a kick out of Diesel the Maine Coon cat who is 35 pounds. I think it is funny that he warbles and chirps like a bird. One of my cats does the same thing. I also cheered him on when he saved Charlie from being attacked. It may seem implausible but it was entertaining.
Series: Cat in the Stacks Mystery – Book 11
Author: Miranda James (Dean James)
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Library/Pets
Publisher: Berkley
Page Count: 304
The latest in the Cat in a Stack cozy book series, “The Pawful Truth” from Berkley comes out next week. This is a favorite series with books coming out quickly, the next addition, Careless Whiskers, scheduled for January 2020. Miranda (Dean) James is a fantastic storyteller, with a penchant for creating strong likable characters with depth, and plots that are filled with twists and turns.
Charlie is doing his best not to get involved in the latest murder investigation, but it wasn’t in him to stay on the sidelines when he needed questions answered. Charlie is not your typical cozy book protagonist. Charlie isn’t a young amateur sleuth, he is a mature man with grown children, a couple of young grandchildren, has a wonderful girlfriend, and works at the college library. He is intelligent and inquisitive about murder. He is lovable and innately good at solving mysteries, especially homicide.
Charlie has a cast of characters that help him solve crimes, including his beloved Maine Coon Cat, Diesel, his girlfriend, Helen, his daughter, and son, as well as his housekeeper and cook, Azalea. The entire cast returns in this latest addition in this cozy book series. But are his family and friends help, or could they become a pawn in a killer’s game?
The victim(s) aren’t well liked or mourned. Some even say they got what was coming to them. Regardless of what kind of people they were, the killer is worse. When Charlie unmasks the perpetrator, he places himself in danger.
This is a beautiful story, with wonderful characters. It is fast-paced with just enough detail to keep readers turning the page. There are moments of brilliance within the pages of this cozy book series that endear it to readers everywhere. I am thrilled to recommend “The Pawful Truth” and this entire series.
3.5 Stars
This is the eleventh book in the Cat in the Stacks series. This is the first time reading this series and author.
I had nearly made it twenty percent into the book before I realized that the main character Charlie was indeed a male and not a woman like I assumed. Many cozy mysteries have main characters with names that could pass for either gender. This is one of those.
There was quite a bit of what I would call filler story in the beginning half of the book. Not too much seemed particularly relevant to the main thrust of the storyline. Because of this I began skimming in order to find the real meat of the story. The murder finally happened between forty and fifty percent through. And after that, the book flew. The read was effortless.
The story starts with Charlie taking a medieval history course. There he meets the instructor Carey Warriner and a student named Dixie Bell Compton. It is obvious the two know each other and Warriner is upset Compton is taking his class. Charlie tries to stay out of the stress he feels coming off of them both. Then he is introduced to Carey’s wife who is also a teacher and a third teacher, Dan, who is helping the wife with research for her Regency area book of which he is an expert. There is a lot of conflict between these people and the local police detective asks Charlie to keep his ear to the ground concerning them. This brings him and his trusty Maine coon cat, Diesel right in the middle of the action when the body of Dixie Bell Compton is found dead.
The mystery really kept you guessing and I had an idea whodunit thanks to the cat who didn’t seem to like that particular person. But I wasn’t for sure of the culprit till the end since there were so many threads to the mystery that had to connect perfectly.
Good book once the murder happened. But a little too much filler story in the beginning for me.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
Charlie Harris is a Librarian at Athena College.
Charlie lives with his two cats. Diesel is a fat
Mani Coon who goes everywhere with him plus
a young mischievous kitten named Ramses.
He has two boarders and is about to get a third.
One of the boarders has a poodle named Dante.
All the animals get along well and add flavor to the
story.
Charlie decides to audit a class in early medieval
history. The class is taught by young, talented lecturer,
Professor Carey Warriner. Charlie is the oldest person
in the class besides by a mature woman named
Dixie Bell Compton. Dixie and Professor Warriner
seem to have a prior history between them.
Then Dixie ends up dead!!! Who and why was she
murdered?
To complicate matters further into the story Professor
Carey Warriner ends up murdered!!
Charlie did not expect to become involved with one
murder let alone two. Will he be able to nap the murderer
safely with the help of Diesel, his astute feline??
The book provides an array of artfully created characters.
Each supporting character enhances the storyline. It was
fun getting to know each character involved with Charlie
and his cats.
The mystery was a complex, well plotted one. It provided
plenty of viable suspects and clues throughout the story.
This is book # 11 in the Cat in the Stacks Mysteries series.
It can be read as a stand alone. This was the first book I
read in the series and look forward to exploring the others.
I volunteered to read The Pawful Truth. Thanks to
Penguin’s First-to-Read Program for the opportunity.
My opinion is my own.