Single mom and gourmet cat food entrepreneur Colbie Summers thought she’d escaped her tiny California hometown forever. But when her father needs her, she packs up her adolescent son, their finicky feline, Trouble, and her budding business. She knows change is tough—but she doesn’t expect it to be murder . . . Between dealing with her newly rural life, her grumpy, sports-obsessed father, and … sports-obsessed father, and preparing to showcase her products in the local Sunnyside Power Mom’s trade show, Colbie has more on her plate than she bargained for. Luckily, she has her official taste-tester, Trouble, by her side to vet her
Meow-io Batali Gourmet Cat Food line. Things look promising—until one of the Power Moms is found dead—with an engraved Meow-io specialty knife buried in her chest.
As the prime suspect, Colbie needs paws on the ground to smoke out who had means, motive, and opportunity among the networking mothers—including a husband-stealing Sofia Vergara lookalike. And the cat’s still not out of the bag when a second violent death rocks the bucolic community. Trouble may have nine lives, but Colbie’s only got one to clear her name and stop a killer from pulling off the purr-fect crime . . .
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Really enjoyed this book. Colbie Summers is a single mom who makes human grade organic cat food. When one of the moms in her group is found murdered, she is the prime suspect. Now she sets out to clear her name. I enjoyed Hank, Colbie, Elliot, Lani, Joss, and of course, Trouble the cat. I look forward to seeing what’s next for Colbie as she grows her business and hopefully starts a romantic relationship with Joss. Perfect book for cat lovers!
I love Trouble and his family! Trouble is a beautiful female orange cat who, like most cats, gets into her fair share of, well, trouble! Colbie is a single mom; she and her son Elliott, along with Trouble, have temporarily moved into Sunnyvale, just outside San Diego. Her dad has been very ill with a second bout of pneumonia and her apartment building has been sold, so she goes to help him during summer school break.
Trouble has given her opportunity to find anew career path. Thanks to a wonky digestive system, Colbie experimented to make a new, organic cat food now branded as Meowi Batali. There is opportunity to sell it through a local organic store, so she is preparing a proposal and hopes for the best. It would take an immediate influx of cash for staffing, but bring rewards fairly fast.
Elliott is practicing for a lead part in a summer theater camp. He is apprehensive as he doesn’t know anyone there, but really wants to do his best.
As all of these challenges come forward, the biggest one is yet to drop. She is at a trade show with other local Moms who have home-based businesses when hearing from her son that Hank’s cough is worse. She runs out, and helps her dad. A phone call received, dropped, and return call not answered caused Colbie and her dad to return to the trade show to find the murdered body of Twila, the head of her women’s networking group. With one of Colbie’s branded kitchen knives. That, and an anonymous tip called in to the police, bring Colbie to be the front and center suspect. There are way too many irons in her fire right now…but someone has to prove her innocence.
Colbie and her family members are easy to be invested in. They are very realistic, and three-dimensional. Other characters, including Joss, Gypsy Sue, and best friend Lani show that she has friends on Colbie’s side, in spite of how the ladies in the Moms group see her. Even Trouble has elements of many cats I’ve had.
The story pulled me in from the beginning. The pace increases as the mystery progresses. While I had my favorite bad guy/ gal, the potential culprit changed from time to time. The last several chapters were amazing, and every challenge that I had seen throughout was resolved by the end. I highly recommend this funny, heartwarming, suspenseful mystery in this new series, and I am all in looking forward to the next one!
This was a cute story. Colbie makes and sells home-made pet food. She has joined a group of other entrepreneur Moms. One of the Mom’s turns up dead and it looks like someone is trying to frame Colbie. She sets out to find out who is the true murderer. They story moved along and kept my attention. They characters are easy to like and discovering the criminal and why is not easy. I would read another book by this author.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my review.
The Trouble with Murder by Kathy Krevat is the first book in A Gourmet Cat Mystery series. Colbie Summers, along with her son and cat, have moved back home to Sunnyside to assist her father, Hank. Her father has been ill with pneumonia and needs her assistance. Colbie owns Meowio Batali Gourmet Cat Food which was inspired by her cat, Trouble and his digestive issues. She makes organic, human grade food for cats. Colbie is at a trade show of the Sunnyside Power Moms (SPMs) when she gets a call from her son, Elliott regarding her dad. Colbie must rush home and Twila agrees to clean up her booth for her. Later that night, Colbie and her father return to the event space and find Twila Jenkins dead with one of Colbie’s knives in her chest. The police have Colbie at the top of the suspect list. Someone is trying to frame Colbie for murder. Lani, Colbie’s best friend, suggests that Colbie find the killer to clear her name. Colbie questions the Sunnyside Power Moms while dealing with her son who wishes to reach out to his biological father, writing a business proposal, her ill father, her cat who is aptly named Trouble, a bald guy stalking Elliott, a romantic prospect and a doorbell ringing chicken. What happens, though, when Colbie uncovers the culprit who has no intention of going to jail?
The Trouble with Murder is easy to read and has a nice pace. I wish, though, that the author had provided more background on Colbie. We are given some details, but her character is not well established. The author never provides the last name of Lani, Colbie’s best friend. Not many details are provided on the town either. The author needed to devote time to establishing the foundation (main character, town, secondary characters, etc.). There is, of course, a love interest for Colbie. The next-door neighbor is nearby and happens to be “hunky” (this seems to be a trend in cozy mysteries that I have read recently). The mystery is interesting and there are several suspects. Those who love to solve mysteries will have no trouble identifying the guilty party (along with the reason the crime was committed). I did not appreciate the aggressive Detective Little (I found him cliché). Most of the book deals with Colbie’s business (she has a good idea and has done her research), her son and his musical prowess, her father’s illness, Elliott’s desire to connect with his biological father, the doorbell ringing chicken who has to be returned to the handsome neighbor, Trouble (the cat) being troublesome yet helpful (if his owner would just pay attention), and Colbie talking to Lani. The only action is towards the end of the story. The investigation consists of Colbie talking (i.e. questioning) the SPMs and then repeating everything for her friend, Lani. I am giving The Trouble with Murder 3 out of 5 stars. I wish the book had been more compelling. The Trouble with Murder failed to capture and hold my attention.
A quick cozy murder mystery, this book was an enjoyable read for a Sunday afternoon. Colbie, also NFL with her son & cat, moved back to her hometown in order to take care of her ill father. While trying to promote & sell her gourmet cat food, Colbie stumbles across the murder of a fellow independent vendor. After finding herself a suspect in the murder, she realizes she needs to investigate to clear herself.
I enjoyed this book. The plot seemed to move at the proper pace & had sufficient twists, turns & surprises to keep a reader involved. The characters were complex & all added to the story, even the cat! This was a pleasant escape for a few hours.