OLD MONEY AND FRESH MURDER– Trouble, a savvy black cat with a penchant for sleuthing, has landed in the cream of Savannah society. So has a murderer and art thief. Julia Hampton comes from old family, old money, and old society, but her job as an art insurance investigator puts her at odds with her background–and with the killer. Julia is determined to stop him. U. S. Deputy Marshal Mitch Lawson … Lawson knows more than he’s willing to let on. One thing is clear: Julia is in danger–because of secrets he won’t share.
But have no fear, Trouble the black cat detective is on the job and while Julia and Mitch are distracted by their attraction to each other, he is about to get his man.
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When Trouble the black cat detectives gets involved in an art heist–or what appears to be a heist–he finds himself caught in a dark mystery but also a romantic triangle. Because he’s smarter than the “bipeds” involved in both sleuthing and romance, he’s able to help the humans find the answers to both puzzles. Barrett hands you a fun, delicious adventure with one sassy, superior, and smart black cat as your guide. This book is #2 in the #madcatter collection of black cat mysteries.
Trouble is a clever black cat who is great at solving crimes. This time the setting is high society Savannah, Georgia. Trouble becomes involved in murder and missing works of art and the Russian mafia. The story was fast paced and has the perfect balance of mystery, romance, plus twist and turns that will keep you in suspense and guessing until the end.
I really enjoyed Trouble in Dixie. I love Trouble! Such a wonderful cat detective. Julia and Mitch are great characters. This book has it all, mystery, humor, romance and adventure. The mystery is interesting and has many twists and turns that will keep you guessing. I love this series and look forward to Trouble’s next adventure!
I love this detective cat! In this one Tammy Lynn is off canvasing libraries and Trouble is in Savannah, Georgia with a Private Investigator friend Julia.
We jump right into suspense with Julia’s office being broken into. Her parents having a fit and being coerced into attending a formal affair to appease her father.
Followed by not being able to reach her contact at the Insurance Agency she is contracted to, but meeting an intriguing fellow, Doug Heinz, who has been pranked by two of his co-workers. Then meeting a US Marshall Mitch Lawson.
Fast-paced, lots of fun and danger. Twists and turns abound in this tale.
Julia’s family is a hoot and Mitch is delightful. Trouble is in fact always in the middle of things and I adore this cat.
I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.
Trouble is on the case in Dixie
Trouble in Dixie by Rebecca Barrett is such a superb mystery. Trouble is staying with one of Tammy Lynn’s friend in Savannah while she is going to some estate sales. And boy, does the name Trouble fit this cat perfectly as trouble seems to find him.
Julia Hampton
Our female lead is Julia Hampton. She is cat sitting for her friend Tammy Lynn. Julia has an investigation firm and works with insurance companies. She mostly deals with Russian art. Julia is from a southern banking family, their only child and she has all that privilege buys. However, she doesn’t really like being Julia Hampton; she wants to be her own person.
Things that I like about Julia: she is intelligent, has excellent intuition, excellent manners, lovely grace and she doesn’t throw her name or money around. She tries to be the best person that she can be. I also like the way she deals with her family even when they are overreacting.
The thing I didn’t like about Julia lack of confidence and underlying fear. I do understand the reason for them both, so I just dismissed these things. You will need to read the book to understand why.
Mitch Lawson
Our male lead is Mitch Lawson, U.S. Marshal. Mitch is in Savannah working with a witness in protective custody. The witness is or likes to think that he is a ladies man. Mitch seems to have his hands full just watching over the witness. Then add in a missing insurance investigator and some art and jewelry thefts, and his whole team is beyond busy.
What I liked about Mitch: his thoughtfulness, his deductive reasoning skills, and his emotional strength. But I loved the way she treats Trouble, with respect and friendship even though Mitch is a “dog person.” The only thing I didn’t like was that I thought he was a bit overprotective, but compared to Julia’s father that shouldn’t be an issue.
Mystery
The mystery is top-notched. It had me going back and forth over who did what, right up until the end. There were lots of red herrings.
Russian art in Savannah, Georgia, who would have thought. And the culprit was hiding in plain sight.
5 Stars for Trouble in Dixie by Rebecca Barrett
My rating for Trouble in Dixie by Rebecca Barrett is five stars. The mystery, characters, and Trouble were all spectacular. If you haven’t read this series, you should give it a shot. Seriously, mysteries, a touch of love, and a fabulous black cat detective. I highly recommend it.
I can’t wait to read the next installment Trouble in Tallahassee by Claire Matturro.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Trouble in Dixie by Rebecca Barrett.
Anyways, until next time, enjoy this review brought to you by,
Karen the Baroness
Happy Reading!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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Rebecca Barrett’s Trouble in Dixie is a sheer delight, featuring Trouble, the black cat detective. Trouble first appears in Carolyn Haines’ Familiar Trouble, reappears in Barrett’s Trouble in Dixie, and will continue through out a series of regularly published Trouble books. Which is my segue to mention I’ve written one of the books in the series, and so in the interest of fair disclosure I wanted to be up front about that. But, here’s the thing: If I didn’t think these books were a lot of fun, well-written, and worth reading, I wouldn’t be part of the party. So on with my review:
Though the idea of a black cat who is an actual crime-solving detective takes a leap of faith, Barrett writes Trouble with such warmth and realism, he comes forth as a thoroughly complex and personable hero. Trouble flattens his ear when called “Kitty,” indulges in gourmet tastes, while rejecting store-bought cat food, emotes with a variety of vocal sounds, sniffs out clues, instinctively knows the good guys from the bad, and repeatedly protects Julia, the main female character. In fact, one could say Trouble does a better job of protecting Julia than Mitch, the U. S. Marshall on the case.
The heroine, Julia, comes from a wealthy family, has a giant walk-in closet full of expensive shoes, designer clothes, and gowns. And she looks like Grace Kelly. In short, she’s the woman most of us could easily hate while we’re also busy wishing we were like her. But Barrett infuses Julia’s character with enough sincere compassion, wit, intelligence, honesty, and foibles that Julia is as intriguing and lovable as Trouble, the cat. Also, there is a family tragedy as a back story that tempers any envy readers might have for her wealth. In short, Julia is no princess. She works, and works hard, and strives constantly for her own independent.
Barrett’s secondary characters, especially Aunt Ethel and Chappie, a kind of Truman Capote eccentric, are as well drawn as the primary characters. Chappie, Aunt Ethel, and Trouble need to have their own adventures in a sequel if you ask me. Of course Julia and Mitch should join them too.
In the beginning, two handsome and mysterious men have a fancy for Julia—or at least one of them genuinely does. Julia is attractive to both. But Trouble knows one for a snake and tries to warn her. Of course, Julia will figure this out, but not before she ends up in a bit of trouble, and a friend is killed.
There’s plenty of action, starting with the first chapter in which Trouble thwarts a break in at Julia’s detective agency. Underlying it all is a mystery about missing Russian heirloom clothing, stolen jewels, and missing Russian artwork and a missing, presumed death insurance agent.
The plot is fast paced and complex, and the true romance is sweet and slow-building. The entire book is a delight, though Trouble often steals the best scenes.