Pouncing on Murder is a purrfect cozy for cat lovers
Pouncing on Murder: A Bookmobile Cat Mystery
by Laurie Cass
Berkley Prime Crime
Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date: December 1, 2015
Description
Curl up with the latest from the national bestselling author of Borrowed Crime... Springtime in Chilson, Michigan, means it's librarian Minnie Hamilton's favorite time of year: maple syrup season! But her excitement fades when her favorite syrup provider, Henry Gill, dies in a sugaring accident. It’s tough news to swallow...even if the old man wasn’t as sweet as his product. On the bookmobile rounds with her trusty rescue cat Eddie, Minnie meets Adam, the old man's friend, who was with him when he died. Adam is convinced Henry’s death wasn’t an accident, and fears that his own life is in danger. With the police overworked, it's up to Minnie and Eddie to tap all their resources for clues—before Adam ends up in a sticky situation…
Review
Pouncing on Murder is a purrfect mystery for cat lovers. Eddie, the charming tabby known in Chilson as the Bookmobile Cat, is easy to love and his Mrrrs are readily interpreted by his owner/servitor librarian Minnie Hamilton.
As Deputy Director of the Chilson Library, Minnie Hamilton is responsible not just for the day to day running of the library, but also the bookmobile and the upcoming book fair. She is surprised to hear of the accidental death of one of her bookmobile regulars, Henry. Though a man of few words, Henry showed unexpected kindness and was one of Eddie's favorite customers. A visit to the housebound patron who discovered the body makes Minnie suspect foul play.
Despite being busy with plans for the upcoming fair, Minnie makes time for asking questions, particularly when Adam tells her he believes someone is trying to kill him. Chilson is a small town, with limited police resources, so Minnie is more than happy to help investigate. Not everyone is happy with Minnie asking questions – particularly a killer who is willing to silence both Minnie and Eddie permanently in order to remain hidden.
It is easy to see that Laurie Cass, like her character Minnie, is a cat lover. I admit that I have conversations with our cats in much the same way Minnie does, and our cats respond rather like Eddie. Eddie is a cat through and through, not a human in a fur body. I absolutely adored him from the very start.
Pouncing on Murder is an enjoyable mystery. While it doesn't present the most challenging of puzzles, the novel is well written and presents a nice slice of small town life. The Bookmobile Cat mysteries are a terrific choice for all ages of cozy lover. I look forward to Laurie Cass's next installment in the series.
4/5
I received a copy of Pouncing on Murder from Berkley Prime Crime in exchange for an honest review.
--Crittermom
