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Rachel Murdock Mystery #7
Cats Don't Need Coffins
SCUFFING, EDGEWEAR, CHAFING AND DINGS ON COVERS AND SPINE. INSIDE COVERS AND PAGES TANNED, BUT CLEAN. COPYRIGHT 1946 BY DOUBLEDAY & CO., INC.
- GenresMystery
220 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1946
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41 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 25, 2026
This reminded me of an old time cozy, in a positive way. The ending was quite a surprise. Never saw it coming. I felt the story didn’t flow smoothly. The narrator was outstanding.
I was blessed with an ARC. Thank you, NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.
I was blessed with an ARC. Thank you, NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.
February 23, 2026
I got the audiobook arc from netgally.
I haven't read any of the other books in the series and I think I missed a lot of added debt to the story and characters but I enjoyed my listen. Decent mystery and interesting characters but wasn't one Im eager to read every book from.
I haven't read any of the other books in the series and I think I missed a lot of added debt to the story and characters but I enjoyed my listen. Decent mystery and interesting characters but wasn't one Im eager to read every book from.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was enjoyable and quirky. I will admit I have a soft spot for little old ladies solving crime. I love both Rachel and Jennifer, I think they are as lovely as they are sassy.
I don't read many cozy mysteries but I do enjoy them from time to time and this is easily a series I could see myself returning to.
I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.
I don't read many cozy mysteries but I do enjoy them from time to time and this is easily a series I could see myself returning to.
I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.
September 21, 2011
Another quirky story with Miss Rachel and her very conservative sister Jennifer, finding out the murder of a relative that who was an awful woman.
Technically difficult mystery to figure out... you have to read everything carefully to catch the clues!
Technically difficult mystery to figure out... you have to read everything carefully to catch the clues!
February 21, 2026
Cats Don’t Need Coffins by Dolores Hitchens was an entertaining cozy mystery with a charming premise. The story follows a group of fun, quirky older women who take it upon themselves to sleuth when a murder occurs, and their dynamic adds plenty of personality and humor to the book.
One of the more memorable elements was the creepy old doll that keeps making multiple appearances throughout the story, adding an unexpected eerie touch to an otherwise light mystery. The plot kept me engaged and made for an enjoyable, easy read.
While it didn’t completely wow me, it was a solid cozy mystery that kept me entertained and delivered exactly what I expected from the genre.
One of the more memorable elements was the creepy old doll that keeps making multiple appearances throughout the story, adding an unexpected eerie touch to an otherwise light mystery. The plot kept me engaged and made for an enjoyable, easy read.
While it didn’t completely wow me, it was a solid cozy mystery that kept me entertained and delivered exactly what I expected from the genre.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Cats Don't Need Coffins is a very enjoyable cozy murder mystery. Great whodunnit book. Janet Metzger was very good as the narrator. Smooth easy voice.
Thank you Netgalley and Highbridge audio for my ALC in exchange for my honest review.
I recommend you mark your calendars for March 03 2026 to get your copy of Cats Don't Need Coffins.
Thank you Netgalley and Highbridge audio for my ALC in exchange for my honest review.
I recommend you mark your calendars for March 03 2026 to get your copy of Cats Don't Need Coffins.
August 24, 2025
This is Olsen's seventh book featuring septuagenarian sleuth Miss Rachel Murdock--about mid-way through the series of 13 books, all of which feature cats in the title. It is also, in my opinion, a very mid-range book. Rachel and her disapproving sister Jennifer--who disapproves of everything from Rachel's getting mixed up in murders to drinking--are invited to Miriam Hamilton's luxurious mansion. Ostensibly, Miriam is feeling guilty about her father's having swindled the Murdock ladies' father and she wants to give them compensation (in a grand ceremony to show how good she is). Rachel doesn't believe it for a minute, but she is very curious about Miriam's real reasons behind the invitation.
According the the messenger, what Miriam really wants is Rachel's help in discovering the person and motive behind a series of disturbing events. But does she really? When Rachel & Jennifer arrive at Miriam's home, it seems the woman is avoiding them. She's constantly not available and doesn't even join the family and her guests for meals. Rachel gets background on the situation from Miriam's stepchildren (Rex Flanders and Sharon Hamilton, gardner (Checkers), lawyer (Mr. Braudryck), the messenger & his brother (Joe & Bart Dewel), and the servants. There has been a campaign to unnerve Miriam--her prize flowers have been trampled and a "dismal" (Rachel's word) doll has appeared with all the appearance of having been murdered and buried.
Before Rachel can meet with Miriam to get her side of things, Miriam is found dead in her bed with horrible injuries--her bones are fractured as if she's been crushed. When it's discovered that Miriam was actually killed by an old tractor--which her stepson Rick had the most use for--the investigating sheriff immediately focuses attention on the young man. But Miss Rachel is certain that someone else is responsible. Now she just has to find the evidence to prove it to the disbelieving lawman.
As I mention above, this was a very middle-of-the-road read for me. I enjoy the Rachel Murdock books very much, but I think I missed her working with Lieutenant Mayhew. Olsen tried to set up the same relationship of half-antagonism/half-cooperation with Sheriff Butterworth that Rachel enjoys with the lieutenant, but it just doesn't come off. And Rachel doesn't seem to be on the top of her game here when it comes to sleuthing, especially when compared to the selections from the series I've already read.
The best part of the book is the involvement of Jennifer--the relationship between the two sisters has always been a comical one. But in this outing Jennifer overhears a conversation that contains--in her mind--a clue. A clue that Rachel has missed! So, Jennifer goes off on her own little scavenger hunt. When Rachel catches her in the act of crawling around boilers, she refuses to tell her sister what she was up to. It isn't until the wrap-up that Jennifer is willing to reveal what she heard and why she was playing detective on her own. There's also the little matter of the athletic abilities of these two seventy-year-olds. Having looked up Rachel's bio for Kate at Cross Examining Crime, I now know that she was the earliest known stunt-woman in motion pictures. So, if she's kept fit, then it's reasonable that she could be crawling in and out of windows. But Jennifer? Yes, the scene is funny. But is it realistic?
I will say that overall Olsen captures her characters very well. All of them--not just the Murdock ladies. We get excellent thumbnail sketches of each one and the action that follows fills in the characters nicely. The setting is also good, though after being told that Miriam had a 35-room house I was expecting more of the action to take place indoors. Given the under-lying comedy in the plot, I think there was a missed opportunity for a B-movie, hide-and-seek feel late at night.
An enjoyable mystery with a twist at the end. I did see it coming, but it may come as a surprise to some.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
According the the messenger, what Miriam really wants is Rachel's help in discovering the person and motive behind a series of disturbing events. But does she really? When Rachel & Jennifer arrive at Miriam's home, it seems the woman is avoiding them. She's constantly not available and doesn't even join the family and her guests for meals. Rachel gets background on the situation from Miriam's stepchildren (Rex Flanders and Sharon Hamilton, gardner (Checkers), lawyer (Mr. Braudryck), the messenger & his brother (Joe & Bart Dewel), and the servants. There has been a campaign to unnerve Miriam--her prize flowers have been trampled and a "dismal" (Rachel's word) doll has appeared with all the appearance of having been murdered and buried.
Before Rachel can meet with Miriam to get her side of things, Miriam is found dead in her bed with horrible injuries--her bones are fractured as if she's been crushed. When it's discovered that Miriam was actually killed by an old tractor--which her stepson Rick had the most use for--the investigating sheriff immediately focuses attention on the young man. But Miss Rachel is certain that someone else is responsible. Now she just has to find the evidence to prove it to the disbelieving lawman.
As I mention above, this was a very middle-of-the-road read for me. I enjoy the Rachel Murdock books very much, but I think I missed her working with Lieutenant Mayhew. Olsen tried to set up the same relationship of half-antagonism/half-cooperation with Sheriff Butterworth that Rachel enjoys with the lieutenant, but it just doesn't come off. And Rachel doesn't seem to be on the top of her game here when it comes to sleuthing, especially when compared to the selections from the series I've already read.
The best part of the book is the involvement of Jennifer--the relationship between the two sisters has always been a comical one. But in this outing Jennifer overhears a conversation that contains--in her mind--a clue. A clue that Rachel has missed! So, Jennifer goes off on her own little scavenger hunt. When Rachel catches her in the act of crawling around boilers, she refuses to tell her sister what she was up to. It isn't until the wrap-up that Jennifer is willing to reveal what she heard and why she was playing detective on her own. There's also the little matter of the athletic abilities of these two seventy-year-olds. Having looked up Rachel's bio for Kate at Cross Examining Crime, I now know that she was the earliest known stunt-woman in motion pictures. So, if she's kept fit, then it's reasonable that she could be crawling in and out of windows. But Jennifer? Yes, the scene is funny. But is it realistic?
I will say that overall Olsen captures her characters very well. All of them--not just the Murdock ladies. We get excellent thumbnail sketches of each one and the action that follows fills in the characters nicely. The setting is also good, though after being told that Miriam had a 35-room house I was expecting more of the action to take place indoors. Given the under-lying comedy in the plot, I think there was a missed opportunity for a B-movie, hide-and-seek feel late at night.
An enjoyable mystery with a twist at the end. I did see it coming, but it may come as a surprise to some.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
August 8, 2017
For my full review click on the link below:
https://crossexaminingcrime.wordpress...
https://crossexaminingcrime.wordpress...
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 stars| Who says life is dull at 70? Certainly not Rachel Murdock.
This is the seventh installment in the ‘Rachel Murdock Mystery’ series, which spans thirteen books in total. I jumped into the series without having read the previous books and had no trouble following along. While longtime readers may catch additional connections, this worked well for me as a standalone. The story is told in third person, closely following 70-year old Rachel’s perspective.
Rachel and her reluctant sister travel to the ostentatious mansion of Miriam, who claims she wants to correct an old wrong involving money Rachel and Jennifer from a long ago deal involving their fathers.Although Rachel suspects there may be another motive, she goes anyway. Once there, she meets a group of uneasy guests and hired staff. At first, she assumes the tension in the house is simply due to poor hosting and awkward introductions.
That assumption quickly proves wrong when Miriam is murdered. A second death follows, and everyone on the property becomes a suspect. Rachel and Jennifer soon find themselves involved in the investigation. With a bit of light breaking and entering and some clever maneuvering, Rachel pieces together the truth. As expected in a classic mystery structure, all suspects are gathered in one room with the sheriff present while Rachel reveals the guilty party.
Do not let the familiar setup fool you. This is not a traditional ‘cozy’ mystery. While it includes some cozy elements such as recurring characters, a senior citizen amateur sleuth, and even a cat in tow, the tone is noticeably darker. The murders feel more callous and graphic than what many cozy readers might expect. It gives subtle Ms. Marple and Jessica Fletcher vibes in using an older main character, but the overall atmosphere is grittier. The ending also felt somewhat abrupt, which slightly impacted my overall enjoyment.
Still, this was an engaging mystery, and I am interested in going back to earlier books in the series to see how Rachel’s sleuthing career began.
The audiobook, narrated by Janet Metzger, adds dimension to the story with a clear and steady narrative style that complements the darker tone.
Thank you to NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for providing an advanced listener copy for review. All opinions are my own and based on an advanced copy, which may differ from the final published version.
This is the seventh installment in the ‘Rachel Murdock Mystery’ series, which spans thirteen books in total. I jumped into the series without having read the previous books and had no trouble following along. While longtime readers may catch additional connections, this worked well for me as a standalone. The story is told in third person, closely following 70-year old Rachel’s perspective.
Rachel and her reluctant sister travel to the ostentatious mansion of Miriam, who claims she wants to correct an old wrong involving money Rachel and Jennifer from a long ago deal involving their fathers.Although Rachel suspects there may be another motive, she goes anyway. Once there, she meets a group of uneasy guests and hired staff. At first, she assumes the tension in the house is simply due to poor hosting and awkward introductions.
That assumption quickly proves wrong when Miriam is murdered. A second death follows, and everyone on the property becomes a suspect. Rachel and Jennifer soon find themselves involved in the investigation. With a bit of light breaking and entering and some clever maneuvering, Rachel pieces together the truth. As expected in a classic mystery structure, all suspects are gathered in one room with the sheriff present while Rachel reveals the guilty party.
Do not let the familiar setup fool you. This is not a traditional ‘cozy’ mystery. While it includes some cozy elements such as recurring characters, a senior citizen amateur sleuth, and even a cat in tow, the tone is noticeably darker. The murders feel more callous and graphic than what many cozy readers might expect. It gives subtle Ms. Marple and Jessica Fletcher vibes in using an older main character, but the overall atmosphere is grittier. The ending also felt somewhat abrupt, which slightly impacted my overall enjoyment.
Still, this was an engaging mystery, and I am interested in going back to earlier books in the series to see how Rachel’s sleuthing career began.
The audiobook, narrated by Janet Metzger, adds dimension to the story with a clear and steady narrative style that complements the darker tone.
Thank you to NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for providing an advanced listener copy for review. All opinions are my own and based on an advanced copy, which may differ from the final published version.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
When I requested this book, I didn't realise it was written in 1945 and is a re' release. It hasn't been modernised and I would say it is how the author intended it, hence the old time feel and setting for the story. While it wasn't what I expected, especially with the cozy updated modern cover, I did find myself enjoying it, once I got my head around the prim and proper way of speaking. There was a lot going on with two murders and a creepy doll terrorising everyone but Rachel wraps it up nicely. I had thought I had worked out who the killer was but was pleasantly surprised by the twist at the end. While not as good as a Miss Marple, it had that sort of feel to the story, even had everybody gathered together for the big revel. I did struggle a bit with keeping the characters and there relationships straight because we were introduced to do many of them all at once but on the whole it kept me engaged and listening until the very end.
When Miss Rachel and Miss Jennifer receive a summons to visit and stay with Miriam Hamilton, they pack there bags. Miss Jennifer is reluctant to visit the woman who swindled there father out of money but Miss Rachel is curious to find out what she wants. Unfortunately she doesn't get the chance to find out, as there host is found dead in her bed and a creepy doll hanging outside the window. They weren't the only guests to have received summons, it seems Miriam was being trouble by one of her guests and the history behind the doll, she was going to confront the culprit but was killed before she could. Can Miss Rachel and Miss Jennifer work out who she blamed for the troubles or fan they find the real killer?
I liked the narrator. She helped bring the story to life and kept it entertaining.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
When Miss Rachel and Miss Jennifer receive a summons to visit and stay with Miriam Hamilton, they pack there bags. Miss Jennifer is reluctant to visit the woman who swindled there father out of money but Miss Rachel is curious to find out what she wants. Unfortunately she doesn't get the chance to find out, as there host is found dead in her bed and a creepy doll hanging outside the window. They weren't the only guests to have received summons, it seems Miriam was being trouble by one of her guests and the history behind the doll, she was going to confront the culprit but was killed before she could. Can Miss Rachel and Miss Jennifer work out who she blamed for the troubles or fan they find the real killer?
I liked the narrator. She helped bring the story to life and kept it entertaining.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book is part of the Rachel Murdock Mystery series and I'm pretty sure that it's actually book 7 - however, I found it quite easy to settle into this from the start and it certainly read fine as a standalone read.
I have no clue whether any of the other characters were returning from the previous books, but I didn't find that I struggled to follow the relationships and dynamics at all and any previous events mentioned also seemed to fit well into this storyline.
We follow the Murdock sisters after being summoned to visit Miriam Hamilton at her home but shortly after arriving, Miriam is found dead in her bed.
I really liked Rachel and Jennifer and it was fun to see how completely different they were from each other and to see how each responded to both the news of the death a d the ensuing Investigations.
I'm not sure if Jennifer has appeared before, but she definitely developed through the book and having started off reluctant to participate, she came into he town by the ending.
The case was a classic cosy mystery but there were a few shocking elements and more than a few twists along the way.
I absolutely loved that Rachel brought along her pet cat Samantha and that she was always getting involved in the ladies' trips out - even being threatened too!
This was an enjoyable read with plenty of suspects that kept us guessing to the end and I'd be more than happy to see what the other books in the series have in store for Rachel.
I have no clue whether any of the other characters were returning from the previous books, but I didn't find that I struggled to follow the relationships and dynamics at all and any previous events mentioned also seemed to fit well into this storyline.
We follow the Murdock sisters after being summoned to visit Miriam Hamilton at her home but shortly after arriving, Miriam is found dead in her bed.
I really liked Rachel and Jennifer and it was fun to see how completely different they were from each other and to see how each responded to both the news of the death a d the ensuing Investigations.
I'm not sure if Jennifer has appeared before, but she definitely developed through the book and having started off reluctant to participate, she came into he town by the ending.
The case was a classic cosy mystery but there were a few shocking elements and more than a few twists along the way.
I absolutely loved that Rachel brought along her pet cat Samantha and that she was always getting involved in the ladies' trips out - even being threatened too!
This was an enjoyable read with plenty of suspects that kept us guessing to the end and I'd be more than happy to see what the other books in the series have in store for Rachel.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC read. My opinions below are mine and are unbiased.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Pace: Slow
When I requested this ARC, I didn't realize that this wasn't truly a 'new' book. This book was originally published in 1946, and this re-release does not modernize it. Due to that, there are a lot of older phrases that are used. If usage of the word 'queer' in instances where we would currently say 'odd' bothers you, then this book is not for you.
It is an adorable 'whodunit', that reminds me a bit of Clue. You can figure out the mystery if you pay attention enough, but it's not obvious, which is nice when compared to the popcorn thrillers that are currently popular.
This is book 7 in the series; however, it reads as a standalone very well. A little old lady solving a mystery while dragging around her cat is an adorable premise. I also do enjoy the names of some of the characters. Ms. Rachel, Ms. Jennifer, and Mr. Butterworth just give me a small chuckle every time I hear them.
A drawback for me is that I felt like the story felt a bit disjointed. It didn't flow very well. Paired with the older style of writing, it felt a bit difficult to get through the middle of the story to get to the interesting end.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Pace: Slow
When I requested this ARC, I didn't realize that this wasn't truly a 'new' book. This book was originally published in 1946, and this re-release does not modernize it. Due to that, there are a lot of older phrases that are used. If usage of the word 'queer' in instances where we would currently say 'odd' bothers you, then this book is not for you.
It is an adorable 'whodunit', that reminds me a bit of Clue. You can figure out the mystery if you pay attention enough, but it's not obvious, which is nice when compared to the popcorn thrillers that are currently popular.
This is book 7 in the series; however, it reads as a standalone very well. A little old lady solving a mystery while dragging around her cat is an adorable premise. I also do enjoy the names of some of the characters. Ms. Rachel, Ms. Jennifer, and Mr. Butterworth just give me a small chuckle every time I hear them.
A drawback for me is that I felt like the story felt a bit disjointed. It didn't flow very well. Paired with the older style of writing, it felt a bit difficult to get through the middle of the story to get to the interesting end.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I'll admit I was drawn to this 90% by the front cover and 9% by the title 😂 sadly the cat wasn't central to the plot in the slightest! Honestly I can't work out the link between the title and the book.
I'm not sure whether it's because it's book 6 (I didn't realise this before I requested!) or it was a choice by the writer but it felt like we jumped into the story very quickly and I was playing catch-up a bit. Maybe because of this, I wasn't invested in any of the characters. Of the two sisters, I found Miss Jennifer to be irritating and Miss Rachel to be a very shallow character. Miss Rachel was apparently the main character but why very well developed (maybe she is better described in earlier books which I've not read).
It's very reminiscent of an Agatha Christie - classic period whodunit - so maybe if you've read the other books and just want a short, easy mystery novel then you would enjoy this. There are a lot of other books that I would recommend first though.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader copy, I'm happy to share my honest review.
I'm not sure whether it's because it's book 6 (I didn't realise this before I requested!) or it was a choice by the writer but it felt like we jumped into the story very quickly and I was playing catch-up a bit. Maybe because of this, I wasn't invested in any of the characters. Of the two sisters, I found Miss Jennifer to be irritating and Miss Rachel to be a very shallow character. Miss Rachel was apparently the main character but why very well developed (maybe she is better described in earlier books which I've not read).
It's very reminiscent of an Agatha Christie - classic period whodunit - so maybe if you've read the other books and just want a short, easy mystery novel then you would enjoy this. There are a lot of other books that I would recommend first though.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader copy, I'm happy to share my honest review.
February 26, 2026
If you liked the show “Murder She Wrote” and character Jessica Fletcher, you’ll love listening to “Cats Don’t Need Coffins” and its main character Rachel Murdock.
I picked this study up because I was breezing through the Thursday Murder Club Series. Something about a group of senior sleuths provides nostalgia for me - growing up with “Murder She Wrote” playing on my grandmother’s television in the background.
As much as I wanted to love this story, it fell a little short for me. The storyline was solid, I just didn’t feel as connected to the characters — it also could have been the voice actor reading the novel… What I did like about “Cats Don’t Need Coffins” was that you didn’t have to read the books in order - which was great since I started on book 6 in the series, however, maybe that’s the reason I couldn’t connect with the characters???
I might give this series another go in the future but most likely after reading a completely different genre.
Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC of this audio book. I give my honest opinion in return.
I picked this study up because I was breezing through the Thursday Murder Club Series. Something about a group of senior sleuths provides nostalgia for me - growing up with “Murder She Wrote” playing on my grandmother’s television in the background.
As much as I wanted to love this story, it fell a little short for me. The storyline was solid, I just didn’t feel as connected to the characters — it also could have been the voice actor reading the novel… What I did like about “Cats Don’t Need Coffins” was that you didn’t have to read the books in order - which was great since I started on book 6 in the series, however, maybe that’s the reason I couldn’t connect with the characters???
I might give this series another go in the future but most likely after reading a completely different genre.
Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC of this audio book. I give my honest opinion in return.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
🎧 Audio Review: The narration was enjoyable to listen to for this genre.
📝 Story Review: This was a decent mystery in that I definitely had not figured it out. But it did feel as if it went on and on endlessly. Still not sure how the title played into the story either.
The elderly amateur sleuth was quirky and humorous, without even trying to be so. A limited suspect pool made this more intriguing, and it was easy to see many of the suspects as potential villains.
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.5/5
Vibes: Historical feels, humorous sleuthing and dialogue, as well as a strange mystery.
Tropes 👇
- Amateur elderly sleuthing
- Cat companion
- Creepy doll
- Who dunnit?
- Small (ish) suspect pool
CW’s 👇
- Murder
Audio Release Date: March 3, 2026
Audio Run Time: 6 hrs, 5 mins
Narrated By: Janet Metzger
Series: Rachel Murdock Mystery, Book 7
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
POV: Third Person; Single
Thank you to NetGalley and Highbridge Audio for this ALC in return for an honest review.
📝 Story Review: This was a decent mystery in that I definitely had not figured it out. But it did feel as if it went on and on endlessly. Still not sure how the title played into the story either.
The elderly amateur sleuth was quirky and humorous, without even trying to be so. A limited suspect pool made this more intriguing, and it was easy to see many of the suspects as potential villains.
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.5/5
Vibes: Historical feels, humorous sleuthing and dialogue, as well as a strange mystery.
Tropes 👇
- Amateur elderly sleuthing
- Cat companion
- Creepy doll
- Who dunnit?
- Small (ish) suspect pool
CW’s 👇
- Murder
Audio Release Date: March 3, 2026
Audio Run Time: 6 hrs, 5 mins
Narrated By: Janet Metzger
Series: Rachel Murdock Mystery, Book 7
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
POV: Third Person; Single
Thank you to NetGalley and Highbridge Audio for this ALC in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This audiobook was pure joy from start to finish! From the brilliant writing of Dolores Hitchens to the beautiful narration of Janet Metzger, it was a solid 10 out of 5 stars.
I had never read or heard of Dolores Hitchens. I love classic mysteries such as Christie, Sayers, Craig Rice, etc. Hitchens fits right in with the best of them. She wrote 13 novels in the Rachel Murdock series and “Cats Don’t Need Coffins” is the 6th one in the series.
Rachel Murdock (especially voiced in such a classic way by Metzger) sounded just like my grandmother. I literally laughed out loud at some of the same sayings and tone of voice in how things were said. Listening to this mystery, which was quite a good mystery at that, was like being home. It just felt right.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
I had never read or heard of Dolores Hitchens. I love classic mysteries such as Christie, Sayers, Craig Rice, etc. Hitchens fits right in with the best of them. She wrote 13 novels in the Rachel Murdock series and “Cats Don’t Need Coffins” is the 6th one in the series.
Rachel Murdock (especially voiced in such a classic way by Metzger) sounded just like my grandmother. I literally laughed out loud at some of the same sayings and tone of voice in how things were said. Listening to this mystery, which was quite a good mystery at that, was like being home. It just felt right.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 Stars Cats⭐️ Don’t Need Coffins was originally published in the 1946 and is now being republished. This is book 7 in the Rachel Murdock Mystery series. The language and talk of World War II (ie: Dunkirk) that was used was definitely aged the book. The story itself is about a group of interesting older women who decide to help solve a murder that had occurred. I like our cast of characters. The story was well written and an easy read. The mystery plot was interesting. The audiobook was narrated by Janet Metzger. Her voices were interesting. I would recommend this for any audiobook/cozy mystery lover!
Thank you to NetGalley and Highbridge Audio for an ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and Highbridge Audio for an ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Miriam Hamilton asks Rachel and Jennifer to come to her luxury home under false pretences. She does not greet them or joking them for dinner. Why? Then she is found dead in her own bed but under suspicious circumstances. Who would have wanted her demise and can the sisters uncover the truth?
Very well written and well narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook). Very good characters in a well paced entertaining novel. Rachel enjoys being an amateur sleuth but this case is befuddling and will not be the only death.
Very well written and well narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook). Very good characters in a well paced entertaining novel. Rachel enjoys being an amateur sleuth but this case is befuddling and will not be the only death.
March 2, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and HighBridge for the e-arc audio of this story.
I really liked the narrative that this story followed, the unique deaths, and the way the narrator made this story feel cozy despite the murderous tendencies in this town. Mysteries like this aren’t typically my type of read, but i had a fun time with this story. The cat was probably my favorite character if i’m being honest… I would definitely listen to this narrator in another story if she did more books aligned with my typical taste or in a memoir style.
I really liked the narrative that this story followed, the unique deaths, and the way the narrator made this story feel cozy despite the murderous tendencies in this town. Mysteries like this aren’t typically my type of read, but i had a fun time with this story. The cat was probably my favorite character if i’m being honest… I would definitely listen to this narrator in another story if she did more books aligned with my typical taste or in a memoir style.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was pleasantly surprised by this older mystery. Even though it's older, it felt fresh and there were some decent twists. The main character/amateur detective was older but feisty and clever. Miss Rachel paid attention to what was going on around her.
I have to admit, one thing I enjoyed a lot was that some of the people's names were odd but the cat had a people name.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook. The narrator was excellent
I have to admit, one thing I enjoyed a lot was that some of the people's names were odd but the cat had a people name.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook. The narrator was excellent
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The narrator of this book has such a lovely voice and is very easy to listen to. I have to admit that the reason for wanting to read/listen to this particular book was the title and cover, crazy cat lady here lol There was very little mentioned of cats but that was ok as the book itself was a nice cozy mystery to listen to. I loved the banter between the 2 sisters and had a few chuckles along the way.
March 1, 2026
Miss Rachel and her sister Miss Jennifer, septuagenarians and investigators (well, Miss Rachel admits to that part), are called to a distant relative under false pretenses. She thinks someone’s up to something, and since she’s a ruthless cheat, she’s probably right. Then, of course, she turns up dead.
This was a new Golden Age author for me, and it was entertaining on audio, but they’re no Miss Marple. I did like how they worked the cat in!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.
This was a new Golden Age author for me, and it was entertaining on audio, but they’re no Miss Marple. I did like how they worked the cat in!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.
February 25, 2026
Thank you HighBridge | Highbridge Audio and Netgalley for this ALC, coming March 3rd.
This was my first book in the series, and I did miss some of the backstory, however this was such a nice whodunnit mystery. the ending was surprising.
the narration was very good. overall it was a nice listen.
This was my first book in the series, and I did miss some of the backstory, however this was such a nice whodunnit mystery. the ending was surprising.
the narration was very good. overall it was a nice listen.
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