Sooner Dead Than Read

by Krista Lockheart, May Dixon

The most priceless book in the world flips a small-town Oklahoma library upside down . . . and that's not the only mystery!I just got a call from the bank-there is a secret book said to be worth millions about to walk through the front door of Sperry Public Library in Oklahoma. They tell me I'm one of only a handful of people in the world who know it exists. And nobody else knows it's going to be at my library.My name is Nancy Ann Davis, and I'm the head librarian here at our small-town library in Oklahoma. We have this program I think you will fall in love with-we call it the Cat Catalog. You can come to the library and visit with the cats while you check out your favorite books. The program has been so popular in our community that we have waiting lists to adopt our cats.But, earlier this year, a member of the library board died of natural causes, and the priceless books in his estate have caused a whole lot of shenanigans around town this year.In walks Benedict Atwood, a mysterious (and rude, I must say) man from London, and he knows about the secret book too.Some people say that once you leave Oklahoma, you always come back. (Because we're so friendly, you see.) But Benedict never got the chance to leave-he was the last one to see the secret book . . . and it was quite a fatal mistake.And, when he turns up murdered, all the members of my Cat Catalog have disappeared!Join me and the fine people of the Sooner State as we come together to search for the cats . . . and solve the murder of an international man of mystery.You'll meet . . .Oklahoma is not OK in this fun and heartwarming cozy mystery that will charm you until the cats come home!Sooner Dead Than Read is the first in a fifty-book animal cozy mystery series that combines humor and intrigue in a story full of secrets, adventure, and a sweet romance.

Genres: Ebooks

298 pages, Paperback

Published April 24, 2023

Reviews

[Anne Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a delight to read. A modern fairy tale I thought. The town of Sperry has an unusual library, it is also a cat rescue place. For some reason the library has been chosen to receive a very old & secret book to keep it safe & secret. But, a) several people seem to know about it & b) it’s not safe as the day after its arrival it has gone, as have all the cats & there is a dead body on the floor of the room it had been in! Some members of the Royal Family arrive to add to the fun & games. The whole town & some visitors really get involved in hunting for the cats.

[Chad Barrus · Rating 5 out of 5]

A small town library has a priceless book show up which no one is suppose to know about but it seems
that isn’t the case as people appear out of no where wanting to see it or get it regardless of what it takes to achieve that aim. A person breaks into the library and a dead man is found in the room where the book was but besides that murder, all the cats staying in the library have escaped through the broken window!Now the hunt is on to find out whodunnit and retrieve the wayward felines!

This was a fun book to read especially if you love cats! With all these persons of interest, who did the deed or was it someone else entirely!

I liked this book and as it is the first of a planned 50 book series which will concentrate on each state in the USA every reader in the US will eventually get to read a mystery about the state they’re living in. That should make the series more interesting to the readers!

Enjoy the fun in trying to capture the escaped felines
in this cozy mystery as you try to figure out who of all the suspects actually did the dirty deed!

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Krista Lockheart has written a new series into the world of cozey mystery mayhem and murder. Meat Nancy Ann head librarian of Sperry Oklahoma and you are going to get acquainted with her as well as an array of other bold, colorful and some devious characters that will draw you into this cozey from the very first page, then enticing you further through a one of a kind of an intriguing stolen book, a man found murdered in a secret room as well as the disappearance of a half dozen cats you would think that would give you enough but no then you will be introduced to royalty and more cagey characters to carry you along through a plot that's a little unique on its own. Having you turning page after page with enthusiasm and anticipation not even seeing whats coming until you've reached the unexpected and climatic conclusion. Acquire " Sooner Dead Than Read" (Cat Catalog Road Trip Mysteries Book 1) for hours of unimaginable, intrigue ,and enjoyable entertainment. Kat

[Shelly Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sooner Dead Than Read is the first book in the Cat Catalog Road Trip Mystery series written by Krista Lockheart and May Dixon.
This was an entertaining and intriguing read, however it did have a slow start. But the more that I got into the story the more I found myself liking the book more and more! I recommend this book to all and especially to all those who love cats since they play an important role in this series! With a possible list of every state in the US having a book in this series, every reader in the US should see their home state and current state of residence being represented! That will make this series that much more special! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[April Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nancy Ann and her devotion to her beloved cats and their well-being drew me into this story and captured my full attention! I found her dedication to the rescue population of animals touched my heart and was refreshing to read about. We should all be so caring about the welfare of others, especially when they are unable to care for themselves. World building was superb. A stolen manuscript, a murdered Royal, a town community coming together and even a budding romance are interwoven into this marvelous story. Highly Recommended book for everyone. I strive to be like Nancy Ann - as should we all.

[Mariam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fairly good story

I don't think this book was proofread very well. When the body was discovered in the library, there was no mention of the missing guards or the ancient book, and why wasn't the bank up in arms over the stolen book. There are other spots that should have had corrections. Even with these errors, it is a good story. I did enjoy it and will consider the next one.

[Kelly A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Secrets, Secrets, Secrets

Everyone seems to have secrets, even some of the cats. I love the idea of cats available for adoption in a library. What a novel idea. Forgive the pun. A very interesting mystery with lots of unusual suspects. I absolutely recommend this book.

[Shelley L · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this to be a fairly slow read.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery

Excellent characters and plot. Delightful mystery with plenty of action and cats. My first book by this author but I may look for more.

[joan duggan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun book

I love cats. This book was very clean and exciting to read. We need more books
like this. Really for book 2.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reasonably cute premise, but bored by it.