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Second Chance Cat Mystery #11
Fur Love or Money
Secondhand shop owner Sarah Grayson and her rescue cat, Elvis, sniff out the suspect in this new, delightful Second Chance Cat Mystery from New York Times bestselling author, Sofie Ryan.
Sarah Grayson is taking a break from her bustling secondhand shop in small-town Maine to spend time with a friend and her dog. But their purr-fect visit comes to an end when the dog leads them to a storm cellar on a nearby property, where they discover a dead body.
The deceased turns out to be a sticky-fingered financial adviser who swindled millions from investors and who has been presumed dead for almost three years. Unfortunately, suspicion falls on the owner of the property where the body was found—and that owner is a good friend of Charlotte’s Angels’, the senior citizen sleuths who work out of Sarah’s shop. It’s all paws on deck, as the Angels are determined to clear his good name. But with a tight-lipped widow, a possibly shifty sister, and a slew of unhappy investors in the mix, the list of murder suspects seems endless. Sarah, Elvis, and the Angels have a lot of webs to untangle before they can catch the culprit.
Sarah Grayson is taking a break from her bustling secondhand shop in small-town Maine to spend time with a friend and her dog. But their purr-fect visit comes to an end when the dog leads them to a storm cellar on a nearby property, where they discover a dead body.
The deceased turns out to be a sticky-fingered financial adviser who swindled millions from investors and who has been presumed dead for almost three years. Unfortunately, suspicion falls on the owner of the property where the body was found—and that owner is a good friend of Charlotte’s Angels’, the senior citizen sleuths who work out of Sarah’s shop. It’s all paws on deck, as the Angels are determined to clear his good name. But with a tight-lipped widow, a possibly shifty sister, and a slew of unhappy investors in the mix, the list of murder suspects seems endless. Sarah, Elvis, and the Angels have a lot of webs to untangle before they can catch the culprit.
282 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 6, 2024
74 people are currently reading
378 people want to read
About the author
Sofie Ryan
13 books567 followersPseudonym for Darlene Ryan. Also writes under Sofie Kelly.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
April 9, 2025
Most Charming! RTC
3.5 Stars: Books that receive a 3.5-star rating from me are enjoyable and well-crafted, showing substantial development of creativity, character development, or thematic exploration. They might have a compelling narrative or unique style that sets them apart, though they may still have minor flaws or elements that prevented them from being truly impactful. This rating is for books that are on the cusp of being great but didn't fully realize their potential.
3.5 Stars: Books that receive a 3.5-star rating from me are enjoyable and well-crafted, showing substantial development of creativity, character development, or thematic exploration. They might have a compelling narrative or unique style that sets them apart, though they may still have minor flaws or elements that prevented them from being truly impactful. This rating is for books that are on the cusp of being great but didn't fully realize their potential.
March 10, 2024
Good addition to the series and decent mystery.
January 4, 2025
In this installment of second chance cat mystery Sarah, the owner of a second hand store and assistant to an group of elderly PIs finds a body in a storm cellar. The man had a million enemies but everyone suspects one of Sarah’s family friends of the murder. Naturally, Sarah and the group of elderly PIs called Charlotte’s Angels must find out who did it to keep their friend from getting railroaded.
I think of these books as delightful little palate cleansers between other books because they are just so fun and relaxing. I have a good time and it all works out in the end which is absolutely delightful during these insane times. I did think that the killer was a little bit predictable so I’m not giving it a higher rating but I think it accomplished what the author intended. I highly recommend this book to people who enjoy a relaxing mystery and do not like any spice.
I think of these books as delightful little palate cleansers between other books because they are just so fun and relaxing. I have a good time and it all works out in the end which is absolutely delightful during these insane times. I did think that the killer was a little bit predictable so I’m not giving it a higher rating but I think it accomplished what the author intended. I highly recommend this book to people who enjoy a relaxing mystery and do not like any spice.
March 6, 2024
A neighborhood dog leads Sarah and Rose to a dead body in a forgotten storm cellar. The corpse belonged to a ponzi schemer, who stole money from almost everyone in town, but he was supposed to have died years ago. His wife and child live in the town. How did he fake his death? Where is the money? Rose, Sarah, and friends investigate
The story asks some tough questions, which is unusual for a cozy.
The story asks some tough questions, which is unusual for a cozy.
September 5, 2024
I love this series and it just keeps getting better.
January 1, 2024
"Fur Love or Money" is a cozy mystery. Unfortunately, the ending was confusing in several ways. We had the mystery of the murder but also of what happened to the stolen money. The main characters went around interviewing potential suspects, mostly people who lost their money and wanted it back. Then whodunit is caught in a lie, and Sarah explained to Rose what she thought happened. Only she gave one explanation, then another, and I'm going, "um, that sounds contradictory." I had to re-read it to realize she'd given events out of order and guessed some things based on no evidence (and these things were never confirmed, either).
Sarah wanted to tell her ideas to her detective friend, but Rose insisted they go back to the murder scene (and not tell anyone). Of course, whodunit happened to show up for a reason not explained (as the area had clearly already been searched for evidence and treasure). Whodunit never confessed to murder, never explained why the victim was killed at that location and before giving up the location of the money. It's implied that the money was found but this was never clearly stated. We're just suddenly told it would be returned to the rightful owners. So much wasn't clearly explained. Not a satisfying ending.
The main characters were nice, engaging people, but the clues were a mess. Quite a lot just didn't seem believable.
This is the 11th book in the series, but you don't need to read the previous books to understand this one. This book didn't spoil any of the previous mysteries. There were no sex scenes. There was only one use of bad language.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
Sarah wanted to tell her ideas to her detective friend, but Rose insisted they go back to the murder scene (and not tell anyone). Of course, whodunit happened to show up for a reason not explained (as the area had clearly already been searched for evidence and treasure). Whodunit never confessed to murder, never explained why the victim was killed at that location and before giving up the location of the money. It's implied that the money was found but this was never clearly stated. We're just suddenly told it would be returned to the rightful owners. So much wasn't clearly explained. Not a satisfying ending.
The main characters were nice, engaging people, but the clues were a mess. Quite a lot just didn't seem believable.
This is the 11th book in the series, but you don't need to read the previous books to understand this one. This book didn't spoil any of the previous mysteries. There were no sex scenes. There was only one use of bad language.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
February 10, 2024
So much fun to visit with Elvis, Sarah and the gang again. When Sarah and Rose are out visiting old friends, they come across a lost puppy in a storm cellar, while Sarah feels this is a simple good deed, unfortunately once she gets down there, not only is there a scared pup but a dead body. The only problem is the body belongs to someone who died three years ago and this one has only been in the storm cellar for 24 hours. With the fact that they found the body and Liz's friend Channing owning the rental property, the "Angels" are all in. This was a wonderful mystery with lots of twists and turns, and all kinds of shady deals involved. I so also enjoy the backdrop of this series and all the wonderful characters involved, young, old and furry!
February 19, 2024
Fantastic Story
I love this series and this is my favorite so far.
A fake death, stolen money, too many suspects to count and so much more makes up this book by Sofie Ryan.
I love all the characters, especially Rose, Mr. P., and Elvis, of course.
I love this series and this is my favorite so far.
A fake death, stolen money, too many suspects to count and so much more makes up this book by Sofie Ryan.
I love all the characters, especially Rose, Mr. P., and Elvis, of course.
December 3, 2024
Another hit for Sofie Ryan! Her Second Chance Store crew and the Charlotte's Angels crime solvers are in fine form.
February 22, 2024
Put a cat in it and I'll usually love it. Elvis, the feline in this series, is no exception. The main character and her cohorts work so well together but it's not cloying or overly cliche. I want to find a store like this!
March 14, 2024
This series is fun! I particularly enjoy reading about the restoration and goings on a the second hand store but the mystery was good and I do like Charlotte's Angels, the group of senior sleuths :)
ARC Provided by NetGalley
ARC Provided by NetGalley
January 4, 2024
It wasn’t as good as the rest of this series but it’s still an enjoyable read. The regular characters are as fun to hang out with as usual. They’re intelligent and kind without being too perfect. The plot is solid and very believable. And there’s just enough everyday life in the resale shop mixed in for the reader to feel like they’re part of the story. Sofie Ryan/Kelly writes both of my favorite cozy mystery series of all time.
There were a couple of small places where the story felt rushed (one “section” in a chapter consisted of only one sentence) but I assume it’s because I read an advanced reader’s copy of the novel and that’ll be fixed before release. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
There were a couple of small places where the story felt rushed (one “section” in a chapter consisted of only one sentence) but I assume it’s because I read an advanced reader’s copy of the novel and that’ll be fixed before release. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 1, 2024
I loved this one! Can’t wait for the next book to come out.
February 12, 2024
This was just as delightful and charming as always. The mystery was great. I could have used more Elvis and Mac but Casey the dog made up for the lack. There's lots of Sarah, Mr. P, and Rose. I highly recommend this book and I can't wait for the next book in the series!
February 24, 2024
https://openbooksociety.com/article/f...
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
This cozy mystery series has several elements that keep me coming back for more. The characters’ ages span from late teens through young seniors. They are engaging, entertaining, people I would welcome as neighbors. The setting in North Harbor, Maine, sounds gorgeous, and is a popular tour bus destination. There is always humor, but not at another’s expense.
Sarah is the owner of the Second Chance, a popular repurpose shop I’d like to visit. Several of her grandmother’s friends opened their private investigations firm, Charlotte’s Angels, and their office has a permanent space in her shop. In part, she likes to keep an eye on them so they don’t get into trouble, and a couple of the ladies help out in the shop regularly. Sarah also helps them with their cases.
Elvis, Sarah’s black cat, just finished a photo shoot for a cat food company that wanted to use him in an advertisement. He knows he is handsome, and the scar across his nose gives him a rakish look. Elvis had been found by the harbor a few years ago by an old friend of Sarah’s family. Before gifting him to Sarah, Sam named him Elvis because he liked the music of the king. Elvis is a wonderful companion, very opinionated, and a feline lie detector. If someone is petting him and speaking or being questioned, he can tell in a moment if they are telling the truth.
Rose, one of the Angels, had made dog treats for Casey, a dog who rescued her after she was attacked several months ago. They were now good friends with Casey’s owners, Ashley and Keenan, who are expecting their first baby. When Rose and Sarah took the treats to Ashley, Casey was whimpering and looking towards the nearby water. Rose, Sarah, and Ashley took a walk with Casey to see what was upsetting him. He led them to a rental property, then took Sarah to a storm cellar. She could hear a puppy inside, and found a way down to get it. Just before getting out of the cellar, something made her look in the garbage bag tucked beneath a tarp in a corner. The good news was that the pup looked like one that a missing flyer had just gone out for. The bad news was, the body of a man was in the bag, and it looked like he had been murdered.
It was a couple of days before they learned about the murder victim. When his body was not recovered after a fall in Ireland three years ago, Ian Stone was thought to be dead. He was about to be investigated for suspicion of running a huge Ponzi scheme. None of the money was ever found, and his wife, certain he was dead, had recently remarried.
The cottage was owned by Channing, a long-time friend of Angels Rose and Liz. Channing was also a friend of Ian’s father and had known Ian since he was a boy. He didn’t know Ian was renting the cottage as a property management company handled everything. Despite that, Channing was suspected of hiding Ian for the three years since his death was apparently faked. The Angels are determined to find who killed Ian, as whoever killed him may have been the person who helped him hide, freeing Channing from the accusations.
Each character is designed with care. The regulars are vibrant people who love the lives they have, help others, and demonstrate that one doesn’t have to be related by blood to be family. I like how Sarah and Mac, and Rose and Mr. Peterson are both couples, each couple from different generations, as is Sarah’s grandmother, who remarried after being widowed for many years. None of the relationships take top billing over the mysteries, and each couple is adorable in their own way.
This complex mystery is energized by startling plot twists that open or closed doors to potential suspects or motives. The Angels eliminated suspects based on one very specific clue about the killer, which deterred me from the person I was almost certain was the bad guy. The killer was finally revealed, and any open concerns were tidily handled. I am already eagerly awaiting the next in series! I highly recommend both this mystery and the series!
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
This cozy mystery series has several elements that keep me coming back for more. The characters’ ages span from late teens through young seniors. They are engaging, entertaining, people I would welcome as neighbors. The setting in North Harbor, Maine, sounds gorgeous, and is a popular tour bus destination. There is always humor, but not at another’s expense.
Sarah is the owner of the Second Chance, a popular repurpose shop I’d like to visit. Several of her grandmother’s friends opened their private investigations firm, Charlotte’s Angels, and their office has a permanent space in her shop. In part, she likes to keep an eye on them so they don’t get into trouble, and a couple of the ladies help out in the shop regularly. Sarah also helps them with their cases.
Elvis, Sarah’s black cat, just finished a photo shoot for a cat food company that wanted to use him in an advertisement. He knows he is handsome, and the scar across his nose gives him a rakish look. Elvis had been found by the harbor a few years ago by an old friend of Sarah’s family. Before gifting him to Sarah, Sam named him Elvis because he liked the music of the king. Elvis is a wonderful companion, very opinionated, and a feline lie detector. If someone is petting him and speaking or being questioned, he can tell in a moment if they are telling the truth.
Rose, one of the Angels, had made dog treats for Casey, a dog who rescued her after she was attacked several months ago. They were now good friends with Casey’s owners, Ashley and Keenan, who are expecting their first baby. When Rose and Sarah took the treats to Ashley, Casey was whimpering and looking towards the nearby water. Rose, Sarah, and Ashley took a walk with Casey to see what was upsetting him. He led them to a rental property, then took Sarah to a storm cellar. She could hear a puppy inside, and found a way down to get it. Just before getting out of the cellar, something made her look in the garbage bag tucked beneath a tarp in a corner. The good news was that the pup looked like one that a missing flyer had just gone out for. The bad news was, the body of a man was in the bag, and it looked like he had been murdered.
It was a couple of days before they learned about the murder victim. When his body was not recovered after a fall in Ireland three years ago, Ian Stone was thought to be dead. He was about to be investigated for suspicion of running a huge Ponzi scheme. None of the money was ever found, and his wife, certain he was dead, had recently remarried.
The cottage was owned by Channing, a long-time friend of Angels Rose and Liz. Channing was also a friend of Ian’s father and had known Ian since he was a boy. He didn’t know Ian was renting the cottage as a property management company handled everything. Despite that, Channing was suspected of hiding Ian for the three years since his death was apparently faked. The Angels are determined to find who killed Ian, as whoever killed him may have been the person who helped him hide, freeing Channing from the accusations.
Each character is designed with care. The regulars are vibrant people who love the lives they have, help others, and demonstrate that one doesn’t have to be related by blood to be family. I like how Sarah and Mac, and Rose and Mr. Peterson are both couples, each couple from different generations, as is Sarah’s grandmother, who remarried after being widowed for many years. None of the relationships take top billing over the mysteries, and each couple is adorable in their own way.
This complex mystery is energized by startling plot twists that open or closed doors to potential suspects or motives. The Angels eliminated suspects based on one very specific clue about the killer, which deterred me from the person I was almost certain was the bad guy. The killer was finally revealed, and any open concerns were tidily handled. I am already eagerly awaiting the next in series! I highly recommend both this mystery and the series!
February 23, 2024
This series is set in North Harbor, Maine and features a great cast of characters. I particularly enjoy that though Sarah is the narrator of the books, her grandmother’s friends are the primary detectives in the stories calling themselves Charlotte’s Angels (Rose is my favorite and also the most prominent).
In the latest mystery, Sarah and Rose are delivering dog treats to Ashley and her dog Casey (Casey had been involved with saving Rose in a previous book). When Casey starts whimpering, the three women follow him to see what he’s bothered by. Casey leads them to a rental property and over to the storm cellar, where Sarah hears a puppy stuck inside. She climbs down a suspicious ladder and rescues the puppy, but before she can climb back up she realizes that what she thought was a bag of garbage is actually a dead body!
It takes a few days before Sarah and Rose learn the identity of the body, and they’re surprised when they hear the victim is Ian Stone. Three years earlier Ian went missing in Ireland after a fall and was presumed dead when his body wasn’t recovered. Of course, the lack of a body and word of an investigation that had been looking into a Ponzi scheme Ian was thought to be involved with led to rumors that he faked his death and his wife Victoria helped him. The money he was thought to have taken was never found, nor was his body (until now).
It appears Ian had been alive all that time and returned to North Harbor for some reason. His wife Victoria had recently remarried, thinking he was dead. Meanwhile the rental property where he was found turns out to have been rented out to a man named Dan Cooper. This is presumably the alias Ian had been living under, and he had false documents to support it. When the owner of the property and longtime friend of Rose is accused of knowingly helping Ian hide out at his rental property, Sarah and Rose become determined to find the real killer.
One thing that I enjoy about Sofie Ryan’s books (and the ones she publishes under the name Sofie Kelly) are that she branches out with her victims and what is being solved. In particular, this is not the first time that she has used a cold case (or at least a victim linked to a cold case) as the central mystery to solve. I was immediately intrigued as soon as I found out that Ian Stone was presumed to be dead.
The investigation is seeking to find the killer, but part of that meant finding out where Ian had been the past three years, who might have helped him disappear (or known about it), and why he would return to North Harbor where he is sure to be recognized by someone. Ryan also drops in fun tidbits, including the assumed name that Ian was using (Dan Cooper) being a nod to the famous D. B. Cooper case. If you haven’t heard of that case I highly recommend looking it up! But clear your afternoon because you will fall down the rabbit hole of theories about the mysterious hijacker who vanished with the money and has never been located.
The mystery kept me hooked and I liked the twists and turns it took as Sarah and Rose hunted for answers. In particular, there is a nugget of information about the killer that narrows down the suspect pool quite a bit. I enjoyed how that tied in at the end of the book when the culprit is caught. The killer is unmasked and the curious cast of Ian Stone is finally closed, with plenty of answers about where he had been and why he came back.
A great mystery that can easily be read as a standalone book (though I recommend checking out the Second Chance Cat Mystery series)!
In the latest mystery, Sarah and Rose are delivering dog treats to Ashley and her dog Casey (Casey had been involved with saving Rose in a previous book). When Casey starts whimpering, the three women follow him to see what he’s bothered by. Casey leads them to a rental property and over to the storm cellar, where Sarah hears a puppy stuck inside. She climbs down a suspicious ladder and rescues the puppy, but before she can climb back up she realizes that what she thought was a bag of garbage is actually a dead body!
It takes a few days before Sarah and Rose learn the identity of the body, and they’re surprised when they hear the victim is Ian Stone. Three years earlier Ian went missing in Ireland after a fall and was presumed dead when his body wasn’t recovered. Of course, the lack of a body and word of an investigation that had been looking into a Ponzi scheme Ian was thought to be involved with led to rumors that he faked his death and his wife Victoria helped him. The money he was thought to have taken was never found, nor was his body (until now).
It appears Ian had been alive all that time and returned to North Harbor for some reason. His wife Victoria had recently remarried, thinking he was dead. Meanwhile the rental property where he was found turns out to have been rented out to a man named Dan Cooper. This is presumably the alias Ian had been living under, and he had false documents to support it. When the owner of the property and longtime friend of Rose is accused of knowingly helping Ian hide out at his rental property, Sarah and Rose become determined to find the real killer.
One thing that I enjoy about Sofie Ryan’s books (and the ones she publishes under the name Sofie Kelly) are that she branches out with her victims and what is being solved. In particular, this is not the first time that she has used a cold case (or at least a victim linked to a cold case) as the central mystery to solve. I was immediately intrigued as soon as I found out that Ian Stone was presumed to be dead.
The investigation is seeking to find the killer, but part of that meant finding out where Ian had been the past three years, who might have helped him disappear (or known about it), and why he would return to North Harbor where he is sure to be recognized by someone. Ryan also drops in fun tidbits, including the assumed name that Ian was using (Dan Cooper) being a nod to the famous D. B. Cooper case. If you haven’t heard of that case I highly recommend looking it up! But clear your afternoon because you will fall down the rabbit hole of theories about the mysterious hijacker who vanished with the money and has never been located.
The mystery kept me hooked and I liked the twists and turns it took as Sarah and Rose hunted for answers. In particular, there is a nugget of information about the killer that narrows down the suspect pool quite a bit. I enjoyed how that tied in at the end of the book when the culprit is caught. The killer is unmasked and the curious cast of Ian Stone is finally closed, with plenty of answers about where he had been and why he came back.
A great mystery that can easily be read as a standalone book (though I recommend checking out the Second Chance Cat Mystery series)!
March 23, 2024
Like many cozy series, the Second Chance Cat mysteries are written to a formula but it is a formula I really enjoy. Sarah owns Second Chance, a repurpose store, where she works alongside her boyfriend Mac and two retired women who she has known her entire life. The women, along with a retired male friend Mr. P, have created their own detective agency, Charlotte's Angels, which has an office in the building that houses Second Chance. That allows Sarah to keep an eye on the activities of the investigators, especially Rose who might be termed a "firecracker." Sarah is also good friends with a police detective and the town's crime scene investigator, which comes in handy given how many murder victims she discovers.
This time, Sarah and Rose are delivering dog snacks to a pregnant neighbor, when the dog goes running into a neighboring backyard. When Sarah tracks him down, he is sitting by an abandoned storm cellar and Sarah can hear a trapped puppy. When she goes down in the cellar to rescue the puppy, she discovers that what she thought was a pile of trash is in fact a dead body. The victim was a con man who swindled many people--and charitable institutions--out of their money so it is not surprising that someone would want him dead. But supposedly he was already dead, killed in an accident right before his crimes were uncovered. So where has he been for the last three years? And why has he returned to North Harbor? Sarah, Rose and Mr. P set out to discover the answers to those questions as well as to uncover the murderer.
Since cozies are written to a formula, it seems as though it would be easy to use that formula to create an engaging series. Lately, I have been reading a lot of first books in cozy series in an effort to discover some new favorites, and have come to the realization that writing a great series is quite difficult--or more authors would do it. Sarah is a very likable character and is written in such as way that it is not annoying or unbelievable that she is involved in solving so many murders--since her involvement always centers around her efforts to support and protect her elderly friends. And the elderly friends are not "quirky old folks." They are very intelligent, reasonable people who want to see evil punished. Two of them are retired teachers so they know a lot of the people in town, which leads them into investigating crimes. The feel of the series is cozy without been too cute. After reading a lot of first in series that miss the mark, it is nice when there is a new addition to a long-time favorite.
This time, Sarah and Rose are delivering dog snacks to a pregnant neighbor, when the dog goes running into a neighboring backyard. When Sarah tracks him down, he is sitting by an abandoned storm cellar and Sarah can hear a trapped puppy. When she goes down in the cellar to rescue the puppy, she discovers that what she thought was a pile of trash is in fact a dead body. The victim was a con man who swindled many people--and charitable institutions--out of their money so it is not surprising that someone would want him dead. But supposedly he was already dead, killed in an accident right before his crimes were uncovered. So where has he been for the last three years? And why has he returned to North Harbor? Sarah, Rose and Mr. P set out to discover the answers to those questions as well as to uncover the murderer.
Since cozies are written to a formula, it seems as though it would be easy to use that formula to create an engaging series. Lately, I have been reading a lot of first books in cozy series in an effort to discover some new favorites, and have come to the realization that writing a great series is quite difficult--or more authors would do it. Sarah is a very likable character and is written in such as way that it is not annoying or unbelievable that she is involved in solving so many murders--since her involvement always centers around her efforts to support and protect her elderly friends. And the elderly friends are not "quirky old folks." They are very intelligent, reasonable people who want to see evil punished. Two of them are retired teachers so they know a lot of the people in town, which leads them into investigating crimes. The feel of the series is cozy without been too cute. After reading a lot of first in series that miss the mark, it is nice when there is a new addition to a long-time favorite.
October 24, 2025
Ahoy there me mateys! Though this log’s focus is on sci-fi and fantasy, this Captain does have broader reading tastes. So occasionally I will share some reads that I enjoyed that are off the charts (a non sci-fi or fantasy). This series was brought to me attention by
Matey Nicole @ BookWyrmKnits
. It consists of 12 books. I bought them all from Audible during their summer sale. At this time, there is no indication that the author will write more in this series. So another series done! Of course, if that changes and other books are written, then I will likely read them too.
Sarah Grayson owns the store Second Chance, a secondhand and thrift shop in the (made-up) coastal town of North Harbor, Maine. Sarah has a group of elderly friends of her grandmother who are like family. These friends run an investigative agency called the Angels.
Where does the cat come in? Elvis was a stray wandering around the waterfront. "The big black cat with a scar across his nose turned up at a local bar when the band was playing the King of Rock and Roll’s music and [then one day] hopped in Sarah’s truck. Since then, he’s been her constant companion and the furry favorite of everyone who comes into the store." And aye, Elvis does play a part in helping solve crimes (in a mostly realistic way).
The set-up for this one was a lot of fun. Sarah and Rose are visiting a friend and her lovely dog, Casey, from a previous book. Casey leads them to an old storm cellar where a missing puppy has gotten stuck. Of course, Sarah finds a dead body in the cellar too. Only problem, the man was supposed to have already died three years before!
The solution to the mystery was blah as usual. It involves a Ponzi scheme and missing money. The missing money aspect and what happens to the killer at the end are very convoluted. I was actually quite confused and am still not 100% sure how the killer really found out about the "dead" man. Also the medical examiner "clue" that led lots of people to be taken off the suspect list was ridiculous. Just used so there could be a "twist." And again, more Elvis was needed. Arrr!
Sarah Grayson owns the store Second Chance, a secondhand and thrift shop in the (made-up) coastal town of North Harbor, Maine. Sarah has a group of elderly friends of her grandmother who are like family. These friends run an investigative agency called the Angels.
Where does the cat come in? Elvis was a stray wandering around the waterfront. "The big black cat with a scar across his nose turned up at a local bar when the band was playing the King of Rock and Roll’s music and [then one day] hopped in Sarah’s truck. Since then, he’s been her constant companion and the furry favorite of everyone who comes into the store." And aye, Elvis does play a part in helping solve crimes (in a mostly realistic way).
The set-up for this one was a lot of fun. Sarah and Rose are visiting a friend and her lovely dog, Casey, from a previous book. Casey leads them to an old storm cellar where a missing puppy has gotten stuck. Of course, Sarah finds a dead body in the cellar too. Only problem, the man was supposed to have already died three years before!
The solution to the mystery was blah as usual. It involves a Ponzi scheme and missing money. The missing money aspect and what happens to the killer at the end are very convoluted. I was actually quite confused and am still not 100% sure how the killer really found out about the "dead" man. Also the medical examiner "clue" that led lots of people to be taken off the suspect list was ridiculous. Just used so there could be a "twist." And again, more Elvis was needed. Arrr!
August 30, 2025
I do love this series. I briefly diverted to something else & was happy to get back to these friendly people. And I like all the stuff about the shop, having been an antiques/collectibles dealer for a while myself. It's like getting to enjoy the aesthetic without any of the work!
I'm getting used to the new reader of the audiobooks. I can't swear to its correctness, but I was impressed with her meeting the challenge of speaking Klingon in chapter 14! HOWEVER: also in chapter 14, pronouncing "faux" (I assume) like "fog" or perhaps "fah"?! Also in chapter 14: "...in the RIGIDY of her shoulders..."?! Having a bad day? Chapter 15: "The clothes looked almost new, which made THE SENSE, given that he'd only been running for the last month & a half." This last one, also from chapter 15, could be a reader or author error: Mr. P "quotes" Sherlock Holes: "When you have eliminated all which is POSSIBLE, what remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth." That made no sense, & was not how I remembered it from Vicki Delany's Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery series, so I asked Siri for the quote. "Holmes offered some insight into his method, claiming, 'When you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.'” You exclude/eliminate the IMpossible. Yes. That makes much more sense. The rest of the book was fine; all the problems I noticed were in those 2 chapters. 🤷🏼♀️
Anyway, about this plot, for once I was right about the perp. And about why they weren't being considered. I thought our clever detectives were a little slow to think of ambidexterity. I also think the ending should have mentioned more sympathy for the....remaining relative of the guilty party. (Can't say more without hitting the "spoiler" button.) I'd also like to know how long the killer was contemplating their treasure hunt. (Days? Or years?)
I'm getting used to the new reader of the audiobooks. I can't swear to its correctness, but I was impressed with her meeting the challenge of speaking Klingon in chapter 14! HOWEVER: also in chapter 14, pronouncing "faux" (I assume) like "fog" or perhaps "fah"?! Also in chapter 14: "...in the RIGIDY of her shoulders..."?! Having a bad day? Chapter 15: "The clothes looked almost new, which made THE SENSE, given that he'd only been running for the last month & a half." This last one, also from chapter 15, could be a reader or author error: Mr. P "quotes" Sherlock Holes: "When you have eliminated all which is POSSIBLE, what remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth." That made no sense, & was not how I remembered it from Vicki Delany's Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery series, so I asked Siri for the quote. "Holmes offered some insight into his method, claiming, 'When you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.'” You exclude/eliminate the IMpossible. Yes. That makes much more sense. The rest of the book was fine; all the problems I noticed were in those 2 chapters. 🤷🏼♀️
Anyway, about this plot, for once I was right about the perp. And about why they weren't being considered. I thought our clever detectives were a little slow to think of ambidexterity. I also think the ending should have mentioned more sympathy for the....remaining relative of the guilty party. (Can't say more without hitting the "spoiler" button.) I'd also like to know how long the killer was contemplating their treasure hunt. (Days? Or years?)
May 6, 2024
Sarah Grayson takes some time off to visit with a friend and her dog. But the visit soon comes to an end when the dog leads them to an abandoned storm cellar on a neighboring property where Sarah finds a dead body. The dead man turns out to be someone who stole millions from investors and was thought to have died three years ago. The property owner who's a friend of the Charlotte's Angels, the senior sleuth team who works from Sarah's store, comes under suspicion so the team decides to investigate and clear his name. But clues are hard to come by and the suspects are many. Can Sarah and her cat, Elvis, help the Angels find a killer?
Sofie Ryan is a phenomenal author and storyteller and the Second Chance Cat series is one that I always look forward to. I absolutely love the series and this book's one of my favorites. The book is well-written with well-developed and complex characters and a fast-paced plot. I was truly captivated by this amazing story and was kept hooked from beginning to end. The mystery will keep you guessing and on your toes with the multiple twists and turns and red herrings. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to more from the series.
Sofie Ryan is a phenomenal author and storyteller and the Second Chance Cat series is one that I always look forward to. I absolutely love the series and this book's one of my favorites. The book is well-written with well-developed and complex characters and a fast-paced plot. I was truly captivated by this amazing story and was kept hooked from beginning to end. The mystery will keep you guessing and on your toes with the multiple twists and turns and red herrings. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to more from the series.
June 7, 2024
Another fun visit with the folks at Second Chance. All the recurring characters make an appearance but some more prominently than others. Liz is barely heard from again after hiring the Angels to prove a friend had no involvement aiding and abetting a back from the dead investment swindler. Charlotte’s involvement is limited. Avery pops in and out of the shop. A couple of week’s from high school graduation leaves her future involvement in question. Not to mention who would possibly replace her as artistic designer at the shop. This story was mostly Mr. P and Rose. A competent and resourceful duo.
Readers are given a slate of possible murderers to sift through. Unfortunately, the Angels relied on a clue received from the medical examiner to confirm alibis.
Elvis the cat did not play a big part and did not perform any supernatural detecting abilities. He was a cat. A friendly cat but a realistic cat.
Readers are given a slate of possible murderers to sift through. Unfortunately, the Angels relied on a clue received from the medical examiner to confirm alibis.
Elvis the cat did not play a big part and did not perform any supernatural detecting abilities. He was a cat. A friendly cat but a realistic cat.
February 17, 2024
It's always an interesting visit with Elvis and the group at the Second Chance re-purpose store, and all the hats they wear there. This murder mystery had Charlotte's Angels and Sarah scratching their collective heads. Many viable suspects, eliminated one by one. I did catch one clue and saw, of course in hindsight, where one of Sarah's trains of thought was going. Interesting the way backstories feed the investigation. Even Avery's boyfriend has some helpful background this time.
In addition to the mystery, there were movements in the personal stories of several characters (Nick, Michelle, Avery, Ashley) (Wondering how Avery's high school graduation will affect her role in future tales, particularly when she seems to have the creative display instincts.)
Sofie Ryan/Kelly can write LOL moments into her mysteries. Think Big Bird here and squirrels and coffee in one of the Magical Cats books.
In addition to the mystery, there were movements in the personal stories of several characters (Nick, Michelle, Avery, Ashley) (Wondering how Avery's high school graduation will affect her role in future tales, particularly when she seems to have the creative display instincts.)
Sofie Ryan/Kelly can write LOL moments into her mysteries. Think Big Bird here and squirrels and coffee in one of the Magical Cats books.
July 23, 2024
Sarah Grayson is taking a break from her bustling secondhand shop in small-town Maine to spend time with a friend and her dog. But their purr-fect visit comes to an end when the dog leads them to a storm cellar on a nearby property, where they discover a dead body.
The deceased turns out to be a sticky-fingered financial adviser who swindled millions from investors and who has been presumed dead for almost three years. Unfortunately, suspicion falls on the owner of the property where the body was found—and that owner is a good friend of Charlotte’s Angels’, the senior citizen sleuths who work out of Sarah’s shop. It’s all paws on deck, as the Angels are determined to clear his good name. But with a tight-lipped widow, a possibly shifty sister, and a slew of unhappy investors in the mix, the list of murder suspects seems endless. Sarah, Elvis, and the Angels have a lot of webs to untangle before they can catch the culprit.
The deceased turns out to be a sticky-fingered financial adviser who swindled millions from investors and who has been presumed dead for almost three years. Unfortunately, suspicion falls on the owner of the property where the body was found—and that owner is a good friend of Charlotte’s Angels’, the senior citizen sleuths who work out of Sarah’s shop. It’s all paws on deck, as the Angels are determined to clear his good name. But with a tight-lipped widow, a possibly shifty sister, and a slew of unhappy investors in the mix, the list of murder suspects seems endless. Sarah, Elvis, and the Angels have a lot of webs to untangle before they can catch the culprit.
November 4, 2024
This is a cute series, good for people who like a 'family' kind of mystery. There's a lot of characters, and a lot of 'non-mystery' stuff centred around the shop that the narrator owns.
I found this book flowed better than some of the others in the series - the gang is investigating the death of a former town resident who ran a Ponzi scheme and faked his own death.
I do find that an awful lot of people die in this town of 15000, although I guess that's kind of the Midsomer thing all over...
Sarah is pretty well always the one finding the body, so calling her out (at one point) for being too reckless is kind of counter productive.
SPOILER follows
I do like a bit of logic even in my cozies, and having the big clue hinge on 'the town's cable went down' seems ingenuous to me at best - is it 1990? Did anyone ask if the suspects were streaming? (or heaven forbid, watching a dvd?) Is this not why there are content editors? - 1/2 star for this.
I found this book flowed better than some of the others in the series - the gang is investigating the death of a former town resident who ran a Ponzi scheme and faked his own death.
I do find that an awful lot of people die in this town of 15000, although I guess that's kind of the Midsomer thing all over...
Sarah is pretty well always the one finding the body, so calling her out (at one point) for being too reckless is kind of counter productive.
SPOILER follows
I do like a bit of logic even in my cozies, and having the big clue hinge on 'the town's cable went down' seems ingenuous to me at best - is it 1990? Did anyone ask if the suspects were streaming? (or heaven forbid, watching a dvd?) Is this not why there are content editors? - 1/2 star for this.
February 1, 2025
Sarah and her friend Rose are visiting another young friend when their dog leads Sarah to a storm cellar…and a dead body. The victim, Ian Stone, was already presumed dead, although many thought he faked his death after swindling investors out of millions of dollars. It seems they were right, but now Ian is dead for certain. Soon, Charlotte’s Angels, the senior citizen sleuthing group led by Rose’s beau, Mr Peterson, is on the case. It seemed plenty of people wanted Ian dead, from those he duped to his former wife to his half-sister. It’s going to take some clever investigating to get to the bottom of this case.
The story moved along at a quick pace, interspersed with snippets of Sarah’s downtime. The author dropped one small clue that helped me figure out who dunnit, but I enjoyed reading along as it played out. Characters were portrayed well, and the narrative was sprinkled with humor and romance.
Very good, four stars
The story moved along at a quick pace, interspersed with snippets of Sarah’s downtime. The author dropped one small clue that helped me figure out who dunnit, but I enjoyed reading along as it played out. Characters were portrayed well, and the narrative was sprinkled with humor and romance.
Very good, four stars
March 4, 2024
This has been a favorite series of mine but not one that’s always at the forefront of my mind; I always forgot how much I enjoy it until I see a new one comes out and I can’t wait to read it. Maybe that’s a good thing so I’m not always waiting in anticipation for the next book and I don’t devour it right away. This series has it all and the new book is no exception: the murder happens fairly early on, the focus is on the murder with just enough character development and scene setting to keep the backstory going. I found the writing easy to follow and it flowed pretty smoothly, getting me caught up in the story and keeping me reading well into the night. This can be read as a standalone but I recommend starting from the beginning to really get to know the characters better and how they got to where they are now.
March 5, 2024
The Second Chance Cat series is one of my favorite cozy mystery series to read. When I pick up one of these books by Sofie Ryan, I know I'm going to get good writing and a good mystery. However, I didn't enjoy this one as much. There wasn't a lot of that witty banter between characters, and I would have liked to have seen Sarah's friend Michelle more involved in their investigation. There was also one scene with two completely descriptions of what Sarah was wearing to a meeting.
If you haven't read this series before, I highly recommend starting at the beginning for a better appreciation of all the characters in Sarah's life!
If you haven't read this series before, I highly recommend starting at the beginning for a better appreciation of all the characters in Sarah's life!
April 23, 2024
Sarah Grayson, the owner of a second hand store called "Second Chance", is enjoying some vacation
time with a close friend and her dog. Their time sudden comes to an end when a dead body is found in a storm cellar just down the street from where her friend lives. Apparently, this man, Ian Stone was pronounced dead nearly three years ago. He had also scammed a lot of people out of their money, and there are a lot of suspects in his death. "Charlotte's Angels", a private investigative agency that works out of Sarah's shop, has taken on the case, doing everything in their power to find the real killer.
time with a close friend and her dog. Their time sudden comes to an end when a dead body is found in a storm cellar just down the street from where her friend lives. Apparently, this man, Ian Stone was pronounced dead nearly three years ago. He had also scammed a lot of people out of their money, and there are a lot of suspects in his death. "Charlotte's Angels", a private investigative agency that works out of Sarah's shop, has taken on the case, doing everything in their power to find the real killer.
May 20, 2024
This is book 11 in the Second Chance Cat series. . Sarah and all her friends are back to catch a killer. When a friend is charged with the murder of a con man who disappeared with millions of dollars. The con man was found in his basement and the local police are sure they have the case wrapped up. It’s all paws on deck, as the Angels are determined to clear his good name. But with a tight-lipped widow, a possibly shifty sister, and a slew of unhappy investors in the mix, the list of murder suspects seems endless. Sarah, Elvis, and the Angels have a lot of webs to untangle before they can catch the culprit. Always a fun read with a great case to solve.
January 14, 2025
Continuing to enjoy this series, and all the characters in it. Although I felt that this book was more about a dog named Casey (who had saved Rose in a previous book) than about Elvis the cat. That's okay, I love dogs too!
When a puppy goes missing, Casey leads Sarah and Rose to a storm cellar, it seems the puppy has fallen into it. When Sarah rescues him, she discovers there is a body of a man down there also. A man who apparently faked his own death three years ago, after he had bilked millions of dollars from people. Why did he come back, who killed him and where is the money? All questions that Charlotte's Angels decide to find the answers to.
When a puppy goes missing, Casey leads Sarah and Rose to a storm cellar, it seems the puppy has fallen into it. When Sarah rescues him, she discovers there is a body of a man down there also. A man who apparently faked his own death three years ago, after he had bilked millions of dollars from people. Why did he come back, who killed him and where is the money? All questions that Charlotte's Angels decide to find the answers to.
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