Dollycas’s Thoughts
Detective Whiskers has a new case and with the help of the Paradise Cove Murder Society, i.e. his person Sheila and her new friends, he intends to solve it quickly.
Sheila and her cat, Detective Whiskers are starting to feel more at home in Paradise Cove but they are still missing Sheila’s husband, Fred, a former police detective who passed away shortly before they all were set to retire in the beach town. Detective Whiskers had helped Fred solve some cases but he and Sheila just don’t seem to have the right connection yet. She thinks his vocal outbursts mean he is hungry or wants a belly rub.
Sheila’s grandson Freddy has come for a visit in a fog of body spray. He takes a job as a bartender to help one of Sheila’s friends and to make a little cash. No one ever imagined one of his customers would die after drinking one of the House Special Spanish Moss cocktails or that Freddy could be Chief Anderson’s number one suspect.
Can a cat and a group of female sleuths prove that Freddy isn’t the killer? Will a small rodent be able to assist in the investigation? Will everyone survive Freddy’s liberal use of body spray?
I escaped right into this second story told from the cat’s point of view. Detective Whiskers tries so hard to communicate with Sheila while he communicates with ease with Rodney, a mouse, a beach cat, named Zappa, and police dog, Kojak. There is also a special blue heron on the beach. They are all getting a little sick of listening to him tell how he saved Sheila from a life behind bars, so he really needs a new case. I really enjoy the way Mr. Abernathy captures the animal’s personalities and habits. Detective Whiskers really uses a common sense approach to his theories and investigations. He does get frustrated with Sheila for not understanding him the way Fred did, but he does get to enjoy some nice treats and belly rubs. His commentary and the way he travels all around town throughout the whole book are just priceless.
The author does an excellent job developing the human characters too. We are getting to know all of them better including Nosy Nancy. Sheila has made quick friends with Evelyn, Julia, Becky, and Tarrie Ann. They have formed the Paradise Cove Murder Society but love to get together to share cocktails and food whether they are trying to solve a murder or not. I would love to meet them all in real life. We also meet Sheila’s grandson Freddy and her housecleaner Susi, they both seem to connect right away.
The mystery had a few other suspects in addition to Freddy. I knew the murder weapon almost immediately but the whodunit was a real mystery. I had a great time figuring that out right along with Detective Whiskers. It was neat that he remembered a previous police puzzler that Fred had shared with him to make all the clues fall into place and then took action.
Mr. Abernathy has written another fun and entertaining story that I zipped right through all in one afternoon. CSI: Cat Sleuth Investigation has engaging characters and a cat – ivating mystery laced with humor and suspense in perfect amounts. A little catnip for all cozy lovers. I can’t wait to escape into Miami Mice soon.