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A Cats in Trouble Mystery #5
The Cat, the Mill and the Murder
When cat lover and quilter Jillian Hart volunteers to help a local animal shelter relocate a colony of feral cats living in an abandoned textile mill, she never expects to find a woman living there, too. Jeannie went missing from Mercy, South Carolina, a decade ago, after her own daughter’s disappearance.
Jeannie refuses to leave the mill or abandon Boots, her cat who died years ago. After all, she and Boots feel the need to protect the premises from "creepers” who come in the night. After Jeannie is hurt in an accident and is taken away, those who've come to town to help repurpose the mill uncover a terrible discovery... As the wheels start turning in Jillian’s mind, a mysterious new feline friend aids in her quest to unearth a long-kept and dark secret.
Jeannie refuses to leave the mill or abandon Boots, her cat who died years ago. After all, she and Boots feel the need to protect the premises from "creepers” who come in the night. After Jeannie is hurt in an accident and is taken away, those who've come to town to help repurpose the mill uncover a terrible discovery... As the wheels start turning in Jillian’s mind, a mysterious new feline friend aids in her quest to unearth a long-kept and dark secret.
292 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
79 people are currently reading
881 people want to read
About the author
Leann Sweeney
27 books524 followersLeann Sweeney was born and raised in Niagara Falls and educated at St. Joseph's Hospital and Lemoyne College in Syracuse, NY. She also has a degree from the University of Houston in behavioral science and worked for many years in psychiatry. Her short fiction won many awards and several mysteries were published in small market mystery magazines. Leann has written 13 cozy mysteries: 5 in The Yellow Rose Mystery Series and 8 in the Cats in Trouble Mysteries. #9 is being written now that Leann is recovering from a three year illness after a fall. Both series are published by Berkley and several titles made the NY Times bestseller list.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
May 16, 2013
What a beautiful and sweet mystery!!! It was a mystery over 10 years old. Who was it living in the mill all that time? Why were they there and who were the creepers? Leann Sweeney has done it again. I love the fact that her characters are such pet people and care so much about the ferel cats. Now I'm ready for the next one!!!!
May 3, 2013
The 5th installment in Leann Sweeney's Cats in Trouble mystery series, "The Cat, the Mill & the Murder" has our heroine Jillian Hart helping out with a colony of feral cats at a local closed mill. There she finds Jeannie who has been missing for more than a decade & then stumbles onto a dead body after Jeannie lands in the hospital due to an accident. Between ghost cats & the usual assortment of characters, Sweeney does one of her better jobs with the story from start to finish as these characters continue to grown. The final scenes are heart stopping & with one simple line at the end has fans of this series now awaiting the 6th installment in the series. Overall a better than average installment in this series of cozy cat mysteries
December 31, 2017
I enjoy this series of books being a quilter, multiple cat owner, with cats with medical issues.
This particular book took me longer to get through.
A run down mill is in the process of being bought by investors, feral cats need to be safely removed from the building when a squatter is found living in the mill. Removal of the squatter reveals a long dead body that needed to be investigated. Then another murder occurs.
To "help" solve the murders, the squatters ghost cat appears to the Main Character.
The ghost cat does her job & fades away, both murders are solved & the squatter gets assistance to be integrated back into society.
However, there is no more mention of the removal of the feral cats and their fate.
This particular book took me longer to get through.
A run down mill is in the process of being bought by investors, feral cats need to be safely removed from the building when a squatter is found living in the mill. Removal of the squatter reveals a long dead body that needed to be investigated. Then another murder occurs.
To "help" solve the murders, the squatters ghost cat appears to the Main Character.
The ghost cat does her job & fades away, both murders are solved & the squatter gets assistance to be integrated back into society.
However, there is no more mention of the removal of the feral cats and their fate.
June 2, 2017
Jillian Hart is back in Leann Sweeney's The Cat, the Mill, and the Murder. There are a lot of feral cats living in the old textile mill in her hometown of Mercy, SC, and Jillian has volunteered to help relocate them. But she and the man who runs the local cat shelter do not expect to find a homeless woman living in the mill. She seems very mentally disturbed, talking about not being able to leave the mill because the fireplace there is a holy place. When Jillian talks to get best friend, Candace, a deputy for the sheriff's department in love with forensics, Candace recognizes the woman, Jeannie, as someone who went missing 10 years earlier, several months after her high school age daughter, Kay Ellen, disappeared. The next day, they return to the mill to find Jeannie lying in pain with a broken hip. While Jeannie goes into surgery, the police excavate the fireplace, where they find the skeleton of Kay Ellen.
Read the rest of this review, more reviews, and other wonderful, geeky articles on FangirlNation
Read the rest of this review, more reviews, and other wonderful, geeky articles on FangirlNation
April 15, 2018
The Cat, The Mill and The Murder is a cosy mystery -- a subgenre of crime fiction where sex and violence is downplayed and the crime is usually solved by a member of the public instead of police officers, detectives and the like.
What attracted me to this story is the ghost cat. I liked the sound of that and felt it would make for a different read (for me, at least). I enjoyed the interaction of the main character and the ghost cat. In fact, I enjoyed the main character's interaction with all the other characters too. She seemed like a real, decent person; even with her quirks. Her obsession with her own cats was nice, they were her babies and I get the attachment there. I have a dog that I feel the same way about.
The plot was well crafted, in my opinion. I liked the way it came together in a natural way. All the players had good reasons for what they felt and what they did. The mystery was believable and the clues given out at just the right moments to keep the reader interested.
This is the first book I've read in the series, and the first book I've read by this author. I'd definitely read others.
Recommended.
What attracted me to this story is the ghost cat. I liked the sound of that and felt it would make for a different read (for me, at least). I enjoyed the interaction of the main character and the ghost cat. In fact, I enjoyed the main character's interaction with all the other characters too. She seemed like a real, decent person; even with her quirks. Her obsession with her own cats was nice, they were her babies and I get the attachment there. I have a dog that I feel the same way about.
The plot was well crafted, in my opinion. I liked the way it came together in a natural way. All the players had good reasons for what they felt and what they did. The mystery was believable and the clues given out at just the right moments to keep the reader interested.
This is the first book I've read in the series, and the first book I've read by this author. I'd definitely read others.
Recommended.
January 16, 2016
In this fifth installment of the Cats in Trouble series Jillian has volunteered to help relocate a clowder of feral cats from on old mill so the city can help investors revamp the space. She was quite surprised to also find a woman living in the mill. Jeannie went missing from Mercy 10 years ago shortly after her daughter disappeared.
Jeannie has no plans to evacuate the mill where she lives with her cat Boots. She tells Jillian, it is a “holy place” and she must protect it from “creepers”. When Jeanie is hurt and forced to leave the mill to go to the hospital Jillian learns there are more surprises in the old mill. Secrets that have been buried for years start to see the light of day.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Leann’s love of felines shines brightly in her stories and each one is better than the last. This one features the Lorraine Stanley Textile Mill. Cozy loves will recognize this homage to two special ladies.
This story takes us to the “other side of the tracks” to the Mill Village. A little trip back in history but even in 2013 there is still the division of classes even as one of mighty rich have fallen on hard times. They still have the hoity-toity attitude.
We also learn about feral cats in a very entertaining way. Shawn explains the difference between the cats we love to cuddle and the cats we just can’t.
In addition to the wonderful character of Jeannie, our favorites from the past return. Jillian and Tom’s romance is evolving even with Lydia still trying her best to keep them apart. I laughed out loud as she was kept out of crime scene and she begged Tom for his help while doing her best to ignore that Jillian was even in the room.
But the characters that capture my heart have four paws, Merlot, Syrah, Chablis and now Boots add the special touch to this story. I love how much Jillian loves her kitties and even has an app on her phone to check on them. I also love the way most of the residents of Mercy are pet lovers and believe in humane treatment of all animals. In fact this book was part of Penguin’s Read Humane Campaign. All through the month of May you can purchase special copies of six different books and Penguin will donate $25000 to the Humane Society of the U.S. to fight animal cruelty.
Another “catavating” cozy from Leann Sweeney! and may I add another New York Times Bestseller!
Jeannie has no plans to evacuate the mill where she lives with her cat Boots. She tells Jillian, it is a “holy place” and she must protect it from “creepers”. When Jeanie is hurt and forced to leave the mill to go to the hospital Jillian learns there are more surprises in the old mill. Secrets that have been buried for years start to see the light of day.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Leann’s love of felines shines brightly in her stories and each one is better than the last. This one features the Lorraine Stanley Textile Mill. Cozy loves will recognize this homage to two special ladies.
This story takes us to the “other side of the tracks” to the Mill Village. A little trip back in history but even in 2013 there is still the division of classes even as one of mighty rich have fallen on hard times. They still have the hoity-toity attitude.
We also learn about feral cats in a very entertaining way. Shawn explains the difference between the cats we love to cuddle and the cats we just can’t.
In addition to the wonderful character of Jeannie, our favorites from the past return. Jillian and Tom’s romance is evolving even with Lydia still trying her best to keep them apart. I laughed out loud as she was kept out of crime scene and she begged Tom for his help while doing her best to ignore that Jillian was even in the room.
But the characters that capture my heart have four paws, Merlot, Syrah, Chablis and now Boots add the special touch to this story. I love how much Jillian loves her kitties and even has an app on her phone to check on them. I also love the way most of the residents of Mercy are pet lovers and believe in humane treatment of all animals. In fact this book was part of Penguin’s Read Humane Campaign. All through the month of May you can purchase special copies of six different books and Penguin will donate $25000 to the Humane Society of the U.S. to fight animal cruelty.
Another “catavating” cozy from Leann Sweeney! and may I add another New York Times Bestseller!
May 19, 2013
I've enjoyed this series since the first book, The Cat, the Quilt and the Corpse. They are intelligent mysteries that seem like they are written with cat lovers in mind. They deal with some tough social issues (including feral cat populations and kitten mills), and they remain one of my favorite cozy mystery series.
That's why when I discover a new one is going to be released I don't hesitate to pre-order it. This is a series I must read on release day!!
The latest in the series, The Cat, the Mill and the Murder, surrounds an abandoned textile mill, where Jillian Hart is helping her friend, Shaun, round up the feral cats in the Mill before the Mill is renovated and turned into a urban village or residential condos. What Jillian and Shaun find is more than just cats. They find a homeless woman living in the mill and a skeleton! As Jillian, with the help of architect, Dustin, and police officer, Candace, try to find out who the skeleton belongs to and why someone wanted that person dead.
For me, The Cat, the Mill and the Murder was quite a moving and emotional read. It starts off with the feral cats that they are trying to relocate before the Mill undergoes construction, and goes onto the homeless woman, who is guarding the bones, a cold case and onto the division in the town between the folk that live in the "Mill Village" and the rest of the town. I was completely drawn into the world where there are still differences, despite the Mill having been closed for a long time.
My favorite character? Boots! Boots is a ghost cat and he certainly has a paw in helping Jillian solve the case. I absolutely loved Boots. As a pet lover since my teens I've seen some of my most beloved animals pass on, and the comfort that Boots gives the humans ,that can see him, is a huge part of my enjoyment of this book.
I cannot recommend this series enough to animal lovers and fans of a darn good mystery. The mystery was multi-layered and kept my guessing right to the end, and as always I'm anxious for the next Cats in Trouble book!!
That's why when I discover a new one is going to be released I don't hesitate to pre-order it. This is a series I must read on release day!!
The latest in the series, The Cat, the Mill and the Murder, surrounds an abandoned textile mill, where Jillian Hart is helping her friend, Shaun, round up the feral cats in the Mill before the Mill is renovated and turned into a urban village or residential condos. What Jillian and Shaun find is more than just cats. They find a homeless woman living in the mill and a skeleton! As Jillian, with the help of architect, Dustin, and police officer, Candace, try to find out who the skeleton belongs to and why someone wanted that person dead.
For me, The Cat, the Mill and the Murder was quite a moving and emotional read. It starts off with the feral cats that they are trying to relocate before the Mill undergoes construction, and goes onto the homeless woman, who is guarding the bones, a cold case and onto the division in the town between the folk that live in the "Mill Village" and the rest of the town. I was completely drawn into the world where there are still differences, despite the Mill having been closed for a long time.
My favorite character? Boots! Boots is a ghost cat and he certainly has a paw in helping Jillian solve the case. I absolutely loved Boots. As a pet lover since my teens I've seen some of my most beloved animals pass on, and the comfort that Boots gives the humans ,that can see him, is a huge part of my enjoyment of this book.
I cannot recommend this series enough to animal lovers and fans of a darn good mystery. The mystery was multi-layered and kept my guessing right to the end, and as always I'm anxious for the next Cats in Trouble book!!
October 12, 2014
The Cat, the Mill and the Murder
Are you a lover of Cozy mysteries? True Cozies?
Are you right at home and in your element with characters you've grown accustom to and enjoy reading about and being in their company?
Do you appreciate authors who build up to a climax & at the same time evolve relationships with the characters?
If you said "Yes" to any of these questions then this is the author and the cozy (series) for you.
This latest installment in the Cats in Trouble mystery series has Jillian Hart working with Shawn of the local pet shelter to rid an old run down mill of feral cats. That old mill, the Lorraine Stanley Textile Mill had once employed many townsfolk for nearly a century in the weaving of cotton fabrics. Dustin Gray is the industrial engineer who is in charge of assisting both of them with this task and that should have been enough to keep them busy. That is until they come across Jeannie, a woman with deep roots in the town, a sad history with dark secrets known only to her. It appears Jeannie has been homeless for quite some time and been holding out inside this run down heap of a building scavenging for food and living by her wits.
Jeannie tells Jillian and Dustin of her Holy Place. That place hidden from view for these many years holds more than just holy memories. And now it's up to Jillian to assist her old friend Candace of the local police dept. get to the bottom of this mystery. Will questions be answered? Questions regarding Jeannie's past, the towns past and the mills past.
I found this book to be a true cozy by a faithful author which is one good reason I enjoy this series. This is a book you can read all the way through or at intervals. It's a relaxing cozy as a cozy should be with enough thought to the plot to keep you on your toes.
Are you a lover of Cozy mysteries? True Cozies?
Are you right at home and in your element with characters you've grown accustom to and enjoy reading about and being in their company?
Do you appreciate authors who build up to a climax & at the same time evolve relationships with the characters?
If you said "Yes" to any of these questions then this is the author and the cozy (series) for you.
This latest installment in the Cats in Trouble mystery series has Jillian Hart working with Shawn of the local pet shelter to rid an old run down mill of feral cats. That old mill, the Lorraine Stanley Textile Mill had once employed many townsfolk for nearly a century in the weaving of cotton fabrics. Dustin Gray is the industrial engineer who is in charge of assisting both of them with this task and that should have been enough to keep them busy. That is until they come across Jeannie, a woman with deep roots in the town, a sad history with dark secrets known only to her. It appears Jeannie has been homeless for quite some time and been holding out inside this run down heap of a building scavenging for food and living by her wits.
Jeannie tells Jillian and Dustin of her Holy Place. That place hidden from view for these many years holds more than just holy memories. And now it's up to Jillian to assist her old friend Candace of the local police dept. get to the bottom of this mystery. Will questions be answered? Questions regarding Jeannie's past, the towns past and the mills past.
I found this book to be a true cozy by a faithful author which is one good reason I enjoy this series. This is a book you can read all the way through or at intervals. It's a relaxing cozy as a cozy should be with enough thought to the plot to keep you on your toes.
June 21, 2013
How does Leann Sweeney just keep getting better!?
I've enjoyed Leann Sweeney's writing since I picked up the first book in the Yellow Rose series. Each entry was better than the last, then she started the Cats In Trouble series so of course I had to follow! I was hooked from the first book and this latest entry did not disappoint!
Jillian Hart is helping her friend Shawn with the feral cat colony in an old mill...yes, she wants to save the cats and trapping them is the best option, but her interest in quilting, fabrics and textiles makes her curious to see the inside of the building as well. As she and Shawn work their way through in the dark one night, they're shocked to find a homeless woman living in the old mill office. The woman was thought to have left town years ago after her daughter's disappearance...this is just the first mystery to unfold.
All the usual characters are there, with a few more introduced as the "town vs. mill village" culture is presented. I hope some of those new faces will pop up in future books as well.
I won't go into more detail because I hate reviews that give too much away. Just know that this is another excellent book and I look forward to the next!
I've enjoyed Leann Sweeney's writing since I picked up the first book in the Yellow Rose series. Each entry was better than the last, then she started the Cats In Trouble series so of course I had to follow! I was hooked from the first book and this latest entry did not disappoint!
Jillian Hart is helping her friend Shawn with the feral cat colony in an old mill...yes, she wants to save the cats and trapping them is the best option, but her interest in quilting, fabrics and textiles makes her curious to see the inside of the building as well. As she and Shawn work their way through in the dark one night, they're shocked to find a homeless woman living in the old mill office. The woman was thought to have left town years ago after her daughter's disappearance...this is just the first mystery to unfold.
All the usual characters are there, with a few more introduced as the "town vs. mill village" culture is presented. I hope some of those new faces will pop up in future books as well.
I won't go into more detail because I hate reviews that give too much away. Just know that this is another excellent book and I look forward to the next!
September 11, 2015
By far, this is the best book out of this series for me. I love the detail the author took in writing about the mill and the town. I live in a town that had a mill almost like this and it too had a small village along with it. This is a great way to introduce our mill history that is now long gone since so much outsourcing and people buying so many products from other seas other than American textiles. I myself can remember a time when theses mills were still producing America jobs. Sad. Anyhow, this rundown mill created an excellent mystery and leave it to Jillian to be right in the middle of the whole process.
I loved the ghost cat in this story it added some excellent paranormal elements into the story but what really draws me to reading theses cozy mysteries is the detail the authors puts into these books, it’s like you are right there in the middle finding the bones, murder and helping the cats.
If you love cats, a murder mystery, and love this is a series for you.
- See more at: http://www.bittenbyromance.com/2014/0...
I loved the ghost cat in this story it added some excellent paranormal elements into the story but what really draws me to reading theses cozy mysteries is the detail the authors puts into these books, it’s like you are right there in the middle finding the bones, murder and helping the cats.
If you love cats, a murder mystery, and love this is a series for you.
- See more at: http://www.bittenbyromance.com/2014/0...
April 10, 2018
The Cat, the Mill and the Murder is the fifth in Leann Sweeney's Cat's in Trouble series. Jillian Hart is at it again! Jillian has volunteered to help the local animal shelter relocate a large colony of feral cats living in an abandoned textile mill. During the initial visit to the mill to see just how big a job this will be Jillian discovers an old woman living there. Jeannie had gone missing a decade ago after her own daughter ran away and she refuses to leave. After Jeannie suffers a fall and is taken to a local hospital, a skeleton of a young woman is discovered in the mill. Jillian knows she must do everything she can to help solve the case.
All the main characters are back. I continue to enjoy Jillian and Candice's friendship. It's also nice to see the Mercy PD become more accepting of her help in general. The textile mill is a neat setting for the mystery and we get to learn a little bit about mill history. The plot is solid and thoroughly entertaining. I continue to enjoy this cozy mystery series.
All the main characters are back. I continue to enjoy Jillian and Candice's friendship. It's also nice to see the Mercy PD become more accepting of her help in general. The textile mill is a neat setting for the mystery and we get to learn a little bit about mill history. The plot is solid and thoroughly entertaining. I continue to enjoy this cozy mystery series.
July 27, 2016
Of the five "Cats in Trouble" books I've read so far, this is my favorite. I loved the way Sweeney pairs a long-forgotten murder with a just-now-happening murder. I was a little skeptical about her inclusion of a ghost cat into a series that, until now, hasn't had any hint of the supernatural. You can't just switch genres like that! But Boots the Ghost Cat is endearing, and I found that I accepted the little ghost's presence pretty easily once I got into the book.
These books are light and sweet, good escapism. I'm looking forward to reading the next one, which I actually have on my bookshelf right now, thanks to a wife who impulse-bought most of the series in one fabulous box from Amazon.
These books are light and sweet, good escapism. I'm looking forward to reading the next one, which I actually have on my bookshelf right now, thanks to a wife who impulse-bought most of the series in one fabulous box from Amazon.
May 17, 2013
Cat lover and expert on the textiles industry, Jillian finds herself helping to clear out an old textiles mill of feral cats. While there she discovers an old homeless woman and the skeletal remains of a young girl. With the help of a ghost cat (Boots) which adopts her, she is on the trail of the young woman's killer and determined to help the old woman find a home.
The Cat, the Mill and the Murder is pretty much a lesson in what a cozy murder mystery should be. It's the sort of book you read by the fire on a cold and rainy day with a cup of Irish coffee at your side. Much love for this book.
The Cat, the Mill and the Murder is pretty much a lesson in what a cozy murder mystery should be. It's the sort of book you read by the fire on a cold and rainy day with a cup of Irish coffee at your side. Much love for this book.
May 25, 2013
This was a 10 year old mystery that had never been solved. Who is living in the mill? Where did the body come from? Start out with one murder, but a second occurs.
This was a beautiful story with people really caring and that made the characters so real.
Also love the cats being such a big part of the story.
This was a beautiful story with people really caring and that made the characters so real.
Also love the cats being such a big part of the story.
July 10, 2018
I like the series, but I disliked this book immensely Introducing the ghost cat that only Jillian (and one other) can see was crazy. It just didn't fit the character or the rest of the series. I'm glad that I didn't start with this book or I would have read the previous ones..
June 17, 2013
On Note 2.
Again enjoyed this book in this series :)
Again enjoyed this book in this series :)
March 6, 2014
This book was really unpleasant. The presence of a ghost cat really kept me from enjoying the book. It felt completely unrealistic and the writing wasn't very interesting.
October 11, 2016
Okay...I know I said one of the earlier books was the best in the series, but this one blew by it. Great read! LOVED Boots and hope we see her again...maybe reincarnated?
February 6, 2017
Loved it! I don't believe in ghosts but thought the ghost cat was a cute addition to the story.
November 11, 2023
It's been a bit since my last visit with the Cats in Trouble and I hadn't realized how much I missed this setting and these characters until I found this one hiding on Mt Git'r'Read and started right in. If the weather would have held out, I'd have finished this in two sittings. If I didn't have to go to work and cook dinner and all that other stuff and it had been really nice weather, it would have been one sitting.
I really like Jillian and admire how helpful she is. She's helping a friend who rescues animals and she's at an old abandoned textile mill where a lot of feral cats are. They find a homeless woman there and Jillian helps her too. All of it is a natural segue to investigating. Her best friend is a deputy and both know they can trust each other's assistance and have each other's backs, so there's not any of the "stop poking your nose where it doesn't belong" trope.
I liked the look at the Mill Village, the area around the textile mill where the workers lived. It was like the villages that have been discovered around various archeological sites where the workers lived around the pyramids or other huge buildings. The 'other side of the tracks' feel was there too. How close-knit most were, even with being looked down upon by the rest of the town. How sense of privilege can make a person bitter when wealth is taken away.
The aspect of a spectral entity was a new kick to this series. It doesn't lean to magical or mystical as a rule, but there's a tinge of it here. Jillian has to come to grips with it and I like how she handles it.
I can definitely recommend this book, series and author.
I really like Jillian and admire how helpful she is. She's helping a friend who rescues animals and she's at an old abandoned textile mill where a lot of feral cats are. They find a homeless woman there and Jillian helps her too. All of it is a natural segue to investigating. Her best friend is a deputy and both know they can trust each other's assistance and have each other's backs, so there's not any of the "stop poking your nose where it doesn't belong" trope.
I liked the look at the Mill Village, the area around the textile mill where the workers lived. It was like the villages that have been discovered around various archeological sites where the workers lived around the pyramids or other huge buildings. The 'other side of the tracks' feel was there too. How close-knit most were, even with being looked down upon by the rest of the town. How sense of privilege can make a person bitter when wealth is taken away.
The aspect of a spectral entity was a new kick to this series. It doesn't lean to magical or mystical as a rule, but there's a tinge of it here. Jillian has to come to grips with it and I like how she handles it.
I can definitely recommend this book, series and author.
May 30, 2013
The local textile mill in Mercy, South Carolina, has been abandoned for many years now, and is slowly falling apart. And now, suddenly, two different investor groups have plans for the refurbishing of the old place, and the Mercy Council will have to decide which plan has the most benefit for the town. To find that out, they have hired a young architect to study the mill, and recommend what is needed to convert the old place in condo’s or a mill museum with shops. But first, they will have to relocate the colony of feral cats living in the place.
And so Dustin Gray, the architect, is taking Shawn Cuddahee, the owner of the local animal shelter and Jillian Hart on a tour through the mill. They need to find out how many cats are living in the old place, and how best to distribute the cages to catch them. Shawn is really no people person, so he has asked Jillian to help out. As she loves cats, and helps out as a volunteer at the animal shelter more often, Jillian has agreed. Plus, as she has a degree in textile arts, she is very curious about the inside of the old mill.
But they don’t find just some feral cats inside, they find an old homeless woman in one of the offices, and she refuses to leave. She has to protect the holy place. Jillian does feel a connection to the woman, and the woman does answer her questions, while ignoring the men. Jillian is determined to find out more about this woman, Jeannie, who seems to have been living in the mill for many years now, and to find her a real home. And so she asks Candace, her best friend and a local deputy, some questions. She will also ask her relations if they have a place for Jeannie. And when she finds out Jeannie’s story, it really is a sad one. Jeannie her parents worked in the mill, and as Jeannie was not so bright, she did some easy jobs there as well. And one day she got pregnant, and got a sweet bright baby girl, everyone loved. But when Kay Ellen disappeared one day, every one though she had just run away. And deputy Morris, who was in charge of the case back then, though so as well. He did little to find out what really happened, as he never got any answers or clues that might point to something else, more sinister. So when Jeannie one day stopped harassing him, and disappeared as well, case closed. After all, adults are free to leave as they please, and there was no one left to file a missing person’s form.
The next day, Jillian revisits the old mill with Candace, to ask some more questions of Jeannie, and to persuade her to leave this place. But when they find Jeannie with a broken hip, there is no choice for Jeannie but to go to the hospital. But she only agrees when Jillian helps explaining her what will happen to her, and promises to be there for her. But when they find the remains of a body, hidden in the room where Jeannie was living, everything changes. The old mill becomes a crime scene, and the two groups of investors are getting upset. They want to know what is happening inside, and why they suddenly can’t go on a tour of the mill.
Jillian and Candace are determined to find help for Jeannie, as she needs to have some therapy after her hip surgery, and are very glad to find Jeannie’s old minister and his wife willing to take her in. They are appalled that they never suspected she was living in the old mill, so close to the parish. Then a new murder finds place, and Jeannie’s old case is becoming less important. After all, the Mercy PD is not big enough to handle two murder cases at the same time. And so Jillian, with the help of her stepdaughter Kara, and her boyfriend Tom, start investigating some leads on their own, determined to find out the truth. And Jillian gets some help from an unsuspected source as well, which creeps her out at first, but is also a big help and a comfort when needed.
Wow, this sure is an emotional cozy mystery. It is not as light-hearted and fun as most, and I was really feeling for Jeannie. The murderer was not so difficult to figure out, but that is perhaps because I read so many of them. Still, the why was very intriguing, all the twists in this story kept me second guessing a few times.
Morris sure is feeling bad that he handled the case of Kay Ellen so badly; especially when it comes to light she might have had a boyfriend after all. And he really tries to make it up, and asks Jillian to help him question some new leads. There is a real gap between the “mill village people” and the people living in the town of Mercy itself, and that is a cultural thing I as a not US citizen cannot understand at all. Sort of living on the wrong side of the tracks. But it is explained very well, and feels real and important.
There are plenty of suspects in this book, and it really is a case of feeling entitled and arrogance. Not caring about any one else (who are beneath you anyway) but yourself and what you want.
As usual, I do love the updates to Jillian’s private life. Her boyfriend Tom, and their growing relationship. Then there is Kara, her stepdaughter, who is settling into her life in Mercy well, and of course Candace. Candace who wants to do her job by the book, handling things scientifically, always careful of the evidence. She tends to be blunt and direct, and Jillian has a mellowing effect on her. And of course the three cats (or four this time?) are great secondary characters as well, comforting Jillian when necessary, but also scolding her if she has too little time for them.
Leann Sweeney has a very nice writing style. The story is very well paced, with some action, and then a moment of rest for Jillian, doing her quilting thing, and spending time with her cats. It reads very easily, and I do love all her main characters. Reading a cozy mystery series is like visiting good friends, and catching up on their lives of the last few months. And Leann is a master in that, without having to rehash everything that happened before, you are never lost.
I am looking forward to the next book in this series, especially after the last sentence of this book … which is a fun sort of cliffhanger.
10 stars.
Full review on my blog, www.boeklogboek.blogspot.com
And so Dustin Gray, the architect, is taking Shawn Cuddahee, the owner of the local animal shelter and Jillian Hart on a tour through the mill. They need to find out how many cats are living in the old place, and how best to distribute the cages to catch them. Shawn is really no people person, so he has asked Jillian to help out. As she loves cats, and helps out as a volunteer at the animal shelter more often, Jillian has agreed. Plus, as she has a degree in textile arts, she is very curious about the inside of the old mill.
But they don’t find just some feral cats inside, they find an old homeless woman in one of the offices, and she refuses to leave. She has to protect the holy place. Jillian does feel a connection to the woman, and the woman does answer her questions, while ignoring the men. Jillian is determined to find out more about this woman, Jeannie, who seems to have been living in the mill for many years now, and to find her a real home. And so she asks Candace, her best friend and a local deputy, some questions. She will also ask her relations if they have a place for Jeannie. And when she finds out Jeannie’s story, it really is a sad one. Jeannie her parents worked in the mill, and as Jeannie was not so bright, she did some easy jobs there as well. And one day she got pregnant, and got a sweet bright baby girl, everyone loved. But when Kay Ellen disappeared one day, every one though she had just run away. And deputy Morris, who was in charge of the case back then, though so as well. He did little to find out what really happened, as he never got any answers or clues that might point to something else, more sinister. So when Jeannie one day stopped harassing him, and disappeared as well, case closed. After all, adults are free to leave as they please, and there was no one left to file a missing person’s form.
The next day, Jillian revisits the old mill with Candace, to ask some more questions of Jeannie, and to persuade her to leave this place. But when they find Jeannie with a broken hip, there is no choice for Jeannie but to go to the hospital. But she only agrees when Jillian helps explaining her what will happen to her, and promises to be there for her. But when they find the remains of a body, hidden in the room where Jeannie was living, everything changes. The old mill becomes a crime scene, and the two groups of investors are getting upset. They want to know what is happening inside, and why they suddenly can’t go on a tour of the mill.
Jillian and Candace are determined to find help for Jeannie, as she needs to have some therapy after her hip surgery, and are very glad to find Jeannie’s old minister and his wife willing to take her in. They are appalled that they never suspected she was living in the old mill, so close to the parish. Then a new murder finds place, and Jeannie’s old case is becoming less important. After all, the Mercy PD is not big enough to handle two murder cases at the same time. And so Jillian, with the help of her stepdaughter Kara, and her boyfriend Tom, start investigating some leads on their own, determined to find out the truth. And Jillian gets some help from an unsuspected source as well, which creeps her out at first, but is also a big help and a comfort when needed.
Wow, this sure is an emotional cozy mystery. It is not as light-hearted and fun as most, and I was really feeling for Jeannie. The murderer was not so difficult to figure out, but that is perhaps because I read so many of them. Still, the why was very intriguing, all the twists in this story kept me second guessing a few times.
Morris sure is feeling bad that he handled the case of Kay Ellen so badly; especially when it comes to light she might have had a boyfriend after all. And he really tries to make it up, and asks Jillian to help him question some new leads. There is a real gap between the “mill village people” and the people living in the town of Mercy itself, and that is a cultural thing I as a not US citizen cannot understand at all. Sort of living on the wrong side of the tracks. But it is explained very well, and feels real and important.
There are plenty of suspects in this book, and it really is a case of feeling entitled and arrogance. Not caring about any one else (who are beneath you anyway) but yourself and what you want.
As usual, I do love the updates to Jillian’s private life. Her boyfriend Tom, and their growing relationship. Then there is Kara, her stepdaughter, who is settling into her life in Mercy well, and of course Candace. Candace who wants to do her job by the book, handling things scientifically, always careful of the evidence. She tends to be blunt and direct, and Jillian has a mellowing effect on her. And of course the three cats (or four this time?) are great secondary characters as well, comforting Jillian when necessary, but also scolding her if she has too little time for them.
Leann Sweeney has a very nice writing style. The story is very well paced, with some action, and then a moment of rest for Jillian, doing her quilting thing, and spending time with her cats. It reads very easily, and I do love all her main characters. Reading a cozy mystery series is like visiting good friends, and catching up on their lives of the last few months. And Leann is a master in that, without having to rehash everything that happened before, you are never lost.
I am looking forward to the next book in this series, especially after the last sentence of this book … which is a fun sort of cliffhanger.
10 stars.
© 2013 Reviews by Aurian
Full review on my blog, www.boeklogboek.blogspot.com
February 18, 2018
You'd think I'd have a hard time with this story since I haven't read the first four, but it was easy enough to follow. The author has a simple style I didn't mind, though I would have preferred more from the main character. She was a bit bland, and I think this story would be better if written in third person instead of first.
The mystery was pleasant, and I loved Boots. The main character's cats didn't do much for me. Maybe they're more interesting in the other books, but they could have been left out of this one without impacting the story.
The characters weren't fully three-dimensional, but I didn't mind that. This is a quick read, not something you're meant to chew on for days or weeks after you finish it. I'd say if you're curious, give it a shot.
The mystery was pleasant, and I loved Boots. The main character's cats didn't do much for me. Maybe they're more interesting in the other books, but they could have been left out of this one without impacting the story.
The characters weren't fully three-dimensional, but I didn't mind that. This is a quick read, not something you're meant to chew on for days or weeks after you finish it. I'd say if you're curious, give it a shot.
March 9, 2019
Mercy, SC has an old textile mill and the town is reviewing two proposals for renovation. Shawn Cuddahee and Jillian Hart go to the mill to determine what is needed to address the feral cat population. Escorting them is Dustin Gray who has been hired to do a structural assessment. They find an old woman - a squatter - in the old mill's office. Jillian works to find help for the woman and learns that she was a local mill worker who disappeared after trying to find her missing daughter.
Like how the story reflects on textile mill vs town culture and its lasting impact in a community.
Like how the story reflects on textile mill vs town culture and its lasting impact in a community.
November 3, 2022
Love beyond reason
Jillian’s rational mind is challenged when confronted with inexplicable appearances connected to an old woman found living in the office of an abandoned mill. Her knowledge of textiles and the manufacturing process helps explain the means of murder when a councilwoman is found dead in her home. Jillian’s open heart and kind nature help her keep perspective, saving her even when confronted by a desperate, deadly situation.
Jillian’s rational mind is challenged when confronted with inexplicable appearances connected to an old woman found living in the office of an abandoned mill. Her knowledge of textiles and the manufacturing process helps explain the means of murder when a councilwoman is found dead in her home. Jillian’s open heart and kind nature help her keep perspective, saving her even when confronted by a desperate, deadly situation.
March 30, 2018
This is by far my favorite book of the series so far. I mean there is just so much going on! It took me a bit longer to read than normal due to some severe allergy issues but it was such a good book i may have to turn around and read it again! Can't wait to see what happens to Jillian in the next book.
September 18, 2018
This time the cat with problems is ... a ghost! And the personal relationships of the protagonist development beautifully.
When cat lover and quilter Jillian Hart volunteers to help a local animal shelter relocate a colony of feral cats living in an abandoned old textile mill, she never expects to find a woman living there, and a dead body.
When cat lover and quilter Jillian Hart volunteers to help a local animal shelter relocate a colony of feral cats living in an abandoned old textile mill, she never expects to find a woman living there, and a dead body.
June 18, 2020
I have seen the series for years and always told myself I wouldn't like it (no idea why, just some weird thing in my head).
Well, I love this series. I feel like recently I've been reading cozies that are the exact same plot, but in different towns.
These mysteries are different! Even if I can figure out "whodunit" early in the book, the journey to get there is incredibly enjoyable.
Well, I love this series. I feel like recently I've been reading cozies that are the exact same plot, but in different towns.
These mysteries are different! Even if I can figure out "whodunit" early in the book, the journey to get there is incredibly enjoyable.
January 6, 2018
Gotta day not my favorite in the series but still a good read. Oddly enough I had The Who done it figured out fast, but it was still a good book. I hope we get to find out more about Jeanie...maybe she’ll make a guest appearance. I
July 25, 2018
My first read by this author is a very interesting story. The compassionate way the main character, Jillian Hart, treats Jeannie, the homeless woman, shows a wonderful and caring personality. The devastating tragedy Jeannie has suffered is heart wrenching. I have really enjoyed reading this book.
May 8, 2019
This fifth in the season has information about how to deal with feral cat colonies; a continuing problem due to human carelessness. Jillian is in more danger than ever in this fifth book of the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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