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Sunny & Shadow Mystery #3
Last Licks
Sniffing out a murderer…
When Sunny Coolidge’s curmudgeonly boss, Oliver Barnstable, lands in rehab after breaking his leg, Sunny is stuck shuttling between their offices in Kittery Harbor, Maine, and the facility where Ollie is recuperating. And if putting up with temper tantrums from her boss wasn’t enough, his rehab roommate, Gardner Scatterwell, is a shameless flirt.
But when Scatterwell dies unexpectedly in the night, Ollie is convinced it wasn’t from natural causes. He gives Sunny a new assignment—find out who killed the old tomcat.
And speaking of cats, Shadow, Sunny’s feline partner in crime, takes a peculiar interest in the rehab’s resident angel of death—a calico cat called Portia, with an uncanny talent for cozying up to patients right before they pass away. Together, Sunny and Shadow will have to nose out clues to discover if Portia’s jinx had anything to do with Gardner’s passing—or if all his catting around finally got him fixed.
When Sunny Coolidge’s curmudgeonly boss, Oliver Barnstable, lands in rehab after breaking his leg, Sunny is stuck shuttling between their offices in Kittery Harbor, Maine, and the facility where Ollie is recuperating. And if putting up with temper tantrums from her boss wasn’t enough, his rehab roommate, Gardner Scatterwell, is a shameless flirt.
But when Scatterwell dies unexpectedly in the night, Ollie is convinced it wasn’t from natural causes. He gives Sunny a new assignment—find out who killed the old tomcat.
And speaking of cats, Shadow, Sunny’s feline partner in crime, takes a peculiar interest in the rehab’s resident angel of death—a calico cat called Portia, with an uncanny talent for cozying up to patients right before they pass away. Together, Sunny and Shadow will have to nose out clues to discover if Portia’s jinx had anything to do with Gardner’s passing—or if all his catting around finally got him fixed.
296 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 6, 2014
23 people are currently reading
394 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
July 8, 2019
I adore Sunny and Shadow, and this installment featured a plot I hadn't seen before in other mysteries. I love the author's style, I love the characters, and the story moves right along. I only wish I had a cat like Shadow!
PS - I have had all the books for a while, but re-read the first two before jumping into this one. That was just to refresh my memory.
PS - I have had all the books for a while, but re-read the first two before jumping into this one. That was just to refresh my memory.
September 6, 2016
I'm not completely sure why, but for some reason I just didn't enjoy this instalment as much as the previous ones. I may let this series drop, as there are others I'm getting on with better.
February 1, 2018
Book #3 in Sunny & Shadow series. Good book. Best parts are the interactions with Shadow especially his being introduced to a paper shredder. Will continue on with series. 3.5 stars
September 24, 2020
There are many cozy mysteries series in which many of the amateur sleuths share their homes and/or workplaces with cats. To say that I have favorites would seem to imply that I could name just a few as in my "Top 3 or "Top 5" when it would be very difficult to narrow down the list. My answer might only suggest the series that I'm reading at the time I was asked. But since meeting the cat as created by Claire Donally (pseudonym for the author of many other critically acclaimed cozy mysteries) if I was pressed for a solitary answer it would be Shadow. As I shared in my review of the 1st novel in the series,
Sunny Coolidge is drawn into a investigation by her boss, Oliver (Ollie) Barnstable and this time will be aided by Town Constable Will Price acting in an unofficial capacity. Recuperating from a recent automobile accident Ollie is residing at Bridgewater Hall for his care due to a broken leg and his needed physical therapy. No one could have guessed murder was on the schedule. I tried my best to unravel the clues but had mistakenly nixed a suspect of my early suspicion.
As I finished the novel I realized that I couldn't say what I enjoy most about this series...the investigations, the interactions between Sunny and her father, the interactions between Sunny and Town Constable Will Price, the interactions between her father and Helena Martinson (Mrs. M), or Shadow's daily life. Happily there's no need to decide as there are more novels to read in the series.
"I absolutely purred in my human reading pleasure way for the wondrous names that charismatic Shadow has for humans, the things humans do, the things human say, etc."In this novel Shadow is romanced from afar by a "She" and the anticipation for the reader to learn if Shadow will meet her is equal to Shadow's pursuit of the possibility.
Sunny Coolidge is drawn into a investigation by her boss, Oliver (Ollie) Barnstable and this time will be aided by Town Constable Will Price acting in an unofficial capacity. Recuperating from a recent automobile accident Ollie is residing at Bridgewater Hall for his care due to a broken leg and his needed physical therapy. No one could have guessed murder was on the schedule. I tried my best to unravel the clues but had mistakenly nixed a suspect of my early suspicion.
As I finished the novel I realized that I couldn't say what I enjoy most about this series...the investigations, the interactions between Sunny and her father, the interactions between Sunny and Town Constable Will Price, the interactions between her father and Helena Martinson (Mrs. M), or Shadow's daily life. Happily there's no need to decide as there are more novels to read in the series.
May 22, 2017
I love this cat! Shadow to the rescue. Shadow does not know who done it, he just shows up at the right moment. Shadow thinks like a cat and acts like a cat. He's no detective. I always find it stupid when the cat magically knows things that the people can't figure out; this series doesn't insult my intelligence that way.
The people figure out who done it, but only as (or after) Shadow stumbles upon the evil one while he is busy being a cat.
I like the heroes of this series (Sunny and Shadow mysteries). Nice family. Nice town. The books have good scenery, good dialogue. There's a slow-burning romance or two (in this one there are three!)
In this one, I knew who gave the drink to the dead man. I also figured out the secret relationship early on. But, it still didn't end the way I expected. Great misdirection! I like this plot best of all, so far, in this series.
The people figure out who done it, but only as (or after) Shadow stumbles upon the evil one while he is busy being a cat.
I like the heroes of this series (Sunny and Shadow mysteries). Nice family. Nice town. The books have good scenery, good dialogue. There's a slow-burning romance or two (in this one there are three!)
In this one, I knew who gave the drink to the dead man. I also figured out the secret relationship early on. But, it still didn't end the way I expected. Great misdirection! I like this plot best of all, so far, in this series.
August 25, 2019
This author weaves a good mystery with enough clues along the way for the reader to catch (or miss). She also throws in a few twists and surprises to keep you involved. I like how she describes events from Shadow's, the cat's, point of view. I often wonder how my cat makes sense of human behaviors because she watches us so intently. I will keep reading this cozy series while I have given up on some others.
July 15, 2019
A great cat mystery that will keep you guessing to the end of the
May 14, 2014
http://openbooksociety.com/article/la...
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Sunny is the epitome of a good daughter and employee. She lives with her father, Mike, having had moved home to help with his needs while he recovered from a heart attack. Her return home also required a new job, as she was laid off from her NYC job while at her father’s. Her charming little Maine hometown was long on friendliness but sadly short on gainful employment. Her grumpy boss, Oliver Barnstable, becomes a patient at Bridgewater Hall, a “high-end” rehab and nursing home, while recovering from a broken leg and subsequent surgery. For a roommate, Ollie ends up with Gardner Scatterwell, one of Mike’s former band members from his younger days. Having no evident family or friends, Ollie has Sunny deliver any work-related documents to him and pick up anything to be returned to the office. While there, she meets Portia, one of the ‘pet therapy’ cats at Bridgewater, and her litter mate, Patrick. It is rumored that if Portia spends time with a resident, that resident dies soon after. Does Portia have a special “knowing”, or is she just a good gal with a bad cat rep?
A panicked 4 AM phone call from Barnstable sends Sunny and her father speeding into the night towards the rehab. Gardner is dead, and Ollie is certain that he was murdered. In his bed, in the same room, where the perp assumed that Ollie slept soundly. Sheriff Frank Nesbit, who certainly wouldn’t win any Andy Griffith hometown leader’s award, is more concerned with glad handing, future votes, and lack of crime news spin than with looking for an actual murderer. He’s in denial that it could occur in ‘his’ county.
Ollie, with the agreement of Sheriff Nesbit, adds a new item on Sunny’s job description. Sunny will be allowed to ask questions and review information to see if, and how, Gardner might really have been murdered. Sheriff Nesbit volunteers Will Price, a town constable and Sunny’s gentleman friend, to help Sunny to make her information-gathering a bit smoother, and so he will know what is going on at all times. Mike is also involved in the investigation, since he was a friend of Gardner’s back in the day, knows most people in Kittery Harbor, and wants to keep his daughter safe. He also has a sharp mind and healthy curiosity that makes him a valuable ally and partner-in-crime-stopping. What they find is that, in spite of health challenges faced by Gardner and by the long-term care residents in the nursing home wing, there was a higher-than-average number of deaths in Bridgewater Hall. There is no shortage of people who might have been upset with Gardner. Upset enough to kill him, though? Or is his death part of a bigger problem at Bridgewater?
Shadow, Sunny’s cat, is adorably precocious, having learned the valuable skill of being able to escape from the house. He is still working on the even more valuable skill of being able to get back in the house safely. He is aloofly jealous of Sunny’s time, until she comes home from Bridgewater Hall with the scent of another cat on her. The most enticing female feline aroma he has ever sniffed was all over Sunny’s clothes. Will he find a way to find out who this enchanting feline might be?
This is an interesting, well-written novel, with enough clues and plot twists to keep this cozy crazy cat lady content. The setting and action are so well-described that I felt as if I were there, yet not so defined that my imagination had no room to embellish. Character development is very good; those who are important to the plot are well-defined. Mike, Sunny, Will, and even Ollie have their own charm. The staff at Bridgewater Hall also has interesting quirks, some of whom are sufficiently creepy to keep me from wanting to have to spend time there. Even the four-legged characters – Shadow, Portia, and Patrick – could romp from the pages and come to visit. The cover art is terrific, a great portrayal of the catsonalities inside and would definitely attract my attention even if I knew nothing about the book.
Overall, this is an enjoyable book with an irresistible cast of characters! Last Licks can be read as a stand-alone novel, as I have not yet had the catnip of reading the first two. This can be read and enjoyed by young adults and adults of any age who enjoy a well-crafted cozy mystery that includes both cats and what Shadow calls people, ‘two-legs’. I highly recommend this Sunny and Shadow mystery, and hope that this series will be around for a long time!
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review as a part of their on-going blog tour*
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Sunny is the epitome of a good daughter and employee. She lives with her father, Mike, having had moved home to help with his needs while he recovered from a heart attack. Her return home also required a new job, as she was laid off from her NYC job while at her father’s. Her charming little Maine hometown was long on friendliness but sadly short on gainful employment. Her grumpy boss, Oliver Barnstable, becomes a patient at Bridgewater Hall, a “high-end” rehab and nursing home, while recovering from a broken leg and subsequent surgery. For a roommate, Ollie ends up with Gardner Scatterwell, one of Mike’s former band members from his younger days. Having no evident family or friends, Ollie has Sunny deliver any work-related documents to him and pick up anything to be returned to the office. While there, she meets Portia, one of the ‘pet therapy’ cats at Bridgewater, and her litter mate, Patrick. It is rumored that if Portia spends time with a resident, that resident dies soon after. Does Portia have a special “knowing”, or is she just a good gal with a bad cat rep?
A panicked 4 AM phone call from Barnstable sends Sunny and her father speeding into the night towards the rehab. Gardner is dead, and Ollie is certain that he was murdered. In his bed, in the same room, where the perp assumed that Ollie slept soundly. Sheriff Frank Nesbit, who certainly wouldn’t win any Andy Griffith hometown leader’s award, is more concerned with glad handing, future votes, and lack of crime news spin than with looking for an actual murderer. He’s in denial that it could occur in ‘his’ county.
Ollie, with the agreement of Sheriff Nesbit, adds a new item on Sunny’s job description. Sunny will be allowed to ask questions and review information to see if, and how, Gardner might really have been murdered. Sheriff Nesbit volunteers Will Price, a town constable and Sunny’s gentleman friend, to help Sunny to make her information-gathering a bit smoother, and so he will know what is going on at all times. Mike is also involved in the investigation, since he was a friend of Gardner’s back in the day, knows most people in Kittery Harbor, and wants to keep his daughter safe. He also has a sharp mind and healthy curiosity that makes him a valuable ally and partner-in-crime-stopping. What they find is that, in spite of health challenges faced by Gardner and by the long-term care residents in the nursing home wing, there was a higher-than-average number of deaths in Bridgewater Hall. There is no shortage of people who might have been upset with Gardner. Upset enough to kill him, though? Or is his death part of a bigger problem at Bridgewater?
Shadow, Sunny’s cat, is adorably precocious, having learned the valuable skill of being able to escape from the house. He is still working on the even more valuable skill of being able to get back in the house safely. He is aloofly jealous of Sunny’s time, until she comes home from Bridgewater Hall with the scent of another cat on her. The most enticing female feline aroma he has ever sniffed was all over Sunny’s clothes. Will he find a way to find out who this enchanting feline might be?
This is an interesting, well-written novel, with enough clues and plot twists to keep this cozy crazy cat lady content. The setting and action are so well-described that I felt as if I were there, yet not so defined that my imagination had no room to embellish. Character development is very good; those who are important to the plot are well-defined. Mike, Sunny, Will, and even Ollie have their own charm. The staff at Bridgewater Hall also has interesting quirks, some of whom are sufficiently creepy to keep me from wanting to have to spend time there. Even the four-legged characters – Shadow, Portia, and Patrick – could romp from the pages and come to visit. The cover art is terrific, a great portrayal of the catsonalities inside and would definitely attract my attention even if I knew nothing about the book.
Overall, this is an enjoyable book with an irresistible cast of characters! Last Licks can be read as a stand-alone novel, as I have not yet had the catnip of reading the first two. This can be read and enjoyed by young adults and adults of any age who enjoy a well-crafted cozy mystery that includes both cats and what Shadow calls people, ‘two-legs’. I highly recommend this Sunny and Shadow mystery, and hope that this series will be around for a long time!
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review as a part of their on-going blog tour*
May 19, 2017
The interpersonal dynamics were fine in the first book. They stagnated in the second. Now they are just irritating. Lots of passive aggressive behavior. I think I'll hang it up here.
January 16, 2016
Oliver Barnstable is the owner of Maine Adventure X-perience and Sunny’s boss. In a freak accident he has broken his leg. After surgery to repair the bad break he has ended up in a rehab facility. This makes Sunny’s life miserable, she not only has to run the office but make trips back and forth to the rehab center and cater to her bosses business needs as well. His roommate is no joy either, he is a hopeless flirt and a real pain.
Then in the middle of the night Sunny gets a call from her boss saying his roommate was dead and he knows it wasn’t from nqatural causes. So now Sunny has a new assignment, find out who killed Gardner Scatterwell.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
I love the way Claire Donally writes. She gives the perfect voice to not only her human characters but to her feline ones as well.
Last Licks takes us to a rehab center just outside of Kittery Harbor, Maine. In addition to a bunch of new human characters we meet the lovely female feline Portia, whose scent comes home on Sunny’s clothes and Shadow absolutely loves. Donally writing from the cats point of view is truly fun and unique.
She has also crafted a great whodunit that had me confused and guessing until the very end. Again Shadow plays a very important part in solving the mystery. His person, Sunny, is just too inquisitive at times and ends up getting herself in trouble. Shadow seems to have kitty sense (like Spidey sense) to know just when to show up on the scene.
This series is so much fun to read. If you have not read the The Big Kitty, start there and then move on to Cat Nap, and then Last Licks. You will absolutely love Shadow and Sunny too!!
Then in the middle of the night Sunny gets a call from her boss saying his roommate was dead and he knows it wasn’t from nqatural causes. So now Sunny has a new assignment, find out who killed Gardner Scatterwell.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
I love the way Claire Donally writes. She gives the perfect voice to not only her human characters but to her feline ones as well.
Last Licks takes us to a rehab center just outside of Kittery Harbor, Maine. In addition to a bunch of new human characters we meet the lovely female feline Portia, whose scent comes home on Sunny’s clothes and Shadow absolutely loves. Donally writing from the cats point of view is truly fun and unique.
She has also crafted a great whodunit that had me confused and guessing until the very end. Again Shadow plays a very important part in solving the mystery. His person, Sunny, is just too inquisitive at times and ends up getting herself in trouble. Shadow seems to have kitty sense (like Spidey sense) to know just when to show up on the scene.
This series is so much fun to read. If you have not read the The Big Kitty, start there and then move on to Cat Nap, and then Last Licks. You will absolutely love Shadow and Sunny too!!
August 5, 2014
Did I mention that I adore cats and love mysteries with kitties in them? This series has one very special kitty in Shadow. Ms Donally does not give him any magical or special powers, He is just a normal cat who adopted Sunny and wants to be sure that he doesn't end up on the street again as has happened before.
When we read his feline POV, it is classic. I can see and hear him so clearly and it rings of authenticity. I am fond of his human compatriots especially Sunny who has a snarky inner voice the often tells her things she would rather not hear.
There were a number of new characters in the story, some human and some feline. Portia the cat and Luke the musician were treats. Some of the others, I could take or leave.
The death of a charming but despicable character at a rest home sets Sunny and her erstwhile boyfriend on a search to discover whether it was natural causes or murder. There were plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing.
If you are looking for a thought provoking read, this isn't the book for you. But if you are in the mood for some mind candy, and you have a soft spot for cats, this could be just what the doctor ordered.
When we read his feline POV, it is classic. I can see and hear him so clearly and it rings of authenticity. I am fond of his human compatriots especially Sunny who has a snarky inner voice the often tells her things she would rather not hear.
There were a number of new characters in the story, some human and some feline. Portia the cat and Luke the musician were treats. Some of the others, I could take or leave.
The death of a charming but despicable character at a rest home sets Sunny and her erstwhile boyfriend on a search to discover whether it was natural causes or murder. There were plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing.
If you are looking for a thought provoking read, this isn't the book for you. But if you are in the mood for some mind candy, and you have a soft spot for cats, this could be just what the doctor ordered.
June 29, 2016
Ho già detto che adoro Shadow? E' lui che da quel qualcosa in più ad ogni libro di questa serie.
Per quanto riguarda la parte gialla, stavolta c'erano così tanti colpevoli possibili che non sono riuscita a beccare quello giusto. Anche se, alla fin fine, la soluzione per un mistero ambientato in uan casa di cura era quasi ovvio...
Per quanto riguarda la parte gialla, stavolta c'erano così tanti colpevoli possibili che non sono riuscita a beccare quello giusto. Anche se, alla fin fine, la soluzione per un mistero ambientato in uan casa di cura era quasi ovvio...
January 12, 2016
I enjoy reading about the adventures on Sunny and Shadow. Shadow is smarter than some cats. I look forward to reading more about them.
November 7, 2023
When Sunny's boss Ollie Barnstable is injured in an accident with a deer, she goes to help out since it's the Kittery Harbor way. Suggesting a good location for his rehab, Bridgewater Hall, the two of them plus Sunny's father Mike make the acquaintance of Gardner Stillwater, a local wealthy eccentric. Mike had known him when they were growing up, Ollie is rooming with him, and Sunny finds him charming until he shows another side. Then he turns up dead and Ollie is absolutely certain that it was not natural causes. Making a stink, he gets Will (Kittery Harbor's town constable) and Sunny assigned to finding the truth with the unfortunate time limit of a week. As the two of them spend time interviewing workers and residents, following faint trails of possible motive, and exploring the higher-than-normal mortality rate they become regulars at the old folks home and friends of the staff. After the memorial service for Mr. Stillwater, one of the therapists Luke Daconto confides in Sunny and tells of spending time with the deceased on the night of his murder. His story and a piece of evidence blow the case wide-open and result in a stunning turn of events leading to the capture of the murderer.
May 7, 2017
Here's the kind of person you'd have to be to enjoy this book. You enjoy cats (real cats, not supernatural ones that talk) and appreciate an author that can capture a cat's POV realistically. You have to be relaxed about actually solving the mystery and amused by the progression of two romantic subplots, one human, one feline. You will need to be able to put up with a solution that involves catching someone in the act and getting that person to confess (which almost never happens in real life). Fortunately, I'm that kind of person when I'm ready for a fun read, and so I liked this book and look forward to reading more in the series.
April 17, 2022
I like characters and the mysteries are good in this series but the fat phobia is strong. Examples of it from this book her descriptions of how her boss couldn't see over his belly. Last book, descriptions of how chairs and cars so k because of larger people. It's really aggregating and unnecessary. I don't care how the protagonist thinks the chair might break just cause a person is fat. Even the cat is fat phobic. What is odd is her father must be overweight based on how she describes his weight lack of mobility and diet but the author never uses the same horrible descriptions for him. Adding another example : "He might have looked impressive, if he’d been dressed better and his belly didn’t jiggle.".
June 12, 2017
Sunny's boss Oliver has broken his leg and is in rehab. His rehab roommate dies suddenly, and Ollie suspects he has been murdered. He engages the help of Sunny and her policeman boyfriend Will to find out who killed Gardner. Of course, Sunny's pet cat Shadow assists and also is attracted to Portia, a calico cat who resides at the rehab facility and has a knack for getting friendly with patients right before they pass away. The investigation is interesting as they uncover many suspects and clues. I enjoy this series and find Shadow adorable.
March 23, 2021
Sunny Coolidge came home to Kittery Harbor, Maine, after her dad had a heart attack; the only fairly decent job she could find was working for an ill-tempered man, Oliver Barnstable. Then Ollie broke his leg and had to go to rehab; Sunny suddenly had extra duties--keeping Ollie up-to-date on things at the office, taking papers to Ollie, etc. His roommate, Gardner Scatterwell, died in the night; Ollie is sure that he was murdered and wants Sunny to investigate.
April 25, 2025
Fantastic story
I really liked catching up with Sunny and Shadow in last licks.
Sunny's boss is in an accident and once he's recovering in a rehab facility, she becomes acquainted with his roommate.
Things take a turn for the worse when her boss calls her early in the morning, to tell her his roommate is dead.
Investigating the facility brings out the worst in some people and Sunny is amazed by how much she learns.
I really liked catching up with Sunny and Shadow in last licks.
Sunny's boss is in an accident and once he's recovering in a rehab facility, she becomes acquainted with his roommate.
Things take a turn for the worse when her boss calls her early in the morning, to tell her his roommate is dead.
Investigating the facility brings out the worst in some people and Sunny is amazed by how much she learns.
March 16, 2021
Enjoyed this one. Loved Shadow the cat and his obsession with the respite home’s therapy cat, Portia. When Sunny returns home after visiting with her boss, who is recuperating in the home, Shadow smells Portia on her.
Sunny is more caught up with the mystery of the man in the next bed to Her boss who dies suddenly.
Sunny is more caught up with the mystery of the man in the next bed to Her boss who dies suddenly.
June 6, 2017
2.5 Stars. Didn't hate it but didn't really enjoy it either. Could definitely do without Sunny's inner voice. Or at least quit trying to attribute it to her former profession. Feels forced, as does any type of romantic relationship between her and Will.
July 11, 2025
Meh, I might be done with this series. I love a good cozy cat mystery but this one kinda fell flat. I also can’t get past that this was obviously written by a man using a female pseudonym, the way he writes physical descriptions of characters (especially women)give it away
September 19, 2017
Sunny and her cat Shadow solve another murder.
October 20, 2017
I enjoy this series and not just because Shadow is a cat :)
July 23, 2019
My full review can be found here: https://doncasterkittenbooks.wordpres...
March 18, 2020
Lovethe characters and how they interact. Just a fun series.
March 24, 2020
The parts from Shadow's perspective dragged out a bit but I love the characters and the setting for this one was unique.
June 21, 2022
The plot is terrible and ridiculous. And the parts told from the perspective of the cat are downright creepy.
May 12, 2014
That Claire Donally is quite the secret keeper. After three books I am still no closer to knowing who this author is... intriguing. Just like the latest book in the Sunny & Shadow Mystery series, Last Licks. Readers will be absorbed in the story of Portia, that cat who knows when patients are not long for this world. Donally has a way with writing feline behavior that gives this series a touch of authenticity that is sometimes missing in this kind of writing. Fans of the series will enjoy Sunny's ornery old boss and have a soft spot for finding his roommate's killer. A great addition to the series.
What I liked:
I have liked this series since the beginning. It has always had a good sense of originality and was entertaining. Donally is able to bring her feline characters are well as her human characters to life with ease. Starting out, the series was a little light on the mystery aspects, but Donally has proven that great potential often leads to a great series. The third book in the series, Last Licks proves that out. It is easily the best of the series so far. Rooted in real life experiences and bearing the fruits of hardwork this is my favorite book by this author under the Claire Donally name. I suspect I may be a fan of others as well.
The rehab scenery was so well written and detailed that it was easy to see that Donally had experience with her topic and I think that made all the difference. Readers can feel the urgency and uncertainty of the patients, and the addition of Portia the cat, was an amazing idea. Often setting is just one part of what makes a great cozy read, but in this one, not only does Donally give readers the small town of Kittery Harbor, but the rehab facility where Sunny's boss is re-cooperating. It could have had the antiseptic feel of most of those kinds of places, but Donally was able to make it real through description and atmosphere. It was very well done.
Shadow as usual is an important member of the team. Sunny may be the one going back and forth and figuring out the clues, but often it's the feline intuition of her cat that brings it all together. In this book, readers are treated to another feline character in Portia, the cat who can tell who is about to die. The idea that animals are able to tell that sort of thing, is not new, but I thought Donally used it in a remarkable way. This added a whole new dimension to the story and made it just that much more intriguing.
As usual Sunny can't seem to tame her curiosity. She makes such a great sleuth. In the beginning I worried she didn't have that hard nosed attitude that most reporters have. She was a bit timid as a character, but she definitely has gained some pluck. She isn't afraid to ask the hard questions or to go into danger to prove her point or to find the next clue. I think she has developed into a lead character that fans can stand behind and root for. I liked her a lot in this one and I think she will only continue to get better. Donally's slow build up has proven to be the right touch with this character.
What I didn't like:
I can definitely say that this is my favorite of the series so far. There isn't much to criticize because all of the elements came together to provide the reader with a great reading experience. The murder, the evidence, the psychic cat, everything played off each other and made for a fantastic read.
Bottom Line:
It took me a little while to completely warm up to this series, but I'm totally there now. If you haven't tried this series, now is your chance. Donally can write a feline character like few others in the genre and this one has picked up speed along the way. Can't wait to see what's next for Sunny & Shadow.
What I liked:
I have liked this series since the beginning. It has always had a good sense of originality and was entertaining. Donally is able to bring her feline characters are well as her human characters to life with ease. Starting out, the series was a little light on the mystery aspects, but Donally has proven that great potential often leads to a great series. The third book in the series, Last Licks proves that out. It is easily the best of the series so far. Rooted in real life experiences and bearing the fruits of hardwork this is my favorite book by this author under the Claire Donally name. I suspect I may be a fan of others as well.
The rehab scenery was so well written and detailed that it was easy to see that Donally had experience with her topic and I think that made all the difference. Readers can feel the urgency and uncertainty of the patients, and the addition of Portia the cat, was an amazing idea. Often setting is just one part of what makes a great cozy read, but in this one, not only does Donally give readers the small town of Kittery Harbor, but the rehab facility where Sunny's boss is re-cooperating. It could have had the antiseptic feel of most of those kinds of places, but Donally was able to make it real through description and atmosphere. It was very well done.
Shadow as usual is an important member of the team. Sunny may be the one going back and forth and figuring out the clues, but often it's the feline intuition of her cat that brings it all together. In this book, readers are treated to another feline character in Portia, the cat who can tell who is about to die. The idea that animals are able to tell that sort of thing, is not new, but I thought Donally used it in a remarkable way. This added a whole new dimension to the story and made it just that much more intriguing.
As usual Sunny can't seem to tame her curiosity. She makes such a great sleuth. In the beginning I worried she didn't have that hard nosed attitude that most reporters have. She was a bit timid as a character, but she definitely has gained some pluck. She isn't afraid to ask the hard questions or to go into danger to prove her point or to find the next clue. I think she has developed into a lead character that fans can stand behind and root for. I liked her a lot in this one and I think she will only continue to get better. Donally's slow build up has proven to be the right touch with this character.
What I didn't like:
I can definitely say that this is my favorite of the series so far. There isn't much to criticize because all of the elements came together to provide the reader with a great reading experience. The murder, the evidence, the psychic cat, everything played off each other and made for a fantastic read.
Bottom Line:
It took me a little while to completely warm up to this series, but I'm totally there now. If you haven't tried this series, now is your chance. Donally can write a feline character like few others in the genre and this one has picked up speed along the way. Can't wait to see what's next for Sunny & Shadow.
June 2, 2014
Last Licks is the third book in the A Sunny & Shadow Mystery series.
Another fun addition to this interesting series.
Sunny's boss, Oliver "Ollie" Barnstable has broken his leg is at Bridgewater Hall for rehab and Sunny has been summoned to bring some important papers for him to review and her father, Mike, goes with her. While their Sunny meets Gardner Scatterwell who is in the same room with Ollie. It turns out the Mike and Gardner had been friends in high school and are enjoying rehashing the "good ol' days". Then early at 4 AM one morning Sunny receives a call from Ollie, asking her to come right away, as Garnder has just died. Gardner was at Bridgewater Hall recovering from a stroke. The doctors say that he suffered another stroke and simply passed away. But Ollie is sure that he heard someone come in the room just before Gardner took his last breath and wants sunny to investigate.
So with the help on Mike and her good friend Will Price begin to look. The more she looks, the more suspects she begins to get. She wonders whether the head of the facility, Dr. Reese might be covering up for his doctors or nurses, to keep Bridgewater Hall from having further financial problems. Gardner's nephew, Alfred, is always carrying on about cost of Gardner's care. Maybe he is concerned about his inheritance being spent? Also, she needs to suspect Luke who plays the guitar and entertains the patients. He seems to be everywhere.
Portia and her brother Patrick are two residents that are above suspicion, they are resident cats. Portia is called Portia the Psychic Cat, as she ahs a habit of jumping up on a patient's bed just before they pass. These two certainly give Shadow a run for cuteness. And Shadow is very upset that Sunny comes home smelling like "her", Portia.
I not really a lover of cats, but I do enjoy reading of Shadow's antics.
Will be watching for the next book in the series.
Another fun addition to this interesting series.
Sunny's boss, Oliver "Ollie" Barnstable has broken his leg is at Bridgewater Hall for rehab and Sunny has been summoned to bring some important papers for him to review and her father, Mike, goes with her. While their Sunny meets Gardner Scatterwell who is in the same room with Ollie. It turns out the Mike and Gardner had been friends in high school and are enjoying rehashing the "good ol' days". Then early at 4 AM one morning Sunny receives a call from Ollie, asking her to come right away, as Garnder has just died. Gardner was at Bridgewater Hall recovering from a stroke. The doctors say that he suffered another stroke and simply passed away. But Ollie is sure that he heard someone come in the room just before Gardner took his last breath and wants sunny to investigate.
So with the help on Mike and her good friend Will Price begin to look. The more she looks, the more suspects she begins to get. She wonders whether the head of the facility, Dr. Reese might be covering up for his doctors or nurses, to keep Bridgewater Hall from having further financial problems. Gardner's nephew, Alfred, is always carrying on about cost of Gardner's care. Maybe he is concerned about his inheritance being spent? Also, she needs to suspect Luke who plays the guitar and entertains the patients. He seems to be everywhere.
Portia and her brother Patrick are two residents that are above suspicion, they are resident cats. Portia is called Portia the Psychic Cat, as she ahs a habit of jumping up on a patient's bed just before they pass. These two certainly give Shadow a run for cuteness. And Shadow is very upset that Sunny comes home smelling like "her", Portia.
I not really a lover of cats, but I do enjoy reading of Shadow's antics.
Will be watching for the next book in the series.
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