Callahan on the Case

by Rebecca Barrett

Cat Callahan. The big gray cat with the battered right ear takes up with a drifter named Daxter, “Dax” for short—hobo by choice. And it’s within days after Dax arrives that the murders begin. But Callahan knows how to be in the right place at the right time to gather clues and provide his own special brand of assistance. The cops may be a little slow on the uptake, but Cat Callahan is on the case.

Long
Cat Callahan. The big gray cat with the battered right ear isn’t exactly a stray, nor is he homeless, since the kind-hearted folks of Warm Springs, Georgia, willingly invite him in and slip him all the tender morsels he wants. He’s known by most as ‘that darn cat’ a feline who shows up whenever something unexplained happens. But Callahan doesn’t acquire his name until a drifter comes to town, a man named Benjamin Matthew Daxter, “Dax” for short—hobo by choice. And it’s within days after Dax shows up that the murders begin.

Hannah Sanderson is assistant director of the Little White House museum, the property beloved by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and the major tourist attraction in Warm Springs. When the body of a stranger shows up in the former servants’ quarters, Hannah’s job is two-fold. Assist with the investigation so the whole mess can be cleared up quickly, and protect her young daughter from the prying eyes of the press. Because there’s a secret hidden in her own past, and Hannah doesn’t want to relive the nightmare.

As the deaths begin to escalate, law enforcement shows up from several jurisdictions. It’s beginning to look like the cases won’t be solved quietly, but Callahan knows how to be in the right place at the right time to gather clues and provide his own special brand of assistance. The cops may be a little slow on the uptake, at times, but Cat Callahan is on the case and plans to solve the murders before Hannah and her little girl can be harmed.

Praise for Rebecca Barrett’s previous

“Great fun reading. Loved it!” Nancy Collings, 5 stars on Amazon

“This book and the whole series is amazing. I loved every one of them.” Chris KP, 5 stars

“As I read, I could marvel again at how skilled the author is at adding in the clues and the twists and turns.” – 5 stars for The Rat Catcher

“The cat’s narrative hooked me…….a delightful read! I highly recommend it!” 5 stars online review

“I love this series. I love the idea that each takes place in a different location.” Erin Dougherty, online review

“Richly written yet gritty, The Rat Catcher, is evocative of time and place and Rebecca Barrett vividly portrays both.” – 5 stars on Amazon

Genres: Mystery

229 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 4, 2024

About the author

Rebecca Barrett writes historical fiction, the Hugo August Detective series, cozy mysteries, children’s stories, and short stories of life in the South. An avid reader all her life and a product of “front porch” socializing, she became a story-teller at an early age.

She resides in the lovely artist colony of Fairhope, AL, on the shores of Mobile Bay where she draws inspiration and joy.

Visit the author's website rebeccabarrett.com to enjoy some of her short stories.

Reviews

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start off by saying: I loved it! In this first book, readers are introduced to the series namesake, the charming “Callahan.” CALLAHAN ON THE CASE is a page turner full of red herrings, clues, twists, and turns. Oh, and a sassy, smart, sleuth: Cat Callahan—the floppy-eared feline detective who has to take his humans by the claw (gently) and lead them to the clues and answers in an Agatha Christie-style locked room murder. Hard to do when no one speaks cat language, and the locked room is part of Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Warm Springs Museum, but he gets it done. The female lead has a tragic past and is trying to protect her precocious ten-year-old daughter from the same fate. Cat Callahan’s murder mystery solving skills are top notch. I give book one in The Cat Callahan Mystery Series five (count ‘em,1-2-3-4-5) stars. Highly recommended.

[Connie Shelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rebecca Barrett is an author who is new to me, and I must say, this book won't be my last! I really love the character of Cat Callahan. He's a street-cat when we meet him, but he knows how to quickly become involved in a local murder case, and he's much better than the cops at figuring out whodunit. With a cat's ability to slip into a room, overhear conversations, and then let his human allies know what's going on, Callahan is a character you'll love. Highly recommended!

[Jean Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in a series, which introduces us to Callahan the cat. Callahan has the uncanny ability to show up at the right place at just the right time. There are a lot of red herrings, meaty characters and more than one murder. Callahan has the knack of persuading humans to follow him. Can he solve the case before Hannah and her daughter get hurt? Fun, well-written, entertaining story with a lot of interesting characters and a great ending.

[Narelle Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a freebie in return for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this story. Lots of red herrings, and really 'meaty' characters. Scoop, Hannah and Teagan (and Fergus of course) were so likeable and, Callahan, well he was so cute.
With the ending, it will be interesting to see where the series takes us next, but I hope we get to revisit with the characters we've met already.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Callahan can’t resist helping to solve murder cases even if he has to be creative to get the humans to realize what he is trying to show them.

[Rose Mcclarin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calahan the Cat has the amazing ability to get the humans to look in the right direction when solving three murders. Good Read.

[Beverly Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

A lot of interesting characters and a great storyline. Little hints along the way, and I was still surprised at the end. Recommend this A+++++

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in a new series featuring Cat Callahan. Cat Callahan seems to have the uncanny ability to show up at the right place at the right time. Always when needed. How does he know? When murders occur Cat Callahan is on the case. He has a certain way of persuading humans to follow him. Can Cat Callahan solve these murders before Hannah and her daughter get hurt?
Fun, entertaining read and I love seeing the thinking process of Cat Callahan through the eyes of a cat.

I received an ARC prior to publication and decided to voluntarily review it.