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Cat Cafe Mystery #8
Shock and Paw
The eighth installment in a charming cozy mystery series set on an island off the New England coast and featuring the cat cafe owner Maddie and her cat JJ.Beware the cats of Christmas past…It’s the holiday season on Daybreak Island, and Maddie James is looking forward to stepping out of the limelight, watching the island’s Christmas decoration competition from afar, spending time with her boyfriend and family, running tours for visitors as part of the festivities and spreading holiday cheer through cute cats in jingle bell collars.But trouble hits close to home when word gets out that Donna Carey, the publisher of the island’s only daily newspaper where Maddie’s best friend Becky is editor, may be selling the business. Becky is a diehard journalist and to her, selling the only newspaper on the island is a fate worse than death. She publicly opposes the potential sale, wreaking havoc on her relationship with her big boss.Maddie is sympathetic, but she has her own problems - like getting pulled into a role on the Christmas event committee despite her best efforts to stay far removed, and solving the case of a mysterious cat breeder trying to sell expensive designer cats as holiday gifts on the island. But then Donna winds up dead—electrocuted by her own Christmas decorations—and it appears to be more than an accident. To make matters worse, Becky becomes suspect number one. Maddie is thrown into another murder investigation in order to save her best friend from a Christmas behind bars.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 20, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
October 7, 2025
Cute cozy mystery with a pleasant setting and compelling characters not the least of which are the cats.
December 13, 2024
This December, the Daybreak Island Chamber of Commerce is planning several events, hoping to draw visitors during the off season. Maddie James is trying to focus on running her cat café for a change, but she finds herself drawn into the drama surrounding the events, especially the decorating contest. But when a murder happens, Maddie really jumps into things, especially with her best friend one of the suspects. Can she figure out what is going on?
I’m glad we got a second Christmas entry in this series. As always, it was fun to visit the characters again, although I do feel like some of the minor characters are hard to keep track of. The pacing in this book was off. Yes, everything came into play once the murdered happened, as I figured it would, but it wandered around quite a bit on its way there. Still, I was really caught up in the second half, and the suspects kept me guessing on the way to the logical climax. I also enjoyed the Christmas spirit we got in addition to the murder and mayhem. Fans of the series will find this puts them in the holiday mood.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
I’m glad we got a second Christmas entry in this series. As always, it was fun to visit the characters again, although I do feel like some of the minor characters are hard to keep track of. The pacing in this book was off. Yes, everything came into play once the murdered happened, as I figured it would, but it wandered around quite a bit on its way there. Still, I was really caught up in the second half, and the suspects kept me guessing on the way to the logical climax. I also enjoyed the Christmas spirit we got in addition to the murder and mayhem. Fans of the series will find this puts them in the holiday mood.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
August 22, 2024
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Shock and Paw by Cate Conte brings the holiday cheer with two crazy mysteries.
Is Donna Carey really selling the business? What is happening with this mysterious cat breeder?
Maddie James
Maddie James is getting ready to celebrate Christmas the right way with her family. By not being a part of any event committees or anything like that for her. Well, until her mom ropes her into helping out at the last minute. Maddie is already juggling many balls, preparing the house for the Christmas Lights competition, manning her cafe, and enjoying the holiday spirit. Plus, trying to figure out who sells high-end cat breeds there on the island.
I have to say that I like Maddie. She tries not to give in to investigating but ends up giving in anyway.
The Mystery
Katrina, Maddie's friend and animal control officer, gets her involved in solving one mystery. That mystery happens to be who on the island or off the island is trying to sell expensive cats during the holiday season. Katrina dislikes people who do that and wants to see justice done.
The other mystery that Maddie gets roped into solving is Donna Carey's murder, and we learn a lot about her. Donna has made a lot of enemies, and she doesn't seem to care toward the end of her life. I totally didn't see how everything was getting wrapped up until it did.
Five Stars
I am giving five stars to Shock and Paw by Cate Conte and recommending it to all cozy mystery lovers. Ms. Conte wrote a nice one for the holiday season. Shock and Paw by Cate Conte is also my first book by this author, and I truly enjoyed it. Maddie, JJ, and everyone else made me laugh at some of their antics. Even when I wasn't reading this book, I thought about it a lot and tried to put together the clues in my head. I completely fell for the red herring.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Shock and Paw by Cate Conte.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
Shock and Paw by Cate Conte brings the holiday cheer with two crazy mysteries.
Is Donna Carey really selling the business? What is happening with this mysterious cat breeder?
Maddie James
Maddie James is getting ready to celebrate Christmas the right way with her family. By not being a part of any event committees or anything like that for her. Well, until her mom ropes her into helping out at the last minute. Maddie is already juggling many balls, preparing the house for the Christmas Lights competition, manning her cafe, and enjoying the holiday spirit. Plus, trying to figure out who sells high-end cat breeds there on the island.
I have to say that I like Maddie. She tries not to give in to investigating but ends up giving in anyway.
The Mystery
Katrina, Maddie's friend and animal control officer, gets her involved in solving one mystery. That mystery happens to be who on the island or off the island is trying to sell expensive cats during the holiday season. Katrina dislikes people who do that and wants to see justice done.
The other mystery that Maddie gets roped into solving is Donna Carey's murder, and we learn a lot about her. Donna has made a lot of enemies, and she doesn't seem to care toward the end of her life. I totally didn't see how everything was getting wrapped up until it did.
Five Stars
I am giving five stars to Shock and Paw by Cate Conte and recommending it to all cozy mystery lovers. Ms. Conte wrote a nice one for the holiday season. Shock and Paw by Cate Conte is also my first book by this author, and I truly enjoyed it. Maddie, JJ, and everyone else made me laugh at some of their antics. Even when I wasn't reading this book, I thought about it a lot and tried to put together the clues in my head. I completely fell for the red herring.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Shock and Paw by Cate Conte.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
August 6, 2024
Considering it is in the 90s and HHH here in Connecticut, it was great to read a book set in New England starting ten days before Christmas. Maddie is trying to get decorations up for the holiday decorating contest, trying to find homes for as many kitties as possible before the holidays and trying not to get involved in planning any of the town wide events as she had enough at Halloween. The best made plans get thrown on their ear when her grandfather falls off a ladder, trying to fix lights set up by an incompetent electrician, a rescue cat gets stolen out of their home, Becky's job maybe at stake and then the owner of the paper she works for is found murdered. Can Mel and company find answers to who this electrician really is? Can Katrina and Maddy figure out who nabbed their rescue cat? Who killed Donna, and can they keep Becky off the suspect list? Can all this happen in time for everyone to enjoy Christmas? You will want to join our team for this holiday romp! Thanks to #Netgally, #StMartinsPress, and the author for a chance to read. #ShockandPaw #CateConte #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader
July 26, 2024
It's Christmas time on Daybreak Island. Maddie James is content with working at her cat cafe and keeping out of all the planned activities even though she can see that many of them are in need of her organizational skills. However, when a stray cat found behind a dumpster is stolen from Maddie's third floor guest room, she finds herself involved in the catnapping.
Maddie's best friend Becky has come to her with concerns about her job at the local newspaper. The long-run family business is in danger of being sold by Donna who has run it for years. When Donna is found dead by Becky with Christmas lights wrapped around her throat, Maddie wants to clear her friend's name.
There are other suspects. The new head of the chamber of commerce has encouraged contracts to less than able contractors including Todd who is supposed to be doing electrical work for those who need help stringing lights and setting up their holiday displays. He has been getting lots of complaints and the local electrician has had to fix up his projects.
Also, it appears that there might be a group selling designer cats for enormous prices running on the island too. Donna had been looking into the crimes before her death.
This was a nice cozy mystery, eighth in a series, set on an island. There were a lot of characters, most likely introduced in earlier episodes, to keep track of. I like Maddie's curiosity and her love for cats.
Maddie's best friend Becky has come to her with concerns about her job at the local newspaper. The long-run family business is in danger of being sold by Donna who has run it for years. When Donna is found dead by Becky with Christmas lights wrapped around her throat, Maddie wants to clear her friend's name.
There are other suspects. The new head of the chamber of commerce has encouraged contracts to less than able contractors including Todd who is supposed to be doing electrical work for those who need help stringing lights and setting up their holiday displays. He has been getting lots of complaints and the local electrician has had to fix up his projects.
Also, it appears that there might be a group selling designer cats for enormous prices running on the island too. Donna had been looking into the crimes before her death.
This was a nice cozy mystery, eighth in a series, set on an island. There were a lot of characters, most likely introduced in earlier episodes, to keep track of. I like Maddie's curiosity and her love for cats.
August 19, 2024
Ok this cover is adorable right? Cats, Christmas, the New England Coast…yes please. Shock and Paw is number eight in the cat cafe mystery series and I really enjoyed it! I always enjoy cozy mysteries but this one was extra cozy because it was set at Christmas. I enjoyed the storyline and liked that the mystery part came up further in the plot so I got enjoy getting to know the characters. I was literally thinking….oh boy who’s gonna die, lol
Maddie James loves living on Daybreak Island. Everyone knows one another and gets along…for the most part. It’s the holiday season and that means people will be decorating their homes for the towns Christmas light competition. Everyone really gets into it especially her grandpa Leo. Although Maddie enjoys a little friendly competition she’s focused on her business JJ’s House of Purrs. Maddie loves running the cat cafe and helping felines find their forever homes. But things will get very un-holiday like when someone is found dead. Murdered.
Maddie wants to help the police but she also has the cats to think about, and someone is putting flyers all around selling exotic felines in her town. Why would anyone buy these fancy cats when they can adopt one who needs a family? And who would pay $18k for a cat? Something isn’t right and Maddie will do whatever she can to protect the cats and her town.
Maddie James loves living on Daybreak Island. Everyone knows one another and gets along…for the most part. It’s the holiday season and that means people will be decorating their homes for the towns Christmas light competition. Everyone really gets into it especially her grandpa Leo. Although Maddie enjoys a little friendly competition she’s focused on her business JJ’s House of Purrs. Maddie loves running the cat cafe and helping felines find their forever homes. But things will get very un-holiday like when someone is found dead. Murdered.
Maddie wants to help the police but she also has the cats to think about, and someone is putting flyers all around selling exotic felines in her town. Why would anyone buy these fancy cats when they can adopt one who needs a family? And who would pay $18k for a cat? Something isn’t right and Maddie will do whatever she can to protect the cats and her town.
August 20, 2024
This was another fun book in the series, especially being set at Christmastime. I got such a kick outta Grandpa Leo and how serious he was about the Christmas lights contest, to the point of being injured in the line of duty. But that didn’t stop the former police chief at all, lol. I just love that guy!
The showdown was a crazy one that somehow I just had a feeling Maddie was gonna get involved in. Thanks to a cat, the killer didn’t get far before the police burst in. I love it when cats or other pets help in the showdown—this little guy was pretty amazing. There was a good twist toward the end that explained so much of some earlier issues about a little side mystery going on with the lights.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by St. Martin Press via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
The showdown was a crazy one that somehow I just had a feeling Maddie was gonna get involved in. Thanks to a cat, the killer didn’t get far before the police burst in. I love it when cats or other pets help in the showdown—this little guy was pretty amazing. There was a good twist toward the end that explained so much of some earlier issues about a little side mystery going on with the lights.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by St. Martin Press via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
August 28, 2024
Reading Shock and Paw was so entertaining, it really put me in the holiday spirit.
Maddie and friends are getting ready to decorate for the holiday decorating competition, but things turn bad quickly when Maddie's best friend Becky finds a dead body.
Not only is Maddie trying to help Becky, she's trying to find out who is hanging signs all over town, advertising the sale of exotic cats.
This is a whirlwind story that kept me on the edge of my seat, I enjoyed every page.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
Maddie and friends are getting ready to decorate for the holiday decorating competition, but things turn bad quickly when Maddie's best friend Becky finds a dead body.
Not only is Maddie trying to help Becky, she's trying to find out who is hanging signs all over town, advertising the sale of exotic cats.
This is a whirlwind story that kept me on the edge of my seat, I enjoyed every page.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
July 25, 2024
Another fun adventure on Daybreak Island, full of intrigue, twists, and fantastic felines! I really enjoyed the eighth installment of the Cat Cafe series. Cate's ability to make her readers feel like members of the Daybreak Island community who are wholeheartedly invested in figuring out the murder with Maddie James is a real gift. It is a wonderful cozy with twists and turns I never saw coming!
August 27, 2024
I really enjoyed being back on Daybreak island with the kitties. I love the quirky town characters and really just enjoyed the storyline and the mystery. The writing is fantastic and hooked me right away. I can't wait to read more from this series.
February 16, 2025
This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series. It took a while to get to the murder, but there was a lot of drama and a lot of good details pertaining to everything that made it worthwhile. I love the characters, the town and of course, the cats. I feel like I am part of the family when reading this series. I get so immersed in their day to day and the goings on. This series holds a place in my heart and I hope to see it continue.
March 3, 2025
Excellent cozy mystery! The plot was unique, and I didn’t realize who the killer was until the author reveal! I really enjoy the Cat Cafe series and highly recommend to readers.
September 3, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley, Cate Conte, and St. Martin's Paperbacks for providing this advance readers copy of the book. Below is my honest review.
When you don't have a dead body until the 50% mark then it's not much of a mystery. Taking that long to set up the big event was tedious and not enjoyable. I had to stop myself from skipping around at first but later I did just that. I had lost interest and didn't care who-done-it. There wasn't much of the cafe or cats; JJ was an afterthought. In the first few chapters there were instances of repeating information a couple of times, it was like listening to an elderly relative tell the same story every family reunion. Maddie spent a lot of time going from one place to another and then to another, with nothing getting finished, it's exhausting. The Christmas events were a mess and I found it hard to believe that that many people could have done so little work. I didn't see the twist coming, all the people involved hadn't had much interaction. I will say that death by Christmas lights was an interesting way to kill off Donna.
#NetGalley #CateConte #ShockandPaw #CatCafeMysterySeries #St.Martin'sPaperbacks #mystery #murdermystery
When you don't have a dead body until the 50% mark then it's not much of a mystery. Taking that long to set up the big event was tedious and not enjoyable. I had to stop myself from skipping around at first but later I did just that. I had lost interest and didn't care who-done-it. There wasn't much of the cafe or cats; JJ was an afterthought. In the first few chapters there were instances of repeating information a couple of times, it was like listening to an elderly relative tell the same story every family reunion. Maddie spent a lot of time going from one place to another and then to another, with nothing getting finished, it's exhausting. The Christmas events were a mess and I found it hard to believe that that many people could have done so little work. I didn't see the twist coming, all the people involved hadn't had much interaction. I will say that death by Christmas lights was an interesting way to kill off Donna.
#NetGalley #CateConte #ShockandPaw #CatCafeMysterySeries #St.Martin'sPaperbacks #mystery #murdermystery
August 27, 2024
4.25⭐
It's the holiday season on an island off the coast of Maine and the winter island residents are all in for the Christmas lights house contest, especially as there are $$$ as a prize for the first time. But the town's contracted electrician seems only borderline competent. Lights are not working correctly all over, but when Maddie's grandfather gets zapped was the final straw for her. She had promised herself to leave the organizing to others after the Halloween festival. Then someone is postings ads all over town for special breed cats, even in front of the cat rescue that Maddie runs. And one of the rescue's cats goes missing. That's a lot going on. Then to top it all off, Maddie learns that the owner is planning to sell the town's newspaper where her friend is the editor. This is a continually wonderful series combining two of my loves, cats and cozies into one with exceptionally well-drawn characters and mystery plots that don't disappoint. Thanks to netgalley and St. Martins for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
It's the holiday season on an island off the coast of Maine and the winter island residents are all in for the Christmas lights house contest, especially as there are $$$ as a prize for the first time. But the town's contracted electrician seems only borderline competent. Lights are not working correctly all over, but when Maddie's grandfather gets zapped was the final straw for her. She had promised herself to leave the organizing to others after the Halloween festival. Then someone is postings ads all over town for special breed cats, even in front of the cat rescue that Maddie runs. And one of the rescue's cats goes missing. That's a lot going on. Then to top it all off, Maddie learns that the owner is planning to sell the town's newspaper where her friend is the editor. This is a continually wonderful series combining two of my loves, cats and cozies into one with exceptionally well-drawn characters and mystery plots that don't disappoint. Thanks to netgalley and St. Martins for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 4, 2024
https://openbooksociety.com/article/s...
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Shock and Paw invites us back to JJ’s House of Purrs cat café on Daybreak Island. Christmas is less than two weeks away. Maddie and Grandpa Leo are partners in the café, along with Ethan, her long-time business partner. The mascot is JJ, the one-of-a-kind orange tabby who adopted Maddie shortly after she moved back from the west coast.
The cat café continues to grow, due in part to news articles that lead people from the mainland to adopt or visit its residents. Most of the cats are from Katrina, Maddie’s friend and the local Animal Control Officer.
Daybreak Harbor, their community on the island, begins its annual Christmas festivities this weekend that will bring many tourists. Grandpa Leo is participating in the Christmas light decoration contest, as he does every year. He has won numerous times, and has a more complex plan this year. There is a substantial cash prize this year, so there are many more contestants.
Maddie’s plans for Christmas are simple. Most holidays, she helps her mom’s committees so this one is only for time with her family, her boyfriend, Lucas, and friends. Caring for and adopting out cats and kittens is always a certainty.
Katrina brought Maddie a cat that had been in the shelter and was terrified, especially of barking dogs. She also brought in a flyer that was hanging outside, advertising unique cats that combine at least two breeds for an ultra-fancy cat appearance. Breeders of these kinds of cast often charge tens of thousands of dollars, many of which have been abused. Maddie named the cat Frederick and put him inside the house. Sam, one of Maddie’s sisters, and Katrina made a plan to meet the fancy cat/ kitten seller.
Grandpa Leo was injured from falling off his ladder after being shocked by a string of lights. Frederick was stolen, the thief leaving a threatening note for them to stop looking into the special cats.
A beloved community member was then murdered. Maddie’s best friend, Becky, works at the family-owned island newspaper. Donna was the big boss and the owner of the paper, carrying on the work begun by her ancestors. Becky, as the managing editor, has her dream job. Becky and Maddie accidentally overheard that Donna received an offer for the paper. Devastated, Becky tried to change her mind but Donna has plans for a new, special venture, Cat’s Meow, a media company about cats. Donna had been investigating a critical situation related to cats, but couldn’t yet reveal it. She wanted Becky’s skills in her new company, but Becky, not realizing the depth or importance of the work, didn’t want to stop being a serious journalist.
Donna was lying dead in her yard when Becky stopped by her house. The police saw Becky as the prime suspect because of her “strong motive”. In the handful of days before the Christmas festival opening night, Maddie’s simple holiday included solving Donna’s murder, helping with unassigned festival needs, and finding the stolen cat.
The author has crafted a great set of townspeople, many of whom are delightful. I appreciate and enjoy Maddie’s family, friends, and her volunteers at the café. One of my favorite descriptions is “…pretty much everyone on the island was quirky in their own way. It was part of the charm.” We get to see some of the quirks and accept them as part of each person’s makeup.
The author has outdone herself with this novel! No matter how I put the clues together, all I found were red herrings. I didn’t realize that people in the business of the news often get threats from those who disagree with them on an issue or an article! I was completely surprised at the bad guy, as it was someone I had not even considered. Regarding the rest of the challenges, such as finding Frederick and infiltrating the sale of special cat breeds, each was resolved in a satisfactory manner. I highly recommend this newest novel in the series!
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Shock and Paw invites us back to JJ’s House of Purrs cat café on Daybreak Island. Christmas is less than two weeks away. Maddie and Grandpa Leo are partners in the café, along with Ethan, her long-time business partner. The mascot is JJ, the one-of-a-kind orange tabby who adopted Maddie shortly after she moved back from the west coast.
The cat café continues to grow, due in part to news articles that lead people from the mainland to adopt or visit its residents. Most of the cats are from Katrina, Maddie’s friend and the local Animal Control Officer.
Daybreak Harbor, their community on the island, begins its annual Christmas festivities this weekend that will bring many tourists. Grandpa Leo is participating in the Christmas light decoration contest, as he does every year. He has won numerous times, and has a more complex plan this year. There is a substantial cash prize this year, so there are many more contestants.
Maddie’s plans for Christmas are simple. Most holidays, she helps her mom’s committees so this one is only for time with her family, her boyfriend, Lucas, and friends. Caring for and adopting out cats and kittens is always a certainty.
Katrina brought Maddie a cat that had been in the shelter and was terrified, especially of barking dogs. She also brought in a flyer that was hanging outside, advertising unique cats that combine at least two breeds for an ultra-fancy cat appearance. Breeders of these kinds of cast often charge tens of thousands of dollars, many of which have been abused. Maddie named the cat Frederick and put him inside the house. Sam, one of Maddie’s sisters, and Katrina made a plan to meet the fancy cat/ kitten seller.
Grandpa Leo was injured from falling off his ladder after being shocked by a string of lights. Frederick was stolen, the thief leaving a threatening note for them to stop looking into the special cats.
A beloved community member was then murdered. Maddie’s best friend, Becky, works at the family-owned island newspaper. Donna was the big boss and the owner of the paper, carrying on the work begun by her ancestors. Becky, as the managing editor, has her dream job. Becky and Maddie accidentally overheard that Donna received an offer for the paper. Devastated, Becky tried to change her mind but Donna has plans for a new, special venture, Cat’s Meow, a media company about cats. Donna had been investigating a critical situation related to cats, but couldn’t yet reveal it. She wanted Becky’s skills in her new company, but Becky, not realizing the depth or importance of the work, didn’t want to stop being a serious journalist.
Donna was lying dead in her yard when Becky stopped by her house. The police saw Becky as the prime suspect because of her “strong motive”. In the handful of days before the Christmas festival opening night, Maddie’s simple holiday included solving Donna’s murder, helping with unassigned festival needs, and finding the stolen cat.
The author has crafted a great set of townspeople, many of whom are delightful. I appreciate and enjoy Maddie’s family, friends, and her volunteers at the café. One of my favorite descriptions is “…pretty much everyone on the island was quirky in their own way. It was part of the charm.” We get to see some of the quirks and accept them as part of each person’s makeup.
The author has outdone herself with this novel! No matter how I put the clues together, all I found were red herrings. I didn’t realize that people in the business of the news often get threats from those who disagree with them on an issue or an article! I was completely surprised at the bad guy, as it was someone I had not even considered. Regarding the rest of the challenges, such as finding Frederick and infiltrating the sale of special cat breeds, each was resolved in a satisfactory manner. I highly recommend this newest novel in the series!
September 3, 2024
Maddie James had a busy autumn. She is the co-owner of Daybreak Island’s cat café, JJ’s House of Purrs. She runs the cat half, and her business partner Ethan runs the coffee shop half. They’ve found a lot of success, despite the island being small and the tourists mostly come during the warmer months. But they had a big celebration for Halloween, that Maddie had helped put together, and they were wanting to bring more tourists over for Christmas too. There is a bazaar with local artisans and a big competition for the best Christmas lights.
Maddie had begged off from helping, since she had done so much at Halloween. She just wants to decorate their home and the café and enjoy the holiday with her family and friends. But when her grandfather falls off the ladder while fixing their lights, Maddie had to jump in and take more of the responsibility. And when she finds out that he had fallen off the ladder because he’d gotten shocked, Maddie is incensed. The electrician had been hired by the city council to help hang lights all over town, and he had clearly done a poor job.
Maddie takes over the decorating duties, buying trees and finding another electrician to fix the lights. And she jumps in to help organize the bazaar, since they were clearly in need of assistance. The Christmas festivities seem a little chaotic, but Maddie’s skills get them back on track pretty quickly. But when the town’s newspaper editor and partial owner, Donna, turned up dead, with Christmas lights wrapped around her, Maddie knows she’ll have to organize more than just some Christmas activities. She’ll have to work to find a killer, especially since her best friend Becky is a reporter for the paper and ends up on the police’s suspect list.
And if that’s not enough for Maddie to deal with, she has to try to keep her grandfather in the wheelchair until his ankle heals, and there are flyers up in town advertising “designer” cats that are hypo-allergenic and hyper-expensive. As the owner of a cat café where she rescues and rehomes cats, Maddie is strongly against cat breeders. She does understand that some people can’t take home the usual cats that show up at a rescue, but Maddie thinks this breeder is going too far. Donna had bought a cat from the breeder. She’d been arguing with the same electrician who had put up the lights that had shocked her grandfather. And there had been talk of the other owner wanting to sell the newspaper, which Donna was against.
There is no shortage of suspects in Donna’s death. But can Maddie figure out who the killer is before they kill again? And can she figure it out soon enough to rescue Christmas?
Shock and Paw is the eighth book in Cate Conte’s charming Cat Café Mystery Series, and this cat-centered series is full of furry friends and small town warmth. Maddie and her friends and family work together to keep the café up and running, to take care of the cats, and to support each other through life changes, business struggles, and a little bit of sleuthing when a murder gets too close. Although the real star of the series is JJ, the cat who rides through town like a local hero.
I really enjoy these mysteries, and Shock and Paw is no exception. I love the cats and the café, and the closeness of this town’s citizens keeps me coming back for more. These characters are kind and supportive, and they work together to fight the crime that infiltrates their town. This mystery is well-written and compelling, and did I mention that there are cats? Love the cats!
Egalleys for Shock and Paw were provided by St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley, with many thanks.
Maddie had begged off from helping, since she had done so much at Halloween. She just wants to decorate their home and the café and enjoy the holiday with her family and friends. But when her grandfather falls off the ladder while fixing their lights, Maddie had to jump in and take more of the responsibility. And when she finds out that he had fallen off the ladder because he’d gotten shocked, Maddie is incensed. The electrician had been hired by the city council to help hang lights all over town, and he had clearly done a poor job.
Maddie takes over the decorating duties, buying trees and finding another electrician to fix the lights. And she jumps in to help organize the bazaar, since they were clearly in need of assistance. The Christmas festivities seem a little chaotic, but Maddie’s skills get them back on track pretty quickly. But when the town’s newspaper editor and partial owner, Donna, turned up dead, with Christmas lights wrapped around her, Maddie knows she’ll have to organize more than just some Christmas activities. She’ll have to work to find a killer, especially since her best friend Becky is a reporter for the paper and ends up on the police’s suspect list.
And if that’s not enough for Maddie to deal with, she has to try to keep her grandfather in the wheelchair until his ankle heals, and there are flyers up in town advertising “designer” cats that are hypo-allergenic and hyper-expensive. As the owner of a cat café where she rescues and rehomes cats, Maddie is strongly against cat breeders. She does understand that some people can’t take home the usual cats that show up at a rescue, but Maddie thinks this breeder is going too far. Donna had bought a cat from the breeder. She’d been arguing with the same electrician who had put up the lights that had shocked her grandfather. And there had been talk of the other owner wanting to sell the newspaper, which Donna was against.
There is no shortage of suspects in Donna’s death. But can Maddie figure out who the killer is before they kill again? And can she figure it out soon enough to rescue Christmas?
Shock and Paw is the eighth book in Cate Conte’s charming Cat Café Mystery Series, and this cat-centered series is full of furry friends and small town warmth. Maddie and her friends and family work together to keep the café up and running, to take care of the cats, and to support each other through life changes, business struggles, and a little bit of sleuthing when a murder gets too close. Although the real star of the series is JJ, the cat who rides through town like a local hero.
I really enjoy these mysteries, and Shock and Paw is no exception. I love the cats and the café, and the closeness of this town’s citizens keeps me coming back for more. These characters are kind and supportive, and they work together to fight the crime that infiltrates their town. This mystery is well-written and compelling, and did I mention that there are cats? Love the cats!
Egalleys for Shock and Paw were provided by St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley, with many thanks.
June 15, 2024
Christmas is coming to Daybreak Island. That means twinkling lights, holiday music, craft bazaars, and, whoa, murder? Who'd kill newspaper owner Donna Carey? Why? But, I get ahead of myself. I mean, the murder doesn't even occur until the end of chapter 23, though there's no lack of activity before that. Maddie is trying her best to take some time away from organizing and making things happen but it doesn't seem to be working. She's too good at her job although, as you'll note, a good part of it is delegating and knowing who to call to do that delegated task. With a sizable cash prize being offered for the best decorated home, the competitive side of the community is in high gear. It doesn't help, however, that the man hired to deal with electrical needs/issues seems just as highly incompetent. It's when her grandfather, the retired police chief, is mildly zapped while hanging lights and falls from a ladder, however, that Maddie becomes involved. Many chapters later, Donna is found dead in her yard with a string of lights around her neck. And, oh, there's a stolen cat and designer cats for sale flyers taking up a good deal of Maddie's mind, too. Anyway, that where the investigation starts.
I won't detail the plot further but it's a fun one, even if it does take awhile to get to the expected murder. Unless you're only there for the murder, oddly enough it doesn't distract from the story. It's a full story, with a cast of distinct characters and, yes, cats. All seemed to have a backstory, even the incompetent electrician. Toss in Maddie's shadowy cyber expert/sleuth, oh, okay, hacker, family, cat cafe goings-on, newspaper drama, and, well, so much more, and there's never a down moment. I mean, they manage to turn even choosing a Christmas tree into an event. I liked the characters and sense of community of Daybreak Island, quirky as some were. Hey, Bernie is a gem. I'd hire him in a minute. And, even as a dog person, I fully applauded the devotion of not just Maddie to the cats in her care, but the passion they felt for righting wrongs, whether involving human or feline. Maddie definitely deserves the title Event Ninja.
Bottom line, a fun, full of activity story line that sucks you in and makes you care about not just Maddie and her family but those about her, including the pets. Seriously, she even has dogs of her own. You will feel sympathy at the beleaguered police officers dealing with her single minded focus on taking care of the cats at a murder scene, however. Yes, she's pretty intense. Thanks #NetGalley and #StMartin'sPress - #StMartin'sPaperbacks for giving me a sneak peek at Christmas plans for this small town on Daybreak Island. I always enjoy my visits to the Cat Cafe.
I won't detail the plot further but it's a fun one, even if it does take awhile to get to the expected murder. Unless you're only there for the murder, oddly enough it doesn't distract from the story. It's a full story, with a cast of distinct characters and, yes, cats. All seemed to have a backstory, even the incompetent electrician. Toss in Maddie's shadowy cyber expert/sleuth, oh, okay, hacker, family, cat cafe goings-on, newspaper drama, and, well, so much more, and there's never a down moment. I mean, they manage to turn even choosing a Christmas tree into an event. I liked the characters and sense of community of Daybreak Island, quirky as some were. Hey, Bernie is a gem. I'd hire him in a minute. And, even as a dog person, I fully applauded the devotion of not just Maddie to the cats in her care, but the passion they felt for righting wrongs, whether involving human or feline. Maddie definitely deserves the title Event Ninja.
Bottom line, a fun, full of activity story line that sucks you in and makes you care about not just Maddie and her family but those about her, including the pets. Seriously, she even has dogs of her own. You will feel sympathy at the beleaguered police officers dealing with her single minded focus on taking care of the cats at a murder scene, however. Yes, she's pretty intense. Thanks #NetGalley and #StMartin'sPress - #StMartin'sPaperbacks for giving me a sneak peek at Christmas plans for this small town on Daybreak Island. I always enjoy my visits to the Cat Cafe.
September 13, 2024
Shock And Paw
A Cat Cafe Mystery, Book 8
Cate Conte
5 Stars
Synopsis:
The eighth installment in a charming cozy mystery series set on an island off the New England coast and featuring the cat cafe owner Maddie and her cat JJ.
Beware the cats of Christmas past…
It’s the holiday season on Daybreak Island, and Maddie James is looking forward to stepping out of the limelight, watching the island’s Christmas decoration competition from afar, spending time with her boyfriend and family, running tours for visitors as part of the festivities and spreading holiday cheer through cute cats in jingle bell collars.
But trouble hits close to home when word gets out that Donna Carey, the publisher of the island’s only daily newspaper where Maddie’s best friend Becky is editor, may be selling the business. Becky is a diehard journalist and to her, selling the only newspaper on the island is a fate worse than death. She publicly opposes the potential sale, wreaking havoc on her relationship with her big boss.
Maddie is sympathetic, but she has her own problems - like getting pulled into a role on the Christmas event committee despite her best efforts to stay far removed, and solving the case of a mysterious cat breeder trying to sell expensive designer cats as holiday gifts on the island. But then Donna winds up dead—electrocuted by her own Christmas decorations—and it appears to be more than an accident. To make matters worse, Becky becomes suspect number one. Maddie is thrown into another murder investigation in order to save her best friend from a Christmas behind bars. (Amazon)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Maddie has a lot going on in her life: running the cat cafe, spending time with her boyfriend and running some tours for visitors. But when someone is killed, she will once again have to figure out who the killer is. This time her best friend, Becky, is accused of the crime but Maddie knows she is innocent.
The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. The writing style flows smoothly and it defines the characters very clearly by their actions and words. The mystery is well plotted and there were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I was glad to spend some time with Maddie and her friends to see what they have been up to.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
A Cat Cafe Mystery, Book 8
Cate Conte
5 Stars
Synopsis:
The eighth installment in a charming cozy mystery series set on an island off the New England coast and featuring the cat cafe owner Maddie and her cat JJ.
Beware the cats of Christmas past…
It’s the holiday season on Daybreak Island, and Maddie James is looking forward to stepping out of the limelight, watching the island’s Christmas decoration competition from afar, spending time with her boyfriend and family, running tours for visitors as part of the festivities and spreading holiday cheer through cute cats in jingle bell collars.
But trouble hits close to home when word gets out that Donna Carey, the publisher of the island’s only daily newspaper where Maddie’s best friend Becky is editor, may be selling the business. Becky is a diehard journalist and to her, selling the only newspaper on the island is a fate worse than death. She publicly opposes the potential sale, wreaking havoc on her relationship with her big boss.
Maddie is sympathetic, but she has her own problems - like getting pulled into a role on the Christmas event committee despite her best efforts to stay far removed, and solving the case of a mysterious cat breeder trying to sell expensive designer cats as holiday gifts on the island. But then Donna winds up dead—electrocuted by her own Christmas decorations—and it appears to be more than an accident. To make matters worse, Becky becomes suspect number one. Maddie is thrown into another murder investigation in order to save her best friend from a Christmas behind bars. (Amazon)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Maddie has a lot going on in her life: running the cat cafe, spending time with her boyfriend and running some tours for visitors. But when someone is killed, she will once again have to figure out who the killer is. This time her best friend, Becky, is accused of the crime but Maddie knows she is innocent.
The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. The writing style flows smoothly and it defines the characters very clearly by their actions and words. The mystery is well plotted and there were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I was glad to spend some time with Maddie and her friends to see what they have been up to.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
August 18, 2024
Shock and Paw
A Cat Cafe Mystery
By: Cate Conte
Publish Date: August 20, 2024
Publisher: St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Paperbacks
Mystery and Thrillers
I would like to thank both NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read and review this book.
Book Review:
I gave this cozy mystery 4 stars. It is set in a small town on an island off of New York. It is taking place around Christmas time. It is also the 8th book in the series. Again, you don't have the books in order to understand what is going on because each book is a new mystery.
In this book there is a competition for Christmas lights that the whole town is doing. The town has hired a new handyman to help with the lights and any decorating help that the town people need. This handyman is not very good and there have been complaints. One day Maddie's Grandfather falls off the ladder after trying to fix what the handyman messed up. He isn't severely hurt but it does put him in an off mood for the holidays. The thing is he wouldn't have fallen if he hadn't been zapped by the lights. This worries Maddie because she doesn't know what to do except to let her mom knows who is overseeing the event. Her mom is overwhelmed with this event because she doesn't have much of a say as she is only overseeing it. She wants Maddie to help but Maddie doesn't want to get involved because she has enough to do. There is also competition going on with a breeder of exotic cats and the adoption agency of the cats she is helping with. One day the person who is the major supporter of this event is found dead in her front yard. Maddie's best friend finds her there with a string of Christmas lights around her neck. Did she fall or was she murder?
So, with these two things going happening in the book, it was fun to read and try to keep up with what Maddie was going to do. The main thing was helping her grandfather and her Cafe. I love the friendships and the family in this book. Maddie is very involved with both issues and finds herself in a mess.
A Cat Cafe Mystery
By: Cate Conte
Publish Date: August 20, 2024
Publisher: St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Paperbacks
Mystery and Thrillers
I would like to thank both NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read and review this book.
Book Review:
I gave this cozy mystery 4 stars. It is set in a small town on an island off of New York. It is taking place around Christmas time. It is also the 8th book in the series. Again, you don't have the books in order to understand what is going on because each book is a new mystery.
In this book there is a competition for Christmas lights that the whole town is doing. The town has hired a new handyman to help with the lights and any decorating help that the town people need. This handyman is not very good and there have been complaints. One day Maddie's Grandfather falls off the ladder after trying to fix what the handyman messed up. He isn't severely hurt but it does put him in an off mood for the holidays. The thing is he wouldn't have fallen if he hadn't been zapped by the lights. This worries Maddie because she doesn't know what to do except to let her mom knows who is overseeing the event. Her mom is overwhelmed with this event because she doesn't have much of a say as she is only overseeing it. She wants Maddie to help but Maddie doesn't want to get involved because she has enough to do. There is also competition going on with a breeder of exotic cats and the adoption agency of the cats she is helping with. One day the person who is the major supporter of this event is found dead in her front yard. Maddie's best friend finds her there with a string of Christmas lights around her neck. Did she fall or was she murder?
So, with these two things going happening in the book, it was fun to read and try to keep up with what Maddie was going to do. The main thing was helping her grandfather and her Cafe. I love the friendships and the family in this book. Maddie is very involved with both issues and finds herself in a mess.
June 12, 2024
As a cat lover and cozy mystery fan, I was thrilled for the opportunity from NetGalley to read Shock and Paw, the eighth installment in Cate Conte's cat cafe series. This book is the third one I've read.
The first-person narrator, protagonist Maddie James, runs a cat cafe in a charming town on Daybreak Island, off the coast of Massachusetts. Her large, close-knit family and network of friends all make their appearances. And, of course, her adorable orange tabby mascot, JJ.
This story takes place at the beginning of the Christmas season. The Chamber of Commerce is putting on a holiday pageant and a contest with a huge cash prize for the best Christmas lights display. Competition is fierce. Maddie vows not to get involved in the event planning; she's still exhausted from running the Halloween festivities, which resulted in a murder.
However, after too many details slip through the cracks, including a new electrician who doesn't seem to know what he's doing, Maddie breaks down and agrees to help.
Like the last mystery I read in this series, the murder doesn't happen until halfway through the book. Therefore, many of the clues slip by because they don't yet have any significance.
While the reader wonders who will die and why, there is plenty of tension besides planning the big holiday event. The owner of the island's only local newspaper is thinking about selling to a large corporation, which worries Maddie's best friend, Becky, who will probably lose her job as managing editor if the sale happens. Someone keeps posting signs about exotic cats for sale, which angers Maddie and her friend Katrina, manager of the island's animal shelter. Maddie's ex-police-chief grandfather falls off a ladder after receiving an electrical shock while trying to rearrange the Christmas lights.
The victim turns out to be Donna Carey, the newspaper owner, who is found electrocuted with a string of Christmas lights wrapped around her neck. Becky, who finds the body, is the prime suspect, so Maddie has to plunge into the investigation to prove her friend's innocence.
Suspects abound, and I didn't figure out whodunnit until Maddie did.
And yes, there's a connection to exotic cats...
Another fun read for cat lovers!
The first-person narrator, protagonist Maddie James, runs a cat cafe in a charming town on Daybreak Island, off the coast of Massachusetts. Her large, close-knit family and network of friends all make their appearances. And, of course, her adorable orange tabby mascot, JJ.
This story takes place at the beginning of the Christmas season. The Chamber of Commerce is putting on a holiday pageant and a contest with a huge cash prize for the best Christmas lights display. Competition is fierce. Maddie vows not to get involved in the event planning; she's still exhausted from running the Halloween festivities, which resulted in a murder.
However, after too many details slip through the cracks, including a new electrician who doesn't seem to know what he's doing, Maddie breaks down and agrees to help.
Like the last mystery I read in this series, the murder doesn't happen until halfway through the book. Therefore, many of the clues slip by because they don't yet have any significance.
While the reader wonders who will die and why, there is plenty of tension besides planning the big holiday event. The owner of the island's only local newspaper is thinking about selling to a large corporation, which worries Maddie's best friend, Becky, who will probably lose her job as managing editor if the sale happens. Someone keeps posting signs about exotic cats for sale, which angers Maddie and her friend Katrina, manager of the island's animal shelter. Maddie's ex-police-chief grandfather falls off a ladder after receiving an electrical shock while trying to rearrange the Christmas lights.
The victim turns out to be Donna Carey, the newspaper owner, who is found electrocuted with a string of Christmas lights wrapped around her neck. Becky, who finds the body, is the prime suspect, so Maddie has to plunge into the investigation to prove her friend's innocence.
Suspects abound, and I didn't figure out whodunnit until Maddie did.
And yes, there's a connection to exotic cats...
Another fun read for cat lovers!
August 4, 2024
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
Shock and Paw is the 8th Cat Cafe mystery by Cate Conte. Due out 20th Aug 2024 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's Press imprint, it's 320 pages and will be available in mass market paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links.
This is an enjoyable and well written holiday themed small town cozy mystery with an appealing female protagonist. I had read the first couple of books in this series, then sort of lost track of it and hadn't read any of them for more than a year. I didn't have any trouble following the story or keeping the main characters straight in my head whilst reading. The setting is a small relatively isolated island community in New England which gives the author broad scope to pepper the narrative with "eccentric" local characters.
The denouement was perhaps a trifle heavily foreshadowed, but nevertheless well written and executed. The cats (as always) are delightful, are featured in central roles, and add a lot of whimsy to the story. With 8 books in the ongoing series, it would make a great candidate for a long binge/buddy read.
Four stars. This will appeal to lovers of small-town cozy mysteries (with lots of cats).
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Shock and Paw is the 8th Cat Cafe mystery by Cate Conte. Due out 20th Aug 2024 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's Press imprint, it's 320 pages and will be available in mass market paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links.
This is an enjoyable and well written holiday themed small town cozy mystery with an appealing female protagonist. I had read the first couple of books in this series, then sort of lost track of it and hadn't read any of them for more than a year. I didn't have any trouble following the story or keeping the main characters straight in my head whilst reading. The setting is a small relatively isolated island community in New England which gives the author broad scope to pepper the narrative with "eccentric" local characters.
The denouement was perhaps a trifle heavily foreshadowed, but nevertheless well written and executed. The cats (as always) are delightful, are featured in central roles, and add a lot of whimsy to the story. With 8 books in the ongoing series, it would make a great candidate for a long binge/buddy read.
Four stars. This will appeal to lovers of small-town cozy mysteries (with lots of cats).
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
September 23, 2024
It's the holiday season on Daybreak Island. Maddie James is looking forward to just enjoying everything without working in the background. She's also wanting to promote her cat cafe. But trouble soon shows up. First, there are rumors that Donna Carey who's the publisher of the island's newspaper is planning to sell. That upsets Becky, Maddie's best friend who works at the paper and puts a strain on her relationship with her boss. Maddie is then pulled in to help with the committee for the Christmas events and she's trying to help solve a case of a mysterious cat breeder who is selling expensive designer cats. Then, to top things off, Donna is murdered and Becky's a prime suspect. So Maddie and Grandpa get to work on their investigation.
I've enjoyed this series immensely and this book's a prime example of why. It's very well-written with well-developed characters who are believable and a fast-paced plot. I was hooked on this captivating story from beginning to end and I simply didn't want to put it down. There were multiple mysteries which were intriguing and fun to try to solve. There were lots of twists and turns and red herrings. This is the eighth book in the series and it's a can't-miss. The series is just as fresh now as it was in the beginning with each book getting better. Cate Conte is an excellent author and storyteller. I loved this book and am eager for the next one in this wonderful series. I highly recommend both book and series which I believe is best read in order although each book has a self-contained mystery.
I've enjoyed this series immensely and this book's a prime example of why. It's very well-written with well-developed characters who are believable and a fast-paced plot. I was hooked on this captivating story from beginning to end and I simply didn't want to put it down. There were multiple mysteries which were intriguing and fun to try to solve. There were lots of twists and turns and red herrings. This is the eighth book in the series and it's a can't-miss. The series is just as fresh now as it was in the beginning with each book getting better. Cate Conte is an excellent author and storyteller. I loved this book and am eager for the next one in this wonderful series. I highly recommend both book and series which I believe is best read in order although each book has a self-contained mystery.
September 30, 2024
Shock and Paw is the eighth in A cat Cafe Mystery, a cozy mystery series set on Daybreak Island off the coast of New England. It is just two weeks until Christmas and Maggie, part owner of a cat cafe, is determined not to volunteer for any activities but, rather, just to enjoy them. However, a series of disturbing events - a flyer advertising exotic and very expensive cats for sale on the island despite all the cats at the shelter who need homes, the kidnapping of a cat she had found behind a dumpster, her granddad’s fall of a ladder after being zapped by the lights installed by a new electrician, the possibility of the local paper being sold, and, finally, the murder of the woman who owns the paper - all of which makes Maddie change her mind about her involvement, especially when it becomes clear her best friend, Becky, a journalist at the newspaper, becomes the main suspect in the murder.
Shock and Paw is a charming, enjoyable cozy mystery. The pace is somewhat slow but the characters make up for this as they are an interesting, quirky, and mostly likeable bunch. Eventually, all of the various strings in the tale are pulled together satisfactorily with a couple of fun twists that kept me guessing right to the end. If you like cozies and cats, this one is definitely for you.
Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
Shock and Paw is a charming, enjoyable cozy mystery. The pace is somewhat slow but the characters make up for this as they are an interesting, quirky, and mostly likeable bunch. Eventually, all of the various strings in the tale are pulled together satisfactorily with a couple of fun twists that kept me guessing right to the end. If you like cozies and cats, this one is definitely for you.
Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
November 21, 2024
This is book 8 in the Cat cafe series and it's another great read. It’s the holiday season on Daybreak Island, and Maddie James is looking forward to stepping out of the limelight, watching the island’s Christmas decoration competition from afar, spending time with her boyfriend and family, running tours for visitors as part of the festivities and spreading holiday cheer through cute cats in jingle bell collars.But trouble hits close to home when word gets out that Donna Carey, the publisher of the island’s only daily newspaper where Maddie’s best friend Becky is editor, may be selling the business. Becky is a diehard journalist and to her, selling the only newspaper on the island is a fate worse than death. She publicly opposes the potential sale, wreaking havoc on her relationship with her big boss.Maddie is sympathetic, but she has her own problems - like getting pulled into a role on the Christmas event committee despite her best efforts to stay far removed, and solving the case of a mysterious cat breeder trying to sell expensive designer cats as holiday gifts on the island. But then Donna winds up dead—electrocuted by her own Christmas decorations—and it appears to be more than an accident. To make matters worse, Becky becomes suspect number one. Maddie is thrown into another murder investigation in order to save her best friend from a Christmas behind bars.
August 4, 2024
It’s the holiday season on Daybreak Island, and Maddie James is looking forward to stepping out of the limelight, watching the island’s Christmas decoration competition from afar, spending time with her boyfriend and family, running tours for visitors as part of the festivities and spreading holiday cheer through cute cats in jingle bell collars.
But trouble hits close to home when word gets out that Donna Carey, the publisher of the island’s only daily newspaper where Maddie’s best friend Becky is editor, may be selling the business. Becky is a diehard journalist and to her, selling the only newspaper on the island is a fate worse than death. She publicly opposes the potential sale, wreaking havoc on her relationship with her big boss.
Maddie is sympathetic, but she has her own problems - like getting pulled into a role on the Christmas event committee despite her best efforts to stay far removed and solving the case of a mysterious cat breeder trying to sell expensive designer cats as holiday gifts on the island. But then Donna winds up dead—electrocuted by her own Christmas decorations—and it appears to be more than an accident. To make matters worse, Becky becomes suspect number one. Maddie is thrown into another murder investigation in order to save her best friend from a Christmas behind bars.
It’s interesting that Maddie’s friends and family want her to not be involved, and then THEY involve her. I am not a fan of people, even fictional people, who do not accept their own actions. However, this is not a pet peeve and does not take away from the novel. It's the involvement that makes the story move forward.
It was a unique plot point for a cozy mystery, exotic cats. Unfortunately, the holidays are a good “scamming” time. It's also a sad time for shelter pets. This is a serious crime, a live is still a live, and I wish more people had humanity beaten into them. The mystery itself was decent. Though it does seem to go really quick once Maddie starts putting two and two together.
Overall, I rate this novel 5 out of 5 stars.
But trouble hits close to home when word gets out that Donna Carey, the publisher of the island’s only daily newspaper where Maddie’s best friend Becky is editor, may be selling the business. Becky is a diehard journalist and to her, selling the only newspaper on the island is a fate worse than death. She publicly opposes the potential sale, wreaking havoc on her relationship with her big boss.
Maddie is sympathetic, but she has her own problems - like getting pulled into a role on the Christmas event committee despite her best efforts to stay far removed and solving the case of a mysterious cat breeder trying to sell expensive designer cats as holiday gifts on the island. But then Donna winds up dead—electrocuted by her own Christmas decorations—and it appears to be more than an accident. To make matters worse, Becky becomes suspect number one. Maddie is thrown into another murder investigation in order to save her best friend from a Christmas behind bars.
It’s interesting that Maddie’s friends and family want her to not be involved, and then THEY involve her. I am not a fan of people, even fictional people, who do not accept their own actions. However, this is not a pet peeve and does not take away from the novel. It's the involvement that makes the story move forward.
It was a unique plot point for a cozy mystery, exotic cats. Unfortunately, the holidays are a good “scamming” time. It's also a sad time for shelter pets. This is a serious crime, a live is still a live, and I wish more people had humanity beaten into them. The mystery itself was decent. Though it does seem to go really quick once Maddie starts putting two and two together.
Overall, I rate this novel 5 out of 5 stars.
July 25, 2024
Donna Carey, owner and publisher of the local daily paper, is selling the business. Then she ends up dead. Maddie James, owner of the local cat rescue/café, is drawn into the investigation when her best friend becomes a suspect. To ensure the island has a Merry Christmas, Maddie must bring a killer to justice.
This is the first book I’ve read in the Cat Café series. There is enough backstory in Shock and Paw that I wasn’t lost while reading the book. The characters are a tight-knit crew that watch out for and take care of each other.
The mystery is one that kept me guessing. The murderer’s identity is well-hidden. As Maddie’s investigation continues, she learns that the dead woman was deeply involved in an investigation of her own, and it may have led to her death. I enjoyed the twists and turns of the plot; it kept me on my toes.
Shock and Paw is a well-written cozy mystery. It’s a fun and quick read. If you love cats and cozy mysteries, then this book may be for you. Recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an e-copy of the book. All opinions are my own.
This is the first book I’ve read in the Cat Café series. There is enough backstory in Shock and Paw that I wasn’t lost while reading the book. The characters are a tight-knit crew that watch out for and take care of each other.
The mystery is one that kept me guessing. The murderer’s identity is well-hidden. As Maddie’s investigation continues, she learns that the dead woman was deeply involved in an investigation of her own, and it may have led to her death. I enjoyed the twists and turns of the plot; it kept me on my toes.
Shock and Paw is a well-written cozy mystery. It’s a fun and quick read. If you love cats and cozy mysteries, then this book may be for you. Recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an e-copy of the book. All opinions are my own.
October 8, 2024
Maddie and JJ are surprised at the level of intensity for the annual Christmas light display competition. True, this year there is a cash prize but that does not explain the cut-throat rivalries. Despite her intention not to become involved in the town’s celebration, Maddie gets pulled in to save the day at the last minute. But when her best friend’ Becky’s boss is murdered, Maddie is tempted to drop everything to make sure she is not arrested.
As it turns out, the competition is only one possible reason for murder. There are some shady dealings going on including the illegal breeding and theft of exotic cats and the possible sale of the newspaper for which Becky works. Was one of those three things the motive for murder and if so, who is the killer. The story is filled with all sorts of twists and turns and some very adorable cats. While the shelter itself takes a back seat, the rescue of some poor felines is front and centre.
As usual this was an entertaining read that I thoroughly enjoyed. Five purrs and two paws up.
As it turns out, the competition is only one possible reason for murder. There are some shady dealings going on including the illegal breeding and theft of exotic cats and the possible sale of the newspaper for which Becky works. Was one of those three things the motive for murder and if so, who is the killer. The story is filled with all sorts of twists and turns and some very adorable cats. While the shelter itself takes a back seat, the rescue of some poor felines is front and centre.
As usual this was an entertaining read that I thoroughly enjoyed. Five purrs and two paws up.
October 9, 2024
Maddie James is determined to enjoy the Christmas season on Daybreak Island. But her neighbors have other ideas. Afte her grandfather is shocked while fixing his holiday light display, a neighbor faces a bigger threat that involves electricity and her holiday lights. One of Maddie's beloved cats is stolen, too. Maddie must work to clear her best friend's name and find her furry friend while organizing the town's annual holiday celebrations. But at every turn, she faces challenges from the police, secretive strangers and neighbors with something to hide.
I can picture Daybreak Island thanks to the author's vivid word choices. And I want to visit the cat cafe!
This book is also clever and witty. I smiled and laughed out loud several times.
Some of the details seem far-fetched. Like the island seems small but then characters, places and events almost come out of the woodwork and make the island feel very large.
I like the ending. It includes a few unexpected twists. I would definitely read more books in this series!
I can picture Daybreak Island thanks to the author's vivid word choices. And I want to visit the cat cafe!
This book is also clever and witty. I smiled and laughed out loud several times.
Some of the details seem far-fetched. Like the island seems small but then characters, places and events almost come out of the woodwork and make the island feel very large.
I like the ending. It includes a few unexpected twists. I would definitely read more books in this series!
December 27, 2024
Let me start off by saying I FREAKING LOVE THIS SERIES! I absolutely love visiting Maddie's cat cafe on Daybreak Island. Oh, how I wish this was my life! I mean, yeah, her cute little touristy town has an unusually high murder rate, but other than that it's so peaceful and charming. This time around, Maddie's in the thick of the holiday season, and in addition to dealing with her injured grandfather (he really should leave the rooftop decorating to the professionals), she must solve the mystery of the murdered newspaper owner to get her best friend off the hook! Amidst all the madness, there’s a shady cat breeder in town, and Maddie isn’t about to let these poor, helpless kitties get exploited. And this right here is why I love this book series so much. Maddie is passionate about rescuing the kitties, and she hates breeders as much as I do! This was a fun, festive read that delivered all the cozy Christmas vibes for cat rescue enthusiasts. It's the cat's meow! Sorry, I couldn't help myself.
September 16, 2024
“Shock and Paw” is the charmingly done eighth book in Cate Conte’s Cat Café cozy mystery series. This one takes place at Christmas and it’s a lot of fun to read as Cat Café owner Maddie James gets pulled into helping run Daybreak Island’s holiday festivities even though she vowed she wouldn’t. I loved reading about the various events that were taking place on the island. Also fun to read about is the cat café and the various cats there, as well as Maddie’s family and friends. Mixed in with the holiday cheer are a couple of mysteries – one involving a mysterious cat breeder and a murder mystery (the murder mystery happens fairly late in the book but still adds much to the book). Both mysteries are well done (if a little sad) with plenty of twists and turns and surprises. I kind of figure out who the killer was but I was still sad to discover that I was right. All in all an enjoyable mystery.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.
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