Cat Scratch Murder

Crystal Beach #1

by Karen McSpade, Andrea Kummer (Narrator)

Magic in this witch’s family has a name: Trouble.

Meet Sidney Grace: Quirky journalist, Hesitant witch, Professional butterfingers.
Her grandmother believes Sidney’s talent for communicating with the dead makes her the most powerful witch in the family, but Sidney just wants to make it through the day without getting fired.

A young writer living in Boston, Sidney is far from the small wacky town of Crystal Beach, Florida, where her spell-happy grandmother retired. She is perfectly happy with her career, her four cats, and the fact that she hasn’t been on a date in… well, years. All is well until her estranged mother informs Sidney that her grandmother has been arrested for murdering a resident at her retirement community.

Sidney road-trips to Florida to discover that her grandmother has no alibi, her grandfather isn’t as dead as she thought he was, and one of her cats can speak. To make matters worse, the handsome Officer Reece is tough on criminals and even tougher on witches. Who cooked up the deadly scone? And why are residents at Shifting Sands suddenly disappearing?

Now, Sidney must embrace her own magical talents to prove her grandmother’s innocence and stop the killer bent on destroying anyone who gets in the way.

Read Cat Scratch Murder, book 1 in the Crystal Beach Magic Mystery Series, for a bewitchingly fun paranormal cozy mystery with charming characters that will keep you spellbound!

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Paranormal, Witches, Novella, Crime, Cozy

2 pages, Audible Audio

Published June 21, 2023

About the author

Raised in the Arkansas River Valley, Karen McSpade grew up with a fishing pole in one hand and her trusty .410 shotgun in the other. Exploring the creeks and woods around her hometown while hunting with her father kept her “entertained and out of jail,” as her mom likes to say.

As a child, her most prized possessions were her books and her Michael Jackson album collection. These led her to a brief venture into breakdancing and poetry slamming before discovering her true passion, bringing stories and characters to life. Today, she focuses on the two things that still inspire her creativity—her love for food and dishing up mysteries with a dash of humor.

Karen’s novels feature compassionate and strong-willed leading ladies determined to uncover the truth and seek justice. She loves creating stories filled with mystery, romance, magic, and adventure that allow readers to join her characters on their journey, leaving behind the real world for a few hours at a time.

When she’s not writing, Karen’s favorite things are spending time with family, traveling, cooking, reading, gardening, and enjoying nature. She lives in Northwest Arkansas with her family and a very spoiled Wheaten Terrier who doubles as her writing assistant.

Reviews

[Barbara Behring · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this first book in the new series by Karen Mcspade. I can't wait to read more about Sidney and Ada Mae.

[Linda Langford · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book opens with a woman wearing a “dead cat” around her neck. No. No. No. I was horrified. It wasn’t a cat, but the very idea! Horrors! However, since this was a short story, I read it, and it was okay, but that first or second line ruined it for me. I won’t read any more books in this series.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining cute mystery listening 🎶🔰

This kindle e-book novella is from my Kindle Unlimited account book one of ten.

I picked this because of author and location, Florida.

She is living in Boston as a writer for a newspaper when she gets a phone ☎ call from her mother that her grandmother has been arrested for murder. She is off to Florida. There she works on proving her grandmother's innocent. This she accomplished and is staying in Florida.

I would recommend this series and author to 👍 readers of family and friends relationships adventure mystery novels 👍🔰. 2024 👒😉🌙😀

[Elizabeth]

Not feeling it

[Dasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5 estrellas

Entretenida pero en realidad no es una novela, ni corta ni de otro tipo. Es una novela dividida en varias partes. Termina justo en el punto álgido de la historia con un "continuará" 😂
Eso sí, es divertidísima y la prota se autoproclama "loca de los gatos" así que necesitaba leer este misterio cozy con un toque brujil.
Seguiré, total son supercortos y están en KU y en Storytel.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Journalist Sidney Grace is on a mission to save her grandmother, who has been arrested. Sidney heads to her grandmother’s retirement community in Florida. She can’t believe her grandmother is in jail for murder. No way does Sidney think her beloved grandmother is a killer.

The police don’t seem to be interested in looking any further for the killer. They are convinced the culprit is Sidney’s grandmother, who happens to be a witch. A witch who happens to see Sidney’s dead grandfather.

Sidney has her work cut out for her, but she’s determined to prove her grandmother’s innocence.

I really enjoyed this short story. The characters are lively, delightful and wacky. It’s a quick read and can be read in one sitting. For me, it was a few hours of pure fun and, yes, there are cats involved. That always wins with me :) A great start to a new series.

I was very happy to get this through Kindle Unlimited. All opinions are my own.

[Mollie Hunt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cat Scratch Murder lays the basis for lots of fun and intrigue, but I didn't realize when I began reading that it was only the first part of the whole story, which apparently runs over 5 books. It didn't really end on a cliffhanger-it just ended with, "buy the next book." Even at only 99 cents, I found that frustrating, since the story itself is captivating. I would happily give it more stars if it had a more satisfying conclusion.

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just had to grab this on KU the day it came out and knew I'd love it--and I did! Ada-Mae's an awesome character and so is Sidney Grace. I couldn't read fast enough once Sid got going on what she suspected then boom! A cliffhanger with an answer lol. That's what I like about this author's cliffhangers. They're not the annoying kind but do give you just enough info that you literally wanna dive into the next book! Bring it on, can't wait!

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is Ada-Mae a murderess? Ada-Mae is a
retired witch living in the Shifting Sands
Retirement Community.
She has been arrested for murdering
Marie Beauchamp with whom she had
a recent argument.
Sidney Grace is a journalist. Her mother
requests that Sidney go the Retirement
Community to clear Ada-Mae of the charges.
Off Sidney goes along with her four cats
to prove her grandmother’s innocence.
The story is full of interesting, well created
characters.
The author’s use of vivid details place
the reader right there next the characters.
An enjoyable, short read,
I volunteered to read Cat Scratch Murder.
Thanks to the author for the opportunity.
My opinion is voluntary and my own,

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a fan when a series turns out to be a serial. We'll see if that continues. What should be the conclusion of this book is the first two chapters of the second book.

[Doreen Fernandes · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intriguing death

Sidney Grace's grandmother Ada-Mae is arrested for poisoning her friend. The police chalk it down to jealousy and rivalry. Moreover, the evidence of the crime points to her grandmother. It does not make sense to Sidney so she is on a mission to find the real killer. Both Sidney and her grandmother have magical abilities and her grandmother's spell casting is hilarious. Is it effective in finding the killer? I enjoyed reading the first part of the series and am looking forward to the next one. A page turner which is humorous and entertaining.

[Imjussayin · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐⭐ Cat Scratch Murder (Crystal Beach #1) by Karen McSpade

Cat Scratch Murder was an okay read and helped pass the time when insomnia kicked in. However, it didn’t quite deliver on what I’d hoped for. Sidney, our newbie witch, brought the promise of magic, but the magical elements felt underwhelming, the characters lacked depth, and the humour didn’t quite land as I expected. The pacing was a bit uneven, which made it tricky to stay fully engaged.

I was expecting magic, talking cats, eccentric families, and a quirky supporting cast that was both funny and well-developed—partly because of the reviews and the blurb. (I do worry when a blurb’s too long!)

That said, there was just enough intrigue to make me consider reading book two—mainly hoping it finally delivers on the promise of magic, talking cats, and stronger character development.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding Marie Beauchamp's Murderer ! . . .

Sidney Grace was on assignment to write about a gorgeous new hotel in Boston. A woman with a fur stole around her neck unfortunately caught Sidney’s attention. The fate of the poor bedraggled animal with glass-beaded eyes horrified Sidney. She included her opinion of it in her article, not realizing that the woman wearing it was a friend of the owner of the company she worked for… oops. Marv, her boss, already chewed out by the owner, called her into his office to (once more) reprimand her for her strong “misplaced” opinions. Sidney was always the one who drew trouble around her like a shroud. This time, she wasn’t sure she would have a job when she returned the next day.

Not wanting to wake up, since Marv couldn’t fire her if she wasn’t awake to hear him, she ignored her alarm but had to answer her mother’s phone call (whose ring-tone she had set appropriately to a funeral march). This was not going to be a good day. Then her mother gave her the news – her grandmother Ada-Mae was just arrested for MURDER! Without a pause, taking along her 4 protesting cats, she headed to the Shifting Sands Retirement Community to clear her grandmother of these obviously false charges. And Marv actually seemed relieved when Sidney suggested she take a short leave-of-absence from work. At least it delayed any decision about firing her. A long drive later, she arrived in Florida as she drove into the back of Officer John Reece’s police car – the only other vehicle in sight on the road. He was not impressed by her swearing she hadn’t seen him there or perhaps it was the sun that momentarily blinded her.

After Sidney criticized the officer for having an old vehicle with a weak bumper that could be so easily torn off, he decided to arrest her. As they walked into the building, her grandmother was elated Sidney had come to get her free. The officer showed no surprise they knew each other, and happily locked them in the same cell! Why don’t her plans ever run smoothly? Will she be able to investigate the murder of Marie Beauchamp from inside her cell? The murder weapon was identified as a poisoned scone from the buffet table at the retirement community. Ada-Mae had grabbed the scone and taken it to Marie in her apartment after they had had an argument. But no one else died from the scones, so Ada-Mae was more suspicious of the jar of raspberry jam that had “disappeared”. With ankle monitors, the two of them were allowed to return to the scene of the crime. Are they in danger? Can they find the clues they need to identify the murderer? Grab your copy and enjoy a well-told story that will be the most fun you’ll have at a crime scene!

[Barbara Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder At A Retirement Village!

by Barbara Kelley

"Cat Scratch Murder" is Book 1 in A Crystal Beach Paranormal Cozy Mystery series, written by Karen McSpade. If you enjoy books by J. A. Whiting about ghosts and paranormal psychic abilities, you will love this series. Before reading this first book in the series, download a copy of the prequel, "Dog Gone Troubles" by Karen McSpade through BookFunnel. The prequel introduces Sidney Grace, a 24 year old woman who works as a journalist at a fancy magazine in Boston, Massachusetts. The prequel also introduces Sidney's grandmother, Ada Mae, and her grandfather, who are both in their 70s, and her mom (the Tupperware Queen of Boston)and dad, who are in their upper 40s, as well as Sidney's boss, a couple of coworkers, and Sidney's four fine feline buddies - Mojo, Jinx, Abra and Cadabra, and a cast full of puppy dogs at a dog parade, where the mystery of the prequel begins. Book 1 of the series, "Cat Scratch Murder" occurs 6 years after the prequel. This book begins with a few problems that are going on at the magazine where Sidney works. Then it continues with her mother calling her and telling her that her grandmother, Ada Mae, has been arrested for a murder at her retirement village in Crystal Beach, Florida. Since Sidney and Ada Mae are really close, Sidney decides to go down to Florida to prove her grandmother's innocence. While in Florida, she meets two gorgeous, single men: one is the sheriff, and the other is the head of a Guardian Angels group for the retirement village community. She also meets some if the retirement village community, both residents and staff, and in particular, an elderly man who is sweet on Ada Mae. Since Gramps died a couple of years ago, it is okay for Grandma to have a gentleman friend, right? Well, Sidney's just can't imagine her grandmother loving anyone but Gramps, even if he is dead. And Gramps doesn't seem to realize he's dead, because his ghost is causing all kinds of trouble at the retirement home, like overturning tables with food on them, and upshooting beach umbrellas, and giving Sidney clues as to who the murderer is by typing those clues on a laptop computer. I loved both the prequel and the first book if this series. One mystery was solved in Book 1, but another mystery was left open, leading into Book 2, which is being released later on in January 2022. The book was funny and serious at the same time. Ada Mae is a witch and Sidney can see ghosts, which according to Ada Mae is a very powerful gift. I gave this book 5 big fat stars and will be reading the second book soon. I received an ARC of this book from the author and have posted my honest review voluntarily.

[Merry Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful first book to a new series that makes you want more! Once you begin this book, you can't put it down. With some humor and paranormal possibilities, we are treated to this new series! Our protagonist, Sidney,who is a journalist, gets a frantic call from her mother telling her that her grandmother, Ada-Mae was arrested at her retirement living complex in Florida for the murder of another resident. Impossible! Her grandmother would never do anything like that. She may be a little out there with her witch craft ideas and seeing her deceased grandfather, but murder...no way! So, it is up to Sydney to investigate and clear her Grandmother. Accused of killing Marie Beauchamp who she had a disagreement with, Sydney has to find out who may have any evidence. She is told to talk to Linda Epps. But where is she? Why was she transferred to the building where they send those who don't have long to live? She was fine the last time Ada-Mae saw her. What is going on at this place? We also are introduced to Officer Reece who had to arrest Sydney's grandmother because of the evidence but doesn't believe she really did it. I laughed at the circumstances when he met Sydney. What does Linda Epps know? Is she being held prisoner in the bad side of the building? Why? Who killed Marie? Will Sydney find the truth before they take her grandmother to the jail in Orlando? Did Sydney really see the ghost of her grandfather? Does Sydney have supernatural powers or was it her imagination? I can't wait to read the next book to see what will happen. I received an ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was very short - I think less than 80 pages. At best it was a long introduction to the next book in the series, ending abruptly with a cliffhanger. Authors - please note: If your book is good enough then readers don't need a cliffhanger ending to read the next book in the series. I will not be reading the next book.

Amazon synopsis:
Meet Sidney Grace. Quirky journalist, Hesitant witch, Professional butterfingers.
Her grandmother believes Sidney’s talent for communicating with the dead makes her the most powerful witch in the family, but Sidney just wants to make it through the day without getting fired.

A young writer living in Boston, Sidney is far from the small wacky town of Crystal Beach, Florida, where her spell-happy grandmother retired. She is perfectly happy with her career, her four cats, and the fact that she hasn’t been on a date in… well, years. All is well until her estranged mother informs Sidney that her grandmother has been arrested for murdering a resident at her retirement community.

Sidney road-trips to Florida to discover that her grandmother has no alibi, her grandfather isn’t as dead as she thought he was, and one of her cats can speak. To make matters worse, the handsome Officer Reece is tough on criminals and even tougher on witches. Who cooked up the deadly scone? And why are residents at Shifting Sands suddenly disappearing?

Now, Sidney must embrace her own magical talents to prove her grandmother’s innocence and stop the killer bent on destroying anyone who gets in the way.

[Aparna J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Karen McSpade’s latest upcoming book ” Cat Scratch Murder” is a delightful paranormal cozy mystery. I love her unique idea of retaining more readers to crave for her next book in the series. Cat Scratch Murder also has a sequel to be coming out soon and I can’t wait to read it.

This book is a wonderful combination of humor, cuteness overloaded, and good suspense with a climax that links to the next part. Sidney Grace is a reporter who works for Living It Large in Boston magazine. She gets into trouble with the main owner of the publication, Mr. Rask, over a poor hotel review. It’s precisely at this moment that her mother, Julia Mae, calls and informs her that her maternal Grandma, Ada Mae has been arrested for the murder of Marie Beauchamp, her friend in the Shifting Sands Retirement Community center, Crystal Beach, Florida. There’s something special about Sidney, her mom Julia, and Grandma Ada Mae. They all are witches. But does this fact have any bearing on the case? And reporter Sidney is on the mission to save her Grandma. What follows next is absolutely fun and I wouldn’t reveal anything for it will turn out to be a spoiler.
On the whole, this book is a complete entertainer.

So, What are you waiting for? Grab a copy of
Cat Scratch Murder which will be available on Amazon for sale tomorrow.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Marsha Keeper Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf

Cat Scratcher Murder begins the Crystal Beach Magic Mystery series with a fun and charming look into the world of Sidney our resident not wanting to use her talents witch… and a mystery that she cannot turn her back or her talents on, one involving her beloved but flaky grandmother.

Everything you need to know before picking up this Paranormal Cozy Mystery is in the Cover Description. I don’t intend to give plot details in this spoiler-free review, that’s not fair to future readers. What I can safely say is that this story was fun to read, although it’s not very long. Cat Scratcher Murder is very much an introduction to this world, a peek into the life of Sidney, her mother, her grandmother, her four unique cats, and the mystery her grandmother has found herself in… being accused of murder. We meet the main characters that we’ll be following in this series and just enough information on the murder to pique interest in continuing with the next book(s)… for this one ends on a cliffhanger.

I enjoyed myself here and although I’m not a huge fan of cliffhanger endings I will pick up the next title Claw of Attraction when it releases because now I’m just as curious to find out what happens next as one of Sidney’s cats would be.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the author or author’s team via Booksprout. The opinions expressed in this review are my own – good, bad, or indifferent.*

[Nadine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it but there’s a cliffhanger on the main mystery

Warning: this book has a cliffhanger. It's a short novella and I felt that the mystery hadn't even really begun when the story ended. I did like it and it is a well written story. It has humor, a lovable granny, and the main character, Sid, has a sarcastic outlook on life that is quite entertaining, although personally I prefer a bit more kindness. Did I really get to know Sid in this very fast read? No, maybe not, but I liked her spunk! But that unexpected cliffy at the end of a very short book, that cost this book a star. The investigation had hardly even begun. Not well enough developed for me. But like I said, I did like the book right up until the end. It was entertaining!

It’s not common in the cozy mystery world to have books that have no conclusion whatsoever. Mostly the main mystery is wrapped up and some personal things run through the series as overarching plotlines. But no cliffhangers.

Is it fair of me to knock a star off just for not having a solved mystery? Maybe not, but it did truly bother me so I feel that it has to be reflected in my rating. It’s just not a full book, it’s only a few chapters. And that should have been made very clear in the book description.

Having said that, I will be reading the next book, because now I want to know how it continues. But I don’t like being forced to buy the next book.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her grandmother believes Sidney’s talent for communicating with the dead makes her the most powerful witch in the family, but Sidney just wants to make it through the day without getting fired.
A young writer living in Boston, Sidney is far from the small wacky town of Crystal Beach, Florida, where her spell-happy grandmother retired. She is perfectly happy with her career, her four cats, and the fact that she hasn’t been on a date in… well, years. All is well until her estranged mother informs Sidney that her grandmother has been arrested for murdering a resident at her retirement community.
Sidney road-trips to Florida to discover that her grandmother has no alibi, her grandfather isn’t as dead as she thought he was, and one of her cats can speak. To make matters worse, the handsome Officer Reece is tough on criminals and even tougher on witches. Who cooked up the deadly scone? And why are residents at Shifting Sands suddenly disappearing?
Now, Sidney must embrace her own magical talents to prove her grandmother’s innocence and stop the killer bent on destroying anyone who gets in the way.
The only thing that I didn't like about this book was the fact that it ended in a cliffhanger.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

[DianaRaven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow to Action - Still Fun Non-Serious Start To Series. CAT SCRATCH MURDER is the first installment in the Crystal Beach Magic Mystery Series by Karen McSpade; a witchy paranormal cozy mystery with charming characters.

Sidney Grace is a quirky, my-way journalist.  She's just received a reprimand for her fur-ruffling, non- compromising reporting. She goes home to think about succumbing to the desires of management when she gets a call from her mother that her grandmother has been arrested for murder and it's up to Sydney to fix the problem. She packs up her four cats heads for Florida.  

There's lots going on in this very short installment. There's a cop that is the epitome of a State Patrol officer, sunglasses sharpley ironed uniform and stiff bearing, etc.  There's a wild storm while camping in the beach, saved by the cop, spells gone wrong and more.  Then, just as the real murderer is to be exposed . . . to be continued.

This is another cliff-dropping story. These stories would be so much more appealing and enjoyable if bundled into one full length book rather than three or four very short books.

This was an engaging and fun story, but leaves you with more questions than answers!  BUT, I do want to read the next installment -- gotta find out what happens next.

I did receive an advanced copy from the author. The above is my freely given and honest review.

[JoAnne McMaster (Any Good Book) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first episode of a new series by Karen McSpade. It is entirely different from her last series and entirely enchanting. While I don't normally read books about witches (too overdone), I have to say that this one has me hooked. I love Sidney, who wants to be a good journalist but has no tact when she writes articles, and wants to ignore her heritage (if she can). She also doesn't enjoy chasing down her grandmother who loves to cast spells (constantly), even if it means that she's leaving her boss in Boston to cool down after her last fiasco of an article.

So now Sidney and her four cats (I love cats) are living in a Dodge van that's seen better days; she's trying to find a killer to keep her grandmother out of jail, and oh, yes -- she can see her dead grandfather, who points her to clues. Not bad for a couple of days in a retirement village, right?

Then there's the fact that she might have her eye on a killer...

This is a short read, but the next installment is coming soon (not soon enough). If you like magic, a somewhat ditzy heroine, and a cat or four, then this is the book for you. Highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book from the author and Booksprout, but this in no way influenced my review.

[Julie Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't think I would have bothered with this book if I had known it was so short (a novella) because I just don't like them. They end before they get going but then again I would have missed out on what looks it's going to be an interesting series and a series I don't think I want to miss. I actually enjoyed what there was and just wish it had been longer, I must admit the ending had me feeling Oh, where's the rest? I really liked the characters, especially the grandma and think the setting is going to lead to a lot of fun adventures. The mystery was getting good but sets it up for the next book rather than coming to a conclusion. There is a witchy element to the story but again most of it is just hinted at and set up ready for the next book. Hurry up with the next book before I forget the plot.
Just when things at work take a turn for the worse Sidney receives a phone call to say her Grandmother has been arrested for murder. Sidney packs up her four cats and heads striaght to the elderly retirement centre to clear her name. Will she be able to clear her name? or end up jail with her?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Helen Drake · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed getting to know Sidney and her grandmother Ada-Mae. Ada-Mae is a practicing witch who has retired to a senior facility in Florida near Cape Canaveral. Ada-Mae is accused of poisoning her friend. Her mother asks Sidney to go down to Florida to help her. Sidney takes her 4 cats and travels from Boston to Florida in her VW Van. While trying to help clear her grandmother, Sidney sees the ghost of her deceased grandfather for whom she is named. He provides a key clue.

There is a local policeman who is investigating the murder. Sidney literally runs into him as she enters the community, due to her travel fatigue. There seems to be something developing between Sidney and Officer Reece.

Nothing seems to go smoothly for Sidney and Ada-Mae as they try to prove Ada-Mae’s innocence. As the action picks up, the story ends.

I didn’t realize that this series was in serial format which is why I only gave it 4 stars. I like to see the mystery resolved within the story. At least I’ll know what to expect in the next book.

I was fortunate to receive an Advanced Copy of this fascinating new series. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sidney is a young lady living in Boston and writes for a magazine. She is also a witch but doesn't want anyone to know that. She can also talk to the dead. Her mother and grandmother are witches too. She is content and happy. But then she gets a call from her mother telling her that Ada Mae, her grandmother has been arrested for murder. Sidney packs to go to Florida where her grandmother lives in the Shifting Sands Retirement Community. She takes her 4 cats along, one of which can speak. Is the cat a witch too?
What is the first thing Sidney does when she arrives in Florida? She drives into the backend of a police car. The officer doesn't like the way Sidney is speaking so he arrests her. Ada Mae is very happy to see her. The officer puts her in the cell with Ada Mae. I can't say anything more about the story for fear of giving something away. But I can tell you I loved this. I enjoyed reading it and I think you will too. I'm looking forward to Claw of Attraction.
I voluntarily received a copy of this book from the author and I'm voluntarily posting a review. My opinion is entirely my own.

[Nancy (The Avid Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cat Scratch Murder pulled me in from the first page. I loved all the characters, especially Sydney Grace’s grandmother, Ada-Mae. Cat Scratch Murder is a short story that reads like a full-length novel. I can’t wait to read more in the Crystal Beach series.

Ada-Mae is accused of murder and arrested. Her mother Julia-Mae asks Sydney Grace to go to her grandmother and find out what is happening and help her grandmother. Sydney Grace and her four cats take off to Florida where her grandmother lives.

Sydney Grace is arrested herself and put in the same cell as her grandmother, Upon her arrival in town Sydney Grace rams into the back of the sheriff’s vehicle nearly tearing off the bumper of the police car. I don’t think Sydney Grace left a good first impression on the sheriff.

The police don’t seem all that interested in investigating the murder so Sydney Grace takes it upon herself to prove her grandmother innocent. What is going on? Ada-Mae is innocent, right? Or is she? To find out you will have to read Cat Scratch Murder.

Grab a copy of Cat Scratch Murder to find out!

[Chad Barrus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book and wholeheartedly recommend it and the upcoming series to everyone who is looking for laugh out loud moments and humor just bursting through the pages that will make you so very glad you picked this book up! It’s the perfect read at Christmas or any other time for that matter, as Sidney will delight you in her antics in proving that her grandmother is not a murderer; and in the end seeing her grandmother put the finishing touches on the case and exonerating herself!

This is going to be such a fun series! Sidney is going to become a favorite of yours as well as she is of mine! She may not always think first before opening her mouth but her heart and intentions are pure and she is so full of life and funny you just can’t help but love her!

Pick up this book and get set for a book you will truly enjoy I guarantee it!!

[Tracy Conard · Rating 5 out of 5]

GRANDMA HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH MURDER!
Sidney Grace has felt stifled at her job. When her mother tells her that Sidney’s grandmother, Ada-Mae, has been charged with murder, Sidney, her 4 cats and her trusty VW camper van, named Maude, are off to Crystal Beach, Florida.
In this COZY cozy murder mystery, there’s more happening than what meets a mere mortal’s eye. Quick witted, we’ll developed characters are waiting to sweep you off to Shifting Sands Retirement Community. Get settled in for the twists and turns of this first in a series book. I didn’t see the ending coming and am ‘dying’ to read the rest of the series!

I was provided an ARC to review this book. Receipt of ARC in no way influenced my review and recommendation. All of my reviews are written with honesty and clarity without giving away plot, spoilers etc.

[Megan (lost among the stacks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are quick, cute, little fluff reads and each book reminds me of an hour long tv episode. Sidney Grace is a journalist in Boston on the ropes at her current job. Her grandmother has been arrested for murder and her mother is most definitely not going to go assist any time soon. Sidney takes a leave of absence, packs up Maude and the cats and heads south to the Sunshine State.

Sidney is a fun main character! An almost crazy cat lady with an adventurous spirit and a smart mouth. Ada-Mae is hilarious and sounds like trouble waiting around every corner. Officer John comes off a little Andy Griffith like while still having some wits about him.

If you enjoy quirky characters, coming into power stories, cats, and little mysteries this series will be up your alley. Keep in mind each one ends on kind of a cliff hanger but they are short reads so you won't have to wait long for the conclusion.

Happy Reading!

[Dave Measner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sidney Grace is a writer for a oston magazine who can be her own worst enemy. In trouble for insulting a friend of the magazine owner she is in limbo when her mother sends her to Florida to rescue her grandmother who has been arrested for murder.
Arriving in Crystal Beach she starts off by getting into a fender-bender with the local police oficer. At least this gets her straight to her jailed garndmother.
Due to a manpower shortage in the police she manages to get her grandmother released back to Shifting sands retirement home. There they investigate the goings on at the retirement home using traditional nosiness and some paranormal help.
A fun new series with an eclectic group of characters and a decent mystery to solve. Read and enjoy.

Disclaimer:I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.