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Cat Cafe Mystery #4
A Whisker of a Doubt
It's promising to be a picture-purrfect Christmas at New England's favorite cat café... but instead of jolly old St. Nick, residents are being visited by murder. The fourth in a mystery series from author Cate Conte, A Whisker of a Doubt is filled with felines and crime.
The holiday season on Daybreak Island is a mixed bag for Maddie James. On the one hand, her Christmas spirit is in the doghouse after a break-up. On the other, she's busy enough that she doesn't have to pretend to be merry. Business at her cat café is booming, and Maddie's care-taking of a feral cat colony in one of the area's wealthiest communities only helps her bottom line.
But tensions between the homeowners and animal activists are escalating to catastrophic levels... and before long a body is found dead in a snowbank. To prove that her accused friend is innocent of the crime, Maddie will have to prowl the island for clues to the real killer before everyone on the island goes completely hiss-terical-and more than nine lives are lost.
The holiday season on Daybreak Island is a mixed bag for Maddie James. On the one hand, her Christmas spirit is in the doghouse after a break-up. On the other, she's busy enough that she doesn't have to pretend to be merry. Business at her cat café is booming, and Maddie's care-taking of a feral cat colony in one of the area's wealthiest communities only helps her bottom line.
But tensions between the homeowners and animal activists are escalating to catastrophic levels... and before long a body is found dead in a snowbank. To prove that her accused friend is innocent of the crime, Maddie will have to prowl the island for clues to the real killer before everyone on the island goes completely hiss-terical-and more than nine lives are lost.
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First published December 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
November 5, 2020
Author Cate Conte dishes up an excellent cozy story for cat and mystery lover’s. Scooping up an enticing murder plot with a dwindling list of suspects due to Conte’s creative plotting; savvy protagonist Maddie James tunes in to her sleuthing vibes and goes after some vigilante cat hater’s who need to be behind bars.
I found this story steadily entertaining with lots of humor and action. I enjoyed re-visiting many of the secondary characters from previous books in the series—Ethan, Val, Grandpa Leo, Cass, Officer Craig, and my favorite, Leopard Man. The enigmatic JJ, Maggie’s rescue cat, always deserves a big shout-out for the love and personality he brings to the story. This is a solid, entertaining cozy series that I highly recommend!
I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. All opinions are my own. Thank you.
I found this story steadily entertaining with lots of humor and action. I enjoyed re-visiting many of the secondary characters from previous books in the series—Ethan, Val, Grandpa Leo, Cass, Officer Craig, and my favorite, Leopard Man. The enigmatic JJ, Maggie’s rescue cat, always deserves a big shout-out for the love and personality he brings to the story. This is a solid, entertaining cozy series that I highly recommend!
I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. All opinions are my own. Thank you.
December 22, 2020
Maddie’s back in the fourth Cat Café mystery, “A Whisker of a Doubt.” Katrina, Maddie’s friend and the local animal control officer, has been accused of murdering one of the residents of a community where Maddie and other volunteers have been caring for a feral cat colony.
I want to like this series more than I do. The writing style is good, and I love most of the characters. Rescues are one of my causes, as well. But Maddie is just exhausting. She namedrops her retired police officer grandfather and hospital executive father in attempts to get her own way. She thinks a lawyer has control over a client’s bail, and should chip in to pay said bail. She whines about how things aren’t fair and demands that people do things that clearly won’t work. When her friends try to give her a reality check, she lashes out, even admitting she’s a jerk, but she does it anyway.
Other characters attribute qualities to her that she clearly does not possess. Her grandfather says that she would have made a good police officer, but Maddie is far too immature and her kneejerk reactions are all emotional. Her friend Cass says that Maddie can tell when people are lying, but Maddie mentions several times how she’s been lied to in relationships.
Then there are the plot issues. There are several implausible scenes, and one that is only there to provide drama. No details, because of spoilers, but a local small-town cop is not going to have access to do a large-scale search in the records of jurisdictions in other states to find dirt on someone. Also, even assuming that you get only one phone call in jail, wouldn’t you have the sense to call someone who can handle things for you? It just felt contrived.
The premise is good and, if Maddie would just grow up, the series would be enjoyable.
I was given a free copy by NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.
I want to like this series more than I do. The writing style is good, and I love most of the characters. Rescues are one of my causes, as well. But Maddie is just exhausting. She namedrops her retired police officer grandfather and hospital executive father in attempts to get her own way. She thinks a lawyer has control over a client’s bail, and should chip in to pay said bail. She whines about how things aren’t fair and demands that people do things that clearly won’t work. When her friends try to give her a reality check, she lashes out, even admitting she’s a jerk, but she does it anyway.
Other characters attribute qualities to her that she clearly does not possess. Her grandfather says that she would have made a good police officer, but Maddie is far too immature and her kneejerk reactions are all emotional. Her friend Cass says that Maddie can tell when people are lying, but Maddie mentions several times how she’s been lied to in relationships.
Then there are the plot issues. There are several implausible scenes, and one that is only there to provide drama. No details, because of spoilers, but a local small-town cop is not going to have access to do a large-scale search in the records of jurisdictions in other states to find dirt on someone. Also, even assuming that you get only one phone call in jail, wouldn’t you have the sense to call someone who can handle things for you? It just felt contrived.
The premise is good and, if Maddie would just grow up, the series would be enjoyable.
I was given a free copy by NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.
December 9, 2020
Maddie James and her friend Katrina have learned about a colony of feral cats near one of the richest neighborhoods on Daybreak Island, so they are working to take care of it. However, the neighbors are resistant to their efforts, going out of their way to be a pain. Just a couple of days before Christmas, Maddie finds the body of one of them, Virgil Proust, outside his house. Virgil and his wife were some of the loudest people fighting against the cats and Maddie’s efforts to feed them. When the police focus on Katrina as their prime suspect, Maddie knows it is up to her to find the truth. Can she do it?
I’ve been waiting impatiently for this book due to the cliffhanger the previous book left us with. I was thrilled to get back to Maddie and find out what happened there. Even if you haven’t read the books that came before this one, you’ll still be able to jump in here and follow along. I will say that Maddie’s attitude in this sub-plot bothered me a bit at times, although I always understood where she was coming from. The main mystery is good with a few nice surprises on our way to the solution. The suspects could have been stronger, and I struggled at times to remember all of their relationships, but I was still invested in the story. The regular characters are strong and charming, as are the cats at the cat café where Maddie works. The Christmas setting adds an extra level of cozy. Fans new and old will enjoy this festive entry in the series.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
I’ve been waiting impatiently for this book due to the cliffhanger the previous book left us with. I was thrilled to get back to Maddie and find out what happened there. Even if you haven’t read the books that came before this one, you’ll still be able to jump in here and follow along. I will say that Maddie’s attitude in this sub-plot bothered me a bit at times, although I always understood where she was coming from. The main mystery is good with a few nice surprises on our way to the solution. The suspects could have been stronger, and I struggled at times to remember all of their relationships, but I was still invested in the story. The regular characters are strong and charming, as are the cats at the cat café where Maddie works. The Christmas setting adds an extra level of cozy. Fans new and old will enjoy this festive entry in the series.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
October 8, 2020
A Whisker of a Doubt is the fourth book in the Cat Cafe Mystery series. I'm not a cat person, but I find this to be a very enjoyable series. It has great characters that are all hitting their stride. Maddie James is a bit impetuous, but her heart in the right place. She is loyal to her friends and can bit a bit stubborn when she is defending them. Maddie is surrounded by a wonderful cast of characters that include her Grandfather, sister, business partner, and parents. The one thing they can't seem to help Maddie with is her penchant for finding dead bodies or getting herself into trouble. This time around, Maddie stumbles upon a dead body close to Christmas and her close friend is accused and arrested for the murder.
The mystery was well done. It was interesting because the book started out with Maddie discovering the body and then goes back a couple of days prior to that to establish the circumstances that led up to the death of this person. There is plenty of intrigue and suspects to choose from. It seems like everyone in this neighborhood has a secret to keep and as they come to light the list of suspects grows. I enjoyed trying to unravel this mystery and figure out the identity of the killer. There was a nice twist thrown in as to the identity of the victim but that didn't help me guess the right suspect.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, St. Martin's, through Netgalley. The thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
The mystery was well done. It was interesting because the book started out with Maddie discovering the body and then goes back a couple of days prior to that to establish the circumstances that led up to the death of this person. There is plenty of intrigue and suspects to choose from. It seems like everyone in this neighborhood has a secret to keep and as they come to light the list of suspects grows. I enjoyed trying to unravel this mystery and figure out the identity of the killer. There was a nice twist thrown in as to the identity of the victim but that didn't help me guess the right suspect.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, St. Martin's, through Netgalley. The thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
November 10, 2020
Four and a half stars, but I'm rounding up because I enjoyed reading this book so much. Love all the characters in this series. Maddie James returned home after her grandmother's death and over the first few books in the series, she works to turn her grandfather's home into a cat cafe/adoption center. In this book, Maddie is helping to care for a feral cat colony in a ritzier neighborhood where the colony has become a neighborhood hot button issue. After she finds one of neighbors dead one night, her friend, Katrina, becomes the prime suspect. Maddie enlists friends and family in her search for the truth. One false note, I could not believe Maddie refusing to talk to her boyfriend for so long to find out why he had been missing for a month. Other than that, there were plenty of possible suspects and the mystery was fair and interesting. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 28, 2020
JJ’s House of Purrs is the happening place in Daybreak Harbor on Daybreak Island, especially for Christmas! Open only a short time, even in the winter the cat shelter and café have begun popular for people on and off the island.
Maddie came back to the island for her grandma’s funeral after being away several years in California. She was followed home by the cat she lovingly named JJ when he decided she was going to be his person. Maddie lives with her grandfather now; her business partner and her sister later joined her. As a pet lover with a close friend in the pet rescue community, she and retired police chief Grandpa Leo converted part of his home into a cat café and shelter without cages for several cats.
Maddie’s friend Katrina is an animal control officer under the supervision of the police chief, so in many ways, she has been like family to Maddie, her parents, and Leo. Maddie helps Katrina care for feral cat communities until neighborhood people are ready to take on the responsibility. In the woods behind one of the most exclusive neighborhoods on the island is one such colony. Katrina was told by the police chief to not go to that colony any longer as she upset a few of the neighbors when threatening with animal cruelty charges. Can you believe there were people there who wanted to poison the cats?
Maddie, now the person in charge of the colony, is goes in to feed and set up water for the colony, getting to it through the yard of a family who allows access. She happened to see a dark blotch in the snow of the next back yard. Checking to make sure it isn’t an injured cat, she is horrified to find the body of the man who lives in that home, assaulted and now dead. He and his wife have been loudly against the cat colony, but that didn’t matter right now – getting the police there is priority.
Katrina is arrested on Christmas Eve and will have to be in jail for the weekend until the court reopens. She was seen in the vicinity of the Proust home that night and didn’t deny being there or explaining why. As family and friends scramble to get her an attorney and raise bail money, Maddie and Grandpa Leo begin to ask questions and look into the death of Mr. Proust, learning that the Prousts and several neighbors had ongoing feuds. None sounded serious enough to kill for, but who knows?
This mystery is very well plotted and executed, and the characters are engaging and almost come to life. The flow is a little choppy as there were several flashbacks to the couple weeks leading up to the murder. I love the ongoing focus on cat rescue, feral cat colonies, and the cat café. Plot twists continued to change my attention of who the best whodunit could be, and was I ever surprised! It is not somebody even as a last-ditch guess on my suspect lists! All loose ends are tied up, and the end is satisfactory. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves cats, New England Christmas holidays, and very likable, unique characters.
From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary copy of this novel, and this is my honest review.
Maddie came back to the island for her grandma’s funeral after being away several years in California. She was followed home by the cat she lovingly named JJ when he decided she was going to be his person. Maddie lives with her grandfather now; her business partner and her sister later joined her. As a pet lover with a close friend in the pet rescue community, she and retired police chief Grandpa Leo converted part of his home into a cat café and shelter without cages for several cats.
Maddie’s friend Katrina is an animal control officer under the supervision of the police chief, so in many ways, she has been like family to Maddie, her parents, and Leo. Maddie helps Katrina care for feral cat communities until neighborhood people are ready to take on the responsibility. In the woods behind one of the most exclusive neighborhoods on the island is one such colony. Katrina was told by the police chief to not go to that colony any longer as she upset a few of the neighbors when threatening with animal cruelty charges. Can you believe there were people there who wanted to poison the cats?
Maddie, now the person in charge of the colony, is goes in to feed and set up water for the colony, getting to it through the yard of a family who allows access. She happened to see a dark blotch in the snow of the next back yard. Checking to make sure it isn’t an injured cat, she is horrified to find the body of the man who lives in that home, assaulted and now dead. He and his wife have been loudly against the cat colony, but that didn’t matter right now – getting the police there is priority.
Katrina is arrested on Christmas Eve and will have to be in jail for the weekend until the court reopens. She was seen in the vicinity of the Proust home that night and didn’t deny being there or explaining why. As family and friends scramble to get her an attorney and raise bail money, Maddie and Grandpa Leo begin to ask questions and look into the death of Mr. Proust, learning that the Prousts and several neighbors had ongoing feuds. None sounded serious enough to kill for, but who knows?
This mystery is very well plotted and executed, and the characters are engaging and almost come to life. The flow is a little choppy as there were several flashbacks to the couple weeks leading up to the murder. I love the ongoing focus on cat rescue, feral cat colonies, and the cat café. Plot twists continued to change my attention of who the best whodunit could be, and was I ever surprised! It is not somebody even as a last-ditch guess on my suspect lists! All loose ends are tied up, and the end is satisfactory. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves cats, New England Christmas holidays, and very likable, unique characters.
From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary copy of this novel, and this is my honest review.
December 6, 2020
This series caught my attention from the first book as the subject is a cause close to my heart, feline rescue. Maddie has returned home to Daybreak Harbor and lives with her grandfather since her grandmother died. He is the former police chief and Maddie, it turns out, is pretty good at solving crimes. Together they maintain a cat shelter/cat cafe. Her business partner is also dating her sister. Cats are dear to their hearts and now Maddie is maintaining a feral colony in a very posh community. Not everybody is a cat lover and soon a dead man is found in his back yard, murdered and dumped in a snow bank. Was he done in over the feral colony or was it a neighbor trying to keep a secret? Maddie's friend, as an animal control officer, had a run-in with the community and was banned from further contact. Maddie took her place but who would have imagined that it would lead to homicide and her friend behind bars for the crime. (I know who I wanted to put behind bars in that neighborhood)
Feral cats are seen by some as pests and disposable. Others see them as animals who deserve the best we can do for them. I am firmly in the camp that supports trap/neuter/release programs and giving the cats the chance to decide if they want to hand in their feral card to become a pampered companion. Given the chance, many do go from feral to a loving family companion.
As for the mystery, it's well crafted and complex enough to keep me guessing. The characters of Maddie, her grandfather, Leo and Maddie's cat, JJ are fun to hang out with. If I had a cat cafe nearby I would be there every day both as a customer and as a volunteer to care for the cats awaiting adoption.
My thanks to the publisher, St. Martin's Press and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Feral cats are seen by some as pests and disposable. Others see them as animals who deserve the best we can do for them. I am firmly in the camp that supports trap/neuter/release programs and giving the cats the chance to decide if they want to hand in their feral card to become a pampered companion. Given the chance, many do go from feral to a loving family companion.
As for the mystery, it's well crafted and complex enough to keep me guessing. The characters of Maddie, her grandfather, Leo and Maddie's cat, JJ are fun to hang out with. If I had a cat cafe nearby I would be there every day both as a customer and as a volunteer to care for the cats awaiting adoption.
My thanks to the publisher, St. Martin's Press and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
December 1, 2020
A good mystery that also brings awareness to a real problem. Maddie operates a cat cafe and also volunteers with a cat rescue that works with helping feral cats. The newest colony is in the woods adjacent to a well-to-do neighborhood and opposing views about the cats cause problems, maybe even murder.
This story has an interesting group of characters and some funny moments too. You do not need to be a cat lover to enjoy this book but if you are you will love the story. Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
This story has an interesting group of characters and some funny moments too. You do not need to be a cat lover to enjoy this book but if you are you will love the story. Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
October 23, 2020
***SPOILERS***
Whenever I read a book, I like to look at the story and the writing as two separate things. I'm not the biggest fan of cozy mysteries. That being said, I liked this story. It was different from what I'm used to with the feral cats and the time jumping in the beginning. There were even a few times that really drew me in. I didn't read the other books in the series, but I felt like I was given enough information to enjoy the story without the background.
Now the writing. About halfway through the book, I wanted to give it 3 stars. However, the further I read, the more I didn't like. This book is a cozy mystery and I can't fault it for being one, but I can fault illogical actions, inconsistency, terrible characters, and just bad writing.
I was expecting some unrealisticness and flat characters as is the norm with this genre, but I thought Maddie was exceptionally annoying, childish, and entitled. She seems to think her opinion is the only one that matters and is at times more important than the law: "But that shouldn’t matter if someone is innocent" I imagine her saying this in a whinny voice as she believes her will power alone is enough to get her friend out of jail, even though what "shouldn't matter" is multiple witnesses. This girl needs to be told multiple times that what she's asking for is ridiculous and that's not how the law works, but she never listens:
"“He said he had to go. And I’m guessing he didn’t stop to offer up any money for Katrina’s bail.” I couldn’t keep the disgust out of my voice.
Grandpa shook his head. “Maddie. You can’t be like that. The man did his job.”
“I don’t care! There’s no way she can afford that. I’m going to try to raise it for her, but it’s not fair—”".
She's talking about a lawyer here. She was already told that the lawyer has no control over how much bail the judge sets. Does she really think that a lawyer is going to pay for his client's bail? I don't know of she's delusional or plain stupid.
This girl belongs on a reddit about entitled people. "Even for those who weren’t cool, they weren’t likely to call the cops on me since I was not only former Daybreak Harbor police chief Leopold Mancini’s granddaughter, but the daughter of Brian James, CEO of Daybreak Hospital." Do you even know who I am?
Then she invites herself to the man's funeral in order to spy or gather clues or whatever Nancy Drew nonsense she is up to: "I wanted a chance to talk to the people in Virgil’s life when they would, theoretically, have their guard down. And if they saw me at a function like this as a member of the prominent James-Mancini family rather than one of the wackadoodle cat ladies traipsing around the woods during a snowstorm, I’d probably have a better chance at finding something out." This is so insensitive. I mean this is a grown woman acting like she's 14.
Pages 156- 159 were pretty much unreadable and probably the most annoying Maddie scene in the whole book. She's so far up Katrina's butt, defending her tooth and nail, but she won't give her boyfriend the time of day to explain himself? Ok. It's kind of annoying having to wait so long (~300 pages) to find out what happened. Idk it wasn't good suspense building. It was dangling a mediocre carrot that I didn't even want anymore by the time I got it. Honestly, the way she is handling the whole situation, I wouldn't take her back if I was Lucas. She clearly doesn't prioritize their relationship or respect him as a person enough to let him explain.
Also, what's with the strong preachy overtones about stray cats. She seems to think that the fact of liking or not liking cats is the bases of friendship. We get it, she loves cats and feels responsible for them, but this is a fiction book. Not one to make me want to be a better person. Cool it.
All in all, I really didn't love this book. Maddie really grated on my nerves and I felt like a lot of things (not mentioned for fear of nit picking) were just illogical. In all honesty, I wouldn't have finished this book if I didn't have to read it for work.
Whenever I read a book, I like to look at the story and the writing as two separate things. I'm not the biggest fan of cozy mysteries. That being said, I liked this story. It was different from what I'm used to with the feral cats and the time jumping in the beginning. There were even a few times that really drew me in. I didn't read the other books in the series, but I felt like I was given enough information to enjoy the story without the background.
Now the writing. About halfway through the book, I wanted to give it 3 stars. However, the further I read, the more I didn't like. This book is a cozy mystery and I can't fault it for being one, but I can fault illogical actions, inconsistency, terrible characters, and just bad writing.
I was expecting some unrealisticness and flat characters as is the norm with this genre, but I thought Maddie was exceptionally annoying, childish, and entitled. She seems to think her opinion is the only one that matters and is at times more important than the law: "But that shouldn’t matter if someone is innocent" I imagine her saying this in a whinny voice as she believes her will power alone is enough to get her friend out of jail, even though what "shouldn't matter" is multiple witnesses. This girl needs to be told multiple times that what she's asking for is ridiculous and that's not how the law works, but she never listens:
"“He said he had to go. And I’m guessing he didn’t stop to offer up any money for Katrina’s bail.” I couldn’t keep the disgust out of my voice.
Grandpa shook his head. “Maddie. You can’t be like that. The man did his job.”
“I don’t care! There’s no way she can afford that. I’m going to try to raise it for her, but it’s not fair—”".
She's talking about a lawyer here. She was already told that the lawyer has no control over how much bail the judge sets. Does she really think that a lawyer is going to pay for his client's bail? I don't know of she's delusional or plain stupid.
This girl belongs on a reddit about entitled people. "Even for those who weren’t cool, they weren’t likely to call the cops on me since I was not only former Daybreak Harbor police chief Leopold Mancini’s granddaughter, but the daughter of Brian James, CEO of Daybreak Hospital." Do you even know who I am?
Then she invites herself to the man's funeral in order to spy or gather clues or whatever Nancy Drew nonsense she is up to: "I wanted a chance to talk to the people in Virgil’s life when they would, theoretically, have their guard down. And if they saw me at a function like this as a member of the prominent James-Mancini family rather than one of the wackadoodle cat ladies traipsing around the woods during a snowstorm, I’d probably have a better chance at finding something out." This is so insensitive. I mean this is a grown woman acting like she's 14.
Pages 156- 159 were pretty much unreadable and probably the most annoying Maddie scene in the whole book. She's so far up Katrina's butt, defending her tooth and nail, but she won't give her boyfriend the time of day to explain himself? Ok. It's kind of annoying having to wait so long (~300 pages) to find out what happened. Idk it wasn't good suspense building. It was dangling a mediocre carrot that I didn't even want anymore by the time I got it. Honestly, the way she is handling the whole situation, I wouldn't take her back if I was Lucas. She clearly doesn't prioritize their relationship or respect him as a person enough to let him explain.
Also, what's with the strong preachy overtones about stray cats. She seems to think that the fact of liking or not liking cats is the bases of friendship. We get it, she loves cats and feels responsible for them, but this is a fiction book. Not one to make me want to be a better person. Cool it.
All in all, I really didn't love this book. Maddie really grated on my nerves and I felt like a lot of things (not mentioned for fear of nit picking) were just illogical. In all honesty, I wouldn't have finished this book if I didn't have to read it for work.
February 18, 2021
A fun cozy mystery that is Christmas themed. This lively New England set mystery kept my attention with it's attention to bringing awareness to homeless cats and cat colonies and improving their lives with care taker Maddie James. I was so pleased to see cat's getting the help they need. Rescue agencies work so hard trapping and spaying-neutering feral cats,giving them vet care and trying hard to socialize them to make them adoptable.
Small-town mystery has Maddie trying her best to prove her accused friend is innocent of the crime.
I'll admit I enjoyed reading about the cats more than the mystery itself.
Pub Date 01 Dec 2020
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
Small-town mystery has Maddie trying her best to prove her accused friend is innocent of the crime.
I'll admit I enjoyed reading about the cats more than the mystery itself.
Pub Date 01 Dec 2020
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
December 12, 2020
It’s Christmas time in New England and Maddie James’ cat cafe is thriving. Running her cat cafe isn’t the only thing she does, she also assists her friend Katrina in feeding the feral community. Unfortunately, the feral colony happens to be located in the area of the town’s wealthiest community. The residents are complaining. In fact, they are threatening drastic measures to get rid of the cats.
Maddie and her friends are not going to stand quietly by as the community accuses them of everything including stealing their Christmas decorations. When one of the wealthy is found dead, Maddie’s best friend is accused and arrested for the crime. Maddie isn’t going to let her close friend sit in jail for a crime she didn’t commit. Maddie vows to find the truth.
This is the 4th book in this series and another great book. While you don’t have to start with book #1, I think it’s much better to start at the beginning to get to know the characters and their motivations. I’ve read them all and have enjoyed them.
I did think Maddie was a bit annoying as far as her boyfriend, Lucas, goes. She wasn’t very understanding and had a bad case of tunnel vision. Although it’s great how loyal she is to her friend, Katrina, I didn’t think Maddie was very fair to the police. I guess that’s what happens in cozies, though, and it all worked out in the end, of course.
This particular mystery is intriguing with clues given throughout the book. There were so many different possibilities. They all kept this reader guessing until the end.
Just as a side note: I need more of JJ, Maddie’s cat. As a cat lover, I can’t get enough of the kitties, but that’s just me. I look forward to reading more in this series.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Maddie and her friends are not going to stand quietly by as the community accuses them of everything including stealing their Christmas decorations. When one of the wealthy is found dead, Maddie’s best friend is accused and arrested for the crime. Maddie isn’t going to let her close friend sit in jail for a crime she didn’t commit. Maddie vows to find the truth.
This is the 4th book in this series and another great book. While you don’t have to start with book #1, I think it’s much better to start at the beginning to get to know the characters and their motivations. I’ve read them all and have enjoyed them.
I did think Maddie was a bit annoying as far as her boyfriend, Lucas, goes. She wasn’t very understanding and had a bad case of tunnel vision. Although it’s great how loyal she is to her friend, Katrina, I didn’t think Maddie was very fair to the police. I guess that’s what happens in cozies, though, and it all worked out in the end, of course.
This particular mystery is intriguing with clues given throughout the book. There were so many different possibilities. They all kept this reader guessing until the end.
Just as a side note: I need more of JJ, Maddie’s cat. As a cat lover, I can’t get enough of the kitties, but that’s just me. I look forward to reading more in this series.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
November 14, 2023
This would have been an easy 5 ⭐️ if the main character, Maddie, wasn’t SO unlikable! The mystery; how the timelines were done; the other characters 5 ⭐️ but it’s REALLY hard when the actual main character is not likable. Due to this, not sure I’ll read more in this series and that’s a shame. I may if I run into another book but I won’t seek it out.
December 30, 2020
The Christmas season is a bit of a mixed bag for Maddie James. Her cat cafe is doing great but she hasn’t heard from boyfriend, Lucas, for months. She and her volunteers have been taking care of a colony of feral cats in a wealthy neighbourhood but many of the residents in the area are not at all happy about it. One couple, in particular, have been very vocal in their opposition to allowing the colony to continue and when the husband is found dead, hit over the head with a garden gnome, one of the volunteers is arrested. Maddie is sure she is innocent and is determined to prove it but, as the evidence mounts even Maddie begins to have doubts about the woman.
I enjoyed A Whisker of a Doubt by Cate Conte quite a bit. Maddie and her family, including the cats, were extremely likeable and the mystery kept me guessing right up to the big reveal. I did find Maddie’s romantic problems occasionally interfered with the flow of the tale but, overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Christmas cozies with characters easy to root for.
Thanks to Netgalley & the publishers for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
I enjoyed A Whisker of a Doubt by Cate Conte quite a bit. Maddie and her family, including the cats, were extremely likeable and the mystery kept me guessing right up to the big reveal. I did find Maddie’s romantic problems occasionally interfered with the flow of the tale but, overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Christmas cozies with characters easy to root for.
Thanks to Netgalley & the publishers for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
February 18, 2021
By this point in a series, one should like the main character more than the sides. I'm finding I don't care for Maddie as much as I would like to. She continues to throw her grandfather's name around in the hopes of it getting her what she wants, she doesn't understand the judicial system or boundaries between law enforcement jurisdictions and she certainly doesn't give others the benefit of a doubt unless it suits her. Being around her is exhausting! I gave myself until this book to decide if I will continue reading this series and it's a no-go. A shame, too because it truly held promise in the beginning.
October 8, 2020
I love the cover of this book, and I knew the inside pages would make a delightful story.
Maddie is gearing up for Christmas, but things aren’t going to good for her.
Her new boyfriend has disappeared, residents are complaining about the feral cats, and Christmas decorations are disappearing from their neighborhood.
When Maddie discovers a dead body and her best friend is arrested for murder, she has no choice but to search for the answers, even if it puts her right in the path of the murderer.
I really enjoyed this book and this author has always been one of my favorites.
Maddie is gearing up for Christmas, but things aren’t going to good for her.
Her new boyfriend has disappeared, residents are complaining about the feral cats, and Christmas decorations are disappearing from their neighborhood.
When Maddie discovers a dead body and her best friend is arrested for murder, she has no choice but to search for the answers, even if it puts her right in the path of the murderer.
I really enjoyed this book and this author has always been one of my favorites.
December 1, 2020
What a great story dealing with a subject close to my heart, feral cats. I loved this story and the way Katrina, Maddie and crew take care of these special animals. Unfortunately, they do meet some opposition. Some of these rich folks are certainly interesting. Who will come out the winners and what obstacles will be thrown in the way? This is a great story line with wonderful characters. I hope I get to hang out with them again soon. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.
December 20, 2020
"A Whisker of a Doubt" was a delightful book to read on a cold winter day! I personally don't have a kitty, but JJ won me over!
Maddie James appears to be a force to be reckoned with! She is a fighter for a local feral cat community and goes to bat for their existence -- even with a murder nearby! I will be looking back to get some background from Ms. Conte's first three books. But if they're like this book, I'll enjoy the ride.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Maddie James appears to be a force to be reckoned with! She is a fighter for a local feral cat community and goes to bat for their existence -- even with a murder nearby! I will be looking back to get some background from Ms. Conte's first three books. But if they're like this book, I'll enjoy the ride.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.
December 23, 2021
My biggest dream in life is to own my very own cat cafe here in Austin. Alas, I have no head for business and get exhausted at the prospect of starting one up in one of the most unaffordable cities in America, but that’s why we have books! Thanks to Cate Caonte’s charming cat cafe mystery series, I can live out our dreams at the mere price of $7.99! Needless to say, I am a fan of these books and always enjoy spending the little East Coast hamlet of Daybreak Island. However, I am not too fond of Maddie James’ high society neighbors who don’t want to play nice with the feral cat colony volunteers. Lo and behold, one of the snooty neighbors gets bludgeoned, and all eyes are on Maddie’s cat-loving, socially inept friend Catrina. She has some explaining to do, but it’s going to take a lot of prodding to let the cat out of the bag. Maddie’s boyfriend Luke also needs to start talking because it is super uncool to ghost your new girlfriend while away on a personal sabbatical. Sadly, readers will have to wait it out to get some answers on that front because Maddie has decided to revert back to “I’M NOT SPEAKING TO YOU!” behavior and stonewalls the poor guy for days on end.
I thoroughly enjoy this series, mainly because I adore cats and love to fantasize about spending my day job slinging coffee surrounded by rescue kitties in a hazy catnip fog. However, this book is not my favorite because Maddie’s behavior is a little…much. If she wasn’t devoted to rescuing cats, I would almost call her a “Karen” because this girl throws fits over things she doesn’t quite understand. Take the legal process, for instance. Why would she get angry at a lawyer for not posting bail for her friend? Ummm…do lawyers typically do that? I’m not a legal eagle, but I’m leaning toward no. Also, this girl name drops her super important retired cop grandfather and hospital head chief father when she doesn’t get her way. The whole “Do you know who I am?!” mentality is a tad cringeworthy.
Aside from those gripes, I plan to continue on with this series and spend my afternoons in a cat cafe fantasy world, which is far more exciting than a nine-to-five desk job. I should also add that Lil Bootz says JJ needed way more parts in this story, so she’s only giving it two paws–or boots, I should say– up.
I thoroughly enjoy this series, mainly because I adore cats and love to fantasize about spending my day job slinging coffee surrounded by rescue kitties in a hazy catnip fog. However, this book is not my favorite because Maddie’s behavior is a little…much. If she wasn’t devoted to rescuing cats, I would almost call her a “Karen” because this girl throws fits over things she doesn’t quite understand. Take the legal process, for instance. Why would she get angry at a lawyer for not posting bail for her friend? Ummm…do lawyers typically do that? I’m not a legal eagle, but I’m leaning toward no. Also, this girl name drops her super important retired cop grandfather and hospital head chief father when she doesn’t get her way. The whole “Do you know who I am?!” mentality is a tad cringeworthy.
Aside from those gripes, I plan to continue on with this series and spend my afternoons in a cat cafe fantasy world, which is far more exciting than a nine-to-five desk job. I should also add that Lil Bootz says JJ needed way more parts in this story, so she’s only giving it two paws–or boots, I should say– up.
August 9, 2024
Sigh.. Maddie gets worse in each book. Her character bugs me to no end. The mystery is fine, the book drags and could be shorter.
September 1, 2023
Kattencafé-eigenaar Maddie James probeert zichzelf een eenzame kerst te besparen door zich op haar werk te storten. De renovaties van opa Leo’s huis zijn bijna voltooid en ze heeft veel te regelen. Bovendien maakt ze deel uit van een vrijwilligersorganisatie die een groep wilde katten op het eiland verzorgt. Niet iedereen heeft een zwak voor de beestjes, en de laatste tijd lopen de gemoederen tussen de bewoners en de vrijwilligers hoog op.
De zaken komen op scherp te staan wanneer een van de bewoners dood wordt gevonden in een sneeuwbank en Maddie’s vriendin Katrina wordt beschuldigd van moord. Maddie gelooft er niets van, maar als ze haar vriendin wil vrijpleiten zal ze eigenhandig de échte dader moeten vinden.
'Het staartje van de winter' is het vierde deel van de serie over het Kattencafé. Deze keer speelt het verhaal zich af rond Kerstmis. Maddie en haar collega's helpen zwerfkatten door ze eten en drinken te geven in de bossen vlakbij een woonwijk. Op een dag wil Maddie de katten weer eten geven, maar ziet dan tot haar grote schrik een lichaam in de sneeuw liggen. Het blijkt dat diegene is vermoord, maar waarom? En een nog grotere vraag: door wie?
Dit begin vond ik erg goed en ook een beetje spannend. Het blijkt namelijk dat degene die vermoord is nogal wat vijanden had en er zijn dus meerdere personages verdacht. Dit vond ik ook goed op papier gezet.
Ondertussen lees je ook over het liefdesleven van Maddie. Haar vriend Lucas staat plotseling weer voor haar neus en hij wil vertellen waarom hij een tijd niets van zich heeft laten horen. Ik vond het een klein beetje 'irritant' dat de reden hiervan steeds werd uitgesteld in het boek. Pas op het einde lees je dus het hoe en wat.
Op zich was dit deel zeker weer leuk om te lezen. Af en toe vind ik een cosy crime namelijk ook een leuke afwisseling. De zoektocht naar de dader was boeiend, maar ik vond dit niet het allerbeste deel van de serie. Toch kijk ik weer uit naar het vijfde deel!
Beoordeling: 3,5 ⭐
De zaken komen op scherp te staan wanneer een van de bewoners dood wordt gevonden in een sneeuwbank en Maddie’s vriendin Katrina wordt beschuldigd van moord. Maddie gelooft er niets van, maar als ze haar vriendin wil vrijpleiten zal ze eigenhandig de échte dader moeten vinden.
'Het staartje van de winter' is het vierde deel van de serie over het Kattencafé. Deze keer speelt het verhaal zich af rond Kerstmis. Maddie en haar collega's helpen zwerfkatten door ze eten en drinken te geven in de bossen vlakbij een woonwijk. Op een dag wil Maddie de katten weer eten geven, maar ziet dan tot haar grote schrik een lichaam in de sneeuw liggen. Het blijkt dat diegene is vermoord, maar waarom? En een nog grotere vraag: door wie?
Dit begin vond ik erg goed en ook een beetje spannend. Het blijkt namelijk dat degene die vermoord is nogal wat vijanden had en er zijn dus meerdere personages verdacht. Dit vond ik ook goed op papier gezet.
Ondertussen lees je ook over het liefdesleven van Maddie. Haar vriend Lucas staat plotseling weer voor haar neus en hij wil vertellen waarom hij een tijd niets van zich heeft laten horen. Ik vond het een klein beetje 'irritant' dat de reden hiervan steeds werd uitgesteld in het boek. Pas op het einde lees je dus het hoe en wat.
Op zich was dit deel zeker weer leuk om te lezen. Af en toe vind ik een cosy crime namelijk ook een leuke afwisseling. De zoektocht naar de dader was boeiend, maar ik vond dit niet het allerbeste deel van de serie. Toch kijk ik weer uit naar het vijfde deel!
Beoordeling: 3,5 ⭐
January 23, 2021
Really, a 2.5. The plot was good and dealt with the real problems of TNR. I give full credit there; Eileen Watson has done the same with her cat groomer series. Full credit too for a strong explanation of one character's bad behavior, though another's ended up just dropped. The writing was fine. JJ the cat is adorable. Grandpa is adorable. What brought the book down was Our Heroine's whiny, immature attitude. The trope of the lovers' misunderstanding was vastly overdone and dragged out simply because OH refused to talk to Lucas. (Lucas-- run. Run away. NOW.) OH wanted Grandpa and Daddy and her ex-boyfriend the cop to make everything better. Add to this the lack of responsibility taken by two characters for illegal acts and I was pretty fed up by the end. Shame, it could have been a good, solid, enjoyable read. On the fence about whether to read another. The first two weren't amazing, but okay and showed promise; in this one, the character regressed.
As always, your mileage may vary! I may have just been around too many whiney, immature people this week, too, making me less tolerant of fictional ones.
As always, your mileage may vary! I may have just been around too many whiney, immature people this week, too, making me less tolerant of fictional ones.
January 18, 2021
https://openbooksociety.com/article/a...
A Whisker of a Doubt
Cat Café Mystery
By Cate Conte
ISBN 9781250761538
cateconte.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
It’s promising to be a picture-purrfect Christmas at New England’s favorite cat cafe . . . but instead of jolly old St. Nick, residents are being visited by murder. The fourth in a mystery series from author Cate Conte, A Whisker of a Doubt is filled with felines and crime.
The holiday season on Daybreak Island is a mixed bag for Maddie James. On the one hand, her Christmas spirit is in the doghouse after a break-up. On the other, she’s busy enough that she doesn’t have to pretend to be merry. Business at her cat café is booming, and Maddie’s care-taking of a feral cat colony in one of the area’s wealthiest communities only helps her bottom line.
But tensions between the homeowners and animal activists are escalating to catastrophic levels. . .and before long a body is found dead in a snowbank. To prove that her accused friend is innocent of the crime, Maddie will have to prowl the island for clues to the real killer before everyone on the island goes completely hiss-terical—and more than nine lives are lost. (from Goodreads)
Review:
What a great time of year to be on Daybreak Island off the New England coast! The setting and snow sound gorgeous, I was happy to be back with Maddie, her family and friends, and the mystery kept me guessing. It was definitely one of the very last bad guys I would have guessed.
Maddie has been back on Daybreak Island for less than a year and is in her happy place when it comes to spending Christmas there. After ten years in California, the only sadness for Maddie is that her grandma isn’t there anymore and the guy she started dating went off island for a few days last month and never returned. Her cat café and shelter, JJ’s House of Purrs, is successful enough that they are remodeling Grandpa Leo’s home to further accommodate its growth.
JJ is a handsome orange cat who adopted Maddie on the day of her grandma’s funeral. He followed her home and has been the inspiration for the shelter and café. Active in the pet rescue community, Maddie is, on paper, in charge of a feral cat colonies where they make sure food and water are available and cats are trapped for neutering and vaccines, then returned. A few evenings before Christmas, Maddie went to the exclusive neighborhood behind which the cats live.
When Maddie drove in, she saw her friend Katrina’s car careening out of the neighborhood. Katrina, an animal control officer and pet rescuer, was not supposed to be there by order of the police chief, as she had threatened animal cruelty charges to someone living there due to threats about the feral colony. As Maddie went back through the yard of a resident who allowed access, she noted that the next-door neighbors’ extensive Christmas lights were out, then saw something lying in the snow of the back yard. She went to see if it was one of the feral cats. Worse than a cat, it was the body of Virgil, one of the homeowners of that property, whose wife was very vocal about her dislike of cats. It looked as if he had been bashed on the back of the head.
On Christmas Eve, Katrina was arrested for Virgil’s murder, as someone saw that her car at the couple’s home that night. Grandpa Leo, who always saw Katrina as family as well as co-worker when he was police chief, hired one of the best attorneys available. Bail was posted a few days later by another old friend.
Maddie has helped solve a couple murders since moving back to the island and was not going to let one of her oldest, closest friends go on trial for murder. She and Grandpa Leo began to learn what they could about the neighborhood. Virgil and his wife June had made a few enemies in their little community, and Maddie ferreted out information from people she knew. Her mom was also ready to help in whatever way she could, and they even attended Virgil’s private funeral. What she began to learn about Virgil and some of the other residents of the neighborhood were stranger than fiction.
Each of the characters is defined so well! They are engaging, and there is just enough backstory on Maddie and her family to provide an excellent picture of them even as we continue to learn more about them. I enjoyed some of the focus on the quirkiest island character, Leopard Man, a delightful character and one of the best friends one could have. The victim was a man of many secrets, but in a good way that most didn’t know.
I like how pet rescue and feral cat colonies are a central theme of the series, as well as shelters and cat cafes for cats to find fur-ever homes. These situations are a great source of gently showing the reader about the needs of cats while providing backdrops for great mysteries. This one was a true challenge; the killer was someone I did not expect. There are several suspects who became red herrings, and my favorite one clearly wasn’t it. I was a bit uncomfortable with how the day of the murder was split into several chapters, interspersed with events taking place for the days prior to it. At times it became a little hard for me to follow. Overall, the mystery and setting are excellent, and I highly recommend it!
A Whisker of a Doubt
Cat Café Mystery
By Cate Conte
ISBN 9781250761538
cateconte.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
It’s promising to be a picture-purrfect Christmas at New England’s favorite cat cafe . . . but instead of jolly old St. Nick, residents are being visited by murder. The fourth in a mystery series from author Cate Conte, A Whisker of a Doubt is filled with felines and crime.
The holiday season on Daybreak Island is a mixed bag for Maddie James. On the one hand, her Christmas spirit is in the doghouse after a break-up. On the other, she’s busy enough that she doesn’t have to pretend to be merry. Business at her cat café is booming, and Maddie’s care-taking of a feral cat colony in one of the area’s wealthiest communities only helps her bottom line.
But tensions between the homeowners and animal activists are escalating to catastrophic levels. . .and before long a body is found dead in a snowbank. To prove that her accused friend is innocent of the crime, Maddie will have to prowl the island for clues to the real killer before everyone on the island goes completely hiss-terical—and more than nine lives are lost. (from Goodreads)
Review:
What a great time of year to be on Daybreak Island off the New England coast! The setting and snow sound gorgeous, I was happy to be back with Maddie, her family and friends, and the mystery kept me guessing. It was definitely one of the very last bad guys I would have guessed.
Maddie has been back on Daybreak Island for less than a year and is in her happy place when it comes to spending Christmas there. After ten years in California, the only sadness for Maddie is that her grandma isn’t there anymore and the guy she started dating went off island for a few days last month and never returned. Her cat café and shelter, JJ’s House of Purrs, is successful enough that they are remodeling Grandpa Leo’s home to further accommodate its growth.
JJ is a handsome orange cat who adopted Maddie on the day of her grandma’s funeral. He followed her home and has been the inspiration for the shelter and café. Active in the pet rescue community, Maddie is, on paper, in charge of a feral cat colonies where they make sure food and water are available and cats are trapped for neutering and vaccines, then returned. A few evenings before Christmas, Maddie went to the exclusive neighborhood behind which the cats live.
When Maddie drove in, she saw her friend Katrina’s car careening out of the neighborhood. Katrina, an animal control officer and pet rescuer, was not supposed to be there by order of the police chief, as she had threatened animal cruelty charges to someone living there due to threats about the feral colony. As Maddie went back through the yard of a resident who allowed access, she noted that the next-door neighbors’ extensive Christmas lights were out, then saw something lying in the snow of the back yard. She went to see if it was one of the feral cats. Worse than a cat, it was the body of Virgil, one of the homeowners of that property, whose wife was very vocal about her dislike of cats. It looked as if he had been bashed on the back of the head.
On Christmas Eve, Katrina was arrested for Virgil’s murder, as someone saw that her car at the couple’s home that night. Grandpa Leo, who always saw Katrina as family as well as co-worker when he was police chief, hired one of the best attorneys available. Bail was posted a few days later by another old friend.
Maddie has helped solve a couple murders since moving back to the island and was not going to let one of her oldest, closest friends go on trial for murder. She and Grandpa Leo began to learn what they could about the neighborhood. Virgil and his wife June had made a few enemies in their little community, and Maddie ferreted out information from people she knew. Her mom was also ready to help in whatever way she could, and they even attended Virgil’s private funeral. What she began to learn about Virgil and some of the other residents of the neighborhood were stranger than fiction.
Each of the characters is defined so well! They are engaging, and there is just enough backstory on Maddie and her family to provide an excellent picture of them even as we continue to learn more about them. I enjoyed some of the focus on the quirkiest island character, Leopard Man, a delightful character and one of the best friends one could have. The victim was a man of many secrets, but in a good way that most didn’t know.
I like how pet rescue and feral cat colonies are a central theme of the series, as well as shelters and cat cafes for cats to find fur-ever homes. These situations are a great source of gently showing the reader about the needs of cats while providing backdrops for great mysteries. This one was a true challenge; the killer was someone I did not expect. There are several suspects who became red herrings, and my favorite one clearly wasn’t it. I was a bit uncomfortable with how the day of the murder was split into several chapters, interspersed with events taking place for the days prior to it. At times it became a little hard for me to follow. Overall, the mystery and setting are excellent, and I highly recommend it!
December 16, 2023
These books are always so funny because I get so excited about cats and Christmas and a mystery. But they’re never connected lol
There happens to be cats in the story.
There happens to be a murder in a small town.
And it just so happens to be the end of December.
But the three are never related!! Lol and I fall for it every year
There happens to be cats in the story.
There happens to be a murder in a small town.
And it just so happens to be the end of December.
But the three are never related!! Lol and I fall for it every year
December 21, 2022
The main character makes me so frustrated sometimes but I still love her and it's so wholesome ❤️
December 27, 2024
A solid mystery set during Christmastime. Liked this one.
December 6, 2025
Super super cute!!
December 9, 2025
Sweet cozy mystery!
March 31, 2022
I’m honestly so fascinated by this series. I feel like at this point it's become a case study for how I can somehow love a book that features a heroine I absolutely can’t stand.
Just a heads up that I do talk about book drama in detail in this review but don’t reveal any information about the mystery. Also, ranting aside, I love this book and the series as a whole.
The Death:
The mystery in this one was pretty good. Virgil's backstory wasn’t exactly a surprise but I wasn’t able to guess the murderer correctly. Conte did leave the culmination of the case to the last 8 pages, which seemed a little rushed. But I still found the mystery fun and easy to follow.
The Drama:
Oh boy. I think the reason I found this book so enjoyable to read is because Maddie James is such a train wreck and I honestly couldn’t look away. This is not a fault against the book or the author. A lot of readers think bad heroines and bad books are synonymous but I honestly don’t mind reading a book in which I dislike the protagonist. Which is good because Maddie was unbelievably childish and, in some cases, outlandishly shameless.
If your name is Maddie James, you might:
1) Invite yourself to a private funeral as a non-member of the community; an outright enemy of the widow of the deceased; and an advocate of the person currently on trial for said victim's murder. All to ask questions and stir the pot.
2) Beg your Grandfather and friend to use their police contacts to try to solve the murder with next to no resources and then go raging ballistic when said Grandfather and friend find information about the case that doesn’t support your own confirmation bias.
3) Constantly take out your anger on your friends because they are looking at things rationally (Cass, Val, Craig). I honestly don’t know how this woman has so many friends who are devoted to her. This girl's constant the-world-isn't-fair scream-it-from-the-rooftops attitude has me doubting she ever made it in San Fran, let alone started a business there.
4) There was another whole thing with Jade, but at least Maddie admitted she was drunk when that happened so I'll give her a pardon for the honesty.
I don’t even know what to say about the thing with Lucas. He goes there multiple times to talk to her and each time the interaction was like
“can we talk”
“no"
Like, guy, you already have her attention. Just start with the explanation. God damn.
That being said, a moment of silence for my sweet constabulary cinnamon roll. She orders him around to do things (some illegal) for her, all the while knowing why he's doing things for her and yet not caring at all. F R I E N D S H I P.
Also, this series is still in desperate need of a new editor. I think my favourite typo was “too bad my friend Damian was around". Poor, sweet man.
Again, I love this book and will continue to read this series devotedly. I just love harping on Maddie and I honestly can’t wait to see what she does next.
Just a heads up that I do talk about book drama in detail in this review but don’t reveal any information about the mystery. Also, ranting aside, I love this book and the series as a whole.
The Death:
The mystery in this one was pretty good. Virgil's backstory wasn’t exactly a surprise but I wasn’t able to guess the murderer correctly. Conte did leave the culmination of the case to the last 8 pages, which seemed a little rushed. But I still found the mystery fun and easy to follow.
The Drama:
Oh boy. I think the reason I found this book so enjoyable to read is because Maddie James is such a train wreck and I honestly couldn’t look away. This is not a fault against the book or the author. A lot of readers think bad heroines and bad books are synonymous but I honestly don’t mind reading a book in which I dislike the protagonist. Which is good because Maddie was unbelievably childish and, in some cases, outlandishly shameless.
If your name is Maddie James, you might:
1) Invite yourself to a private funeral as a non-member of the community; an outright enemy of the widow of the deceased; and an advocate of the person currently on trial for said victim's murder. All to ask questions and stir the pot.
2) Beg your Grandfather and friend to use their police contacts to try to solve the murder with next to no resources and then go raging ballistic when said Grandfather and friend find information about the case that doesn’t support your own confirmation bias.
3) Constantly take out your anger on your friends because they are looking at things rationally (Cass, Val, Craig). I honestly don’t know how this woman has so many friends who are devoted to her. This girl's constant the-world-isn't-fair scream-it-from-the-rooftops attitude has me doubting she ever made it in San Fran, let alone started a business there.
4) There was another whole thing with Jade, but at least Maddie admitted she was drunk when that happened so I'll give her a pardon for the honesty.
I don’t even know what to say about the thing with Lucas. He goes there multiple times to talk to her and each time the interaction was like
“can we talk”
“no"
Like, guy, you already have her attention. Just start with the explanation. God damn.
That being said, a moment of silence for my sweet constabulary cinnamon roll. She orders him around to do things (some illegal) for her, all the while knowing why he's doing things for her and yet not caring at all. F R I E N D S H I P.
Also, this series is still in desperate need of a new editor. I think my favourite typo was “too bad my friend Damian was around". Poor, sweet man.
Again, I love this book and will continue to read this series devotedly. I just love harping on Maddie and I honestly can’t wait to see what she does next.
October 17, 2020
This was a new to me series and I felt like there was no problem picking up with book 4. I ended up deleting the book rom my reader at 68% though. I really disliked Maddie and when you don't like the main character of a cozy, well, it's not the series for you. I tried. Maddie, herself, mentions she is the oldest of three and it showed. I just found her too judgmental and her response to her boyfriend (?) Lucas unexplainable and immature (perhaps the other three books would have set it up better for me).
There are a lot of potentially interesting suspects and secondary characters but they didn't get enough page time to interest me enough to finish the book.
I have another Cate Conte book, the first in a series, which I am going to read soon. Even long time favorite authors write other series which don't appeal.
I got my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
There are a lot of potentially interesting suspects and secondary characters but they didn't get enough page time to interest me enough to finish the book.
I have another Cate Conte book, the first in a series, which I am going to read soon. Even long time favorite authors write other series which don't appeal.
I got my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
August 30, 2021
Maddie is not a likable character at all, even if she does like animals. Maddie seems to be snarky, self-centered, opinionated and hotheaded and not a sympathetic character at all. Layout of chapters seemed awkward and strange. Had to wait 8 or 9 chapters to discover whose body Maddie discovered. Those 8 or 9 chapters covered different days events."
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