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Cat in the Stacks #1
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Ad Athena, nel Mississippi, tutti conoscono Charlie Harris, il bonario bibliotecario con un gatto Maine Coon di nome Diesel che porta al guinzaglio. È tornato nella sua città natale per immergersi nei libri, ma ben presto si trova coinvolto in un thriller che si svolge nella vita reale. Godfrey Priest, famoso autore di bestseller ed ex compagno di classe di Charlie, sarà anche l’orgoglio di Athena, ma Charlie lo ricorda come un idiota arrogante e manipolatore, e non è il solo. Il suo ritorno come illustre ex-alunno non potrebbe andare peggio: entro l’ora di pranzo manda un uomo all’ospedale. Per cena, invece, il morto è proprio Godfrey. Ora tocca a Charlie, con l’aiuto del felino Diesel, frugare tra i rancori della città e trovare l’assassino prima che un vicesceriffo troppo impaziente si scagli contro la persona sbagliata. Ma come se l’omicidio in sé non fosse già abbastanza complicato da risolvere, tutti gli amici e i colleghi di Charlie avevano un conto in sospeso con l’odiato scrittore…
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 3, 2010
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About the author
Miranda James
25 books1,256 followersPen name of Dean James, who also writes as Honor Hartman and Jimmie Ruth Evans
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,578 reviews
September 11, 2017
I chose this one because it takes place in the south and in a library setting. I was curious where the author would go with it given I read another series with a main character who is a cat (Lilian Jackson Braun's "The Cat Who Books") and another one with a library setting (Jenn MCKinlay's "Library Lovers cozy series")... fits right in.
I like the main character but I'm not overly fond of him where I feel the need to continue reading the next book in the series immediately. I would read more of them, but when it happens, it happens.
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by.
I like the main character but I'm not overly fond of him where I feel the need to continue reading the next book in the series immediately. I would read more of them, but when it happens, it happens.
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by.
March 6, 2016
This was my bedtime reading for the past week. I made it to page 172 before I started skimming. I found both the writing style and the (human) protagonist extremely annoying.
Just 3 pages in we get an exposé of what a Maine coon cat is. Furthermore, every. single. action is described in minute and often redundant detail. Some examples:
Since this is all first person narrative it makes the protagonist seem very dull, but apart from that, he also behaves in a stupid way. He holds back information and evidence and then is surprised when the Deputy is suspicious and thinks he’s either covering for himself or someone else.
The only redeeming feature is Diesel the cat, but he doesn’t help with the sleuthing, as I had expected. He just chirps and warbles a lot and offers comfort to people in distress.
If my library stocked this series I would maybe try a later volume to see if the writing had improved, but since they don’t, I won’t bother with this author anymore.
Just 3 pages in we get an exposé of what a Maine coon cat is. Furthermore, every. single. action is described in minute and often redundant detail. Some examples:
After logging in to the cataloging module of our integrated library system (or ILS, in library parlance), I began to examine the book. (…)I’m a librarian and even I get bored reading this.
I turned to the computer and called up the record I had previously downloaded into our system from a bibliographic utility. All the basics were there — title, publisher, date, and so on — and I added the notes to identify the copy in hand. (p.14-15)
“I’ll just open this [envelope] and have a quick look, if you don’t mind.”With the blade! Wow. Not with the handle?
“Sure thing,” Rick said. “Here.” He handed me a penknife.
I took it and slit open the envelope with the blade and returned the knife to Rick. (p. 136)
I found an oversized mug in the cupboard and filled it from the cooler. (…) Diesel lapped at the water. When he was finished I would wash out the mug in the sink. (…)etc. etc. etc.
Diesel was finished drinking. I took the mug to the sink and turned on the hot water. (…)
I squirted a little dish soap in the mug and scrubbed it with a brush. I gave it a quick rinse and set it upside down on the draining board.
As I dried my hands on a towel, (…) (p. 149-150)
Since this is all first person narrative it makes the protagonist seem very dull, but apart from that, he also behaves in a stupid way. He holds back information and evidence and then is surprised when the Deputy is suspicious and thinks he’s either covering for himself or someone else.
The only redeeming feature is Diesel the cat, but he doesn’t help with the sleuthing, as I had expected. He just chirps and warbles a lot and offers comfort to people in distress.
If my library stocked this series I would maybe try a later volume to see if the writing had improved, but since they don’t, I won’t bother with this author anymore.
July 25, 2024
Si buscas algo repleto de giros innovadores, este libro no es para ti. No es extremadamente malo o aburrido, no, mas no es lo anteriormente mencionado.
Afortunadamente, comencé con él sin expectativas.
En una nota relacionada, al final no es Charlie quien resuelve el crimen. Divertido.
Además: Charlie provocó (indirectamente) el enfrentamiento que llevó al asesinato del escritor, ¿no?
Escenas y demás.
*Diesel es genial y yo quiero, quiero, un gato como él.
...Escipión, mi gato, no necesita saber eso. Nunca.
*El descubrimiento del vínculo existente entre Priest y Richard Tackett: la voz en mi cabeza dijo "oh", y luego procedió a teorizar locamente.
Se equivocó, claro está, y provocó que mi autoestima disminuyera un poco más. Maldición.
*El contenido de la caja sin numerar: presentando a Godfrey Priest: mujeriego sinvergüenza, padre irresponsable y, según información reciente, no el escritor de ciertos manuscritos.
Un sujeto tan agradable, ese.
*La charla entre Charles y Kanesha acerca de los archivos de Priest, el hallazgo de la caja que no debería estar vacía y el posterior sentimiento de "ay, esta vez sí que lo arruiné y estoy en tantos, tantos problemas" que cae sobre Harris.
Por eso uno no se mete en una investigación policial si no se es policía o detective oficial, gente.
*¿Soy solo yo, o no se llega a revelar quién robó los contratos?
Tras las muertes de su esposa y su tía, Charles Harris volvió a su lugar de nacimiento, adoptó un gato, consiguió un trabajo como archivista (no, no de ese tipo) y, de alguna manera, logró construirse una vida tranquila y cómoda… que incluyó aceptar a estudiantes universitarios necesitados de una casa en la cual quedarse, por supuesto. Eso es lo que su tía hubiera querido, después de todo. Y Justin Henry Wardlaw es únicamente uno de ellos, de verdad… hasta que Godfrey Priest aparece.
El hombre, escritor exitoso, le hace una revelación relacionada con Justin, protagoniza un momento escandaloso y, para cerrar con broche de oro, es asesinado… y Justin, supuestamente, es quien lo encuentra. Oh diablos.
Comprensiblemente, Charlie se siente preocupado por la situación en la que su huésped ha quedado involucrado, lo que lo predispone a estar tremendamente dispuesto a ayudar en la investigación del asesinato de Priest… pero los sospechosos son muchos (e irán aumentando cada vez que te descuides ligeramente), "ayudar en la investigación" probablemente acabará convirtiéndose en "realizar su propia investigación" (gracias, Azalea), la agente Kanesha Berry es implacable y autoritaria y, vaya sorpresa, mantenerse neutral e imparcial en un caso lleno de sentimientos y emociones podría, tal vez, no ser la cosa más fácil del mundo…
Afortunadamente, comencé con él sin expectativas.
En una nota relacionada, al final no es Charlie quien resuelve el crimen. Divertido.
Además: Charlie provocó (indirectamente) el enfrentamiento que llevó al asesinato del escritor, ¿no?
Escenas y demás.
*Diesel es genial y yo quiero, quiero, un gato como él.
...Escipión, mi gato, no necesita saber eso. Nunca.
*El descubrimiento del vínculo existente entre Priest y Richard Tackett: la voz en mi cabeza dijo "oh", y luego procedió a teorizar locamente.
Se equivocó, claro está, y provocó que mi autoestima disminuyera un poco más. Maldición.
*El contenido de la caja sin numerar: presentando a Godfrey Priest: mujeriego sinvergüenza, padre irresponsable y, según información reciente, no el escritor de ciertos manuscritos.
Un sujeto tan agradable, ese.
*La charla entre Charles y Kanesha acerca de los archivos de Priest, el hallazgo de la caja que no debería estar vacía y el posterior sentimiento de "ay, esta vez sí que lo arruiné y estoy en tantos, tantos problemas" que cae sobre Harris.
Por eso uno no se mete en una investigación policial si no se es policía o detective oficial, gente.
*¿Soy solo yo, o no se llega a revelar quién robó los contratos?
Tras las muertes de su esposa y su tía, Charles Harris volvió a su lugar de nacimiento, adoptó un gato, consiguió un trabajo como archivista (no, no de ese tipo) y, de alguna manera, logró construirse una vida tranquila y cómoda… que incluyó aceptar a estudiantes universitarios necesitados de una casa en la cual quedarse, por supuesto. Eso es lo que su tía hubiera querido, después de todo. Y Justin Henry Wardlaw es únicamente uno de ellos, de verdad… hasta que Godfrey Priest aparece.
El hombre, escritor exitoso, le hace una revelación relacionada con Justin, protagoniza un momento escandaloso y, para cerrar con broche de oro, es asesinado… y Justin, supuestamente, es quien lo encuentra. Oh diablos.
Comprensiblemente, Charlie se siente preocupado por la situación en la que su huésped ha quedado involucrado, lo que lo predispone a estar tremendamente dispuesto a ayudar en la investigación del asesinato de Priest… pero los sospechosos son muchos (e irán aumentando cada vez que te descuides ligeramente), "ayudar en la investigación" probablemente acabará convirtiéndose en "realizar su propia investigación" (gracias, Azalea), la agente Kanesha Berry es implacable y autoritaria y, vaya sorpresa, mantenerse neutral e imparcial en un caso lleno de sentimientos y emociones podría, tal vez, no ser la cosa más fácil del mundo…
June 29, 2014
Well, I enjoyed this one, too, being in the mood for a cozy mystery, which this very much is.
Written first person from the POV of a gentlemanly 50-something small Southern town college librarian (widowed male with adult kids). It was very much the same headspace and tone as the much more over-the-top gentlemanly Southern gay vampire in small-town England series by the same author (under a different name), except without the vampire, gay, and England parts, and adding a cat. ( https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... ) I've no idea which series sells better, but if you liked the one you'd probably like the other.
I was interested enough to obtain volume 2; we'll see how long this lasts. If I weren't head-down in proofreading some of my own old work this week, I'd probably be reading it now.
Ta, L.
Written first person from the POV of a gentlemanly 50-something small Southern town college librarian (widowed male with adult kids). It was very much the same headspace and tone as the much more over-the-top gentlemanly Southern gay vampire in small-town England series by the same author (under a different name), except without the vampire, gay, and England parts, and adding a cat. ( https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... ) I've no idea which series sells better, but if you liked the one you'd probably like the other.
I was interested enough to obtain volume 2; we'll see how long this lasts. If I weren't head-down in proofreading some of my own old work this week, I'd probably be reading it now.
Ta, L.
March 30, 2024
Charlie Harris is a widow who has moved back to his hometown of Athena, Mississippi, into the house he inherited from his aunt. He works part time as the archivist at the local college’s library. He’s also well known for his rescued Maine coon cat, Diesel; a cat that goes almost everywhere with him. I loved Diesel. I'm not a big fan of cozies but I am a big fan of kitties, so the story is worth reading just to meet him. Of all the people from his past Charlie never wanted to ever see again, Godfrey Priest was IT. Godfrey was a jerk when they had known each other in high school and college, and now his status as a bestselling author of thrillers has done nothing to deflate his gigantic, growing ego. Now Godfrey is back in town and appearing at the local college where...you guessed it...Charlie works. Since Godfrey returned, secrets start appearing out of the woodwork. Charlie then finds Godfrey dead in his hotel room. The investigation centers around Charlie’s boarder, who is the son of an old friend, and Charlie starts looking around and asking questions. Still, it won’t be easy to find the killer of a guy who no one seemed to ever have liked. Charlie isn't sure that he is the one to do it or even if he can. One of the reasons I don't especially care for Cozy Mysteries is that usually the plot moves forward at a snail's pace, and it takes forever for something to happen. That wasn’t the case with this one. This book had more twists in the first 100 pages than some books I've read had in the entire story. The pace did slow down a little as the story progressed, there were still some really good twists and reveals in the second half. The clues were well planted, and I found myself completely satisfied at how things came together at the end.
Read
February 9, 2016DNF 35% and as is my personal policy I don't rate books unless I have read at least 50%.
Everyone in this book is too stupid to live. Except the cat.
Everyone in this book is too stupid to live. Except the cat.
September 26, 2012
Is it a coincidence ‘James’ has twice been a pseudonym for males posing as female? ‘Rebecca James’ was another. If it is to stop readers from overlooking them: it worked and I'm glad. I don't often read male authors, especially 50 year-old male protagonists but DEAN James (as per copyright credits) is talented and his character 'Charlie', a delight. I adore cats, libraries, and mysteries and am rewarded threefold.
Widowed, with a grown son & daughter out-of-state, Charlie works part-time in an archives department. His leash-walking cat, ‘Diesel’ joins him everywhere. With involved, intelligent cats in my life; I like obliterating stereotypes of feline aloofness and limitation perceived by us. Mine rode in cars more than any dogs I know and all of our cats ‘sit’ when asked.
Letting rooms in a house bequeathed by his aunt, supplies interesting storylines. A student tenant in this first novel becomes associated with murder. He and his Mom, known since high school, give Charlie reason to look into the situation. I say four stars because the victim is disliked and has no personal poignancy for Charlie, nor we readers. Acclimatization to a setting in a series début takes time to gear up as it is.
‘Miranda James’ is a pleasure to read. His wonderful, vibrant, black culture names like ‘Kanesha’ and ‘Azalea’ resonate strikingly. The strong-willed dignity is astutely conveyed and so too, a man content in his middle-age.
Widowed, with a grown son & daughter out-of-state, Charlie works part-time in an archives department. His leash-walking cat, ‘Diesel’ joins him everywhere. With involved, intelligent cats in my life; I like obliterating stereotypes of feline aloofness and limitation perceived by us. Mine rode in cars more than any dogs I know and all of our cats ‘sit’ when asked.
Letting rooms in a house bequeathed by his aunt, supplies interesting storylines. A student tenant in this first novel becomes associated with murder. He and his Mom, known since high school, give Charlie reason to look into the situation. I say four stars because the victim is disliked and has no personal poignancy for Charlie, nor we readers. Acclimatization to a setting in a series début takes time to gear up as it is.
‘Miranda James’ is a pleasure to read. His wonderful, vibrant, black culture names like ‘Kanesha’ and ‘Azalea’ resonate strikingly. The strong-willed dignity is astutely conveyed and so too, a man content in his middle-age.
unfinished
December 22, 2011I tried. I was only 11 pages in when I realized I really didn't like the protagonist, Charlie. He comes across as a fussy old coot. When his college freshman border leaves the kitchen a mess, he takes that and a few days of moodiness to assume that something is wrong and that the kid may have turned to drugs. Because God knows, when I was messy and in a bad mood for a few days my freshman year it was because I turned to drugs. Or something.
When Justin, his border, returns, Charlie deals with the messiness in a very passive aggressive way. After the kid apologizes instead of saying something like hey, it happens, but please don't let it happen again he instead says something along the lines of well, if the housekeeper had found it she would have been really unhappy.
Every interaction he has with Justin in the first five chapters (as far as I read) has Charlie acting with a condescending paternalism. He treats Justin more like an errant child than young adult. In fairness, no one seems to realize that part of college is learning how to be an independent adult. Everyone treats Justin more like a teenager at a boarding school rather than a college student. He's still expected to go home every weekend. In the first five chapters there's no mention that Justin has any friends or that he does anything but go to class and hang out with Charlie and Diesel when he's not at home with his parents. But it's really Charlie's smug paternalism that bothers me. You can be a mentor, a friend, even a substitute father figure without a constant air of "father knows best."
Justin aside, we next seem him whining about the violence in a murder novel. Imagine! Now, I understand there's violence and then there's violence,and I've stopped watching more than one police procedural because it seemed to revel in violence against women, but we need more context here. Otherwise he's really saying, I had to stop reading murder novels because there was violence.
The author of the book he doesn't like is a high school classmate who he refers to multiple times as a jerkwad, a term I don't think anyone over the age of 10 would actually use.
It's possible that some of my problems with the book are regional, it's set in Mississippi and I live in Washington state. Certainly the use of "sir" would be an example of that as would Mr. first name. Here it's first name or Mr. last name.
The writing in general was not very good. I think this may be a first novel in which case perhaps there will be some improvement. I'll never know.
When Justin, his border, returns, Charlie deals with the messiness in a very passive aggressive way. After the kid apologizes instead of saying something like hey, it happens, but please don't let it happen again he instead says something along the lines of well, if the housekeeper had found it she would have been really unhappy.
Every interaction he has with Justin in the first five chapters (as far as I read) has Charlie acting with a condescending paternalism. He treats Justin more like an errant child than young adult. In fairness, no one seems to realize that part of college is learning how to be an independent adult. Everyone treats Justin more like a teenager at a boarding school rather than a college student. He's still expected to go home every weekend. In the first five chapters there's no mention that Justin has any friends or that he does anything but go to class and hang out with Charlie and Diesel when he's not at home with his parents. But it's really Charlie's smug paternalism that bothers me. You can be a mentor, a friend, even a substitute father figure without a constant air of "father knows best."
Justin aside, we next seem him whining about the violence in a murder novel. Imagine! Now, I understand there's violence and then there's violence,and I've stopped watching more than one police procedural because it seemed to revel in violence against women, but we need more context here. Otherwise he's really saying, I had to stop reading murder novels because there was violence.
The author of the book he doesn't like is a high school classmate who he refers to multiple times as a jerkwad, a term I don't think anyone over the age of 10 would actually use.
It's possible that some of my problems with the book are regional, it's set in Mississippi and I live in Washington state. Certainly the use of "sir" would be an example of that as would Mr. first name. Here it's first name or Mr. last name.
The writing in general was not very good. I think this may be a first novel in which case perhaps there will be some improvement. I'll never know.
June 11, 2025
An interesting start to a series. This is the first one I've run across where a guy is the MC. Interesting change. The MC is a southern gentleman and stumbles upon a murder mystery. He has a very challenging relationship with the cop who is trying to investigate.
I'll be interested to see what the next installment is like.
I'll be interested to see what the next installment is like.
November 6, 2023
Desde hace un tiempo he perdido la fe en los Thrillers más “sangrientos”, nada consigue sorprenderme a tal punto de que no pueda soltar el libro y eso es debido supongo a que he leído tantos que me veo venir el asesino casi desde un principio. Por este motivo decidí comenzar a leer estos libros a los que llaman Cozy Mystery o lo que es lo mismo misterio con encanto. Desde muy pequeña me ha encantado Agatha Christie y como se la ingeniaba Hercules Poirot para resolver los crímenes, así que os podéis imaginar como estoy disfrutando todos los libros de este género que están cayendo en mis manos. Me siento con un café y se me pasa el rato volando mientras leo un libro que devoro en cuestión de horas, y es justo lo que me ha pasado con Crimen descatalogado, apenas me ha durado dos tardes y ha sido una de las mejores lecturas del mes de octubre.
El bibliotecario Charlie Harris y su Maine Coon, Diesel, viven en Athena, Mississippi. Todo el mundo en el pueblo conoce al viudo que pasea a su gato con correa. Cuando un autor local es asesinado, Harris descubre que mucha gente en el pueblo tenía un motivo para matar al hombre arrogante y solapado. Con tanta gente teniendo cuentas pendientes con el hombre asesinado, Charlie y Diesel tienen que revelar al asesino antes de que una persona inocente sea arrestada.
La búsqueda del asesino da vueltas y vueltas a medida que los hechos pasados salen a la superficie y los motivos se multiplican. Dado que el libro está escrito desde el punto de vista en primera persona de Charlie, el lector no sabe más de lo que Charlie sabe en cualquier momento. Charlie comete errores, tanto intuitivos como legales. A diferencia de lo que sucede en muchos cozies, nuestro protagonista acepta inmediatamente la responsabilidad, toma sus bultos y hace un esfuerzo concertado para corregir su comportamiento. Y, a diferencia de la progresión en muchos cozies, no descubre la identidad del asesino antes de que lo hace la detyective Kanesha Berry.
En conclusión, no quiero contaros mucho más de esta historia ya que sin querer os podría dar pistas relevantes para descubrir el asesino y eso has de descubrirlo junto a Charlie y Diesel. Un buen día de otoño es cuando te sientas junto a tu bebida favorita una mantita calentita y un libro como Crimen descatalogado, ¿ te apetece una tarde asi?
El bibliotecario Charlie Harris y su Maine Coon, Diesel, viven en Athena, Mississippi. Todo el mundo en el pueblo conoce al viudo que pasea a su gato con correa. Cuando un autor local es asesinado, Harris descubre que mucha gente en el pueblo tenía un motivo para matar al hombre arrogante y solapado. Con tanta gente teniendo cuentas pendientes con el hombre asesinado, Charlie y Diesel tienen que revelar al asesino antes de que una persona inocente sea arrestada.
La búsqueda del asesino da vueltas y vueltas a medida que los hechos pasados salen a la superficie y los motivos se multiplican. Dado que el libro está escrito desde el punto de vista en primera persona de Charlie, el lector no sabe más de lo que Charlie sabe en cualquier momento. Charlie comete errores, tanto intuitivos como legales. A diferencia de lo que sucede en muchos cozies, nuestro protagonista acepta inmediatamente la responsabilidad, toma sus bultos y hace un esfuerzo concertado para corregir su comportamiento. Y, a diferencia de la progresión en muchos cozies, no descubre la identidad del asesino antes de que lo hace la detyective Kanesha Berry.
En conclusión, no quiero contaros mucho más de esta historia ya que sin querer os podría dar pistas relevantes para descubrir el asesino y eso has de descubrirlo junto a Charlie y Diesel. Un buen día de otoño es cuando te sientas junto a tu bebida favorita una mantita calentita y un libro como Crimen descatalogado, ¿ te apetece una tarde asi?
January 28, 2024
Por muchos motivos, este mes ha sido un poco decepcionante en cuanto lecturas, no en calidad sino en cantidad. Por eso busque un libro que fuera entretenido, que enganchase y que fuera fácil de leer; a ver si conseguía acabarlo antes de terminar enero. Y como además llevaba ya bastante tiempo que quería leerme un Cozy mystery y descubrir ya de una vez este género que tanto he visto por redes en los últimos tiempos (creo que lo más cercano que he leído de este estilo, son las novelas de Ágatha Christie) fue que me anime con esta novela tan entrañable
La tranquilidad del pueblo de Athena (Mississippi) se ve perturbada cuando el famoso escritor oriundo del lugar, Godfrey Priest aparezca muerto en lo que parece un crimen sacado de sus novelas. Uno de los últimos en verle fue su antiguo compañero de estudios Charlie Harris, archivista y bibliotecario. Mientras que Godfrey despertaba poca simpatías por su arrogancia y egocentrismo, Charlie cae muy bien en el pueblo gracias a que siempre va acompañado de su entrañable y sensitivo gato Diesel. Sin comerlo ni beberlo, Charlie acabará envuelto en la investigación del crimen, descubriendo que muchos de sus amigos y vecinos tienen los motivos suficientes para haber acabado con Godfrey.
Nos encontramos ante una novela simple y tranquila de crímenes y misterios que cumple y entretiene mucho y que se lee muy rápidamente. La pluma de Miranda James es sencilla y directa, lo que sumado a que los capítulos son relativamente cortos y a que el ritmo narrativo es bastante ágil, hace que el libro se lea en un suspiro. Me lo he leído en dos días, y la mayor parte de las veces que lo he cogido me he metido entre pecho y espalda 50 o 100 páginas tranquilamente, sin darme ni tan siquiera cuenta. La trama que la autora nos propone tampoco tiene grandes complicaciones. La historia se mueve en un pequeño pueblo de Mississippi en el que todos sus vecinos se conocen unos a otros, pero a las que un trágico suceso pone en el punto de mira. Tal y como el protagonista de la novela, Charlie, descubra, todos tienen sus motivos ocultos (y no ocultos) para haber exterminado al famoso de escritor de novelas negras, un hombre pomposo y centrado en mismo que en vida hizó muchos más enemigos que amigos, los cuales van saliendo como setas a lo largo de las poco más de 300 páginas que componen el volumen. Nada que no hayamos leído en otras novelas (en las de la ya mencionado abuelita Christie, por ejemplo) pero aún así la fórmula siempre funciona perfectamente.
Miranda James crea una historia sencilla y para nada enrevesada. No innova dentro de lo que es el género del misterio, pero tampoco patina.. La trama está muy bien definida, de principio a fin los descubrimientos y personajes van apareciendo a un ritmo constante pero plácido, y los personajes son perfectamente identificables para el lector. Como buen Cozy mystery , el asesinato de Godfrey Priest no tiene nada especialmente escabroso o violento más allá de los motivos que haya tras de él y del propio crimen. “Crimen Descatalogado” es una historia amable y llena de intriga, que tiene lugar en un encantador, pintoresco y diminuto pueblo americano. Y esto hace que sea una lectura cálida e incluso hogareña, muy entretenida. Y a todo esto, si alguien se lleva el Show totalmente en este libro es el gato Diesel, un minino de la raza Maine Coon enorme, avispado y encantado que hacer las delicias de todos los vecinos que le conocen y en el propio lector.
Lo que es el misterio me ha parecido relativamente bien llevado. Ya os he dicho que la autora no hace nada extraordinario, pero tampoco nada que sea un desastre; presenta de forma muy directa un misterio que va dando vueltas a lo largo de toda la trama y una serie de personajes con motivaciones suficientes para haberlo cometido, dándole al lector miguitas de información que poco a poco ayudan a componer todo el cuadro al final de la novela. Pero eso no evita que la historia a veces peque de simple y, sobre todo, de predecible. Ninguno de los personajes, con excepción del propio protagonista, el difunto y el gato, tiene una personalidad lo suficientemente Interesante o desarrollada para resultar especialmente interesante al lector. De hecho, para mí uno de los grandes problemas de esta obra ha sido el propio protagonista (humano) Charlie. Se trata de un hombre tranquilo, que ha vuelto a su pueblo natal para superar la pérdida de algunos seres queridos y tratar de vivir lo más tranquilo posible.
A lo largo del libro, Charlie es quien descubre la mayor parte de las pistas que llevarán a la resolución del caso. Y en no pocos momentos se dedicará a guardarse información para sí mismo o a callarse cosas y detalles de cara a la policía y conseguir que otros hagan lo mismo. Y en todo momento la única excusa que hay para eso es que quiere descubrir el misterio y tratar de que muchos de sus amigos y vecinos se vean minimamente perturbados. Pero eso sí, el hombre se guarda las cosas, siendo consciente de que en algún momento habrá que decírselo a la policía. Y esta, cuando descubre el pastel no solo no le Encierran y le ponen una denuncia. Tampoco es que lo premien o se lo agradezcan especialmente, pero aparte de alguna pequeña regañina el buen hombre se va de rositas. Y qué queréis que os diga, a mí eso me pareció poco creíble. Y además consiguió que el protagonista no terminase de caerme bien, porque eso me chocaba un poco
Se nota demasiado que Miranda James quiere ir directa al grano y facilitar la lectura, y esto solo consigue que ese aspecto quede muy opacado cuando podría haber dado mucho más juego. Y esto también se nota en que la narrativa me ha parecido en varios momentos, especialmente al principio, que iba a trompicones, que había momentos en los que fluya muy bien y otros en los que se atascaba ligeramente y le costaba proseguir. Además, siento que en muchos momentos incide en cosas que ya sabían comentado antes, para que el lector no las olvido. Aunque en varios momentos esto lo he agradecido, en otros me ha parecido bastante innecesarios, ya que solo hacían más lenta la lectura y todo esto lo que es el misterio propiamente dicho, es bastante sencillo, prácticamente hacia la mitad yo ya me olía por dónde iban los tiros. De ahí que por lo menos para mí el final haya perdido mucho impacto.
En definitiva, mi primera incursión propiamente dicha en el Cozy Mystery me ha dejado un buen sabor de boca. Sin duda, alguna repetiré con este género. Y por supuesto, no descarto continuar leyendo los libros de la serie protagonizada por Charlie y Diesel, que la editorial Alma está sacando junto a algunos otros títulos y series del mismo género que también me llaman mucho la atención. “ Crimen Descatalogado“ no va a ser la lectura de mi vida, ni mucho menos, pero me ha dado todo aquello que buscaba cuando lo cogí, un misterio entretenido y una historia amena y ligera de leer. Y encima viene con un adorable gato incorporado ¿qué más se puede pedir?
La tranquilidad del pueblo de Athena (Mississippi) se ve perturbada cuando el famoso escritor oriundo del lugar, Godfrey Priest aparezca muerto en lo que parece un crimen sacado de sus novelas. Uno de los últimos en verle fue su antiguo compañero de estudios Charlie Harris, archivista y bibliotecario. Mientras que Godfrey despertaba poca simpatías por su arrogancia y egocentrismo, Charlie cae muy bien en el pueblo gracias a que siempre va acompañado de su entrañable y sensitivo gato Diesel. Sin comerlo ni beberlo, Charlie acabará envuelto en la investigación del crimen, descubriendo que muchos de sus amigos y vecinos tienen los motivos suficientes para haber acabado con Godfrey.
Nos encontramos ante una novela simple y tranquila de crímenes y misterios que cumple y entretiene mucho y que se lee muy rápidamente. La pluma de Miranda James es sencilla y directa, lo que sumado a que los capítulos son relativamente cortos y a que el ritmo narrativo es bastante ágil, hace que el libro se lea en un suspiro. Me lo he leído en dos días, y la mayor parte de las veces que lo he cogido me he metido entre pecho y espalda 50 o 100 páginas tranquilamente, sin darme ni tan siquiera cuenta. La trama que la autora nos propone tampoco tiene grandes complicaciones. La historia se mueve en un pequeño pueblo de Mississippi en el que todos sus vecinos se conocen unos a otros, pero a las que un trágico suceso pone en el punto de mira. Tal y como el protagonista de la novela, Charlie, descubra, todos tienen sus motivos ocultos (y no ocultos) para haber exterminado al famoso de escritor de novelas negras, un hombre pomposo y centrado en mismo que en vida hizó muchos más enemigos que amigos, los cuales van saliendo como setas a lo largo de las poco más de 300 páginas que componen el volumen. Nada que no hayamos leído en otras novelas (en las de la ya mencionado abuelita Christie, por ejemplo) pero aún así la fórmula siempre funciona perfectamente.
Miranda James crea una historia sencilla y para nada enrevesada. No innova dentro de lo que es el género del misterio, pero tampoco patina.. La trama está muy bien definida, de principio a fin los descubrimientos y personajes van apareciendo a un ritmo constante pero plácido, y los personajes son perfectamente identificables para el lector. Como buen Cozy mystery , el asesinato de Godfrey Priest no tiene nada especialmente escabroso o violento más allá de los motivos que haya tras de él y del propio crimen. “Crimen Descatalogado” es una historia amable y llena de intriga, que tiene lugar en un encantador, pintoresco y diminuto pueblo americano. Y esto hace que sea una lectura cálida e incluso hogareña, muy entretenida. Y a todo esto, si alguien se lleva el Show totalmente en este libro es el gato Diesel, un minino de la raza Maine Coon enorme, avispado y encantado que hacer las delicias de todos los vecinos que le conocen y en el propio lector.
Lo que es el misterio me ha parecido relativamente bien llevado. Ya os he dicho que la autora no hace nada extraordinario, pero tampoco nada que sea un desastre; presenta de forma muy directa un misterio que va dando vueltas a lo largo de toda la trama y una serie de personajes con motivaciones suficientes para haberlo cometido, dándole al lector miguitas de información que poco a poco ayudan a componer todo el cuadro al final de la novela. Pero eso no evita que la historia a veces peque de simple y, sobre todo, de predecible. Ninguno de los personajes, con excepción del propio protagonista, el difunto y el gato, tiene una personalidad lo suficientemente Interesante o desarrollada para resultar especialmente interesante al lector. De hecho, para mí uno de los grandes problemas de esta obra ha sido el propio protagonista (humano) Charlie. Se trata de un hombre tranquilo, que ha vuelto a su pueblo natal para superar la pérdida de algunos seres queridos y tratar de vivir lo más tranquilo posible.
A lo largo del libro, Charlie es quien descubre la mayor parte de las pistas que llevarán a la resolución del caso. Y en no pocos momentos se dedicará a guardarse información para sí mismo o a callarse cosas y detalles de cara a la policía y conseguir que otros hagan lo mismo. Y en todo momento la única excusa que hay para eso es que quiere descubrir el misterio y tratar de que muchos de sus amigos y vecinos se vean minimamente perturbados. Pero eso sí, el hombre se guarda las cosas, siendo consciente de que en algún momento habrá que decírselo a la policía. Y esta, cuando descubre el pastel no solo no le Encierran y le ponen una denuncia. Tampoco es que lo premien o se lo agradezcan especialmente, pero aparte de alguna pequeña regañina el buen hombre se va de rositas. Y qué queréis que os diga, a mí eso me pareció poco creíble. Y además consiguió que el protagonista no terminase de caerme bien, porque eso me chocaba un poco
Se nota demasiado que Miranda James quiere ir directa al grano y facilitar la lectura, y esto solo consigue que ese aspecto quede muy opacado cuando podría haber dado mucho más juego. Y esto también se nota en que la narrativa me ha parecido en varios momentos, especialmente al principio, que iba a trompicones, que había momentos en los que fluya muy bien y otros en los que se atascaba ligeramente y le costaba proseguir. Además, siento que en muchos momentos incide en cosas que ya sabían comentado antes, para que el lector no las olvido. Aunque en varios momentos esto lo he agradecido, en otros me ha parecido bastante innecesarios, ya que solo hacían más lenta la lectura y todo esto lo que es el misterio propiamente dicho, es bastante sencillo, prácticamente hacia la mitad yo ya me olía por dónde iban los tiros. De ahí que por lo menos para mí el final haya perdido mucho impacto.
En definitiva, mi primera incursión propiamente dicha en el Cozy Mystery me ha dejado un buen sabor de boca. Sin duda, alguna repetiré con este género. Y por supuesto, no descarto continuar leyendo los libros de la serie protagonizada por Charlie y Diesel, que la editorial Alma está sacando junto a algunos otros títulos y series del mismo género que también me llaman mucho la atención. “ Crimen Descatalogado“ no va a ser la lectura de mi vida, ni mucho menos, pero me ha dado todo aquello que buscaba cuando lo cogí, un misterio entretenido y una historia amena y ligera de leer. Y encima viene con un adorable gato incorporado ¿qué más se puede pedir?
August 30, 2012
A fun cozy mystery with a good ending. I read this book in only two sittings. Not a real brain-teaser, but a perfect curl-up-and-read mystery.
A few things bored or frustrated me enough to consider putting the book down (though obviously I didn't, so they weren't too bad ... still a good read)
In the third quarter of the book (between the halfway point and the climax), the novel hits a dead spot. The plot moved very slowly. There are pages about the main character gardening (which has nothing to do with the mystery) and sitting home alone. Every detail of his day is explained. That's typical of mysteries (it allows authors to slip clues by unnoticed), but in my opinion, this book had a few too many extraneous details in the scenes where the main character was by himself without any contact to clues or suspects.
Aside the dead spot in the novel, I was put off by the way some of the characters spoke: as though they were textbooks, not people. The main character is an older man, which might explain away some of the formal speech, but to me the following conversation was ridiculous:
"'One has so little desire to embroil oneself in such a sordid happening.'
'I quite understand,' I said, 'But still, one must do one's duty.'
'Thank you for your forbearance.'"
My husband's 93 year old grandma doesn't come close to speaking like that. I can't think of anyone I know who does. The conversation went on like that for pages. Thankfully, most of the rest of the novel wasn't so bad.
Also, the main character treats an 18 year old boy the same way I treat my four year old girl. Would an 18 year old boy really stand for that? It would probably depend on the boy, but for my part, I could have done without the over-protection.
Because of the dated writing and the coddling of the 18 year old, I'm not in any hurry to read the sequel, but I enjoyed this book, and I would recommend it to others.
A few things bored or frustrated me enough to consider putting the book down (though obviously I didn't, so they weren't too bad ... still a good read)
In the third quarter of the book (between the halfway point and the climax), the novel hits a dead spot. The plot moved very slowly. There are pages about the main character gardening (which has nothing to do with the mystery) and sitting home alone. Every detail of his day is explained. That's typical of mysteries (it allows authors to slip clues by unnoticed), but in my opinion, this book had a few too many extraneous details in the scenes where the main character was by himself without any contact to clues or suspects.
Aside the dead spot in the novel, I was put off by the way some of the characters spoke: as though they were textbooks, not people. The main character is an older man, which might explain away some of the formal speech, but to me the following conversation was ridiculous:
"'One has so little desire to embroil oneself in such a sordid happening.'
'I quite understand,' I said, 'But still, one must do one's duty.'
'Thank you for your forbearance.'"
My husband's 93 year old grandma doesn't come close to speaking like that. I can't think of anyone I know who does. The conversation went on like that for pages. Thankfully, most of the rest of the novel wasn't so bad.
Also, the main character treats an 18 year old boy the same way I treat my four year old girl. Would an 18 year old boy really stand for that? It would probably depend on the boy, but for my part, I could have done without the over-protection.
Because of the dated writing and the coddling of the 18 year old, I'm not in any hurry to read the sequel, but I enjoyed this book, and I would recommend it to others.
November 5, 2025
Pues muy regular, todo muy cozy y el misterio pues normalito, lo típico en estos libros tan light.
Valoración: 5.75/10
Sinopsis: Todo el mundo en Athena, Misisipi, conoce a Charlie Harris, el amable bibliotecario dueño de un gato llamado Diesel al que pasea con correa. Ha regresado a su ciudad natal para sumergirse en los libros, pero pronto la vida real lo envuelve en una novela de misterio…
Godfrey Priest, famoso, arrogante y manipulador autor de bestsellers gore y antiguo compañero de clase de Charlie, aparece muerto.
A pesar de los resentimientos Charlie, con la ayuda de Diesel, deciden resolver el misterio de la muerte del desagradable novelista a quien no le faltan enemigos.
Valoración: 5.75/10
Sinopsis: Todo el mundo en Athena, Misisipi, conoce a Charlie Harris, el amable bibliotecario dueño de un gato llamado Diesel al que pasea con correa. Ha regresado a su ciudad natal para sumergirse en los libros, pero pronto la vida real lo envuelve en una novela de misterio…
Godfrey Priest, famoso, arrogante y manipulador autor de bestsellers gore y antiguo compañero de clase de Charlie, aparece muerto.
A pesar de los resentimientos Charlie, con la ayuda de Diesel, deciden resolver el misterio de la muerte del desagradable novelista a quien no le faltan enemigos.
November 22, 2017
You’d think the last word used to describe a murder mystery would be boring, but you’d be wrong about this one. The whole story dragged, and even though the main character was investigating a murder, nothing exciting even happened until the last two chapters. I guess that’s the problem with writin a main character who is a librarian snooping through clues on the side while his actions are messing with the actual investigation. I swear at least half of this book is Charlie describing his meals, thinking about all of the exercise he has to do and never doing it, or dragging Diesel around town to talk to characters with little to no personality who I easily forgot the names of. Even characters who become major players in the plot twist at the end we’re barely present throughout the story. The characters that did have personality, primarily Charlie, Justin, Julia, Godfrey, and Melba, were very one-dimensional. Justin’s main trait is that he’s extremely immature and babyish for an eighteen year old, Julia seems bent on her obsession with her son, Godfrey is a huge jerk, Melba is a gossip, and Charlie is an idiot who should have been arrested for the way he disrupted the investigation. There were a lot of details that didn’t make sense and that seemed to be relevant but were never explained, but I would not suggest reading them if you don’t want the book spoiled for you.
June 13, 2017
WOW!! What an amazing first read of a series for me. WOW.
I have had this book for quite some time and with all the other series that I read, I had just not gotten around to it. I think I have started 6 new series this year alone and 2 were really complete duds, one I enjoyed immensely and three I have loved completely from the beginning sentences; this was one of those three.
What I love about this book/series:
1. The main character is a man.
2. The main character is not a willy-nilly school boy; he is a man of a certain age [50] and has known serious grief in his life. He is a very real character.
3. The main character is a LIBRARIAN. 'Nuff said. ;-)
4. The main character has the best name ever - Charlie.
5. Charlie is owned by a very large Maine Coon names Diesel.
6. Charlie is extremely loyal and loves deeply. This man oozes empathy.
7. I read a LOT of cozies and mysteries and I never saw this one coming.
8. There is a real genuineness to this [and hopefully the rest of the series]book; you believe that you would actually know and hang out with people like this. This makes the book even more fun to read.
I highly recommend this book; it was so much fun getting to meet Charlie and Diesel and the cast of characters that come with them.
I have had this book for quite some time and with all the other series that I read, I had just not gotten around to it. I think I have started 6 new series this year alone and 2 were really complete duds, one I enjoyed immensely and three I have loved completely from the beginning sentences; this was one of those three.
What I love about this book/series:
1. The main character is a man.
2. The main character is not a willy-nilly school boy; he is a man of a certain age [50] and has known serious grief in his life. He is a very real character.
3. The main character is a LIBRARIAN. 'Nuff said. ;-)
4. The main character has the best name ever - Charlie.
5. Charlie is owned by a very large Maine Coon names Diesel.
6. Charlie is extremely loyal and loves deeply. This man oozes empathy.
7. I read a LOT of cozies and mysteries and I never saw this one coming.
8. There is a real genuineness to this [and hopefully the rest of the series]book; you believe that you would actually know and hang out with people like this. This makes the book even more fun to read.
I highly recommend this book; it was so much fun getting to meet Charlie and Diesel and the cast of characters that come with them.
November 5, 2024
Reseña completa: https://fiebrelectora.blogspot.com/20...
La tranquila vida de Charlie Harris, el amable bibliotecario dueño de un gato llamado Diesel, se pone patas arriba cuando un antiguo conocido vuelve al pueblo: Godfrey Priest, famosísimo escritor de thrillers gore, arrogante, manipulador, antiguo compañero de clase, con mil y un enemigos... y que pronto aparece muerto en su habitación de hotel. A pesar del resentimiento por el pasado, Charlie decide resolver el misterio de su muerte... aunque eso le lleve a sospechar de sus queridos vecinos.
Me encanta cuando los libros de misterio resultan así, ligeros, ágiles, y te van presentando a todos los sospechosos, te dan toda la información... y ahí te las veas tú para descubrir al verdadero culpable (muy al estilo de Agatha Christie, siempre fan suya). Y en esta ocasión se ha tratado precisamente de esa fórmula, por lo que reconozco que lo he devorado.
La tranquila vida de Charlie Harris, el amable bibliotecario dueño de un gato llamado Diesel, se pone patas arriba cuando un antiguo conocido vuelve al pueblo: Godfrey Priest, famosísimo escritor de thrillers gore, arrogante, manipulador, antiguo compañero de clase, con mil y un enemigos... y que pronto aparece muerto en su habitación de hotel. A pesar del resentimiento por el pasado, Charlie decide resolver el misterio de su muerte... aunque eso le lleve a sospechar de sus queridos vecinos.
Me encanta cuando los libros de misterio resultan así, ligeros, ágiles, y te van presentando a todos los sospechosos, te dan toda la información... y ahí te las veas tú para descubrir al verdadero culpable (muy al estilo de Agatha Christie, siempre fan suya). Y en esta ocasión se ha tratado precisamente de esa fórmula, por lo que reconozco que lo he devorado.
October 14, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the first in the series, CAT IN THE STACKS. I had started it with a later book and then went to the beginning. I liked Charlie Harris, the main character and archivist at a college in a small town in Mississippi and his LARGE Maine coon cat, Diesel who goes everywhere with him--and on a leash too.
The mystery revolves around a best-selling author, an alumnus of the college and old "pal"--make that an old enemy of the main character--who comes to town. But he doesn't stay long--at least alive, that is.
I don't enjoy a mystery that I can solve easily and this one had a wonderful cast of likely suspects. Note to self--DO NOT live in such a way as to amass a sizeable number who would be glad to see me dead. So far I think--hope--I've lived far away from the murder victim's penchant for leaving human wreckage in his wake. But such people do exist and most of them don't get murdered. Still...
The mystery revolves around a best-selling author, an alumnus of the college and old "pal"--make that an old enemy of the main character--who comes to town. But he doesn't stay long--at least alive, that is.
I don't enjoy a mystery that I can solve easily and this one had a wonderful cast of likely suspects. Note to self--DO NOT live in such a way as to amass a sizeable number who would be glad to see me dead. So far I think--hope--I've lived far away from the murder victim's penchant for leaving human wreckage in his wake. But such people do exist and most of them don't get murdered. Still...
August 3, 2025
Charlie Harris is a librarian in Athena, Mississippi. Charlie’s best friend, Diesel, is a big guy, and he always attracts attention wherever they go. Diesel is a rescued Mainecoon cat, and he accompanies Charlie most of the time, walking on his leash. Life is fairly routine until a writer that Charlie knew in highs
School arrives in town. Godfrey has become famous writing gory books, but Charlie has a hard time thinking of him as anything other than the jerk and bully he was in the past.
Godfrey’s visit has mixed reactions… some are proud of the hometown guy made famous, but when he’s found dead, it quickly becomes clear many were not fans. Charlie begins looking for clues to help a friend, and soon the deputy is unhappy with his sleuthing.
It’s an entertaining book, and apparently the first in a series. I wish I realized my library doesn’t have the others before I read this one, but it was still fun.
School arrives in town. Godfrey has become famous writing gory books, but Charlie has a hard time thinking of him as anything other than the jerk and bully he was in the past.
Godfrey’s visit has mixed reactions… some are proud of the hometown guy made famous, but when he’s found dead, it quickly becomes clear many were not fans. Charlie begins looking for clues to help a friend, and soon the deputy is unhappy with his sleuthing.
It’s an entertaining book, and apparently the first in a series. I wish I realized my library doesn’t have the others before I read this one, but it was still fun.
October 26, 2025
Pendiente reseña
July 14, 2024
‘’Murder Past Due’ by Miranda James is the first book in the Cat in the Stacks’ mystery series. I think it a perfectly good beach read for those who primarily read cozies. The mystery series appears to be very successful, there being 16 books so far. The cat, Diesel, is a Maine coon. The cat is not quite two years old, but he is a very large cat already as Maine coons tend to be. Diesel has not reached his full growth yet. The main character, Charlie Harris, who is 50 years old, takes Diesel everywhere on a leash. The cat seems to act towards everyone like those comfort animals that are taken by their owners to hospitals and nursing homes. Charlie is allowed to bring Diesel to the Hawksworth Library where he works in the Rare Book Room. Charlie is mourning his wife and his aunt, who died within two months of each other a year ago. He has two grown adult children: twenty-three-year-old Laura, an actress in Los Angeles, and twenty-seven-year-old Sean, a civil law lawyer in Houston.
I have copied the book blurb, which is accurate:
”Everyone in Athena, Mississippi, knows Charlie Harris, the good-natured librarian with a rescued Maine coon cat named Diesel that he walks on a leash. He’s returned to his hometown to immerse himself in books, but soon enough he’s entangled in a real-life thriller...
A famous author of gory bestsellers and a former classmate of Charlie’s, Godfrey Priest may be the pride of Athena, but Charlie remembers him as an arrogant, manipulative jerk—and he’s not the only one. Godfrey’s homecoming as a distinguished alumnus couldn’t possibly go by lunch, he’s put a man in the hospital. By dinner, Godfrey’s dead.
Now it’s up to Charlie, with some help from Diesel, to paw through the town’s grudges and find the killer before an impatient deputy throws the book at the wrong person. But every last one of Charlie’s friends and co-workers had a score to settle with the nasty novelist. As if the murder wasn’t already purr-plexing enough...”
I had hoped I would enjoy these mysteries, but alas, I feel the book is too bland and ordinary for my tastes. It might be the usual first-book-in-a-series issue, but I am not continuing with the series.
I have copied the book blurb, which is accurate:
”Everyone in Athena, Mississippi, knows Charlie Harris, the good-natured librarian with a rescued Maine coon cat named Diesel that he walks on a leash. He’s returned to his hometown to immerse himself in books, but soon enough he’s entangled in a real-life thriller...
A famous author of gory bestsellers and a former classmate of Charlie’s, Godfrey Priest may be the pride of Athena, but Charlie remembers him as an arrogant, manipulative jerk—and he’s not the only one. Godfrey’s homecoming as a distinguished alumnus couldn’t possibly go by lunch, he’s put a man in the hospital. By dinner, Godfrey’s dead.
Now it’s up to Charlie, with some help from Diesel, to paw through the town’s grudges and find the killer before an impatient deputy throws the book at the wrong person. But every last one of Charlie’s friends and co-workers had a score to settle with the nasty novelist. As if the murder wasn’t already purr-plexing enough...”
I had hoped I would enjoy these mysteries, but alas, I feel the book is too bland and ordinary for my tastes. It might be the usual first-book-in-a-series issue, but I am not continuing with the series.
January 31, 2024
Me pasó que lo leí después de Asesinato entre libros y ese lo disfruté tanto, por lo que acá me chocó un poco. Lo pasé bien y fue divertido, pero, para mí, no tanto como ese otro. De hecho, si tengo que continuar con una saga de cozy mystery, no será esta.
Charlie trabaja en una biblioteca y le alquila un cuarto a un universitario, lo que lo ayuda a no sentirse tan solo ahora que es viudo y sus hijos tienen su propia vida. Cuando un famoso escritor de novela negra vaya de visita al pequeño pueblo y a los pocos días aparezca muerto, Charlie se verá inmerso en una red de mentiras.
Charlie tiene cincuenta años, quizá un poco más, y llevaba una vida tranquila en Athena, Misisipi, su pueblo natal. Era un personaje tranquilo, que en muchos casos su actitud parecía la de un abuelito más que un hombre de 50 años. Tengo que admitir que se me hizo simpático, pero no memorable, ni siquiera encantador. De hecho, la única característica que tenía era que tenía un gato Maine Coon llamado Diesel, que básicamente es un gato gigante y era astuto.
Los demás personajes estaban bien, pero la verdad es que ninguno me produjo ninguna emoción particular, se me hicieron poco memorables. Quizá la compañera de trabajo que sabía todos los chismes fue un poco más memorable o divertida, pero ni tanto. Puede que ese fuera el motivo por el que este libro me resultó tan indiferente, ningún personaje tuvo ese toque encantador que esperaba encontrar como en una película navideña de Hallmark.
El misterio estuvo bien, no sabía quién sería responsable y de golpe fue muy evidente. Al hacer memoria hizo sentido por algunas actitudes que dejé pasar, sí que fue algo dramático, me recordó al final de Entre navajas y cuchillos, pero en el buen sentido.
Crimen descatalogado es un cozy mystery centrado en un pueblo pequeño y un bibliotecario con un peculiar gato. Tuvo el tono que se podría esperar, aunque ningún personaje resultó especialmente memoriable o divertido, el misterio estuvo bien armado e interesante.
Charlie trabaja en una biblioteca y le alquila un cuarto a un universitario, lo que lo ayuda a no sentirse tan solo ahora que es viudo y sus hijos tienen su propia vida. Cuando un famoso escritor de novela negra vaya de visita al pequeño pueblo y a los pocos días aparezca muerto, Charlie se verá inmerso en una red de mentiras.
Charlie tiene cincuenta años, quizá un poco más, y llevaba una vida tranquila en Athena, Misisipi, su pueblo natal. Era un personaje tranquilo, que en muchos casos su actitud parecía la de un abuelito más que un hombre de 50 años. Tengo que admitir que se me hizo simpático, pero no memorable, ni siquiera encantador. De hecho, la única característica que tenía era que tenía un gato Maine Coon llamado Diesel, que básicamente es un gato gigante y era astuto.
Los demás personajes estaban bien, pero la verdad es que ninguno me produjo ninguna emoción particular, se me hicieron poco memorables. Quizá la compañera de trabajo que sabía todos los chismes fue un poco más memorable o divertida, pero ni tanto. Puede que ese fuera el motivo por el que este libro me resultó tan indiferente, ningún personaje tuvo ese toque encantador que esperaba encontrar como en una película navideña de Hallmark.
El misterio estuvo bien, no sabía quién sería responsable y de golpe fue muy evidente. Al hacer memoria hizo sentido por algunas actitudes que dejé pasar, sí que fue algo dramático, me recordó al final de Entre navajas y cuchillos, pero en el buen sentido.
Crimen descatalogado es un cozy mystery centrado en un pueblo pequeño y un bibliotecario con un peculiar gato. Tuvo el tono que se podría esperar, aunque ningún personaje resultó especialmente memoriable o divertido, el misterio estuvo bien armado e interesante.
September 16, 2025
Para mis gustos y preferencias leer este libro fue una tortura, sufrí mucho porque estaba aburrida, nunca me interesó lo que estaba pasando. Como que verdaderamente no me importaba nada. Por lo cual no hice click con la historia, ni personajes (salvo por el gato). Maybe no es el libro y soy yo que no prefiero estos generos, quiero pensarlo asi pero en realidad yo pienso que podia haber sido un mejor libro, idk 😭. La verdad que no hubo giros inesperados al igual que o sea el final fue bien sin sentido como que ok y que importa esta información!?? Anyways… no me interesa volver a leer nada parecido JAJAJAJAJA.
Lo unico cute: Diesel el gatito superdotado, LOL.
KEYWORDS:
🐈 Cat
🐈 Library
🐈 Murder
🐈 Cozy Mystery
¿Lo recomiendo?NOPE, esto fue agonía para mi.
Lo unico cute: Diesel el gatito superdotado, LOL.
KEYWORDS:
🐈 Cat
🐈 Library
🐈 Murder
🐈 Cozy Mystery
¿Lo recomiendo?NOPE, esto fue agonía para mi.
August 3, 2016
I really wanted to like this book. After falling in love with Sofie Kelly's superlative Magical Cats series, I've been looking for other cat mysteries to fill the gap once I catch up to the MC release schedule.
Unfortunately, despite a promising premise (widower librarian in small-town Mississippi, big lovable cat companion, a famous author murdered), Murder Past Due just fell really flat for me. The characters all felt more like caricatures than fleshed out individuals; the depiction of Justin, Charlie's young boarder with a mysterious connection to the murdered author, in particular, grated on my nerves. The repeated descriptions of how child-like and "young" he seemed for 18 were a bit weird, after a while. He just seemed incredibly fragile, bordering on intellectually incapacitated. The character read a lot more like a 10-year old than a freshman in college, rebelling against his parents for the first time.
The portrayal of Charlie's housekeeper, Azalea, also really made me uncomfortable. She read like such a mammy archetype that, juxtaposed with the awkward, box-checking nods to racial sensitivity (in the form of acknowledging that a black female police officer in Mississippi may have a "tough time"), the narrative tone felt incredibly confused in terms of text vs. subtext.
Crappy, hollow, stereotypical supporting characters are one thing, but Charlie himself never quite managed to ascend to likability, either, and when you add that to the total lack of effective pacing and flaccid stabs at tension-building, you don't have much. I had to trudge through the last fifty or so pages, which were so spectacularly boring. The memorial service and reading of the will were dragged out to the point of yawns, when the book should have really been ramping up for the "big reveal" (such as it was, it was neither surprising, nor exciting). I never felt like there was any danger at any point in this book. Just Charlie methodically sorting through files, making guesses, talking to people in perfectly normal tones of voice.
Then there were the plot holes, big and small. I'll point out just a few:
The final nail in the coffin of this book: simply not enough of Diesel. He was so charming and I felt like there were nods to his ability to understand "more" than you'd expect, but he never found any clues or did anything, really, other than comfort shrinking violet Justin and get excited to go outside. I might give #2 a try, but if none of this stuff gets resolved in the follow-up, I won't be bothering with a third attempt.
Unfortunately, despite a promising premise (widower librarian in small-town Mississippi, big lovable cat companion, a famous author murdered), Murder Past Due just fell really flat for me. The characters all felt more like caricatures than fleshed out individuals; the depiction of Justin, Charlie's young boarder with a mysterious connection to the murdered author, in particular, grated on my nerves. The repeated descriptions of how child-like and "young" he seemed for 18 were a bit weird, after a while. He just seemed incredibly fragile, bordering on intellectually incapacitated. The character read a lot more like a 10-year old than a freshman in college, rebelling against his parents for the first time.
The portrayal of Charlie's housekeeper, Azalea, also really made me uncomfortable. She read like such a mammy archetype that, juxtaposed with the awkward, box-checking nods to racial sensitivity (in the form of acknowledging that a black female police officer in Mississippi may have a "tough time"), the narrative tone felt incredibly confused in terms of text vs. subtext.
Crappy, hollow, stereotypical supporting characters are one thing, but Charlie himself never quite managed to ascend to likability, either, and when you add that to the total lack of effective pacing and flaccid stabs at tension-building, you don't have much. I had to trudge through the last fifty or so pages, which were so spectacularly boring. The memorial service and reading of the will were dragged out to the point of yawns, when the book should have really been ramping up for the "big reveal" (such as it was, it was neither surprising, nor exciting). I never felt like there was any danger at any point in this book. Just Charlie methodically sorting through files, making guesses, talking to people in perfectly normal tones of voice.
Then there were the plot holes, big and small. I'll point out just a few:
The final nail in the coffin of this book: simply not enough of Diesel. He was so charming and I felt like there were nods to his ability to understand "more" than you'd expect, but he never found any clues or did anything, really, other than comfort shrinking violet Justin and get excited to go outside. I might give #2 a try, but if none of this stuff gets resolved in the follow-up, I won't be bothering with a third attempt.
November 12, 2015
Murder Past Due is a reasonably fun but unremarkable cosy mystery. The main draws would be the cat, Diesel, who is a main character, and the fact that it’s set partially in a library. But the cat isn’t the detective and isn’t the main character, and the library is just where the main character works, so it’s not that niche. I didn’t find any of the characters or their relationships particularly compelling, though the small-town USA atmosphere was kind of interesting — I kept being surprised when there were computers and email, because it seemed more old-fashioned than that in terms of the way people related. More Agatha Christie than Val McDermid et al.
I was not, however, surprised by the resolution of the mystery.
Overall, this was fun brain candy, but I’m in no hurry to read more of the series, and I wouldn’t particularly recommend it unless you’re a connoisseur of cosy mysteries.
Originally posted here.
I was not, however, surprised by the resolution of the mystery.
Overall, this was fun brain candy, but I’m in no hurry to read more of the series, and I wouldn’t particularly recommend it unless you’re a connoisseur of cosy mysteries.
Originally posted here.
June 18, 2017
I've been waiting for awhile to finally read this and I'm so glad I did, actually thanks to a book club I'm in. This book definitely didn't disappoint. I just love Charlie and his cat Diesel, such a great team. Diesel is probably the most interactive cat of any series I've read so far. He doesn't really help with the mystery but I love how he senses when people need him. The mystery had my interest from the get go, the twists had me definitely not sure who the killer was, although I did guess another person who did something else. I will definitely be continuing this series!
August 5, 2015
An easy, light read. I really enjoyed this, and I look forward to the rest of the series. It was a simply written murder mystery, set in a small town, with the typical crowd of suspects as you constantly ask yourself, "Whodunit??" I enjoyed Diesel's presence as a character; he garnered so much respect within the story he may as well have been a human!
May 10, 2020
Was sucked in from the very first page and it held my interest right to the very last page!
I thought I knew who it was from the half way point - and still had them picked right up until the arrested the murderer - who wasn’t on my radar!
Great book
I thought I knew who it was from the half way point - and still had them picked right up until the arrested the murderer - who wasn’t on my radar!
Great book
October 21, 2025
Esta es una novela entretenida, muy light y corta. En alguna ocasión se me ha hecho algo lenta, al principio he dudado algo con quien es el asesino de Godfrey, pero al final, he acertado. Toda la trama es algo simple y tanto los motivos para el asesinato como quién es el asesino me han parecido predecibles.
Charlie y Melba han sido los personajes humanos que más me han gustado, aunque Charlie es demasiado confiado y un poco metomentodo y Melba es demasiado cotilla.
Pero en mi opinión, el protagonista indiscutible de esta novela es Diesel, un gato Main Coon con mucha personalidad. Le subo la nota a 3 estrellas sólo por Diesel.
Charlie y Melba han sido los personajes humanos que más me han gustado, aunque Charlie es demasiado confiado y un poco metomentodo y Melba es demasiado cotilla.
Pero en mi opinión, el protagonista indiscutible de esta novela es Diesel, un gato Main Coon con mucha personalidad. Le subo la nota a 3 estrellas sólo por Diesel.
May 31, 2025
Ho dato tre stelle per eccesso, ma forse due sarebbero state più che sufficienti.
Libro un po’ piatto, anche se alla fin fine godibile. Trama e personaggi avrebbero potuto essere più approfonditi, ispessiti e resi più coinvolgenti.
In breve: Charlie, ex libraio, collabora con la biblioteca universitaria della sua città, catalogando libri e testi antichi. Un ex compagno di college, ora scrittore famoso, in città per la presentazione del suo ultimo libro, lo contatta per annunciargli una donazione: tutti i suoi manoscritti e i relativi documenti verranno donati alla biblioteca. Ma prima che ciò avvenga, l’uomo viene ucciso. I documenti annunciati pervengono comunque alla biblioteca e Charlie inizia a studiarli ma incappa subito in un qualcosa di sconvolgente: sembra che i libri in vetta alle classifiche scritti dal famoso autore siano in realtà opera di un’altra persona a lui vincolata da un contratto... che però sparisce. Iniziano a venir fuori sconcertanti verità, i segreti non sono più tali e altre persone rischiano di essere coinvolte irrimediabilmente.
La soluzione è piuttosto ovvia, elementare come il resto del romanzo, nonostante un piccolo colpo di scena finale.
Ma il vero protagonista è un gatto, un Maine Coon favoloso e coccolone che viene portato in giro con tanto di pettorina e guinzaglio ed è amato da tutti (più o meno!); il bello è che non miagola, bensì “cinguetta”, a dispetto della sua stazza. Adoro!
Libro un po’ piatto, anche se alla fin fine godibile. Trama e personaggi avrebbero potuto essere più approfonditi, ispessiti e resi più coinvolgenti.
In breve: Charlie, ex libraio, collabora con la biblioteca universitaria della sua città, catalogando libri e testi antichi. Un ex compagno di college, ora scrittore famoso, in città per la presentazione del suo ultimo libro, lo contatta per annunciargli una donazione: tutti i suoi manoscritti e i relativi documenti verranno donati alla biblioteca. Ma prima che ciò avvenga, l’uomo viene ucciso. I documenti annunciati pervengono comunque alla biblioteca e Charlie inizia a studiarli ma incappa subito in un qualcosa di sconvolgente: sembra che i libri in vetta alle classifiche scritti dal famoso autore siano in realtà opera di un’altra persona a lui vincolata da un contratto... che però sparisce. Iniziano a venir fuori sconcertanti verità, i segreti non sono più tali e altre persone rischiano di essere coinvolte irrimediabilmente.
La soluzione è piuttosto ovvia, elementare come il resto del romanzo, nonostante un piccolo colpo di scena finale.
Ma il vero protagonista è un gatto, un Maine Coon favoloso e coccolone che viene portato in giro con tanto di pettorina e guinzaglio ed è amato da tutti (più o meno!); il bello è che non miagola, bensì “cinguetta”, a dispetto della sua stazza. Adoro!
January 12, 2021
Murder past due by Miranda James is the first book in the Cat in the Stacks mystery series. A famous author returns to his hometown to meet a son that he had not known about only to be murdered. The book introduces us to librarian Charlie Harris and his Maine coon cat Diesel. It was a nice introduction to the various characters and an interesting mystery although a bit slow and formal. A typical cozy mystery although unusual as it was solved by the police , with the main character remaining clueless and getting it wrong. Both Charlie and Diesel seemed to play a very small part in solving the mystery.
Enjoyed it more on rereading.
Enjoyed it more on rereading.
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