Crow River Justice

by Colleen Stewart

William Hawkins, a crusty criminal lawyer, refuses to let go of his humanity and learn to “cat” after his murder and reincarnation as a feral kitten. His human body is missing, and he becomes the prime suspect in his own murder.

As a feral kitten, he must connect three murders to fast cars, an open pit mine, meth dealers, coyotes, and the death of a large feral clowder.

Can humans and animals really work together to clean up Crow River and bring down the kingpin that controls the local crime and drug scene?

Genres: Mystery

318 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 23, 2024

About the author

What drives me? Wishing I could be reincarnated as my own cat. Beyond that are my cats, wild animals, and lifelong dream of writing fiction.

I worked briefly in criminal law and then opened a litigation firm specializing in a different area. My thirty-three-year career as a lawyer reflects the reality of my own struggle to achieve fairness, working within the confines of justice and mercy while standing against the abuse of power. I had fun recovering from some sloppy trial strategies, but I was quick at the draw with my objections and sought real value in mediation.

Thank goodness I retired. I finally got to write for fun, following the adage: write what you know.

Now, I am writing mysteries that draw from the personalities of my two Siberian cats, Buddy and Floosy. You will meet my feral friends, the crusty Karl, the singing Socks, and the beautiful Queen Charlotte. The foxes (one with mange), the deer sisters, the bear (Walter), the porcupine, the evil Daryl the feral, the mice, and in book 2, Sergeant Mercy, the retired Military pup. The animal characters participate in some form or another to solve crimes, sometimes committed by animals and humans.

All of the crime-fighting animals I write about live on and around my retirement home - a log home in rural Eastern Ontario. I like fishing.

Reviews

[Kathy Farrell]

Shortly into this novel events take a quirky turn. Dare I say - fantasy meets Perry Mason. Once I settled into the new perspective, I came to enjoy the characters and their relationships. In addition to characters that are vividly portrayed, this novel follows a tight plot rising to a rousing courtroom scene. All is wrapped up in the end leaving the reader to question the true meaning of justice and from whose perspective that meaning drawn. Well written dialogue and some amusing word choices make this novel a light read with well placed chuckles. Looking forward to reading the next novel in this series.

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read - new take on mysteries!

Can animals talk to each other? Can they work together? In this story they can and do. Reincarnation, murder, a traveling meth lab and a lawyer are part of the book. This is a different take on the traditional murder mystery, one that makes you use your imagination. I enjoyed reading Crow River Justice, and I recommend it. I received a copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway.

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and StoryGraph for the giveaway.
This was an enjoyable read and definitely a new twist on detective work. A nice escape from the reality of human detectives.

[Natalie Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't the kind (genre) of book I would usually read and I started reading it out of curiosity after meeting the author by chance. I was so pleasantly surprised! I found myself chuckling, laughing out loud and even got a little teary towards the end. I thoroughly enjoyed it and now find myself looking to reading this author's next book. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for something light hearted and humorous with a little mystery. ❤️

[Karen Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read. Intrigued to the last page. Very compelling the perspectives of how humans and animals see each other. Absolutely loved it. Great murder mystery 👌
I've just started book 2 in the Crow River series : Crow River Mercy. It is not disappointing at all even better. Hard to put down but with a busy life I need my sleep 😉

[Lauren Storey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that will truly satisfy and entertain your need for whimsy with intrigue...This book will keep you entranced. Humans , Pets , and wildlife appreciated in class struggles and rules for both intertwining.

[Dorrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read!!