The Dark Hiss of Magic

The Cat Lady Chronicles #2

by Helen Harper

There will be no pussy-footing around. Not when Kit McCafferty is involved.

When Kit rescues a wealthy witch from the treacherous, monster-filled waters of the River Tweed, she reckons she's completed her fair share of good deeds for the day. But when a second anonymous body is pulled from the same river, Kit is dragged into a mystery as murky as the water itself. The corpse has no identification, no personal possessions and no one who cares. Kit is determined to change that.

At least Thane Barrow, the copper-haired werewolf who sees the world in a similar way to Kit, is happy to also get involved. Together, they navigate Coldstream’s magical streets and mysterious secrets, determined to uncover the truth about John Doe. Alas, it soon becomes clear that his death was no accident. Kit finds herself investigating a complex crime with more than one victim. She will have her claws full if she's going to get to the bottom of what's happened.

One thing is for certain - when death threatens, Kit McCafferty doesn’t back down. She pounces.


The Dark Hiss of Magic is the second book in the Cat Lady Chronicles.

Prepare for an enchanting blend of humour and fur-raising mystery, perfect for readers who love urban fantasy crime with a side of sharp claws and sharper wit.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Mystery, Magic, Shapeshifters, Paranormal, Audiobook

286 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 16, 2025

Reviews

[TJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, but nothing that reaches out and grabs ya.

[Elizabeth]

DNF at 24%

It's not bad but it just doesn't hold my attention.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

This is shaping up to be a pretty fun little KU urban fantasy series. The writing is a step above others you might find on KU, and the cast of eclectic characters seems to be growing nicely with each installment. The cat angle remains a bit silly, but I do love cats, so it isn't too grating.

[Ami · Rating 4 out of 5]

What started as Kit (and Thane) wanted to know more about a deceased John Doe that fell into the River of Tweed, ended up as further search of a murderer who had killed two others - friends of the John Doe. I enjoyed this sophomore book of the new series by Harper.

First of all, THANE WITH TIDDLES *laugh*. Tiddles is an orange kitten that adopted Thane (yes, it is the other way around, for sure). So cute reading about this lone werewolf being attached to a kitten. Then I also liked Kit and Thane friendship - although I think it's temporary since I believe that Thane is made for Kit's love interest, with all the seeds of flirting and Kit has FEELS here and there. Lastly, the investigation in the deaths of the three victims, enjoyed that!

So I am sticking with this series for sure!!

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Source* Kindle Unlimited
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4

*Thoughts*

The Dark Hiss of Magic is the Second installment in author Helen Harper's The Cat Lady Chronicles series. The story is a blend of urban fantasy, cozy mystery, and sharp-witted humor that will captivate fans of the genre. Set in the magical border town of Coldstream, the story follows Kit McCafferty, a fiercely independent protagonist who was once an assassin, with a knack for trouble and a soft spot for cats who are allegedly demon cats.

*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*

https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...

[Jamie Crain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t want to wait

I stumbled across the first book in this series over the weekend. I immediately fell into the story and finished it the day before this book came out. I thoroughly enjoyed this second installment. I love reading a character not in the blush of youth. Kit and the side characters make a great cast. I will be anxiously awaiting the third book. In the meantime, I will go back to Helen Harper’s other series. Somehow I lost track of this author but I enjoy her writing style very much.

[jamlul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun but I definitely enjoyed the first book more. 3.5 to 4✨

[Diane Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really more of a 2.5 star read. The second book in this series lacked the creativity of the first, and was rather boring IMO. Our retired assassin who in the first book was tough and clandestine, comes across as kind of goofy in this one. All her dialogue with Thane was eye rollingly ridiculous. Disappointing.

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, this is how you do ‘middle aged fantasy’. An intelligent main character with confidence in herself and her abilities, not dead below the waist but also not irresistible to every creature within her sphere with non stop sex to prove she still can (I’m looking at you Magical Midlife series). The premise is good, world building really solid as always and an excellent dose of common sense in the solution of a mystery.

Really enjoyable!

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully executed storytelling? Check. Fantastic female main character? Check! Great world building and mystery? Check and check.

Rating: 5⭐️

The Cat Lady Chronicles returns with a fabulously funny and well written book, The Dark Hiss of Magic by Helen Harper.

I fell in love with the fascinating character of Kit McCafferty, retired assassin, now trying to remain low key as a jumper-wearing older neighborhood cat lady, albeit one hiding a very unique trait. She’s a rare cat sith.

The first mystery novel introduced her character, the paranormal town of Coldstream she lives in, and its many characters and supernatural communities that coexist within its boundaries.

But it’s Kit herself that’s so compelling and complex. Kit and her group of cats, that supply a sense of family, comfort, and advise her when mysteries come into her life. From She Without an Ear to He Who Crunches Bird Bones, to He Who Wanders Wide and the others, it’s a feline cast that’s endlessly entertaining and intriguing. Yes, they name themselves.

There’s others too. Thane, a werewolf, with a new demon kitten and neighbor Dave, who I haven’t figured out yet.

Harper keeps us guessing about mainstay characters. Their roles, true identities, and whatever they are really important to Kit in the over arc storyline. And as the various murders and mysteries occur, the investigations roll along, and everyone gets involved, the narrative continues to build into this amazing adventure.

It’s got great dialogue, wild moments, fight sequences, and loads of engaging cats and unusual personalities. And magic.

I wanted the next book immediately. And because I so thoroughly enjoyed this one, will reread it again soon.

Beautifully executed storytelling? Check. Fantastic female main character? Check! Great world building and mystery? Check and check.

Another great book and winner of a series. Check it out now.

COVER DESIGN BY COVERS BY JUAN

The Cat Lady Chronicles:
Waifs And Strays #1
The Dark Hiss of Magic #2
A Skirl of Sorcery #3 - Oct 13,2025

[Dragana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently discovered Helen Harper and have been happily diving into her urban fantasy worlds 🪄📚. While I still have a huge backlog of her books to get through, I always grab her new releases the moment they drop.

The Dark Hiss of Magic is book two in The Cat Lady Chronicles, and it has everything I love about her stories: a strong, capable heroine with unusual skills 💪, a love interest who’s more of a green flag than a red one (bless 🙌❤️), and tons of magical chaos. The romance takes a backseat here, but honestly, I didn’t mind—it’s heavy on the adventure and mayhem, and that’s exactly how I like my urban fantasy served.

The cats? Absolute scene-stealers 🐾😸. The mystery? Solid and fun 🔍. The town? Quirky and alive 🌆. Sure, the plot might lean a bit on the cliché side, but the characters more than make up for it. All in all, Harper turned “crazy cat lady” into something truly awesome.

Rating: 4 stars ⭐

😺 TL;DR: A fun sequel with a badass heroine, magical adventures, and cats that steal the show. Light on romance but big on charm.

[TinaNoir · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this a tick less than the first one it didn't quite have the zing of the first one. But it was still fun.
This one felt like a more conventional bread crumb mystery with Kit and Thane trying to find out a) who a John Doe dead body is they fished out of a murderous river and b) why the person got dead.

So many red herrings and suspects! But there were also many amusing moments. Thane with a kitten! Also in the first book there was the whiff of a hint that Kit might have a future romance with the Alpha of the big wolf pack. This one however makes it plain that Thane is the one that Kit is attracted to a definitively puts the kibosh on the other possible romance (in a very funny scene).

Also introduced an interesting new character, an information broker, that I wouldn't mind seeing again. Realistically -- we will see her again.

Looking forward to the next one.

[Vannessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another absolutely fantastic read in this series. Kit McCafferty is an ex-assassin and cat sith, who is trying to finally live a peaceful life. She has the power to turn into a cat using a real cat's fur in her transformations - I just love this power and wish I could be a cat too!

When a very well-known and wealthy witch falls into the treacherous River Tweed, Kit helps to save him, but unbeknown to her at the time, another person had fallen in the river, but was not so lucky. Kit feels guilty that she couldn't have saved him too, so decides to find out more about this John Doe, so his family could be informed and he could rest in peace.

Unfortunately, Kit ended up opening a huge can of worms and when more bodies turn up, she is determined to find out how these deaths are connected, who murdered them all and why. I just loved all the twists and turns in this plot, making you think the perpetrator was one person, then revealing it wasn't, to then making out it was someone else, all the while hiding the real murderer. I loved it and could hardly put the book down as I was so desperate to know who it was!

I also loved the relationship development between Kit and Thane. There's a definite attraction there and I am hoping that this will develop even further in the next book. And of course all the kitties were a great addition - I just loved the idea of this huge werewolf cuddling up with a tiny kitten!

I received an ARC copy of this book from the author, but this review is my own, honest one! Thank you Helen for yet another fantastic read! Keep 'em coming!

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the premise of these books, and the author tells the story well. The little touches of humor are good too.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the premise of this

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great addition to the series. I do have one thing though. For a former assassin she drops the ball a lot.

[Noone · Rating 3 out of 5]

This seems to be doing more of the same by doing the same but more of it.
So while the first one had a very enjoyable amount of eccentricity, this one went a bit over board with it. Opinions vary wildly about this I expect but it mostly made me cringe instead of laugh.
It's just too much to be a funny lighthearted exaggeration of people not taking themselves too seriously.

The first one felt original in a way I have a hard time putting into words. But this second one was a very rote midlife cozy mystery with none of the originality that made the first one interesting.
It follows the bog standard urban fantasy midlife murder mystery with romantic interest template just with the MC being a little older than usual (I think?).
Now, while writing it down, I am even more annoyed about how incredibly clichéd this book is and how it basically doesn't deepen any of the characters whatsoever. (There are some tiny baby-steps in the romance but that is really it and it would all fit on a single page.)
You could remove this book from the timeline and basically nothing would change. No meaningful discontinuity would be there. At least this is how it seems. There are some seeds that could grow into something significant (pun intended). But this book has very strong episodic vibes that give the impression of a throw-away filler story.

The other part I was a bit sad about was that there is no follow-up on the demon thing whatsoever.
From the ending of the first book I expected the MC to have known all along. I expected her to actually secretly manage demons which take the form of cats in this world. Maybe after she averted a demon threat in secret while being on her assassin job she decided to retire to fully commit to demon management because of her special nature. Maybe her cat shifter nature could even work as an implication that she is part demon in some sense. There are so many options here.
I realizes this is all very specific but it is just meant to show one example of the many exciting trajectories the ending of the first book could have lead to.
But instead we get nothing whatsoever about any of that. It almost seems like the author regretted the cat demon implications and tries to back out of it all entirely.
Judging from this book it really seems like all the summoning in the first book did was actually summon a cat. And thats it. Like it all was just a huge joke. If that was the intent I don't find that very funny tbh.

This all sounds very negative as is usual for me. I still enjoyed reading it. I don't regret reading it and I will read the next one as well. But I came into the second book with much higher expectations, fueled by how enjoyable the first one was, which this book just doesn't live up to.

[Becket Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loves this Cat Lady

So many whimsical and smart choices make this Helen Harper series remarkable. Her delightful main character, Kit is indeed a cat lady (also a cat sith), but in addition, she is, at the ripe “old age” of 41, a retired professional assassin. In this, the second book in the series, Kit and her sometimes partner Thane, a lone werewolf, investigate a couple of accidents involving the River Tweed, which runs through the magical city in which they live. A drowning victim, a drummer of a local band, a fetch from one of the most powerful witch’s coven, a larcenous receptionist—all of these characters play into the unraveling of the mystery, and we are once again treated to several notable characters from the first novel, Trilby, a purveyor of magical goods in the market, Alexander MacTire, the powerful and attractive head of the MacTire werewolf clan, and Dave, Kit’s neighbor, among them, along with her five self-named, live-in moggies and the several strays and feral cats she cares for. The magical, feline-loaded world Helen Harper creates is intricate, complicated, and fun, and these novels are entertaining in the best way. I look forward to reading the next in the series.

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I decided to continue with Kit’s Cat Lady escapades because they’re a romping good time, reminiscent of the writings of Heather G Harris and Kim McDougall.

The beginning is hilarious! Thane comes to Kit to complain about his kitten. Sadly, this feline friend was bestowed the name Tiddles. 😂

Kit and Thane pull a body from a river - still alive, very much a stuck up pretentious… you know where I’m going with this. (Seriously, this character reminded me of Gilderoy Lockhart. What a pompous git.) But the other person in the river wasn’t so lucky. Kit believes that John Doe should be identified, and winds up neck deep in a dangerous investigation.

There’s a bit more banter between Kit and Thane, and a date with an alpha, MacTire. the banter between Kit and Thane was so stupid at times, but very reminiscent of how my partner and I joke around with each other, so I enjoyed it. I have a certain person I’m hoping becomes the love interest so I was disgruntled by the introduction of competition for him.

This was full of so many red herrings. Unlike the first book, I didn’t figure this out until the end.

[L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great series by Harper

If you're already a reader of Helen Harper, you know what to expect: a great story that can draw you in so much that you stop noticing the actual room around you.

If you're new to Harper, this series is a great starting place--you get a relatable interesting (and magically talented) female protagonist who problem solves through smarts, good sense, good help from cool side characters, and a bit of luck, without Sherlock-esque ridiculous deductions that require omniscience.

In this one, we get the return of Kit, Thane, Trilby, MacTire, and Mallory, as well as new people and settings. Harper's skilled world building works to make the town and people of Coldstream both recognizable and intriguingly surprising.

My favorite minor character is the maitre d, who gets only a few lines of conversation with Kit, but that snippet is enough for me to hope he reappears again in the series.

I could write more but why would you keep reading this if you could be reading the book instead?

[TrixieB · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love Kit!

This one was a little flat compared to the first, but I don't think anything CAN compare to book 1.

I just don't like Thane. His opening scene was awesome, but that revolved around a cat so he got a boost there. (Lots more of Dave, and he does not disappoint!)

We did not get enough of the cats. I think they need their own novella.

Trilby continues to be an enigma and a star.

The mystery is GOOD! At 82% I thought "oh wow I can't believe I didn't see that! Of course that's who did it." And I was WRONG. *gasp*. People are not what you first think, or even what you think second.

I ship Mallory and Kit, or Mallory and MacTire. (Mallory deserves love!)

My dream ship is Kit and MacTire's beta Samantha. They could go on all sorts of killing sprees.

I'm fascinated by all of the threads left hanging for us to figure out.

As always it's well worth it to read Helen Harper's books the second they come out. That leaves plenty of time to moan to your loved ones about how long you have to wait for the next installment. 😼

[Buddhangela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better than Book 1!

I admit I had a hard time getting into book one of this series, and since I’d never read Helen Harper, I almost stopped after a few pages as I usually do with books that don’t grab me and pull me in. Something had my attention though, because I kept reading and after a few chapters, I was hooked. So, if liked book one, you’ll *love* this one. (If you haven’t read the first one, I think this will stand alone okay, though reading the first will give you better understanding of the characters.) In this book, you get to know the characters better (some from book one, plus some great new folks), making them even more interesting and fun. There are so many twists to the mystery Kit and Thane work together, it didn’t take long for me to finish the story. And if you were hoping for a romance between Kit and Thane, there are hints at a future romance between those two. I can’t wait for book three.

[Spinneretta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

When Kit and her werewolf friend Thane fish a witch out of the River Tweed, she finds herself investigating the death of another witch who died in the river a short distance away.

With Thane's help, and the assistance of a couple of her cat companions, Kit dives into a conspiracy that ends up with a much higher body count.

We're back in the world of the cat sith, only without the twist from book one. It's a fast paced murder mystery, and decently twisty in its execution.

There's a hint of romance for Kit, and some enjoyable cameos from characters we met in book one, though only Thane gets a lot of time on page.

Harper's world is an inventive one, and I enjoy the rich folkloric basis for it. Kit is a very unusual person, and it's entertaining to see how she uses her gift.

This is great read for paranormal mystery lovers, and for fans of Scottish/British fairies and folklore. If you've enjoyed Harper's other works, you will love this series.

[CitrusJam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3 stars

I didn't like this one quite as much as 'Waifs and Strays': there wasn't enough cat time, for one, and the reasons for Kit starting yet another investigation were even more far fetched that in the first installment. Truly, it was a Famous Five level of excuse.

Also I got over the will-they-won't-they trope around 25 years ago while watching X-Files, so unfortunately Kit and Thane's little game left me cold.

Still, the mystery itself was well handled and the ending satisfying. Overall it was an entertaining read, although I don't think I'll come back for the 3rd book.


Side note: is the absence of spiciness the only parameter needed for books to be marketed as YA? I would have thought that the middle-aged protagonists, the language and sexual innuendos, the high number of deaths (some of them pretty grisly), and the offscreen torture would have put this squarely into Adult territory, but apparently not...?

[Emma Bain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kit the Cat lady is back with another mystery to investigate with the help of her red haired wolf shifter and her litter of kitties. Two bodies go into the murky beastie filled depths of the river Tweed, when they come out one is alive and one is dead. Who is the mystery man? How did he end up in the river and who put him there? A twisty plot unfolds alongside some romance and intreague surrounding new characters and those we have met before. The adoreable little demon kitten from book one has his owner twisted around their little paw and is a delight in this book. Another solid outing from Helen, looking forward to where the next one leads....and look out at the end for a note detailing the real lif inspiration for this story I found it interesting!

[Narelle Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely loving this particular character and her adventures. Kit, past assassin and current cat lady, is back and still getting involved in her community's affairs, which means a little bit of saving people, a little bit of stopping the villains and a whole lot of time spent with Thane, the red-headed werewolf who seems to maybe be just right for her. (That's a future Kit's problem or solution). This series is just really good fun - love the ridiculousness of Quentin Hightower - I can just see his pompousness walking down the street. The surrounding cast of characters is continuing to be super - really love Trilby. There is nothing not to enjoy about book two of The Cat Lady Chronicles - great world to escape into and ignore everything else.

[Sara Oxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has the magic to turn this dog loving lady into an ailurophile. (I mean it could be that the dog has a taste for shoes and books, but I think it maybe the magic encased within). I feel that with this second story in the series, we have more world building completed so we get to grips with some of the characters better, getting to see different sides of people that maybe we have simply assumed they are a fashion victim, maybe they are so much more. But simply seeing a certain lone wolf come out of his copper shell more, made me shine and feel like she who likes sunbeams on a warm sunny day. There is action and drama a plenty in this story, but most of all there is great writing and characters you can’t help but fall in love with.

[Rick Boisclair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kit is back and better than ever. Unfortunately, so are a few dead bodies. After saving an ungrateful witch from drowning in the river, Kit sees another body that no one seems to care about and she has to find out more. With her new friend Thane and her demon cats she delves into a mystery which gets deeper with each body found… and unfortunately there are a few. Coldstream has no idea of her past, cares not about her present and gives not a whit of her future but she still has some wrongs to right whether they like it or not. And Thane has such a yummy tush she needs some diversion. Helen Harper is a master of the genre and every series is better than the last, at least until you start recreating and you realize they are all fantastic.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel this book was lacking compared to the first one. I’d rate it 3/5, if not for the joy the first book in the series brought me.

📍We don’t get enough cats. Seriously. They were the main attraction in the first book, but here they’re basically just lurking in the background the whole time.

📍The story itself is okay-ish, but it’s your typical murder mystery - and we already have thousands of those. The clue was painfully obvious. In fact, the same wording was repeated several times. The only thing missing was a big red arrow pointing right at it.

📍The pacing felt a bit off too.

😸 I still enjoyed the world the author created, and I’ll read the next book - but I hope Helen Harper spends a bit more time on it, so that it lives up to the first one 😽

[Saana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again, nice, easy read. My hunch about Thane becoming the Kit's (MC) love-interest seems to be correct. For those looking for loads of romance and spice, look somewhere else. But for readers interested in a slightly different spin of paranormal mystery books, this might be worthwhile. Definitely meant for cat persons, considering the MC's magical ability. I, myself, am more a dog person.

My biggest gripes are actually about the witch character, who acts like some kind of deux ex machina, conveniently popping in to tell Kit and Thane what to do and where to go. I find the whole concept a bit sloppy and lazy, and would rather have Kit and Thane do the work instead of some mystical witch give them the clues.