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Urban Tails Pet Shop #5
A Side Dish of Death
When a celebrity chef is murdered, Shell McMillan has to cook up a plan to trap the killer of a man for all seasonings . . .
With adopt-a-cat month in full swing in Fox Hollow, pet shop owner Shell McMillan decides that hosting a night of murder mystery dinner theater will be a fun way to raise funds for the cause. But she didn’t realize that the celebrity chef she’d hired for the event would turn out to be a tyrannical snob, or that her scoundrel of an ex-fiancé would turn up with his own shady agenda. Still, the show must go on, and as the lighthearted plot on-stage unfolds, the scene off-stage turns decidedly darker when the chef is found murdered.
Rather than question an entire roomful of possible suspects, Shell determines that looking into the victim’s past will lead her to the culprit more quickly. What she finds is that the chef had left behind a disreputable past and a trail of disgruntled people, including a long string of women he’d wronged and a host of others who may have been out for revenge. But as Shell closes in on the killer, the killer is closing in on her. And she’s discovering that while too many cooks can spoil the broth, being a murderer’s next target can really ruin your appetite . . .
Praise for the books of T. C. LoTempio, winner of the Firebird Award for Best Cozy
“If you love cozy mystery books with cats, great characters, yummy food descriptions, and twisty mysteries, you will love A Purr Before Dying!” —Christy’s Cozy Corners
“A fabulous addition to the fun cozy mystery series. It can be read on its own but it is so much better if you have read them in order. T. C. LoTempio creates a story that you won't want to put down.” —Books A Plenty Book Reviews
“I hope we get more adventures and mysteries with Nora and Nick. There’s so much intrigue in each book with some hints at a potential romance. I know I’m in for hours of enjoyment when I see a new Nick and Nora book out.” —Socrates’ Book Reviews
“A Purr Before Dying was so entertaining. I hope this series continues for a long time as these characters are some of my favorites.” —Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book
About the
T. C. LoTempio is the award-winning, nationally bestselling author of the Nick and Nora Mysteries, the Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries, and the Cat Rescue Mysteries. For more information, check out her and her cat Rocco’s blog at www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com and visit her website at www.tclotempio.net.
With adopt-a-cat month in full swing in Fox Hollow, pet shop owner Shell McMillan decides that hosting a night of murder mystery dinner theater will be a fun way to raise funds for the cause. But she didn’t realize that the celebrity chef she’d hired for the event would turn out to be a tyrannical snob, or that her scoundrel of an ex-fiancé would turn up with his own shady agenda. Still, the show must go on, and as the lighthearted plot on-stage unfolds, the scene off-stage turns decidedly darker when the chef is found murdered.
Rather than question an entire roomful of possible suspects, Shell determines that looking into the victim’s past will lead her to the culprit more quickly. What she finds is that the chef had left behind a disreputable past and a trail of disgruntled people, including a long string of women he’d wronged and a host of others who may have been out for revenge. But as Shell closes in on the killer, the killer is closing in on her. And she’s discovering that while too many cooks can spoil the broth, being a murderer’s next target can really ruin your appetite . . .
Praise for the books of T. C. LoTempio, winner of the Firebird Award for Best Cozy
“If you love cozy mystery books with cats, great characters, yummy food descriptions, and twisty mysteries, you will love A Purr Before Dying!” —Christy’s Cozy Corners
“A fabulous addition to the fun cozy mystery series. It can be read on its own but it is so much better if you have read them in order. T. C. LoTempio creates a story that you won't want to put down.” —Books A Plenty Book Reviews
“I hope we get more adventures and mysteries with Nora and Nick. There’s so much intrigue in each book with some hints at a potential romance. I know I’m in for hours of enjoyment when I see a new Nick and Nora book out.” —Socrates’ Book Reviews
“A Purr Before Dying was so entertaining. I hope this series continues for a long time as these characters are some of my favorites.” —Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book
About the
T. C. LoTempio is the award-winning, nationally bestselling author of the Nick and Nora Mysteries, the Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries, and the Cat Rescue Mysteries. For more information, check out her and her cat Rocco’s blog at www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com and visit her website at www.tclotempio.net.
- GenresCozy MysteryMystery
257 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 25, 2025
About the author
T.C. LoTempio
26 books759 followersBorn in New York City, T. C. LoTempio is the national bestselling author of Meow If It’s Murder, the first in the Nick and Nora Mystery series.
She has been a staff reporter at the young adult magazine Susabella Passengers and Friends for more than a decade.
While Toni LoTempio does not commit – or solve – murders in real life, she has no trouble doing it on paper.
Her lifelong love of mysteries began early on when she was introduced to her first Nancy Drew mystery at age 10 – The Secret in the Old Attic. She lists among her favorite mystery/suspense writers Erle Stanley Gardner, Mary Higgins Clark and James Patterson, as well as EJ Copperman, Steve Hockensmith, Victoria Laurie, Ali Brandon, Rita Mae Brown, Miranda James and Sofie Kelly to name only a few!
Toni is also passionate about her love for animals, as demonstrated with her four cats: Trixie, Princess, Maxx and, of course, ROCCO, who not only provided the inspiration for the character of Nick the cat in the Nick and Nora mystery series, but who also writes his own blog and does charity work for Nathan Fillion’s charity, Kids Need to Read!
Toni’s also devoted to miniseries like The Thorn Birds, Dancing with the Stars, reruns of Murder She Wrote and Castle (of course!).
She (and ROCCO, albeit he’s uncredited) pen the Nick and Nora mystery series from Berkley Prime Crime.
She, Rocco and company make their home in Clifton, New Jersey, just twenty minutes from the Big Apple – New York
She has been a staff reporter at the young adult magazine Susabella Passengers and Friends for more than a decade.
While Toni LoTempio does not commit – or solve – murders in real life, she has no trouble doing it on paper.
Her lifelong love of mysteries began early on when she was introduced to her first Nancy Drew mystery at age 10 – The Secret in the Old Attic. She lists among her favorite mystery/suspense writers Erle Stanley Gardner, Mary Higgins Clark and James Patterson, as well as EJ Copperman, Steve Hockensmith, Victoria Laurie, Ali Brandon, Rita Mae Brown, Miranda James and Sofie Kelly to name only a few!
Toni is also passionate about her love for animals, as demonstrated with her four cats: Trixie, Princess, Maxx and, of course, ROCCO, who not only provided the inspiration for the character of Nick the cat in the Nick and Nora mystery series, but who also writes his own blog and does charity work for Nathan Fillion’s charity, Kids Need to Read!
Toni’s also devoted to miniseries like The Thorn Birds, Dancing with the Stars, reruns of Murder She Wrote and Castle (of course!).
She (and ROCCO, albeit he’s uncredited) pen the Nick and Nora mystery series from Berkley Prime Crime.
She, Rocco and company make their home in Clifton, New Jersey, just twenty minutes from the Big Apple – New York
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
March 8, 2025
Dollycas’s Thoughts
It was a dark and stormy night as residents of Fox Hollow gathered for a murder mystery dinner theater fundraiser for Adopt-a-Cat month at the Fox Hollow Inn. With a hurricane brewing outside and the roads flooding most of the ticket holders arrive but they may be spending more time at the inn than they planned. Shell’s mother Clarissa is in charge of the event and “pulled out all the stops” to bring in Chef Reynaldo Venery from the popular cable show Culinary Surprise to be in charge of the meal. He was not popular with the staff or anyone else at the inn for that matter. Shell had her own surprise when her ex-fiancé Patrick arrived at the event after receiving an invitation from her mother but that wasn’t the only reason he was there.
When the actors for the mystery theater part of the night are kept away due to the storm, Shell jumps in and finds guests ready to step into the roles. As the show plays in the dining room a real murder has been uncovered in a storage room. Chef Reynaldo Venery is dead. While the storm rages on Josh calls in reinforcements but Shell is already on the case and finds out the chef has left plenty of wronged, disgruntled, and unhappy people in his wake. She just needs to find out if any are stuck with everyone at the inn and try to stay one step ahead of them. She does not want to be the killer’s next target.
I love how cats were the focus of the event and that Purrday, Princess Fuzzypants, and Kahlua, were its ambassadors along with a visiting Ragdoll cat, Serendipity. There was also an adoption room with more cats including a little escape artist, the feisty Dahlia, who ended up having a pretty important role. Purrday and Princess Fuzzypants had their moments of heroism too.
In addition, to the wonderful felines, our favorites are back although they are all pretty busy trying to track down the killer. Shell’s ex-fiancé Patrick showing up added some drama and humor. The weather turned this into a closed-room mystery. The killer had to be at the inn. While Josh was working to follow the evidence Shell focused on researching the chef and potential suspects online. I was surprised by how much she found out and that during a hurricane didn’t crash the wi-fi. I had a suspect list of my own but someone was on my radar from the start, I just needed more backstory. So when the clues started to click and the showdown began I was thrilled that I was right. I was also happy with how the takedown went and how in the end all my questions were answered.
I did have one thing that gave me pause and just pestered me to the end. Phones were taken away from 2 characters and weren’t returned within the story but the phones were being used in later chapters. I am sure this was an editing error in the advance copies and hope it was corrected in the final book.
A Side Dish of Death was a charming cozy mystery filled with delightful cats and their people and friends. While I enjoy catching up with the humans in these stories the cats really do steal the show. Clarissa is already thinking about her next project and you know she believes wherever Shell and Gary are “the bodies naturally follow”. I am excited to see what these characters get into next.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Beyond the Page Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
It was a dark and stormy night as residents of Fox Hollow gathered for a murder mystery dinner theater fundraiser for Adopt-a-Cat month at the Fox Hollow Inn. With a hurricane brewing outside and the roads flooding most of the ticket holders arrive but they may be spending more time at the inn than they planned. Shell’s mother Clarissa is in charge of the event and “pulled out all the stops” to bring in Chef Reynaldo Venery from the popular cable show Culinary Surprise to be in charge of the meal. He was not popular with the staff or anyone else at the inn for that matter. Shell had her own surprise when her ex-fiancé Patrick arrived at the event after receiving an invitation from her mother but that wasn’t the only reason he was there.
When the actors for the mystery theater part of the night are kept away due to the storm, Shell jumps in and finds guests ready to step into the roles. As the show plays in the dining room a real murder has been uncovered in a storage room. Chef Reynaldo Venery is dead. While the storm rages on Josh calls in reinforcements but Shell is already on the case and finds out the chef has left plenty of wronged, disgruntled, and unhappy people in his wake. She just needs to find out if any are stuck with everyone at the inn and try to stay one step ahead of them. She does not want to be the killer’s next target.
I love how cats were the focus of the event and that Purrday, Princess Fuzzypants, and Kahlua, were its ambassadors along with a visiting Ragdoll cat, Serendipity. There was also an adoption room with more cats including a little escape artist, the feisty Dahlia, who ended up having a pretty important role. Purrday and Princess Fuzzypants had their moments of heroism too.
In addition, to the wonderful felines, our favorites are back although they are all pretty busy trying to track down the killer. Shell’s ex-fiancé Patrick showing up added some drama and humor. The weather turned this into a closed-room mystery. The killer had to be at the inn. While Josh was working to follow the evidence Shell focused on researching the chef and potential suspects online. I was surprised by how much she found out and that during a hurricane didn’t crash the wi-fi. I had a suspect list of my own but someone was on my radar from the start, I just needed more backstory. So when the clues started to click and the showdown began I was thrilled that I was right. I was also happy with how the takedown went and how in the end all my questions were answered.
I did have one thing that gave me pause and just pestered me to the end. Phones were taken away from 2 characters and weren’t returned within the story but the phones were being used in later chapters. I am sure this was an editing error in the advance copies and hope it was corrected in the final book.
A Side Dish of Death was a charming cozy mystery filled with delightful cats and their people and friends. While I enjoy catching up with the humans in these stories the cats really do steal the show. Clarissa is already thinking about her next project and you know she believes wherever Shell and Gary are “the bodies naturally follow”. I am excited to see what these characters get into next.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Beyond the Page Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
April 27, 2025
This was a fun cozy mystery. The fund raiser of a murder mystery dinner theater was an entertaining setting for a story. The cats that are at the cat adoption event are adorable. The victim was not a likable character, there isn’t a shortage of suspects, and there are plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing. The protagonist is a likable smart character. I recommend that his book to animal cozy mystery fans.
February 12, 2025
After pet shop owner Shell McMillan's mother Clarrisa’s first foray into fundraising for the Fox Hollow local animal shelter was very successful, she has chosen a murder mystery dinner for her next extravaganza! With celebrity chef Reynaldo Venery hired to cater the event, tickets have been extremely popular and have become the main topic of conversation in town.
A dangerous storm is brewing which threatens the whole event at the Fox Hollow Inn, but after a body is discovered it becomes a very good reason for Shell's boyfriend, and local detective, Josh Bloodgood, to forbid anyone from leaving without mentioning the word murder! As Shell looks into the victim’s life, while trying to stay under the radar, she discovers a history which is linked to many of those trapped in the hotel all of whom had good reason to become a killer.
Book 5 of TC LoTempio's Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries series is another great read. Bad weather, an unpleasant victim, and secrets going back decades all come together to provide clues, red herrings, and some very plausible potential killers. My only grumble is that there were very few Shell and Josh scenes. This is a fun read which I completed in two sittings.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Beyond the Page, but the opinions expressed are my own. This is a good read with no spoilers, so you can jump right in!
A dangerous storm is brewing which threatens the whole event at the Fox Hollow Inn, but after a body is discovered it becomes a very good reason for Shell's boyfriend, and local detective, Josh Bloodgood, to forbid anyone from leaving without mentioning the word murder! As Shell looks into the victim’s life, while trying to stay under the radar, she discovers a history which is linked to many of those trapped in the hotel all of whom had good reason to become a killer.
Book 5 of TC LoTempio's Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries series is another great read. Bad weather, an unpleasant victim, and secrets going back decades all come together to provide clues, red herrings, and some very plausible potential killers. My only grumble is that there were very few Shell and Josh scenes. This is a fun read which I completed in two sittings.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Beyond the Page, but the opinions expressed are my own. This is a good read with no spoilers, so you can jump right in!
February 15, 2025
Another enjoyable read in this book. Shell is helping to run a charity murder mystery dinner with her mom when a celebrity chef and her ex finance are causing problems for her. I liked the mystery, I did figure out the who fairly quickly but not the why. But when it call came together this mystery was really solid, made sense, and was wrapped up in a very interesting way. My main tribe with this addition is we didn’t get enough Gary or Josh. I really like Gary as her friend and Josh is a solid boyfriend but there wasn’t enough personal stuff in this series. I would say she started investigating even before the murder occurred which potential took away from that. It was a really easy read and I never pass up one this authors books. I think I have read all but two so I should get on that. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
February 25, 2025
"A Side Dish of Death (An Urban Tails Pet Shop Mystery #5)" by T. C. LoTempio is the classic stuck in a mansion/hotel during a storm at a party when a murder happens. I do have to say that I find it interesting to see how this story set up changes as technology changes. There's a lot of internet searching to dig up dirt on the victim and the possible suspects.
This time there's also a bunch of cats, Shell's ex-fiancé is visiting and there's a famous chief annoying everyone. The culprit really didn't hit my radar as a possible suspect until I started thinking, "Why is this character even here? Is there some sub-story that's going on for them?" Of course this was just shortly before the reveal.
This time there's also a bunch of cats, Shell's ex-fiancé is visiting and there's a famous chief annoying everyone. The culprit really didn't hit my radar as a possible suspect until I started thinking, "Why is this character even here? Is there some sub-story that's going on for them?" Of course this was just shortly before the reveal.
April 6, 2025
https://openbooksociety.com/article/a...
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
I have followed ‘An Urban Tails Pet Shop Mystery’ series right from the start. I must say, this series definitely has me engaged with not only the mysteries surrounding each of the murders but more importantly – the involvement of the main cats in the story! How do these cats so stealthily direct Shell to uncover the ‘whodunit’ or even help Shell out of very tight situations?
The book begins with a fundraiser to assist with the adopt-a-cat month. Shell McMillan has decided to host a night of murder mystery dinner theater! Little does she anticipate a real murder (or two) to occur during the evenings festivities. The event was able to garner the culinary skills of a celebrity chef (Reynaldo Venery), who has a checkered past and has not made many friends with his VERY unpleasant attitude (and that is an understatement). My question is – why do chef’s display diva attitudes? Very annoying 😉 Regardless – back to my review.
With amateur sleuth Shell and her trusty sidekick and good friend Gary Presser on the case (unofficially of course), this reader became entrenched in their thought process creating a suspect list and then narrowing it down. That was an experience which kept me engaged fully and reading long past bed time 🙂 .
Right off the bat – we have a suspect in Louise Gates, the inn’s owner as a result of one of her initial meetings with Shell to discuss the event. When Shell asked Louise about the menu, their interaction goes as follows:
Shell inquires as to the state of the menu “You have finalized it, correct?”
“Yes, about that.” Louise nibbled at her lower lip and clasped and unclasped her hands in front of her…. She walked back to the desk and placed the folder in front of me. “This is the menu Venery gave me yesterday.”, she said…
She raised her gaze to meet mine, and her eyes glittered with barely supressed anger.
“To be honest…that man is impossible. I could just kill him!”
As the murder mystery dinner theatre continues, more potential suspects emerge. Patrick, Shell’s ex-husband to name another. Patrick was at the event trying to woo chef Venery into working with his network on a new cooking show…and surprisingly at the time of the murder and after, Patrick is no where to be found. That sparks Shell into engaging her sleuthing skills as she is certain the Patrick is innocent. But is he? Time will tell. There are many suspects to sift through and along the way – a second body is discovered. This definitely muddies the waters. Are the two murders connected…and how? One thing is for certain – Venery was one complicated and messed up chef! But I have faith that Shell will discover the truth.
With bad weather requiring everyone to remain at the inn, and not telling the attendees about the murder, the race is on to find the killer. We have a very unpleasant victim with his secrets going back decades all coming together to provide crucial clues, Shell figures it out. There are many red herrings and some very plausible potential killers.
I truly enjoyed the cat aspect! Not only did we have Purrday (a one-eyed Persian) and Princess Fuzzypants, even Dahlia (one of the cats available for adoption) gets into the sleuthing. And it was wonderful to see that many of the felines were adopted during this event.
I was a bit disappointed in the progression (or should I say lack of) in the relationship between Shell and Josh. Okay – he was the lead detective on the case, but a bit more interaction would have been nice.
Of note, you can read this as a stand-alone as there is enough backstory presented early on in the book, but for full context and enjoyment – I suggest reading the series in order.
If you enjoy cozy mysteries with cats – then I suggest you pull up a comfy chair and a warm (or cold) beverage (coffee, tea, hot chocolate, wine??? Your choice) along with the latest installment (book #5 to be exact) of “An Urban Tails Pet Shop Mystery series” – A Side Dish of Death and get reading!!! You will have a thoroughly wonderful escape for a short while.
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
I have followed ‘An Urban Tails Pet Shop Mystery’ series right from the start. I must say, this series definitely has me engaged with not only the mysteries surrounding each of the murders but more importantly – the involvement of the main cats in the story! How do these cats so stealthily direct Shell to uncover the ‘whodunit’ or even help Shell out of very tight situations?
The book begins with a fundraiser to assist with the adopt-a-cat month. Shell McMillan has decided to host a night of murder mystery dinner theater! Little does she anticipate a real murder (or two) to occur during the evenings festivities. The event was able to garner the culinary skills of a celebrity chef (Reynaldo Venery), who has a checkered past and has not made many friends with his VERY unpleasant attitude (and that is an understatement). My question is – why do chef’s display diva attitudes? Very annoying 😉 Regardless – back to my review.
With amateur sleuth Shell and her trusty sidekick and good friend Gary Presser on the case (unofficially of course), this reader became entrenched in their thought process creating a suspect list and then narrowing it down. That was an experience which kept me engaged fully and reading long past bed time 🙂 .
Right off the bat – we have a suspect in Louise Gates, the inn’s owner as a result of one of her initial meetings with Shell to discuss the event. When Shell asked Louise about the menu, their interaction goes as follows:
Shell inquires as to the state of the menu “You have finalized it, correct?”
“Yes, about that.” Louise nibbled at her lower lip and clasped and unclasped her hands in front of her…. She walked back to the desk and placed the folder in front of me. “This is the menu Venery gave me yesterday.”, she said…
She raised her gaze to meet mine, and her eyes glittered with barely supressed anger.
“To be honest…that man is impossible. I could just kill him!”
As the murder mystery dinner theatre continues, more potential suspects emerge. Patrick, Shell’s ex-husband to name another. Patrick was at the event trying to woo chef Venery into working with his network on a new cooking show…and surprisingly at the time of the murder and after, Patrick is no where to be found. That sparks Shell into engaging her sleuthing skills as she is certain the Patrick is innocent. But is he? Time will tell. There are many suspects to sift through and along the way – a second body is discovered. This definitely muddies the waters. Are the two murders connected…and how? One thing is for certain – Venery was one complicated and messed up chef! But I have faith that Shell will discover the truth.
With bad weather requiring everyone to remain at the inn, and not telling the attendees about the murder, the race is on to find the killer. We have a very unpleasant victim with his secrets going back decades all coming together to provide crucial clues, Shell figures it out. There are many red herrings and some very plausible potential killers.
I truly enjoyed the cat aspect! Not only did we have Purrday (a one-eyed Persian) and Princess Fuzzypants, even Dahlia (one of the cats available for adoption) gets into the sleuthing. And it was wonderful to see that many of the felines were adopted during this event.
I was a bit disappointed in the progression (or should I say lack of) in the relationship between Shell and Josh. Okay – he was the lead detective on the case, but a bit more interaction would have been nice.
Of note, you can read this as a stand-alone as there is enough backstory presented early on in the book, but for full context and enjoyment – I suggest reading the series in order.
If you enjoy cozy mysteries with cats – then I suggest you pull up a comfy chair and a warm (or cold) beverage (coffee, tea, hot chocolate, wine??? Your choice) along with the latest installment (book #5 to be exact) of “An Urban Tails Pet Shop Mystery series” – A Side Dish of Death and get reading!!! You will have a thoroughly wonderful escape for a short while.
March 5, 2025
TThoughts: Who doesn’t love a good mystery with cats. Specifically, Purrday, Princess, and Kahlua. I loved how they helped Shell out of a couple of tight spots, found not one, but two dead bodies, and helped catch the perp.
Shell is helping host a charity “adopt-a-cat” event – during a hurricane – and with a murder mystery theme. What could possibly go wrong? Right. Add in an egotistical chef and you have all the fixings for a murder. Fortunately, Shell’s boyfriend, a cop, is stranded in the building with them so they have built-in support. But so is her ex, who has an issue with the chef. As do several other people. And how does he tie in with the second murder?
This was a fun read, especially with the cats. Loved how they helped out with things. There were a few editorial glitches- like a phone showing up in a pocket when a few pages earlier, it was pointed out that she didn’t have her phone. And it was rather obvious to me from the start who the murderer was – just not the why until later. But overall, an entertaining read with a satisfying ending. And you don’t have to know the entire series to understand who the players are and what’s going on in this one.
Recommended.
Disclosure of Material: Thanks to Netgalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for providing this material. I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Shell is helping host a charity “adopt-a-cat” event – during a hurricane – and with a murder mystery theme. What could possibly go wrong? Right. Add in an egotistical chef and you have all the fixings for a murder. Fortunately, Shell’s boyfriend, a cop, is stranded in the building with them so they have built-in support. But so is her ex, who has an issue with the chef. As do several other people. And how does he tie in with the second murder?
This was a fun read, especially with the cats. Loved how they helped out with things. There were a few editorial glitches- like a phone showing up in a pocket when a few pages earlier, it was pointed out that she didn’t have her phone. And it was rather obvious to me from the start who the murderer was – just not the why until later. But overall, an entertaining read with a satisfying ending. And you don’t have to know the entire series to understand who the players are and what’s going on in this one.
Recommended.
Disclosure of Material: Thanks to Netgalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for providing this material. I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
March 14, 2025
A Side Dish to Death by T.C. LoTempio is the fifth book in the Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries. The story can be read as a standalone for those new to the series or who have missed a book or two. The author quickly brings readers up to speed. The cats are the star of the show in this book. The fun felines are scene stealers. I liked that the mystery was a “locked room” mystery thanks to the weather. Shell researched the victim and the suspects online. Shell was able to learn a good amount of information, but in reality, she would not have had access to Wi-Fi during a hurricane (as someone who went through two hurricanes last fall, the Wi-Fi always goes out). I like how the cats guide Shell to clues and help her solve the whodunit. I had my eye on one suspect, but I needed more information to back up my suspicions. The clues began stacking up and I liked it when my suspect was revealed as the guilty party (I love solving mysteries). There were inconsistencies in the story and some stitches whose final loops were not fully closed. An example is when phones taken away from two characters and they were not returned within the story, but the phones were being used later (details like that bother me). Who knows what type of mystery the humans and cats will get find themselves embroiled in next time! You know the cats are rubbing their front paws in anticipation. A Side Dish of Death is a cute cozy with a tyrannical chef, nasty weather, a locked room mystery, helpful friends, scrumptious cuisine, and crafty cats.
February 20, 2025
A Side Dish of Death is the 5th book in.T.C. LoTempio's Urban Tails Pet Shop Mystery series. It is a fun, light hearted cozy mystery with likable characters, clue finding cats, and a cozy mystery that kept me guessing. Shell McMillan was a former TV star but she now runs a pet shop along with her friend Gary. Shell's mother Clarissa lives in Fox Hollow now too. The animal shelter is having a Murder Mystery Night fundraiser with the focus on cat adoptions. Famous Chef Reynaldo Venery is planning a special menu until he is found dead. On top of that, Shell's ex fiance shows up with an agenda. There is a hurricane but all the people still show up for the event. Shell's boyfriend Detective Josh Bloodgood is on the case. They hardly spend any time together and their conversations are about the case. It is a locked room style mystery because the storm keeps all the suspects there at the fundraiser. There are a few suspects but there are secrets to sort through and some other things going on to keep it interesting. The book started off a bit slow but got better. The characters' relationships aren't warm or friendly. I enjoyed the mystery for the most part but the book didn't resonate with me. I received an advance copy for free from NetGalley and Beyond The Page and I voluntarily leave this review.
#ASideDishOfDeath #UrbanTailsPetShopMystery #NetGalley #BeyondThePage #TCLoTempio
#ASideDishOfDeath #UrbanTailsPetShopMystery #NetGalley #BeyondThePage #TCLoTempio
March 7, 2025
Cosy mystery is indeed the name of the game here.
When a murder mystery evening is held for charity, it doesn't take long for the real world to intrude on the fictional story. A celebrity chef murdered during a blackout, a whole host of suspects trapped in the hotel thanks to a hurricane and our main characters sleuthing their way to victory.
This was my first book by this author and it was a short, enjoyable read. Although the main character, Shell, is an ex-actress turned shop owner, she was giving off huge Jessica Fletcher vibes. Which is no bad thing, the cosy amateur detective snooping around and getting into all sorts of peril is just the sort of thing that works.
And then we move onto the cats. Oh the cats. I picked it up because of the cats, and I was not disappointed. All of them are delightful little characters in their own right, smart little felines that really are the true crime solvers - if anything there should have been more about their adventures, as they spent the whole evening working tirelessly to keep their human out of trouble.
A lovely palate cleanser of a book.
~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review of the book~
When a murder mystery evening is held for charity, it doesn't take long for the real world to intrude on the fictional story. A celebrity chef murdered during a blackout, a whole host of suspects trapped in the hotel thanks to a hurricane and our main characters sleuthing their way to victory.
This was my first book by this author and it was a short, enjoyable read. Although the main character, Shell, is an ex-actress turned shop owner, she was giving off huge Jessica Fletcher vibes. Which is no bad thing, the cosy amateur detective snooping around and getting into all sorts of peril is just the sort of thing that works.
And then we move onto the cats. Oh the cats. I picked it up because of the cats, and I was not disappointed. All of them are delightful little characters in their own right, smart little felines that really are the true crime solvers - if anything there should have been more about their adventures, as they spent the whole evening working tirelessly to keep their human out of trouble.
A lovely palate cleanser of a book.
~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review of the book~
August 10, 2025
Shel McMillan and her crew are at it again in book five in the Urban Tails Pet Shop mystery series. It’s Adopt-a-Cat month in Fox Hollow and Shel is hosting a murder mystery dinner theatre as a fundraiser for the cause. But things take a bad turn when the celebrity chef hired for for the event turns out to by a tyrant, in and out of the kitchen. And it doesn't help when Shel’s ex-fiance turns up with a plan of his own, complicating things further.
Then the chef is murdered and the outer edges of a hurricane hit Fox Hollow, trapping all the participants in the evening’s festivities at the inn. And one of them in a murderer!
Shel discovers the chef had a less than reputable past and had left behind many women he’d wronged over the years. But who in Fox Hollow had a connection and a grudge?
By the time all the dots are connected, Shel is face-to-face with someone haunted by the past and willing to kill to cover up the chef’s murder.
Any book by T.C. LoTempio is an automatic want-to-read for me and this one delivered the goods as usual. She creates interesting mysteries populated by multi-dimensional characters, including the cats, who often come to Shel’s rescue. It’s a great cozy read!
Then the chef is murdered and the outer edges of a hurricane hit Fox Hollow, trapping all the participants in the evening’s festivities at the inn. And one of them in a murderer!
Shel discovers the chef had a less than reputable past and had left behind many women he’d wronged over the years. But who in Fox Hollow had a connection and a grudge?
By the time all the dots are connected, Shel is face-to-face with someone haunted by the past and willing to kill to cover up the chef’s murder.
Any book by T.C. LoTempio is an automatic want-to-read for me and this one delivered the goods as usual. She creates interesting mysteries populated by multi-dimensional characters, including the cats, who often come to Shel’s rescue. It’s a great cozy read!
February 19, 2025
This is one of those dark and stormy night murder mystery within a murder mystery stories. Those are some of the best kind.
Shell McMillan's mother is hosting a fundraiser for the animal shelter by hosting a dinner theater murder mystery at a local inn. It's being catered by a much sought after famous chef, who has a reputation for belligerence and rudeness both in and out of the kitchen. This is coupled by multiple patrons of said dinner with secrets to hide. When a storm causes the power to go out, the perfect time to commit a murder, and the group is literally stranded at the hotel, Shell has to figure out whodunit before everyone can leave. Especially since someone near and dear to her is a suspect.
The cats are the star of the show, including the aptly named all black Dahlia, who is quite the escape artist. I did figure out whodunit, which is usually a disappointment to me unless the author can create some spectacular ruse as to the motive. LoTempio delivers on all counts.
I look forward to more of her cat sleuth mysteries.
Thank you to Beyond the Page Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC.
Shell McMillan's mother is hosting a fundraiser for the animal shelter by hosting a dinner theater murder mystery at a local inn. It's being catered by a much sought after famous chef, who has a reputation for belligerence and rudeness both in and out of the kitchen. This is coupled by multiple patrons of said dinner with secrets to hide. When a storm causes the power to go out, the perfect time to commit a murder, and the group is literally stranded at the hotel, Shell has to figure out whodunit before everyone can leave. Especially since someone near and dear to her is a suspect.
The cats are the star of the show, including the aptly named all black Dahlia, who is quite the escape artist. I did figure out whodunit, which is usually a disappointment to me unless the author can create some spectacular ruse as to the motive. LoTempio delivers on all counts.
I look forward to more of her cat sleuth mysteries.
Thank you to Beyond the Page Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC.
March 7, 2025
This is the 5th book in the charming pet shop cozy series "Urban Tales Pet Shop Mysteries:. Thank you to the publishers, to Net Galley and to the author for the opportunity. My review opinions are my own.
Our protagonist Shell owns a pet shop and is kicking off advertising for adoption month with a fund raising murder mystery dinner theater. She has hired a celebrity chef who turns out to be not so nice and everyone immediately dislikes him. As the show begins and the audience gathers the chef is found murdered and many suspects are suspected. Shell is determined to have a successful fund raising event in spite of the murder so she investigates and finds the victim had many nefarious dealings. As she questions attendees and those involved with the chef she finds he was intensely disliked by many leading to numerous red herrings and clues abound.
I enjoyed this series for the pet shop focus on animals and the savvy smart protagonist. The animals are a fun part of this series. The sleuth was well crafted to conclusion and kept this reader guessing. I look forward to the next in series.
Our protagonist Shell owns a pet shop and is kicking off advertising for adoption month with a fund raising murder mystery dinner theater. She has hired a celebrity chef who turns out to be not so nice and everyone immediately dislikes him. As the show begins and the audience gathers the chef is found murdered and many suspects are suspected. Shell is determined to have a successful fund raising event in spite of the murder so she investigates and finds the victim had many nefarious dealings. As she questions attendees and those involved with the chef she finds he was intensely disliked by many leading to numerous red herrings and clues abound.
I enjoyed this series for the pet shop focus on animals and the savvy smart protagonist. The animals are a fun part of this series. The sleuth was well crafted to conclusion and kept this reader guessing. I look forward to the next in series.
February 11, 2025
It was, indeed, a dark and stormy night when her former boyfriend came to visit, the hurricane blew in, the electricity snuffed out, the corpse was uncovered, the suspects multiplied, and Shell's mother got even more obnoxious. Almost as obnoxious as the celebrity chef. Shell and her three cats are on job to find out who murdered that chef with his own signature knife even as her boyfriend/local police detective and what officers he could pull off road detail are also doing their best under the circumstances. Lots of suspects, a dinner theater fundraiser, and rising flooding add to the surprises that seem to never stop.
I requested and received an uncorrected digital proof copy from Beyond the Page Publishing via NetGalley.
#ASideDishofDeath by T. C. LoTempio #UrbanTailsPetShopMysteriesBk5 #NetGalley #BeyondThePagePublishing #cozymystery #murdermystery @goodreads @bookbub @librarythingofficial @barnesandnoble ***** Review #booksamillion #bookshop_org #bookshop_org_uk #kobo #Waterstones #mysterydinnertheater #smalltown #smallbusiness
I requested and received an uncorrected digital proof copy from Beyond the Page Publishing via NetGalley.
#ASideDishofDeath by T. C. LoTempio #UrbanTailsPetShopMysteriesBk5 #NetGalley #BeyondThePagePublishing #cozymystery #murdermystery @goodreads @bookbub @librarythingofficial @barnesandnoble ***** Review #booksamillion #bookshop_org #bookshop_org_uk #kobo #Waterstones #mysterydinnertheater #smalltown #smallbusiness
February 26, 2025
Cozy murder mysteries are really nice palette cleansers after reading something emotional or heavy hitting, and this book is exactly what I needed after one of my previous reads.
Though this is considered part 5 in the Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries, I did not find I needed to read the other ones to know what was going on in this one. There were some vague references to previous "crimes" and mysteries which make me want to explore the other stories, but they did not detract from the story we were presented in this one.
I call this a cozy murder mystery because it feel fairly low stakes as the premise is a murder which happens at a charity murder mystery dinner. The theme fits the classic trope for a campy locked door with quirky characters who probably shouldn't be investigating but they are; however the story is fun, the cats are very helpful, and the mystery is pretty engaging.
It was a quick and easy read with heart and suspense. I will definitely be on the look out for more books by this author and probably in this series.
Though this is considered part 5 in the Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries, I did not find I needed to read the other ones to know what was going on in this one. There were some vague references to previous "crimes" and mysteries which make me want to explore the other stories, but they did not detract from the story we were presented in this one.
I call this a cozy murder mystery because it feel fairly low stakes as the premise is a murder which happens at a charity murder mystery dinner. The theme fits the classic trope for a campy locked door with quirky characters who probably shouldn't be investigating but they are; however the story is fun, the cats are very helpful, and the mystery is pretty engaging.
It was a quick and easy read with heart and suspense. I will definitely be on the look out for more books by this author and probably in this series.
April 19, 2025
This one had too many characters to keep track of, and the plot was unbelievable! I can't believe people would be allowed to continue to have a fundraiser during a hurricane, though by the end of the book it was called a northeaster instead of a hurricane! Local emergency services should have shut it down before it started. In fact, I can't believe that many people would have risked driving to the venue during a hurricane.
The author got really sloppy about details. At one point the main character was using her cell phone when somebody sneaked up behind her and knocked her unconscious. When she came to, her cell phone was gone. She showed no ill effects from a blow to the head strong enough to knock her unconscious, was never checked out medically, and went on trying to solve the murder as if she'd never been hurt. Then, her cell phone was miraculously back in her pocket with no explanation of how she got it back. Obviously, the author forgot it had disappeared.
The ending was so convoluted even after reading it twice, I'm still not sure what happened.
The author got really sloppy about details. At one point the main character was using her cell phone when somebody sneaked up behind her and knocked her unconscious. When she came to, her cell phone was gone. She showed no ill effects from a blow to the head strong enough to knock her unconscious, was never checked out medically, and went on trying to solve the murder as if she'd never been hurt. Then, her cell phone was miraculously back in her pocket with no explanation of how she got it back. Obviously, the author forgot it had disappeared.
The ending was so convoluted even after reading it twice, I'm still not sure what happened.
February 25, 2025
I absolutely love Gary’s character! He always cracks me up. Luckily he’s dating Shell’s bestie and only doing sleuthing with Shell now instead of how he originally hoped they could be together. Shell’s super happy with her detective boyfriend who’s come to appreciate her and Gary’s help even if it’s just being a runner for something. This was the summertime version of characters stranded in a place with a storm raging outside, technically a hurricane. Purrday and Princess Fuzzypants were their usual good kitty helpers and found clues and even got to help when it was needed most. The showdown was a crazy one and led to the following day being spent with food and friends while Shell, Josh and Gary filled in everyone on the excitement. Can’t wait for the next book! This is one of my fave series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Beyond the Page via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Beyond the Page via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
February 12, 2025
Shell has returned to her hometown after a stint in Hollywood on a popular TV show. After the show is cancelled and she finds her boyfriend is cheating on her, she’s ready for a new chapter in her life and is now running a pet store and helping the local pet shelter. She now has three adorable cats who are great help in solving mysteries!
Her mother is putting on a murder mystery dinner as a fundraiser for the animal shelter and a famous chef has agreed to be the celebrity guest, but he’s a terrible person and has history with some staff members. Soon a real murder occurs and Shell and her friends (and cats) are busy investigating. Complicating matters is the hurricane that has moved in and keeping them trapped at the hotel.
This was a fun cozy mystery with lots of red herrings. Thanks to Beyond the Page Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.
Her mother is putting on a murder mystery dinner as a fundraiser for the animal shelter and a famous chef has agreed to be the celebrity guest, but he’s a terrible person and has history with some staff members. Soon a real murder occurs and Shell and her friends (and cats) are busy investigating. Complicating matters is the hurricane that has moved in and keeping them trapped at the hotel.
This was a fun cozy mystery with lots of red herrings. Thanks to Beyond the Page Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.
February 26, 2025
With a murder mystery fund raiser dinner in full swing, the last thing Shell and the Gand need is a hurricane and a real murder on their hands. But there you have it. Their celebrity guest chef is murdered and it’s obvious that the killer is still there as a storm rates outside, keeping everyone hostage at the event.
Can She’ll and the gang figure out who killed the unpleasant, yet famous chef? Can they do it quietly and in parallel to the murder mystery their guests are solving? More importantly, can they do it without the guest knowing and the killer striking again?
Another solid entry in this series! I love the cats, especially Shell’s cats! Each entry is filled with red herrings along with a well crafted whodunit. You’ll be guessing right along with the gang right up until the reveal.
Can She’ll and the gang figure out who killed the unpleasant, yet famous chef? Can they do it quietly and in parallel to the murder mystery their guests are solving? More importantly, can they do it without the guest knowing and the killer striking again?
Another solid entry in this series! I love the cats, especially Shell’s cats! Each entry is filled with red herrings along with a well crafted whodunit. You’ll be guessing right along with the gang right up until the reveal.
April 6, 2025
https://openbooksociety.com/article/a...
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
I have followed ‘An Urban Tails Pet Shop Mystery’ series right from the start. I must say, this series definitely has me engaged with not only the mysteries surrounding each of the murders but more importantly – the involvement of the main cats in the story! How do these cats so stealthily direct Shell to uncover the ‘whodunit’ or even help Shell out of very tight situations?
The book begins with a fundraiser to assist with the adopt-a-cat month. Shell McMillan has decided to host a night of murder mystery dinner theater! Little does she anticipate a real murder (or two) to occur during the evenings festivities. The event was able to garner the culinary skills of a celebrity chef (Reynaldo Venery), who has a checkered past and has not made many friends with his VERY unpleasant attitude (and that is an understatement). My question is – why do chef’s display diva attitudes? Very annoying 😉 Regardless – back to my review.
With amateur sleuth Shell and her trusty sidekick and good friend Gary Presser on the case (unofficially of course), this reader became entrenched in their thought process creating a suspect list and then narrowing it down. That was an experience which kept me engaged fully and reading long past bed time 🙂 .
Right off the bat – we have a suspect in Louise Gates, the inn’s owner as a result of one of her initial meetings with Shell to discuss the event. When Shell asked Louise about the menu, their interaction goes as follows:
Shell inquires as to the state of the menu “You have finalized it, correct?”
“Yes, about that.” Louise nibbled at her lower lip and clasped and unclasped her hands in front of her…. She walked back to the desk and placed the folder in front of me. “This is the menu Venery gave me yesterday.”, she said…
She raised her gaze to meet mine, and her eyes glittered with barely supressed anger.
“To be honest…that man is impossible. I could just kill him!”
As the murder mystery dinner theatre continues, more potential suspects emerge. Patrick, Shell’s ex-husband to name another. Patrick was at the event trying to woo chef Venery into working with his network on a new cooking show…and surprisingly at the time of the murder and after, Patrick is no where to be found. That sparks Shell into engaging her sleuthing skills as she is certain the Patrick is innocent. But is he? Time will tell. There are many suspects to sift through and along the way – a second body is discovered. This definitely muddies the waters. Are the two murders connected…and how? One thing is for certain – Venery was one complicated and messed up chef! But I have faith that Shell will discover the truth.
With bad weather requiring everyone to remain at the inn, and not telling the attendees about the murder, the race is on to find the killer. We have a very unpleasant victim with his secrets going back decades all coming together to provide crucial clues, Shell figures it out. There are many red herrings and some very plausible potential killers.
I truly enjoyed the cat aspect! Not only did we have Purrday (a one-eyed Persian) and Princess Fuzzypants, even Dahlia (one of the cats available for adoption) gets into the sleuthing. And it was wonderful to see that many of the felines were adopted during this event.
I was a bit disappointed in the progression (or should I say lack of) in the relationship between Shell and Josh. Okay – he was the lead detective on the case, but a bit more interaction would have been nice.
Of note, you can read this as a stand-alone as there is enough backstory presented early on in the book, but for full context and enjoyment – I suggest reading the series in order.
If you enjoy cozy mysteries with cats – then I suggest you pull up a comfy chair and a warm (or cold) beverage (coffee, tea, hot chocolate, wine??? Your choice) along with the latest installment (book #5 to be exact) of “An Urban Tails Pet Shop Mystery series” – A Side Dish of Death and get reading!!! You will have a thoroughly wonderful escape for a short while.
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
I have followed ‘An Urban Tails Pet Shop Mystery’ series right from the start. I must say, this series definitely has me engaged with not only the mysteries surrounding each of the murders but more importantly – the involvement of the main cats in the story! How do these cats so stealthily direct Shell to uncover the ‘whodunit’ or even help Shell out of very tight situations?
The book begins with a fundraiser to assist with the adopt-a-cat month. Shell McMillan has decided to host a night of murder mystery dinner theater! Little does she anticipate a real murder (or two) to occur during the evenings festivities. The event was able to garner the culinary skills of a celebrity chef (Reynaldo Venery), who has a checkered past and has not made many friends with his VERY unpleasant attitude (and that is an understatement). My question is – why do chef’s display diva attitudes? Very annoying 😉 Regardless – back to my review.
With amateur sleuth Shell and her trusty sidekick and good friend Gary Presser on the case (unofficially of course), this reader became entrenched in their thought process creating a suspect list and then narrowing it down. That was an experience which kept me engaged fully and reading long past bed time 🙂 .
Right off the bat – we have a suspect in Louise Gates, the inn’s owner as a result of one of her initial meetings with Shell to discuss the event. When Shell asked Louise about the menu, their interaction goes as follows:
Shell inquires as to the state of the menu “You have finalized it, correct?”
“Yes, about that.” Louise nibbled at her lower lip and clasped and unclasped her hands in front of her…. She walked back to the desk and placed the folder in front of me. “This is the menu Venery gave me yesterday.”, she said…
She raised her gaze to meet mine, and her eyes glittered with barely supressed anger.
“To be honest…that man is impossible. I could just kill him!”
As the murder mystery dinner theatre continues, more potential suspects emerge. Patrick, Shell’s ex-husband to name another. Patrick was at the event trying to woo chef Venery into working with his network on a new cooking show…and surprisingly at the time of the murder and after, Patrick is no where to be found. That sparks Shell into engaging her sleuthing skills as she is certain the Patrick is innocent. But is he? Time will tell. There are many suspects to sift through and along the way – a second body is discovered. This definitely muddies the waters. Are the two murders connected…and how? One thing is for certain – Venery was one complicated and messed up chef! But I have faith that Shell will discover the truth.
With bad weather requiring everyone to remain at the inn, and not telling the attendees about the murder, the race is on to find the killer. We have a very unpleasant victim with his secrets going back decades all coming together to provide crucial clues, Shell figures it out. There are many red herrings and some very plausible potential killers.
I truly enjoyed the cat aspect! Not only did we have Purrday (a one-eyed Persian) and Princess Fuzzypants, even Dahlia (one of the cats available for adoption) gets into the sleuthing. And it was wonderful to see that many of the felines were adopted during this event.
I was a bit disappointed in the progression (or should I say lack of) in the relationship between Shell and Josh. Okay – he was the lead detective on the case, but a bit more interaction would have been nice.
Of note, you can read this as a stand-alone as there is enough backstory presented early on in the book, but for full context and enjoyment – I suggest reading the series in order.
If you enjoy cozy mysteries with cats – then I suggest you pull up a comfy chair and a warm (or cold) beverage (coffee, tea, hot chocolate, wine??? Your choice) along with the latest installment (book #5 to be exact) of “An Urban Tails Pet Shop Mystery series” – A Side Dish of Death and get reading!!! You will have a thoroughly wonderful escape for a short while.
March 7, 2025
Side Dish of Death is the 5th book in the UrbanTails Pet Shop Mysteries. I had read the first two titles in the series years ago. Despite requests for purchase, my library stop purchasing the series and I was able to pick it back up with this title thanks to NetGalley. The author quickly brings new readers up to speed with just the right amount of information. I was very interested in this book because I love “locked room” type of mysteries and those that are solved within an event. This one did not disappoint in that aspect. There were just a tad too many main players for me to keep track of. There were also some inconsistencies that stood out. The author didn’t close the loop on some parts of the story. Fans of the Second Chance Cat Mystery series would enjoy this series as the cats featured in this series also help guide their person to clues and help solve the crime. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for a review.
March 24, 2025
“A Side Dish of Death” is the nicely done fifth book in T. C. LoTempio’s Urban Tails Pet Shop cozy mystery series. In this book, ex-actress turned pet shop owner Shell McMillan finds herself involved in yet another murder investigation when a real murder occurs at a mystery dinner theater event she is hosting. Since boyfriend Josh is on the scene she would ordinarily be more than happy to let him do his police work but she can’t help get involved when her ex-fiancé is one of the chief suspects. Add in a bad storm, plenty of suspects (many of whom keep disappearing), and some lovable (and very well behaved) cats and you have a very enjoyable mystery. The mystery is well plotted with more than a few twists and turns – while I did figure out who the killer was, the motive took me by surprise. All in all a well done mystery.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.
March 1, 2025
In Fox Hollow, like many other places, the animal shelter is full. To raise money for it's expansion, a murder mystery evening with a dinner cooked a volatile celebrity chef is planned in this charming cozy. Turns out the chef has a suitcase of secrets. His own, and those he intends to parlay. The stars of a cancelled spy series both have relocated to Fox Hollow, put down roots and garnered a reputation for finding bodies and helping law enforcement solve the cases. There's always cats featured in the action enhancing the fun. Mystery is deviously plotted with plenty of suspects. Enjoyable quick read. Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 25, 2025
Thank you so much to NetGalley and T. C. LoTempio for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for A Side Dish of Death coming out February 25, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.
With adopt-a-cat month in full swing in Fox Hollow, pet shop owner Shell McMillan decides that hosting a night of murder mystery dinner theater will be a fun way to raise funds for the cause. But she didn’t realize that the celebrity chef she’d hired for the event would turn out to be a tyrannical snob, or that her scoundrel of an ex-fiancé would turn up with his own shady agenda. Still, the show must go on, and as the lighthearted plot on-stage unfolds, the scene off-stage turns decidedly darker when the chef is found murdered.
Rather than question an entire roomful of possible suspects, Shell determines that looking into the victim’s past will lead her to the culprit more quickly. What she finds is that the chef had left behind a disreputable past and a trail of disgruntled people, including a long string of women he’d wronged and a host of others who may have been out for revenge. But as Shell closes in on the killer, the killer is closing in on her. And she’s discovering that while too many cooks can spoil the broth, being a murderer’s next target can really ruin your appetite . . .
I’ve read another book by this author, but this is the first book in this series that I’ve read. I’m obsessed with cozy mysteries! Fox Hollow definitely has the small town cozy vibes. I love that Shell owns a pet store. The murder mystery dinner theater was a really fun plot point. I loved the story. I would check out more books by this author!
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries!
With adopt-a-cat month in full swing in Fox Hollow, pet shop owner Shell McMillan decides that hosting a night of murder mystery dinner theater will be a fun way to raise funds for the cause. But she didn’t realize that the celebrity chef she’d hired for the event would turn out to be a tyrannical snob, or that her scoundrel of an ex-fiancé would turn up with his own shady agenda. Still, the show must go on, and as the lighthearted plot on-stage unfolds, the scene off-stage turns decidedly darker when the chef is found murdered.
Rather than question an entire roomful of possible suspects, Shell determines that looking into the victim’s past will lead her to the culprit more quickly. What she finds is that the chef had left behind a disreputable past and a trail of disgruntled people, including a long string of women he’d wronged and a host of others who may have been out for revenge. But as Shell closes in on the killer, the killer is closing in on her. And she’s discovering that while too many cooks can spoil the broth, being a murderer’s next target can really ruin your appetite . . .
I’ve read another book by this author, but this is the first book in this series that I’ve read. I’m obsessed with cozy mysteries! Fox Hollow definitely has the small town cozy vibes. I love that Shell owns a pet store. The murder mystery dinner theater was a really fun plot point. I loved the story. I would check out more books by this author!
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries!
February 24, 2025
Urban Tails Pet Shop owner Shell McMillan is raising funds for Adopt-A-Pet Month by hosting a murder mystery dinner. Things get complicated when her ex-fiance shows up with his agenda, and someone murders the celebrity chef she hires for the event.
Shell decides to investigate the chef’s past, looking for any enemies he made as he developed his reputation as a demanding and demeaning chef.
Purrday, Princess Fuzzypants, and Kahlua, her trio of felines, continue to lead Shell to clues.
The sixth title in the Urban Tails Pet Shops mysteries is a winner.
Shell decides to investigate the chef’s past, looking for any enemies he made as he developed his reputation as a demanding and demeaning chef.
Purrday, Princess Fuzzypants, and Kahlua, her trio of felines, continue to lead Shell to clues.
The sixth title in the Urban Tails Pet Shops mysteries is a winner.
May 7, 2025
This is the fifth installment of Urban Tails Mystery series. I was allowed by Netgalley to read this after the publication date. Shell McMillan”s mother is setting up a fundraiser for the Fox Hollow Animal Shelter. Her mother tends to make everyone else do the actual work. I was not impressed with her coercion tactics.
The fundraiser is a dinner & skit being performed by a local troop of actors. Chef Venery is the celebrated chef. He turns out to be a real tool.
The twists, turns, and reveal were interesting. These are my opinions.
The fundraiser is a dinner & skit being performed by a local troop of actors. Chef Venery is the celebrated chef. He turns out to be a real tool.
The twists, turns, and reveal were interesting. These are my opinions.
December 28, 2025
"A Side Dish of Death" is a very exciting read. A storm And everyone is stranded at the hotel for the night. So what happens if somebody is about to be killed? Wonders of wonders, who could be? You've got lots of people, you have a skit of murder mystery which is being done for charity and the lights go out. Stay tuned to what happens. The cats are a big help to Shell, she gets her self invoved and solves the mystery. This is the first book I am reading by this author. Kept me going and wanting to finish. Fast-paced.
April 1, 2025
Shell's mom is organizing another fundraiser for the local cat shelter. This time it will be murder-mystery play with food prepared by a famous chef. When the chef is murdered, there are a number of people who wanted to do him in. Shell and Gary, seem to be acting out their tv roles in real life. But, we they keep themselves from harm. The cats show up and offer a bit of comic relief. A fun read!
November 21, 2025
Shell met her match in this one; the pieces of the puzzle weren’t matching, no matter how hard she investigated, until she became the target of a killer who was committed to her task. Although she still had a few blundering spots, she made this one more exciting than the previous ones. It was an enjoyable and captivating read, and I recommend this book to lovers of cozy mysteries.
December 31, 2025
I have loved the books in the Urban Tails Pet Shop series. I am so glad I discovered it and author T. C. LoTempio. The main character, Shell, is once again drawn into the murder mystery. And along with her feline companions, Purrday and Princess Fuzzypants, they will have you flipping through the pages to help solve the crime. There are plenty of suspects and lots of clues ... real or misguided ... to have you wondering who is guilty of murder. I really like that Shell is such a good person. Her ability to deal with less likable characters is admirable. This was a wonderful addition to the series and I look forward to the next adventure with the gang in Fox Hollow.
Thank you to NetGalley and Beyond the Page for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!
Thank you to NetGalley and Beyond the Page for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!
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