Fatality by Firelight: Cat Latimer Mystery Series, Book 2

Cat Latimer Mystery #2

by Lynn Cahoon

To kick off a winter writing retreat, Cat and her handyman boyfriend, Seth, escort the aspiring authors to a nearby ski resort, hoping that some fresh cold air will wake up their creative muses. But instead of hitting the slopes, they hit the bar - and before long, a tipsy romance novelist named Christina is keeping herself warm with a local ski bum who might have neglected to tell her about his upcoming wedding.

Next thing Cat knows, her uncle, the town sheriff, informs her that the young man's been found dead in a hot tub - and Christina shows up crying and covered in blood. Now, between a murder mystery, the theft of a rare Hemingway edition, and the arrival of a black-clad stranger in snowy Aspen Hills, Cat's afraid everything's going downhill....

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Audiobook, Romance, Contemporary

Audible Audio

First published February 28, 2017

About the author

NYT and USA Today bestselling author, Lynn Cahoon, writes the Tourist Trap, Cat Latimer, Farm-to-Fork, Kitchen Witch, Survivors' Book Club, the Haunted Life, and the Bainbridge Island cozy mystery series. No matter where the mystery is set, readers can expect a fun ride Sign up for her newsletter at www.lynncahoon.com

Reviews

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fatality by Firelight is the second book in the Cat Latimer mystery series written by Lynn Cahoon. It was published in 2017 and takes place in a small town a few hours outside Denver, Colorado. The series focuses on Cat, a late-20s former English professor who's ex-husband, Michael, passed away (probably murdered) and left her his house and a few secrets to unravel. She's turned the charming Victorian into a writer's retreat to help aspiring and struggling authors finish their books, but somehow something dastardly always ends up happening. In this caper, one of the writers is flirting with a local at a nearby inn even though he's engaged. Although she rejects him when he wants to take the evening a bit further, the police still suspect her when the guy turns up dead overnight -- killed by a knife while sipping on champagne near a fire. Whodunit?

Cat and her friends are relatable characters. Shauna runs the daily operations of the inn and Seth is Cat's part-time boyfriend, part-time repairman / chauffeur. She's not completely ready to date after Michael died, especially now that his journals are revealing new information she hadn't been aware of. When Dante, a sexy mob-connected man enters her life, she's thrown even more. Is she attracted to him or afraid of him? Or possibly both! While she helps try to clear her young writer from being jailed for the murder, Cat realizes the victim has ties to Dante, who might have been the one to order his death. Something's not quite right and Cat's determined to figure it out alongside her uncle, the chief of police. Throw in fun cooking recipes and excerpts from the author's books and you've got lots of side stories to enjoy, too.

Cahoon's books are a good example of a cozy mystery. They have a bit of an edge to them given there are mob connections (like my own cozy mystery series!) and writers coming in from all over the country (maybe world one day?) to demonstrate variety. They're easy to read in 3 to 4 hours depending on your reading speed and style. The theme and characters stay with you from book to book. I enjoy diving back into this world and have completed 3 of the 4 published. I plan to read the next one in February (maybe sooner) and then I'll be ready for the 5th one when it's published later this year. The author also has another series which might be something to consider reading, too, once I'm caught up here.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Cat Latimer is excited for her 2nd writer’s retreat since she has returned to Colorado and turned the home she and her now deceased ex-husband used to share into a B&B. Her best friend Shauna is by her side as the chef for the retreats and as the person who keeps everything organized so Cat still has time to work on her own writing. Cat has also reunited with her high school boyfriend, Seth, handyman, and chauffeur extraordinaire for the B&B and the retreats. Her Uncle Pete just happens to be the sheriff which comes in handy because trouble seems to follow Cat on a regular basis.

This round of authors is an eclectic group. The romance author, Christina, seems to have forgotten what the retreat is about and hooks up with a local guy she met at the nearby ski resort. The problem, he is engaged to another woman and he is now dead. The evidence points right at Christina but she swears she didn’t do it. There’s also a new guy in town who would like to get to now Cat better but she thinks he knew her ex-husband and may know why he died. Her uncle is also hot on the case of a very valuable book stolen from the library. Things seem to be snowballing out of control in Aspen Hills, can Cat rein them in and solve all the mysteries with just a little help from her friends?

I am really kicking myself for getting behind on this series because I love these characters, I love the theme, and who wouldn’t love the Colorado setting.

Ms. Cahoon’s characters are so well developed, their dialogues flow so easily. They are realistic, engaging and funny at all right times. Cat, Shauna, and Seth make a fantastic team. Uncle Pete is positively priceless.

I like that Cat and Seth appear to be a perfect match but that Cat realizes she needs to work out a few things about her ex before she can truly move on. The subplot dealing with Micheal’s demise and what he was involved in prior to his death continues from one book to the next. More clues are revealed in this installment that makes it clear his death what not how it appeared. I enjoy that this string connecting each story.

The author does a terrific job of drawing the reader in. The mysteries are intricately woven together in an exciting way. I found the story to be complex and very hard to put down. Learning that “the mob” has a connection to the town that Cat didn’t realize gave the story a very different insight. The excitement ramped up at several places in the book and the ending was really intense. I loved it.

The only good thing about being behind on this series is that the next book, Of Murder and Men is already on my To-Be-Read shelf and I can’t wait to start reading it!

[Mystereity Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gliding down the slopes...blazing fires in the fireplace...the crunch of snow underfoot...steaming mugs of hot cocoa...the dead body in the hot tub - only Lynn Cahoon could make snowy Colorado a hot destination, even in the depths of winter! With several mysteries woven into one fast-paced plot, I was glued to the book until the very last page. I loved the action-packed plot - Stalkers! Murders! Kidnapping! Booknapping! *gasp* - all with so many twists and turns, it was like a cozy mystery slalom! The on-going mystery surrounding the death of Cat's ex-husband added a layer of intrigue and the mysterious stranger added a bit of spice to shake up Cat's comfortable life.

All in all, Fatality by Firelight is a thoroughly enjoyable and well-crafted mystery guaranteed to keep you guessing (and entertained!) While this book can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the first in the series to get the full backstory about Cat's ex-husband (and because it's a good book.)

Thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book. This review is my honest, unsolicited opinion

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fatality by Firelight is the second installment in the Cat Latimer Mystery series featuring Catherine "Cat" Latimer. Cat is looking forward to hosting the second Warm Spring's Writer's retreat at her home in Aspen Hills, Colorado and with help from best friend Shauna, who serves as the house manager and chef she is hopeful that it will turn out better than the first.

The participants in this month's retreat head to the nearby ski resort with Cat and her boyfriend Seth Howard. While Cat and Seth enjoy a day on the slopes they discover the writers spent the day in the bar, the young and naïve Christina Powers hooking up with bad boy Tommy Neil. Tommy has neglected to mention that he is engaged to local bartender, Brit and when he turns up dead in the hotel hot tub it's really no surprise.

With the help of Shauna, Seth and her Uncle Pete, who happens to be Aspen Hill's Police Chief, Cat works to clear Christina's name. In addition to solving the murder, the group is also trying to find out who is stealing valuable books from Covington Library, which leads Cat to discover that Covington College has served as the learning institution for "mob" kids for generations.

The secondary plotline of the series continues in this installment with Cat trying to discover what ex husband and the now deceased Michael had been up to prior to his death. Clues begin to surface regarding the focus of Michael's research and with the arrival of the mysterious Dante Cornelio in town, Cat is even more convinced that Michael didn't die a natural death.

This is a terrific, fast paced series with a well developed cast of characters. The mystery surrounding Cat's ex husband will keep readers anxiously awaiting to see if the next installment will offer even more clues.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley via Kensington Books. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.

[Lisa Ks Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

FATALITY BY FIRELIGHT was indeed almost fatal to me. I could have died from lack of sleep from not wanting to put this book down!

Book one in the Cat Latimer Mysteries, A STORY TO KILL, was so good, I found it hard to believe that author Lynn Cahoon could improve upon it. Well, that shows you how much I know, because, FATALITY BY FIRELIGHT was superb! All of the character building, and wonderfully descriptive scenes from the first book, added such an rich essence to this tale, I felt like I was back at a favorite getaway instead of between the pages of a book.

As superb as Ms. Cahoon is at plotting, planning, and writing a mystery, it’s amazing to know she has only been writing them a few short years (but she was a writer before she started mysteries). As with book one, she drew me deep into FATALITY BY FIRELIGHT, sending me on wild goose chases, and keeping my mind so busy looking for answers, she managed to fool me until the reveal.

If you’re looking for a well written, entertaining, keep you up all night reading it mystery, you’ll find it for sure in FATALITY BY FIRELIGHT!

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in this cozy mystery set in a small college town in Colorado. It is winter and the guest of the book retreat weekend have went on a skiing field trip. That night Uncle Pete arrives around 3:00A.M. looking for one the guests, Christiana. She was the last person to see a murder man at the lodge. Cat Latimore is still bother by Michael 's death. Cat learns new facts about the College students. A Rare book is missing from the College library. Someone attempts to kidnap Christiana. A dark mysterious stranger appears to stalking Cat. Uncle Pete is working looking for answers before another death occurs.I recommend this book.

Disclosure: I received a free copy from Kensington Books through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions expressed are my own.

[RO G'ma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fatality by Firelight is the second book in Lynn Cahoon’s Cat Latimer Mystery series and is a well-written story, with well-developed characters, that moves along at a steady pace. The book is an easy read and Ms. Cahoon’s writing style flows smoothly and she provides good background information about the characters. The characters are relatable and there are enough twists, turns, and suspects to hold a reader’s attention. This is a clean cozy mystery featuring no gratuitous sex or violence. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading a well-crafted cozy mystery. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

Author Catherine ‘Cat’ Latimer, owner of Warm Springs Writer’s Retreat, and her best friend, cook, planner, and manager, Shauna Mary Clodagh, are hosting their second writer’s retreat, with five authors attending. Cat’s ex-husband, Michael, recently passed away and she inherited their house in the small college town of Aspen Hills, Colorado. In addition to writing advice, Cat provides use of Covington College’s library, and outings. The scheduled outing for this retreat is hitting the slopes at a nearby ski resort but Cat and Seth Howard, her high school sweetheart and current boyfriend, who is also the handyman helping with renovations and transporting guests, are the only ones to hit the slopes. Cat and Seth find the authors in the resort’s bat and one of the authors, Christina Powers, is making out with Tommy Neil, who ‘forgot’ to tell her that he’s engaged. Cat’s Uncle Pete is Aspen Hills’ Police Chief and is dealing with a case involving a rare book that was stolen from the Covington College library but when Tommy is found stabbed to death in a hot tub at the ski resort; he visits Warm Springs wanting to question Christina. Cat continues to try to come to terms with Michael’s death and the mystery surrounding him.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cat Latimer and her friends Shauna and Seth (actually he's her boyfriend now) are gearing up for another hopefully successful writer's retreat. All Cat wants is a nice week with no murder or crazy excitement going on during the retreat. Apparently that was too much to hope for because while she and her guests are at the first day's activity, skiing, a local man is found murdered in one of the ski resort's rooms. Uncle Pete, Cat's uncle who is with the police department seems very interested in one of the guests who was last seen with the dead man.

Meanwhile a couple of mysterious men are spotted around town, one of which seems to be most interested in Cat herself. She can't help but think that this man could possibly have some connection to her deceased ex-husband, Michael.

This book was just as exciting as the first one was. Basically, it was one I didn't want to put down. I do love the idea of Cat trying to move past Michael's death by using his study more, and also that she's now in a good place with Seth. He seems so perfect for her. Shauna was her usual fun self and I just love Uncle Pete! The guests were definitely a group of diverse and interesting characters. They will have you wondering (like I did) whether one of them is actually a killer. Or could it be someone from the outside?

I like that some things from the first book are continued through this one, some explained, some not but that's kind of fun, like a nighttime serial drama. There were a couple of side mysteries and I was right about one of them. I wasn't totally sure about the killer though but I'm glad it wasn't the person I had suspected.

[Jessica Wilhoite · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I had suspicions of different people throughout the whole book and I was right about a certain person being super creepy, but didn't figure out who the killer was (as always). :) Can't wait to read book 3 and see what else Cat is up to next.

[Marcia Trotter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great series!

[Hilary (A Wytch's Book Review) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cat and Shauna are starting their second retreat with five varied writes, Seth is trying to get the attic sorted so it can be another room and Cat's Uncle is wondering what the flip has happened when a rare book gets stolen from the library! After most of the writers decide to get squiffy rather than skiing Cat is starting to have second thoughts about the whole retreat idea, and even more so when the romance writer arrives at the retreat one night crying and covered with blood! 

With Cat finding out more about her local college, spending quality time with Seth, oh and still trying to figure out what her late ex-husband was hiding from her, stalkers and murder are the last things that she really needs.

I will confess that this time I guessed the murderer fairly early on BUT as Lynn Cahoon drafts such wonderful stories that didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book in any shape or form!

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Fatality by Firelight” the intriguing and entertaining second book in the “Cat Latimer Mystery” series which I won through Goodreads Giveaways opens as Cat’s bed-and- breakfast plays host to five guests at the November session of her Writer’s Retreat. To kick off her program Cat and her boyfriend Seth Howard take the aspiring writers to a nearby ski resort only to have one of them get drunk and fall for the local ski bum who’s engaged to a bartender at “Bernie’s.”

The story heats up when romance novelist Christina Powers returns to Cat’s old Victorian cold and covered in blood after cocky, arrogant Tommy Neil is found dead in his rented ski condo. And if this isn’t enough to keep her Uncle Peter the local police chief busy, a rare book has been stolen from the local library, and a mysterious stranger connected to a New York Mafia family is determined to razzle-dazzle Cat.

Set in wintery Aspen Hills, Colorado curiosity gnaws at Cat as she looks for clues to a stolen Hemingway edition and to the motivation behind the murder of bad-boy Tommy Neil. With twists and turns that have you continually guessing who the murderer is, Lynn Cahoon weaves in fascinating subplots that revolve around the suspicious death of Cat’s husband, and a Mafia connection not only to the theft at the library but also to Covington College. In a warm and fluid writing style as events unfold that have Cat grappling with a kidnapper, the author reels you in and doesn’t let go until the end.

In this story Cat dates Seth Howard, the local handyman who’s renovating her Victorian home and transporting her guests. Cat’s hesitant about escalating the relationship with her high school sweetheart and after-divorce boyfriend to the next level, her feelings uncertain until she resolves the mystery of her ex-husband Michael’s estrangement and subsequent death. Although attuned to one another and comfortable in each other's company there isn't as much chemistry between Cat and Seth as there is when she bumps into the debonair, handsome and good-looking Dante Cornelio. Warned by her uncle about his ties to the Mafia, and nervous about his warning not to investigate Michael’s death, Cat is still drawn to the dark, enigmatic Dante.

Lynn Cahoon creates characters in this series that are realistic, complex and engaging like the feisty, wary, curious and perceptive Catherine (Cat) Latimer a conscientious professional writer with a strong work ethic who’s as enthused about motivating other writers as she is in investigating the crimes that have taken the town by storm. Seth Howard is her kind, considerate and amiable boyfriend who’s concerned about the interest charming and smooth-talking Dante Cornelio is showing Cat. All these characters and others infuse the plot with intensity, energy and excitement.

I thoroughly enjoyed “Fatality by Firelight” with its well-developed, engaging plot and strong characters. I look forward to reading other books in the Cat Latimer Mystery series.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished Fatality by Firelight, the second in the Cat Latimer Mystery series by Lynn Cahoon. Oh boy is it great! So intriguing. I have often thought about how cool it would be to go on an actual writing retreat, I mean what could possibly go wrong? Lynn captures the magic and anticipation of the ideal writing retreat with her large Victorian Colorado Retreat. This book was not only easy to picture and feel like you were a part of but it had so many moments where I thought to myself, "Oh wow, that did not just happen" or the "No way!" thoughts I had in my head as I was reading. Was I emotionally invested in this book? Yes I was. I swear this book breathes it felt so real and all the mentions of the hot soups, cookies and food being prepared was an added bonus. Lynn has won me over with this series and I hope she will win you over too!

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this exciting book in this killer series by Lynn Cahoon.

As the group prepares for another writing retreat, winter storms, stolen books, a psycho stalker begin to interrupt the well laid plans.

Cat and Shauna make a great pair in this fantastic series.
I felt as if I was there at the retreat, drinking hit chocolate and sharing a meal with Seth and Uncle Pete.
I can't wait to read the next one in this series.

I voluntarily read an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like the series so far and the characters are the main reason. But I do have a concern about the series I don’t really care for the mob influence on the small town, maybe I’m naive but I don’t believe that that could be a thing in real life, where rival crime syndicates would have a safe ground where their younger members could attend college together. Aside from that issue solid story, interesting guest characters, 3 ½ stars. Looking forward to reading book 3 in the series.

[Carrie Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fatality by Firelight is the second book in the Cat Latimer mystery series by Lynn Cahoon, and I enjoyed it even more than I did the first one. My fave characters all returned (Cat, Shauna, Seth, Uncle Pete) and a whole new batch of retreaters show up for the week. Poor Cat. Maybe one day she’ll get a nice, boring, “normal” writers’ retreat but it’s probably not likely anytime soon. Not as long as Cahoon continues with the series lol.

This case takes several twists and turns, and just about the time I thought I had everything figured out… I didn’t. And then I did. And then I didn’t again. And then I did. But woven through the story is the mystery I’m most interested in – what really happened to Cat’s late ex-husband and what other clues has he left behind in their former house? I’m so loving this continuing story arc. It’s nice because the individual or “new” mysteries in each book are wrapped up by the end but this thread with her late ex-husband keeps getting more layered and more intriguing.

Bottom Line: Another terrific offering from Lynn Cahoon! You may not want to read it while you’re hungry though because you’ll find yourself craving all the delicious food cooked by Shauna. (Don’t ask me how I know this.) Well-plotted with engaging characters and a cozy setting, Fatality by Firelight is the perfect choice for a night in by the fire or a weekend escape.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.)

see my full review at Reading Is My SuperPower

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 2 in the series.

I am enjoying this series. The Colorado setting, the writer's retreats, the main mystery, I loved it. The writing is tight, the characters are well developed and mostly likeable.

What I am not loving is the secondary plot-line that is dragging on and dragging more people in. I am not a fan of "To Be Continued" in anything. In the first book, it was a bit more subtle. With book 2, it's as much a part of the book as the current murder and I am not liking that so much. I would really like to see it given its own book and wrapped up so Cat can move on.

As a result, I just can't give this book more than a 3 star rating. I liked it, but I didn't love it. I am still looking forward to reading book 3 in the series.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book received from the publisher, via NetGalley*

[Patrizia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stelle
Come si suole dire, c'è molta carne al fuoco in questo libro. Più o meno in ordine cronologico: il furto di un libro, l'assassinio di un cascamorto, un'ospite del ritiro letterario perseguitata dalla malasorte, i dubbi sull'ex-marito della protagonista, la presenza di mafiosi nella cittadina. Alla fine avevo capito subito chi fosse l'assassino, ma con tutte le cose che accadevano non ne ero certa.
Una buona lettura, peccato che non sia stato risolto l'enigma riguardante l'ex della protagonista. Spero che questa storia non si prolunghi, anche se credo di aver capito dove si andrà a finire...

[Carmen Slaughter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this series!!! I had to pace myself so I wouldn't finish it too soon because then I have to wait for #3. The characters are wonderful, the mystery is engaging and resolved in a satisfactory manner. I really wish the Warm Springs Retreat was a real place -I'd love to visit- well, minus the murders.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

**I voluntarily reviewed this ARC**

I love this series! You'll definitely want to read the books in order since part of the story is continued from the first book. Both storylines in it are really well-written, and I can't wait for the next one.

[Mayda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series, and I might have liked it better if I had started with the first one. There is apparently much in the story that carries over from the first book. Cat runs a bed and breakfast and offered a retreat for writers. A romance writer is taken with a local hot-shot, but she runs from the romance when she finds out he is not the dream guy she pictured. And when murder enters the picture, Cat and her crew, along with her detective uncle, have their hands full. Add in some valuable stolen books and the mob, and the plot really thickens. To say the characters are interesting and story intriguing is putting it mildly. While I did enjoy the tale, reading the series in order is probably what readers new to the series should do.

[Bea · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 or 3.5 stars.

The Cat Latimer series has an interesting premise, with a B&B owner who offers monthly retreats for writers. And since this is a cozy mystery series, those retreats also include a death. Then there's an overarching mystery that runs through the series. Add in some romance and you've got a packed story.

It's the second month of Cat's new retreat service and she's both excited and nervous. She's more introverted than you'd expect from someone in the hospitality business but fortunately she has her friend Shauna to help out. Shauna's also the cook, and yum, I wish she cooked for me.

This retreat has a young romance writer with bad judgment in men and before long she's embroiled in the murder of a local man. AS if that weren't enough, she has a stalker back home that she's also dealing with. Add in complications with the local college and a possible Mob hit man in town and Cat is busy keeping her guests safe while fulfilling her duties as hostess and trying to figure out her relationship with handyman and boyfriend Seth.

Cahoon writes a twisty mystery full of details and interesting people. I accurately guessed at parts of the mysteries while I was wrong about others. There was one aspect that that seemed very obvious to me but it took the characters a lot longer to figure it even with clues taring them in the face. The self-contained mystery and the larger series-wide mystery intersected in this story and I'm curious to see where Cahoon goes with it.

I do have concerns about the sustainability of the series. This story was set a month after the first book so it's only the second retreat and both had had murders. Obviously if this keeps happening, the B&B will lose business. Then there's the pacing; if each book is only a month after the previous one, the series will quickly fall behind the real world timeline which will make writing the stories more challenging, and of course, having a murder occur every month, with every retreat, will seriously strain credulity. It was good to see that Cat was worried about some of these same things so maybe Cahoon is already working on solutions.

"Fatality by Firelight" gave us a story with a small town setting, rich characters, intriguing mysteries, and enjoyable insight into being a writer. I was caught up in Cat and Shauna's lives and left wanting to know more about Cat's own personal mystery. "Fatality by Firelight" was a fun weekend read.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked book two even more than book one in this series. I feel like the author has settled in to the rhythm and the world in this book and things moved along quickly and entertainingly.

First, as a sort of writer myself [I write for business not for books but I understand the challenges] I really enjoy the writers retreat setting for the book. It is fun to watch Cat help the aspiring writers who come to her retreat to find more and better time to actually write. Seeing inside a writer's process is interesting.

Second, I like the location. Although winter and I are definitely NOT friends, it is fun to visit cold but beautiful places - like this book which is set in Colorado - in the pages of a book, rather than having to deal with cold and snow in person. Hearing about other locations I will probably never visit is just one of the fun things about reading books.

I also really like the cast of characters in this series. Cat especially as the main character is not only interesting and likable, but she doesn't do *quite* as many TSTL things as the normal cozy heroines do, so I like her better for being written to at least KNOW when she is doing something really foolish. The people in Cat's world - Shauna, Seth and Uncle Pete - really round of the cast of characters nicely as the regulars, but the fact that the setting is a writer's retreat with new people visiting Cat's home each time leaves plenty of room for a variety of people and story lines to happen moving forward. Variety of the story book to book is always a challenge in a cozy series, and this author has created a situation that leaves things wide open for lots of future books that won't just be a complete repetition of the previous.

The plot itself made sense, moved along at a good pace, and was written in such a way that I had a hard time putting it down even at the end of a chapter because the story had lots of mini-cliffhangers throughout that made me itch to turn the page and keep going.

Overall, this is becoming a definite favourite cozy series. I will be looking forward to reading future books in this series and hope the author has lots more ideas to keep Cat and friends on their toes at the Warm Springs Writers Retreat, because I will certainly go along for the ride!

[K.A. Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was delighted to have the chance to read an early copy of FATALITY BY FIRELIGHT, the second book in the Cat Latimer Mystery series, by Lynn Cahoon. I love the location and premise of this series: a bed-and-breakfast writers’ retreat tucked away in the mountains of Aspen Hills, Colorado. Cat Latimer is owner and hostess of the retreat with her good friend, Shauna Mary, providing delicious meals and snacks. Cat is also an author and runs the writing retreats to earn money so that she can write full time. Except that with her demanding guests, an unforeseen murder investigation, and one of her young, sweet guests a suspect, she doesn’t have much time on her hands. I admired that even though Cat is an introvert, she pushes herself to spend time socializing with her guests and takes it upon herself to help clear the romance writer’s name. After moving back to Aspen Hills, Cat has also reconnected with her old flame, Seth. She’s struggling to move forward in their relationship due to the uncertainty surrounding her ex-husband’s death…who, by the way, bequeathed the huge house to her. The author allows us glimpses of Cat’s emotions that make her seem real and builds a connection to her.

The main murder plot of discovering who killed local bad boy, Tommy, is also woven around several subplots. The enigma of Cat’s ex-husband’s untimely demise is a mystery that first started in the first book, continues in FATALITY BY FIRELIGHT, and will be continued in the next book. Cat also gets involved in trying to help figure out who is stealing rare books from the town’s college library. Could the tall, dark, and handsome mysterious stranger, who just so happens to know her name, have anything to do with the turmoil surrounding Cat? The author expertly juggles, tangles, and weaves the various threads of the story into one cohesive read that had me turning pages faster and faster!

I willingly provided a review after receiving a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Cat Latimer Mystery Series and it does not disappoint. This book quickly drew me in and kept me glued to the pages. With the second session of the writer's retreat in full swing, Cat is faced with someone stealing valuable manuscripts from the college library, a guest with a stalker, secrets, murder, and a possible ghost.. Cat puts on her sleuthing hat to try and figure out what is going on.

This is a wonderfully written murder mystery. The story has many layers that are slowly peeled away to reveal the story. The characters are complex, interesting and likable, even the "bad guys." I was kept on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. There are several surprises, and plenty of twists that kept me guessing. I look forward to reading more in this series.

I received a copy of this manuscipt from the publisher via NetGalley, my review has been voluntarily submitted.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really was entertained with Fatality by Firelight! I was drawn into the location, the characters, and the plot-which moved quickly and enjoyably. I guessed the killer in Chapter 10, but I really didn't know until the end of the book if my guess was correct. I would have loved more detail about the Victorian home that is the setting of the retreat including visuals about how it was decorated and colors. I would also have liked more details about the appearances of the characters so I could get a solid idea of what the author had imagined. The relationship between Cat (main character) and Seth (her boyfriend) is interesting and complex. I found myself really rooting for them to stay together, and I hope they do! I look forward to reading more from the Cat Latimer series.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Cat Latimer. Running a writers retreat would be stressful enough but now she has a murder that involves one of her guests; thefts of Hemingway books, and the strange mobster who has her in his sights and is somehow involved in the death of her ex-husband. Despite all this she holds it all together (she would argue that point) and even finds time to write for herself. This second installment left me hungering for more

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this second book in the Cat Latimer series, Cat and her friends Shauna and Seth are gearing up for another successful writer's retreat. After her last session, all Cat wants is a good week with no murder or crazy excitement. Unfortunately that doesn't work out. After spending a day at the local ski resort, one of the retreat guests is caught up in an illicit relationship with the local playboy. When he turns up dead after having a quiet night with Christina, she is the first suspect. Uncle Pete, Cat's uncle who is the police chief, questions her, but believes that she is not the guilty party. There are also story lines regarding a stolen Hemmingway book from the university and a couple of mysterious men wandering around the small town. One is connected to the mafia and seems to have a rather unusual interest in Cat. Could he have something to do with Michael's death?

I love the idea of Cat trying to move past Michael's death by using his study and reading his papers. She and Seth seem to be in a good spot with their relationship as well. Shauna was her usual fun self but seems to be getting more involved with Kevin, the owner of the ski resort who also wants her to come and work as a chef for him. And then there is Uncle Pete, a bit of a curmudgeon who wants to take care of Cat. The guests were definitely a group of diverse and interesting characters. They will have you wondering whether one of them is actually a killer. Or could it be someone from the outside? There are a lot of suspects and I did not figure it out until the reveal at the end. There are still some things unanswered from the first book and I hope we continue to get glimpses into the situation until everything is revealed. Another great book in the Cat Latimer series.

[FangirlNation · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cat Latimer is holding the second week of her writers’ retreat in Aspen Hills in the Victorian house Colorado she inherited from her ex-husband, Michael in Fatality by Firelight by Lynn Cahoon. While at the ski lodge, she spots Christina, one of her writers, with Tommy Neal, but the man neglects to tell her that he is engaged. Despite a warning from Cat against Tommy, Christina leaves the group to go with him, only to flee from him soon after when she learns that Tommy’s only idea is sex, and Christina is dedicated to the belief of waiting until marriage. A little later someone finds Tommy in the hot tub of the hotel room he rented, stabbed in the stomach. As Christina was the last person to see Tommy alive, she faces suspicion as the murderer.

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[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I think it was even better than the first which I enjoyed tremendously. Fatality by Firelight has all of the components that I look for in a cozy mystery series and then some. This is a wonderfully written, fast paced story full of mystery and intrigue. I thought the mystery itself was very strong and Ms. Cahoon supplied us as readers with great twists and turns along with the unexpected. I just kept turning the pages trying to get in one last chapter. I also think that the characters are well crafted. For the second book in a series they have depth, dimension and already feel like old friends. I can't wait until the next book in this series because it is fast becoming one of my favorites and I am hooked.

I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy provided by the publisher through Netgalley.