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The Case of the Talking Tabby: A mother-daughter cozy mystery with a reincarnated detective cat and a cold case to crack
The cat says he’s a detective. The case is twenty-seven years cold, and this mother-daughter duo is about to trade lattes for late-night stakeouts.
Former cop Delaney “Dee” Shaw and her daughter, former forensic scientist Emerson “Em” Shaw, just opened The Claw & Order Cat Café, next to the police station. They were expecting foam art and cat adoptions—until a grumpy red tabby walked in and started talking.
Marlowe insists he’s the reincarnation of a homicide detective who once partnered with Dee’s father—and he’s here to solve the case that got a young woman strangled in her own home, a husband with an alibi, and no justice served.
With Dee’s police instincts, Em’s forensic smarts, and Marlowe’s old-school grit, they’ll dig into a murder the town has nearly forgotten. But the past never stays buried…especially when a detective with nine lives is on the hunt.
Former cop Delaney “Dee” Shaw and her daughter, former forensic scientist Emerson “Em” Shaw, just opened The Claw & Order Cat Café, next to the police station. They were expecting foam art and cat adoptions—until a grumpy red tabby walked in and started talking.
Marlowe insists he’s the reincarnation of a homicide detective who once partnered with Dee’s father—and he’s here to solve the case that got a young woman strangled in her own home, a husband with an alibi, and no justice served.
With Dee’s police instincts, Em’s forensic smarts, and Marlowe’s old-school grit, they’ll dig into a murder the town has nearly forgotten. But the past never stays buried…especially when a detective with nine lives is on the hunt.
195 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 14, 2025
2 people are currently reading
2 people want to read
About the author
Donna Michaels
85 books547 followersHi there. Thank you for checking out my profile.
It’s all my mother’s fault. She read to me when I was little and sparked my imagination. Now, my mind is the limit, and believe me, there’s no limit to my mind.
Hello, I’m Donna Michaels, NYT & USA Today Bestselling Award winning author of Romaginative fiction. I write romance through the H’s—Hot, Humorous, Heartwarming, with strong alpha cowboys and military men who are equally matched by their heroines.
With a husband retired from the military and now working at a brewery, four children, 2 granddaughters, 2 grandsons, several rescued cats, and my parents living with us, I never run out of material. From short to epic, my books entertain readers across a variety of sub-genres, and one has even been hand drawn into a Japanese Translation. Now, if only I could read it…
It’s all my mother’s fault. She read to me when I was little and sparked my imagination. Now, my mind is the limit, and believe me, there’s no limit to my mind.
Hello, I’m Donna Michaels, NYT & USA Today Bestselling Award winning author of Romaginative fiction. I write romance through the H’s—Hot, Humorous, Heartwarming, with strong alpha cowboys and military men who are equally matched by their heroines.
With a husband retired from the military and now working at a brewery, four children, 2 granddaughters, 2 grandsons, several rescued cats, and my parents living with us, I never run out of material. From short to epic, my books entertain readers across a variety of sub-genres, and one has even been hand drawn into a Japanese Translation. Now, if only I could read it…
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 18, 2025
Talking cat's
Grand opening of the small town cafe, great coffee and cat's to play with and adopt, mother daughter duo and owners of the cafe Dee and Em along with their hometown friends are living the dream, shocked and maybe going crazy together when they hear the orange cat talking to them, enter Marlowe the sassy cat that once was Dee's dad's partner on the local police force, cinnamon candy is the only proof she needs, small town cold case murder brings out the worst in some people, not wanting the secrets to be revealed, from things going bump in the night, footprints in the alley, dark car's waiting, burning houses, truly a small town cozy mystery, great beginning to what I hope will be more books for this mother daughter writing duo, thank you both for this magical, amazeballs book, Dana Zamora
Grand opening of the small town cafe, great coffee and cat's to play with and adopt, mother daughter duo and owners of the cafe Dee and Em along with their hometown friends are living the dream, shocked and maybe going crazy together when they hear the orange cat talking to them, enter Marlowe the sassy cat that once was Dee's dad's partner on the local police force, cinnamon candy is the only proof she needs, small town cold case murder brings out the worst in some people, not wanting the secrets to be revealed, from things going bump in the night, footprints in the alley, dark car's waiting, burning houses, truly a small town cozy mystery, great beginning to what I hope will be more books for this mother daughter writing duo, thank you both for this magical, amazeballs book, Dana Zamora
October 15, 2025
"The Case of the Talking Tabby: A mother-daughter cozy mystery with a reincarnated detective cat and a cold case to crack" (Claw and Order Cat Cafe Mysteries Book 1) by Donna Michaels and Jestina Michaels was a wonderful read. I enjoyed reading about Delaney 'Dee' and Emerson 'Em'. This story had humor, family, friends, small-town life, animal rescue, twists, mystery, entertaining characters, and more. This was a fabulous start to this series. I can't wait to read what happens next. I highly recommend it to all fans of mystery, small-town life, family, friends, cats, and series.
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October 18, 2025Amazing! Loved Marlowe
The first thing I liked was the relationship between Dee and Em, you could see the strength of their love and respect for one another. Marlowe was the info and comic relief needed. I also liked the idea of cafe and cat adoption, I would like to think that would work in the real world. Great read love the fact that the authors are mother and daughter , hum sound familiar! We need books like this especially today , here' hoping there are more stories to come especially more Nate/Harrison?
The first thing I liked was the relationship between Dee and Em, you could see the strength of their love and respect for one another. Marlowe was the info and comic relief needed. I also liked the idea of cafe and cat adoption, I would like to think that would work in the real world. Great read love the fact that the authors are mother and daughter , hum sound familiar! We need books like this especially today , here' hoping there are more stories to come especially more Nate/Harrison?
October 19, 2025
Outstanding Read
The Case of the Talking Tabby is the first book in Donna Michaels and Justina Michaels “Claw and Order Cat Cafe Mysteries” and it is a winner!
I really enjoyed and had a hard time putting it down so I could eat, sleep and all those things that we need to do on a daily basis. I am looking forward to reading what Dee, Em and of course the talking tabby hisself, Marlowe, get up too in the next book!
The Case of the Talking Tabby is the first book in Donna Michaels and Justina Michaels “Claw and Order Cat Cafe Mysteries” and it is a winner!
I really enjoyed and had a hard time putting it down so I could eat, sleep and all those things that we need to do on a daily basis. I am looking forward to reading what Dee, Em and of course the talking tabby hisself, Marlowe, get up too in the next book!
October 21, 2025
A mother and daughter writing a cozy murder mystery about a mother and daughter investigating a murder with the help of a talking cat. I liked that idea and I wasn't not disappointed when I finished reading. The story has some sweet characters, a snarky cat, murder, a touch of romance, a nice storyline and a good plot. I can hardly wait for the next book to be published.
I received an advance review copy via Booksprout and I'm leaving a voluntary and honest review.
I received an advance review copy via Booksprout and I'm leaving a voluntary and honest review.
October 25, 2025
Dee and Em are a mother daughter team who have opened a cat café. They serve fancy drinks and pastries provided by friends of theirs.
They are both shocked when they can hear one of the cats, Marlowe, talk. He claims to be a detective that worked with Dee's dad. He wants their help solving a murder.
This is a fun story with a cat leading the direction and them all working together. Can't wait to see where this goes.
They are both shocked when they can hear one of the cats, Marlowe, talk. He claims to be a detective that worked with Dee's dad. He wants their help solving a murder.
This is a fun story with a cat leading the direction and them all working together. Can't wait to see where this goes.
October 28, 2025
Sometimes I don't like when two authors write a book as it can seem disjointed. However this mother-daughter author duo work together just as well as their fictional mother-daughter sleuth team.
It was an excellent mystery, written with heart, had cats (including a talking one) which is always a plus and had me invested from the first page to the last.
A must read for cozy fans, I can hardly wait for the next one.
It was an excellent mystery, written with heart, had cats (including a talking one) which is always a plus and had me invested from the first page to the last.
A must read for cozy fans, I can hardly wait for the next one.
October 24, 2025
The Case of the Talking Tabby book 1 in Claw and Order Cat Cafe Mysteries by author duo Donna and Justina Michaels is a very enjoyable story. I really enjoyed the characters especially Marlowe the cat and can't wait to see what they get up to next!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 25, 2025
I'm not always a fan of pets helping with investigations, but this story grabbed my attention from the beginning. I found it well-written and entertaining. The sleuthing does not drag out and is to the point. Dee and Em, along with Marlowe, are a strong partnership and the romantic interests peeking through the story are a nice touch. Bring on the next book in this series.
November 3, 2025
The Case of the Talking Tabby by Donna Michaels and Jestina Michaels is an delightful cozy mystery. I love the mother/daughter interaction. You can feel the love and respect between them. I adored Marlow the talking cat with the brains of cop and the escape artist skills of a cat. I do hope they continue to tell more stories from The Claw & Order Cat Café,
November 3, 2025
A cute cozy mystery featuring a mother/daughter sleuthing team, and a cat who talks to them. The cat has some funny lines, and the mystery kept me guessing.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews