The Black Cat Detectives

by Kit Gray

A charming cozy mystery with a delightful twist: The detectives are three kittens with magical powers, determined to solve a most purr-plexing case.

Precocious kittens Bippity, Boppity, and Boop are exceedingly loyal to their human, the twenty-eight-year-old up-and-coming magician Mila. She saved them from starving to death in a dingy Corvin’s Crossing alleyway and has been nothing but loving ever since, even though her own life is in shambles.

So when Mila’s sketchy boyfriend and business manager turns up dead at the end of her big magic show—she’s the prime suspect. With evidence mounting, there’s nothing stopping the sheriff from hauling away Mila to the human pound. Unless the kittens can solve the crime and clear her name.

The kittens will have to use their dubious control over the laws of physics and every whisker of know-how they’ve got to catch the real killer if they want to save their happy home with Mila. This is one meow-stery more tangled than any ball of yarn they’ve encountered yet.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fantasy, Cats, Adult, Mystery Thriller

297 pages, Hardcover

First published May 26, 2026

About the author

Kit Gray is the cozy mystery pseudonym for author Elise Scott.

Elise writes from their lived experiences of queerness, disability, neurodivergence, fat-positivity, and petting three cats with two hands. Their life has been an adventure, from facilitating equine therapy for trauma survivors to counseling at-risk youth with the aid of an inordinately large sub-woofer and beyond. They earned their BA from Mount Holyoke and their MS from Capella University.

Their debut novel, a cozy mystery featuring three kittens with the ability to bend the laws of physics, who must solve a murder to save their rescuer from the human pound, is forthcoming from Crooked Lane in May 2026.

Elise is a 3rd place Not Quite Write Prize winner and Best-of-the-Net nominee. Their short work has appeared/is forthcoming in The Advocate, Choices: An Anthology of Reproductive Horror, The Not Quite Write Anthology 2025, The B'K, Five Minutes, Knee Brace, All Existing, Chaotic Merge, HerStry, and Quibble, among others. Find out what they’re working on now at http://elise-scott.com.

Reviews

[Claressa Hallman · Rating 2 out of 5]

The FMC was hard to empathize with.  She broke down crying because her boyfriend got a big agent to see her show, but he was unable to make it himself.  There was no thank you, just a display of petty selfishness on her part.  Then, the local Veterinarian tells her (in an insensitive manner) that her agent/boyfriend is cheating on her with her best friend and she shrugs it off.  


The kittens could be fun, but they alternate between being quite intelligent and understanding "human language" to not understanding very simplistic things.  I'm not even to the mystery yet and I can't imagine these juvenile cats solving it.  The Myltiple POV (3 cats plus the FMC) is too much.  The cats are each explaining essentially one drawn out Vet appointment and it delays the plot progression.  The cat's names would be fun if they were Bippity, Boppity, and Boo.  Not Bippity, Boppity, and Boop.


I'm also confused about what kind of magic show is being put on.  The entire town is coming and the mayor sends his well wishes.  Her entire career rests on the shoulders of this show and she is at the Vet.  


The FMC seems to take advantage of others to set up the stage for her while she cries in an alley and takes cats to a Vet on what, supposedly, is the biggest day of her life.


Shallow characters, inconsistent dialogue, and slow moving plot - it was a DNF for me at 38 pages.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was different, in that a large portion was from the kittens' POVs. I thought it was mostly cute and fun, but at times it was a little boring. The mystery was okay, but the real focus was definitely the kittens and their antics (trying to help).

[Laurie J. · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book wasn’t for me. It seemed too disjointed in its telling. Multiple POV: woman magician (the most scatterbrained) & each of the three kittens. I didn’t get the kittens having these very anthropomorphic thoughts about their siblings and humans.

I was probably a couple hours in and nothing much had happened except the woman had a fight with her agent, who was also her boyfriend (already I didn’t like the setup), then while crying she hears the cats. Quick POV change to the cats who yell at one another to cry loud so they can be heard by the human, then a drive to the vet for a check of the kittens, meaning when she returns, she has to scramble to get ready for the evening’s performance that had been left on stage with the back door open.

Maybe as a YA mystery it works. But it doesn’t even appear to have the sophistication of Nancy Drew or Enola Holmes.

DNF

[Cozy Reader Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Black Cat Detectives" by Kit Gray is a cute, multi point of view cozy mystery. It's a great cozy for nerdy, pop culture lovers but not individuals that use the term "woke" as an insult. I think it could be a traveling cozy mystery series focused on the chaos stage magician, Mila, and her three black cats, Bippity, Boppity, and Boop get into.

Mila is an up and coming stage magician who may be finally getting the exposure she needs to advance her career. She's even found herself becoming the newest recipient of the kitten distribution system. Unfortunately, her boyfriend and business manager (ted flag there) will be missing the performance that could be her big break.

Bippity, Boppity, and Boop are three orphaned, stray cats that have some unique abilities. It's not magic, it's just a better understanding of physics. Also, humans are the lesser of beings since they don't understand animal language or science to the level cats do. So, humans can't be allowed to see the kittens use physics. It's cat law, that the kittens barely avoid breaking to help Mila stay out of the human pound.

[Ellen Curran · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun adventure and mystery. I guessed almost every other person but the actual killer. there were subtle hints but very subtle.

[꧁ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out this review of The Black Cat Detectives: A Mystery on Fable. https://fable.co/review/ded92d6c-3d04...

#TheBlackCatDetectives #NetGalley.

Thank you Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for this ARC.

Got me interested because of the title and book cover. I have a black adult cat and his name is Noir and he is my reading buddy.

Murder mystery. I like Mila's character as described that she took a minute to admire the flowers and she's a magician! And that when she found Bippity, Boppity, and Boop.
*Boop is my favourite as she purrssss.. all cats do but still 😸
I like how the pov of the cats are so descriptive that sometimes i laugh on how they saw the world with their eyes and limited vocabularies.

These cats help their human by following some ways to solve the case, that is by knowing the Motive, Means, and Opportunity.
I have my list of suspects and I got it right!
Slow read for me at first but then when the murder happened and the investigation started.. that's when it got exciting. If ever this gets a film adaptation, i hope they'll animate it beautifully.

Maybe Mila was a kitten in human form. I also like to be a cat.
Love. Joy. Fun. Adventure.

[CrazyCatLadyReadsBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mila - an amateur magician, is arguing with her boyfriend/manager when she hears some cries. There in the alley, are three kittens who are just about clinging on to life. Once taken to the vet, checked over and fed, Mila decides to adopt them. She has to hone her act for a major opportunity and so decides to take the kitties with her. Whilst performing live everything is going great... until her boyfriend is found stabbed to death for the big finale! With Mila looking like the prime suspect, the kittens decide they better help find the real murderer, after all Mila is their human now...isn’t she?

The Pro's:
1) The kitties are so adorable. They are full of (over)confidence and sweetness but vulnerability too
2) There is a fun mystery to try and solve
3) There are small town vibes
4) There are so many cute animals and they all have fab names like, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme (horses) and Biscuit and Cookie (goats) etc
5) Dual POV with Mila and the Kitties! (all the separate Kitties have a POV)
6) Mila is a magician so her act is in the story. I love magic and illusion.
7) The cover 😍

The Con's:
1) There are some sad parts
2) There are some dark themes i.e. murder etc
3) Personally I think Mila forgives someone a little bit too easily in the story and it didn’t really ring true

The Quotes:
1) She looked at me with dark brown eyes, and I began to purr. I waved my tail invitingly and lifted my back, walking sideways to show her how much soft, lovely fur I had. She probably wanted to snuggle me. Who wouldn’t?

2) A sudden feeling blossomed in her chest, like gratitude, but much fiercer. Somehow, the other emotions battling for her attention, the anxiety and hurt and anger of the day, felt less important. Even if the rest of her life went up in flames, there would be a pile of kittens on her chest when she went to bed tonight.

3) “There’s a unique, ineffable thing that happens between humans and cats.” She settled herself again into an elegant queen pose, her gaze distant. “For all of their quirks and faults, humans change the world around them in ways we cats could never imagine. And we change the world in ways they can’t understand. When a human and a cat find a special connection, a harmony of purpose, their bond is the closest thing in this world to magic.”

The Summary:
I ADORED this book! Yes, the biggest draw was the cutie patootie kittens - they also have a POV in the book as well. My heart melted hearing their ‘voices’ plus the writer exactly got the attitude right for the kittens - over confident but vunerable too. There is also the murder mystery and the bond between the kitties and their human Mila - anyone with an animal - especially cats, understands how unique that bond is. I was a fan of the writing as well, I devoured the book in less than 24 hours, I was that invested. I am also a fan of magic and loved that aspect in the book. I am really hoping this will turn into a series and I will be first in line to buy it!

Additional note: Look how adorable this cover is! I genuinely think this is the best cover I have ever seen in my life. I need this book on my shelf and a poster of the front cover on my wall!
Pretty, pretty please 🙏 🙏 🙏

Summed up in a sentence?:
3x black adorable kitties try to help their human accused of murder

I rated the book 4.5 but happily rounded it up to 5 on Goodreads as they don't have half stars. It's well deserved.

Publish date: Expected 26 May 2026 at time of review

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC for the chance to read and review!

[Cynthia Rodrigues · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mila MacAllister is a 28-yo magician in a small town, Corvin’s Crossing, hoping to make it to the big league. On the morning of her performance, at which she expects to be scouted for a resort that is looking for performers, Mila finds three black kittens, with the mother nowhere in sight, in a box in the alley outside the club where she is to perform. She rescues them and takes them to the vet and decides to adopt them.
That evening, Mila’s successful performance comes to a sudden close when the body of her boyfriend and manager, Brandon, comes crashing through the roof to the stage, with Mila’s pocket knife protruding out of his chest.

The story is written in four PoVs, the 3rd person PoV of Mila and the 1st person PoVs of the three kittens named Bippity, Boppity and Boop. Bippity is female, Boppity is male, and Boop is non-binary. The other two kittens use they/them pronouns while referring to Boop.

WHAT I LIKED: I liked the emphasis on friendships and the family ties you build for yourself.

I am no lover of cats, yet I was quite amused and intrigued by the antics of the kittens. The characterization of the kittens is done with a gentle touch. Bippity sees herself as a leader, born to lead her siblings. Boppity fancies himself as a great warrior and is always ready for battle. Boop is always gentle, preferring naps and cuddling to anything else. The curiosity, independence and vulnerability of the cats rang true, even though I know very little about cats.

The voices of the three kittens were strong and striking.

The descriptions of the foods cooked by Ms Fi, and Q and Mrs Scarborough all popped off the page.

In terms of diversity, Asia is well represented through Ms Fi and Becca Varma, Mila’s best friend.


WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: The focus should have been on the murder mystery. Instead, the cats took up excessive space, causing a lot of repetition, given that there are three kittens and only one Mila.

Why Becca should be a Varma, an Indian origin surname, makes no sense. We see no evidence of her background or culture, making the name tokenish. She might as well have been white.

In keeping with what has almost become the trope of the genre, Mila was both smart and dumb.

I found the conclusion rather tame. The killer wasn’t convincing enough, nor was their rationale for killing.

The Physics-based superpowers of the kittens weren’t very clear.

Mila’s back story was minimal. It was unclear why she left her parents’ home. They neglected her, and led their own lives, but her trauma suggested something far worse. Also, where and how she learnt magic was something that wasn’t explained.


WHAT DIDN’T QUITE WORK: In one place, Bopp had male pronouns used, possibly a typo that slipped past.

There is a whole chapter set at the vet’s where Mila takes the three kittens. This chapter was wholly unnecessary.


ALL SAID AND DONE: This was a cozy mystery that ultimately ended up being more cozy and less mystery, with the kittens overshadowing the resolution of the mystery.

(I received an ARC of this book for the purpose of reviewing the story. Thanks to the author and publisher. I read the ARC on NetGalley. The views expressed in the review are entirely my own.)

[The Void Vibes · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️ | 📱 E-book

——————————————

🪝The Hook:
The three most adorable kittens you will ever have the pleasure of reading about! Bippity, Boppity, and Boop (Yes, I’m so serious) must help their new human, a Magician named Mila, to solve the mystery of her boyfriend’s murder.

Each chapter alternates perspectives between our human MC Mila, and each of our adorable kitten characters. Bippity (the intelligent leader) Boppity (the fearless warrior) and Boop (the cuddly caretaker) must team up to save the day with a little ✨magical interference✨.

——————————————

💙What I Liked: 
There is SO much to love about this book! I absolutely adored our kitten characters, they have some of the most distinct personalities I’ve read in a long time. Each of their chapters helps to move the story along at a good pace, while giving us an inside look at the thoughts of our feline detectives.

I thought this would just be a silly little cozy mystery, but I was pleasantly surprised at the depth of emotion in some of the scenes! There are a lot of moments that made me smile or pause just to reread them. Some of the main themes explored in the novel are found family, loss, and self-confidence.

The story is a fun “whodunnit” style murder mystery, with multiple suspects and some twists and turns along the way for our heroes to work out. The human characters are well written, though since they are all suspects, they each tend to fall into a standard archetype (Kind of like the characters from Clue).

The real gems in this story are Bippity, Boppity, and Boop. They make me wish I could give my cats a pen and paper so that I could know what they’re thinking. This story will make you want to cuddle your fur babies and wish you could meet our three kitten detectives in real life.

——————————————

💔What Could’ve Been Better: 
I feel like it is just the nature of the cozy mystery, but this book was hella cheesy at times. The characters don’t always act realistically or respond to events in a way that feels natural. This book teeters on the edge of feeling young-adult, even though it is marketed as an adult cozy mystery. There are just certain parts that feel distinctly “young reader”, until you get to the next chapter and it starts talking about murder and characters having affairs.

I also wish we could have gotten a little more personality from the human main character, Mila. With how strong the personalities of the kittens were, her personality felt a bit flat in comparison.

——————————————

🧐Overall Thoughts: 
This was one of the cutest, most enjoyable reads I have had in a while! The writing was not phenomenal, but the story, characters, and overall themes of the book make this a worthwhile read. I didn’t want this book to end, mostly because I wasn’t ready to let go of Bippity, Boppity, and Boop.

If you are a cat owner, this book is required reading. I would recommend this to most people as a fun, lighthearted read that has a good mystery element to it.

——————————————

~ Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review! 📚~

✨If you liked this review, check out my blog! /ᐠ. .ᐟ\✨

[Emelia · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Black Cat Detectives has a cool premise. A female magician with three kittens solving the mystery of her dead boyfriend, billed as a cozy. Really cute cover with three black kittens.

Unfortunately I didn't get to any of the stuff that drew me in. I had to DNF at 35 pages read. The story starts out really interesting with Mila, the main character, arriving for her big magic show. Unfortunately she just cannot ever go on if her boyfriend doesn't attend and they get into a huge fight that made me dislike both of them. The attention from the cool up and coming magic show is stripped away. I really wanted to know more about her show. Then suddenly we are in the POV of a group of kittens who are in the alleyway. Mila snatches them up, names them Bippity Boppity and Boo. Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo from Cinderella but with “Comic book sound effects”? Besides the odd name choice (especially for a book that has series potential) the names all start with B and sound similar and they are all black kittens. We immediately start to switch between their POVs which becomes confusing. I cannot tell these black cats apart, at all. They don't seem to have any distinct personalities, at least as far as I read. They all speak in the same voice where everything a human does confuses them and they react with a typical kitten action. Right after the kittens are found, Mila takes them to the vet, even though her big show is going to happen, and we move even farther away from the interesting plot. I want mystery, I want magic!
Chapter 4: “The Vet” takes us through 11 pages at the vet where whichever kitten whose POV we are in is just baffled by everything. Stings at the neck (the vet gave them shots) their ribs being palpated, the vet picks up another kitten and the POV kitten fears she is attacking them, etc. This is interspersed very occasionally with extremely dry dialogue between Mila and the vet about how the whole town is going to see her show, but no actual info about the show. What kind of magic does she do? How long has she been a magician? What is motivating her? There is nothing to actually get me invested in that plot and after struggling for a few days to get through the vet chapter I decided this book really isn't for me. Big bummer because I love mysteries with cats and I have a black cat myself. I think it would need heavy editing for me to enjoy this book. The POV at the vet especially could be completely taken out in order to keep the mystery and the cats solving it the focus.

[Devi · Rating 5 out of 5]

📱📖 Read on Kobo
📃 304 pages
⏱️ 4 hours
🏷️ Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
📅 Release Date: May 26, 2026
🧾 ARC provided by NetGalley

There are paranormal cozy mysteries… and then there are PARANORMAL COZY MYSTERIES. You think you’ve read cat cozies before? You haven’t met these three. Bippity, Boppity, and Boop are not just kittens. They are THE kittens. The kind that make you pause mid-chapter and think, How have I lived this long without them? I genuinely cannot believe I went through life unaware that three magical black kittens were missing from it.

What truly sent me, though, is that a huge portion of this book is narrated from the kittens’ POV. Not as a gimmick. Not as a novelty. As a fully realized, emotionally rich storytelling choice that WORKS. Their love for Mila is fierce, instinctual, and achingly pure. Every threat feels personal. Every risk feels devastating. I laughed out loud, clutched my chest, and had multiple “I would burn the world down for these kittens” moments. However, everytime Boop goes "Motherrrrrr"... Cue the ugly-cry ugly tears mixed with giggles.

The mystery keeps you guessing with two bodies, shady boyfriends, quirky side characters (Mrs. F, you icon), and a whole lot of magical mishaps that had me laughing so hard. Kit Grey’s writing sparkles with mischief. One chapter I was laughing, the next I was wiping an unexpected tear (yes, over kittens, don’t @ me). By the time I hit the twist, I didn’t care who the killer was, I just wanted these three tiny detectives to get home safe and nap in a sunbeam. Cozy mystery readers, fantasy fans, cat lovers, this book is your next comfort read.

Would I recommend it?
You need this book like you need food to live. I will not be taking questions at this time.
If you are a cat lover, this is non-negotiable. If you are a cozy mystery reader, this is required reading. And if you are both? Congratulations, this book was written directly for you. Pre-order it. Add it to your TBR. Shout about it. Nothing else I’ve read recently comes even close to delivering this level of joy.

Let’s Talk Kittens & Crimes
Okay, if your cats had magical powers, what would they be? Would they use them to solve mysteries or just to open more cans of tuna? Tell me in the comments before I go re-read the last chapter again.

[Angie Boyter · Rating 4 out of 5]

How could I resist reading about Black Cat Detectives?
Much as I love mysteries, I love cats even more, so the prospect of a book featuring both sounded like my kind of read. For the most part, my expectations were fulfilled.
Kittens Bippity, Boppity, and Boop narrate the book in alternating chapters, but they do allow a humancentric chapter every fourth chapter that centers on Mila, the stage magician who rescued them and gave them love and a home. The cats are fun to get to know, with differing personalities. Their depiction requires quite a bit of willing suspension of disbelief, though, and that need grows as the book proceeds and their talents are put to use applying cat physics, “what the humans call magic”. It took me a while to accept this and I still think it was a bit heavy-handed, but it was fun once I did so. The depiction of cat behavior is delightful throughout the book and gave me many smiles.
OK, the feline presence is well done; what about the overall plot? The murder victim had a lot of features that could make someone wish him dead, and as a mystery the book is well done, even though I suspect that people who REALLY are not interested in cats might get impatient ( or maybe they might decide cats have a lot to admire and might be worth adopting!).
Little writing details add to the enjoyment. My ebook has a lot of “ha ha”s in the margins. I enjoyed cute clever names like Q Tea Pie, the local “with the comfiest sofas and the flakiest pastry in all of New England”. One aspect that I did not care for, though, was the clever-but annoying gender classification of the three cats, “he”, “”she”, and “they”. I DO wish we could come up with a gender-free pronoun in English, but to me ”they” is not a good choice for Boop, especially since I am sure they will have all of the cats neutered!
Overall, this is an enjoyable book that gave me more smiles as I drafted my reviews. I hope that Bippity, Boppity, and Boop do not encounter any more crimes they need to investigate, but if they do I will enjoy hearing about them.
I received an advance review copy of this book from Edelweiss and Crooked Lane Books

[Nubie Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Black Cat Detectives was such an adorable cozy mystery and honestly one of those books that just makes you smile while reading.

The story follows Mila, a magician who is already going through a very important night in her life when everything suddenly starts going wrong. What I loved most right away was how easy it was to connect with her. She’s such a lovable and relatable character — trying her best, dealing with pressure, and just wanting things to go right for once. And then come the real stars of the book: her three mischievous little kittens.

The kittens added so much charm to the story. Not only were they cute, but they also had very distinct personalities, which made every scene with them even more fun. I especially loved that the book actually gives us their POV too. It made the story feel lighter and more unique. Instead of the mystery feeling heavy, the kittens somehow made everything feel comforting even when the plot turned darker.

The setting was also perfect for a cozy mystery — a peaceful small town where nothing bad ever seems to happen… until suddenly a murder turns everything upside down. Mila becoming the prime suspect really raised the tension, and I liked how the story kept dropping clues and different possibilities. I found myself guessing along with the characters the whole time, which made the reading experience even more fun.

What I appreciated the most is that even with the darker mystery plot, the book never lost its cozy and warm atmosphere. It balanced suspense and comfort really well. The friendships, the small‑town vibe, and of course the kittens made the whole story feel wholesome even when the stakes were higher.

I also really liked the ending. It felt satisfying, heartwarming, and perfectly matched the overall tone of the book. This was definitely one of those reads that leaves you feeling happy after finishing it. Overall, I’m really glad I picked this up. It was cute, cozy, fun, and just a very delightful mystery to read.

[Mira Ella Ludwig · Rating 3 out of 5]

𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕓𝕝𝕒𝕔𝕜 𝕔𝕒𝕥 𝕕𝕖𝕥𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕧𝕖𝕤 🐾

Welcome back, my sweet awful creatures! 🦇

I constantly try to become a better reviewer, a better writer, and a better journalist, and this time I thought, why not try a different genre? Something I usually wouldn't read. A children's book! I got the ARC for this copy of Black Cat Detectives by NetGalley and read it as soon as I could. Let's get into my review!

The Black Cat Detectives follows the story of a young woman called Mila and her kittens she found in a box on the side of the road. One would say finding a pack of kittens is the beginning of a lucky streak, but in her case it's the exact opposite. The next day, during her magical show, her ex-boyfriend appears on her stage… dead, stabbed with her stage knife. All fingers point to her, as she had recently argued with him the day before. All odds are against her, and she has no way of proving that it wasn't her. The kittens are aware that losing Mila would be the worst thing that could ever happen to them, so they agree to protect her by playing detectives and uncovering this murder case.

Ahhhh, this was so cute!! I'm a big fan of murder mysteries, and adding the cutesy detective cats made it so much better. I can totally see my younger self being obsessed with this!

The story is written in third person and is medium-paced; the murder mystery aspect is more on the mild side, considering this is a children's story, so don’t expect anything Stephen King level. It's a cute mystery story that focuses more on the relationship between Mila and the kittens than the murder itself. Even the Goosebumps books are scarier, so this book is perfect for children who don’t enjoy scary content but still want to play detective.

As an adult I give it three points out of five; as a child I would have given it a higher rating for sure. My verdict? If your child or nephew is interested in detective content, get that little Sherlock this book!

Until next time!

Mira 💗

[Monika · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a cozy crime mystery with very cute animal companions, it might be perfect for you.

First of all, I was a bit hesitant about the premise because I can be very very strict when it comes to my approach to cat care. Pet safety is one of the things my autism makes me really emotionally invested in, but here it was really fine! I was worried we could potentially get the three kittens being let out by themselves into the city, which would make me stressed out, but no- all of the animal owners in this book genuinely cared and were responsible. (I know it’s a very specific thing and a lot of people wouldn’t mind as this is obviously a fictional situation, but I do, so I wanted to be clear about it.)

In the story, we follow Mila, a magician (I can surely say I’ve never followed a magician in a contemporary story!) and her three rescue kittens with special powers. There are four alternating POVs and I have to admit, the voices of the kittens are quite distinctive! They all have different superpowers and different personalities, and it was fun to spot similarities with my cats. ;-) Our characters are trying to solve a murder case together, with the help of other kind people and animals.

I feel like it’s mostly a cozy, cute found family story, with a lot of food descriptions (that actually made me hungry), taking place in a small town with lots of local businesses. I’m not sure if the mystery would be satisfying enough if that would be your main draw to the story, but for me it was fine- the main thing were the kittens. ;-) I didn’t enjoy one of the side plot points, but overall, it was an incredibly pleasant read. Our MC forging her bond with the cats and getting support from her found family was truly heart warming. I will definitely check out this author’s future books.

Huge thanks to Alcove Press/ Crooked Lane Books for sending me the physical ARC!

[icantcomeimbooked · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.25 stars)

this was honestly such a fun and really cute read, I had the best time with it, As a cat person this was such a great Idea for a book I thought this story line idea was the cutest thing ever, I love that we get their POV's as well which I thought was really unique compared to a book that is only third person throughout for these sorts of Animal Characters, I could read about these kittens all day, it was so fun and so adorable, they each had their own distinct personalities, they are all smart witty and most of all are devoted and love their owner Mila more than anything, I enjoyed Mila's Character as well I thought she was a good fit for this book,

The idea of three kittens solving a murder to save their human I was sold immediately even with the darker mystery plot, the book never lost its cozy, warm atmosphere.

Bippity, Boppity, and Boop were definitely my favorite part
they’re chaotic, clever, and just so entertaining to follow this was such an easy read for me, something that no matter what mood you are in its something you can come back to and just enjoy the characters and the story.

I also really liked that even though it’s super cozy and light, there’s still an actual mystery going on that keeps you interested the whole time my two favorite genres crossed into one book.

It was just a really easy, enjoyable read that I flew through, I really hope to see more books with these little kittens in the future.

overall, this was such a fun, comforting mystery that will keep you smiling throughout and will have you missing these little cuties after your finished — 4.25⭐ for me

if you love:
🐈‍⬛ cozy mysteries
🐈‍⬛ animal characters
🐈‍⬛ light, easy reads
🐈‍⬛ a little bit of magic

you’ll love this

thank you to netgalley, the publisher & kit gray for the arc

[Julie Ditton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love cozy mysteries, and nothing is more cozy than a cat- except three of them. Elise Scott, using the appropriate nom de plume Kit Gray, has written an cute kitty cozy that cat-loving mystery fans will adore. Mila is a magician waiting for her chance to make it big, but while her magic is all an act the real magic is wielded by her three new kittens. Of course, they don't call it magic- it is really Physics. Cats have a grasp of physics that no human can understand it is Cat Law that the kitties keep it that way. But when Mila's boyfriend literally drops dead ( from the catwalk) during Mila's magic act, Bippity, Boppity and Boop must use their talents to help their new person solve the murder, before she ends up in the "human pound". The story is told from four points of view. The chapters alternate between narration by each kitten and chapters told in third person from Mila's point of view.

The human protagonist was a bit gullible, but she is a loving friend and pet mom. The cats each have distinct fully realized characters. Bippity sees herself as the leader, a queen in the making, who can bend photons to make herself seem invisible to humans.. Boppity is a fierce protector, he is always fighting shadows. He can somehow connect items together using cat science so that he can move items without being being noticed. Boop is a nonbinary cuddle kitten who's superpower is their purr. Their words of encouragement keep their siblings strong.

The story takes a lot of suspension of disbelief. But the writing is lively and imaginative and I found the story a delight. If you love cozy mysteries and cats, this is the purr-fect book for you.

Read Kit Grey's author guest post : Five Self-Care Rituals to Nurture Creativity on the June 4th Storybook lady book blog. The post is part of Great Escapes Blog Tour from June 3rd to June 16th and there is a tour wide giveaway of a signed Advanced Review Copy of The Black Cat Detectives and an adorable Cuteness Care Package.

[narrative.neurosis · Rating 2 out of 5]

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND THE PUBLISHER FOR THIS ARC

This one’s a quirky, cat-centric mystery with a big heart—and a very specific vibe. The story follows Mila, a stage magician on the brink of a career breakthrough whose personal life is… less than magical. When a rough night leads her to discover three abandoned kittens behind a dumpster (enter Bippity, Boppity, and Boop—icons, all of them), the book fully commits to its premise: cats, crime, and a dash of the uncanny.
The alternating kitten POVs are easily the highlight. Each kitten has a distinct personality—Bippity the confident leader, Boppity the brave protector, and Boop the gentle soul—and their chapters add warmth and charm. The cats even stumble into Mila’s big show, becoming accidental stars just as a murder abruptly shifts the story into full mystery mode. From there, the plot introduces “Physics,” a magical system that gives cats special abilities, taught by the enigmatic neighbor Ms. Fi and her cat, Hylia.
Stylistically, this reads very much like a middle-grade mystery: simple prose, fast pacing, and a focus on fun ideas over gritty realism. If you grew up on animal-led mysteries, this will probably feel familiar—comforting, even. That said, the book occasionally left me wanting more clarity. The rules behind the cat “Physics” aren’t fully explained, and the crime timeline can feel a bit fuzzy, which made it harder to stay grounded in the mystery itself.
Overall, The Black Cat Detectives is a whimsical, offbeat read that will likely appeal most to younger readers or anyone looking for a light, cat-forward mystery with magical elements. It wasn’t quite my cup of tea, but I can absolutely see the charm—especially if you’re here for clever kittens solving crimes (or at least helping along the way).

[❆ Ashton ❆ (fable link in bio) · Rating 5 out of 5]

✦⋆｡˚☽˚｡⋆ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━⋆｡˚☽˚｡⋆✦
✧｡･ﾟﾟ･☾ Review ☾･ﾟﾟ･｡✧

★★★★★
THANK YOU NETGALLEY AND KIT GRAY!
🔎🖤🐈‍⬛🪄🔪
Okay…FREAKING CUTE that there were pov’s from the kittens! They were cute, sassy, and added so much personality that they quickly became my favorite parts of the book. The first chapter had me unsure. Mila came off a bit dramatic and rubbed me the wrong way at first but thankfully that feeling didn’t last. Once I settled into the story it became the ultimate cozy read. This is the kind of book that just feels warm and comforting, especially if you’re reading it while cuddled up with a cat. It also worked perfectly as a palate cleanser; short, charming, and refreshingly different. The concept was unique, the execution worked, and by the end I was fully on board.
Do you like cats?
Do you like cozy mysteries?
Do you like cats solving mysteries?
Do you want a quick read with a fun concept?
If you answered yes to any of those questions then you should 100% pick this book up.

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✧｡･ﾟﾟ･☾ Quotes ☾･ﾟﾟ･｡✧

ɪ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ꜱᴇᴇ ʀɪɢʜᴛ ᴀᴡᴀʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴇʀ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛʙʀᴇᴀᴋ ᴍɪʀʀᴏʀᴇᴅ ᴍʏ ᴏᴡɴ. ꜱʜᴇ ɴᴇᴇᴅᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ꜱʜᴇ ᴡᴀꜱɴ'ᴛ ᴀʟᴏɴᴇ. ɪ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴄʀʏ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜᴇʀ.

“ᴍɪʟᴀ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ᴅɪᴅ ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴏᴜʀ ʜᴇʟᴘ. ᴛʜᴇꜱᴇ ʜᴜᴍᴀɴꜱ ᴀʟʟ ꜱᴇᴇᴍᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴀʀᴇ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʜᴇʀ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ꜱʜᴇ ᴛᴀʟᴋᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇᴍ, ꜱʜᴇ ᴇɴᴅᴇᴅ ᴜᴘ ʜᴜʀᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀʟᴏɴᴇ.”

“ʙᴇʏᴏɴᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ, ᴀ ʟᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ ꜱʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ ʙᴇ ᴋɴᴏᴡʟᴇᴅɢᴇᴀʙʟᴇ, ꜱᴏ ʜᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴘʀᴏʙᴀʙʟʏ ᴀɴ ᴇxᴘᴇʀᴛ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴜᴍᴀɴꜱ' ᴏᴅᴅ ᴏʙꜱᴇꜱꜱɪᴏɴ ᴡɪᴛʜ ɪᴍᴀɢɪɴᴀʀʏ ʀᴇꜱᴏᴜʀᴄᴇꜱ ꜱᴜᴄʜ ᴀꜱ ᴍᴏɴᴇʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴘʀᴏᴘᴇʀᴛʏ.”

[Sally906 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Main Character, Mila, is an up and coming amateur magician looking to becoming professional. The story opens with her arguing with her boyfriend in the alley beside the theatre where she is going to perform that night. As he drives off she hears some cries and finds three kittens half dead in a box. She decides to adopt them and takes them to a vet. After they are checked, vaccinated and fed she brings them with her to the theatre while she performs. Everything about the performance goes well - until the dead body of her boyfriend is found backstage, stabbed with her stage dagger, making Mila the prime suspect.

Her new kittens, now named Bippity, Boppity, and Boop, are not normal kitties though - they are magical - and decide to prove Mila innocent so she doesn’t get sent to the human pound and they become homeless again.

The story is told occasionally from the point of view of Mila, and mostly from the point of view of the three kitten detectives and is absolutely magical. The story itself is quite dark at times, but the kittens bumbling away as they hone their power and argue with each other, lightens the atmosphere. Mila is a lovely kind person who has had her life turned up side down and is struggling to learn who to trust. There are a few twists and turns and another murder before the edge of the seat showdown and reveal at the end.

The Black Cat Detectives by Kit Gray is a great debut book and I am looking forwards to reading more Bippity, Boppity, and Boop investigations.

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for providing an advanced copy of this book, at my request, for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magician Mila MacAllister is getting ready to go on stage and perform her magic show. This could be her big chance to make a name for herself. When she discovers a box of three abandoned kittens, Mila decides to adopt them and name them Bippity, Boppity and Boop. She loves them already.

Mila is shocked when her nasty ex-boyfriend/manager turns up dead at the end of her show. All evidence points to murder. The police are quick to suspect Mila and make sure she pays for the crime. Mila insists she didn’t do anything wrong. She’s innocent. She has nothing to worry about since her new kitties are on the job and determined to prove her innocence.

When I first saw the names of the three kittens, I thought this might be a children’s book. It isn’t. It’s a full-length murder mystery complete with many clues and quite a few twists and turns along the way. I enjoyed trying to solve the case along with the kitties. The kitties do not verbally converse with the humans, but they do communicate with each other and other animals.

It’s a fast-paced mystery. I was surprised at the ending. I don’t know if this is the beginning of a new series or a standalone, but I’m hoping for a series. I liked all the characters involved, especially the kitties. I think this will appeal to cat lovers and mystery fans.





Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Brenda · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5★s

Stuck in a cardboard box in a dark and dingy alleyway, three tiny black kittens were gradually starving. Their mother had left for food for them over four days ago, and hadn't returned. But when the kittens heard a human nearby, they meowed as loudly as they could. That was how Mila, magician, discovered them, naming them Bippity, Boppity, and Boop at the vet's visit.

When Mila did her magic show that night, with the kittens watching on, a man died on the stage behind Mila. And she was immediately suspect #1. The kittens vowed to find the killer and clear the name of their new mother, a human, especially after she went to jail.

Unfortunately for me, the best thing about this book is the adorable cover! The Black Cat Detectives by Kit Gray wasn't so much a cosy mystery, it was a love-fest for the kittens, and it got a bit too much after awhile. It was better toward the end, as the mystery was solved, but I won't be following the series.

With thanks to NetGalley & Crooked Lane Books for my digital ARC to read and review.

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this and I was excited, as I do love a cozy mystery. The cat POV element was also very cute. I think the author did a really good job at creating those charactersand building the relationships between the kittens, as well as between them and other animals.

My main gripe is that I don't think the human relationships and POV was as successful. The conversations often felt awkward/unnatural to me and the dynamics felt very distant. Pete is supposed to be one of Mila's closet friends and like a brother but based on what happens on page, I did not feel that connection at all. From what we see between them, they seem more like acquaintances.

There were also extensive descriptions of food, which I didn't feel was entirely necessary in adding to the story and more of that time could have gone towards developing other elements.

I would also say that the kittens are vastly knowledgeable in some regards but then kind of oblivious about other stuff, which felt like a bit of a disconnect to try to showcase them as hyper intelligent beings but then also make them seem cutesy and silly.

Overall cute and a sweet story about the connection between animals and their humans but the writing just didn't totally work for me.

[Noelle Sideyardbookclub · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun cozy mystery! As a cat mom to 10 cats (yes, I proudly wear the crazy cat lady badge 🤣), the moment I came across this book I knew I had to read it and it absolutely delivered!

The story is told through four different perspectives: Mila and each of the three kittens, Bippity, Boppity, and Boop. Even though the kittens and humans can’t verbally communicate, it was entertaining watching their parallel investigations unfold and seeing how the kittens were “helping” solve the murder of Mila’s boyfriend.

Each kitten had their own unique personality and special abilities, and I loved the creative twist that cats can bend the laws of physics. From bending light to disappear to bonding objects together to move things around, their powers added such a fun and magical element to the mystery.

This book kept me engaged throughout with multiple suspects and twists that kept me guessing until the end! I fell in love with Corvin’s Crossing and it’s residents, as well as the kittens Bippity, Boppity and Boop (and I definitely have a favorite)!

If you’re looking for a good cozy mystery to snuggle up with, (and especially if you are a cat lover) I recommend picking this one up asap!

[Bibliophile Foodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up because of the cover, it’s just too cute to resist. And honestly, the kittens completely stole the show for me. What made this cozy mystery stand out was that the story is told through four points of view: Mila, the magician who rescues them, and the three kittens, Bippity, Boppity, and Boop. Each kitten has such a distinct personality that their chapters felt fresh and fun, and I loved how their voices added humour to the mystery.

The plot was engaging. Mila’s big night as a performer takes a dark turn when her boyfriend is found dead, and suddenly she’s the prime suspect. That’s when her kittens decide to step in, using their own quirky “cat physics” to help unravel the truth. It sounds whimsical, but it worked surprisingly well, blending the cozy mystery vibe with a touch of magical mischief.

I really enjoyed how the book balanced suspense with warmth. Even though there’s a murder at the center, the kittens sass and loyalty kept the tone light and comforting. The small-town setting, the animal side characters with adorable names, and the cozy atmosphere made it feel like the perfect comfort read.

Loved how unique the concept felt. Giving the kittens their own POVs was a winner and made me smile throughout.

[Lis · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Black Cat Detectives is a fun murder mystery where the kittens are the detectives.They are awful at it but we love them for it.

This did a really great job of being cute and funny but not being over the top or corny. This easily could have fallen to the corny side. So I have to give Kit Gray the credit she deserves for keeping to that line. Although girl you made me hungry for cat food.

I think the mysteries pretty decent and this is a quick read. This is definitely a good pallet cleanser after reading a heavy fantasy novel which is what I did.

My main snag on this is that of the dozen or so main characters six of them have names that start with the letter B. I was mixing up the kittens from time to time. Their personalities are unique but when one is named Bippity and one is name Boppity, I kept swapping who was who in my head. And of course the list of characters was at the back of the book.

I would definitely recommend anyone who likes light-hearted mysteries to pick this up it's a cute cozy little read.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advance copy in exchange for a honest review.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars

The Black Cat Detectives by Kit Grey is an absolute delight and such a clever, cozy mystery. The concept alone, three magical kittens solving a murder to save their human completely won me over. The story of Bippity, Boppity, and Boop being rescued, finding a loving owner, and doing everything they can to protect her is genuinely heart-warming.

The mystery itself has a strong whodunit vibe and kept me guessing the whole way through. I loved how sweet and cozy the tone was, while still delivering a solid twist! I genuinely did not predict the killer. The kittens’ personalities and their slightly chaotic, magical interference added so much charm and humor to the investigation.

This was a feel-good read with just the right balance of cozy vibes, mystery, and emotional stakes. A unique and adorable take on the genre, especially for animal lovers. If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a twist and a lot of heart, this one is definitely worth picking up 🐾✨

Thank you to Kit Grey, Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me early access to read this wonderful book and provide my honest thoughts and opinions

[Nicole Heron · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have it a 3.8 stars. It’s such a cute and cozy murder mystery book with a twist instead of the detective being people, it’s three cats solving a crime. It’s cute and unique and I really did enjoy it.

So the premise of the book is our FMC, Mila, a magician, who suddenly becomes a suspect in her own boyfriend’s murder when he is found dead at one of her shows. To help solve the case and to clear her name, Mila’s three cats decide to it into their own paws (I know I cringed at that myself 😅) to solve the case. It’s a dual POV of Mila and the cats, which was quite interesting and at times cute and they are all so adorable!!!!

It’s as adorable as their names, Bippity Boppity and Boo. Every time I read their names all I could hear was the fairy godmother from Disney’s Cinderella 🤣

I will say that with the dual POV it was sometimes hard to tell who was talking throughout and I had to flick back and forth a bit to figure it out. But I did enjoy the pacing of the book and it was a good ending.

Thank you to the author and netgallery for giving me this opportunity to read this book.

[Heather Hogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh, if you love cats, you've absolutely gotta read this book! The first and main thing you need to know is that this mystery is told from four POVs: Mila, an aspiring magician whose horrible boyfriend has been murdered, and the three kittens — Bippity, Boppity, and Boop — she rescues from a cardboard box in a dark alley behind the theater where she's performing. All three cats have completely different personalities and voices, but all three are still so very cat! The mystery is also a really fun one, in a very Murder, She Wrote kind of way. It's funny, it's sooo sweet, it's extremely cozy, and every character has an emotional growth arc to go along with the murder-mystery. I was in a real reading slump, and this pulled me right out.

(There are some sad parts. You don't see anything bad happen to any animals, but all three kittens are grieving the loss of their cat mom, especially Boppity.)

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this book and provide an honest review.

[Ibi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun, quick cozy mystery with three physics defying kittens ! 🐈‍⬛✨
After an argument with her boyfriend Mila MacAllister finds three abandoned kittens in the alleyway behind and she takes them in. During her magic show that evening the kittens accidentally become part of the performance, butthe show is cut short when a dead body falls onto the stage.
The dead body is none other than Mila's boyfriend. The spotlight is now on her and she becomes the suspect in the murder investigation, and Mila has to figure out who the real murderer is before she ends up in jail, or more bodies start piling up.

Overall I really liked the premise, and it was a fun take to read from the kitten's perspective as well. It is a light and cozy mystery with some code braking, magic, stomach rumbling descriptions of assorted pastries, and just the right amount of nonsense. As long as you don't take everything too seriously this is an entertaining read!


Thank you so much to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.