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The Black Cat Detectives
Not yet published
Expected 26 May 26A 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 28-year-old mediocre 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.
Precocious kittens Bippity, Boppity, and Boop are exceedingly loyal to their human, the 28-year-old mediocre 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.
304 pages, Paperback
Expected publication May 26, 2026
About the author
Kit Gray
3 books24 followersKit 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
April 21, 2026
"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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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!
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!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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\✨
——————————————
🪝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\✨
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
📱📖 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.
📃 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.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
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
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
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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 💗
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 💗
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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
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
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
✦⋆｡˚☽˚｡⋆ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━⋆｡˚☽˚｡⋆✦
✧｡･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.
✦⋆｡˚☽˚｡⋆ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━⋆｡˚☽˚｡⋆✦
✧｡･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.”
✧｡･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.
✦⋆｡˚☽˚｡⋆ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━⋆｡˚☽˚｡⋆✦
✧｡･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.”
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
#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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 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
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
December 29, 2025
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
(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.
January 2, 2026
Thank you NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and the author, Kit Gray, for the opportunity to read and review The Black Cat Detectives. This book will be published on May 26, 2026.
It’s follows an up-and-coming magician, Mila MacAllister, as she’s framed for the murder of her boyfriend, and manager, Brandon Jameson. As the evidence mounts against her, it’s up to the three black kittens she rescued - Bippity, Boppity, and Boop - to help her solve the mystery.
The storyline with the rescued kittens pulled at my heartstrings as a cat rescuer myself. Their antics are completely on point for a threesome of kittens.
This was a quaint, cute, cozy, and quirky mystery. It was also a quick read that read like a young adult book. The story moved along at a good pace though the conclusion felt rushed. It was a small town mystery with lots of likeable characters.
It’s follows an up-and-coming magician, Mila MacAllister, as she’s framed for the murder of her boyfriend, and manager, Brandon Jameson. As the evidence mounts against her, it’s up to the three black kittens she rescued - Bippity, Boppity, and Boop - to help her solve the mystery.
The storyline with the rescued kittens pulled at my heartstrings as a cat rescuer myself. Their antics are completely on point for a threesome of kittens.
This was a quaint, cute, cozy, and quirky mystery. It was also a quick read that read like a young adult book. The story moved along at a good pace though the conclusion felt rushed. It was a small town mystery with lots of likeable characters.
March 30, 2026
Full transparency, this is not the book I would normally read. I would typically loathe this type of fluff. I don’t like books with animals as a main character even though I love animals in real life (I mean, I’m holding a baby goat in my profile pic, so, yeah) and I think magic is silly.
But something about it piqued my interest. And I’m so glad I read it. A charming twist on a mystery and a unique POV (human and animal) made this a quick fun read. Having 9 month kittens of my own right now, the kitten voices were real, honest, cute and not cloying in the slightest. What the kittens said and did made sense. I could feel how my own kittens might say such funny things while playing. The mystery is solid too and that was important. Somehow, this works. Very cute.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced review copy!
But something about it piqued my interest. And I’m so glad I read it. A charming twist on a mystery and a unique POV (human and animal) made this a quick fun read. Having 9 month kittens of my own right now, the kitten voices were real, honest, cute and not cloying in the slightest. What the kittens said and did made sense. I could feel how my own kittens might say such funny things while playing. The mystery is solid too and that was important. Somehow, this works. Very cute.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced review copy!
Review of advance copy received from Author
A cozy mystery with three physics-controlling kittens! Bippoty, Boppity, and Boop must help their newly adopted human Mila clear her name after her boyfriend (and agent) is found dead at one of her magic shows. With easy to devour prose that is both eloquent and laugh-out-loud funny, the author masterfully leads you through a twisty mystery, that keeps you guessing all the way until the very end. Will Mila's clowder of kittens be able to keep their owner out of the human pound? Check out this book and find out!
Gratitude to the author for allowing me to be their writing partner and personally watch this book develop from an adorable idea to a compelling story that you don't want to put down.
Gratitude to the author for allowing me to be their writing partner and personally watch this book develop from an adorable idea to a compelling story that you don't want to put down.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The book follows Mila, a magician, as she is trying to make a name for herself doing magic shows. However, things take a turn for the worse when her manager/boyfriend ends up murdered. All suspicions are pointed at Mila, luckily, she has a trio of adorable kittens on the case!
I really liked the mystery and the misdirection used throughout. I also liked that Mila actually used her abilities in a believable way. The shifting perspectives were a bit confusing at first but there is a pattern to them so once I got into the book proper, I was able to vibe with it. There was one point that I felt did not get addressed and should have been explored more but overall, it was a fun, quick read.
Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advanced reader copy.
I really liked the mystery and the misdirection used throughout. I also liked that Mila actually used her abilities in a believable way. The shifting perspectives were a bit confusing at first but there is a pattern to them so once I got into the book proper, I was able to vibe with it. There was one point that I felt did not get addressed and should have been explored more but overall, it was a fun, quick read.
Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advanced reader copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!
4.5 stars, rounded up.
I chose this book because of the cover, I won’t deny it. The title and the fact that there are kittens in it made me eager to read it.
It has four POVs: Mila and the three kittens. Although it may sound like too many, it’s easy to follow, as each one—especially the kittens—has their distinct and genuine personality.
I appreciated the feel-good vibe—despite there being a murder, of course!
About the target audience: it is very cat-lover oriented; people who don't understand cats or their regal attitude may not enjoy this book as much.
For more detailed review, check my my my blog. on publication day.
4.5 stars, rounded up.
I chose this book because of the cover, I won’t deny it. The title and the fact that there are kittens in it made me eager to read it.
It has four POVs: Mila and the three kittens. Although it may sound like too many, it’s easy to follow, as each one—especially the kittens—has their distinct and genuine personality.
I appreciated the feel-good vibe—despite there being a murder, of course!
About the target audience: it is very cat-lover oriented; people who don't understand cats or their regal attitude may not enjoy this book as much.
For more detailed review, check my my my blog. on publication day.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wonderfully imaginative with enough jaw dropping twists to keep the reader on the edge of their seat, Bippity, Boppity and Boop are determined to protect their new owner, professional magician Mila, from the human pound after Mila's boyfriend is discovered murdered with her prop knife. I loved seeing a mystery solved from the POVs of the cute animal sidekick, and Kit Gray absolutely nails it. The kittens each have their own distinct personality and characteristics while maintaining their feline instincts. I've got my fingers crossed this becomes a series. Funny, wholesome and surprisingly moving, the Black Cat Detectives is pure magic!
"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."
"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."
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A cute and cozy little read where instead of a typical human detective, we’ve got kitten detectives. As a cat lover, the concept alone was enough to draw me in and so I was very glad to find that the kittens (Bippity, Boppity and Bop—absolutely adorable names by the way) were just as loveable as I had hoped. I also particularly liked the fantasy elements, which were a very fun take on the entire “cats defying physics” thing. The mystery itself was also good, however, the writing read more middle grade in my opinion and I just have a couple nitpicks plot-wise.
Would definitely recommend to any other cat lovers who also happen to enjoy a cozy mystery!
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for the eARC!
Would definitely recommend to any other cat lovers who also happen to enjoy a cozy mystery!
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for the eARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book by Kit Gray is a sweet, easy, enjoyable read. How could you not like a story that has 3 magical kittens helping their "hoo-man" solve a murder? Bippity, Boppity, and Boop are very loyal to Mila (an up and coming magician) who saved them from probable death. When Mila becomes the prime suspect in a murder, the kittens use their powers of observation, their life experience (minimal, considering their age), and their magical powers to gather evidence and point Mila in the right direction to solve the murder. There is a cast of characters (humans and animals) who move the story along at a nice pace. The author's use of descriptive language for what the kittens see in our world is very clever. I would definitely read a second volume of Mila and her special kittens.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was so intriguing! And the end!!! I absolutely loved it!
I just couldn’t put the book down
The way the little kittens pitched in to help solve the case.
How they discovered themselves and learnt so much and while I loved the way the mystery progressed the way all the pieces came together I admired how Bippity Boppity and Boo grew, came to terms with real life and helped use their physics to free Mila.
The book was well written, the pacing was perfect and the writing was enthralling.
5/5 would recommend!!
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for an advanced copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Full disclosure--I'm a veterinarian and a crazy cat lady, so I had high expectations.
And this book didn't disappoint. For the next few days, I found myself wondering which of the 3 kittens my own cats were like.
I loved the new take--kittens solving mysteries and they are magic, too! The author was inclusive without being overwhelming about it, which was perfect. The FMC was a bit annoying...but that I can forgive.
And, as always, it kept me guessing (but I've never been good at guessing the killer!)
Here's hoping there's more to come from Bippity, Boppity and Boop!
And this book didn't disappoint. For the next few days, I found myself wondering which of the 3 kittens my own cats were like.
I loved the new take--kittens solving mysteries and they are magic, too! The author was inclusive without being overwhelming about it, which was perfect. The FMC was a bit annoying...but that I can forgive.
And, as always, it kept me guessing (but I've never been good at guessing the killer!)
Here's hoping there's more to come from Bippity, Boppity and Boop!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a unique mystery where the main protagonists are animals. The story is told through multiple POVs, alternating between Mila and each of the three kittens. Bippity, Boppity, and Boop all have their own personalities and traits that make it easy to tell between them even without looking at the character heading. Having Mila as a magician is a good profession for a mystery character, and works well with the kittens having their own brand of magic. Seems more geared toward middle school or young adult readers but cute for adult cat lovers as well.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I thought this was such a fun and different cozy mystery idea. Magical kittens solving a murder? I was immediately in. I also really liked the magician theme and thought it made the story feel unique.
The multiple POVs from the kittens got a little confusing for me at times, especially in the beginning, and it took me a bit to fully get into the story. But once things picked up about halfway through, I was a lot more invested in the mystery and wanted to see how everything would play out.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
The multiple POVs from the kittens got a little confusing for me at times, especially in the beginning, and it took me a bit to fully get into the story. But once things picked up about halfway through, I was a lot more invested in the mystery and wanted to see how everything would play out.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What a cute book! The reader gets a front seat into three POVs of kittens. Mila an amateur magician finds three homeless and motherless kittens and decides to adopt them right before a make it or break it gig. While performing her disgusting boyfriend is found murdered. Mila and her adorable kittens stop at nothing to prove that Mila is innocent. I enjoyed the writing and the plot twist. I thought I had it figured out but I was wrong. It was a pleasant surprise.
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