You Only Live Nine Times: a "Cat Cozy" Cozy Mystery

by Gwen Cooper

Homer “the Blind Wonder Cat” Returns in a Game of Cat (and Cat and Cat) and Mouse

Sun-splashed Coacoochee, Florida—just ten minutes up the road from South Beach—is coming into its own in 1998. It’s the new favorite playground of models, millionaires, and workaday transplants like thirty-year-old Rachel Baum, who’s starting over with her three cats and a job at the town bookstore following a recent heartbreak.

But beneath the Art Deco façade and glittering nightlife lies an intimate community of exclusive enclaves and whispered secrets. When Coacoochee’s beautiful people start turning up murdered, Homer and his feline friends sniff out clues the cops have missed. Meanwhile, Rachel’s following her own leads, unaware her cats are already closing in. If only they could tell her what they know, they just might keep Rachel from becoming the killer’s next target.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Homer’s A Fearless Feline Tale comes a charming, sun-soaked mystery where the best sleuths have paws. The purr-fect treat for longtime Homer fans and cozy mystery lovers alike, You Only Live Nine Times is sharp as a claw, twisty as the classic whodunits, and even more mischievous than a basket of kittens.

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Cats

309 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 29, 2025

About the author

Gwen Cooper is the New York Times bestselling author of the memoirs "Homer's Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned About Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat" and "Homer: The Ninth Life of a Blind Wonder Cat," and the novels "Love Saves the Day" and "Diary of a South Beach Party Girl."

Her latest project is "Curl Up with a Cat Tale," a first-of-its-kind monthly short-story series, featuring an all-new--and all-true!--humorous and heartfelt tale each and every month about life with her world-famous fur family. (See my website, www.gwencooper.com/cat-tales, for more details and a 60% discount!). Her work has been published in nearly two dozen languages.

Gwen lives in Manhattan with her husband, Laurence. She also lives with her two perfect cats--Clayton the Tripod and his litter-mate, Fanny--who aren't impressed with any of it.

Reviews

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rounded up on this one. The first part was a bit of a slog and I thought about giving up. I'd read other books by Cooper and knew she could write well-- I think Love Saves the Day is very very good despite the title, which makes it sound like a sappy romance-- so I persevered. The problem was one I encounter frequently in first in series cozy mysteries: the urge to introduce Every. Single. Character. for the series in the first few pages. It ends up being a total jumble of names that I can't keep track of and frankly, it isn't necessary. It's not important who loans our Heroine a dress or who runs the coffee shop in this story. Introducing, describing, and giving a backstory makes me think that I need to know these people and I don't for this story. That's not something that can be determined in the first few pages, though. At least Cooper had a character list... a very LONG character list. Thank goodness, or else I'd have just given up.

That said, once she stopped throwing characters and set up at us, the story turned out to be pretty good. The cats solve the mystery, fuss amongst themselves, and don't talk to their owner. The plot was pretty good too, despite an obnoxious character of the sort who turns up regularly in cozy fiction: a character who exists simply to be a thorn in the Main Character's life and distract the reader from other things. Since I deal with the public and encounter some of these people daily, I dislike finding them in my relaxation time. I took a leap of faith that Cooper would either kill him off or tone him down and kept reading.

Overall, a promising start. I think the next book will be better, simply because having introduced the multitudes she can focus on the characters pertinent to the story. The cats are delightful, based on cats Cooper once owned (and has written about in several books) so their personalities are well developed.

I will be reading the next in series, due out next year.

[Lise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coacoochee, Florida, provided Rachel Baum with a sanctuary when her former married life ended in divorce. With three cats in tow and a job as a bookstore manager, Rachel begins again in a town that lives for its nightlife. When youngish adults in Rachel's social circle begin to fall victim to heart attacks, she senses something is amiss. Luckily, the cats have their paws on the pulse of the town and can assist the investigation.

Main character Rachel has a whirlwind of a social life, and there are so many people (and animals!) to meet in the first few chapters of the book. View it as a social occasion, get to know all the people, and then be prepared for a delightful experience. It's worth it!

What a fabulous setting - close to Miami in the late 90s. The sun and the surf provide an enviable backdrop for the beautiful people who are living marvellous lives. And we (and Rachel) get to enjoy it along with them.

I loved the mystery in this book. Everything seems straightforward until suddenly, it's not. The twist was breathtaking - definitely a "I didn't see that coming" moment.

As a cosy, this book is lengthy. Settle in and enjoy the girth!

Thank you to Gwen Cooper and BookSirens for the opportunity to read this digital ARC. As always, my opinions are my own, honest and true.

[Delphia Von Heeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

You Only Live Nine Times is Book 1 in a Homer Whodunit by Gwen Coopet. I thought that it was interesting that the 3 cats are from a different series. Rachel is their new human. I really liked that the author told the background of each cat. The beautiful people are dropping dead. While Rachel is good at following the clues, her cats are always a step ahead. I can't wait to read more in this series. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so cute! I loved all the cats and their POVs. They had me laughing several times!

The mystery was well done. I didn't get it figured out until the reveal.

I am really looking forward to Gwen Cooper's next mystery coming in June 2026!

I received a free copy of this book for my honest review.

[Linda Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

will Homer be able to save the day?
I loved the author's introduction to this book. This is my first time reading and I liked the way she introduced the story saying that the cats are the same as her other stories, Scarlett, Vashti and Homer. I loved how those cats communicated with each other and they adored and helped Rachel as much as they could ! After all she saved their lives, literally !!
Rachael is 30 years old and she's getting things ready to host a book signing. She had been in a relationship with Cuban, Henry for three years. Only to find proof that he was cheating. That proof came by the help of her cat friends.
Rachel Baum is the manager of the only Bookstore, Title Wave Books and she has a one an adorable year old bind, black cat named Homer. And Vashti a two year old white clever cat. Also Scarlett her three year old gray tabby. Rachel's story shows a cat calendar that said Friday October 2, 1998.
There is a also a great list of the other "characters" in the story with their own bios. Very enjoyable ! Hot Mike, the failed police German Shepherd had to be one of my all time favorites in this book ! Everyone loves Sweet Rachel. But she does have an enemy or two. Brock Winfield, the egomaniac tops the known list- he wants her and her cats GONE !
I really liked the possibility of romance between Rachael and Evan Kirschner . He's attracted to her and she sparkles when she spends any time around him. Even the cats notice but they just can't seem to catch a break !
On a side note some of the names of the people, wow so different ! And tuxedo cat Kotik and the street cat, Samkhat? Such difficult names to type in a review, lol ! Unique, though.
This was a great, intense story with surprise after surprise. More than one person dies but I never saw the the real killer coming ! Loved that and how the whole thing ended.
I also liked that the next book coming out June 2026 is called "The Cat Wore Black". I'll be looking for that one !
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Margery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rachel is running Tidal Wave, a book store with chairs to sit and read and coffee and tea for those who want it. Her aunt owns the building and the shop and now retired, she has given the running of the shop to Rachel. Dorothea's son was removed from running it since he was not doing anything at all while at work. Rachel has set up a book signing with a famous chef who has written a book. The event is a smashing success. The next morning her friend Daisy has been discovered dead at her front door. Rachel has rescued 3 cats who seem to keep track of the happenings at the shop. Poor Homer is blind, but his other senses are totally amazing. They are indoor cats, but have friends,a dog owned by a police officer and outside behind the shop in the form of a one eyed stray and an annoying bird. They know something is not right, that there are secrets that some humans have. Will they be able to find who killed Daisy and why? They have a way to get thru to Rachel, but I will say no one is paranormal. They are smart felines and this book is a page turner to see them get to work with the benefit of the feline intuition. Always knew cats are smart and Gwen Cooper's felines in this book are exactly that, Smart!

[Susan Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Princess Fuzzypants here: I have always loved the real life stories of Homer, his sisters and his mom. He is an inspiration to all of us kitties. And as a real kitty who has had the honour of being a character in three cat mysteries, I was interested to see how this would work out for Homer.

I loved it. I loved how his indomitable character and bravery shone through and chuckled at his sisters Vashti and Scarlett as the three of them bamboozled Rachel. Equally wonderful were their four legged friends from the neighbourhood especially Hot Mike.

There is someone killing perfectly healthy people. Rachel is pulled into an investigation by Hot Mike’s mom. They uncover some nefarious deeds that were perpetrated five years ago and suspect the murders are coverups for that crime. The humans and the animals think they know who is behind this but they are wrong and it could cost Rachel her life.

But her dynamic trio is not going to let harm come to her on their watch. The adventures and feats of derring they have to pull off are exciting and fun. I loved reading how they bring about the capture of a notorious killer and not one human is any the wiser. Of course not. They are only human.

Five purrs and two paws up.

[Estelle Bouldin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A purrfectly delightful mystery for cat lovers and cozy-crime fans alike!

Gwen Cooper—known for her heart-melting memoir Homer’s Odyssey—returns to the world of her unforgettable blind cat in You Only Live Nine Times: A “Homer Whodunit” Mystery. This time, Homer and his feline companions aren’t just stealing hearts—they’re solving crimes.

Told with warmth and humor, the story blends a classic cozy-mystery structure with feline mischief and genuine emotional insight. When strange goings-on disturb their usually peaceful home, Homer and his furry sidekicks become accidental sleuths. The result is equal parts clever, touching, and laugh-out-loud funny.

Cooper captures the inner voices of her cats so convincingly that you can almost hear them batting theories (and toys) back and forth.

Cooper brings something uniquely her own: a blend of compassion, wit, and a deep understanding of the bond between humans and their animals. It’s light enough to enjoy in a weekend, but layered with meaning for anyone who’s ever loved a pet.

If you’ve ever wondered what your cat might say if they could talk—and solve mysteries—this book is for you.

[MaryKay Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gwen Cooper's "You Only Live Nine Times", reads like someone opened a cozy mystery, sprinkled it with moonlit mischief, and whispered a spell that only cats can hear. Set in 1989 in the town of Coacoochee, Florida, the story follows Rachel Baum, a woman rebuilding her life along with her three extraordinary feline companions. As murders begin to ripple through Coacoochee, Rachel investigates the human way, with asking questions, following clues, and trying to make sense of the shadows. Meanwhile, her feline companions conduct their own parallel inquires, discovering clues to help Rachel along the way.
Cooper balances suspense with warmth, crafting a mystery that never loses its heart. "You Only Live Nine Times", is a cozy mystery wrapped in a soft spell perfect for readers who believe animals carry wisdom, new beginnings are a kind of magic, and every town has hidden corners where wonder still lives.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an okay start. I will admit I almost sent this to the dnf pile. The beginning is a bit hard to wade through as we see way too much world building and character intros all at once. Yes know that there’s a fun town and a lot of cool people that live there is nice but no I don’t need to know everything about everyone right at the start. For me as well the length was a bit much for a cozy. I like my cozies light and quick. I don’t mean that to be dismissive I’m a mystery fan period. But with the cozy tag I have an expectation of certain things and just making the cats the mcs doesn’t necessarily make it a cozy. The cats are cute and they are apparently based on rl cats which is sweet. I like that we get cat pov that always amusing. I think there’s definitely some good bones I just think a few tweaks and it would be even better.
I received an arc copy of this book this is my honest review.

[Ruth McDaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was the first ever that I've read by Gwen Cooper. I absolutely loved it.
It was a lot of fun to read about the three cats, Homer, Vashti, and Scarlett.
The descriptions of the people, places, and events were all very well done and I could get a sense of the smells of food, the feel of the parties and the nightlife, and the behavior of all the animals in the book (which were my favorite characters btw!)
And the mystery was very well done. There were a few well thought out red herrings and I was sure I'd figured out the killer..... Boy was I actually shocked when I discovered who it was! And that's really rare for me to be shocked upon discovering who the perp is!
I definitely recommend this fun and engaging book.
I received an ARC of this book and am leaving my voluntary review.

[Bookalicious · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cats, cats, cats. Who doesnt love them?
This book is a very interesting one. I haven't read many novels where the povs of animals are written well. This one is amazing! Cats solving mysteries? My oh my. Sign me up.

I loved the writing style. The perspectives from the cats, especially Homer, being blind, was very fun to read. I loved their interactions, the feline puns..everything was perfect. The mystery was top notch too.

The story starts off a bit slow though and I do feel that there are parts which could've been slimmed down a bit to avoid it dragging. But apart from that, I loved everything about this book.

Would definitely recommend.

I received this as a free ARC from Booksirens in exchange for an honest review.

[Justine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was first drawn to read this novel because I loved the late 90s setting and the fact that the main character had three cats. But as I got deeper and deeper into the book, I kept reading because the author made me feel like I was in Coacoochee with Rachel, her friends, and her cats, living their bookstore adventures. As a cat lover myself, and owner of a black cat, I absolutely adored this novel. I have never read a book before where animals were given a perspective, yet it gave the reader an interesting insight knowing things that the main character herself did not know. The three adorable cats and their animal friends kept me cheering for them until the end. I would definitely read a sequel!!

[Stephanie Laughman · Rating 5 out of 5]

You Only Live Nine Times by Gwen Cooper is a delightful mystery that kept me hooked from beginning to end. Thoughtful, suspenseful, and sprinkled with moments of laugh-out-loud humor, it’s everything I love in a cozy read.

Homer, Vashti, and Scarlett leap off the page, brought to life with such warmth and vivid personality that you can’t help but feel like you know them personally. Gwen Cooper has a magical way of honoring her characters while keeping the story fresh and engaging.

If Homer, Vashti, and Scarlett were here today, I’m certain they’d be proud of this adventure. I’m already looking forward to the next Homer Whodunit!

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story has really gone to the cats and dogs in this story. You just want to immediately love the blind cat, Homer. As he and the snooty other two cats and friends assist in the sleuthing. Rachel is getting closer after two residents are murdered. The killer has her in his sights next. The animals try to keep Rachel safe from danger, but face it, they are only animals- super animals, it seems. The killer was kinda shocking. These animals are true friends to humans in their desperate attempts, and how far will the killer go this time??? A suspenseful entertaining page turner. I voluntarily read a free copy of this book provided by book sirens and am giving an honest review.

[Jenny Norton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rachel's friend dies, and it's ruled natural causes - but she was so young! When another person dies from a heart attack, it seems too curious not to look into it. What Rachel doesn't know is that she has three mini-sleuths helping out - her cats: Homer, Vashti, and Scarlett.

This is my first book by this author, and I really enjoyed it. I love how the cats help out behind the scenes, and there are some really laugh-out-loud moments in the book. I hope there will be more in this series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mrs K.Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

You Only Live Nine Times is an Excellent story about Rachel a Bookshop Manager and her three special sleuthing cats Homer , Vashti and Scarlett. The cats all have different personalities and are very protective of Rachel. Someone collapsed near the bookshop. Rachel with her friend Natalie who is an Investigative Journalist and her dog Hot Mike look into the mystery. The cats with Hot Mike work together to find clues.

Superb story that I recommend you read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Micki-D · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute cozy mystery for those who love cozy mysteries & cat lovers a like.

When strange going ons disturb their mostly peaceful home Homer & his furry sidekicks become accidental sleuths. There is someone killing perfectly healthy people & Rachel is determined to find out who done it. Her cats are always one step ahead of her, as Homer & his two feline friends try to keep Rachel safe from danger but how much can cats really do?

In this clever, humorous, touching fun who done it cozy mystery full of feline mischief. Homer the blind cat will steal your heart.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very descriptive cozy evocative of the Miami area and the lovely bookstore populated by three special cats including little Homer, blind from birth and Scarlett and Vashti. The characters are vividly portrayed, the murder suspects have you guessing and little Homer keeps you turning the pages. Everyone needs a local bookstore like this one managed by Rachel, but in reality run by the three cats and their friends. Thanks to Book Sirens for the opportunity to read this arc.

[Sally Wilsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

You Only Live Nine Times by Gwen Cooper

This is the first book in the Homer Whodunit series, and I really hope the author continues with the series.
Rachel and her 3 cats are on the case when a listers in the area are being murdered. Homer, Scarlett and Vashti are on the case to help solve this mystery.
I liked the characters in this book as well as the descriptive writing. It took me to the places in the book, and I felt I was there watching it happen.

[Christina Desalvo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Homer and his gang of crime solving animal friends. His sisters Scarlett and Vashti are joined by a dog with a heart of gold, a wise community cat, a love struck fellow store cat and even an annoying bird. Their individual strengths come together to hunt for a killer before he/she strikes again perhaps hurting their beloved Rachel.

[Geraldine Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The murder mystery was intriguing and I could not have guessed 'whodunnit'.
The animals in it were utterly charming, in fact I laughed out loud at some of their antics.
This definitely gave me a 'feel good' vibe. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not the first book I read by Gwen Cooper and I was very happy to meet Homer again, this lovely and brave cat.
This is a cute and entertaining cozy mystery, Ms Cooper did a good job in developing the plot and the characters. It's a perfect read for cat lovers and i strongly recommend it
Many thanks for this digital copy, all opinions are mine

[Brenda]

Rachel's cats are one step ahead of her. If only they could tell her what they know, they might be able to keep Rachel from becoming the killer’s next target.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sharmani Jayaram · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mystery with a lot of humour as Rachel and her cats take on more than it seems in the town of Coacoochee. A intriguing read which I received Via Booksirans . I enjoyed this read and recommend this book to other readers.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of this book I really enjoyed and other parts, not so much. I enjoyed the mystery, and I adored Homer and Hot Mike. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I thought the writing and characters were good. I recommend this book.

[Patti Banks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! The twists & turns kept me going. A can’t put down type of read. The cats of course are the hi-lite with their way of investigating.

[Sarah J · Rating 5 out of 5]

You Only Live Nine Times is such a fun book! I typically stick to paranormal cozies bc I like the talking animals, but this one is special....it is a regular world mystery but the animals can talk to each other, so we hear from them and it is so fun! This is Gwen Cooper's first mystery and it is fun....red-herrings and twists....it is very well written and I didn't figure out whoduneit till the end. The setting and characters are great and I very much enjoyed it. I can't wait till the next one comes out!
(And if you haven't read Gwen's book Homer's Odyssey, I highly recommend that one too)
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.