Copy Cats

Crazy Cat Lady #2

by Mollie Hunt

Lynley Cannon is the crazy cat lady, but she’s not crazy enough to think a seminar with a noted pet psychic could break open a plot of abuse, perversion and brutal murder. At least not until a terrified stray cat reveals his secret torment. Someone is counterfeiting breed cats, falsifying their papers and selling them for top dollar to unsuspecting entrepreneurs in the show market. Lynley, a dedicated shelter volunteer, knows nothing about purebred sales, but when a stray Siamese turns out to be a fake and the counterfeiting ring links up to a serial killer whose method of murder mimics the ferocity of an angry tiger, it’s not just the cats who are in peril. The cat knows the truth, but is Lynley listening?

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery

277 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2015

About the author

Cat Writer Mollie Hunt is the award-winning author of two cozy series: the Crazy Cat Lady Mysteries featuring a sixty-something cat shelter volunteer who finds more trouble than a cat in catnip, and the Tenth Life Paranormal Mysteries involving a ghost cat. Her Cat Seasons Sci-Fantasy Tetralogy presents extraordinary cats saving the world. She recently released a COVID memoir which she calls, "a tale of a plague and politics, of depression and inspiration, and an ode to the very real and healing presence of cats." In her spare time, she pens a bit of cat poetry.

Her cat writing has earned various honors, including CWA Muse Medallions and World’s Best Litter-ary Awards. She is the recipient of the prestigious Michael Brim Distinguished Service Award (CWA) and the Catalyst Council Connect to Care Award, celebrating a true story of the profound connection between a shelter cat and its adoptive pet parent. Her book, Cat’s Paw, was a CIBA Mystery & Mayhem Semi-finalist.

Mollie is a member of Sisters in Crime and Willamette Writers, as well as being on the board of the Oregon Writers Colony and Northwest Independent Writers Association (NIWA). She is also the librarian for the Cat Writers’ Association. Mollie lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and a varying number of cats. Like her cat lady character, she is a grateful shelter volunteer.

Reviews

[Leeanne G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this was good. I was taken aback by how good. The ending did get a bit too intense for my taste and the killer is really disturbing, but I've decided that isn't worth taking a star away from. It was my fault for reading it too close to bedtime.

So where to start? Lets go with the cats. Lynley Cannon has several cats (I can't even keep track of how many), she regularly fosters cats and she volunteers at a cat rescue. As a cat lover myself I loved learning about how the rescue works, and what is being done to help control feral cat populations and the cat population as a whole. Educational facts about cats start each chapter and usually pertain to the events of the chapter.

Cats are the theme of this mystery, obviously. It all starts when Lynley and a friend attend a physic animal communication workshop where they are taught how to "connect" with a pet. Later, when Lynley begins fostering a cat who is involved in an ongoing "investigation", her friend tries the physic connection. This leads Lynley to her own investigation into what is being done to pedigree show cats. Someone is altering cats and passing them off as purebreds, using abusive methods. Along with this, someone has been attacking and murdering people, using a large cat claw. At first, it looks like these events are completely unconnected, but as Lynley digs deeper she starts to believe that maybe they are somehow.

This was honestly so good. This book covers a span of several months, so the story isn't rushed. Lynley is a great character, a nearly 60 year old woman who can handle a hit remarkably well. She makes some seriously stupid moves that made me go "No Lynley, what are you doing!?", but I like her. She truly loves cats and I admire her dedication to saving, and rehabilitating every one that comes through the rescue's door.

I can't wait to read more of this series!

[Missi Martin (Stockwell) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Painting fur and inserting contact lenses into the eyes of cats in order to pull them off as purebreds....the things criminals will do in order to make money. Add to that a person on a killing spree using a "claw" as the weapon of choice and you have a GREAT story..... And Mollie Hunt knows that because she is the author of the .....wait for it.... Crazy Cat Lady Mystery series !!!

Copy Cats is the second book in this series and BOY is it a HOOT !!! You cannot help but fall in love with the main character, Lynley Cannon, and everything that she stands for. Here is a 59 year old lady who has a clowder of cats that she loves (more than humans for sure !!) and she volunteers at a cat shelter. Everything about her screams cats and not in a crazy, crazy kind of way. Yes she does seem to get herself in some hot water in which she may come out with a few bruises but she solves the case or resolves the issues and the world is much better for it .... and her !!

I also love that in the beginning of every chapter Hunt gives the reader some cat knowledge wether it is something regarding Siamese cats and their purebred status to the fininicky way a tortoise cat acts......it is always interesting information. And myself being a cat lover my entire life can appreciate the newly learned knowledge. You may not be able to teach an old dog new tricks but a cat lover can always learn more about the fluffy, purring kitties they share their lives with.

So grab your copy of Copy Cats, a cup of coffee or tea, a snack, your favorite blanket and your furry sidekick and get lost in the world of Lynley and the counterfeit cat case......you will be glad you took the time out of your (hopefully) cat crazy life .........

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book.

This second book is every bit as good as the first, if not better! The main character, Lynley, loves cats so much that she has 7 rescue cats of her own. In addition, she volunteers at the Friends of Felines shelter, fosters cats, AND helps solve mysteries!!
I love this series and highly recommend it. Unfortunately, I have to wait for the third book to get my next Crazy Cat Lady fix!!

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book I've read by this author and I'm honestly addicted to this series.
Lynley is one of the best characters I've come across. She is happy with her life and of taking care of all the cats that need love.
In this book, someone is trying to alter some cats appearances to sell them for big money.
When Lynley takes in a foster cat suspected of being altered, she can't help but get involved in the investigation.
This is a great series for cat lovers and mystery readers

[Ying_ko · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun mystery involving a serial killer and an ilegal trade in fake pedigreed Siamese cats. The cases seem unrelated, but the killer seems to be copying the actions of a cat while the pedigreed cat scam deals with the capture, dying, and selling of cats to make people think they are pedigreed show cats. With a fun storyline, interesting characters, and a series of coincidences that build into a final confrontation the story is worth reading.

[Krystyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cat killer and the siamese

Terrific read. Communicating with your cats - can it be real? Fraud and missing cats abound as does the rising death toll. Who is behind it all and can she solve the mystery? Don't like the lead character and that is why this has got a 4* and not a 5. The plot is really well thought out.

[Heather Ames · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots going on in this plot about unscrupulous people who sell supposed-pedigreed cats for high prices to the unsuspecting, who subsequently discover they have been duped. Lynley Cannon is developing into a real sleuth as she gets drawn into danger and embraces it. The life of the retiree is becoming more and more complicated as this series progresses.

[Christine Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

I just love reading Mollie Hunts crazy cat lady mysteries you can actually believe you're in the story with all the cats and people they all become real the story is very exciting I can hardly put it down .

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tough call so 3.5 stars. I love all the stuff about cats etc. but the heroine was a bit self righteous

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Someone is using a toxic die on cats and selling them as expensive purebreds.

Seemingly unrelated victims are found dead in the Portland area, mauled by a giant claw.

[Chris Houghton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fro cat/murder lovers (not murdered cats, of course).

[Audrey Driscoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me the best part of this book was the realistic depiction of cats and cat lovers, along with a peek behind the scenes of a well-run cat rescue organization. I was intrigued by the ideas about communicating with cats. The show cat counterfeiting operation was a shocking surprise, but the murder aspect strained the credibility meter a bit. Nevertheless, Lynley Cannon is an engaging main character and narrator. It was interesting to meet several members of her family as well.

Altogether this was an entertaining read, made especially interesting by the Portland, Oregon setting and the author's knowledge about and devotion to felines. Recommended to cozy mystery readers, especially those who like cats.

[Cheri Schaefer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable! A great read!

This is a delightful series. I've enjoyed both books I've read very much. It's a series I'll continue to read.

[Carol K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can really tell the author loves cats. I thank her for promoting rescues. I'm not crazy about stories with serial killers but this was good.

[Linda Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read

I love cats and enjoy these mysteries greatly but I wish our heroine would not walk into danger with wide eyes every time!