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Collared
164 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 19, 2026
About the author
L.J. Lacey
3 books2 followersLJ Lacey is a self-published British writer. He is fond of quiet mysteries and fascinated by how people make sense of the world around them.
When not writing, he can usually be found enjoying the privacy of family life with his wife and children in and around the Malvern Hills.
When not writing, he can usually be found enjoying the privacy of family life with his wife and children in and around the Malvern Hills.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 29, 2026
I gave Collared a read. I started. I stopped. I started again. I stopped.
I discussed it with my daughter and told her it seemed to be written by a boomer a bit out of touch with how people talk these days. (Feel free to judge me too because I'm creeping up there myself. The flow felt wrong, blah blah blah but I had to finish. She laughed and soon we forgot the conversation happened, the day wore on and that was that until I started reading again that evening. As I sunk in I expected to slog thru another slow chapter about a not-so-mischievous cat. A cat just being a cat, doing everyday cat things, but with narration that sounded more like a dog spotting a squirrel because, let's face it, a cat is smarter than that. But was this cat?
Soooo, I'm lounging with the lights dimmed, thinking I'm going to bed early. Thinking I'm never going to find a rhythm with these silly women in this story. I've got my feet up and the A/C freezing me out so I can huddle under a soft fuzzy blanket because I don't have a cat even though I'm sitting here judging this cat who just wants to be a cat and probably not a cat with a camera slowing down its adventuring.
Suddenly the flow is alive and I'm laughing. Partially this is because the story is funny but partially it's because I'm the slog. Me.
Everyone's British. I'm voicing everyone British in my head and everything makes so much more sense! There is not much I like better than a good mystery unless of course that mystery comes with a British accent. What had I stumbled across? I'd stumbled into an old lady causing trouble with a cat who's just a cat, but with a camera and that camera is nothing but trouble and therefore should probably have never been put on a cat especially if an old British lady is watching the footage and why is there a bumbling cop? Haha sold. My daughter was immediately informed that this book is funny and I'm to blame for my own troubles.
I dove in blind. This is how I do it. I'll probably do it again. When I started re-reading all the clues were there. I'm glad my British mystery loving brain suddenly took over and did things correctly for me so I could enjoy this book Once I found the right voice for the story, the characters popped off the page. What had felt awkward suddenly felt charming. I'm tickle and here we are review complete.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I discussed it with my daughter and told her it seemed to be written by a boomer a bit out of touch with how people talk these days. (Feel free to judge me too because I'm creeping up there myself. The flow felt wrong, blah blah blah but I had to finish. She laughed and soon we forgot the conversation happened, the day wore on and that was that until I started reading again that evening. As I sunk in I expected to slog thru another slow chapter about a not-so-mischievous cat. A cat just being a cat, doing everyday cat things, but with narration that sounded more like a dog spotting a squirrel because, let's face it, a cat is smarter than that. But was this cat?
Soooo, I'm lounging with the lights dimmed, thinking I'm going to bed early. Thinking I'm never going to find a rhythm with these silly women in this story. I've got my feet up and the A/C freezing me out so I can huddle under a soft fuzzy blanket because I don't have a cat even though I'm sitting here judging this cat who just wants to be a cat and probably not a cat with a camera slowing down its adventuring.
Suddenly the flow is alive and I'm laughing. Partially this is because the story is funny but partially it's because I'm the slog. Me.
Everyone's British. I'm voicing everyone British in my head and everything makes so much more sense! There is not much I like better than a good mystery unless of course that mystery comes with a British accent. What had I stumbled across? I'd stumbled into an old lady causing trouble with a cat who's just a cat, but with a camera and that camera is nothing but trouble and therefore should probably have never been put on a cat especially if an old British lady is watching the footage and why is there a bumbling cop? Haha sold. My daughter was immediately informed that this book is funny and I'm to blame for my own troubles.
I dove in blind. This is how I do it. I'll probably do it again. When I started re-reading all the clues were there. I'm glad my British mystery loving brain suddenly took over and did things correctly for me so I could enjoy this book Once I found the right voice for the story, the characters popped off the page. What had felt awkward suddenly felt charming. I'm tickle and here we are review complete.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 7, 2026
Collared is a short but sweet, wholesome mystery. You cant help but fall in love with main character Vi and her various antics, as well as her friendships with Jackie and other village members. It’s a small village mystery and quintessentially British in so many ways.
I loved the interpretations of Titus’ thoughts (and they seemed quite accurate!), and the interludes of other characters. My only complaint was that it was too short if anything - some bits could do with a little more development (like we found the culprit too easily and the backstory surrounding it could have added up slightly better), but I enjoyed the twist at the end.
Thank you to BookSirens for this ARC digital copy. My review is entirely my own thoughts.
I loved the interpretations of Titus’ thoughts (and they seemed quite accurate!), and the interludes of other characters. My only complaint was that it was too short if anything - some bits could do with a little more development (like we found the culprit too easily and the backstory surrounding it could have added up slightly better), but I enjoyed the twist at the end.
Thank you to BookSirens for this ARC digital copy. My review is entirely my own thoughts.
Review of advance copy
🌟 3.75 stars rounded up ✨
'“It’s not like baking a cake, Vi! You can’t just mix the ingredients and set a timer, then ‘poof!’ 45 minutes later, a murderer pops out of the oven.”'
I'm a big fan of a good cosy mystery, so this delightful twist on the genre was too thrilling to pass up on. The idea of a more realistic, bumbling, truly "amateur" sleuth is a brilliant idea.
'Clearly, whoever had called this a ‘bag for life’ had expected him to die halfway across the car park.'
The cast of characters were all well-defined and interesting in their own right. The dialogue and relationships are the absolute highlight here: conversations were so skillfully written, and I loved the distinctive manner of speech people used. It felt like I was actually listening in rather than reading!
Relationships felt natural and authentic: especially between the protagonist and her two friends. Their chummy, jokey group confabs were a joy to read.
The story was quite fast-paced, and chapters were succinct - no words were wasted, while still managing to effectively convey all necessary details and plot points. If you enjoy novellas or you're looking for a short, snappy story that still feels satisfying, this is definitely the one.
'Andy had never quite made up his mind if he believed in God, but at least he did QR codes now.'
This would have been a solid 4 star read for me, except that I was left feeling confused in a few places, unfortunately. Some choices people made felt out of character, and just odd. And a few things didn't quite make sense towards the end, which was a pity as I really did love the conclusion to the mystery. It was sadly jarring in the midst of a real joyride of a narrative.
I've never read anything quite like Collared, and I genuinely think the author has hit on something brilliant here. 'Cosy mysteries' so often follow the same blueprint, with implausibly professional 'amateur' sleuths and the evidence falling agreeably into place. Vi is the awkward 'armchair (or mobility scooter!) detective' we're all capable of being!
"Vi tore a page out of her notebook, folded it, scored it with her thumbnail, and carefully prised it in half. Scissors didn’t afford that level of precision."
'“It’s not like baking a cake, Vi! You can’t just mix the ingredients and set a timer, then ‘poof!’ 45 minutes later, a murderer pops out of the oven.”'
I'm a big fan of a good cosy mystery, so this delightful twist on the genre was too thrilling to pass up on. The idea of a more realistic, bumbling, truly "amateur" sleuth is a brilliant idea.
'Clearly, whoever had called this a ‘bag for life’ had expected him to die halfway across the car park.'
The cast of characters were all well-defined and interesting in their own right. The dialogue and relationships are the absolute highlight here: conversations were so skillfully written, and I loved the distinctive manner of speech people used. It felt like I was actually listening in rather than reading!
Relationships felt natural and authentic: especially between the protagonist and her two friends. Their chummy, jokey group confabs were a joy to read.
The story was quite fast-paced, and chapters were succinct - no words were wasted, while still managing to effectively convey all necessary details and plot points. If you enjoy novellas or you're looking for a short, snappy story that still feels satisfying, this is definitely the one.
'Andy had never quite made up his mind if he believed in God, but at least he did QR codes now.'
This would have been a solid 4 star read for me, except that I was left feeling confused in a few places, unfortunately. Some choices people made felt out of character, and just odd. And a few things didn't quite make sense towards the end, which was a pity as I really did love the conclusion to the mystery. It was sadly jarring in the midst of a real joyride of a narrative.
I've never read anything quite like Collared, and I genuinely think the author has hit on something brilliant here. 'Cosy mysteries' so often follow the same blueprint, with implausibly professional 'amateur' sleuths and the evidence falling agreeably into place. Vi is the awkward 'armchair (or mobility scooter!) detective' we're all capable of being!
"Vi tore a page out of her notebook, folded it, scored it with her thumbnail, and carefully prised it in half. Scissors didn’t afford that level of precision."
Review of advance copy
Titus the cat's travels around the neighbourhood are recorded on camera as an amusement for his elderly owner, Violet "Vi" Entwistle. But then she spots a person burying a body. With the footage accidentally erased, there's nothing left but for her, her friend Jackie and her grumpy neighbour, Keith, to investigate.
Collared is a precious take on the village mystery. The chief detectives on the case are a group of busybodies who spend their time observing the comings and goings of the rural inhabitants. And they are delightful! The main character, Vi, is one of the narrators, and her bumbling, stream-of-consciousness view of the world feels so authentic, if perhaps a little overwhelming.
I enjoyed this out-of-the-ordinary story, which features a senior coping with new technology while maintaining her traditional life.
Thank you to LJ Lacey and BookSirens for the opportunity to read this digital ARC. As always, my opinions are my own, honest and true.
Collared is a precious take on the village mystery. The chief detectives on the case are a group of busybodies who spend their time observing the comings and goings of the rural inhabitants. And they are delightful! The main character, Vi, is one of the narrators, and her bumbling, stream-of-consciousness view of the world feels so authentic, if perhaps a little overwhelming.
I enjoyed this out-of-the-ordinary story, which features a senior coping with new technology while maintaining her traditional life.
Thank you to LJ Lacey and BookSirens for the opportunity to read this digital ARC. As always, my opinions are my own, honest and true.
June 25, 2026
Read this short book as background as have just signed up to be an ARC reviewer for the follow-up, on Booksirens.
It was a fun read featuring a small gang of villagers centring around the eccentric Vi who gets around on her mobility scooter. Except when, with the help of friend Jackie, she attaches a cat-cam to her cat's collar and they witness what looks like disposal of the body. The trouble is Vi manages to delete the video accidentally, and then decides she must make amends by investigating herself rather than relying on the hard-pressed local policeman.
The characters are realistic, down-to-earth and, in some cases, such as Vi herself, rather bumbling. Vi's dottiness does seem a little overdone in places, and there could have been a bit more clarity towards the end of the story. But overall a good antidote to some of the rather downbeat books published these days. A three-star light-hearted read.
It was a fun read featuring a small gang of villagers centring around the eccentric Vi who gets around on her mobility scooter. Except when, with the help of friend Jackie, she attaches a cat-cam to her cat's collar and they witness what looks like disposal of the body. The trouble is Vi manages to delete the video accidentally, and then decides she must make amends by investigating herself rather than relying on the hard-pressed local policeman.
The characters are realistic, down-to-earth and, in some cases, such as Vi herself, rather bumbling. Vi's dottiness does seem a little overdone in places, and there could have been a bit more clarity towards the end of the story. But overall a good antidote to some of the rather downbeat books published these days. A three-star light-hearted read.
June 20, 2026
I am an ARC reader for Book Sirens and this is my honest opinion. This is a pleasant little book that I enjoyed a lot. It's set in a village with a number of interesting characters, in particular Vi, an older lady with a vivid imagination and mobility scooter. Her neighbour, Jackie gets a video camera for Vi's cat, Titus. Attached to his collar they can see wherever he sees on his nightly prowls - with commentary from Titus. But what they see when they watch the video starts a whole whodunit search. The writer paints a picture of village life in which it's easy to make assumptions about people until you get to know them. And Vi gets her own way. I'd quite like a series of these stories, and meet more of the characters.
June 27, 2026
3.5*
Meet Violet Entwistle aka Vi.
Our main character is an old lady who's keen to investigate! Her cat, Titus, has a collar camera and she scans the footage which becomes key in her sleuthing!
When someone goes missing she spots someone looking very much like digging and burying a body!
She reports to the local policeman and has help from her cleaner friend, Jackie, aka Jack. Well inline of being a cozy mystery, the story is set in Lower Hogsworth, cute, and Vi lives in Lupin Lodge, charming. I also learnt a knew British slang word for men's underpants: undercrackers!
A charming plot with a no nonsense eldery MC who is trying to keep up with the modern world (what's that thing with the clock? TikTok).
I received a free advanced reader copy and am leaving my honest review voluntarily.
Meet Violet Entwistle aka Vi.
Our main character is an old lady who's keen to investigate! Her cat, Titus, has a collar camera and she scans the footage which becomes key in her sleuthing!
When someone goes missing she spots someone looking very much like digging and burying a body!
She reports to the local policeman and has help from her cleaner friend, Jackie, aka Jack. Well inline of being a cozy mystery, the story is set in Lower Hogsworth, cute, and Vi lives in Lupin Lodge, charming. I also learnt a knew British slang word for men's underpants: undercrackers!
A charming plot with a no nonsense eldery MC who is trying to keep up with the modern world (what's that thing with the clock? TikTok).
I received a free advanced reader copy and am leaving my honest review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
This is a short read, but it felt like a full story to me. This adventure was ridiculously fun and entertaining. The "cat cam" and these characters made this an enjoyable experience I didn't want to end. The "body" find was another adventure. The ladies tagged on to with alarming results,. If you don't get this you are missing out on a great experience. The ending was super heartwarming with updates!!!!
I voluntarily read a free copy of this book provided by book sirens and am giving an honest review.
I voluntarily read a free copy of this book provided by book sirens and am giving an honest review.
June 28, 2026
Collared is an Excellent story about Violet Entwistle and her cat Titus and her friend Jackie a Cleaner. A camera was put on Titus's collar to see what it recorded. But where will it lead Violet, Jackie and Keith Violet's Neighbour and what will they uncover?
I love the characters and there personalities that made me smile.
I enjoyed reading this story and I recommend you read and look forward to the next book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I love the characters and there personalities that made me smile.
I enjoyed reading this story and I recommend you read and look forward to the next book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
Collard is Book 1 in the Collard Series by L J Lacey. I found this to be a fun mystery where Vi's cat, Titus, is the main character and doing his walk about outside with his collar camera. The adventure that Titus leads Vi, and her friends Jackie and Keith on a merry chase to find a body. This light hearted story is a wonderful British mystery. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
June 27, 2026
This novella was fantastic. The story starts with Vi's cat accidentally filming a crime on its collar camera and then the cosy chaos begins!
It expertly captures British village life and the characters, particularly Vi are just brilliant. The book had me laughing out loud and was a perfect mixture of cosy British life and humour.
A really lovely, easy read and can see it being a series. I want to see more of Vi and her friends shenanigans.
It expertly captures British village life and the characters, particularly Vi are just brilliant. The book had me laughing out loud and was a perfect mixture of cosy British life and humour.
A really lovely, easy read and can see it being a series. I want to see more of Vi and her friends shenanigans.
June 27, 2026
Vi's cat Titus received a cat camera and when his human along with her friend Jackie, checked the video on the first night out they saw disturbing images. A body was buried.
Unfortunately the evidence was accidentally deleted before it could be shown to the police and so the friends decided to take matters into their own hands and apprehend the culprit.
Nothing goes according to plan but in the end things do work out.
Unfortunately the evidence was accidentally deleted before it could be shown to the police and so the friends decided to take matters into their own hands and apprehend the culprit.
Nothing goes according to plan but in the end things do work out.
July 23, 2026
Utterly charming, wish it was longer. Looking forward to the next installment 🐈⬛️
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews