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Second Chance Cat Mystery #3
A Whisker of Trouble
The New York Times bestselling author of the Second Chance Cat Mystery series offers another adventure with secondhand shop owner Sarah Grayson and Elvis the rescue cat.
Spring has come to charming North Harbor, Maine, and with the new season comes a new haul for Second Chance, the shop where Sarah Grayson sells lovingly refurbished and repurposed items. Sarah is turning her keen eye to the estate of collector Edison Hall, hoping for fabulous finds for Second Chance—but when her rescue cat Elvis discovers a body in the kitchen, everything goes paws up.
The body belongs to an appraiser who had been hired to check out Edison’s wine collection. When Edison’s sister shows up at Second Chance, she hires Sarah’s friends—the kooky and charismatic trio of ladies who call themselves Charlotte’s Angels and work out of the shop—to solve the murder, Sarah knows she and Elvis are only going to get deeper into the case. But as it becomes a cat and mouse game of lies, cons, cheats, and family squabbles, can Elvis and Sarah claw their way to the truth before the killer slinks away forever?
Spring has come to charming North Harbor, Maine, and with the new season comes a new haul for Second Chance, the shop where Sarah Grayson sells lovingly refurbished and repurposed items. Sarah is turning her keen eye to the estate of collector Edison Hall, hoping for fabulous finds for Second Chance—but when her rescue cat Elvis discovers a body in the kitchen, everything goes paws up.
The body belongs to an appraiser who had been hired to check out Edison’s wine collection. When Edison’s sister shows up at Second Chance, she hires Sarah’s friends—the kooky and charismatic trio of ladies who call themselves Charlotte’s Angels and work out of the shop—to solve the murder, Sarah knows she and Elvis are only going to get deeper into the case. But as it becomes a cat and mouse game of lies, cons, cheats, and family squabbles, can Elvis and Sarah claw their way to the truth before the killer slinks away forever?
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 2016
290 people are currently reading
1378 people want to read
About the author
Sofie Ryan
13 books562 followersPseudonym for Darlene Ryan. Also writes under Sofie Kelly.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 208 reviews
February 2, 2016
Sarah and Elvis are back in this delightful installment of the Second Chance Cat Mysteries.
Author Sophie Ryan has penned another enjoyable story with A WHISKER OF TROUBLE. It’s always fun to spend time with main character Sarah and her feline friend Elvis, as well as the other wonderful characters from this wonderful series. And I simply adore the store in this series, Second Chance. I love that it isn’t just a thrift store, but a store that sells repurposed items. I would love to see repurposed project ideas with instructions included with these books.
Crisp writing along with a terrific plot made for an enjoyable read. Each chapter I read brought more twists and turns, more questions that kept me reading as I tried to discover the truth. All led to an end I found to be very unanticipated.
If you are a fan of cat cozies, you’re going to love A WHISKER OF TROUBLE!
Make sure to take a peek at the back of the book for an excerpt of CURIOSITY THRILLED THE CAT, book one in the Magical Cat Mysteries by Sofie Ryan writing as Sofie Kelly!
Author Sophie Ryan has penned another enjoyable story with A WHISKER OF TROUBLE. It’s always fun to spend time with main character Sarah and her feline friend Elvis, as well as the other wonderful characters from this wonderful series. And I simply adore the store in this series, Second Chance. I love that it isn’t just a thrift store, but a store that sells repurposed items. I would love to see repurposed project ideas with instructions included with these books.
Crisp writing along with a terrific plot made for an enjoyable read. Each chapter I read brought more twists and turns, more questions that kept me reading as I tried to discover the truth. All led to an end I found to be very unanticipated.
If you are a fan of cat cozies, you’re going to love A WHISKER OF TROUBLE!
Make sure to take a peek at the back of the book for an excerpt of CURIOSITY THRILLED THE CAT, book one in the Magical Cat Mysteries by Sofie Ryan writing as Sofie Kelly!
November 26, 2023
Such a fun series, one that I am enjoying more and more with each passing book.
The characters are charming. I love how Sarah just keeps finding herself tangled up in mysteries thanks to the Angels.
I love the secondary characters and I absolutely adore Elvis the cat, my best part of the book.
The characters are charming. I love how Sarah just keeps finding herself tangled up in mysteries thanks to the Angels.
I love the secondary characters and I absolutely adore Elvis the cat, my best part of the book.
April 7, 2016
I still love Elvis, but this was not my favorite of the series. It took me a while to finish because I kept getting distracted by anything and everything that would let me put the book down for a little while. And I was a little troubled by the little hints throughout the book of a Sarah/Mac/Nick tangle. Any whiff of a love triangle lowers my enjoyment of any book immensely. I used to blame the author for this trope, but after reading many authors' comments on Save Our Cozies recently, I realize that in most cases, it is what the editor/publisher wants and insists upon. So....
Dear publishers,
I get that you want your authors to follow a proven formula, part of which is romance as part of the story. But the love triangle trope is getting old, and really makes the female involved look like a twit instead of a strong female. And it takes away from the story, rather than adding to it. I'm here for the whodunnit, not the mystery of who will she pick!
Dear publishers,
I get that you want your authors to follow a proven formula, part of which is romance as part of the story. But the love triangle trope is getting old, and really makes the female involved look like a twit instead of a strong female. And it takes away from the story, rather than adding to it. I'm here for the whodunnit, not the mystery of who will she pick!
September 14, 2016
I do really like this series. The characters are quirky - especially the senior citizen private detectives - and the entertaining relationships between them are almost more important than the murder plot.
September 12, 2018
The very definition of cozy reading
I fell in love with this series from the first book and become more attached to the warm and caring characters with each new one. The mysteries are well plotted and unexpected and, my favorite thing after the characters, the people act intelligently. I enjoyed meeting Liam. Awesome!
I fell in love with this series from the first book and become more attached to the warm and caring characters with each new one. The mysteries are well plotted and unexpected and, my favorite thing after the characters, the people act intelligently. I enjoyed meeting Liam. Awesome!
March 23, 2016
Really 4.5 stars, but I rounded up.
A third book in what has proven to be an exceedingly solid series; A Whisker of Trouble was a funny, masterfully written book that proved Sofie Ryan's writing talent.
Sarah is the MC, but at the same time she's not. Her cat Elvis. Her elderly friends Liz, Mr. P, Charlotte, and Rose. The other secondary characters Mac, Nick, Avery and Liam. All of these groups of characters share the main spotlight almost equally. So, though it's in Sarah's POV, the book doesn't necessarily focus on her. Normally, I'd say a book with 10 major characters would be confusing and possibly annoying. However, Ms. Ryan makes it work! All of these characters work together to create a wonderfully unique story that keeps a reader wanting more.
The setting is simply wonderful. I can vividly picture North Harbor, and though Maine seems to be one of the most popular settings for cozy mysteries, the author does a wonderful job of setting this setting apart from the other similar areas in cozy mysteries.
The only really drawback to this book was the mystery. It was wonderful and I had no idea the motive for the murder. However, I correctly guessed the killer about 1/3 of the way through the book.
Besides that one point. A Whisker of Trouble was a wonderfully complex story. Highly recommend this and the first two books in the series!
A third book in what has proven to be an exceedingly solid series; A Whisker of Trouble was a funny, masterfully written book that proved Sofie Ryan's writing talent.
Sarah is the MC, but at the same time she's not. Her cat Elvis. Her elderly friends Liz, Mr. P, Charlotte, and Rose. The other secondary characters Mac, Nick, Avery and Liam. All of these groups of characters share the main spotlight almost equally. So, though it's in Sarah's POV, the book doesn't necessarily focus on her. Normally, I'd say a book with 10 major characters would be confusing and possibly annoying. However, Ms. Ryan makes it work! All of these characters work together to create a wonderfully unique story that keeps a reader wanting more.
The setting is simply wonderful. I can vividly picture North Harbor, and though Maine seems to be one of the most popular settings for cozy mysteries, the author does a wonderful job of setting this setting apart from the other similar areas in cozy mysteries.
The only really drawback to this book was the mystery. It was wonderful and I had no idea the motive for the murder. However, I correctly guessed the killer about 1/3 of the way through the book.
Besides that one point. A Whisker of Trouble was a wonderfully complex story. Highly recommend this and the first two books in the series!
May 9, 2018
I like Elvis the cat and I like the detective agency, but the protagonist is annoying and there are pages full of small unnecessary details. I liked the previous books in the series but this one felt a lot slower in places, as if the author didn't know how to fill some parts.
Basically the supporting cast overpowered the protagonist, and in a desperate attempt to make her relevant again the killer (completely unnecessarily) got sent after her. But this last trick only made the, already a bit loose, storyline seem even more far-fetched.
Basically the supporting cast overpowered the protagonist, and in a desperate attempt to make her relevant again the killer (completely unnecessarily) got sent after her. But this last trick only made the, already a bit loose, storyline seem even more far-fetched.
August 14, 2017
Sarah is in the resale business, but that deosn't mean she can't time to solve a murder. She gets a little help from her trio of Angels who do some background sleuthing, and her cat Elvis figures in, too. A quick read with an unexpected ending, it's an entertaining cozy with delightful characters.
October 26, 2020
The third in the series, which I am starting to like more than I did at first. Sarah and her group of old (and I do mean old) friends investigate the death of a wine broker, who has died at the site of a house they were cleaning out. Together, along with the help of Elvis, the cat, they manage to foil a wine scam and find the killer.
November 6, 2023
A thoroughly enjoyable mystery. I love the characters and especially Elvis. I love how Elvis indicated who the killer was in chapter 14.
September 22, 2019
I really do love core components of this series: Elvis is a delightful cat companion and the setting in small town waterfront Maine is super cozy. Is the fact that protagonist Sarah is surrounded by a rotating cast of geriatrics while rarely spending time with anyone remotely near her own age a little weird? Yeah. Is "creative" teenager Avery kind of annoying and unrealistic? Yep. Do characters platonically kiss one another on the forehead way, way too often? Definitely. But, like I said, the cat is fucking tops and it's in Maine. I'm willing to forgive a lot.
I've also appreciated what I thought was a slow-burn love triangle between Sarah, her teenage crush and medical examiner, Nick, and mysterious coworker, Mac. Given the substantial evidence thus far, I assumed that triangle would end with
Also, I'm just gonna say it: there are too many old ladies. Charlotte, Liz, and Rose all really bleed together for me. They're all the sassy one. They're all the sweet one. Liz...dresses well and is good with money? And I think Charlotte cooks? Or does Rose cook? Rose is definitely the one dating Mr. P, a character who seems to exist expressly to prove that old people can be good with computers. Do they all work in Sarah's store? Or are they just always all there because of the Angels? Speaking of which, that's basically the worst name for a detective agency ever. It does not encourage me or local law enforcement to take them seriously.
Finally, the mystery in A Whisker of Trouble was just kind of a dud. Too convoluted, too many extraneous characters involved, and doesn't really hold up to even the slightest examination.
I've also appreciated what I thought was a slow-burn love triangle between Sarah, her teenage crush and medical examiner, Nick, and mysterious coworker, Mac. Given the substantial evidence thus far, I assumed that triangle would end with
Also, I'm just gonna say it: there are too many old ladies. Charlotte, Liz, and Rose all really bleed together for me. They're all the sassy one. They're all the sweet one. Liz...dresses well and is good with money? And I think Charlotte cooks? Or does Rose cook? Rose is definitely the one dating Mr. P, a character who seems to exist expressly to prove that old people can be good with computers. Do they all work in Sarah's store? Or are they just always all there because of the Angels? Speaking of which, that's basically the worst name for a detective agency ever. It does not encourage me or local law enforcement to take them seriously.
Finally, the mystery in A Whisker of Trouble was just kind of a dud. Too convoluted, too many extraneous characters involved, and doesn't really hold up to even the slightest examination.
March 26, 2016
Sarah and Charlotte's Angels are on the case
I keep coming back to this series just for Elvis the cat, being a fan of the real Elvis. The cat seems to have a knack for helping Sarah solve a mystery, which is a trait I think the real Elvis would have loved. Not just Elvis the cat but all the characters in this series, are fun, engaging and with their banter make them very enjoyable to read.
Sarah Grayson runs “Second Chance” a second hand antique shop where she and her assistant, and jack-of-trades, handy man, Mac referbrish vintage items for sale and it's something that both of them love.
Let me tell you about “Charlotte's Angel”s they are a group of Sarah and her grandmothers elderly friends, Charlotte, who son is the Medical Examiner, Nick. Rose who works at the shop and Mr P a fine gentleman and the angels computer hacker. Charlotte's angel are now legal PI's ready to solve the latest murder. And Sarah never wanting to be involved always has a way of getting roped in.
Sarah is asked to clean out and organize Edison Hall's home who has passed away to get ready for a estate sale. Since Sarah likes Edison's sister, Stella she agrees to do it. Sarah soon finds a dead body on the floor in the homes kitchen with a wine bottle next to him he was wearing nice clothes and expensive shoes and he was proven to be wine expert appraiser who sold counterfeit wine to Edison.
Edison wanted to buy the wine as an investment for his family once he passed away. Edison's son, Ethan wants to go after the con artists in hopes of getting the money back and Stella asks Charlottes angels to investigate to find who could have killed her brother. With many suspects, Sarah makes no quams about not wanting anything to do with the investigation but always finds herself in the thick of things.
I listened to this book on audio, the narrator did a great job at retelling of the story. Sarah and Charlotte's angels are a fun loving group that will keep me coming back to this series again and again.
I keep coming back to this series just for Elvis the cat, being a fan of the real Elvis. The cat seems to have a knack for helping Sarah solve a mystery, which is a trait I think the real Elvis would have loved. Not just Elvis the cat but all the characters in this series, are fun, engaging and with their banter make them very enjoyable to read.
Sarah Grayson runs “Second Chance” a second hand antique shop where she and her assistant, and jack-of-trades, handy man, Mac referbrish vintage items for sale and it's something that both of them love.
Let me tell you about “Charlotte's Angel”s they are a group of Sarah and her grandmothers elderly friends, Charlotte, who son is the Medical Examiner, Nick. Rose who works at the shop and Mr P a fine gentleman and the angels computer hacker. Charlotte's angel are now legal PI's ready to solve the latest murder. And Sarah never wanting to be involved always has a way of getting roped in.
Sarah is asked to clean out and organize Edison Hall's home who has passed away to get ready for a estate sale. Since Sarah likes Edison's sister, Stella she agrees to do it. Sarah soon finds a dead body on the floor in the homes kitchen with a wine bottle next to him he was wearing nice clothes and expensive shoes and he was proven to be wine expert appraiser who sold counterfeit wine to Edison.
Edison wanted to buy the wine as an investment for his family once he passed away. Edison's son, Ethan wants to go after the con artists in hopes of getting the money back and Stella asks Charlottes angels to investigate to find who could have killed her brother. With many suspects, Sarah makes no quams about not wanting anything to do with the investigation but always finds herself in the thick of things.
I listened to this book on audio, the narrator did a great job at retelling of the story. Sarah and Charlotte's angels are a fun loving group that will keep me coming back to this series again and again.
February 8, 2016
I loved this book as I do the series, each book gets better and better. I can't begin to stress how much I love all the characters in this book. The relationship between Sarah and the group of elderly ladies known as Charlotte's Angels is so much fun. The personalities are not over the top but they aren't so mild that it stops them from throwing zingers, I had many laugh out loud moments throughout. I love that the teens respect the elders and the elders do not treat the young like idiots, very refreshing. Of course, I can't forget Elvis, the lie detecting cat, the conversations that Sarah has with him also had me laughing. We get to see her brother in this book, and a hint of romance is in the air. The mystery was excellent, I could not figure it out, just when I thought I had there would be a new twist, which all came to a satisfactory conclusion. I will definitely continue with this series, it has quickly moved to one of my favorites.
**I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review, and this is my honest opinion**
**I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review, and this is my honest opinion**
February 11, 2016
What an awesome cast of well drawn characters to solve an
unexplained murder mystery!!!
Sarah Grayson owns and operates a repurpose store called
Second Chance. Sarah and her colleagues are on a mission to
haul away items from an estate that she can sell to help the
family financially. The only exception is the deceased’s wine
collection which will be appraised by an expert.
Ready to begin work, Sarah, her colleagues and Elvis arrive
at the house. Elvis is Sarah’s green eyed cat who starts
acting weird….Why???….Elvis has discovered the body of
the wine expert on the kitchen floor….. the dead body!!
The plot thickens with twist and turns around every corner.
There are plenty of colorful suspects to investigate.
This cozy has mystery, suspense, plenty of humor , snappy
dialog plus a hint of romance.
This is the third book in the Second Chance Cat Mystery series.
It can be read as a stand alone.
Thanks to the author via Facebook’s Cozy Mystery Review
for the book. My opinion is my own.
unexplained murder mystery!!!
Sarah Grayson owns and operates a repurpose store called
Second Chance. Sarah and her colleagues are on a mission to
haul away items from an estate that she can sell to help the
family financially. The only exception is the deceased’s wine
collection which will be appraised by an expert.
Ready to begin work, Sarah, her colleagues and Elvis arrive
at the house. Elvis is Sarah’s green eyed cat who starts
acting weird….Why???….Elvis has discovered the body of
the wine expert on the kitchen floor….. the dead body!!
The plot thickens with twist and turns around every corner.
There are plenty of colorful suspects to investigate.
This cozy has mystery, suspense, plenty of humor , snappy
dialog plus a hint of romance.
This is the third book in the Second Chance Cat Mystery series.
It can be read as a stand alone.
Thanks to the author via Facebook’s Cozy Mystery Review
for the book. My opinion is my own.
July 24, 2016
I LOVE this series. This is the third book in the series and I've pretty much read one right after another. I binge on a series if I really love them. As I mentioned in my reviews of the two previous books, I like Sarah who owns a resale shop and her cat, Elvis, who is her companion at both her home and the shop. I like this ocean side town in Maine and the friends, employees and relatives that populate Sarah and Elvis' world. The murder/mystery pretty much just serves as the background to have the characters and, of course, Elvis, have some sort of 'destination' in getting to the end of the story. In my humble opinion, I wouldn't care if there wasn't a mystery since I think these characters lead pretty interesting lives in both their professional personal lives. I can't wait for the next one to be published. Ms. Ryan also writes under the name Sofie Kelly and does another cozy series with two cats, Owen and Hercules, set in Minnesota. It is equally as good as this one. I highly recommend both to fans of cozies and cats.
August 16, 2016
I really enjoyed getting to know Sarah and Charlotte' s Angels! Sarah is the owner of Second Chance she sells refurbished and repurposed items and she is on a mission to help discover some fabulous finds with a new commission. On her very first day at the house the only thing she finds Is the dead body of the wine expert who was hired to find out who swindled the owner and sold him fake wine. With the help of Charlotte, Liz , Rose , and Mr. P aka Charlotte' Angels things are going to get a bit crazy! These elderly ladies are on a mission and Sarah must help reign them in before they get themselves in big trouble. When Sarah and her cat Elvis do a little snooping on their own they need the Angels to help them out before they are the next victims! I highly recommend this book and I can't wait to go back and read the beginning of this series!
February 12, 2016
I love this series. Charlotte's Angels are on the case again, which includes involving Sarah, Elvis the cat, Mac, Nick and Liam (Sarah's brother). I love that Sarah is getting more involved with the men in her life. This was a fast read and the story line moves right along. The plot has a few twists and turns, however I did figure out the killer early on. I would recommend this series to anyone looking for a great cozy mystery.
***I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review, however I had all ready had it pre-purchased on Kindle. This is my honest opinion**
***I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review, however I had all ready had it pre-purchased on Kindle. This is my honest opinion**
January 13, 2018
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A Whisker of Trouble
A Second Chance Cat Mystery #3
By Sofie Ryan
ISBN#9780451419965
www.sofieryan.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele
Synopsis:
Spring has come to charming North Harbor, Maine, and with the new season comes a new haul for Second Chance, the shop where Sarah Grayson sells lovingly refurbished and repurposed items. Sarah is turning her keen eye to the estate of collector Edison Hall, hoping for fabulous finds for Second Chance—but when her rescue cat Elvis discovers a body in the kitchen, everything goes paws up.
The body belongs to an appraiser who had been hired to check out Edison’s wine collection. When Edison’s sister shows up at Second Chance, she hires Sarah’s friends—the kooky and charismatic trio of ladies who call themselves Charlotte’s Angels and work out of the shop—to solve the murder, Sarah knows she and Elvis are only going to get deeper into the case. But as it becomes a cat and mouse game of lies, cons, cheats, and family squabbles, can Elvis and Sarah claw their way to the truth before the killer slinks away forever? (Goodreads)
Review:
A clever counterfeit wine con and murder, a mix of young and older sleuths, a touch of romance, and a really perceptive cat all come together to make an enjoyable third entry in the Second Chance Cat Mystery series.
Sarah Grayson is the owner of Second Chance, a resale and repurposing shop in tourist town North Harbor, Maine. She is always on the lookout for new materials so she readily agrees to help her grandmother’s friend Stella when her brother dies. Edison Hall was quite the collector (pack rat), and Sarah, along with her right-hand man Mac, expects to have their work cut out for them when they go to sort through the house. What they do not expect is to find a dead body on the kitchen floor in the midst of Edison’s wine collection. The deceased turns out to be Ronan Quinn, a wine expert hired by Edison’s son Ethan to appraise the wine. Unfortunately, the wine turns out to all be fake. Did Quinn’s questions about the wine lead to his death? Stella does not think the police are working quickly enough to solve Quinn’s murder, and she hires “Charlotte’s Angels” to get to the bottom of things.
Charlotte’s Angels is comprised of Sarah’s older friends, and some part-time employees, Liz, Charlotte, Rose, and Rose’s gentleman friend Alfred. Alfred has amazing computer skills and a newly minted private investigator’s license, and the crew has set up shop in Sarah’s store sun porch. Though Sarah does not want to get involved in the investigation (or so she keeps telling everyone), at the very least she feels like she can keep them out of danger if she helps them. It is almost too late for her when she realizes that she is the one in mortal danger.
Sofie Ryan has created an interesting setting in Sarah’s shop. All of the refurbishing and repurposing tidbits are much more creative than I could ever come up with. Equally interesting are the cast of characters. I love that there are multiple generations of people investigating. They have an easy rapport, and their connection makes them truly a family. Sarah is an intelligent protagonist, but do not underestimate the abilities of her cohorts. Their affability sometimes hides their keen wit, but they mean business. Alfred has become one of my favorite characters over the course of the series. Of course, the cast would not be complete without Elvis, the Jeopardy watching cat. I do not think Sarah and crew could solve a crime without his input, and he always seems to be in the right place at the right time to save the day.
The murder mystery itself is well crafted, although I did pick out whodunit fairly early into the story, but I did not know his/her motivation until near the end. The wine swindle was actually the more complex and interesting mystery to me. It was fun to follow everyone’s steps as they flushed out suspects, and there were plenty of twists and turns to keep me interested. The romance portion of the book is relatively incidental, yet sweet. I just hope that there is not a love triangle brewing. I do not get why so many cozies have love triangles.
A Whisker of Trouble is a fun read, and I cannot wait to see what further escapades await Sarah, Elvis, and company. I recommend this cozy to fans of older sleuths and mysteries featuring super smart cats.
A Whisker of Trouble
A Second Chance Mystery #3
By Sophie Ryan
ISBN 9780451419965
5 Stars
sofieryan.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
The New York Times bestselling author of Buy a Whisker offers another adventure with secondhand shop owner Sarah Grayson and Elvis the rescue cat.
Spring has come to charming North Harbor, Maine, and with the new season comes a new haul for Second Chance, the shop where Sarah Grayson sells lovingly refurbished and repurposed items. Sarah is turning her keen eye to the estate of collector Edison Hall, hoping for fabulous finds for Second Chance—but when her rescue cat Elvis discovers a body in the kitchen, everything goes paws up.
The body belongs to an appraiser who had been hired to check out Edison’s wine collection. When Edison’s sister shows up at Second Chance, she hires Sarah’s friends—the kooky and charismatic trio of ladies who call themselves Charlotte’s Angels and work out of the shop—to solve the murder, Sarah knows she and Elvis are only going to get deeper into the case. But as it becomes a cat and mouse game of lies, cons, cheats, and family squabbles, can Elvis and Sarah claw their way to the truth before the killer slinks away forever? (from Goodreads)
Review:
Sarah is the kind of protagonist I appreciate; her attitude reflects one of the reasons I enjoy cozy mysteries: ‘I liked it when the world was fair, when the bad guys got what was coming to them. Even though it didn’t always happen, I wanted it to.’ (page 243) “A Whisker of Trouble” is the third cozy mystery with Sarah, owner of ‘Second Chance’, and Elvis, the opinionated, glossy black cat who shared his life with her. The series continues to get better with each novel. Even if the author did leave ‘I Can’t Get No…’ running through my mind for way too long after the last page! (I won’t spoil that teaser with the reason!)
Second Chance is an all-around repurpose shop that includes antiques and thrift items, some of which have been refinished or new items derived from old. It also houses a small apartment upstairs where Sarah’s right-hand assistant, Mac, now lives, as well as the office of Charlotte’s Angels on the sunporch. It’s kind of like Charlie’s Angels, but these ladies are more dignified, wise, and seasoned than Charlie’s were. The Angels are Charlotte, Liz, and Rose, (all who help at the shop) and Rose’s gentleman friend, Alfred. As Sarah continues to find dead bodies – purely by accident – the Angels got together to ‘help the police’ solve the crimes. They do an admirable job of it, by the way. Between them and Elvis, who else does a gal need?
Sarah, Mac, and Rose were going to clean out and sell any useful items from the home of Edison Hall who had passed away recently. The only thing they didn’t have to take from the home were cases of wine that Edison had purchased as an investment for his son and his children. Ethan, Edison’s son, was working with a man who would evaluate the wine for a sales value. Mac, Rose, Elvis, and Sarah went to the Hall home to begin the process of sorting and clearing out the many piles of collections of Mr. Hall’s where Sarah and Elvis found what they most hated to find – the body of a well-dressed man who appeared to have been murdered in the kitchen of the former Hall home. The identify of the man was surprising, especially when the police tried to determine how he – or his killer – had access to the house.
The author has an all-star, well-described cast! She is a mistress of interesting, strong characters! Charlotte’s Angels are almost like wise twenty-somethings trapped in the bodies of seniors. I feel as if Rose is an old friend, while Liz and Charlotte are enigmas by comparison. Sarah is the best-defined character, and she could step off the pages as three-dimensional. Rose’s son Nick, Sarah’s brother Liam, and her assistant Mac have integral roles in Sarah’s life and in working through the murder.
Plot twists and surprises continually change the course of the investigation. The Angels, full of surprises for Nick and Sarah, keep them on their toes, especially with some of the information they find – and actions they want to take. They, and Elvis, provide much-needed comic relief when life heats up. Elvis reflects a bit of several cats that I’ve loved; he is very realistically portrayed with regards to his cat-sonality. Sarah and the Angels are part of the exciting resolution that relieves the incredible suspenseful tension, and parts of the finale are definitely surprising. I highly recommend ‘A Whisker of Trouble’ for cat lovers and cozy mystery lovers who are looking for a series that delightfully combine the two.
A Whisker of Trouble
A Second Chance Cat Mystery #3
By Sofie Ryan
ISBN#9780451419965
www.sofieryan.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele
Synopsis:
Spring has come to charming North Harbor, Maine, and with the new season comes a new haul for Second Chance, the shop where Sarah Grayson sells lovingly refurbished and repurposed items. Sarah is turning her keen eye to the estate of collector Edison Hall, hoping for fabulous finds for Second Chance—but when her rescue cat Elvis discovers a body in the kitchen, everything goes paws up.
The body belongs to an appraiser who had been hired to check out Edison’s wine collection. When Edison’s sister shows up at Second Chance, she hires Sarah’s friends—the kooky and charismatic trio of ladies who call themselves Charlotte’s Angels and work out of the shop—to solve the murder, Sarah knows she and Elvis are only going to get deeper into the case. But as it becomes a cat and mouse game of lies, cons, cheats, and family squabbles, can Elvis and Sarah claw their way to the truth before the killer slinks away forever? (Goodreads)
Review:
A clever counterfeit wine con and murder, a mix of young and older sleuths, a touch of romance, and a really perceptive cat all come together to make an enjoyable third entry in the Second Chance Cat Mystery series.
Sarah Grayson is the owner of Second Chance, a resale and repurposing shop in tourist town North Harbor, Maine. She is always on the lookout for new materials so she readily agrees to help her grandmother’s friend Stella when her brother dies. Edison Hall was quite the collector (pack rat), and Sarah, along with her right-hand man Mac, expects to have their work cut out for them when they go to sort through the house. What they do not expect is to find a dead body on the kitchen floor in the midst of Edison’s wine collection. The deceased turns out to be Ronan Quinn, a wine expert hired by Edison’s son Ethan to appraise the wine. Unfortunately, the wine turns out to all be fake. Did Quinn’s questions about the wine lead to his death? Stella does not think the police are working quickly enough to solve Quinn’s murder, and she hires “Charlotte’s Angels” to get to the bottom of things.
Charlotte’s Angels is comprised of Sarah’s older friends, and some part-time employees, Liz, Charlotte, Rose, and Rose’s gentleman friend Alfred. Alfred has amazing computer skills and a newly minted private investigator’s license, and the crew has set up shop in Sarah’s store sun porch. Though Sarah does not want to get involved in the investigation (or so she keeps telling everyone), at the very least she feels like she can keep them out of danger if she helps them. It is almost too late for her when she realizes that she is the one in mortal danger.
Sofie Ryan has created an interesting setting in Sarah’s shop. All of the refurbishing and repurposing tidbits are much more creative than I could ever come up with. Equally interesting are the cast of characters. I love that there are multiple generations of people investigating. They have an easy rapport, and their connection makes them truly a family. Sarah is an intelligent protagonist, but do not underestimate the abilities of her cohorts. Their affability sometimes hides their keen wit, but they mean business. Alfred has become one of my favorite characters over the course of the series. Of course, the cast would not be complete without Elvis, the Jeopardy watching cat. I do not think Sarah and crew could solve a crime without his input, and he always seems to be in the right place at the right time to save the day.
The murder mystery itself is well crafted, although I did pick out whodunit fairly early into the story, but I did not know his/her motivation until near the end. The wine swindle was actually the more complex and interesting mystery to me. It was fun to follow everyone’s steps as they flushed out suspects, and there were plenty of twists and turns to keep me interested. The romance portion of the book is relatively incidental, yet sweet. I just hope that there is not a love triangle brewing. I do not get why so many cozies have love triangles.
A Whisker of Trouble is a fun read, and I cannot wait to see what further escapades await Sarah, Elvis, and company. I recommend this cozy to fans of older sleuths and mysteries featuring super smart cats.
A Whisker of Trouble
A Second Chance Mystery #3
By Sophie Ryan
ISBN 9780451419965
5 Stars
sofieryan.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
The New York Times bestselling author of Buy a Whisker offers another adventure with secondhand shop owner Sarah Grayson and Elvis the rescue cat.
Spring has come to charming North Harbor, Maine, and with the new season comes a new haul for Second Chance, the shop where Sarah Grayson sells lovingly refurbished and repurposed items. Sarah is turning her keen eye to the estate of collector Edison Hall, hoping for fabulous finds for Second Chance—but when her rescue cat Elvis discovers a body in the kitchen, everything goes paws up.
The body belongs to an appraiser who had been hired to check out Edison’s wine collection. When Edison’s sister shows up at Second Chance, she hires Sarah’s friends—the kooky and charismatic trio of ladies who call themselves Charlotte’s Angels and work out of the shop—to solve the murder, Sarah knows she and Elvis are only going to get deeper into the case. But as it becomes a cat and mouse game of lies, cons, cheats, and family squabbles, can Elvis and Sarah claw their way to the truth before the killer slinks away forever? (from Goodreads)
Review:
Sarah is the kind of protagonist I appreciate; her attitude reflects one of the reasons I enjoy cozy mysteries: ‘I liked it when the world was fair, when the bad guys got what was coming to them. Even though it didn’t always happen, I wanted it to.’ (page 243) “A Whisker of Trouble” is the third cozy mystery with Sarah, owner of ‘Second Chance’, and Elvis, the opinionated, glossy black cat who shared his life with her. The series continues to get better with each novel. Even if the author did leave ‘I Can’t Get No…’ running through my mind for way too long after the last page! (I won’t spoil that teaser with the reason!)
Second Chance is an all-around repurpose shop that includes antiques and thrift items, some of which have been refinished or new items derived from old. It also houses a small apartment upstairs where Sarah’s right-hand assistant, Mac, now lives, as well as the office of Charlotte’s Angels on the sunporch. It’s kind of like Charlie’s Angels, but these ladies are more dignified, wise, and seasoned than Charlie’s were. The Angels are Charlotte, Liz, and Rose, (all who help at the shop) and Rose’s gentleman friend, Alfred. As Sarah continues to find dead bodies – purely by accident – the Angels got together to ‘help the police’ solve the crimes. They do an admirable job of it, by the way. Between them and Elvis, who else does a gal need?
Sarah, Mac, and Rose were going to clean out and sell any useful items from the home of Edison Hall who had passed away recently. The only thing they didn’t have to take from the home were cases of wine that Edison had purchased as an investment for his son and his children. Ethan, Edison’s son, was working with a man who would evaluate the wine for a sales value. Mac, Rose, Elvis, and Sarah went to the Hall home to begin the process of sorting and clearing out the many piles of collections of Mr. Hall’s where Sarah and Elvis found what they most hated to find – the body of a well-dressed man who appeared to have been murdered in the kitchen of the former Hall home. The identify of the man was surprising, especially when the police tried to determine how he – or his killer – had access to the house.
The author has an all-star, well-described cast! She is a mistress of interesting, strong characters! Charlotte’s Angels are almost like wise twenty-somethings trapped in the bodies of seniors. I feel as if Rose is an old friend, while Liz and Charlotte are enigmas by comparison. Sarah is the best-defined character, and she could step off the pages as three-dimensional. Rose’s son Nick, Sarah’s brother Liam, and her assistant Mac have integral roles in Sarah’s life and in working through the murder.
Plot twists and surprises continually change the course of the investigation. The Angels, full of surprises for Nick and Sarah, keep them on their toes, especially with some of the information they find – and actions they want to take. They, and Elvis, provide much-needed comic relief when life heats up. Elvis reflects a bit of several cats that I’ve loved; he is very realistically portrayed with regards to his cat-sonality. Sarah and the Angels are part of the exciting resolution that relieves the incredible suspenseful tension, and parts of the finale are definitely surprising. I highly recommend ‘A Whisker of Trouble’ for cat lovers and cozy mystery lovers who are looking for a series that delightfully combine the two.
April 19, 2018
Sarah's grandmother asked her to take on the task of cleaning out and organizing for sale the items in Edison Hall's cluttered home. But when she and Elvis enter the home, the last thing they expect is to find a dead body. When the police determine that this is a case of murder, the family hires the Angels to find the murderer. Sarah soon finds herself caught up in their investigation, much to Nick's consternation. Twists and turns, financial scams aimed at seniors, fake wine bottles, all lead to a final unexpected showdown with the murder. This is a delightful murder mystery, and I love the methods the seniors (Mr. P, Rose and Liz) use in their investigation to gain facts. And of course, it is adorable the way Sarah runs everything past Elvis (her cat) and he answers her each time (don't we all do this with our pets!).
March 31, 2022
Sarah is trying to figure out her love life, run the store,and keep the Angels out of trouble. Well, one out of three ain't bad.
Clearing out an estate, Elvis the Cat discovers a dead body. The Angels, of course, immediately want to investigate.
It's all connected to a phony wine scam, which is interesting, and I actually wish we got more about.
Still, not bad.
Clearing out an estate, Elvis the Cat discovers a dead body. The Angels, of course, immediately want to investigate.
It's all connected to a phony wine scam, which is interesting, and I actually wish we got more about.
Still, not bad.
July 24, 2017
Figured out the killer 40 pages out. She made it quite obvious at that point. And the last ting that happens.... not sure I like that.
Read
November 12, 2017I enjoy the parts where Elvis the cat is main character.
November 16, 2017
3.5
I enjoyed the book albeit the cheesiness is getting to me sometimes. Sarah is an enjoyable character in a very enjoyable cast. on to the next book
I enjoyed the book albeit the cheesiness is getting to me sometimes. Sarah is an enjoyable character in a very enjoyable cast. on to the next book
May 10, 2022
Fun mystery, did pick the murderer very early but that was more from intuition than picking out clues. Nice twists and turns and of course Elvis is so enchanting.
July 19, 2025
Another cute book in a cute series. The books in this series are perfect light cozy reads.
February 18, 2017
A Whisker of Trouble is book 3 in the A Second Chance cat Mystery series, so named because the protagonist, Sarah Grayson is the proprietor of a second-hand shop called Second Chance. Sarah has a black cat named Elvis who is preternaturally intelligent and helps her in her investigation along with “Charlotte’s Angels”.
Sarah is hired to clean out a home of someone who has recently died and discovers a dead body on the premises. The family wants her and the PI team of Charlotte’s Angels to help solve the case. The investigation uncovers a counterfeit wine scam, elder fraud, and other misdoings in the second-hand/trading community. But is it enough motive to kill for? Sarah, Elvis, and her team follow-up on the leads, trying both to stop a killer and to save other seniors from being defrauded.
A fast paced cozy with a very current theme and fun, engaging characters to make an interesting read.
Sarah is hired to clean out a home of someone who has recently died and discovers a dead body on the premises. The family wants her and the PI team of Charlotte’s Angels to help solve the case. The investigation uncovers a counterfeit wine scam, elder fraud, and other misdoings in the second-hand/trading community. But is it enough motive to kill for? Sarah, Elvis, and her team follow-up on the leads, trying both to stop a killer and to save other seniors from being defrauded.
A fast paced cozy with a very current theme and fun, engaging characters to make an interesting read.
February 11, 2016
I was pleased to receive an advance copy of A Whisker of Trouble from the author in exchange for an honest review. Although it is the third book in the A Second Chance Cat Mystery book series, it was stand alone and the first one that I had read.
From the first page, I was thoroughly engaged in this delightful book. The main character is Sarah Grayson who runs the Second Chance shop; the shop sells used furniture and other items. Ever at her side is her adopted cat Elvis. Sarah has a number of people who help her including a great group of senior citizens. Not only do they help her in the shop, but they have formed a group called the Angels. Sarah is contracted to sort out a house where the owner is deceased, and upon entering Elvis discovers a dead body in the kitchen. Sarah is determined not to help solve this mystery, but the Angels immediately get involved and Sarah cannot avoid involvement. One of the Angels has gained his private detective license and their office is Sarah’s sun porch. There is an ongoing interaction with the police including Nick, who clearly is romantically interested in Sarah, and Detective Michelle. There are two storylines and I found myself guessing about the solutions to the very end.
Throughout the book there is humor, and the relationships between the characters are enjoyable. This was a fun, satisfying read, and I look forward to reading the earlier books in the series.
From the first page, I was thoroughly engaged in this delightful book. The main character is Sarah Grayson who runs the Second Chance shop; the shop sells used furniture and other items. Ever at her side is her adopted cat Elvis. Sarah has a number of people who help her including a great group of senior citizens. Not only do they help her in the shop, but they have formed a group called the Angels. Sarah is contracted to sort out a house where the owner is deceased, and upon entering Elvis discovers a dead body in the kitchen. Sarah is determined not to help solve this mystery, but the Angels immediately get involved and Sarah cannot avoid involvement. One of the Angels has gained his private detective license and their office is Sarah’s sun porch. There is an ongoing interaction with the police including Nick, who clearly is romantically interested in Sarah, and Detective Michelle. There are two storylines and I found myself guessing about the solutions to the very end.
Throughout the book there is humor, and the relationships between the characters are enjoyable. This was a fun, satisfying read, and I look forward to reading the earlier books in the series.
January 18, 2017
This 3rd novel in the Second Chance Cat Mystery series is a blast - the series continues to get better and better!
Sarah is the kind of protagonist I really enjoy - hard working in a unique line of work that sounds fascinating to me, values family members and those who are as close as family, and wants to see justice done and life to be fair. Oh, and Elvis, her companion, protector cat, who owns her just as much as she 'thinks' she owns him. The senior crew of Charlotte's Angels help with any mysteries / murders that occur around those they love, most especially Sarah.
The plot is interesting and suspenseful - going into a home after the owner is deceased to sort the piles of treasures and boxes for either recycling, selling at a yard sale, or purchasing for her repurpose shop. The first day they went in, Sarah and Elvis followed their noses to the kitchen, where a very recently-murdered man lay.
There are red herrings, a growing list of suspects, and very resourceful Angels doing a background investigation in hopes of helping the police get the bad guy(s) / gal(s). There was more than one mystery, maybe - or not - related to the murder? so the intrigue was greater. I so enjoyed watching the Angels, Sarah and Elvis work toward solving the mysteries!
Very well worth reading, especially to cat lovers who enjoy cozy mysteries. Highly recommend!
Sarah is the kind of protagonist I really enjoy - hard working in a unique line of work that sounds fascinating to me, values family members and those who are as close as family, and wants to see justice done and life to be fair. Oh, and Elvis, her companion, protector cat, who owns her just as much as she 'thinks' she owns him. The senior crew of Charlotte's Angels help with any mysteries / murders that occur around those they love, most especially Sarah.
The plot is interesting and suspenseful - going into a home after the owner is deceased to sort the piles of treasures and boxes for either recycling, selling at a yard sale, or purchasing for her repurpose shop. The first day they went in, Sarah and Elvis followed their noses to the kitchen, where a very recently-murdered man lay.
There are red herrings, a growing list of suspects, and very resourceful Angels doing a background investigation in hopes of helping the police get the bad guy(s) / gal(s). There was more than one mystery, maybe - or not - related to the murder? so the intrigue was greater. I so enjoyed watching the Angels, Sarah and Elvis work toward solving the mysteries!
Very well worth reading, especially to cat lovers who enjoy cozy mysteries. Highly recommend!
February 12, 2016
Sarah Grayson loves living in North Harbor, Maine. She has her shop, Second Chance, where she sells items that have been refurbished. She knows that she can count on her friends. Currently she will be emptying the house of Edison Hall. If she's lucky, she might find some items for her shop. What she doesn't expect is for Elvis, her cat, to find a body. Now Charlotte's Angels will have to find the killer? What happens next is an exciting adventure. Sarah is a lovely, caring person who has her hands full trying to keep her quirky friends out of trouble. This group of seniors have the cunning and intelligence needed to find the truth. I like that they weren't portrayed as helpless. Elvis is one smart kitty. He can nose out clues while charming everyone for treats. I chuckled at his antics. This story is well plotted and filled with colorful characters. A Whisker of Trouble keep me guessing until the very end. I didn't know who the murderer was. Sofie Ryan kept me on the edge of my seat. I couldn't stop reading until I know who the culprit was.
February 1, 2016
"A Whisker of Trouble" is a cozy mystery. It's the third book in a series. You don't need to read the previous novels to understand this one, and this novel didn't spoil the previous books.
The mystery was clue-based and could be solved using those clues. Whodunit wasn't too difficult to uncover if you stop to think things out. Untangling the entire wine scam was more complicated and was what Charlotte’s Angels spent most of their time on. The main characters were engaging, nice people, and the cat's charming. I enjoyed the banter and underlying humor in their interactions.
There was no sex. There was some bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this mystery to those looking for a light, fun mystery read.
I received this book as a review copy from the publisher.
The mystery was clue-based and could be solved using those clues. Whodunit wasn't too difficult to uncover if you stop to think things out. Untangling the entire wine scam was more complicated and was what Charlotte’s Angels spent most of their time on. The main characters were engaging, nice people, and the cat's charming. I enjoyed the banter and underlying humor in their interactions.
There was no sex. There was some bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this mystery to those looking for a light, fun mystery read.
I received this book as a review copy from the publisher.
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