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Beatrice Young Cozy Cat Mysteries #2
The Extortion Cat-astrophe
The Ashbrook Fall Fair is around the corner and Beatrice Young, the sixty-two-year-old owner of the Cozy Cat Café, is gunning to finally win the prestigious baking competition.
Yet when her friend Nathan rushes in with a wild tale of extortion ten years in the making, it's up to Beatrice and her cats Hamish and Lucky to hunt down the culprit.
Featuring a beloved cast of characters including the grumpy Sheriff Roy, Beatrice's ex-husband and best friend Matthew, and Zoe the zany pastry chef, The Extortion Cat-astrophe is a paw-sitively delightful read for mystery fans and cat fanciers alike.
The Extortion Cat-astophe is the second book in the Beatrice Young cozy cat mystery series. These books can be read in any order but are extra delightful when enjoyed in sequence.
Yet when her friend Nathan rushes in with a wild tale of extortion ten years in the making, it's up to Beatrice and her cats Hamish and Lucky to hunt down the culprit.
Featuring a beloved cast of characters including the grumpy Sheriff Roy, Beatrice's ex-husband and best friend Matthew, and Zoe the zany pastry chef, The Extortion Cat-astrophe is a paw-sitively delightful read for mystery fans and cat fanciers alike.
The Extortion Cat-astophe is the second book in the Beatrice Young cozy cat mystery series. These books can be read in any order but are extra delightful when enjoyed in sequence.
71 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 13, 2015
67 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Alannah Rogers
19 books56 followersA retired librarian living in New Hampshire. Lives with three cats, Charlie, Wilkie, and Jane.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 31, 2017
Beatrice Young is at it again, along with her pair of kitty sleuths. This time she is getting ready to enter a baking competition at the Ashbrook Fall Fair. Nothing is ever that simple for Beatrice.
A friend of hers asks for her help. He’s the victim of an extortion plot that began ten years ago. He had kept it to himself, but now he needs her help. He makes her promise not to tell the sheriff. It’s difficult since Beatrice and the sheriff have a good working relationship. If he finds out she’s working an extortion case behind his back, that could ruin everything.
Beatrice Young reminds me of Jessica Fletcher, Agatha Raisin and Miss Marple. She’s an older woman who runs a cafe, but handles mystery cases on the side. The sheriff seems more than happy to have her assistance.
I have to stretch my imagination a bit to accept that the sheriff doesn’t mind her interference. In fact, he often requests it. But, it's a fun adventure every time. Beatrice isn’t in this alone. She has a good relationship with her ex-husband, who often helps. More importantly, she has her two detective kitties, Hamish and Lucky. Of course those two are my favorite characters.
This is the 2nd book in the series. These are short books. I prefer reading them in order so I get to know the characters and watch them grow. Each mystery is self contained in each book so I think they can be read on their own, but I think it’s better to read them in order.
A friend of hers asks for her help. He’s the victim of an extortion plot that began ten years ago. He had kept it to himself, but now he needs her help. He makes her promise not to tell the sheriff. It’s difficult since Beatrice and the sheriff have a good working relationship. If he finds out she’s working an extortion case behind his back, that could ruin everything.
Beatrice Young reminds me of Jessica Fletcher, Agatha Raisin and Miss Marple. She’s an older woman who runs a cafe, but handles mystery cases on the side. The sheriff seems more than happy to have her assistance.
I have to stretch my imagination a bit to accept that the sheriff doesn’t mind her interference. In fact, he often requests it. But, it's a fun adventure every time. Beatrice isn’t in this alone. She has a good relationship with her ex-husband, who often helps. More importantly, she has her two detective kitties, Hamish and Lucky. Of course those two are my favorite characters.
This is the 2nd book in the series. These are short books. I prefer reading them in order so I get to know the characters and watch them grow. Each mystery is self contained in each book so I think they can be read on their own, but I think it’s better to read them in order.
February 8, 2016
When Bea's friend Nathan confides in her that he has been the subject of extortion for ten years and needs help, she decides to do what she can. A bit of sleuthing, some baking (her cafe is trying to come up with a recipe for the local upcoming fair), some serious bad guys and some fun contributing cats. A light and fun read - and a rare mystery without murder (I always enjoy those for a change)
September 13, 2018
Yesterday I was exhausted and yet too jing-a-ling with physical discomfort to sleep. I couldn't concentrate on anything serious and halfway through my favourite movie ever, the DVD player went on the fritz! Desperate for distraction, I picked up this book, even though the first in the series left me seriously underwhelmed. I was bored, contrary, and only about six years old.
If you want a fast, lite read with zero plot to it, this is your book. The cats still act like dogs, up to and including being taken into a fairground crowd off leash! There is faaaar too much emphasis on food throughout; okay, I know she runs a cafe, and is looking for new cake ideas, but all the characters seemed to do in this book was stuff their faces. Cakes, pies, lobster, turkey legs (turkey legs? at a carnival? Whatever...)--life for the main character is just one long meal. But what I really couldn't forgive the author for was how she massacres the English language. In this very short novella, there were at least a dozen howlers. First there were the homophone mixups, like "she poured over the exhibits"--really? Maple syrup, or honey? No dear, you mean she pored over the exhibits, as in "examined in detail." Someone does something "purposefully" when what she meant was "purposely", as in "intentionally". For all Bea's supposed cooking knowledge, she doesn't know that a boned chicken has had the bones removed; no, for Bea, it's "de-boned." That's almost as bad as people who don't realise that "thaw" is a verb, and so is "defrost", but "de-thaw" is not a word. We are told that Rogers is a retired librarian. I refuse to believe this.
I hate to tell Ms Rogers, but a village with a population of two thousand does not have a "precinct", though it might have a police station. Precincts are administrative divisions, in large cities such as New York.
Even though the plot development was slim to none, I could have given her another star if she hadn't consistently raped the language before my face.
If you want a fast, lite read with zero plot to it, this is your book. The cats still act like dogs, up to and including being taken into a fairground crowd off leash! There is faaaar too much emphasis on food throughout; okay, I know she runs a cafe, and is looking for new cake ideas, but all the characters seemed to do in this book was stuff their faces. Cakes, pies, lobster, turkey legs (turkey legs? at a carnival? Whatever...)--life for the main character is just one long meal. But what I really couldn't forgive the author for was how she massacres the English language. In this very short novella, there were at least a dozen howlers. First there were the homophone mixups, like "she poured over the exhibits"--really? Maple syrup, or honey? No dear, you mean she pored over the exhibits, as in "examined in detail." Someone does something "purposefully" when what she meant was "purposely", as in "intentionally". For all Bea's supposed cooking knowledge, she doesn't know that a boned chicken has had the bones removed; no, for Bea, it's "de-boned." That's almost as bad as people who don't realise that "thaw" is a verb, and so is "defrost", but "de-thaw" is not a word. We are told that Rogers is a retired librarian. I refuse to believe this.
I hate to tell Ms Rogers, but a village with a population of two thousand does not have a "precinct", though it might have a police station. Precincts are administrative divisions, in large cities such as New York.
Even though the plot development was slim to none, I could have given her another star if she hadn't consistently raped the language before my face.
July 12, 2018
Lucky the clue sniffing cat
Awesome. Better than the first book. When a friend tells them that he has had money extorted from him for over a decade, the two know it is time for it to stop. Especially as the threats are getting stronger and now she and Matthew have been targeted. The only problem is they can't tell the sheriff. Can the cats pick up any clues? Obviously the lessons Lucky has been getting are paying off big time. Can they find the person behind the scheme? A nice plot and good to see Lucky steal the show. The characters are getting better and have now settled into their roles.
Awesome. Better than the first book. When a friend tells them that he has had money extorted from him for over a decade, the two know it is time for it to stop. Especially as the threats are getting stronger and now she and Matthew have been targeted. The only problem is they can't tell the sheriff. Can the cats pick up any clues? Obviously the lessons Lucky has been getting are paying off big time. Can they find the person behind the scheme? A nice plot and good to see Lucky steal the show. The characters are getting better and have now settled into their roles.
May 12, 2017
Loved it!!
Loved this book so much I had to finish it. It is now 2:42am lol!! I only wish the book was longer so it would take a few days to read it instead of 2!!! But seriously I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend this whole series which is 10 books...and may be more. If you love cats and mysteries you will love this!!
Loved this book so much I had to finish it. It is now 2:42am lol!! I only wish the book was longer so it would take a few days to read it instead of 2!!! But seriously I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend this whole series which is 10 books...and may be more. If you love cats and mysteries you will love this!!
March 15, 2020
Entertaining and enjoyable!
Great little mystery! Had a good story
line. Really enjoy the kitties, Lucky and
Hamish! So glad I decided to give this
series a look-read!!! Wonderful and
heartwarming!!!
Great little mystery! Had a good story
line. Really enjoy the kitties, Lucky and
Hamish! So glad I decided to give this
series a look-read!!! Wonderful and
heartwarming!!!
May 31, 2021
Great cozy!
Fun read. I really enjoy the characters. I love that the cats help solve the mystery. I also like that this is not the same formula of dead body of the small town. This was a case of extortion to solve. Fun!
Fun read. I really enjoy the characters. I love that the cats help solve the mystery. I also like that this is not the same formula of dead body of the small town. This was a case of extortion to solve. Fun!
August 6, 2021
Enjoyed the book.
The story is short, but is good for an afternoon read, especially if you are waiting your turn at the doctor's office, for example. Characters, both human and felons, are cool. Nifty tale, all in all.
The story is short, but is good for an afternoon read, especially if you are waiting your turn at the doctor's office, for example. Characters, both human and felons, are cool. Nifty tale, all in all.
February 16, 2021
2 1/2 stars. Sometimes a bit overboard but it does make for funny moments. A decent mystery.
January 4, 2017
This book shows how an extortion can go on for years. Beatrice, Matthew, and her cats solve a mystery and find the culprits.
January 9, 2016
My second story by this author. This time Beatrice is approached by a friend who has this little problem. He has been extorted out of money for the past ten years. And he felt like a moron. So he just kept paying and not telling anyone. And, even now, doesn't want the police involved. But, maybe, Beatrice might help?
Absurd on the face of it. Both the extortion and the idea that the police can be kept out of it. Nathan, the friend, isn't being blackmailed. He just got into the habit of helping someone. That someone happened to have saved his life one winter, and so . . . when they needed a little extra money, Nathan helped. Then continued to help for the next ten years. Mostly because he was embarrassed. About . . um . . helping. I guess.
I liked the mystery plot more in the first story, and less in this second story. Yet I've rated this one higher. And that is, mostly, because this one seemed to have been written with that tiny bit more polish than the last.
Absurd on the face of it. Both the extortion and the idea that the police can be kept out of it. Nathan, the friend, isn't being blackmailed. He just got into the habit of helping someone. That someone happened to have saved his life one winter, and so . . . when they needed a little extra money, Nathan helped. Then continued to help for the next ten years. Mostly because he was embarrassed. About . . um . . helping. I guess.
I liked the mystery plot more in the first story, and less in this second story. Yet I've rated this one higher. And that is, mostly, because this one seemed to have been written with that tiny bit more polish than the last.
November 18, 2016
Cat Lover's Mystery
Attention cat and mystery lovers, this is a book for you. What a perfect combination of two of my favorite things to relax and enjoy. It even has a friendship that may be slowly turning into a romance. What more can you ask for? I think it's perfect and I'm reading my way from one book to the next in order so I don't miss a thing.
Attention cat and mystery lovers, this is a book for you. What a perfect combination of two of my favorite things to relax and enjoy. It even has a friendship that may be slowly turning into a romance. What more can you ask for? I think it's perfect and I'm reading my way from one book to the next in order so I don't miss a thing.
May 28, 2016
Novel? Novella?
Having two cats myself, I enjoy cozy cat mysteries. I have not quite decided whether to continue with the series. The first book was fun, but the second one was a bit too much like the first. Will there be a remarriage? That might make me read on to find out.
Having two cats myself, I enjoy cozy cat mysteries. I have not quite decided whether to continue with the series. The first book was fun, but the second one was a bit too much like the first. Will there be a remarriage? That might make me read on to find out.
July 17, 2015
Cute
I always enjoy the cat tricks and Beatrice's machinations. Even the desserts smell good. This story was way too short but simple enough for the length. A good cosy.
I always enjoy the cat tricks and Beatrice's machinations. Even the desserts smell good. This story was way too short but simple enough for the length. A good cosy.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews