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The Cats That #8

The Cats that Broke the Spell

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When a beautiful professor is accused of being a witch, she retreats to her cabin in the woods. Soon a man dressed like a scarecrow begins to stalk her, and vandals leave pentagrams at her front gate. The town of Erie, Indiana has never known a witch hunt, but after the first accusation, the news spreads like wildfire. “She stole another woman’s husband, then murdered him,” people raged in the local diner. “She uses her black cats to cast spells to do her evil deeds!” But what do the accusers really want? How is Erie’s crime boss involved? In the meantime, while the pink mansion’s attic is being remodeled, Katz, Jake and their seven cats move out to a rural farmhouse, which is next door to the “witch.” They find themselves drawn into a deadly conflict on several fronts. It’s up to Katz and her seven extraordinary felines to unravel the tangle of lies before mass hysteria wrecks the town. Murder, mayhem, and a cold case make this book a thrilling, action-packed read that will keep you guessing until the very end.

288 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 23, 2017

304 people are currently reading
76 people want to read

About the author

Karen Anne Golden

12 books83 followers

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5 stars
380 (61%)
4 stars
161 (26%)
3 stars
59 (9%)
2 stars
13 (2%)
1 star
4 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
Profile Image for Celest.
716 reviews9 followers
October 21, 2018
There is nothing better than a "Cats That" mystery

Karen Anne Golden is one of my favorite cozy mystery writers. I love the way Katz always puts her cats safety first and the help that the cats give her in solving the case. There were some scary moments in this one that kept me reading to make sure everyone was alright. I'm really invested in these characters. Can't wait to read the next book in this series. I recommend this series to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries.
Profile Image for Kim Loomer.
625 reviews9 followers
March 15, 2021
Abra and Scout...so clever again.

This was my favorite book in this series so far. It was fast paced, page turning and I couldn't figure out what was going to happen next. I love Katz cats and it is always exciting when her best friend Colleen is around. I loved how this book ended and am now am itching to get to the next one. I would love to have a couple of cats as smart as Abra and Scout as well.
28 reviews1 follower
June 8, 2017
I should know by now; this is the 8th book in The Cats that... series; that I shouldn't even open the cover anywhere near bedtime. Again, Katherine and her extraordinary cats find themselves in danger. There are twists and turns along the way as the reader seeks to solve the mystery, and a lovely surprise at the end. Can't wait for the next one.
Profile Image for Bonnie Drummond.
921 reviews19 followers
August 20, 2017
What a fast pace book that will have you finishing the book in one night. The Cat that Broke the Spell in the series ( The Cat That...Cozy Mystery book#8 ) is a great read that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat to see what will happen next. 5 stars plus 100 more for a great cat mystery to read.
Profile Image for Suzi.
178 reviews13 followers
November 27, 2017
Fun and quick read

I've enjoyed this series and look forward to another book in the series. There are some editing problems and even having lived in West Central Indiana all my life, there are several things that were said or described, where I was like what??? No idea what was meant. But, thank you Ms Goldman, for the entertainment!
Profile Image for Sue Ross.
610 reviews11 followers
December 26, 2017
Cats

while I'm not a cat person, these cats got to me. They are smart adorable felines. As always Karen Anne Golden has written a first rate mystery. You'll meet a few new people and learn just how strong love can be. I hope hope you'll give this book/series a try. You won't be disappointed.
Profile Image for Leslie.
1,448 reviews5 followers
August 18, 2018
Number 8 in the series has Katz and the cats along with Colleen in a farmhouse surrounded by cornfields. A supposed witch with black cats lives across the road and a scarecrow is running around through the cornfield. This harvest season looks very strange for our heroine and family. Like all of of the books in the series the cats are entertaining and smart.
531 reviews
October 20, 2022
These cats make life full of mystery! Gives their parents warnings when something is coming !

The pink home needs to be altered, so for a while the family is renting a farm house! The neighbor has witch signs and pentagram put one her gate ! Love the fact the cats seem to aide in everything!
836 reviews10 followers
March 25, 2017
Cats & Murder!

This book is jammed pack with murder, suspense, a touch of 'woo-woo', & of course cats, lots of cats! Karen Anne Golden always delivers a delightful read. I couldn't put this one down!
1,020 reviews
November 10, 2019
Danger out in the country

While their attic is being turned into Jake's office, they rent a house in the woods for 2 months, but bad things start happening. Romantic entanglements are misleading, and there is danger. And the cats do their part.
39 reviews1 follower
May 28, 2020
Good read

Love animals have had goats dogs cats fish. Like to see a dog enter- thwined with Collen partnered into some stories. Something small like a yorkie so cats can fit well with her.
Profile Image for Melody D. Boomhower.
3 reviews
May 23, 2017
Great book

Easy read. For a cat lover and a mastery reader this series is a good read. I would recommend all eight books.
3 reviews
November 28, 2018
Pure Magic of Enchanting Cats

Imagine just what Katz Cats could achieve with opposible thumbs? Absolutely one of the best stories I have read. Honestly!
Profile Image for Karen.
179 reviews4 followers
December 13, 2018
love this series, 2 more to go then I'll have to wait.
Profile Image for Janice Fahrney-rudeen.
146 reviews2 followers
January 29, 2019
Great series

These stories are fun and each is a quick read. Hate to think that there are only 10.... hope many more are coming
Profile Image for Ellen Drummond.
14 reviews
June 17, 2020
I adore these books!!

It’s so nice to have a series that has thrilling storylines and cats!
I would recommend this series to anyone who likes cats & a good ‘who done it’!
7 reviews
January 18, 2024
Great book!

I loved these adventures and how the cats seemed to know what's up! Love this series and will keep reading
160 reviews
January 12, 2025
A country farmhouse, a witch (not), a murder and a scarecrow. Katz, Colleen and the Cats have quite the adventure. Loved it.
710 reviews1 follower
April 24, 2025
The cats That broke The Spell

These cats are something else again. I’d like to think that cats could do these things because they sr sure smart enough.
Profile Image for MK.
1,628 reviews22 followers
March 28, 2017
Fantastic book. The 8th book in The Cats that...Cozy Mystery..
Everything seemed to be settling down. Katz was relieved.
Her and Colleen her friend were going up to the farmhouse they would rent.
Until weird things started happening up there..

This book was filled was sudoense, and mystery like each book before.
A fast paced and a real page turner. Funny too.

Highly recommend.
1,063 reviews4 followers
April 1, 2017
Great read

Karen did it again I love these books and I can't wait till the next if you love a great story with great characters and cats you'll love them too
136 reviews2 followers
April 2, 2017
Great read

Loved this book...but I didn't realize it was book 8 of the cozy mystery book series!! Next matter...the author briefly mentions past situations so I think it's ok to read out of sequence. I look forward to reading the other 7 books!! So get cozy and read them, especially if you are a cat lover like me!! Enjoy!!
729 reviews7 followers
April 3, 2017
Loved This One

Well I just finished the new book and I loved it. Now I'm back to waiting for the next one. I'll probably reread it in a week or so. I absolutely love these books and this one was fantastic. If you haven't read them you definitely need to.
Profile Image for Darlene Ramsey.
91 reviews
April 4, 2017
I loved the story. Katz and Colleen work together with help From Abra and Scout to solve the murder of the cat sanctuary director. Lots of twists and turns with a really fantastic ending to the adventure.
Profile Image for Judith Jamieson.
15 reviews1 follower
April 10, 2017
This is a great cozy murder series. You want to sit down and see what your friends are doing because you really become attached to the characters and the cats. What will they surf up next?
Profile Image for Kat Lebo.
855 reviews15 followers
April 7, 2017
The Cats that Broke the Spell (The Cats that, #8)
by Karen Anne Golden

This seemed a relatively short novel, but perhaps that's just because I devoured it, reading it in under 24 hours. I started it late Thursday morning, April 6th, and finished it in the wee hours (1:30 a.m.) Friday morning. Quick, fun read.

In this episode, Katz, her 7-cat menagerie, and her best friend Colleen are set to have an adventure of a lifetime. The pink mansion is having some remodeling work done, and Katz and her husband, Jake, and the cats will be relocating to an old farmhouse outside of Erie, Indiana for the duration. Their new next door neighbor will be a former co-worker of Jake's, an eccentric woman named Lizzie. Lizzie is the subject of quite a bit of gossip in this small town, and when the director and head veterinarian of the no-kill shelter founded by Katz's foundation is murdered, things begin to heat up! Through in Stevie Sanders and his daughter Salina, Stevie's former mother-in-law, Big Mama, his ever conniving father, Sam, a vengeful jilted wife, a mysterious man in a scarecrow costume, and Lizzie's herd of cats and Erie may never quite recover.

Obviously, I loved this story and just couldn't put it down. I would have loved to give it 5 stars, but there were just too many proofing errors in this short novel for me to do so. Golden's writing continues to impress me. Her characters are fully fleshed and very identifiable. Her ability to put the reader right in the thick of the action is undeniable. And there is action. Lots of action. Tons of action. Plenty of loose strings that all tied together in a great big bow at the climax.

In this episode, however, there were some definite errors. For instance this at 590 on my Kindle: ..."He could have opened the window," then when she noticed the window didn't have a screen, she said, "or naught." Umm. I think that would be "not."

At 532, I wasn't sure if this was an error or an intentional grammar slip intended to characterize Colleen, as she was the speaker: "Is that Lizzie's cats?"

And while I fully understand that this word is a contraction for 'it is,' you usually don't see the word 'tis written with an apostrophe at all, although the correct spelling includes one. However, the apostrophe goes before the t, not after as appeared at 1816 "T'is such a mess,"...

Also unusual for this author, there were a couple of places where I was confused.

At 750 and 1961, Katz calls Iris "Fredo." Maybe I just spaced it from a former episode, but I don't remember this cat being called by that name and there was no explanation in the text for why she did so? I initially thought perhaps it was a misspelling of "Frodo," and the author was evoking a Hobbit reference to Iris' habit of "borrowing" items from people's pockets or purses. When the nicknamed repeated, and there had been no recent theft by the cat, that idea went out the window!

At 1239, Jake is referring to the vet appointment for Abra and Scout: "Katz, the vet appointment isn't until two hours." I suppose there is nothing really wrong with that wording; it just seemed awkward to me. Most people I know would say 'the vet appointment isn't for two hours.' Again, others may feel differently, but it stopped me dead in my tracks and removed me from the action while I reread it a few times to be sure I wasn't missing something.

Another strictly personal reaction was at 1134, when one of the very minor characters is described as being handsome, bearing a resemblance to the actor Ed Harris. That made me laugh. I love his acting, but he's not the first (or second or third) actor who would come to my mind as handsome. Strictly personal. I'm sure many others would think him the perfect choice.

All in all, I loved the story. Hated that I found so many things that stopped my progress. Still, I'm looking forward to the next Cokenberger and cats adventure in that amazing pink mansion.

Profile Image for Cassandra Campbell.
2 reviews
April 9, 2017
I love this series!

I have read every The Cats that..book and have enjoyed each one. I was so happy when I was alerted that there was a new book. I read it in one sitting but now I'm upset that I have to wait for another. Excellent reading! I would recommend this for anyone who likes cats and a good mystery.
Profile Image for Carol.
343 reviews1 follower
April 9, 2017
Cute Cats

Another cute cat story with a twist. Ms Golden never fails to produce an intense story with mystery, action and felines.
2 reviews
April 19, 2017
Seven Cats and Sachi

My Siamese is a male named Sachi and he is a really special actor. He loves all eight of the books and hopes there will be many more. Me too.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews

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