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Trouble Cat Mysteries #1

Familiar Trouble

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BLOOD IS THICKER... Sometimes a unique talent is inherited—and such is the case for Trouble, son of Familiar the black cat detective. Trouble’s rather indolent life in the sleepy town of Wetumpka, Alabama is upended when a serial killer arrives on the scene. Trouble begins to apply the skills he learned from his dad and his hero, Sherlock Holmes.
 
When local bookseller Tammy Lynn is attacked at the site of an impact crater, Trouble realizes he must protect his human and solve the mystery of the Silk Stocking Killer. 
 
Aiden Waters, a local deputy, has tracked the SSK to Wetumpka. Since his wife’s murder, Aiden won’t risk romance, but when Tammy is endangered, everything changes. Especially their hearts.

264 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2017

631 people are currently reading
673 people want to read

About the author

Carolyn Haines

115 books1,573 followers
Carolyn Haines is the USA Today bestselling author of over 70 books. In 2020, she was inducted into the Alabama Writers Hall of Fame. She was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Alabama Library Association, the Harper Lee Award for Distinguished Writing, the Richard Wright Award for Literary Excellence, as well as the "Best Amateur Sleuth" award by Romantic Times. Born and raised in Mississippi, she now lives in Alabama on a farm with more dogs, cats, and horses than she can possibly keep track of.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
Profile Image for Julie .
4,249 reviews38k followers
June 23, 2017
Familiar Trouble by Carolyn Haines is a 2017 KaliOka Press publication.


I can’t tell you how excited I am about the return of the ‘Familiar’ series!!

Tammy, a bookseller, has deep ties in Wetumpka, Alabama. Small town life suits her best, but even small towns are not immune to crimes… even murder. However, Wetumpka is about to experience a highly unusual wave of murders when it appears the ‘Silk Stocking Killer' has chosen to settle down in the small town.

When Tammy and her ‘British’ cat, Trouble, discover the body of a woman, the local deputy, Aiden Waters is on the case.

Aiden and Tammy discover they have a simmering connection between them, but Aiden is a man on a mission, determined to find the ‘SSK’ no matter how often he must relocate, which means he can’t settle down until the murderer is caught, and that kind of throws a wet blanket on their romance.

As the bodies begin piling up, it becomes clear that Tammy could be in danger, which brings out ‘Trouble’ and Aiden’s protectiveness, while Tammy does a little amateur sleuthing.

Will they find the killer before Tammy becomes his next victim?


Many of you remember the ‘Familiar’ series written by ‘Caroline Burnes’ which began in the 1990’s. The romantic suspense series featured a cat named ‘Familiar’ who has uncanny detective skills. The long running series ended several years ago, but several of the books, are being released in digital format and are now available in the Kindle store. It’s been a long time since I read a book from that series, but I do remember I enjoyed them a lot and it will be fun to read them again. If you like this book, you might enjoy the original series as well.

However, this book in the beginning of a new series, a spin off, or ‘the next generation’, if you will, featuring ‘Familiar’s’ son, ‘Trouble.’ ‘Trouble’ has inherited his dad’s detecting skills and after helping protect Tammy and solve the case, he is ready to use those skills full time, taking on cases as they come.

This is a wonderful start to what I hope will be another long running romantic suspense/ cozy mystery series. This story was very well rounded, with a well plotted, twisty, mystery coupled with a nice romantic element and the shout out to cat lovers everywhere, with ‘Trouble’ developing his newly discovered detecting skills. The smart, black cat, often steals the show, with his running monologue that is often hilarious, but always heartfelt.

As an animal lover, I am drawn to books that feature pets and animals. I do, however, like it to stay on the plausible side of things, if at all possible. This book gives ‘Trouble’ a wonderfully delightful disposition and personality, and because I know cats can do incredible things for their humans, I enjoyed the whimsical quality, ‘Trouble’ brought to the story, and I believed in his incredible talent and loved his loyalty.

The human characters were okay, too. LOL! No, seriously, I really loved seeing Tammy’s character growth, and was happy she is comfortable in her own skin now, unafraid of trusting people, and can find peace and contentment no matter what the future holds.

If you enjoy romantic suspense, cozy mysteries, or books that feature pets and animals, I really think you will enjoy this one!!

I can’t wait to see what adventure await ‘Trouble’ in the future!





Profile Image for debbicat *made of stardust*.
856 reviews125 followers
May 29, 2020
3.5. Cute, cute cosy mystery with the black cat, Trouble at the center. While I have this on kindle I discovered hoopla has the audio so I bounced back and forth. The audio is very well narrated and I enjoyed it quite a lot.

Read for my Spring Challenge is the Retro Reads Group. A book with a murder.

I have the whole series on kindle and look forward to it! Highly recommended for cat lovers and ppl who like southern settings. This one is in my wonderful state of Alabama. While I don’t live in Wetumpka I have friends that do and it seems like a lovely place. The main character is a bookseller as well as a cat lover. Bonus points!
Profile Image for Yvonne.
1,338 reviews266 followers
September 28, 2017
Book seller Tammy Lynn trespasses on her neighbor’s property to be on the site of an impact crater. She is attacked and finds her life is in danger. When she learns a serial killer is in her small town of Wetumpka, Alabama, she realizes she could have been the next victim.

Tammy’s cat, Trouble, is the son of the famous black cat detective, Familiar. Trouble is following the footsteps of his dad and the famous human detective, Sherlock Holmes. It’s Trouble’s job to protect Tammy and he will go to any length to do so.

However, Trouble doesn’t have to handle it on his own. The handsome local deputy, Aiden Waters, is also on the case. After losing his wife, he has no intentions of losing Tammy, too. Trouble and Aiden have their hands fun protecting Tammy. It’s especially hard since Tammy is quite independent and prefers to protect herself.

Caroline Haines wrote the original Fear Familiar series under the name Caroline Burnes for the Harlequin Intrigue line. I loved that series and was delighted to hear that a sequel series would be released. I enjoyed this very much. It’s a clever series, partly narrated by Trouble (complete with a Benedict Cumberbatch accent). The cat doesn’t speak to the humans, but the readers hear exactly what’s on his mind.

I found the story line to be fast-paced and intriguing. Tammy is a bit reckless, but most mystery heroines are :) She is strong, though, and doesn’t back down from a fight. Aiden is a good match for her, although he has many personal demons he has to go through himself.

I enjoyed both the mystery and romance in this book. There are more books coming in this series. Each one is written by a different author and features different heroines and heroes, but Trouble is the common denominator as he appears in all of them. I’m looking forward to reading the next one in the series.
Profile Image for Anne Leazar.
53 reviews
July 7, 2017
Trouble, the Son of Familiar, the famous Cat Detective, and his beloved "biped" human, Tammy Lynn live in Wetumpka Alabama. Trouble has true Sherlock Holmes detective skills that is put to good use when his owner, Tammy Lynn, the owner of the Book Basket gets attacked on Tom Wells land during an astronomy event. Trouble is called into action to protect his beautiful owner from the Silk Stocking Killer along with Aiden Waters had been following the SSK for several unsolved murders. He, Tammy, and the well versed Trouble search for clues to solve this crime spree in this quiet Alabama town once and for all.

This book is very informative on the back history of Trouble and his father, Familiar of the Fear Familiar Series, for this first time reader of this book series. Ms. Haines weaves a great tale of Trouble's superior detection skills and how Trouble is following his father's pawsteps in solving murder crime. The author writes from the feline's, Tammy's and Aiden's point of view in a flawless manner which I enjoyed very much. The storyline had several suspects galore that kept me guessing until the very end. This is a very easy read that is a down home Southern tale of suspense from a very sophisticated cat detective and several very quirky characters with loads of charm and smarts.

I love Carolyn's sense of humor that she gives her characters such as Trouble, Tammy, and Aiden. Tammy is stubborn like Sarah Booth Delaney of the Bones Mystery series, and they do get into some tricky situations where their critters do come to rescue their humans from danger. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book with its creepy overtones. I recommend that you do not read this story during a thunderstorm like I did!

The only drawback of this book needs some more proofreading and editing due to grammar, spaces between words, and two of the character's names being used for the cat's actions. This book is a very good start for a new series. I cannot wait to see what kind of mischief and mayhem that Trouble will get in his next adventure.

I was given an ARC for a honest book review.


Profile Image for JoAn.
2,460 reviews1 follower
July 5, 2017
Familiar Trouble by Carolyn Haines is the first book in the Familiar Legacy series and was an awesome mystery. I had read some of her original books in the Familiar series and loved them. So I was eager to read this new series based on Familiar's kittens.

Ms. Haines is well known for her descriptive writing and her characters that are "real" with all of our human flaws. The plot was fast paced and so many twists that I just couldn't put the book down. I did finally get a glimmer of who the SSK might be but really wasn't sure until the final few chapters and the twist during the reveal was startling. I loved watching Tammy and Aiden's growth as their relationship began to develop throughout the story. As for Trouble, Familiar's son, he has definitely inherited his father's detective genes. He snooped, he presented clues to Tammy and Aiden and he protected Tammy. Ms. Haines provided Tammy, Aiden and Trouble's points of view as the story unfolded and I really enjoyed being able to "see" the story from their view points.

Small town setting, murders by a serial killer, a detective cat and a little romance made this an excellent read for an afternoon. I am hooked on this new series and anxious for the next one.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. All of the above opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Marlys.
1,511 reviews10 followers
June 21, 2017
I was given a copy of the book for a honest review. This is the first book by Carolyn Haines that I read. I thought it was great.
673 reviews15 followers
January 31, 2019
Tammy Lynn owns the Book Basket bookstore in Wetumpka, Alabama. Tammy's companion is her cat, Trouble, the son of Familiar, the black cat detective. She also loves history and is very interested in an old Choctaw legend of "The Spider in the Sky." The legend is what brought her to Rook's Vantage on this dark night. But tonight is not just some ordinary night. While Tammy is there with her cat she hears a noise and goes to investigate. Before she can react, she is tackled by a person dressed all in black and knocked out. Without realizing it, Tammy has encountered a serial killer and managed to survived. The killer had just finished hiding the body of his first victim in Wetumpka, Debby Caldwell, a teller at the local bank.

Aiden Waters, a new deputy sheriff in town, is on the trail of the Silk Stocking Killer (SSK). The SSK is a serial killer who preys on small towns, wreaking fear and havoc, them moving on. Will Trouble be able to protect Tammy? Will there be more deaths? Will Tammy and Aiden be able to stop the serial killer?

This is a great start to a new series. The story is told from the cat's perspective with plenty of wit and humor. There is also an element of romance in the story, but it does not detract from the main story line.
Profile Image for Karen (BaronessBookTrove).
1,119 reviews108 followers
March 3, 2019
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. A cat detective? Yes, seriously, Trouble to the rescue.
Familiar Trouble by Carolyn Haines is a great mystery filled with troubled characters, a southern setting and this adorably smart black cat. We have three points of view in the story. The charming couple and Trouble, the newest black cat detective.
Tammy Lynn
Our female lead is Tammy Lynn. She owns the local bookstore, which works out great as she is very well read. Tammy Lynn also seems to have this innate ability to be in the wrong place at the right time. She also doesn’t want to leave her hometown of Wetumpka, Alabama.

Things that I like about Tammy Lynn:  she takes outstanding care of Trouble, her taste in books, and the way that she is part of her community. The one thing that would be considered a bad trait is her independence as she would go places and not tell anyone where she was going.
Aiden Waters
Our male lead is Aiden Waters, former FBI agent and currently a local deputy sheriff. Aiden lost his wife and isn’t ready to try the whole dating thing again. Although, he is interested in Tammy Lynn. Aiden however, is obsessed with the Silk Stocking Killer, and until he can put this man away, he won’t involve anyone else.

What I liked about Aiden: his need to help people, the way he takes care of Tammy Lynn, and his ability to follow orders but also to make snap decisions without checking with the sheriff. My dislikes for Aiden are insignificant little things, like him blaming himself for his wife’s death, that he wasn’t honest with the sheriff immediately after they found the second body.
Trouble
The only thing to say about Trouble is he is spectacular. I love his wit and the way he speaks like Sherlock Holmes, the Benedict Cumberbatch version, and his dry sense of humor. The fact that he protects Tammy Lynn from harm whenever possible is fantastic.

He steals the story at times. If Tammy Lynn could understand him, she might not have been in such danger. Oh, and Trouble's food choices are perfect for a picky feline.
Random things that I liked about the story

The setting of Wetumpka, Alabama and the history that we learn of the area
The way the townspeople took care of each other
The Silk Stocking Killer’s story and part of the mystery
Tammy Lynn’s friend Amelia Weatherford
Everyone’s love of books and the thriving independent book store
Trouble helping others in his feline way
The touch of romance

Familiar Trouble CR5 Stars for Familiar Trouble by Carolyn Haines
My rating for Familiar Trouble by Carolyn Haines is five stars. The mystery was superb, add in the romance and Trouble, and this takes this book over the top. If you haven’t read this book and you love mysteries, with a love story, then this book is for you. I highly recommend it.

This story is a stunning start to what I hope will be a fabulous series. I can’t wait to read the next installment Trouble in Dixie by Rebecca Barrett.



Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Familiar Trouble by Carolyn Haines.

Anyways, until next time, enjoy this review brought to you by,

Karen Signature Happy Reading!

This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
Profile Image for Laura.
353 reviews6 followers
February 8, 2021
3.5 ☆s
Quick and cosy mystery, perfect for a snowy day at home.
There were a few editorial issues and some interesting choices in dialogue that gave me pause when reading.
But the plot drew me in and left me eager to read more adventures with Trouble.
Profile Image for Julia.
194 reviews3 followers
March 16, 2018
Since I'm a fan of her Sara Booth Delaney series, I picked up this "cat series" thinking it was a sure thing. I really wanted to like it more than I did, and I will say that the story and characters were very promising. There is some good raw material here that could really have been a great story!

However, I was irritated by details that were repeated multiple times and more than once I had to back up and re-read something because a person or object magically moved from one place to another. (Wait... he was on his way to check on a stolen bicycle, right? But now he's going to the bookstore instead?) There were not enough details about the main characters to make them feel "real" and the story seemed to be hastily-written and poorly edited. It was as if chunks of time and detail were left out to hurry up and get to the point, but details that were irrelevant were left in.

With a good re-work this story could be a winner, but as it was I thought it fell pretty flat.
Profile Image for Doward Wilson.
752 reviews18 followers
December 26, 2017
Meet Trouble, the son of The Black Cat Detective, Familiar. He and his Human, Tammy Lynn, live in the town of Wetumpka, Alabama. During the day they run the local bookstore and at night Trouble immerses himself in watching episodes of Sherlock Holmes. Trouble is determined to grow up following in his famous father's footsteps. When Tammy Lynn is attacked and knocked out on Rook's Vantage while using a friend's telescope to hunt for the arrival of a new planet, Trouble is there protecting her until she comes too. Getting back down the ridge to her car she discovers that all four of the tires have been flattened. When the tow truck gets there, Trouble takes off going back up the trail they had recently come down. As the sun rises, Tammy Lynn follows Trouble to the edge of a sharp drop off. Peering over the side to see what is getting Trouble's attention, Tammy Lynn is shocked to discover the nude body of the missing bank teller that she had just been told about by her friend, the tow truck operator. She and Trouble rush back down the trail and call 911. Deputy Aiden Waters takes the call and comforts Tammy Lynn while he gets the details. Hearing that the young woman had been strangled with a nylon stocking confirms his theory that the notorious and elusive John Wexler, the Silk Stocking Killer was in the area. The serial killer moved into an area and got comfortable with the locals while spying out the young women he eventually kidnapped and killed. As the FBI Agent profiling and working to find the serial killer, Aiden had gotten too close and the killer struck back. Aiden's wife was taken and killed. Aiden left the FBI and continued to pursue leads to the killer's current whereabouts. Taking jobs with local law enforcement let him follow the killer's trail around the country. When he learned of a young Montgomery woman who disappeared on her way home from Wetumpka and later found dead, Aiden knew he was closing in on the killer. When Tammy Lynn is almost accosted in her parking lot, Trouble intervenes and scares off the person. As Aiden works to keep Tammy Lynn safe, he admits that he is falling for her. Trouble knows the two are meant to be together and gives them every assist he can think of. Then another young woman is taken and ends up dead. Another woman is attacked but fights herself free. Suspects include the young man who is Tammy Lynn's assistant at the bookstore and a military vet who is staying with the old man who owns Rooks Vantage and the surrounding land. As the suspects move up and down on Aiden's list, Trouble continues his own investigation. When Aiden, Tammy Lynn and Trouble push the killer into a corner, he strikes back and Tammy Lynn is taken. As she fights to save herself, Aiden and Trouble are working all the angles to find her and capture the killer.

Carolyn Haines has given us the first book in a fantastic new series. Using the very resourceful Trouble as the central character gives us a two way perspective on the story as he interacts with the Humans. I enjoyed all the characters and found them to be like old friends. The murder plot was well thought out with enough red herrings to make the ending a total surprise. "Trouble in Dixie" - Familiar Legacy #2 is authored by Rebecca Barrett. We find Trouble in Savannah, Georgia helping Tammy Lynn's friend, Julia, at The Hampton Detective Agency. Cozy Mystery and Cat Fans alike will love these characters and I can't wait to read more of them.

118 reviews2 followers
July 4, 2017
Trouble, son of famous cat detective Familiar, fancies himself a different breed of cat detective: Sherlockian, in the mode of Benedict Cumberbatch’s portrayal. Thus the English accent. BC and a cat? I’m hooked!

Newly adopted by Tammy Lynn, likeable owner of the Book Basket, Trouble guides her through her efforts to uncover the identity of a serial killer in the small, quiet town of Wetumpka, Alabama. Someone is killing young women, all of whom are local girls no one would ever expect to be murdered. Her new love Aidan, whose wife was murdered by the serial killer, is a Deputy Sheriff who teams up with Tammy to uncover the killer. This is a welcome difference from other cozy mysteries where the police generally push away assistance from outsiders.

Like Aidan, Tammy has a past and is reluctant to fall in love. Wisely, they seem to get over that quickly. As for Trouble; he is clever, manipulative and charming. He worries he will not live up to the legacy of his father Familiar and is feeling his way. I so look forward to seeing what these folks get up to!

The setting in rural Alabama is terrific, with a cast of quirky characters whom I hope to see more of. The story is intriguing: the killer has recently escalated his killings. Why this town? The mystery is subtle and complex. I thought I had the killer pegged fairly quickly but was delighted to be off-base.

As usual, Haines’ writing is captivating. No matter the genre, she never fails to entertain and capture her reader.


6 reviews18 followers
July 10, 2017
I've been collecting cat mysteries for about 15 years now, and when I started one of the very first series I was introduced to was the Familiar, Black Cat Detective series of romantic mysteries written by Carolyn Haines. Seventeen books were released by Harlequin Intrigue starting in 1990, and I have every one in it's original paperback format. I was so excited to learn that 6 of the original titles are being re-released in ebook (the first, Fear Familiar, is available on Kindle for only 99 cents!), and now we're seeing the debut of a brand new line of romantic mysteries starring Familiar's son Trouble, who is following in his dad's paw prints as a black cat detective!

In this first book in the Familiar Legacy series we're introduced to Tammy, a bookseller in Wetumpka, Alabama. It's a rural little town in big trouble when it appears that a serial killer has made it his new hunting ground. It's personal for local deputy Aiden Waters when bodies start piling up because his own wife was murdered by the Silk Stocking Killer, and when he starts having feelings for Tammy he's forced to put them on the back-burner while making sure she stays safe. Thankfully her newly adopted cat Trouble, who learned some crime-solving techniques from his famous father Familiar and Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock, is also on the case! The sections narrated by Trouble break the tension a bit with his completely feline way of viewing the action around him. This book is cozy but it's also purrfect for fans of romantic suspense. Four paws up!
Profile Image for Mary.
Author 53 books263 followers
May 27, 2020
After reading Jaden Terrell’s contribution to the Familiar Legacy Mystery Series: Book 11, Trouble Most Fair, I was excited to read the whole series. This time, I began with Book 1, Familiar Trouble, by Carolyn Haines.

Trouble, a black cat, professed anglophile detective, has inherited the same sleuthing instincts as his father, and also his biped hero, Sherlock Homes.

During a stargazing trip to Rooks Vantage, which happens to be on the private property of the town recluse, Trouble’s human, bookstore owner Tammy Lynn, get knocked unconscious. Determined to protect Tammy, Trouble’s instincts kick in. He senses the attack is just the beginning of more disturbing crimes.

When the body of a female resident of Wetumpka, Alabama, is dumped at the site of an impact crater, serenity in the quiet little town is turned upside-down. Murder doesn’t happen there, does it? Was the attack on Tammy connected to the murder?

Author, Carolyn Haines, gives the reader plenty of ammunition. Suspects range from Tammy’s odd bookstore employee, to the recluse and his renter, a former military veteran, to a former F.B.I agent, town deputy, Aiden Waters.

While romance slowly emerges between Tammy and Aiden, the homicides continue. Just when you think the crime has been solved, the author takes you on a journey full of twists and turns.

Familiar trouble is a definite page turner. Ms. Haines’ descriptive writing keeps the reader engaged with her characters.

Can’t wait to read book 2 in the series, Trouble In Dixie by Rebecca Barrett!
Highly recommended
2,230 reviews30 followers
October 7, 2017
Princess Fuzzypants here:
I have a new hero! I just adore Trouble, the son of a famous cat detective who is following in his father's pawsteps. He is an Anglophile who has a Sherlock Holmes fixation, especially Benedict Cumberbatch and uses deductive powers to help the local fuzz, who has designs on Trouble's human, find the serial killer whom he has been tracking for years.
The body count is already at three in town and if Trouble cannot stop it, his human is going to be number four.
Like Midnight Louie, Trouble has his own chapters which are in the first purrson. Where Louie is Sam Spade, Trouble does channel his hero very effectively. He is a great tracker and he seems to be able to train his humans to follow his leads. It is a good thing although he was surprised by the revelation of whom was the killer. I must confess I was less surprised as I did suspect him. However, there was a total surprise when his partner was revealed.
The book is fast paced with lots of action and excitement. I really like Tammy, his human. She is adventurous but she does not put herself in harm's way intentionally. Luckily she has Trouble and the hunky cop to bail her out when needed. She is no damsel in distress as she is feisty and capable in her own right.
It is the first book of a new series and I know I am going to look forward to reading more about Trouble.
I give it five rousing purrs and two paws up.
Profile Image for Jae.
881 reviews1 follower
April 30, 2021
The legacy series features a black cat named Trouble, who is the son of the famous feline detective, Familiar.

Trouble leads a peaceful life with his human, Tammy Lynn, in the small town of Wetumpka, AL. The peace and quiet is shattered, however, when a notorious serial killer begins murdering young women in town. Trouble aims to track down the killer, utilizing the skills he learned from his father and from his hero, Sherlock Holmes. Trouble isn't the only one on the trail of the Silk Stocking Killer; Aiden Waters, former FBI agent, has tracked his quarry to Wetumpka. He is determined to capture the SSK and end the reign of terror once and for all. What Aiden hadn't counted on was encountering the lovely bookstore owner, Tammy, and falling in love. He also hadn't reckoned on how headstrong and independent Tammy can be--a trait that puts her firmly in the sights of a serial killer.

Story was told in alternating points of view. Trouble's pov was in first purrson, while Tammy and Aiden's povs were told in third person. Characterizations were done well, and the plot was engrossing. However, many things were left hanging at the end, which annoyed me.

Overall, I really enjoyed the story; therefore, I'm giving it four stars. It might have earned five if not for the loose threads that didn't get tied up.
293 reviews4 followers
October 10, 2017
Animal lovers, especially cat lovers everywhere will love the little black cat, Trouble, who is a wonderful sleuthing!

Prepare to be amazed if you're not already acquainted with how brilliant cats really are, both in this story, and in real life. Just to prove it, check out this book about the little black cat known as Trouble. He is loving, protective, super smart, and saves his human "pet" over and over, every time she needs help, or manages to get herself into a jam. Bad guys better run when Trouble and his human companion are investigating a mystery, because Trouble may just unleash a good dose of vigilante justice to keep his "pet" safely protected. When the chips are down, and all hope seems lost, Trouble isn't above using claws, teeth, or even his own body as a potent force against crime! If Sherlock Holmes would've had a cat like Trouble to help him solve mysteries, he wouldn't have needed much help from Watson, if any at all...not with Trouble on the case!

If you're a cat lover, and a mystery lover, too, then this story was custom made just for you! After all, how much havoc can one small cat possibly cause? You'll be surprised! Happy reading!
Profile Image for Kristina Anderson.
4,053 reviews83 followers
July 19, 2017
Familiar Trouble by Carolyn Haines is the first book in Familiar Legacy series. Tammy Lynn owns the Book Basket in Wetumpka, Alabama where she lives with her cat, Trouble. Tammy is at Rook’s Vantage stargazing when she hears a noise. She walks over, investigates and is attacked by a person in black. Tammy ends up unconscious. When she awakes, she finds that all four tires of her vehicle have been slashed. Deputy Aiden Waters transferred to Wetumpka six months prior. He is on the trail of the Silk Stalking Killer (SSK) who killed his wife. Debby Caldwell, a local bank worker, has disappeared and Trouble has found a vital clue near where Tammy was attacked. Did Tammy interrupt SSK the night before? Aiden has begun to care for Tammy and now her life is threatened. He does not want to lose another woman he cares about to this serial killer. Trouble puts his detective skills to work to help Aiden and Tammy catch the elusive SSK.

Familiar Trouble is a spin-off of the Familiar series by Carolyn Haines. In this series, we are introduced to Trouble, Familiar’s son who is a fan of Sherlock Holmes. I thought Familiar Trouble was an easy to read cozy mystery. I enjoyed the sections written in Trouble’s point-of-views. I found them entertaining and would have enjoyed more. My rating for Familiar Trouble is 3 out of 5 stars. I felt, though, that the characters lacked depth. The author did not provide enough background detail on Tammy Lynn (more detail is provided on Trouble than Tammy). The mystery idea was interesting, but I identified the killer before the first body turned up. There is a small suspect pool and one individual stood out. It would have been better if the author had included more action and had upped the suspense factor. The romance factor is prominent and moves quickly. I found many details repeated several times throughout the story (like the author was padding the story). If you are burnt out and looking for a little light reading, then take a look at Familiar Trouble. The next book in the series is Trouble in Dixie by Rebecca Barrett.
Profile Image for CarolKat.
2,280 reviews29 followers
April 26, 2019
I started this multi-author series at the end instead of the beginning and knew I had to go to the start. I love Trouble, the black cat with a penchant for mysteries. His and I quote 'biped' Tammy Lynn is the hard-headed owner of the local bookstore. Tammy is an avid reader and loves the Indian lore that surrounds her hometown of Wetumpka. It's that lore that has her trespassing on property to get a good spot to look for a foretold planet and the discovery of a body.

Fast-paced with plenty of chuckles thanks to Trouble. Aiden and Tammy both have some issues to work out and as the murderer escalates so does the danger to Tammy.

Of course she doesn't help by putting herself in precarious positions when she should just stay put.

I'm really enjoying these books, Trouble is a piece of work and there's the perfect amount of romance.
Profile Image for Judi.
157 reviews2 followers
July 12, 2017
The new series to complement the Familiar The Black Cat Detective series, this book introduces Trouble, Familiar's son. Also a black cat with a penchant for British crime drama (and affecting the accent), Trouble is just like his father with helping romance along while solving a crime.
This book was a very fun and quick read. Carolyn is one of those authors who expands beyond "murder mystery" to "detective story" with these series, and I for one appreciate it. Some of these cozy mystery series would make me think twice about living in a specific town, since people seem to keel over via murder with startling regularity. There are a lot of crimes out there that make interesting stories, and Carolyn shows us how.
195 reviews3 followers
October 2, 2017
I found this book to be a refreshing change. There are two heroes in this story the deputy, Aiden Waters, and the witch's familiar, Trouble. The heroine, Tammy. The point of view bounces back and forth between, Tammy and Trouble. Trouble is new to the world of detecting and worries about not letting his father down. He is also concerned about following in the footsteps of the great Sherlock Holmes. Tammy is the owner of a bookstore and tends to be more interested in books and what they contain. Aiden has lost his wife to a serial killer that he has devoted his life to catching. However, it appears that Tammy may be his next intended victim. This is a clean cozy. It is not graphically violent. There was no explicit sexual content. I like Trouble and the way Tammy interacts with him.
Profile Image for Allyson Dyar.
438 reviews57 followers
October 9, 2017
Trouble is Familiar's son; Familiar apparently is a very famous feline detective who appreciates Sherlock Holmes.

Anyway, Trouble is Tammy's feline. She knows that he's "special" and is willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Tammy becomes in emboldened in a former agent's pursuit of a serial killer who seems to have landed in the small Alabama town.

It's not a bad mystery at all. It's a good sign that when I finish a book, I check to see if there are other books in the series. In this case, there are. However, but I generally don't purchase books above $1.99 unless I really love them. And in this case, I didn't like that series that much. But this book and perhaps series are worth your time.

Four stars.
Profile Image for Michele.
1,852 reviews63 followers
December 18, 2017
Trouble is an extraordinary cat--he takes after his Dad! He is also bound and determined to take care of his humanoid or as he sometimes refers to Tammy as his biped. Life was pretty quiet until Tammy decided to borrow a friend's telescope and go star gazing up at the crater. Then the bodies start--Trouble is worried and knows he has to figure out who this killer is. I will say this cat is very discerning and knows who to trust and who should be ATTACKED with all claws extended!

This will keep you guessing until the end. I totally enjoyed this novel and will follow Trouble on some of his other adventures!
Familiar Trouble
Profile Image for Jeannie and Louis Rigod.
1,991 reviews39 followers
January 2, 2018
Familiar Trouble is the son of Detective Familiar...a famous black cat. I did not know anything about the original series prior reading this book so finding out a cat was the main sleuth...I loved it!

When Trouble's human caregiver sees a terrible crime, he decides it is up to him to keep his Tammy Lynn safe and secure from the hidden dangers in sleepy historic Wetumpka, Alabama.

For Aiden Waters of Elmore County Sheriffs Department, he senses he just might be on the right trail to capture the Silk Stockings Killer.

This book was filled with tension, action, and good dialog. I did figure out the killer, well, my dog figured out the killer, but, both of us were surprised at the ending.

This is a series to follow!
Profile Image for Donna.
301 reviews
April 14, 2024
Tammy Lynn owns a bookstore in the small town of Wetumpka, Alabama, She also has a cat name "Trouble" whose hero is Sherlock Holmes. Trouble has a family history of solving mysteries so when a serial killer hits the town of Wetumpka Trouble is on the alert especially if it concerns Tammy. When several women are killed, Aiden Waters, the deputy with a secret of his own, comes to town to help find the killer. Why this town, why these women, what is the motive. Nothing makes sense but when Tammy becomes the target Aiden is working even harder for clues and the killer.

I couldn't put this book down. I loved it and Trouble. What a great read and mystery that kept me guessing until the end. Interesting case of characters with plenty of suspects. Can't wait to read the next book.
Profile Image for Mb Gokee.
8 reviews
July 15, 2017
I came into this book not sure what to expect. I love Carolyn Haines' books--but I had never read any of this series. At first, I thought it was a silly notion, a pet as a main character in the series. I'd seen it done to death in certain cozy mysteries and it was "cute." I just wasn't sold.

But, boy am I glad I read it!!! I fell in love with the intelligent, witty and somewhat sarcastic personality of this smart kitty and it just pulled together the story between the "human" characters and the danger and mystery that lurked in the small Alabama town.

It's a must read and I can't wait to read more!!!
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