Shaken, Not Purred

Undercover Cat #2

by Kelle Z. Riley

Be Careful what you wish for…

Bree Watson traded her lab coat for a trench coat, expecting the life of a spy to be fun. But when a body turns up on her undercover mission she’s forced to handle:

* A murdered woman with more enemies than meets the eye.
* A hunky handler posing as her fake boyfriend.
* A sexy detective bent on wooing her-and wooing her away from espionage.
* A drop-out drug dog with a nose for trouble.
* Her cranky cat, curious coworkers, a cupcake challenge she can’t resist, and too many secrets, lies and cover identities to keep strait…

In the whirlwind of investigations and undercover operations, Bree developes a serious identity crisis. Who is she, really?

A spy pretending to be a chemist? Or a chemist pretending to be a spy?

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Humor

298 pages, Paperback

First published September 6, 2017

About the author

Kelle Z. Riley, writer, speaker, global traveler, Ph.D. chemist and martial artist weaves bits of her real life into the Undercover Cat Series books. The series features a scientist-turned-sleuth who juggles mystery, romance and the search for a perfect cupcake recipe.

By day Kelle is a full time chemist working in water treatment with multiple U.S. patents. At night she turns into an author whose accolades include finals in the RWA Golden Heart and numerous chapter contests. More information on her workshops can be found on her website.

Kelle can be reached at www.facebook.com/kellezriley www.twitter.com/kellezriley and www.kellezriley.net

Reviews

[Cyndi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a great fan of the cozy mystery and this fits the bill. There are even some excellent recipes in the end! Yum!
Bree is a chemist who has been tasked with a few undercover operations. This time she plays the part of a college girl. On the lookout for drugs she uncovers a murder. (Since it is a murder mystery that was a given, right?)
After quite a few twists and turns, along with some romantic will-they-won’t-they interludes we come to a surprising climax.
Excellent story with some great characters!

P. S. I’m voting for the hot spy instead of the hot cop as her love interest. Yum! 😊

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good second book in the series. These keep getting better. Bree is now fully involved in Sci-spy and its fun watching her in this new role and seeing her learn. There are several ongoing cases but the murder was wrapped up. Good mystery and the romances that Bree has going on are keeping me coming back more. Lots of yummy sounding recipes in the back and I like that they are set up as science experiments and include measurements so that people outside the US can make them. I was given a free book in exchange for my honest review.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bree Watson went to school to be a chemist. She even has a diploma to prove it. So, how did she become a spy? She has no idea, but that’s what she is. She’s Bree Watson when she’s a chemist, but Dr. Catherine “Cat” Holmes when she’s undercover working as a spy for Matthew Tugood. Dealing with one job is bad enough, but juggling two is a bit much.

While investigating the possibility of a lab producing illegal drugs, one of the women turns up dead. It’s up to Bree, aka Cat, to find the murderer. This case has more suspects than she ever imagined. The murdered woman was not popular at all and made quite a number of enemies along the way. It doesn’t take long for Bree to learn there is more than the possibility of illegal drugs going on at this lab. She uncovers deadly secrets.

Keeping her two personas separate isn’t always easy for Bree, but with the help of a handsome detective and her equally handsome boss, she’s becoming a pro. Of course she finds herself the center of both of their attention and not just for business.

Two careers, two men? Bree has her hands full to say the least. Good thing she has a large orange cat named Sherlock to help her through it all.

This is a fun story…a sort of cross between James Bond, and the TV shows Covert Affairs and Burn Notice. The book is filled with humor, mystery and romance all wrapped in one package. The dialogue is witty, the characters are lively and well developed, and the story moves along at a fast pace.

This is the second book in the series, but I thought it could be read on its own. Although, I do recommend reading the first one to give you a real taste of what this series is all about.




FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Sabine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the second installment in the series but the first one that I have read. During the first 2 chapters this caused a little confusion but it was soon obvious that the first chapter was related to the background story and didn't affect the mystery any further.

The very uncommon setting in a chemistry lab and the main character being a chemist AND undercover agent caught my interest when I saw this book.

In this undercover mission Bree has to act as a chemistry student to find out if Naturalistics produces illegal and harmful drugs. Naturalistics is just being sold to another company and Hannah, the person in charge of this transaction, is murdered. Bree wants to solve the murder while she is on her undercover operation as Cat Holmes digging into the secrets of the company.

A love triangle and some humorous elements made the book very entertaining. I really liked that Bree's chemistry background also played into her cooking and baking - recipes included.

Fun and fast-paced.

I requested this book from NetGalley and am thankful that Curtis Brown Unlimited and the author provided me with a copy.

[Ell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shaken, Not Purred is the second installment of the Undercover Cat Mystery series. Bree Watson, AKA Cat, works as a chemist and a spy in this fun mystery. While investigating a possible illegal drug operation, a woman turns up dead and Bree sets about finding the murderer. The plot builds steadily and there are several twists to keep the reader’s interest. This isn’t a conventional cozy mystery. It is a cozy mystery with a twist. Bree is a professional spy, not an amateur sleuth trying to clear her own or a friend's name. The setting is not a typical idyllic town, but rather a chemistry lab. There’s suspense, humor and romance all wrapped into one witty book. Although this is a follow up to the debut novel, "The Cupcake Caper," this book easily stands alone. Although I received a copy of this book from Net Galley, this did not affect my rating. I have provided an unbiased and honest review.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bree Watson's resume shows that she works for a temporary science staffing business called Sci-PHi. But the reality is that she is really part of a small covert spy group using that organization as its cover...a cover that not even her best friend, Kiki, nor her family, knows about. Her latest assignment has Bree posing as Cat Holmes, a temporary intern at Naturalistics, a company suspected of being involved in drug manufacturing. But when one of the company's employees ends up dead, possibly murdered, Bree finds herself in the middle of a different investigation, and the only two people who know her real identity are her boss, Matthew Tugood, and police detective, James O'Neil. I really enjoyed this story mainly because the heroine was not an amateur sleuth, but an actual spy...a different twist to the normal cozy mystery story. It was fun reading how Bree had to keep her two identities separate, even to the point of looking at her license to see who she was supposed to be at the time. I also liked the relationship between her and the two men in her life...both very different and both seemingly interested in pursuing a more intimate relationship with her. I look forward to reading the next book in this series. And of course, the final murderer reveal was unexpected. Disclosure: I am voluntarily reviewing this book received from the author.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This normally isn’t my typical cozy mystery to read. However I did enjoy it and would definitely read another book by her

[Seraphia Bunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shaken, Not Purred by Kelle Z. Riley is book two in her Undercover Cat series. In this book Bree Watson is juggling roles left and right. She starts off at a conference with a specific target in mind. He’s a very dangerous man and is running a deadly organization. Once the bait is set the team is to step back and let him reach out to Cat once he trusts her. Matthew, Bree’s Sci-Spy handler, calls Bree in with a new mission at hand. One of his government contacts has reached out concerned about a possible meth lab and it’s Bree’s job to learn if it’s true or not. Bree will be donning the Cat Holmes persona but this time has a student intern from UIC. Someone is believed to be possibly cooking drugs in Naturalistics labs and Matthew wants her to find out who and what. Bree aka Cat quickly gains the trust of most of those whom she works with. She’s easily swallowed up by her character and blends in well. All the lab members of the company seem to get along well until she crosses paths with Hannah. Hannah is part of the company that is acquiring Naturalistics. There is something about Hannah that rubs a lot of the lab members wrong. She’s not their favorite person to say the very least. After a night out of drinks at the local bar, that Hannah has been a patron of since it started; Hannah comes in hungover only to end up dead. Someone has committed murder and now Bree/Cat has to figure out who and why on top of the drug mission she’s already on. Add into this volatile cocktail mix Bree’s “boss” Troy, who is the head of the department she’s in, and you have some sticky situations ahead. It’s a good thing that she has some good friends and helpful people in her corner.
Shaken, Not Purred is the first book that I’ve read by Kelle Z. Riley and I absolutely loved it. This story is so well done and I loved how well it stayed focused on the main storyline. The branch off mysteries blends so well and brings the story together in such an engaging way. Bree definitely has her hands full not only with now a murder mystery on top of her drug spy mission but juggling two men who manage to pull at her heart. The sparks between all of three of them are intense! I hate to say it but I love the rivalry between the two men. It adds just enough additional heat without getting out of hand and turning into some ridiculous macho-fest. The various side characters and their relationships to the story really add another level of enjoyment for me. While I find Troy absolutely annoying I can’t help but want to laugh at him most of the time. You can tell that he’s on thin ice half the time because he never really pushes too far before he backs off. His annoying personality and always wanting to know what is going on with Bree, for me, reminds me of the geeky teacher from Fairly Odd-Parents.
The only complaint that I would have about this book is an editing error. It caught my attention so quickly because I literally panicked for Bree. For a second when I read the mistake I thought that her cover had been blown somehow. On page 88, when Jackie comes into the lab to check on Cat she says – “How’s it going, Bree?” She should have said, “How’s it going, Cat?” since Cat is the name of the person that they are supposed to know and be working with while Bree is her true identity. I reread that bit several times and even back-tracked to see if something had happened. I quickly read further into the page, to see if the mistaken usage would continue, or that Jackie would say that she knew who Bree really was. Thankfully, that never happened, which caused me to sigh with relief. Other than that one mistake there wasn’t anything else that grabbed my attention.
I like how Bree uses her science skills outside of the lab as well. She’s a really smart and clever character. I love how she likes to bake and experiment with flavors and modifying recipes to create new experiences. Being a baker myself I’ve recently mustered up the courage to do the same thing. This book is so much like a cake or an onion with so many layers to it. It’s such a wonderful story to read. Definitely a book for those who enjoy a good cozy mystery to read, plus you get tasty recipes at the end to try out! Who could ask for more? Not me, I tell you!
I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed this book so much. This may have been the first book that I’ve read by Kelle Z. Riley but it will not be the last! I intend to go back and grab the first book in this series and dive in for the fun and mystery to come. I also look forward to reading the next book in this series to see what happens with Bree and of course to see what heats up between her, James and Matthew. I have to admit I’m leaning more in James’ favor right now. Heehee. A great mystery novel, filled with fun layers that will engage you all the way to the end.
I received a copy of this book for review.

[Jeanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bree – or her alter ego, Cat – is in over her head in this second novel of the Undercover Cat series. The author shares a good sense of humor, even while finding a killer and determining if a company is a front for drug manufacturing. Most characters are endearing even if a bit eccentric.

Bree, a Ph.D. chemist, works at a scientific specialties temp agency, and has been chosen for an undercover position as an intern to labs owned by a group located at a local private university. It might be advantageous to read the first in series to understand the agency that is a cover for “Special Projects”, where a limited few are special operatives who go to companies. Most of the people in the temp agency, however, are unaware that the spy division even exists.

A couple days into her assignment Bree, posing as Cat Holmes, joins her co-workers for a drink after work. The woman whose office she shares, Hannah, from Human Resources of the company that purchased technologies of the lab, is the loudest of the group. It doesn’t take a Ph.D. to see that the obnoxious-sounding Hannah is not liked by any of her co-workers. She comes in miserable and hungover the next morning. Cat, with the help of her co-workers, brings coffee and other remedies. A couple hours later, when Cat returns to their shared office, Hannah is dead. Now the really hard part begins – can Cat/ Bree discover not only if illegal drug manufacture is going on and find the killer without blowing her cover?

I never thought about how challenging the life of a spy could be! One can’t talk about one’s job with family, friends, or spouse. The lines even begin to blur regarding their own identity. For example, where does “Cat” Catherine Holmes, a geeky college intern in her 20’s end, and Bree, the Dr., begin? Even one’s clothing choices for the day are determined by what role they are in, with a spare set in the back of the car, just in case.

The characters are defined as necessary through dialog and actions. She has feelings for two guys, but doesn’t know which one to pursue. One is Detective James O’Neil, with whom she has worked on a recent case. He is unaware of her true role as a spy, thinking she is wrapped up in the work and murder at the lab. The other man is her “handler”, Matthew Tugood, who probably had an earlier career in espionage. He trains her, and she unofficially reports to him and daily reviews the case. I didn’t like him well at the start, and liked him even less after what seemed like trifling with her feelings while maintaining a “cover”. It seems the real constant in her life is her cat, Sherlock, who is loving when he has his food and cuddles.

There are plot twists throughout. Bree shows kindness to her co-workers even as she races to find out about the suspected new drug behind the carefully-constructed facades of the lab. She also works to find who murdered Hannah, as there is no shortage of suspects for her death. The plot is so carefully constructed and well-executed that I probably guessed who killer is only a page or so before Bree does. Overall, the plot is interesting, but there is more chemistry involved than I am familiar with. I found it hard to focus on the mysteries while trying to understand the product details. I do, however, highly recommend this mystery to those who appreciate well-crafted cozy mysteries with both kinds of chemistry.

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a review. The review is my own opinion.

[Kimberlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Shaken, Not Purred" by Kelle Z. Riley is an excellent follow-up to the author's debut novel, "The Cupcake Caper". The primary reason this book is so enjoyable is intelligence, both on the part of the author and the main character, Dr. Bree Watson. Both author and character are PhD scientists, as well as smart, witty, women. Bree is able to hold down a serious, demanding job, and apply her common sense and research capabilities to solving the murder that takes place while she is on an undercover assignment.

The story itself is interesting and well-paced, with plenty of action interspersed with scenes of Bree actually trying to solve the crime in question using her brain, both alone and with her support team. Unlike many cozy heroines (who often simply go about their lives, ask a few questions here and there, and sometimes stumble over actual clues) Bree tackles her investigation head-on, with a great deal of thought, planning, and organization.

I would actually call “Shaken, Not Purred” a cozy-mystery-hybrid. While it includes the key cozy attributes (a pet, a hint of romance, food/cooking, quirky friends), this book offers the reader more. It edges toward being a “standard” mystery in that much more attention is focused on solving the crime than in a typical cozy. The heroine’s job, and the fact that she holds a PhD, make her come across as a woman to be taken seriously. There is also more of a sense of real danger than what one typically encounters in a cozy. Bree's fledgling romance with her boss/handler Matthew gets more of an intimate treatment than is usually found in cozies.

All in all, I really enjoyed the book. I liked all the standard cozy tropes, but appreciated the more intense and serious nature of the mystery. Bree is an entertaining and likable character, and I look forward to her next adventure.

[Susan Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Princess Fuzzypants here:
I liked this book but I am going to tell you what I didn't like about it first. I liked both the title and the cover until I realized it was simply a lure to get cat lovers- or cats- to read the book. I know publishers do this all the time but this book didn't need the sleight of paw. Yes, there is a feline character, a big red cat by the name of Sherlock. He has nothing to do with the story other than being the heroine, Bree's, kitty.
Bree leads a double life now that she is working undercover with the dark and sexy Matthew Tugood. She helps the police as well, in the fine form of her other male "friend", James. She is a highly trained chemist who is working at a company where there has already been one body and the hint of an illicit drug operation. She is new to the spy game and still has trouble walking the fine line of deceit
The story has layers of mysteries that dissect each other. The past and the present are full of dangers. Bree solves one mystery only to discover more details about another. The danger and the thrills are just one of the elements turning her from a geeky "ugly duckling" into a beautiful and confident swan. It is a drug of a different sort for her.
It's a good story that keeps the reader turning the pages. That is why there is no reason to promote the book as something it is not.
I give it four purrs and two paws up..

[Deirdre · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so much fun. It was filled with spies, covert operations, and animals, specifically, a feisty little feline named Sherlock. It's James Bond with a female lead including all of the major Bond like elements such as mystery, undercover disguise, explosions, romance, and a little bit of comedy. It is a fast enjoyable read.
Basically, this follows a chemist named Bree who works for a company that is a cover for espionage activities. Her newest mission is to infiltrate a drug lab to see if they are manufacturing illegal drugs. Bree is to pose as a graduate student intern and cozy up to the other lab workers. During her investigation, a person turns up dead in the lab. Now, Bree must uncover two truths as she delves further into dangerous territory.

[Cassidy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice premise for a mystery book. I wouldn't classify it as a typical cozy mystery book for good or bad. I liked the characters okay, none really stuck out for me. The ending wasn't too predictable. I really didn't care for all the scientific jargon. I skimmed a lot of in and just hoped it wouldn't come back to bite me later in the book. Overall, nice story but heavy on scientific information that I didn't care about or feel like I needed to understand.

[Elsbeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed part 1 of this series, but this, part 2, is even better!
It has action, murder, passion, romance, science, animals, baking, drinks, friendship, work and murder.
A really good murder mysterie!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Robin Leslie Coxon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shaken, Not Purred is the second book in the Undercover Cat Series by Kelle Z. Riley. Dr. Bree Mayfield – Watson an employee of Sci – Phi, Science Professionals for Hire, a chemical technology business. Although Bree was known as a chemist at her day job, she was actually an undercover spy, Catherine (Cat) Holmes, under the Special Projects Division overseen by Matthew Tugood. Her day-time boss, Troy, who held the position that should have gone to Bree, was not happy that he was unable to keep a tight rein on Bree’s coming and goings. Bree however, was found the worst part of her being a spy was not just the itchy earpieces, lack of privacy, and risk of exposure but not being able to share with Kiki, her best friend and her family. Bree’s mission as Cat was to pose as a Chemistry student from the University of Illinois at Chicago, working on her BS program with Naturalistics, in order to determine if they were manufacturing meth and also solve a murder. Although Bree aka Cat knew more than a chem student, she had to dumb down her appearance.
The play of the characters in this story are wonderfully written and very believable. I enjoyed the story line, although I found it hard to hold my interest in the beginning as the story built I was unable to put the book down. Having not read the first book in this series I wasn’t sure if I would be able to pick up and understand the storyline presented in this book but I found it to be a free standing book with no trouble.

[Jodi Schulman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Shaken, Not Purred (Undercover Cat #2) is a new author to me. It was a very different kind of cozy book. The theme was about a chemist whose company was bought by Science Professionals for Hire-Sci-Phi. The main character Bree becomes a spy for the new company and works with Matthew Tugood. Bree goes undercover as a senior college student at a Chemistry lab and the hijinks start to ensue. Bree has a full cast of characters that she has to deal with for one Troy her new boss manager who is always on everyones cases. I really enjoyed the book from her cranky cat to a drop-out drug dog with a nose for trouble. There is a lot of science in the book and because she is a chemist she loves to experiment with different recipes. I received this book from Cozy Mystery Review Crew free for an honest review of the book. I am happy I found this new author through the review crew because I have never read a cozy like this before.It is very different because she is a chemist and I have never read a book about a chemist who solves murders. I liked when she was in her kitchen playing with recipes it was very interesting how she thought about the science of cooking that really it is a type of chemistry.

[Sara Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not sure how I felt about the story at first, but Kelle Z Riley's novel Shaken Not Purred was a bit of a welcomed surprise for me. Initially I had expected a Cozy Mystery, the title and cover seemed in the same vein as many other cozies, but I was pleasantly surprised by the differences I found. Yes, the story did have a number of details in common with other cozies, single female protagonist, a pair of love interests, and a propensity for finding dead bodies, or being directly connected to a murder/death. However, Doctor Gabriella Catherine Mayfield-Watson, known as Bree to her friends and colleagues, has a more specialized skill set, she is a Scientist, who has a side gig as a Spy, under the guise of working on off-site special projects. She's even got a cover identity, Cat Holmes. Cat is on an undercover job as a chemistry student at a University laboratory, trying to find evidence of illegal drug manufacturing, instead she finds a dead body and a bundle of suspects who all seem to have a reason to want her dead, or at least don't mind that she's gone. The lead investigating officer James, is a handsome friend who knows and cares deeply for, her real identity, despite his distaste for the her secret agent life and her “Handler” Matthew Tugood, to get inside intelligence, and keep an eye on her safety, James signs her on to help with his investigation. Tugood is a mystery wrapped in secrets, but somehow Bree breaks through his walls and causes feelings in him, and their cover story of being a PDA intense, hot and heavy couple isn't helping him control them. Between hunting for clues, at the lab and in the victim's sordid past, and trying to sort out her real life, cover life and emotions, Bree has a lot on her mind.
I liked the book because Bree is a very intelligent character and still quite relatable. From page one you become involved and invested. The story is not so full that you can't keep track of the characters, and involved enough to not be boring. The speed of the story is nice, not too fast paced and no where near too slow. I would highly recommend Shaken Not Purred, and will be looking for the first book of the series to learn in depth how Bree ended up in the position she is in.
I received this book from the publisher for free as an advanced reader copy, this fact has in no way influenced my feelings or the review I have written.

[Celia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shaken, Not Purred is the second in Kelle Z Riley's Undercover Cat series, and was a delight to read. Chemist, Bree Mayfield Watson, has found a new job -- that of undercover spy Cat Holmes, whose job is to investigate a chemical company, Naturalistics, that may be producing illegal drugs. She works under the supervision of Matthew Tugood, with some extra help from Detective James O'Neil. When the company she is infiltrating is about to be acquired by another entity, Hannah, the woman in charge of the IP, is murdered. As Hannah was disliked and mistrusted by just about everyone she came in contact with, the suspect list is long and keeps growing. Against the wishes of both Matthew and James, Bree/Cat decides to use her skills as a scientist to solve Hannah's murder, as well as stay undercover in her original assignment.

This book is very well written and very hard to put down. I appreciated the explanations of the suspicious scientific procedures being performed by "Cat's" co-workers at Naturalistics, as well the delicious recipes concocted by Bree (who cooks to relax and unwind) that are given at the end of the book. Bree is almost fearless in her role as Cat Holmes, and often finds herself in some sticky situations, but is able to come away from them unscathed. In addition to her role as undercover spy and intern, Bree finds herself in a bit of a romantic triangle with Matthew and James, which causes some enjoyable complications. All the characters in this book are well-written and interesting, and the mystery of Hannah's murder kept me guessing until the end.

While Shaken, Not Purred can be read as a standalone, I would also recommend reading the first book in the series, The Cupcake Caper, because it is just as good. I look forward to the next book in this series, and the continuing adventures of Bree Mayfield Watson.

I received a copy of this book from the author. My review is freely given, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Judi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shaken, Not Purred is the second novel in the Undercover Cat Series by Kelle Z. Riley and the first of her books that I’ve read. I enjoyed reading every page of it!
Scientist turned spy, Bree Mayfield-Watson, is still getting her feet wet in the spy world (and trying to keep her friends from finding out what she is truly up to). She’s assigned to go undercover as college student Cat Holmes in a lab to determine if illegal drugs are being produced there. It doesn’t take long before she discovers the dead body of her new office-mate, Hannah. Bree goes right into investigation mode with the help of her boss and pretend boyfriend, Matthew Tugood, and a detective she’s been dating, James O’Neil. Bree is attracted to both men so it is a bit of sticky situation for her to juggle both of them.
Bree uses her methodic, chemist nature to narrow down suspects one by one as she goes through her investigation. She gains help from friends who run a business called The Barkery and spends a lot of time at a local pub learning about the art of making drinks from the pub’s master mixologist. She also taps resources from sorority sisters to help her solve the murder.
Throughout the book, Bree concocts some amazing food whose recipes can all be found at the end of the book. My mouth was watering just reading about them.
Bree also has a cat, Sherlock, who pops up throughout the story. He has quite an attitude and reminds me of both my cats – especially when he wakes Bree early in the morning for food!!
All in all, this book was well written, enjoyable to read and I will go back to read the first book in the series now. Kudos to Kelle Z. Riley for a superb mystery!!
I was provided with an advanced copy of this book by the author in exchange for a fair and impartial review.

[Debbie Erickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shaken, Not Purred is the second installment in the Undercover Cat mystery series. I was expecting to read a "cozy", but although this book has some of the qualifications of a cozy, this is more of a light mystery. Bree is a chemist who has been asked to take on undercover spy work. She is adept at blending in and using disguises to change her appearance, however, she is still learning the ins and outs of espionage and gets herself into a few tight situations. Matthew Tugood, Bree's handler, asks her to infiltrate a campus lab to investigate allegations of drug making and it isn't long before Bree finds a dead body. Bree works with Matthew and the local police detective, using her skills of observation and deduction, to assist in solving the murder. The substance of the plot is complex and I liked that I was not able to immediately figure out who had murdered the victim. I enjoy reading stories that have strong, smart female characters and this book did not disappoint. My only criticism would be that this is billed as a "cat" book, in reality Bree's cat Sherlock plays an almost nonexistent part in the story. An added bonus were the recipes at the end of the book. I look forward to the third book in this series.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book was better than the first in the series, unfortunately, I think it will be the last one I read.

This second installment wasn't quite as boring to me as the first book was, but the author still didn't make me care about the characters. I'm not that fond of Bree or Matt or any of them really. I just don't care what happens in their lives.

I get that Bree is supposed to be undercover, but it's too much. We never see her being Bree, or rarely. It makes me wonder who she really is as a person. We don't have nearly enough back story on Matt so he just comes off as totally fake and insincere. James I like more than the others, but we still don't get to see much of his personality. Yes, we know he likes Bree, and he'd probably be good for her, but there's just so little character development, it's hard to know for sure.

For as much as I disliked it, the mystery itself was well-done and I didn't have a clue about the villain until it was revealed (unlike the first book where I knew about 50 pages into the book who it was). That's why I gave it a 3 instead of a lower score.

Maybe you'll have a different response to it, but for me, I'm unfortunately done with this series. :(

[Lynette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shaken, Not Purred by Kelle Riley was the second installment in the Undercover Cat Series. I had the chance to read this book as an advanced copy in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was able to read the first one as well, and I have to say, sadly, that I enjoyed the first one much more than I did this one. As much as I liked the idea of having some science added into the books, there really wasn’t all that much, and most of the book focused on Bree’s decision about which gentleman to date. I spent more time wondering when the story would get to where it needed to, and then when it did, it was a huge letdown. I almost felt like the book climaxed and then was over.
The characters in the book are fun to get to know, but it was confusing, once again, to try and figure out who belonged where and why Bree was pretending to be “Cat” in the first place. There was a little background history, but someone couldn’t just pick up this book and be able to figure out why Bree was doing what she was, and what her original, real job was supposed to be. Overall, it was a fun, quick read, but I wish the story had focused more on building the plot to the story and not so much on the romance.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scientist turned spy. We are introduced to Bree, really her alter-ego Cat Holmes, as she is trying to make contact with Zed and earn his trust. While she is waiting for his call, she is assigned a case at the University regarding illegal drugs…which turns into a murder.

Bree is juggling a lot – her “job” at the temporary science staffing firm, her scientist cover with Zed, her undergrad cover at Naturalistics labs, two love interests, and lying to everyone she knows. She is trying to determine if she can handle it all and knows that she wants more out of life than being a behind the scenes lab geek.

Shaken, Not Purred was a very fast passed read for me. Once I started it, I truly didn’t want to put it down. The fact that the book was written with a well-educated woman who was using her mind…and not other things…is a huge win in my eyes. A sign of a well written mystery is that I didn’t know who did it until about the time it was revealed. I did feel that this book focused quite a bit on the romance triangle between Bree, James and Matthew, or at least more than I am accustomed to with cozy mysteries.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and fast-paced read! This cozy mystery is a bit different from the usual ones. Bree, the main character is an undercover scientist, a PhD chemist, working for a more experienced veteran of espionage. She is learning the tricks of the trade (and the gadgets) in her new job as Undercover Cat. The are plenty of the usual elements of a cozy as well, such as her cat Sherlock, but mostly notably in two possible romantic rivals for the somewhat insecure Bree.

The book starts off with Bree posing as Cat at a conference, looking to lure in the object of her assignment by making contact with a possibly dangerous businessman. Intrigue ensues, but that's not the case this book is about! In a quick turn-about Bree is now Cat Holmes, undergraduate chemistry student. As soon as she starts to investigate the possible manufacture of illegal drugs in a chemistry lab, there is a death that complicates things. Police swarm in for the suspicious death, including a detective who already knows Bree. Bree has to act fast, keep her cover, and gain his alliance all at once.

From that point on, Bree has two investigations. One each with a possible romantic interest. The book moves quickly and holds your interest. I enjoyed the use of chemistry, and having it discussed in terms of cooking and mixing cocktails. This was a great read!

[Marsha Giese · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the first in this series , I was really looking forward to this one. I was not disappointed.

The Characters are engaging and the plot moves along at a good pace. I found the book hard to put down and spent a very late night reading the first half in one go.

The author has done a great job of making the plot believable and unique. The Main character Bree is not too nosy and has a good reason to be snoopy. So far the two men in her life are likable, but hopefully this won't drag out for too many books like some series have.

The recipes are really good and easy to make. Make sure you read the sneak peak for the next book!

So overall I really enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to the next in the series.

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. I would have bought this book anyway since I really enjoyed the first one.

[Courtney · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of cozy mysteries, and wasn’t familiar with the author or her Undercover Cat series. I received an advanced copy of Shaken, Not Purred in exchange for an honest review and was looking forward to meet some new characters. While the writing was delightful and engaging, I did find this book very difficult to read. In my opinion, there just seemed to be too many themes and topics squeezed into one novel. A scientist, turned spy, who worked for a secret science spy organization. Who also has a cat. Who also goes by the alias, Cat. And the cover has a picture of a cat, lapping up a cocktail. Despite all of these themes, it primarily focused on the main characters romantic life. It all just seemed a little forced and a little ‘much.’ I most likely will not read another book in this series. However, as I mentioned before, I did really enjoy the author’s writing style. She was able to build a connection between the reader and the characters, which is impressive given that I still had little interest in the plot. While not my particular cup of tea, I would recommend this book to readers interested in a science background. I also am open to reading other books by author Kelle Z. Riley.

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is as complex and carefully organized as the molecular structure of a diamond. Bree is still the brilliant character I started falling in love with in the previous book, but now she’s also dealing with all kinds of new complications. Handsome heroes competing to turn her head, a serious identity crisis, and another murder to solve. I kind of suspected who the villain turned out to be, but it took me a lot longer this time to figure out everything that was going on in this book. And several things still managed to catch me completely off guard. I had so much fun with this book and I’m desperately looking forward to reading more in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Booksprout.

[Toni Nyman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shaken not Purred takes Bree and Mathew on a wild rider to find who killed on the employees in the company Bree works. At the same time Mathew is trying to discover if they are making illegal drugs in the lab. They team up to solve both problems. At the same time Det. James O'Neil enlists Bree\s help with the murder. It gets quite complicated when Bree goes undercover as "Cat". an undergrad student-helper. This is not a typical cozy. I found there was too much scientific language to wade through. I did enjoy the characters and basic plot. The people were well rounded and the main plot very interesting. The science stuff I felt bogged it down.

[Michelle Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chemist turned spy, Bree is wondering if she has taken on more than she can accomplish. She is a talented chemist but now she is enjoying the excitement of the undercover life.
She is investigating a possible drug ring in a chemistry lab when suddenly there is a death on staff. Now she has to discover not only if there is a drug ring but also who the murderer is.

This is a fun mystery novel with a charming heroine and her cat. She also tends to get help regularly from the owners of a boutique pet store called the Barkery.

I love the characters (including the two men who seem to be vying for our heroines affections) and the setting is also well developed.

Overall it is a fun mystery that takes you on a bit of a ride.

[Sue Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bree Watson is a trained chemist working undercover as a student and investigating potential illegal drug manufacturing. How Bree was recruited must have happened in the first book and I found the beginning 20-30 pages a little conf, but once the action gets going, it was quite an enjoyable read. I especially enjoyed the science and the fresh twist it gave the story. The plot and mystery were well constructed.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.