Cat Call

Crazy Cat Lady #4

by Mollie Hunt

When cat-handler Rhonda Kane is injured on the set of a TV mystery pilot, sixty-something cat shelter volunteer Lynley Cannon steps in to help. Lynley is good with Clark Gable and Cary Grant, Rhonda’s identical red tabbies, but the production proves to be another story. Rumors fly of a mysterious “hex” causing mayhem and misfortune on set. Hex, or a hoax? A suspicious death is followed by murder, and Lynley enlists the help of famed actor Ray Anderson to expose a truth that could topple a career and destroy the show itself.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Animals

273 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 26, 2017

About the author

Cat Writer Mollie Hunt is the award-winning author of two cozy series: the Crazy Cat Lady Mysteries featuring a sixty-something cat shelter volunteer who finds more trouble than a cat in catnip, and the Tenth Life Paranormal Mysteries involving a ghost cat. Her Cat Seasons Sci-Fantasy Tetralogy presents extraordinary cats saving the world. She recently released a COVID memoir which she calls, "a tale of a plague and politics, of depression and inspiration, and an ode to the very real and healing presence of cats." In her spare time, she pens a bit of cat poetry.

Her cat writing has earned various honors, including CWA Muse Medallions and World’s Best Litter-ary Awards. She is the recipient of the prestigious Michael Brim Distinguished Service Award (CWA) and the Catalyst Council Connect to Care Award, celebrating a true story of the profound connection between a shelter cat and its adoptive pet parent. Her book, Cat’s Paw, was a CIBA Mystery & Mayhem Semi-finalist.

Mollie is a member of Sisters in Crime and Willamette Writers, as well as being on the board of the Oregon Writers Colony and Northwest Independent Writers Association (NIWA). She is also the librarian for the Cat Writers’ Association. Mollie lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and a varying number of cats. Like her cat lady character, she is a grateful shelter volunteer.

Reviews

[Shelle Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crazy Cat Lady Lynley Cannon doesn’t go looking for trouble, it just sort of finds her. A weekend in Washington and a presentation at a cat symposium was all Lynley was looking for. But then, a blood-soaked cat, seemingly the only witness to a mystifying murder, needs a foster mom, and honestly, how could she say no? Okay, so the series of locked room murders had piqued her curiosity, and the local cat lady seemed to be in trouble, and, well, it just wouldn’t be right to head home before doing a little shopping and sightseeing. Right?

The wonderful characters that flavor this series are back, with some more really great ones added in for the new location. I would love aunt Cait to make another appearance in future tales. Lovely kitties roam the pages of this book, which in addition to a great story, contains the series signature cat tips in every chapter.

Each murder, so completely unrelated from the ones before it just adds to the readers’ interest. This story is the kind of cozy I love to read. The clues are all there if you are paying attention. I was, I swear, but I still had five perfect suspects, two of which turned out to be complete red herrings, and I was totally surprised by the big reveal. Mollie Hunt has surprised me before with her innocuous Cat Cozies. If you enjoy this series, then you will love this latest installment. If you have never read the series, then jump right in. It holds up well as a stand-alone with everything you need to know about Lynley, her friends, and her cat obsession all included.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s the seventh crazy cat lady mystery, and the stories just get stronger and more enticing. This one’s a classic locked-room mystery—how are these people dying (so dramatically) in rooms with no one else present? And what has a poor lost cat got to do with it?

Lynley the cat lady is at a cat convention, and felines abound, as do friends of felines. The setting is Long Beach Washington, where the beach is indeed long, and the scenery draws the reader in till they really want to stay there. Except for the fact that somebody’s killing people…

Lynley really shouldn’t be involved--this is a matter for the police--but she can’t help it. She has to help the cat. And she’s got a feline sense for mystery and resolutions too. So there she is, risking life and limb, and quietly caring for people and cats as well, in a beautiful place, where fascinating characters abound.

Cat Conundrum is truly a conundrum, with satisfying mystery, clever resolution, fun characters and an entertaining way with people, situations and cats. Great fun. Neat plot. And a great read.

Disclosure: I borrowed it from a friend, and I love this series.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a crazy cat lady, love mysteries, and dream of beach vacations. Lynley is my kindred spirit. Those of us who have cats just know that life is better with cats! Even though Cat Conundrum is the first book I’ve read in The Crazy Cat Lady Mystery Series, I didn’t feel lost at all, so you can jump on in here with me! Believe me, I am adding the rest of the books to my TBR pile!

Cat Conundrum is my idea of the perfect cozy mystery book. It’s totally clean, has quirky characters among its cast, has cats (dogs work too!), and a mystery that takes most of the book to figure out. Oh, yeah, and my mom could read it! (That’s part of my checklist haha!)

I quickly fell for the characters in the book and feel like I’ve known them for a long time. They’re well described, and you could easily picture them as your friends. I want to hang out with them and go clamming and shopping. If you’ve read any of the books in this series, I’m sure you know what I mean.

The setting is beautiful, and I don’t know how anyone could leave this vacation house and head back to the city after staying here. I dream of living by the water…this water may be a little cold though. I guess I can take it if anyone wants to buy me this pretend place!

You will love guessing whodunit as you read Cat Conundrum. I thought I had it figured out until about 70% into the book. The author does a great job of throwing us off the scent! I highly recommend this cozy to all of you cozy mystery lovers! I can’t wait to read more!

I received a free ebook as part of a book tour. It had no bearing on my opinion.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author is imaginative in creatively tying the many disparate threads and clues together. And, of course, there is a cat whose future hangs in the balance. The ending surprises, as the reader doesn't realize that there are almost as many suspects as in an Agatha Christie novel. That is because possible motives of potential suspects are not revealed until the end.

Interesting facts about cat breeds, cat communication, and cat care preface each chapter and tie in with the action.

There is almost as much ambience in this book as there is mystery action, when the story takes place on scenic and (usually) peaceful Long Beach, Washington. That is, it's normally a peaceful spot until several "locked room" murders take place during a convention of cat fanciers.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve now read all these books in the Crazy Cat Lady series and this one got me guessing more than the others. I love reading about Lynsey’s life especially her feline adventures with all her cats and fosters.
This book was very clever and very Agatha Christy.....
I can’t wait for the next one. These books are very easy to read cosies and sometimes you just need an escape in life, especially 2020!
If you love cats, you will love them :)

[Linda Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Fun Series for Cat Lovers

I have binged this series for the last few weeks and thoroughly enjoyed it. Good characters, well constructed puzzles, and many facts about cats.The cats are characters too with distinct personalities, but not anthropomorphic. Great fun for cat lovers and I hope there will be more

[Karen Candee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder in a locked room

I highly recommend this series! I’ve read and enjoyed every book. Of course this is a mystery but it is complete with lots of useful information about cats . I’m looking forward to the next book and hope it’s released soon!

[Christine Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read

I couldn't put this book down I love Lynley cat lover shelter volunteer and her friend Detective Denny Paris this was another exciting read with lots of cats.

[Leah Alford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lynley Cannon travels to a waterfront town to give a talk at a cat summit and finds herself lingering. In a place with so much expansive outdoor beauty, a murder victim discovered in a room that is locked from the inside makes the atmosphere suddenly feel pinched. There's a cat who needs a foster so Lynley steps up to take care of the kitty, Seaview. While she stays, more locked room murders occur. Menacing currents seem to underlie the pleasant ambiance of the town.

Lynley has proven in prior books that she has a knack for getting herself into tight spots, and true to her character, she gets in some real jams in this story!

Lynley's cat advocacy and knowledge make the book really appealing to cat advocates, as does the author's use of cat imagery in her descriptions and story-telling.

The skillfully placed clues and events kept me speculating most of the way through the book but the revelation at the end was a total surprise!

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lynley subs for a friend as cat handler on a movie set when her friend breaks her leg when someone deliberately damages a step on her set trailer. It seems that someone wants the show to stop filming.

Quite an enjoyable book, but Lynley commits what to me is the cardinal sin of cozy mysteries. In spite of all the terrible accidents on the set, when Lynley hears a shot in the middle of the night, she does not call the police because she does not want to bother them if it was nothing! Instead, she ventures off by herself on a quiet movie set in a dark and strange building. Also, when she picks up a phone at a murder site, thinking it is her own, once she realizes that it likely belongs to the murderer she does not immediately turn it over to the police. As much as I enjoy cozies, this kind of stupidity drives me nuts.

[Chris Houghton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adds a view into the world of film extras.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, Mollie got me caught up in the antics, suspense, surprises and more -- I do also enjoy her detailed descriptions and interjections about cats. Now on to the next adventure...