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High Country Mystery #7.5
King Henry's Christmas
Sheriff Jeff McQuede finds pampered cat King Henry in the midst of a crime scene. The cat, who belongs to Sammy Ratone, is the only witness to a burglary. McQuede, unable to locate Sammy, takes King Henry home with him where the cat creates endless mischief.
- GenresMystery
37 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 24, 2017
6 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
Loretta Jackson
81 books19 followersLoretta Jackson and Vickie Britton are a sister co-authoring team who have written 36 published novels and 77 short stories. Among their novels are the archaeologist Ardis Cole series and a new series featuring contemporary Wyoming sheriff Jeff McQuede. The two sisters often travel to exotic locations such as Russia, India, China and Peru to research settings for their novels. They are also drawn to the western United States and their love for the unique flavor of the Old West provides a background for many of their novels. Both writers now live in Kansas: Loretta in Junction City, Vickie in Hutchinson.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 2, 2019
King Henry's Christmas is part of the High Country Mystery series. This is the first story I've read in the series, even though this story falls between books 7 and 8. There are 8 books and one short story collection in the series so far.
It's two days before Christmas and Sheriff Jeff McQuede is called to investigate a jewelry store robbery. The owner was robbed of precious jewels at gunpoint. Just as McQuede starts to leave the scene of the robbery, he's called to a break-in at a local apartment. When he arrives, he finds Sofia Moretti on the floor. She's been bashed in the head from behind. The only eye-witness to the attack is a fat, tabby cat. McQuede recognizes the cat. King Henry belongs to a man he suspects might know something about the jewelry robbery. Who stole the jewels? How is the robbery related to the attack on Sofia? And what the hell is he going to do with a pesky, fat tabby cat?
This story is a great introduction to the High Country Mystery series. It's a good stand alone story and doesn't give any spoilers for prior books. I had to laugh at King Henry's antics. McQuede worked to solve the case quickly because the cat was tearing up his house and driving his dog nuts! :)
I will definitely read more of this series. I like McQuede as a main character. He's an intelligent and skilled investigator. The side characters were all likable and quirky enough to be interesting.
**I received a free copy of this short story from the authors. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.**
It's two days before Christmas and Sheriff Jeff McQuede is called to investigate a jewelry store robbery. The owner was robbed of precious jewels at gunpoint. Just as McQuede starts to leave the scene of the robbery, he's called to a break-in at a local apartment. When he arrives, he finds Sofia Moretti on the floor. She's been bashed in the head from behind. The only eye-witness to the attack is a fat, tabby cat. McQuede recognizes the cat. King Henry belongs to a man he suspects might know something about the jewelry robbery. Who stole the jewels? How is the robbery related to the attack on Sofia? And what the hell is he going to do with a pesky, fat tabby cat?
This story is a great introduction to the High Country Mystery series. It's a good stand alone story and doesn't give any spoilers for prior books. I had to laugh at King Henry's antics. McQuede worked to solve the case quickly because the cat was tearing up his house and driving his dog nuts! :)
I will definitely read more of this series. I like McQuede as a main character. He's an intelligent and skilled investigator. The side characters were all likable and quirky enough to be interesting.
**I received a free copy of this short story from the authors. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.**
December 18, 2017
A Holiday Treat in the Jeff McQuede Series.
A few days before Christmas Jeff McQuede investigates a jewelry store robbery. One crime leads to another and there are almost too many suspects to count. The only witness is King Henry, a spoiled overweight tabby cat. Strangely enough King Henry actions lead McQuede to the culprit. And the end is more like Jeff McQuede's Christmas. Lots of action and fun for the holidays.
A few days before Christmas Jeff McQuede investigates a jewelry store robbery. One crime leads to another and there are almost too many suspects to count. The only witness is King Henry, a spoiled overweight tabby cat. Strangely enough King Henry actions lead McQuede to the culprit. And the end is more like Jeff McQuede's Christmas. Lots of action and fun for the holidays.
December 1, 2018
It show's once again it's not a good idea to read series books out of order. According to publication date it's the very last in the High Country Mystery Series and refers to events earlier in series. I'll see if I can get my hands on the missing books in series and will read them all in order & re-read this one than - perhaps I'll change my rating if I know all the facts.
All in all it's a nice little Christmas mystery and enjoyable enough I want read other books in this series. The writing style is flowing nicely. This short story (37 pages) hass no real character development - it's entirely centered around the (rather obvious) mystery. I like the main character enough I want to learn more about him and his life.
If you don't mind unanswered questions (about the previous events) and look for something short and light not including romance for the Christmas time I can recommend it :-)
All in all it's a nice little Christmas mystery and enjoyable enough I want read other books in this series. The writing style is flowing nicely. This short story (37 pages) hass no real character development - it's entirely centered around the (rather obvious) mystery. I like the main character enough I want to learn more about him and his life.
If you don't mind unanswered questions (about the previous events) and look for something short and light not including romance for the Christmas time I can recommend it :-)
December 23, 2017
This is a quick, cozy mystery and a fun short story to fill in some time. I have read several novels with Sheriff McQuede involved in mysteries and this short story is a great way for readers to get a taste of the author's wonderful writing style and to entice them to grab all the Sheriff McQuede stories. Mystery is the name of the game when a robbery is loose in the town of Durmont and the sheriff is looking for answers, maybe from an unlikely cat named King Henry who the sheriff has met before.
June 16, 2018
Witness protection or should that be cat protection
A good solid little read. A heist at a local jewellery store. An injured woman at a local apartment building, what do these to things have in common apart from the Sheriff - jewellery! A small fortune of jewellery is found in the hurt woman's apartment and there's been a rush of small burglaries in the building. With the only witness being an overweight cat, how will the Sheriff solve the case? A neat little plot and characters that in just a few words become vivid and real.
A good solid little read. A heist at a local jewellery store. An injured woman at a local apartment building, what do these to things have in common apart from the Sheriff - jewellery! A small fortune of jewellery is found in the hurt woman's apartment and there's been a rush of small burglaries in the building. With the only witness being an overweight cat, how will the Sheriff solve the case? A neat little plot and characters that in just a few words become vivid and real.
December 20, 2017
Hoping for time off to enjoy the holidays, Sheriff Jeff McQuede really does not want to have to solve a jewelry store robbery right now, much less a string of burglaries. To add to his troubles, an elderly woman is injured during a robbery and Jeff has to take home her cat, the only witness to the crime.
Much happens in this short read as the clues are pieced together step by step. There are obvious suspects as well as red herrings.
Much happens in this short read as the clues are pieced together step by step. There are obvious suspects as well as red herrings.
December 24, 2018
Tight Theme
While crime fiction is not really a genre I usually read, I am always drawn to a short story. I did not guess the culprit and thus I always feel that the story is a good one when I don't. I liked the cat and the characters. Good development of the story, interesting ending.
While crime fiction is not really a genre I usually read, I am always drawn to a short story. I did not guess the culprit and thus I always feel that the story is a good one when I don't. I liked the cat and the characters. Good development of the story, interesting ending.
December 23, 2021
Obviously second rate story
But I read it through so I’ll give it two stars. The writing seemed juveniles n spots. Just not very likely in the real world. I wonder if these two authors write romances?
But I read it through so I’ll give it two stars. The writing seemed juveniles n spots. Just not very likely in the real world. I wonder if these two authors write romances?
December 26, 2018
Short story
Good short story. This was really well written for a short story. I will definitely read more of this author’s work..
Good short story. This was really well written for a short story. I will definitely read more of this author’s work..
January 30, 2019
Love jeff mcquaid
Thanks for a fun read. Love jeff mcquaid series. High country series. Vickie and Loretta Make a great team. Thanks look forward to another book
Thanks for a fun read. Love jeff mcquaid series. High country series. Vickie and Loretta Make a great team. Thanks look forward to another book
January 30, 2019
Really enjoyable short story.
May 30, 2020
2 1/2 stars. Interesting characters.
January 1, 2018
Although the mystery was not as complex as most of the books in this series, it was well-developed for a short story. I enjoyed King Henry, the cat, as the "witness."
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews