What do you think?
Rate this book
The No.2 Feline Detective Agency #6
Magical Mystery Paws
All aboard for the Summer of Fluff!
Meet Hettie Bagshot , a long-haired tabby cat whose whiskers twitch at the first sign of a mystery, and her best friend Tilly Jenkins . Together, they run the No. 2 Feline Detective Agency , and nothing will stop them from untangling each brain-teasing case that comes their way.
In scorching temperatures, Hettie Bagshot and her sidekick Tilly set out on a road trip to catch a killer cat amid a sea of entertainers. As Psycho Derek’s bus lurches from one venue to the next, the killer strikes again. The big question for The No. 2 Feline Detective Agency is who will be next?
Will it be Patty Sniff, the ageing punk star? Or Kitty O’Shea from the Irish dance troupe? Or perhaps Belisha Beacon’s days are numbered. As the fur flies and the animosity builds, Hettie and Tilly become embroiled in a world of music, mayhem and murder. As matters draw to a terrifying conclusion, will Magical Mystery Paws finally top the bill?
Meet Hettie Bagshot , a long-haired tabby cat whose whiskers twitch at the first sign of a mystery, and her best friend Tilly Jenkins . Together, they run the No. 2 Feline Detective Agency , and nothing will stop them from untangling each brain-teasing case that comes their way.
In scorching temperatures, Hettie Bagshot and her sidekick Tilly set out on a road trip to catch a killer cat amid a sea of entertainers. As Psycho Derek’s bus lurches from one venue to the next, the killer strikes again. The big question for The No. 2 Feline Detective Agency is who will be next?
Will it be Patty Sniff, the ageing punk star? Or Kitty O’Shea from the Irish dance troupe? Or perhaps Belisha Beacon’s days are numbered. As the fur flies and the animosity builds, Hettie and Tilly become embroiled in a world of music, mayhem and murder. As matters draw to a terrifying conclusion, will Magical Mystery Paws finally top the bill?
240 pages, Paperback
First published July 10, 2018
44 people are currently reading
126 people want to read
About the author
Mandy Morton
18 books112 followersMandy Morton began her professional life as a musician. Her songwriting formed the basis of six albums during the 1970s and early 1980s, when she toured extensively with her band. More recently, she has worked as a freelance arts journalist for national and local radio, specialising in making music and theatre documentary. She is the co-author of a non-fiction theatre book, In Good Company, and lives with her partner in Cambridge and Cornwall, where there is always a place for an ageing long-haired tabby cat. The No. 2 Feline Detective Agency is her first novel, and begins a series of books inspired by her first cat, Hettie.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
Read
July 8, 2018When I chose this book Inwas expecting cats acting like cats and solving mysteries and being, you know, cats. Like the "warriors" from Erin Hunter. But I found antropomorphic cats, doing completly human things like running a bakery, living in a cottage, reading books and I was thrown out of the story. If I wanted cats to act like humans I would have read a thriller with human characters. I was expecting something the book failed to give me, and it was cats acting lile cats and going on adventures on a human world, talking to each other and solving mysteries on four paws, and I guess that is why I couldn't follow through.
July 9, 2018
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!
Haha, so I probably should do more research into books I request on Netgalley. I assumed this was like many other cozy mysteries; either a human with a cat solves the mystery, or the cat gives off hints and essentially solves the mystery for the human and all is well. I DID NOT expect humanoid cats wearing band shirts and scoffing sausage rolls to drive buses, rock out and then groom themselves! Once I got over it though, I had a lot of fun with this book. At times it was a completely crazy adventure, and the puns are SO BAD (in which I mean that they are good) that I was getting giggly. There was a great cast of characters in the Summer of Fluff tour (even if I picture all of them looking like a pack of Sylvania family toys) and the interactions were great. There is so much food consumed (it must be difficult to walk around as humanoid cats...if they walk. Sometimes it's human behaviour like putting a tea towel to a cut, other times it's hurtling away in a panic, so I don't really know)
Also the body count is super high as cats drown, get strangled, stabbed, walk in front of trams etc and this is ALL NORMAL. What the fluff? But it's one of those odd books that you just have to go with the flow or else it fails entirely. I ended up sold!
The strangest book I've read this year, but I liked it! Four crazy stars!
Haha, so I probably should do more research into books I request on Netgalley. I assumed this was like many other cozy mysteries; either a human with a cat solves the mystery, or the cat gives off hints and essentially solves the mystery for the human and all is well. I DID NOT expect humanoid cats wearing band shirts and scoffing sausage rolls to drive buses, rock out and then groom themselves! Once I got over it though, I had a lot of fun with this book. At times it was a completely crazy adventure, and the puns are SO BAD (in which I mean that they are good) that I was getting giggly. There was a great cast of characters in the Summer of Fluff tour (even if I picture all of them looking like a pack of Sylvania family toys) and the interactions were great. There is so much food consumed (it must be difficult to walk around as humanoid cats...if they walk. Sometimes it's human behaviour like putting a tea towel to a cut, other times it's hurtling away in a panic, so I don't really know)
Also the body count is super high as cats drown, get strangled, stabbed, walk in front of trams etc and this is ALL NORMAL. What the fluff? But it's one of those odd books that you just have to go with the flow or else it fails entirely. I ended up sold!
The strangest book I've read this year, but I liked it! Four crazy stars!
February 8, 2019
Hettie and Tilly run the No. 2 Feline Detective Agency. They are cats, in a world run by cats that act like humans. It is kind of hard to get your head around sometimes when cats are being plumbers and riding bikes. And there are a ton of puns and bad jokes... fur real...
I found my self laughing out loud at the incredulity of it all, but once I kind of got into it I found it a light, albeit very silly read.
A book best read while not wanting to think too much.. perhaps on a plane or at the beach. :)
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
I found my self laughing out loud at the incredulity of it all, but once I kind of got into it I found it a light, albeit very silly read.
A book best read while not wanting to think too much.. perhaps on a plane or at the beach. :)
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 24, 2019
🐾 🐾 🐾 🐾 🐾
I’m a sucker for mysteries and kitties, so I really enjoyed MAGICAL MYSTERY PAWS. Add in humor and a British cozy, which this fun read also has a plenty, and I’m in heaven. 5/5
Grateful to Farrago and NetGalley for the review copy, in exchange for my honest opinion.
#MagicalMysteryPaws #NetGalley
I’m a sucker for mysteries and kitties, so I really enjoyed MAGICAL MYSTERY PAWS. Add in humor and a British cozy, which this fun read also has a plenty, and I’m in heaven. 5/5
Grateful to Farrago and NetGalley for the review copy, in exchange for my honest opinion.
#MagicalMysteryPaws #NetGalley
June 12, 2018
If you're willing to suspend your disbelief as far as the characters are concerned (they're cats, which took me some time to get my head around!) this is a quirky, fun and easy little mystery to sink your teeth into! When Hettie Bagshot is called on by her friend Poppa to help with a tour, things naturally go awry for the detective and her companion Tilly. What followed is a fast paced, musical themed whodunit. I guessed at around the 65% mark who the culprit was but that didn't stop me finishing this fun book! I'll certainly be looking into the other books of this series, although it works perfectly as a stand alone.
July 16, 2018
Princess Fuzzypants here: I do enjoy the way these books create an entire world that mimics the human world but is populated by cats. Hettie and Tilley run the Feline Detective Agency out of a room at the back of the local village bakery. Their lodgings are a lovely mix of English Moggy, as is the rest of their environment. It is both charming and sweet. In their world, there are cats who are both decent and kind and those who are mean or villainous.
Hettie once had a thriving singing career before joining forces with Telly and Bruiser, the other corner of the triangle. She is apprehensive when approached by a former colleague to participate in a comeback tour of a blind Punk Rock cat. The title of the story comes from one of the supporting acts. It is a hodgepodge of chararacters who take off in the psychedelic bus. There is everything from a Russian ballerina who choreographs an Irish Dance Troup now that she is wheelchair bound. There is a magician who is pretty pathetic and his obnoxious and pushy girlfriend. And there are the backup performers for the Punk star. When the drummer is found dead after the first performance, Hettie and Tilley must solve the murder as well as assist on the tour.
It is a fun read, almost Beatrix Potter-ish if those books had been written for adults and written as a mystery.
I give it four purrs and two paws up.
Hettie once had a thriving singing career before joining forces with Telly and Bruiser, the other corner of the triangle. She is apprehensive when approached by a former colleague to participate in a comeback tour of a blind Punk Rock cat. The title of the story comes from one of the supporting acts. It is a hodgepodge of chararacters who take off in the psychedelic bus. There is everything from a Russian ballerina who choreographs an Irish Dance Troup now that she is wheelchair bound. There is a magician who is pretty pathetic and his obnoxious and pushy girlfriend. And there are the backup performers for the Punk star. When the drummer is found dead after the first performance, Hettie and Tilley must solve the murder as well as assist on the tour.
It is a fun read, almost Beatrix Potter-ish if those books had been written for adults and written as a mystery.
I give it four purrs and two paws up.
September 24, 2018
A charming piece of escapism. A good murder mystery with too elderly female cats as the detectives. All the characters are cats and it works well. There is a constant lay on words and names which is amusing.
October 13, 2018
Hettie and her friends are back with another adventure in the No. 2 Feline detective agency. This is a world entirely inhabited by cats, no humans, and is sometimes a little difficult to imagine. I think for me I’ve finished this series. I received a copy of this arc in exchange for a fair and honest review.
August 19, 2018
Bit of mixed feeling about this book, as it took me awhile to reconcile that the characters where cats acting as people. The storyline was really readable and I did enjoy it - it is cosy with a twist. Read it for something a little different for the bases of a good mystery.
October 15, 2018
Hattie and Tilly along with their friends are back in this funny and sometimes crazy cozy mystery. I have enjoyed this series right from the start and will be looking for the next book in the series.
July 16, 2019
A mystery with kitties and a nod to Alexander McCall Smith must be good, according to my feline-loving reasoning, and MAGICAL MYSTERY PAWS proves that supposition true. For anyone who loves kitties and British cozies ... with a twist of humor.
Thanks to NetGalley and Farrago for the early read. Opinions are mine.
#MagicalMysteryPaws #NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Farrago for the early read. Opinions are mine.
#MagicalMysteryPaws #NetGalley
July 8, 2018
*I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
First and pawmost I need to note that the characters in this book are cats (which should really be obvious from the title, series and cover, but you never know!).
These are cats that wear ponchos and mini-skirts, drive buses, play guitars and cook delicious Jamaican jerk chicken (with a sprinkle of catnip to mellow the mood). They also clean their whiskers with their paws, sleep curled up on chairs and other surfaces, and take a fairly practical attitude to life and death. So still cats, basically.
I wasn’t sure quite how I would feel about anthropomorphised cats solving mysteries and playing music gigs, but actually it works. It works so well that the characters’ felinity is of as little importance as their breed, sexual orientation or age…it might have a small influence on their actions and behaviours but is irrelevant to the plot and to their characterisation as a whole. I like that.
In fact, at times I suspected the cats’ primary function was to allow the author to exercise her punny bone! Names of characters, places and well-known phrases are all opportunities that the author does not miss to slip in the purrfect feline pun. It added a light-heartedness to the writing that made me smile as I read.
Cats aside, Magical Mystery Paws is a cosy mystery and a well-written one. We have our small clowder of suspects and our curiosity-led amateur sleuths. There are clues and interviews, leading to a big showdown and the final reveal. To my own personal annoyance, I spotted one twist but guessed the actual murderer wrong…a good sign, as that means the author had me fooled!
This book is the fifth in the No. 2 Feline Detective Agency series, and not only will I be tracking back to pick up the first four books, but I will be eagerly awaiting the next release. Recommended for fans of cosy mysteries with their (rough) tongue firmly in their whiskered cheeks!
These days, some of the names resonated with both Hettie and Tilly – cats who had left the earth prematurely and been part of some of the high-profile murder cases that had landed on their desk at the No. 2 Feline Detective Agency. Teezle Makepeace and Mavis Spitforce now rested under nearby trees, no longer burdened by the cares of everyday life; although that made them sad, Hettie and Tilly were proud of the fact that – thanks to them – their murderers were tucked away beyond the consecrated ground, unrecognised by any headstone, and as if they had never been. Justice had been served.
– Mandy Morton, Magical Mystery Paws
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
First and pawmost I need to note that the characters in this book are cats (which should really be obvious from the title, series and cover, but you never know!).
These are cats that wear ponchos and mini-skirts, drive buses, play guitars and cook delicious Jamaican jerk chicken (with a sprinkle of catnip to mellow the mood). They also clean their whiskers with their paws, sleep curled up on chairs and other surfaces, and take a fairly practical attitude to life and death. So still cats, basically.
I wasn’t sure quite how I would feel about anthropomorphised cats solving mysteries and playing music gigs, but actually it works. It works so well that the characters’ felinity is of as little importance as their breed, sexual orientation or age…it might have a small influence on their actions and behaviours but is irrelevant to the plot and to their characterisation as a whole. I like that.
In fact, at times I suspected the cats’ primary function was to allow the author to exercise her punny bone! Names of characters, places and well-known phrases are all opportunities that the author does not miss to slip in the purrfect feline pun. It added a light-heartedness to the writing that made me smile as I read.
Cats aside, Magical Mystery Paws is a cosy mystery and a well-written one. We have our small clowder of suspects and our curiosity-led amateur sleuths. There are clues and interviews, leading to a big showdown and the final reveal. To my own personal annoyance, I spotted one twist but guessed the actual murderer wrong…a good sign, as that means the author had me fooled!
This book is the fifth in the No. 2 Feline Detective Agency series, and not only will I be tracking back to pick up the first four books, but I will be eagerly awaiting the next release. Recommended for fans of cosy mysteries with their (rough) tongue firmly in their whiskered cheeks!
These days, some of the names resonated with both Hettie and Tilly – cats who had left the earth prematurely and been part of some of the high-profile murder cases that had landed on their desk at the No. 2 Feline Detective Agency. Teezle Makepeace and Mavis Spitforce now rested under nearby trees, no longer burdened by the cares of everyday life; although that made them sad, Hettie and Tilly were proud of the fact that – thanks to them – their murderers were tucked away beyond the consecrated ground, unrecognised by any headstone, and as if they had never been. Justice had been served.
– Mandy Morton, Magical Mystery Paws
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
November 11, 2018
This is definitely a book outside of my comfort zone, but this weird, pregnant woman was craving something.. funny? And I stumbled upon Magical Mystery Paws on NetGalley so.. here we are..
The number one thing to know before going into this novel is definitely how the entire cast consists of cats. There's no human to be seen, at all! Cats all the way, baby!
I was definitely curious to see how that would work out since I couldn't really imagine what this world was going to be like. I really wanted to know what the author had made of it, really.
The start of the novel is pretty straight-forward in one way, since you immediately know our two main characters - Hettie and Tilly - investigate murders. This had me eagerly waiting for the murder because.. what exactly would happen in this world of cats?!
I really loved the setting of this novel. Hettie and Tilly are helping hands on a band tour and, you all know, I love a musical aspect in a story. I could see the author actually knew what she was talking about, so that was a huge plus. Afterwards, I found out Mandy Morton actually has a musical history herself so that explained it, hah.
Unfortunately, it wasn't.. all I thought it would be..
It took ages for the murder to happen. I had read over a quarter of the novel and.. I was quite impatient by then? Is it just me or is that really simply late? I don't read a lot of murder mysteries so I don't know but.. I really was losing my patience.
That is one of the reasons I had some trouble losing myself in the story. I think the ridiculous amount of character names also has to do with that. There were simply way too many cats with way too many names and backgrounds explained. I kept confusing the lot of them and.. after a while I couldn't be bothered to go back and figure out who was who.. I did figure out this is probably due to the fact of this book being part of a series.. Wish I had looked that up sooner.
I have to admit it was an okay read, but..
maybe I went a bit too far out of my comfort zone with this one?
3 / 5
The number one thing to know before going into this novel is definitely how the entire cast consists of cats. There's no human to be seen, at all! Cats all the way, baby!
I was definitely curious to see how that would work out since I couldn't really imagine what this world was going to be like. I really wanted to know what the author had made of it, really.
The start of the novel is pretty straight-forward in one way, since you immediately know our two main characters - Hettie and Tilly - investigate murders. This had me eagerly waiting for the murder because.. what exactly would happen in this world of cats?!
I really loved the setting of this novel. Hettie and Tilly are helping hands on a band tour and, you all know, I love a musical aspect in a story. I could see the author actually knew what she was talking about, so that was a huge plus. Afterwards, I found out Mandy Morton actually has a musical history herself so that explained it, hah.
Unfortunately, it wasn't.. all I thought it would be..
It took ages for the murder to happen. I had read over a quarter of the novel and.. I was quite impatient by then? Is it just me or is that really simply late? I don't read a lot of murder mysteries so I don't know but.. I really was losing my patience.
That is one of the reasons I had some trouble losing myself in the story. I think the ridiculous amount of character names also has to do with that. There were simply way too many cats with way too many names and backgrounds explained. I kept confusing the lot of them and.. after a while I couldn't be bothered to go back and figure out who was who.. I did figure out this is probably due to the fact of this book being part of a series.. Wish I had looked that up sooner.
I have to admit it was an okay read, but..
maybe I went a bit too far out of my comfort zone with this one?
3 / 5
June 30, 2018
Let’s get the band back together! And that’s one of the things that happens in Magical Mystery Paws, another chapter in the No. 2 Feline Detective Agency series by Mandy Morton. One needs to suspend all disbelief to read these books; once that’s accomplished, feel free to enjoy the feline antics of Hettie and Tilly, the proprietors of the aforementioned private detective company, and their many cat friends, who just happen to talk, and dance, and sing. And kill things. Like the drummer of the backup band The Cheese Triangles who quickly turns up dead, strangled by a guitar string. Hettie and Tilly are soon on the case, whiskers twitching and tails up.
Never mind the bodies strewn about, Hettie’s long-haired tabby hackles (as described) are soon raised over the disaster in the making of a musical tour, recalling her own history of being on the road. And disaster is a good word for a lot of what happens in the book, which is more a tale of musical misery (the lot of a performer, human or cat, is apparently not a happy one) than mystery.
The book itself, apart from the plot, is quite a wonder. The play on words flies fast and furious -- Tabby Road Recording Studios; Agatha Crispy, whose books Tilly adores, since she is so adept at ferreting out the murderer; M. Balm, the town’s undertaker. There's Enya, the cat with the beautiful singing voice that sings “Caribbean Boot.” And lest we forget, Nicolette Upstart, the famous writer. There’s more where that came from -- especially on the last page.
Finally, the killer is revealed (a bit before the ending), and everything plays out to a happy and triumphant end. The Summer of Fluff tour, when everythin’ seems better with a little bit o’ nip.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy of this book, in exchange for this review. (less)
Never mind the bodies strewn about, Hettie’s long-haired tabby hackles (as described) are soon raised over the disaster in the making of a musical tour, recalling her own history of being on the road. And disaster is a good word for a lot of what happens in the book, which is more a tale of musical misery (the lot of a performer, human or cat, is apparently not a happy one) than mystery.
The book itself, apart from the plot, is quite a wonder. The play on words flies fast and furious -- Tabby Road Recording Studios; Agatha Crispy, whose books Tilly adores, since she is so adept at ferreting out the murderer; M. Balm, the town’s undertaker. There's Enya, the cat with the beautiful singing voice that sings “Caribbean Boot.” And lest we forget, Nicolette Upstart, the famous writer. There’s more where that came from -- especially on the last page.
Finally, the killer is revealed (a bit before the ending), and everything plays out to a happy and triumphant end. The Summer of Fluff tour, when everythin’ seems better with a little bit o’ nip.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy of this book, in exchange for this review. (less)
July 17, 2018
This series is pure catnip to cat lovers ! This is the 5th in this successful series and I found it as delightful as the first in series. I love the entire series. Its purrfectly fun !
Magical Mystery Paws is a new cozy mystery with a surprising set of protagonists!. The characters are cats - real cats living like they are human. The author has written such a well crafted story that reading this series is so enjoyable and a delight. Move over Shirley Roussou Murphy a new set of crime solving cats have arrived.
In this small town setting Hettie Bagshot & Tilly Jenkins ( cats) run the No 2 Feline Detective Agency. There next job is as actual road crew for the Magical Mystery Paws tour. Now crew members are being hurt and killed. Can they stop the killer in time? Will they solve these series of clues and close this case of crimes and murders. This was a fun new take on a mystery .that i enjoyed from beginning to end. Their cat like characteristics are great fun to read as they function as crime solving detectives. The author definitely has a great sense of humor.
What works here in this series is the authors knowledge of real life cats and how she incorporates the mannerisms, likes and dislikes into crime solving realistic cat detectives. The author knows her subject and that makes reading this series all the more enjoyable.
I received an advanced copy of this book through Net Galley and the publisher. My opinion is my own.
This is a delightful new take on cozy mysteries that will appeal to all cat lovers. Its pure catnip to those of us that love cats. If you love Shirley Murphy's crime solving cat series you will adore these new crime fighting cats. I look forward to the next in series and more adventures by these smart crime solving cats !
Magical Mystery Paws is a new cozy mystery with a surprising set of protagonists!. The characters are cats - real cats living like they are human. The author has written such a well crafted story that reading this series is so enjoyable and a delight. Move over Shirley Roussou Murphy a new set of crime solving cats have arrived.
In this small town setting Hettie Bagshot & Tilly Jenkins ( cats) run the No 2 Feline Detective Agency. There next job is as actual road crew for the Magical Mystery Paws tour. Now crew members are being hurt and killed. Can they stop the killer in time? Will they solve these series of clues and close this case of crimes and murders. This was a fun new take on a mystery .that i enjoyed from beginning to end. Their cat like characteristics are great fun to read as they function as crime solving detectives. The author definitely has a great sense of humor.
What works here in this series is the authors knowledge of real life cats and how she incorporates the mannerisms, likes and dislikes into crime solving realistic cat detectives. The author knows her subject and that makes reading this series all the more enjoyable.
I received an advanced copy of this book through Net Galley and the publisher. My opinion is my own.
This is a delightful new take on cozy mysteries that will appeal to all cat lovers. Its pure catnip to those of us that love cats. If you love Shirley Murphy's crime solving cat series you will adore these new crime fighting cats. I look forward to the next in series and more adventures by these smart crime solving cats !
July 19, 2018
The No.2 Feline Detective Agency novels are difficult to categorize. They are fantasies in that all of the characters are cats - walking, talking, driving, clothes wearing, pastry eating cats. They look and behave like cats, but at the same time do all the things humans do. Apart from this, they are strictly mysteries- delightfully whimsical ones, with plenty of cat reinterpretations of pop culture history. The novels aren’t for everyone, but if you love cats and enjoy a bit of whimsy you will have a lot of fun reading Mandy Morton’s novels.
In the newest No. 2 Feline Detective Agency novel, Magical Mystery Paws, Hettie and co agree to accompany Patty Sniff on her new tour. Crammed together on Psycho Derek’s bus along with Patty and the Cheese Triangles, Kitty O’Shea’s Irish dance troupe, and Derek and Belinda Beacon they prepare to set off. The first stop - murder. One of the Cheese Triangles is strangled and everyone associated with the tour is suspect. As the tour goes on, it quickly becomes clear that someone is looking to stop the tour, and is more than willing to kill to succeed.
The mystery isn’t very complex, but the interplay between characters and the charming and humorous events that occur make up for any weakness. As a cat lover and mystery aficionado, I like these novels a lot. They are a unique blend of fantasy, mystery and whimsy.
4 / 5
I received a copy of Magical Mystery Paws from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
— Crittermom
In the newest No. 2 Feline Detective Agency novel, Magical Mystery Paws, Hettie and co agree to accompany Patty Sniff on her new tour. Crammed together on Psycho Derek’s bus along with Patty and the Cheese Triangles, Kitty O’Shea’s Irish dance troupe, and Derek and Belinda Beacon they prepare to set off. The first stop - murder. One of the Cheese Triangles is strangled and everyone associated with the tour is suspect. As the tour goes on, it quickly becomes clear that someone is looking to stop the tour, and is more than willing to kill to succeed.
The mystery isn’t very complex, but the interplay between characters and the charming and humorous events that occur make up for any weakness. As a cat lover and mystery aficionado, I like these novels a lot. They are a unique blend of fantasy, mystery and whimsy.
4 / 5
I received a copy of Magical Mystery Paws from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
— Crittermom
August 8, 2018
I honestly did not know what to expect when I started this book. a few pages in I was tempted to put it down and not finish. But once I was able to accept that all the characters are anthropromorphized cats, it was easier to read. I had thought this would be more like Sneaky Pie Brown mysteries. No. There are no humans at all.
It is a silly little book. A fun read and entertaining, but certainly not very deep. There was nothing that kept me thinking about it. It was easy to pick up and put down.
The story line is that there are cats who are tied up in the entertainment business. A blind rock singer is ready to go on a short tour with a couple other acts. Hettie and Tillie run a detective agency, but are tasked with helping the tour. Hettie used to be a renowned performer in her won right and agrees. The story about the bus they travel in and the preparations they make for the tour are fun in themselves. There is a lot of talk about food and it made me hungry to read all the wonderful things that were prepared for various meals and snacks. I ended up baking cookies which I haven't done in ages!
Of course, although this is about a band on tour, it is a detective agency novel so you know there will be deaths, soon to be determined to be unnatural. Hettie and Tillie have to put their thinking caps on to try to solve the mystery.
I did enjoy the story and am glad that I persevered and stuck with it! It will be fun to read more in this series.
It is a silly little book. A fun read and entertaining, but certainly not very deep. There was nothing that kept me thinking about it. It was easy to pick up and put down.
The story line is that there are cats who are tied up in the entertainment business. A blind rock singer is ready to go on a short tour with a couple other acts. Hettie and Tillie run a detective agency, but are tasked with helping the tour. Hettie used to be a renowned performer in her won right and agrees. The story about the bus they travel in and the preparations they make for the tour are fun in themselves. There is a lot of talk about food and it made me hungry to read all the wonderful things that were prepared for various meals and snacks. I ended up baking cookies which I haven't done in ages!
Of course, although this is about a band on tour, it is a detective agency novel so you know there will be deaths, soon to be determined to be unnatural. Hettie and Tillie have to put their thinking caps on to try to solve the mystery.
I did enjoy the story and am glad that I persevered and stuck with it! It will be fun to read more in this series.
August 27, 2018
I have been a regular reader of the books in this series by Mandy Morton. I have always appreciated the humour and the pun based nature of these books. The main characters are cats who investigate the murders that present themselves, there is usually nothing too gruesome and they could definitely be classified as cozy, though this is not meant as a derogatory term. I enjoy the references to one of the cats favourite author's who is none other than Agatha Crispy and all the high jinks that surround these good hearted tales. However this book falls a little short for me, some of the humour is still there but there are around 4 poor taste jokes about one of the cats being blind and then after a hit on the head the said cat then regains her sight is too far-fetched but a convenient plot device I suppose. The sterotypyed cat from the Caribbean also grates in the narrative as the reported speech makes much of the accent. The end is rushed and it takes a long time to get going. I do hope the next one is better. #MagicalMysteryPaws #NetGalley
June 9, 2019
Rating between 3.5 and 4
I can see why some readers have problems with this series about a detective agency run by 2 cats, set in a world with no humans and the cats acting like people.
However I have enjoyed all of the books so far and although this mystery is not actually difficult to solve. The murderer is almost blindingly obvious (no pun intended for those who have read the book) from quite early on, the story moves along at a fair pace and keeps the reader entertained I thought. This is probably my favorite book of the series so far.
The story brings together quite a number of characters (and it was nice to hear them again) from the previous 5 books, and introduces a number of new ones.
The bad punning used for the character and place names continues in this book, in fact at times it seemed to to be turned up to 11.
Not much to say about it really other than if you liked the previous novels this one should definitely be on your tbr list.
Highly recommended.
I can see why some readers have problems with this series about a detective agency run by 2 cats, set in a world with no humans and the cats acting like people.
However I have enjoyed all of the books so far and although this mystery is not actually difficult to solve. The murderer is almost blindingly obvious (no pun intended for those who have read the book) from quite early on, the story moves along at a fair pace and keeps the reader entertained I thought. This is probably my favorite book of the series so far.
The story brings together quite a number of characters (and it was nice to hear them again) from the previous 5 books, and introduces a number of new ones.
The bad punning used for the character and place names continues in this book, in fact at times it seemed to to be turned up to 11.
Not much to say about it really other than if you liked the previous novels this one should definitely be on your tbr list.
Highly recommended.
July 13, 2018
A Thank you in advance to Netgalley & the publisher for allowing me to read this book in advance for an honest review!
4.5 stars. I must admit that this was my first time reading a N0. 2 Feline Detective Agencey novel and it was a absolute delight! I have taken a break from cozy mystery novels and I have no idea why I actually did that because I realized reading this novel just how much I have missed the genre. Who doesn't need a cute,fluffy and fun mystery? Emphasis on the fluffy!
I must admit that going into this I had no idea that besides being from the kitty POV it is actually a world full of cats that live like humans. They wear clothes,drive,cook and basically do everything the we do. That surprised me but once I started getting into it I was hooked. The characters are just you and me......... if we were cats! I love Hettie & Tillie and the whole lot of them! The mystery was fun and easy to enjoy. It was a bit easy to solve but still fun! What drew me in and kept me in was the well written characters, the play on words for simple things and just the joy put into this. I would give it 5 stars if the mystery it's self was better written. Loved the sarcastic wit of Hettie! I would suggest giving this a go because you could spend your Summer having a lot less fun!
4.5 stars. I must admit that this was my first time reading a N0. 2 Feline Detective Agencey novel and it was a absolute delight! I have taken a break from cozy mystery novels and I have no idea why I actually did that because I realized reading this novel just how much I have missed the genre. Who doesn't need a cute,fluffy and fun mystery? Emphasis on the fluffy!
I must admit that going into this I had no idea that besides being from the kitty POV it is actually a world full of cats that live like humans. They wear clothes,drive,cook and basically do everything the we do. That surprised me but once I started getting into it I was hooked. The characters are just you and me......... if we were cats! I love Hettie & Tillie and the whole lot of them! The mystery was fun and easy to enjoy. It was a bit easy to solve but still fun! What drew me in and kept me in was the well written characters, the play on words for simple things and just the joy put into this. I would give it 5 stars if the mystery it's self was better written. Loved the sarcastic wit of Hettie! I would suggest giving this a go because you could spend your Summer having a lot less fun!
July 18, 2018
Magical Mystery Paws is centered around a series of murders/attempted murders during the summer tour of a singer, her band, and their opening acts. However, it is not your typical mystery book, in that in a world that appears completely human, the characters are all cats. They wear clothes, they have jobs (detectives, bakers, musicians, the town mortician), and they have very real human emotions.
I had a very hard time getting into this book. I felt like the action moved quite slowly, and that I was always waiting for something to happen. It is one in a series of books, none of which I have previously read, though it seemed as if this book could definitely be read as a stand alone novel.
Thank you to NetGalley and Prelude Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I had a very hard time getting into this book. I felt like the action moved quite slowly, and that I was always waiting for something to happen. It is one in a series of books, none of which I have previously read, though it seemed as if this book could definitely be read as a stand alone novel.
Thank you to NetGalley and Prelude Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 26, 2018
It takes some getting used to. The main characters as cats but not like house cats… completely anthropomorphic cats.
Hettie Bagshot & Tilly Jenkins, best friends, run the No 2 Feline Detective Agency. When they find themselves between cases, they agree to help a friend on the Magical Mystery Paws tour.
It is a fun cozy read with a twist. The personalities of the characters are so well done and relatable that you find yourself smiling in recognition throughout the book. It is a funny, cute, whodunit style mystery.
Although this is part of a series, it works well as a standalone read as well.
Hettie Bagshot & Tilly Jenkins, best friends, run the No 2 Feline Detective Agency. When they find themselves between cases, they agree to help a friend on the Magical Mystery Paws tour.
It is a fun cozy read with a twist. The personalities of the characters are so well done and relatable that you find yourself smiling in recognition throughout the book. It is a funny, cute, whodunit style mystery.
Although this is part of a series, it works well as a standalone read as well.
June 26, 2018
Not quite what I was expecting, but a fun read.
The fact that all the characters are cats, anthropomorphised but still cats, put me off at first, but once I was used to the idea I enjoyed the book for what it is....a damned good mystery!
The plot is well paced, the characters are beautifully written and recognisable, the humour and irony are very British, and the locations, oh the locations, brought back memories of seaside holidays as a child.
I particularly liked the nods to the Beatles who were very much a part of my teenage years.
I look forward to reading more of the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book via Netgalley.
The fact that all the characters are cats, anthropomorphised but still cats, put me off at first, but once I was used to the idea I enjoyed the book for what it is....a damned good mystery!
The plot is well paced, the characters are beautifully written and recognisable, the humour and irony are very British, and the locations, oh the locations, brought back memories of seaside holidays as a child.
I particularly liked the nods to the Beatles who were very much a part of my teenage years.
I look forward to reading more of the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book via Netgalley.
August 28, 2018
Styling on Sgt. Pepper
What a delightful romp and change of pace! No humans, but cats forming a tour for a punk revival artist with nods to rock music, groupies, certain pharmaceutical practices, and food. All is going well until cats start turning up missing and dead. The ace feline detectives investigate until they solve the mysteries. Turns out this is the umpteenth in a slew of tales by author Mandy Morton, but this is the first I've read and it managed quite nicely as a stand-alone tale (tail). Fun, fun, fun! Okay, the dead bodies are not fun, nor is blood and gore, but you knew what I meant! Four paws!
What a delightful romp and change of pace! No humans, but cats forming a tour for a punk revival artist with nods to rock music, groupies, certain pharmaceutical practices, and food. All is going well until cats start turning up missing and dead. The ace feline detectives investigate until they solve the mysteries. Turns out this is the umpteenth in a slew of tales by author Mandy Morton, but this is the first I've read and it managed quite nicely as a stand-alone tale (tail). Fun, fun, fun! Okay, the dead bodies are not fun, nor is blood and gore, but you knew what I meant! Four paws!
October 20, 2018
I am so not a cat person, hard to enjoy something whose fur makes me miserable, but this book is just too much fun! I think that anyone who has the imagination for other world creatures, the fae, and ornithopters can easily envision this delightful bunch. The mystery itself is as good as it is entertaining, complete with plot twists, suspense, and red, well, herrings. I highly recommend this book for anyone who likes cosies and fun!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Farrago via NetGalley. Thank you!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Farrago via NetGalley. Thank you!
April 5, 2019
c2018 (2) FWFTB: whiskers, road trip, punk, dance, mayhem. I like cats. I like murder mysteries. I like anthropomorphic characters. I did not like this book. I don't think it was the fact that it was cats - but, to me, the author couldn't quite make up her mind as to whether this was a children's story ala Wind in the Willows or a more adult story. I couldn't make up my mind either and was unable to summon up the interest to find out. Unfortunately, unable to recommend to the normal crew at this time.
November 7, 2020
This book was a little hard to get into initially. There are cats represented as people in almost all ways. That took a little getting used to. But I did jump into the series at #6. After a while it was fun the author sort of pokes fun with it. Lots of catnip use. LOL. The main cats Tilly and Hettie run a private investigation company. They are invited to join a music tour for a punk rocker named Patty Sniff. Of course there is a murder to solve. It was rather fun. I will be checking into the others in the series.
April 5, 2025
It's summer, hot and boring without any cases. However, Hetty is offered the chance to get back into the music industry on tour to help out and Tilly is excited to see an old part of Hetty's life. It's not plain sailing with differences of opinion and tensions amongst the other tour members. When the accidents begin and a death or two follows, can Hetty's and Tilly's expertise save the tour and the performers.
Another fun outing for the FDA. Love the way that known music and bands are brought in punwise - wait for the end! Great fun.
Another fun outing for the FDA. Love the way that known music and bands are brought in punwise - wait for the end! Great fun.
September 30, 2018
Quirky and it caught me off guard. I went into this expecting a couple of cats to be solving mysteries around their human for some reason. Anthropomorphised cats was surprising, but it did add to the cosy charm of the novel.
The mystery takes a while to get going, but the humour and plain weirdness of the concept does make up for it.
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The mystery takes a while to get going, but the humour and plain weirdness of the concept does make up for it.
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 21, 2020
The No. 2 Feline Detective Agency. #6
Quite a change for this reader, coming from the blizzards and snow-to-the-roof of #8, THE ICE MAID'S TALE (Smile) to the hot-weather paradisical (not) Road Trip of entertainers in MAGICAL MYSTERY PAWS. Nonetheless, felines Hetty Bagshot (attitude non pareil) and bestie shy, retiring, Tilly, of The No. 2 Feline Detective Agency, are firmly on the case--er, cases.
Quite a change for this reader, coming from the blizzards and snow-to-the-roof of #8, THE ICE MAID'S TALE (Smile) to the hot-weather paradisical (not) Road Trip of entertainers in MAGICAL MYSTERY PAWS. Nonetheless, felines Hetty Bagshot (attitude non pareil) and bestie shy, retiring, Tilly, of The No. 2 Feline Detective Agency, are firmly on the case--er, cases.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews