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A Box Full of Trouble: 5 Black Cat Detective Novels
FIVE times the Trouble -- When Trouble the black cat detective is on the case, mystery, mayhem, and a little romance are only a whisker away. Sleek, black and sometimes snarky, Trouble is the son of Familiar, another famous black cat detective, and fancies himself a feline Sherlock Holmes (the Benedict Cumberbatch version).
Trouble thinks with a slight British accent—and has one big attitude. He’s far smarter than the bipeds he helps with solving mysteries involving art thieves, arsonists, and murderers. And he’s more than astute in the ways of the humanoid heart.
Discover Trouble in this boxed collection of the first five books in the series.
Join writers Carolyn Haines, Rebecca Barret, Claire Matturro, Susan Y. Tanner, and Laura Benedict for five complete mysteries—and a lot of fun with a wise-cracking kitty. To meet Trouble is to love him…unless you’re the villain.
Trouble thinks with a slight British accent—and has one big attitude. He’s far smarter than the bipeds he helps with solving mysteries involving art thieves, arsonists, and murderers. And he’s more than astute in the ways of the humanoid heart.
Discover Trouble in this boxed collection of the first five books in the series.
Join writers Carolyn Haines, Rebecca Barret, Claire Matturro, Susan Y. Tanner, and Laura Benedict for five complete mysteries—and a lot of fun with a wise-cracking kitty. To meet Trouble is to love him…unless you’re the villain.
- GenresMystery
1063 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 19, 2018
49 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Haines
111 books1,573 followersCarolyn Haines is the USA Today bestselling author of over 70 books. In 2020, she was inducted into the Alabama Writers Hall of Fame. She was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Alabama Library Association, the Harper Lee Award for Distinguished Writing, the Richard Wright Award for Literary Excellence, as well as the "Best Amateur Sleuth" award by Romantic Times. Born and raised in Mississippi, she now lives in Alabama on a farm with more dogs, cats, and horses than she can possibly keep track of.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 24, 2018
I received a copy of this book for free from the author as an ARC and have voluntarily chosen to review it.
This is a boxed set by 5 different different authors about a little black cat named Trouble. He is the son of a famous black cat named Familiar that is renown for solving crimes. Trouble studies Sherlock Holmes (especially the Benedict Cumberbatch version of Holmes) and uses his methods for solving crimes.
At first I didn't know what to expect from this set. I wasn't sure how it would come together with different authors. All five are set in a different city with different caretakers for Trouble. The stories are interesting and well written. They all go at a fast enough pace to keep your interest, but not to wear you out or lose you in the story. And all 5 stories have very interesting plots. It does not feel like the same stories with only the names changed. Each one is from the perspective of each author. This makes for a really fun boxed set.
This is a boxed set by 5 different different authors about a little black cat named Trouble. He is the son of a famous black cat named Familiar that is renown for solving crimes. Trouble studies Sherlock Holmes (especially the Benedict Cumberbatch version of Holmes) and uses his methods for solving crimes.
At first I didn't know what to expect from this set. I wasn't sure how it would come together with different authors. All five are set in a different city with different caretakers for Trouble. The stories are interesting and well written. They all go at a fast enough pace to keep your interest, but not to wear you out or lose you in the story. And all 5 stories have very interesting plots. It does not feel like the same stories with only the names changed. Each one is from the perspective of each author. This makes for a really fun boxed set.
March 13, 2019
Familiar Trouble 5*
A precocious black cat and an engaging mystery? Where do I sign up? Add in a spunky bookseller and a sweet hot cop and you’ve just discovered the recipe to my Kryptonite. In the fashion of the great feline sleuths before him, Trouble leads his faithful human sidekicks in a race against time to catch a killer before more lives are lost. I had so much fun with this book. Trouble is larger than life, and anyone who’s ever been owned by a cat will recognize some of his antics. Tammy Lynn and Aiden were so cute together. Awkward at times and perfectly in sync at others. Their budding relationship felt very realistic. I can’t wait to see what Trouble gets into next.
Trouble in Dixie 5*
This book left me howling with laughter. Maybe it’s something to do with the sweet southern charm that allows a belle to say “why bless her heart” and you know perfectly well that she’s being anything but poilite. Or maybe it’s the feisty little old ladies that spout off exactly what you’re thinking but would never have the courage to say out loud. Whatever it was, this book was a ton of fun. It felt a little more romance than mystery to me, but that was okay. I quite liked the pairing of the lady and the lawman. Mitch and Julia seem to balance out each other. Though, Trouble and Aunt Ethel completely steal the show.
Trouble in Tallahassee 3*
After the light-hearted, almost silly, fun of the previous two books, I found this one to be much more cerebral. On its own, this is a perfectly fantastic book. And I probably would have loved it a lot more if I hadn’t read the first two right before it. Possibly it’s the fact that this is a book about lawyers and law students that made this such a dry read for me. I just wasn’t able to find the same element of humor that was so instrumental in those other books. Even the cat and a retired military hero couldn’t generate any spark for me – and I’m a sucker for a hero in uniform. Everybody fell kind of flat. Not quite cardboard caricatures but I couldn’t force myself to invest in any of them.
Trouble in Summer Valley 5*
It’s quite possible that this is my favorite book in the series that I’ve read so far. It’s tensely plotted with lots of twists and red herrings. I can’t say the ending was a complete surprise to me, but it still caught me off guard. There’re unexpected surprises for Avery and Dirks after every page in this story. I love reading about Trouble’s many capers.
Small Town Trouble 4*
Maybe it was the young adult leading couple that threw me off, but there was something about this that didn’t connect with me. The mystery was good; it had lots twists and miss-directions. Trouble was his usual brilliant self, and I’m proud of him for persevering in spite of being saddled with a mere canine assistant. I kind of think it was with Erin that things break down for me. Noah has that sweet bumbling charm working for him that endeared him to me immediately. But for what felt like half the book, Erin kept blaming him for things that weren’t his fault and that he had no control over. I also tired very quickly of her yo-yoing emotions about Noah: she liked, she hated him, she liked him, she hated him, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. I enjoyed the story, I just didn’t always like the characters.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the series authors.
A precocious black cat and an engaging mystery? Where do I sign up? Add in a spunky bookseller and a sweet hot cop and you’ve just discovered the recipe to my Kryptonite. In the fashion of the great feline sleuths before him, Trouble leads his faithful human sidekicks in a race against time to catch a killer before more lives are lost. I had so much fun with this book. Trouble is larger than life, and anyone who’s ever been owned by a cat will recognize some of his antics. Tammy Lynn and Aiden were so cute together. Awkward at times and perfectly in sync at others. Their budding relationship felt very realistic. I can’t wait to see what Trouble gets into next.
Trouble in Dixie 5*
This book left me howling with laughter. Maybe it’s something to do with the sweet southern charm that allows a belle to say “why bless her heart” and you know perfectly well that she’s being anything but poilite. Or maybe it’s the feisty little old ladies that spout off exactly what you’re thinking but would never have the courage to say out loud. Whatever it was, this book was a ton of fun. It felt a little more romance than mystery to me, but that was okay. I quite liked the pairing of the lady and the lawman. Mitch and Julia seem to balance out each other. Though, Trouble and Aunt Ethel completely steal the show.
Trouble in Tallahassee 3*
After the light-hearted, almost silly, fun of the previous two books, I found this one to be much more cerebral. On its own, this is a perfectly fantastic book. And I probably would have loved it a lot more if I hadn’t read the first two right before it. Possibly it’s the fact that this is a book about lawyers and law students that made this such a dry read for me. I just wasn’t able to find the same element of humor that was so instrumental in those other books. Even the cat and a retired military hero couldn’t generate any spark for me – and I’m a sucker for a hero in uniform. Everybody fell kind of flat. Not quite cardboard caricatures but I couldn’t force myself to invest in any of them.
Trouble in Summer Valley 5*
It’s quite possible that this is my favorite book in the series that I’ve read so far. It’s tensely plotted with lots of twists and red herrings. I can’t say the ending was a complete surprise to me, but it still caught me off guard. There’re unexpected surprises for Avery and Dirks after every page in this story. I love reading about Trouble’s many capers.
Small Town Trouble 4*
Maybe it was the young adult leading couple that threw me off, but there was something about this that didn’t connect with me. The mystery was good; it had lots twists and miss-directions. Trouble was his usual brilliant self, and I’m proud of him for persevering in spite of being saddled with a mere canine assistant. I kind of think it was with Erin that things break down for me. Noah has that sweet bumbling charm working for him that endeared him to me immediately. But for what felt like half the book, Erin kept blaming him for things that weren’t his fault and that he had no control over. I also tired very quickly of her yo-yoing emotions about Noah: she liked, she hated him, she liked him, she hated him, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. I enjoyed the story, I just didn’t always like the characters.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the series authors.
July 25, 2020
FAMILIAR. TROUBLE
Aiden as sheriff in this quiet town. When a woman goes missing, the husband is frantic. While Tammy and Familiar are at the crater site.
Someone gave her a hard hit on head, then going back to car, also four flat tires. Getting her equipment, they found the missing women.The signature of a killer. With danger at hand for Tammy things change for the sheriff.
TROUBLE IN DIXIE
Happened by chance to see these cat sleuthing stories and delighted with this one. A big fan of the ‘Joe Grey’ books. Good detailed plot about stolen art and the investigation that Julie did. Learning there was art fraud involved as well as other missing items that were to have been shipped. It was the old Southern charm, money and society, a little humor and a little romance.
TROUBLE IN TALLAHASSEE
Trouble is catnapped, and gets his claws into the man who took him. Thinking two women would cater to him, maybe even a salmon fillet. Instead there is trouble, kidnapping, flash drive, and a good story to enjoy.
TROUBLE IN SUMMER VALLEY
Avery came out from the courthouse surprised, her ranch was still hers, the dream was still hers. Dirk come to evesluste the place for federal funding.
She puts him up in the guest house, while there he is seeing the mischief and costly damage being done, Doubling up to protect the horses, and to find who was behind it all. Her ex had gambling debts, and she didn’t know who he had been for several years, it still didn’t seem like him.
When Dirk left to turn in his report would he be back.
Enjoyable story, that keep one guessing whi was behind and why.
SMALL TOWN TROUBLE
Familiar study Sherlock Holmes films, and has an English accent. Tammy was in Milan, Italy to authenticate a priceless book. Familiar staying with Erin till Tammy comes back. Her stepmother Shelby and Erin continually clashes, she was a college student, just home for the summer. Now to find Shelby is missing and a dear friend has been murdered. How this relates to her mother’s murder years before. With familiar there he’ll help Erin solve.
Love these books, another enjoyable mystery.
Aiden as sheriff in this quiet town. When a woman goes missing, the husband is frantic. While Tammy and Familiar are at the crater site.
Someone gave her a hard hit on head, then going back to car, also four flat tires. Getting her equipment, they found the missing women.The signature of a killer. With danger at hand for Tammy things change for the sheriff.
TROUBLE IN DIXIE
Happened by chance to see these cat sleuthing stories and delighted with this one. A big fan of the ‘Joe Grey’ books. Good detailed plot about stolen art and the investigation that Julie did. Learning there was art fraud involved as well as other missing items that were to have been shipped. It was the old Southern charm, money and society, a little humor and a little romance.
TROUBLE IN TALLAHASSEE
Trouble is catnapped, and gets his claws into the man who took him. Thinking two women would cater to him, maybe even a salmon fillet. Instead there is trouble, kidnapping, flash drive, and a good story to enjoy.
TROUBLE IN SUMMER VALLEY
Avery came out from the courthouse surprised, her ranch was still hers, the dream was still hers. Dirk come to evesluste the place for federal funding.
She puts him up in the guest house, while there he is seeing the mischief and costly damage being done, Doubling up to protect the horses, and to find who was behind it all. Her ex had gambling debts, and she didn’t know who he had been for several years, it still didn’t seem like him.
When Dirk left to turn in his report would he be back.
Enjoyable story, that keep one guessing whi was behind and why.
SMALL TOWN TROUBLE
Familiar study Sherlock Holmes films, and has an English accent. Tammy was in Milan, Italy to authenticate a priceless book. Familiar staying with Erin till Tammy comes back. Her stepmother Shelby and Erin continually clashes, she was a college student, just home for the summer. Now to find Shelby is missing and a dear friend has been murdered. How this relates to her mother’s murder years before. With familiar there he’ll help Erin solve.
Love these books, another enjoyable mystery.
March 5, 2021
Mayten story about a cat named Trouble written by various authors
This is a box set about a cat detective named Trouble written by various authors and uniquely different.
FAMILIAR TROUBLE: This introduces Trouble, the son of Familiar, another cat detective. Tammy is a book seller who meets Adrian. Adrian is a cop on the hunt for Silk Stocking Killer of young woman, married, and maybe with children. There are several killings in her hometown, but why is he after Tammy? Trouble is on the job!
TROUBLE IN DIXIE: Trouble is staying with Julia while Tammy is on vacation. Julia is a private investigator searching for art that has been stolen. Mitch is the US Marshal trying to see if his witness, Doug is behaving himself. Two people are murdered. Will they solve the thief of the painting and the murderer?
TROUBLE IN TALLAHASSEE: Trouble is catnapped!Victor is an ex-navy going to law school. Layla helps him with homework. Through her, he meets Abby who is a lawyer. One night they're researching in law library when Layla is kidnapped. Abby and Victor are drugged. What is going on?
TROUBLE IN SUMMER VALLEY: Trouble is assisting Avery solve her troubles with her training of disable individuals, includimg veterns, and rescued horses. Dirks (referred to as Military Man by Trouble) is a VA investigater tracking down someone committing fraud. Trouble has his paws full keeping Avery and Dirks out of trouble!
SMALL TOWN TROIBLE: Trouble is staying with Erin whose mother was killed during a bank robbery. Noah is the son of the bank robber who was release from prison. Erin's stepmother is kidnapped and ransom paid. Is this the end of it or will Trouble have to take over?
The characters are intriguing, uniquely different for each story, and believable. This action drama is vivid descriptive and keeps the read who dun-it toward the finale of each story.
I enjoyed this boxed set because of the cat detective and the characterization of the personalities interacting with Trouble. I will continue to expand my library with these wonderful stories. Highly recommended.
bookwormsuzy
This is a box set about a cat detective named Trouble written by various authors and uniquely different.
FAMILIAR TROUBLE: This introduces Trouble, the son of Familiar, another cat detective. Tammy is a book seller who meets Adrian. Adrian is a cop on the hunt for Silk Stocking Killer of young woman, married, and maybe with children. There are several killings in her hometown, but why is he after Tammy? Trouble is on the job!
TROUBLE IN DIXIE: Trouble is staying with Julia while Tammy is on vacation. Julia is a private investigator searching for art that has been stolen. Mitch is the US Marshal trying to see if his witness, Doug is behaving himself. Two people are murdered. Will they solve the thief of the painting and the murderer?
TROUBLE IN TALLAHASSEE: Trouble is catnapped!Victor is an ex-navy going to law school. Layla helps him with homework. Through her, he meets Abby who is a lawyer. One night they're researching in law library when Layla is kidnapped. Abby and Victor are drugged. What is going on?
TROUBLE IN SUMMER VALLEY: Trouble is assisting Avery solve her troubles with her training of disable individuals, includimg veterns, and rescued horses. Dirks (referred to as Military Man by Trouble) is a VA investigater tracking down someone committing fraud. Trouble has his paws full keeping Avery and Dirks out of trouble!
SMALL TOWN TROIBLE: Trouble is staying with Erin whose mother was killed during a bank robbery. Noah is the son of the bank robber who was release from prison. Erin's stepmother is kidnapped and ransom paid. Is this the end of it or will Trouble have to take over?
The characters are intriguing, uniquely different for each story, and believable. This action drama is vivid descriptive and keeps the read who dun-it toward the finale of each story.
I enjoyed this boxed set because of the cat detective and the characterization of the personalities interacting with Trouble. I will continue to expand my library with these wonderful stories. Highly recommended.
bookwormsuzy
September 18, 2021
I’ve been following the cat, Trouble, for a while and really enjoy all his adventures! He has a knack for identifying people about to find trouble, little “t”! Then he finds a way to join them and point them to the clues that help them solve the mystery or murder. He’s really quite creative, but gets occasionally frustrated by the slowness of his humans to catch on sometimes! This is a creative and fun series and I highly recommend it to everyone who enjoys cozy’s with animals!
Want to read
July 22, 2020I have this marked as want to read. I got it for free one weekend on kindle. But, I also have a few of the books alone from kindle...the same free deal by the publisher on the same weekend. So, I am doing reviews of the individual books as I work my way thru them.
Read
November 14, 2019Not rated. Each book in Box set rated separately.
November 14, 2021
Great fun!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews