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The Cat Collector: A Cozy Mystery Series
What happens when a former romance author writes mysteries? A cozy novella series with a wholesome love story woven in.
THE CAT COLLECTOR COZY MYSTERY SERIES
Three lovable felines play a part in a trio of engaging mysteries, while a romantic flame kindles between Veterinary Technician Claudia Bailey and Police Detective Steve O’Rourke.
Includes these novellas:
THE COFFEE CAPER: Widowed and approaching forty, Claudia Bailey is happy working at the Briarwood Cat Clinic in suburban Chicago. When she discovers the murdered body of her church’s deceitful new minister, no-nonsense Detective Steve O’Rourke views her as a prime suspect. Claudia’s quiet, comfortable life is deeply shaken. Nevertheless, she helps Steve look for clues, unexpectedly putting herself in jeopardy, all the while treating a Maine Coon named Knickerbocker with a litter pan problem.
THE WINGED WITNESS: Tom and Ethel Radek bring Jasmine, their desperately ill Himalayan, to the Briarwood Cat Clinic. When Tom is found stabbed to death later that day, Claudia and Steve have a new mystery to solve. The only witness to the homicide is Tom’s obnoxious parrot Hal. Meanwhile, will Jasmine recover from surgery? As the investigation continues, it’s increasingly clear Steve is smitten with Claudia. How does Claudia feel? Conflicted and unsure, yet she can’t deny she finds Steve attractive.
THE CLAIRVOYANT CAT: Wrigley, a deaf rescue cat, became famous for predicting the winners of Chicago Cubs’ baseball games. When Lydia Worthington, Wrigley’s wealthy owner, is murdered in her lavish home during an attempted catnapping, Steve and Claudia must solve a newsworthy homicide. Another issue is who will take care of the famed but traumatized Wrigley? An unexpected turn of events endangers Claudia and her Clinic co-workers. In the meantime, Steve drops the L word and hints at marriage. Claudia must examine her true feelings. Does she want to marry again? Or continue paddling her own canoe and risk losing Steve?
THE CAT COLLECTOR COZY MYSTERY SERIES
Three lovable felines play a part in a trio of engaging mysteries, while a romantic flame kindles between Veterinary Technician Claudia Bailey and Police Detective Steve O’Rourke.
Includes these novellas:
THE COFFEE CAPER: Widowed and approaching forty, Claudia Bailey is happy working at the Briarwood Cat Clinic in suburban Chicago. When she discovers the murdered body of her church’s deceitful new minister, no-nonsense Detective Steve O’Rourke views her as a prime suspect. Claudia’s quiet, comfortable life is deeply shaken. Nevertheless, she helps Steve look for clues, unexpectedly putting herself in jeopardy, all the while treating a Maine Coon named Knickerbocker with a litter pan problem.
THE WINGED WITNESS: Tom and Ethel Radek bring Jasmine, their desperately ill Himalayan, to the Briarwood Cat Clinic. When Tom is found stabbed to death later that day, Claudia and Steve have a new mystery to solve. The only witness to the homicide is Tom’s obnoxious parrot Hal. Meanwhile, will Jasmine recover from surgery? As the investigation continues, it’s increasingly clear Steve is smitten with Claudia. How does Claudia feel? Conflicted and unsure, yet she can’t deny she finds Steve attractive.
THE CLAIRVOYANT CAT: Wrigley, a deaf rescue cat, became famous for predicting the winners of Chicago Cubs’ baseball games. When Lydia Worthington, Wrigley’s wealthy owner, is murdered in her lavish home during an attempted catnapping, Steve and Claudia must solve a newsworthy homicide. Another issue is who will take care of the famed but traumatized Wrigley? An unexpected turn of events endangers Claudia and her Clinic co-workers. In the meantime, Steve drops the L word and hints at marriage. Claudia must examine her true feelings. Does she want to marry again? Or continue paddling her own canoe and risk losing Steve?
- GenresRomance
220 pages, ebook
First published March 30, 2019
66 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 31, 2019
I was so excited when I first heard about THE CAT COLLECTOR. Author Lori Herter is best known for being a romance writer, and I have read everything she has written. Now that 99% of my reading is of the cozy mystery sub-genre, having a cozy from her is a wish come true. She did not disappoint! I loved each story and can’t pick a favorite of the three.
Ms. Herter seems to have created a new sub-sub-genre. The Rom-Cozy Mystery . THE CAT COLLECTOR has a little more romance than typical cozy mysteries, and I really enjoyed that. The relationship between Protagonist Claudia Bailey and Detective Steve O’Rourke is a sweet one, and it was fun to watch it grow throughout the book.
Fast moving reads, each intriguing mystery was so well plotted that I was fastened to my chair until the last word of the last tale. Plenty of twists and turns, and suspects made for a challenging time solving each story. While I did guess the killer in one of them, the other two had me stumped.
THE CAT COLLECTOR is purrfect reading for not only adults, but young adults as well, and has something for everyone. Mystery, love, pets, and even a recipe at the end! Should there be full length stories in this series, I can easily see them as a Hallmark movies.
Ms. Herter seems to have created a new sub-sub-genre. The Rom-Cozy Mystery . THE CAT COLLECTOR has a little more romance than typical cozy mysteries, and I really enjoyed that. The relationship between Protagonist Claudia Bailey and Detective Steve O’Rourke is a sweet one, and it was fun to watch it grow throughout the book.
Fast moving reads, each intriguing mystery was so well plotted that I was fastened to my chair until the last word of the last tale. Plenty of twists and turns, and suspects made for a challenging time solving each story. While I did guess the killer in one of them, the other two had me stumped.
THE CAT COLLECTOR is purrfect reading for not only adults, but young adults as well, and has something for everyone. Mystery, love, pets, and even a recipe at the end! Should there be full length stories in this series, I can easily see them as a Hallmark movies.
April 2, 2019
A collection of three cozy mystery novellas featuring widow Claudia Bailey who is a vet tech at a local veterinary clinic that only works with cats.
In the first story, Coffee Caper, Claudia discovers the dead body of the minister at her church. It turns out the minister is deceitful in the way he's doing things and he has the help of another woman named Sue. Police detective and widower, Steve O'Rourke initially considers Claudia a suspect but soon clears her and she works with him to solve the mystery. Sue has a cat who is at the cat clinic with an infection and needs medication which Claudia volunteers to help with.
In the second story, The winged Witness, a couple (Ethel and Tom) comes to the vet clinic because their cat is sick. Tom also has an African grey parrot named Hal who goes with him everywhere. When Tom is found murdered, Hal is the sole witness. Once again, Claudia winds up helping Steve with the investigation.
The third story, The Clairvoyant Cat, features Wrigley a white cat who is famous for predicting the winner of the Chicago Cub's baseball games. Wrigley's owner is a local well-off woman and she's found murdered. When a woman and her son bring in a cat that the boy found under a car it turns out to be Wrigley and Claudia is once again drawn into an investigation.
In each story, Claudia winds up adopting the cats who were involved in the murders. She and Steve also wind up getting closer. She initially ends up with Hall, the African grey parrot, but does find him a home. The stories are great and well-written and fun to read. The characters are well-round and believable. There is quite the Christian theme to the stories especially the first one. So anyone who isn't into that may want to avoid this collection otherwise it's a really good collection.
In the first story, Coffee Caper, Claudia discovers the dead body of the minister at her church. It turns out the minister is deceitful in the way he's doing things and he has the help of another woman named Sue. Police detective and widower, Steve O'Rourke initially considers Claudia a suspect but soon clears her and she works with him to solve the mystery. Sue has a cat who is at the cat clinic with an infection and needs medication which Claudia volunteers to help with.
In the second story, The winged Witness, a couple (Ethel and Tom) comes to the vet clinic because their cat is sick. Tom also has an African grey parrot named Hal who goes with him everywhere. When Tom is found murdered, Hal is the sole witness. Once again, Claudia winds up helping Steve with the investigation.
The third story, The Clairvoyant Cat, features Wrigley a white cat who is famous for predicting the winner of the Chicago Cub's baseball games. Wrigley's owner is a local well-off woman and she's found murdered. When a woman and her son bring in a cat that the boy found under a car it turns out to be Wrigley and Claudia is once again drawn into an investigation.
In each story, Claudia winds up adopting the cats who were involved in the murders. She and Steve also wind up getting closer. She initially ends up with Hall, the African grey parrot, but does find him a home. The stories are great and well-written and fun to read. The characters are well-round and believable. There is quite the Christian theme to the stories especially the first one. So anyone who isn't into that may want to avoid this collection otherwise it's a really good collection.
March 30, 2022
A series of three short novella. Cats at the center of the three mysteries. There are three murders all with cat owners as victims. An animal hospital at the center. There is also some romance involved between Claudia Bailey and the detective.
April 9, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyable stories! Loved the characters and the setting.
May 13, 2019
Fabulous cozy collection
I thoroughly enjoyed these three novellas for several reasons. I love cozy mysteries with cats and a dash of romance—this collection was all that. I loved that the main character was a vet technician, and the cat medical bits were fascinating. The three mysteries were a terrific variety pack. The second novella had a parrot—bonus! Another reason I liked the collection is that each novella was a a complete mystery unto itself. I could read one on a lazy afternoon and be satisfied, and still eager to pick it up again for another mystery AND to see the progress of Claudia’s romance, which reaches its conclusion in the third novella. If you want three satisfying mysteries, one singular romance, three cats, and one loud parrot, this fabulous collection is for you. It was a very fun find for me.
I thoroughly enjoyed these three novellas for several reasons. I love cozy mysteries with cats and a dash of romance—this collection was all that. I loved that the main character was a vet technician, and the cat medical bits were fascinating. The three mysteries were a terrific variety pack. The second novella had a parrot—bonus! Another reason I liked the collection is that each novella was a a complete mystery unto itself. I could read one on a lazy afternoon and be satisfied, and still eager to pick it up again for another mystery AND to see the progress of Claudia’s romance, which reaches its conclusion in the third novella. If you want three satisfying mysteries, one singular romance, three cats, and one loud parrot, this fabulous collection is for you. It was a very fun find for me.
April 18, 2019
This book has three stories in it, with the same cast of characters. I love Claudia. What a big-hearted person! She has truly found her calling. I think she and Steve go well together and I enjoyed their journey. Hal could have been a hand full, but things have a way of working out for the best. These are three sweet stories and I really enjoyed them. I won this book in a Facebook contest, but my opinion is my own.
February 16, 2023
Cute and fun read. The book contains 3 short murder mysteries with Claudia Bailey, a veterinary technician at a cat clinic and Steve O'Rourke, a police detective. Over the three stories, they solve murders together and try to work out their relationship.
I read this at work during my lunch break--I am a veterinarian, so liked reading about the cats, but hope none of my clients end up in a murder mystery!!
I read this at work during my lunch break--I am a veterinarian, so liked reading about the cats, but hope none of my clients end up in a murder mystery!!
October 6, 2023
4 Novellas-romance-mysteries.
Claudia Bailey is a veterinary-assistant at Briarwood Cat Clinic who has been widowed a few years but may be ready to date again. Enter detective Steve a widower who is investigating the murder of one of the clinics clients. Each of the mysteries involves a pet cat and Claudia soon becomes cat mom for the orphans and with each murder Claudia and Steve are more attracted to each other.
Claudia Bailey is a veterinary-assistant at Briarwood Cat Clinic who has been widowed a few years but may be ready to date again. Enter detective Steve a widower who is investigating the murder of one of the clinics clients. Each of the mysteries involves a pet cat and Claudia soon becomes cat mom for the orphans and with each murder Claudia and Steve are more attracted to each other.
August 23, 2024
Even though I love cats, I don't usually like fiction about them. Usually it's a bit too heartwarming and anthropomorphic. In these three novellas, which feature the romance between a cop and a veterinary assistant in a cat clinic, the cats stay cats. They are the stars of three rather straightforward murder mysteries. The criminals confess, the motives are simple, and there is blood but not too much violence, romance but not erotica. A quick, pleasant read.
July 12, 2022
Love is coming to make new beginnings and happiness!
Love cats and cats are here to help happiness begin again! Love lost but love begins again a new family! Three cats and a police officer! What a great pair! cats, new beginnings great romance!😄😄😀🐱! Enjoy!
Love cats and cats are here to help happiness begin again! Love lost but love begins again a new family! Three cats and a police officer! What a great pair! cats, new beginnings great romance!😄😄😀🐱! Enjoy!
November 8, 2025
The cats are the best characters
Very basic murder of the month style mysteries. The three brief stories give the reader a chance to learn about the author's style.
Very basic murder of the month style mysteries. The three brief stories give the reader a chance to learn about the author's style.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews