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A Maples Mystery #1
Cat Between, The
Trying to beat the mid-winter blahs by snowshoeing and cross country skiing when she's not teaching art history at a local college (or being driven crazy by her numerous cats, cooped up in her rambling old country home), Gerry Coneybear thinks she has her busy life under control. That is, until she rescues her neighbour's injured cat. Then a body pops up where she?d least expect it. And she even knows the victim ? slightly. From gossiping with friends to discussing events while baking at home with her housekeeper Prudence, Gerry manages to pick up a few clues, although Prudence tries to discourage her from getting involved. And at first Gerry tries to stay clear of the murder ? for murder it is. She gets to know Jean-Louis, a handsome ski instructor, and his adorable blond husky Harriet. Her friendship with the other man in her life, Doug, seems to be floundering. And Jean-Louis lives just down the road?The discovery of a mysterious package tucked up in a tree brings the police to Gerry's home again. But that's not all she finds in the woods.
214 pages, Paperback
First published October 15, 2017
1 person is currently reading
41 people want to read
About the author
Louise Carson
20 books7 followersBorn in Montreal and raised in Hudson, Quebec, Louise Carson studied music in Montreal and Toronto, played jazz piano and sang in the chorus of the Canadian Opera Company. Carson has published five books: Rope, a blend of poetry and prose set in eighteenth century Scotland; Mermaid Road, a lyrical novella; A Clearing, a collection of poetry; Executor, a mystery set in China and Toronto; and The Cat Among Us. A sixth book, The Cat Vanishes, is to appear in October 2018.
Her poems appear in literary magazines, chapbooks and anthologies from coast to coast, including The Best Canadian Poetry 2013. She's been short-listed in FreeFall Magazine's annual contest three times and won a Manitoba Magazine Award. She's presented her work in many public forums, including Hudson's Storyfest 2015, and in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Saskatoon, Kingston and New York City.
She lives in St-Lazare, Quebec, where she writes, teaches music and gardens.
Her poems appear in literary magazines, chapbooks and anthologies from coast to coast, including The Best Canadian Poetry 2013. She's been short-listed in FreeFall Magazine's annual contest three times and won a Manitoba Magazine Award. She's presented her work in many public forums, including Hudson's Storyfest 2015, and in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Saskatoon, Kingston and New York City.
She lives in St-Lazare, Quebec, where she writes, teaches music and gardens.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 3, 2024
After the death of her Aunt Maggie, Gerry Coneybear can’t believe she inherits her aunt’s home. Gerry wants to sell it as she has her own life in Toronto, but the lawyer tells her she can’t do that. Her aunt made a few stipulations. One is that she must live in the house. The second is that she must care for her cats…all twenty of them. With the help of her aunt’s part-time housekeeper, Gerry is able to take care of them.
Gerry is an artist and decides to open an art gallery in the house and teach art classes. Everything is working out well for her, until she learns that her other relatives are not happy that Gerry inherited the house. Strange things start happening and Gerry fears for her life as well as the kitties. She comes to the realization that her aunt may have been murdered, but she has no proof. Gerry decides to do some investigating herself.
I liked Gerry right from the start. The rest of the cast I wasn’t sure about. I trusted no one. I thought any one of them could have been the guilty party. While the cats don’t communicate with the humans, the reader does get to know things from the cats’ point of view. I always enjoy a story that features the cats in the mystery.
The setting is perfect. It’s a small town in Canada. Everyone knows each other and many seem to be related in one way or another. The beginning of the book gives the reader a chance to get to know the characters, then the suspicions begin. It’s not known from the start that anything devious has happened, but it doesn’t take long to realize something isn't right.
The author did a good job of grabbing my interest and keeping me interested until the very end. Even then I wasn’t sure I was convinced as to who the culprit could be. There were several different possibilities.
This is the first book in the series and I’m looking forward to the next book. It’s just the kind of mystery this cat lover enjoys.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Gerry is an artist and decides to open an art gallery in the house and teach art classes. Everything is working out well for her, until she learns that her other relatives are not happy that Gerry inherited the house. Strange things start happening and Gerry fears for her life as well as the kitties. She comes to the realization that her aunt may have been murdered, but she has no proof. Gerry decides to do some investigating herself.
I liked Gerry right from the start. The rest of the cast I wasn’t sure about. I trusted no one. I thought any one of them could have been the guilty party. While the cats don’t communicate with the humans, the reader does get to know things from the cats’ point of view. I always enjoy a story that features the cats in the mystery.
The setting is perfect. It’s a small town in Canada. Everyone knows each other and many seem to be related in one way or another. The beginning of the book gives the reader a chance to get to know the characters, then the suspicions begin. It’s not known from the start that anything devious has happened, but it doesn’t take long to realize something isn't right.
The author did a good job of grabbing my interest and keeping me interested until the very end. Even then I wasn’t sure I was convinced as to who the culprit could be. There were several different possibilities.
This is the first book in the series and I’m looking forward to the next book. It’s just the kind of mystery this cat lover enjoys.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
December 20, 2023
Cozy little read! Enjoyed the parts written from a cat's perspective. I'm looking forward to reading more of Louise Carson's Maples Mystery series.
March 31, 2018
Although this is a murder mystery it is a lovely gentle book about community and cats
The cats are very much individuals with their own personalities. When Gerry, an artist
inherits her old house she begins to suspect that her aunt was murdered. One cat 'First Cat' seems intent on helping her solve the puzzle. I found that the book really drew me in and I enjoyed it immensely. Perhaps not for you if you are not a cat lover.
The cats are very much individuals with their own personalities. When Gerry, an artist
inherits her old house she begins to suspect that her aunt was murdered. One cat 'First Cat' seems intent on helping her solve the puzzle. I found that the book really drew me in and I enjoyed it immensely. Perhaps not for you if you are not a cat lover.
March 20, 2018
Author, Louise Carson has a cozy that hasn’t been drizzled with maple syrup. The murder is off
stage but the motive is neatly woven into an entertaining story laced with small town family
foibles, revealing commentary about art and well paced dialogue.
Murder is a private affair in this second Louise Carson tale and remains so until the motive
makes it public. Sprinkled with cats, desserts, horticulture and art, The Cat Among us finds
commercial artist, Gerry Coneybear inheriting an quaint old waterfront property in a typical
village after the death of her aunt.
For good or otherwise, Gerry also inherits a house full of cats and a housekeeper, each
outdoing the other at championing eccentricity.
Did good old Aunt Maggie pass on naturally or was she assisted? The writing compelled me to
find out. If you like your cozies laced with a brain, and a touch of art and evil, then you will
enjoy The Cat Among Us. I did and now I’m looking forward to reading the next one.
Don Graves. Canadian Mystery reviews.
stage but the motive is neatly woven into an entertaining story laced with small town family
foibles, revealing commentary about art and well paced dialogue.
Murder is a private affair in this second Louise Carson tale and remains so until the motive
makes it public. Sprinkled with cats, desserts, horticulture and art, The Cat Among us finds
commercial artist, Gerry Coneybear inheriting an quaint old waterfront property in a typical
village after the death of her aunt.
For good or otherwise, Gerry also inherits a house full of cats and a housekeeper, each
outdoing the other at championing eccentricity.
Did good old Aunt Maggie pass on naturally or was she assisted? The writing compelled me to
find out. If you like your cozies laced with a brain, and a touch of art and evil, then you will
enjoy The Cat Among Us. I did and now I’m looking forward to reading the next one.
Don Graves. Canadian Mystery reviews.
Want to read
August 7, 2020I've just become aware of this author & her "Cat" series, with the review & recommendation of the 3rd in the series "The Cat Between", in the Globe & Mail August 7, 2020. These also take place in Quebec's Eastern Townships (Louise Penny country).
I usually like to start at the beginning of a series when this close to it. It may be a challenge to find the books; none in my local libraries yet.
I usually like to start at the beginning of a series when this close to it. It may be a challenge to find the books; none in my local libraries yet.
January 10, 2018
Liked the characters and plot. Really liked the cats and their participation in helping their new owner or caretaker solver the murder.
March 11, 2018
A wonderful murder mystery with a captivating storyline keeps you guessing. Loved the parts written from the cats' point of view.
January 24, 2026
Good writing but the plot was thin.
April 4, 2019
I did not hate the book, it was ok. Very cozy and I adore the cats. Pat of me would be ok if it was just about Gerry settling in to this country home with the cats. I was also more interested in the main character's artistic talent and ability rather than the mystery itself.
I think I started liking the second half of the book better once the mystery was being launched a little more. However, the focus was not on the mystery itself, which is why I gave it 2/5 stars.
It was mostly due to false advertising. I would consider this more of a "ghost" story than a mystery.
I think I started liking the second half of the book better once the mystery was being launched a little more. However, the focus was not on the mystery itself, which is why I gave it 2/5 stars.
It was mostly due to false advertising. I would consider this more of a "ghost" story than a mystery.
March 6, 2020
It started off warm, fuzzy (literally with all those cats) and interesting enough...but this all ended up walking too fine a line between bland and laid back for my personal taste. Perhaps not liking cats has something to do with it...
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews