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Gumshoe And The Mysterious Mushrooms

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Mia Thomas just turned 15. On her special day, her teacher needs to speak with her parents, her father gets arrested and a stray cat starts talking to her. So much for a Happy Birthday!With the help from her new familiar, Gumshoe, Mia sets out to clear her family's name and save them from financial ruin. Will her snooping cause her own death or will her coffee-drinking, wise-cracking, booze-desiring familiar come to her rescue?

121 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 1, 2019

9 people want to read

About the author

Laura Hawks

32 books46 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
Profile Image for Donna.
4,129 reviews57 followers
June 1, 2019
Gumshoe And The Mysterious Mushrooms by Laura Hawks is the first in a brand new teen cozy mystery series. Mia is bright, ambitious and gifted. Gumshoe is a cat with a past and a wicked sense of humor. When these two are on the case you just know the bad guys are going to get caught. I really enjoyed this fast paced action filled adventure.
Disclaimer: I was lucky enough to have won a character named after me. To say I was invested would be accurate. But holy smokes I was blown away by the story and if you have a young teen that likes mysteries you should have them check this out.
Profile Image for Tara Johnson.
745 reviews13 followers
September 29, 2023
Gumshoe and the Mysterious Mushrooms is the first book in the Gumshoe Mysteries series. It is a YA cozy mystery for thirteen- to eighteen-year-olds. The story centers around the character of a young girl named Mia who discovers at the age of fifteen that not only is she a witch but that the stray cat she has been feeding behind her family restaurant is her familiar. The cat likes to be called Gumshoe because he recalls a former life where he was a Private Investigator, referred to as gumshoes in those days. Mia has always known that she can sense things before they happen but it all suddenly makes sense when she learns that she is a witch. When customers who ate at her parent’s restaurant suddenly become violently ill, Mia and Gumshoe set out to solve the mystery of the mushrooms that are reportedly the culprit. Danger lurks around every corner as Mia and Gumshoe start to unravel the mystery of who is responsible for the poisonings.

I loved this storyline and adored the characters of Mia and Gumshoe. Mia is smart, sweet, kind, and talented. She is a talented up and coming chef and loves cooking. Gumshoe makes for a perfect sidekick for Mia. He is clever, funny, wise-cracking, and as one would expect from a PI, he loves to drink and smoke. Together the two are unstoppable and able to crack the clues to solve the mystery. This book is a quick read and takes some twists and turns along the way. It has action, suspense, mystery, magic, familiars, and witty banter. I really enjoyed the ending where Mia helps Gumshoe remember more about his past. The recipes included at the end were a fantastic touch, thank you. I look forward to reading more by this author!
314 reviews7 followers
October 25, 2023
Mia is learning to be a sous chef under her father in her family owned restaurant and is anxiously awaiting her 15th birthday in small town Illinois. As she helps her family get things rolling, she sees a stray cat she begins feeding and considers him to be her little friend. Mia is given an opportunity to plan a full menu for opening week and really outdoes herself, including a mushroom soup that ends up making people sick!

By the time her 15th birthday rolls around, her teacher is calling her parents at home to speak to them about her, her dad ends up getting arrested when some of the patrons of Forbidden Fruit pass away, and her new cat friend starts TALKING to her. What next?

Mia learns she met a magical age when she turned 15 and is now involved in the world of the paranormal - witches and covens, spells, mysteries and her familiar - the cat outsider her family restaurant - Gumshoe. Gumshoe was a detective in the 1940's and has been sent to Mia for them to solve the mystery about what happened to Gumshoe, what happened at Forbidden Fruit, and help her as she saves her family from being ruined over her mushroom soup.

This was a fun, quick read that kept me invested from the first page! I loved the writing style, how Mia and Gumshoe work together and grow together, the fact that a cat has his human traits seems more familiar than I would have expected. Will Mia and Gumshoe be able to connect the dots to keep themselves safe and save her father, or will more lives be lost?
Profile Image for Lorralei Hoerner.
927 reviews24 followers
October 10, 2023
5 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Wonderful YA cozy mystery that I enjoyed so much! This is my first book I have read by this author and I really loved this story. I love the mix of magic, mystery, murder, witches, secrets and intrigue. Already to dive into book 2....I am so glad I read this story....what a treat.

Mia is a typical 15 year old..or so she thinks. She finds out by her mother and a few of her mother's friends, that she is a witch. This surprises Mia in so many ways and was eager to learn more what this really means but also finds a friend in a cat she has been feeding at her family's restaurant. When Mia finds out that her feline friend is special, Mia and Gumshoe create this bond. Gumshoe has a story but trying to piece it all together on where he came from, Gumshoe and Mia work together to piece together his past life. While Mia helps at her family's new restaurant, Forbidden Fruit, she eagerly waits on opening night to help out her father in the kitchen to help with a successful first night....but something horrible happens as patrons become sick at the end of the evening and even creates chaos as some patrons pass away. With her family name at stake and their new restaurant, Mia tries to find out whom may be responsible for these deaths that were caused by a very poisonous mushroom. Will Mia and Gumshoe be able to solve this mystery before more lives are lost? Will Gumshoe find out what happened with his past life?

Definitely read and find out! This is a great story..



Profile Image for Laura Furuta.
2,047 reviews28 followers
June 23, 2019
Gumshoe And The Mysterious Mushrooms (Gumshoe Mysteries Book 1)
By: Laura Hawks
5 out of 5 stars

The story Gumshoe And The Mysterious Mushrooms (Gumshoe Mysteries Book 1) by Laura Hawks is a YA mystery/fantasy book. It is amazing to read, and I found myself not able to put it down until I had finished the final page. I loved the characters of Mia Thomas and Gumshoe. Mia has just turned 15 years old. She has a kind heart, determination, and good instincts. So much is happening on her special day. She sets out to clear her family name and from financial ruin. Will she succeed? Gumshoe is Mia’s familiar. He drinks coffee and wine along with helping Mia with her investigation. Will Gumshoe and Mia find out the truth behind what is happening to her family? Is Mia in danger from her investigation? What does their future hold? Read this book to find out. This is a story that is entertaining from beginning to end. There is mystery and I felt like I was right there with Mia and Gumshoe trying to put the clues together. I enjoyed reading about the interactions between the additional characters had with Mia. Mia and Gumshoe are characters that I grew to care about with each chapter that I read. This is a book that had me turning pages to find out what happened next and how it all would end. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Erin.
714 reviews2 followers
July 14, 2019
I give Gumshoe And The Mysterious Mushrooms (Gumshoe Mysteries Book 1) by Laura Hawks, 5 stars.

Mia is a typical teen in high school, she has her own group of friends and she has one main passion - cooking. She's pretty good at it too, good enough to help her parents put at their soon to open restaurant. Plus, on her 15th birthday, her dad gets arrested and she starts being able to talk with a cat! Can said cat (he says he goes by Gumshoe) help her figure out the mystery behind her dad's arrest or is everything doomed?

This is a great book! I am leery or YA books because I read too many that don't appeal to me simply because I am long past that age. After reading the description, I had to pick this book up. Mia is absolutely great. She is level headed and really cares about her family and friends. She does all she can for those in her community. Then there is Gumshoe. I can't say I've met a character like him and I am totally in love with him! The story too is quite interesting. You never really know exactly who is behind it or why until the very end. I like mysteries that keep me guessing. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series!

If you like supernatural mysteries with a great teen lead character, this book is for you.
Profile Image for E.A..
951 reviews27 followers
June 25, 2019
Gumshoe And The Mysterious Mushrooms (Gumshoe Mysteries Book 1) by Laura Hawks was an intriguing original read, that kept me flipping the pages.

The first book in what I believe is going to be a crazily outstanding series, we are taken on a mysterious adventure with a talking cat and a teen who learns that her life and what she believe isn't all that true. As YA is my guilty pleasure, when I seen this quirky read pop up I had to grab it, and man oh man, I'm so happy I did.

Fresh, gripping and pulling, this book dug its claws in right away. I didn't really know what I was getting into, but in a few short seconds, I knew I made the right choice. For a 15 year old, Mia is something else. Normally I have loads of problems with YA MC's, but not with Mia. She's strong, resilient, and sets a clear gold of what needs to be done. Gumshoe, he's the perfect match, and I want a talking sassy cat. That cat really brought this story together in that unique way, and Mia, with her awesomeness, push this story forward into something amazing.

On a whole this book is worth your time, energy, and it gets my super high recommendation and my golden stamp of approval.

Happy Reading

-E.A. Walsh
Profile Image for Katie.
2,260 reviews15 followers
July 13, 2019
Gumshoe and The Mysterious Mushrooms (Gumshoe Mysteries Book 1)
By Laura Hawks
5 stars

This was such an enjoyable read, I really enjoyed every minute of it! I do sometimes like to read a YA book, I find them really easy to read and whilst I love angst I also enjoy just a nice simple story that and that’s exactly what I got with this story. It was so refreshing to read – I loved the unique storyline (and who wouldn’t love a story with a talking cat in it?!?) and I really enjoyed getting to know Mia and following her story. For 15 I thought she was a really rounded character, she was kind hearted but had an air of determination about her which I liked. There were some great twists in the story and I enjoyed trying to guess what was going to happen – would Mia finally uncover the mystery surrounding her family?
This isn’t the first book that I have read by this author but I think it may be my favourite so far! I thought that this was a really engaging story and I am really looking forward to reading more from the series!
Profile Image for Angela.
8,510 reviews121 followers
July 21, 2019
5 Stars

Gumshoe and the Mysterious Mushrooms is the first book in the Gumshoe Mysteries series by Laura Hawks. I was taken with this book the moment I laid eyes on the beautiful cover- and as I had read several of Ms. Hawks’ books before, and had really enjoyed them, getting this one was a no-brainer.
It is a YA mystery, with is a paranormal elements, action, adventure, humour, fun, and a bit of whimsy. The story was intriguing, even though it was a little predictable in parts, and even though it is targeted towards younger readers- I still really enjoyed it.
The characters are well developed, fully realised, quirky, and entirely interesting. This is a very original, fun, quick, and easy read- it has a pretty fast pace and a smooth flow- which enabled me to devour the book very quickly.
Ms. Hawks has always intrigued me with her clever storylines, and this story was no different. I loved meeting Mia, but particularly Gumshoe- who really stole the show.
My favourite of Ms. Hawks’ books, so far!

Thank you, Ms. Hawks!
Profile Image for Shannon.
848 reviews5 followers
July 12, 2019
What a fun little story. This story if good for anyone who likes mysteries and a talking cat! Definitely good for teens! Entertaining enough for adults as well!

The coolest character is of course Mia who is the main character. The secondary characters are helpful and easy to read about. With the secondary character of Donna Antonio standing out for me. Knowing who this character is named after gave me an extra smile.

This book starts out a little sad and foreboding. “The circle of life blossomed all around him and increased his melancholy. He hated it. Detested the circumstances that brought him here today. He longed to know what happened to his family.” As the story progresses, this foreboding turns into an “ah ha moment”. Getting to know this character and what made him so sad is part of the enlightenment of this story.

This is my first book by Hawks and I can see her becoming a go to author.
Profile Image for Debi.
1,132 reviews6 followers
July 14, 2019
Gumshoe And The Mysterious Mushrooms (Gumshoe Mysteries Book 1) by Laura Hawks

5 Stars

I had no idea what to expect when I picked up this book but the cover and synopsis drew me in and then while reading it had me hooked and I literally read this in one sitting.

It was quick, easy to read because the words flowed perfectly, clean, suspenseful, fun, and was just what I was looking for at the time. I am impressed with how this book was written, I loved everything about it and actually am figuring out how many copies I need to buy for a few of my grandchildren who I believe would love this as much as I did.

I fell in love with Gumshoe and can not wait to read more of this series. Mia was awesome and not your normal 15 year old, and I loved the ladies ...Eve (Mia’s Mom), Donna, Marion, and Kelly...This was just an all around great book and I can't recommend it enough especially if you like a good mystery.

Awesome!!
Profile Image for Jenni.
6,400 reviews79 followers
July 15, 2019
Gumshoe And The Mysterious Mushrooms (Gumshoe Mysteries Book 1) by Laura Hawks is a YA story that is a little fun and mysterious. It is also the first book in this series. It is an original storyline that will get you turning those pages having to find out how it ends. I went in blind and I must say I was pleasantly surprised and the crazy talking cat with attitude just made the story. I need me one of those. I laughed found the entire thing so refreshing. Well done Laura, you have a winner on your hands.

Mia’s life is turned upside down in one night. Everything her family had dreamed of was about to be taken away and a scaredy cat has turned up on her doorstep.

Gumshoe the cat takes centre stage with his wicked sense of humour and helps Mia try to solve the mystery that threatens everything she love.

I really enjoyed this action filled adventure and will be looking forward to what Laura has instore for Gumshoe and his trusty sidekick.

427 reviews
July 18, 2019
Gumshoe And The Mysterious Mushrooms (Gumshoe Mysteries Book 1)
By Laura Hawks

Gumshoe And the Mysterious Mushrooms is book one in the Gumshoe Mysteries by Laura Hawks. Ok so I struggled a little with this book, but it was by no fault of the author as this book has been written perfectly. While this is not for me the younger audience are absolutely going to love it, they will also love the pace this book moves at. The book is centred around a 15-year-old girl by the name of Mia Thomas. Not only does Mia’s teacher need to speak to her parents, her father gets arrested and she makes friends with a cat named Gumshoe. If that isn’t enough, she has the knack of talking to and understanding cats. Mia and Gumshoe join forces to try and work out what on earth is going on with her family. Will they find out what is behind her fathers arrest? And what lays before them while they try and work out the issues.
Profile Image for Heidi Eich Woodring.
203 reviews7 followers
July 19, 2019
Gumshoe and the Mysterious Mushrooms is the first book in the Gumshoe Mysteries Series by Laura Hawks. This teen mystery book was a good read and held me until the very end. Today is Mia’s 15th birthday, her parents are called into the school to speak to her teacher and then her father is arrested. Then out of nowhere a cat shows up and starts talking to her! Instead of getting upset, she sets out with her new found friend to help her family and spare the family name. But now the only question is, will her snooping help her or be the end of Mia? You must read this to find out and I will say you WILL NOT be disappointed.

This is my first read by this author and it will not be my last. I found the story line strong, characters I adored, and a plot that held me till the end. Mia and Gumshoe really wormed their way into my heart and I cannot wait to read more in this series! 4 stars and highly recommended.
Profile Image for Maura.
2,180 reviews6 followers
June 25, 2019
This is the first story I've read by this author and the first few pages gave me a heavy feeling in the pit of my stomach. I wasn't sure what was going to happen and almost closed the book. I am so glad I did not.

This is one of those stories that I don't want to say anything about because I feel like it would be spoilers. What I will say is that it is a whimsical, quick moving, well developed story that I think everyone would enjoy. I would recommend it to an elderly book club and middle school students alike.

I have always enjoyed stories that have a playlist... well this story has a cookbook at the end. Recipes of a meal that is served in the story. I have highlighted for a future family dinner.

I will absolutely be watching out for the next installment of this delightful series.
Profile Image for Madilynn Dale.
Author 25 books344 followers
July 15, 2019
Gumshoe And The Mysterious Mushrooms (Gumshoe Mysteries Book 1) by Laura Hawks

5-Stars

Gumshoe And The Mysterious Mushrooms was a creative and fascinating paranormal mystery novel featuring a young girl and her familiar. When Mia turns fifteen she gains an interesting ability and meets her familiar, a Siamese cat named Gumshoe. Together they plan to help save her families business when someone tampers with the food leading to serious poisoning cases allover town.

I loved the scenery and character development in this novel. Mia and Gumshoe made an excellent pair and I loved learning tidbits of Gumshoe's past. I also felt that the storyline was easy to follow and that it would be appropriate for a young adult audience. I can’t wait to read more from this author and I highly recommend this book. I absolutely loved it.
2,078 reviews20 followers
July 15, 2019
5 Star
Gumshoe And The Mysterious Mushrooms (Gumshoe Mysteries Book 1) by Laura Hawks

Gumshoe and the Mysterious Mushrooms ( Gumshoe Mysteries Book 1) By Laura Hawks is a wonderfully written YA mystery/ fantasy book that I found myself lost in the pages and had a hard time putting it down till I finished. Mia is a fifteen year old with good instincts and determination She sets out to clear the family name from financial ruin. Will she succeed in her mission? Gumshoe is helping Mia with her investigation and he’s also her familiar. I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what happens next. Can Gumshoe and Mia find out what is happening to her family? Is Mia in Danger? Do these two have a future together? Find out what happens next in this absolute must read. I can’t wait to read the next Book in this series.
1,931 reviews24 followers
July 13, 2019
Gumshoe And The Mysterious Mushrooms (Gumshoe Mysteries Book 1) by Laura Hawks. Let me start by saying I sure wish they had books like this when I was a teen. This book was awesome! Its the story of a young girl named Mia and her talking cat Gumshoe. Mia is a bright, intelligent, independent young girl and on her 15th birthday not only does the teacher want to see her parents but her Dad gets arrested and her cat Gumshoe starts talking to her. That's a pretty full birthday. Mia and Gumshoe set out to solve her families financial problems and clear their name. Gumshoe is a coffee drinking, smart mouth, cat with a past. Will they be able to pull off the plan to save her family or will Mia's 15th birthday be her last? Read Gumshoe to find out!
Profile Image for Moriah Venable.
1,369 reviews32 followers
July 16, 2019
Gumshoe and the Mysterious Mushrooms is the first novel in the Gumshoe Mystery series by Laura Hawks. This is my first novel by this author.

On her 15th birthday, she sets out to clear her family name after her father is arrested. Her partner is a cat named Gumshoe, who is her familiar.

This was a really good novel and very refreshing. I haven’t read much in a while so I was really enjoying this funny YA cozy mystery. Gumshoe had me laughing often while reading. He is a cat that drinks coffee and wine and tries to help Mia with the investigation. What secrets will the two uncover?

From the title, one isn’t sure what to expect but this is cute read and I am excited for the next book.
Profile Image for Erica Fish.
992 reviews2 followers
July 16, 2019
Gumshoe and the Mysterious Mushrooms by Laura Hawks is a great YA book. I am always looking for YA authors as they tend to write the best stories. Hawks does an exceptional job of grabbing and keeping my attention throughout the entire story. I cannot wait for the rest of the books in the series. Mia Thomas is having one heck of a start to her 15th year of life, the teacher needs to talk to her parents, her father gets arrested, and as if that is not enough she has an amazing ability to talk to cats. She befriends a cat, who promptly tell her his name is Gumshoe. Gumshoe and Mia try to figure out what is happening with her family. Just watch the relationship between Gumshoe and Mia. Will they find out what is going on or will there be more problems?
429 reviews3 followers
October 4, 2023
Gumshoe and the mysterious mushrooms
By: Laura Hawks
This is a fantastic start to a new teen mystery series. It features Mia who is an absolutely amazingly well written character. She is intelligent and gifted. Gumshoe is not exactly who you would expect - he is a cat - who has an incredibly complicated past and a really fun sense of humor. These two have fantastic dialogue that drives the plot. Even though this is a teen book I found myself deeply enjoying the story. It is a great mystery that keeps you guessing but with characters that keep you laughing. It is truly a fun read that I will be recommending to everyone I know. I definitely cannot wait to read the next book in the series!
Profile Image for Heather.
1,654 reviews3 followers
July 12, 2019
Gumshoe And The Mysterious Mushrooms (Gumshoe Mysteries Book 1) by Laura Hawks is a teen/young adult fantasy and supernatural mystery/thriller. This story had me intrigued just by reading the author's synopsis for the book. At just 15 years old, Mia's life has changed and she thrust into a hole with unexpected events unfold. The pace of the book keep me engaged along with following Mia along her journey to clear her family's name. I enjoyed this story so much, that I will be getting a copy for my daughter to read as this genre is right up her alley. This series is bound to be a fun and mysterious read.
Profile Image for Rebeca.
270 reviews8 followers
October 23, 2023
This is the first book in the Gumshoe Mysteries series, a wonderful young adult book.
I do enjoy a good young adult story, and this one surpassed my expectations. I was expecting a fun easy read and it delivered. But in addition, I also got and engaging story with a unique plot and a familiar which partially reminded me of Salem from my favourite childhood tv show!
The characters are well-written, and entertaining making them completely lovable. Mia and Gumshoe were brilliant characters working towards their goal, and I was glad to have been along for the ride!
I cannot wait to get my hands on more from the series.
Profile Image for Caralee.
659 reviews6 followers
July 13, 2019
Gumshoe and the Mysterious Mushrooms by Laura Hawks

4 Stars!!!!


I just love to find new authors. This book was such a great short summer read. I just couldn't put the book down. I was drawn into the book and felt as though I was right in the middle of it all.

I really liked Mia's character. I really like books that are paranormal and especially ones with cats. Gumshoe is a very interesting familiar. I like how the author unfolds the story and I found this book to be a refreshing change from my regular genre. I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future.
Profile Image for Sunday.
1,024 reviews4 followers
July 14, 2019
Gumshoe And The Mysterious Mushrooms by Laura Hawks
Five Stars

Gumshoe And The Mysterious Mushrooms is the first book in the Gumshoe Mysteries Series by Laura Hawks. This was a fast fun read. It really made my weekend. It was a refreshing read, I wanted to get away from the romance genre and this really hit the spot. This book grabbed my attention from the first page and I couldn’t put it down until I finished. I love the book being told in Mia’s view, and Gumshoe is really an interesting twist in this story. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
3,092 reviews34 followers
July 14, 2019
Gumshoe and The Mysterious Mushrooms by Laura Hawks is the first book in the Gumshoe Mysteries Series. This is a fun and entertaining book with brilliant characters and a strong story line.
I was amazed by how quick I read this book. From the moment I started reading I just got lost in the story that the author was creating. Mia and Gumshoe were such a brilliant combination. If I could have a Gumshoe in my life I definitely would!
This is a strong start to a new series. Full of mystery and the perfect example of what a YA novel should be. You definitely need to give this book a try!
140 reviews1 follower
July 14, 2019
This book feels like Teen fiction and cozy mystery wrapped into one. Gumshoe puts me in mind of a mix of Salem and Columbo. Mia has a whole truckload of unpleasant dumped on her for her birthday but girl doesn't miss a beat. She knows she is in one of the roughest of situations she'll probably ever face, but she's not going to let a trivial thing like that stop her from figuring out why her world has been turned upside down. She'll clear her family's name and that's all there is to it.
I'm thrilled that this is book one because that means more!
Profile Image for Anastasia.
797 reviews22 followers
July 18, 2019
This book was great! It was about a 15 year old named Mia and her familiar Gumshoe. Mia was a fantastic MC! She is bright and spunky and kind of adorable. Gumshoe is something else that’s for sure. He is a loud, coffee drinking, obnoxious cat that helps Mia solve mysteries! They have to careful though, because the case they’re on right now might be Mia’s last one if she doesn’t watch her back! She might be able to solve the mystery BUT being able to stay alive is going to be hard...
This one was a great teen read and I would like to read more by this author!
Profile Image for Jennifer.
434 reviews13 followers
September 26, 2023
Although targeted to an older audience, to me, Gumshoe and the Mysterious Mushrooms is a perfect middle grade book, and explores how Mia gets to know her familiar, the cat Gumshoe, as she solves the mystery and saves her family's restaurant.

The writing style is refreshing, and with the onset of kid cooking shows, I think this book would be a great hit with youngsters (as well as myself!). I can't wait to read the second book in the series and find out what other mysteries this sleuthing pair can solve.
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