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My name is Bizzy Baker, and I can read minds—not every mind, not every time but most of the time, and believe me when I say it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.

Bizzy Baker runs the Country Cottage Inn, has the ability to pry into the darkest recesses of both the human and animal mind, and has just stumbled upon a body. With the help of her kitten, Fish, a mutt named Sherlock Bones and an ornery yet dangerously good looking homicide detective, Bizzy is determined to find the killer.

Cider Cove, Maine is the premier destination for fun and relaxation. But when a body turns up, it’s the premier destination for murder.

260 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 24, 2019

2452 people are currently reading
1113 people want to read

About the author

Addison Moore

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Addison Moore is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of cozy mysteries and romance. Her new book MIDLIFE IN GLIMMERSPELL is NOW available! Read today!
Cosmopolitan Magazine calls Addison's books, "...easy, frothy fun!"
Humor with a side of homicide.


FREE with Kindle Unlimited! Amazon-->https://amzn.to/3AnyVhs Hibiscus Homicide Cruise is here! An impending divorce. An ornery homicide detective. The cruise of a lifetime. And ghosts. Midlife on the high seas is proving to be a real killer.
#Cozymystery #Kindleunlimited #mystery #PWF

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5 stars
874 (43%)
4 stars
606 (30%)
3 stars
386 (19%)
2 stars
94 (4%)
1 star
32 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 29 of 199 reviews
Profile Image for Deanie Nelder.
1,131 reviews24 followers
October 10, 2020
I'm not sure how this book got such a high rating. The main character is sometimes annoying and has no chemistry with her love interest. The mystery is interesting, but includes so many people sleeping with other people and cheating on their significant others, it's like a bad soap opera. The saving grace is her cat, Fish, and the adorable dog Sherlock Bones, who totally deserves his own spin-off. Now *that* I would read.
Profile Image for Celia Buell (semi hiatus).
632 reviews32 followers
November 18, 2020
I kind of had a feeling I wouldn't like this, and was somewhat glad when I ended up having to read other books for my challenges in between this. I feel like this book sacrificed plot and character development for the advancement of the poorly designed relationship, as well as for the backstory of way too many side characters.

It did have a lot of potential, but there was so much I would rather have seen from this than what it was. I like a good cozy mystery every now and then, especially where animals play key roles, but I found this did not fulfill my need.

I don't deny that the premise that Bizzy can read minds, as well as the way she got this power, was an interesting way to start this novel and series, but it ended up being overused in some places in the novel, and underused in others. While it was cute that she could read the minds of Fish and Sherlock Bones, it was also a little distracting to the plot, especially with the snippets of both relevant and irrelevant thoughts throughout the novel.

In my opinion, the use of this overshadowed the plot, although the haphazard romance and the backstories of the side characters also made the plot seem less important in the story's context. It was all a little complicated, and the only person I found myself rooting for was the detective, because all of the other characters, including and especially Bizzy, were annoying to say the least. (Although the relationship between Fish and Sherlock Bones was cute when it wasn't distracting.)

There's a lot I didn't like about this, but because I have an ebook omnibus of the first three books I do plan on reading at least the second one, probably also this month. I feel like this series has potential, it just hasn't reached it in its first novel.
Profile Image for Mairi Swan.
507 reviews38 followers
January 16, 2026
I'm between 3 and 4 stars mostly because of the heroine. I found her to be quite irritating. I know an amateur sleuth is meddling with the investigation and trying to be discreet but she got to another level like she was entitled to investigate and feel annoyed because the detective is asking her to back off as it's dangerous. I hope she's better in the next one.
Profile Image for Pumpkinpuddy.
229 reviews3 followers
January 13, 2020
So so. Bizzy was too rude most of the time, and the way she treated the detective was annoying. Her friends, their intrusiveness, and her sister's overt man-hunting made the book unpleasant to read. The mayor didn't help. It seemed like everybody was too much in each other's business, too busy looking for sex, and too into themselves to show any real feeling for anybody. The mystery in this book wasn't interesting enough to overcome the fact that, except for the detective and the pets, the characters in the book were hard to like.
Profile Image for Another.
548 reviews9 followers
February 13, 2022
Cute concept, terrible implementation.

This author desperately needs an editor. So many painful things wrong with the writing. "His eyes stagnated over mine too long". ugh

Bizzy likes the man, then hates the man for no real reason.

Life is too short, I gave up about 1/3 through.
218 reviews1 follower
August 23, 2020
Ridiculous

In the first chapter, Buzzy almost drowns. The man who rescues her is attractive and she behaves like a teenager who has never seen a man before. She is surrounded by absurd people. I REALLY disliked the book.
2,009 reviews
June 30, 2020
Only finished 30%. The lead character could read minds - which she did constantly. It was like listening to 2 or more conversations at the same time and was extremely annoying.

And the same old plot - female lead with paranormal abilities ignores law enforcement (of course a gorgeous guy) to continue her own investigation into a murder. I wish authors would find a new plot device.
4 reviews1 follower
January 30, 2022
Poor character emotions

Overdone on description of detective - the book would be half as long without. Lead character goes from thoughts of a murderer to sexy detective in an instant. Total lack of real human emotions.
543 reviews3 followers
December 5, 2022
Made it to chapter 5

I honestly stopped to read the authors' blurbs to see if they were teenagers. The writing was so forced, the descriptions a joke. Ruffled tweed? A cardigan OVER a pant suit? Do these women dress themselves? Not funny, nor cute, nor intriguing. I give up.
Profile Image for Caitlin C.
514 reviews14 followers
January 25, 2021
What a cute book! I struggled a little bit with the writing style in the beginning, it just seemed to jump around a bit, but either it evened out or I got used to it.

Bizzy Baker runs an Inn in Cider Cove. She has a unique set of friends and relatives, and a unique ability to be able to read minds! There is only one other person on earth who knows she can read minds, and Bizzy has sworn her to secrecy. Things are going well, then the vampire shows up, shortly thereafter, one of her employees is murdered. The vampire (who turns out just to be a stunningly handsome man) is a police detective and is assigned to the murder. Bizzy nosily inserts herself in to the investigation, despite being told numerous times to butt out.

Overall I found myself just wanting to keep reading. Again, I struggled with some of the writing, as it didn't really flow well in the beginning, but I loved the mind reading and I am looking forward to reading more!
Profile Image for Brenda.
3,501 reviews47 followers
January 8, 2023
Good book

Bizzy can read thoughts. Not every time, not every mind but most of the time.
It can get her into trouble.
I haven't read a book by this author before.
I borrowed this book from Kindle Unlimited. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
Profile Image for Lexy.
1,093 reviews35 followers
April 28, 2023
I thought that this book was cute
Profile Image for Michelle Stagg.
74 reviews23 followers
October 23, 2021
I absolutely loved this book! Can't wait to read the others in the series!
Profile Image for Anastasia.
2,281 reviews102 followers
February 10, 2024
Kittyzen's Arrest by Addison Moore and Bellamy Bloom is the first book in the Country Cottage Mysteries series. Mind reader Bizzy Baker runs the Country Cottage Inn in Cedar Cove and stumbles across the body of one of her employees on the beach. A cute concept but I found Bizzy rather obnoxious and annoying, especially with feeling entitled that she should go off and investigate on her own and keep information from the police. I liked the detective and the two pets, but most of the other characters were strange. This books gets a just okay from me.
Profile Image for Ferne (Enthusiastic Reader).
1,481 reviews48 followers
October 27, 2025
Cuteness personified from cover to cover! My attention was first captivated by the title, "Kittyzen's Arrest" and then the two (2) cuties on the cover. I quickly learned that the kitten is a 4-month-old black-and-white, long-haired tabby. The kitten was named Fish by Elizabeth (better known as Bizzy) Baker after being found out behind Bizzy's sister's soap and candle shop named Lather and Light. Bizzy and Fish live in Cider Cove, Maine, where Bizzy is the manager of the Country Cottage Inn. Bizzy has a rare talent, being able to read the minds of humans and animals. That's where the real fun of the story begins. Oh, the things people and animals are thinking when they are around Bizzy. All I can say is that some of those thoughts are hilarious and easy identified throughout the story as they appear as bold and italicized.

And when the new detective, Jasper Wilder begins investigating a murder we meet the 2nd cutie from the cover, Sherlock Bones. At that point, the cuteness of the story ramps up to sizzling!

Bizzy may think there are some drawbacks in being able to read minds - particularly those human thoughts - but I must confess that reading the thoughts of Fish and Sherlock are at the top of my list for delights of this mystery. To me, it's a special delight for all who adore their cats and dogs.

Many adjectives come to mind as I write my review —cute, adorable, delightful, and charming —but the one at the top of my list is fun! In fact, it's fun and ends with a cliff-hanger, and since I can't wait to know what happens next, I downloaded "Dog Days of Murder" (Book 2 of the series) and read the 1st chapter before powering off my tablet.
683 reviews
December 29, 2022
Told in first person and she tells us who she is on pages 1 and 2 (I guess we might have forgotten so soon). I’m really tired of hearing she hightails it back to Cider Cove. And how many times do we have to hear that Emmie is her best friend? And on page 30 we get told one more time that Bizzy’s mother ran her own real estate empire. Way too much repetition going on.

So she thinks she’s drowning, is panicking, but notices every detail and physical attribute of the man trying to save her.

I’m only 40% through the book but I am so tired of ‘his eyes’ and ‘her lips.’ Do people really think like that all the time or am I just the weird one who never fixated on someone’s body parts?
Why do the women in these books get bent out of shape when told to stop interfering in the murder investigation and want to prove to the trained detective that they can catch the killer before he can? And then refusing to share the info she does get? I call that interfering with an investigation.
Every time someone shows up we get to know what they are wearing and how their hair is done even if it adds nothing to the storyline.

I’m not sure how much more I can read. Bizzy gets all ticked off at the thought of being arrested for obstruction of justice, like she thinks she has a right to investigate the murder.

Well, I finished the book but was not impressed with the characters or the storyline. The only interesting part was being able to read minds and communicating with the cat and dog.
Profile Image for Ocean Wolf Haven.
33 reviews
May 23, 2025
I cannot go any further into this book! There are so many amateur mistakes in it, yet the authors are allegedly “Award Winning” writers? One of them seems to have hundreds of books written, yet there don’t appear to be any editors or proofreaders working on this one.
I honestly commend anyone who gets a book completed and published onto Amazon (and any other outlets), but the writing, continuity, lack of common sense, grammatical errors, poor character choices, and other writing devices are all simply too BAD for me to keep reading!
The repetition is extremely annoying. Did the dual authors not check their drafts against one another? To repeat a statement nearly identical within a few sentences over and over again proves a lack of continuity editing.
Fiction is supposed to force readers to suspend disbelief, but when some ideas are outrageously unrealistic in a book that’s supposed to be about murder, it’s hard to keep reading as each idea becomes an eye-rolling moment of exclaiming: “Seriously? Would anyone say that?” Then, it becomes impossible to move forward. I had hope for the story but just can’t get past the juvenile and amateur writing.
Profile Image for Sue Ellen.
1,007 reviews
May 26, 2020
This could have been a much better story if the main character's behavior hadn't been way beyond annoying. In most cozy mysteries the main character gets involved with helping solve a murder because either she is a suspect or law enforcement is incompetent, or a combination of both. There was no real explanation or reason for her interference with the police investigation into her employee's murder. She withheld evidence and deliberately tried to get to witnesses ahead of the detective. Her psychic abilities were more of an afterthought than an actual help in solving the murder.

I did love the dog and the cat!
Profile Image for Joanne Cromer.
12 reviews
February 27, 2022
If you want an honest to goodness cozy, skip this book.

I could live with the mind reading stuff, I could live with the story line to a large degree. BUT, when it came to the main character interfering with the police investigation in such a despicable way I was finished. I will not be reading any more. The author needs to do some research into what real detectives will allow citizens to do and what citizens (even mind reading citizens ) will do. No one puts themselves into those situations. Let me know is she improves and I MIGHT give her one more chance.
2 reviews1 follower
August 26, 2020
Bizzy Body

I like the painful love story intermingled with a good murder mystery. Not only was I wondering who done it but, I was curious to see if Bizzy Body would completely sabotage a potentially good relationship or not. Sometimes I felt a bit impatient when the love affair took precedence over the murder. However, it’s still good reading. That’s why I give it 5 stars oh and the sweet treat at the end solidifies my my rating.
Profile Image for Heidi Prockish.
476 reviews17 followers
May 21, 2020
This book was super cute! I can't believe I didn't read it sooner. Plus, what a twist ending!!! I am looking forward to seeing what happens next in Cider Cove.
Profile Image for Gordon Mcgavin.
13 reviews
March 15, 2023
This book was incredibly boring. I nearly gave up half way through. Not my style at all.
Profile Image for Yvonne.
1,343 reviews265 followers
August 24, 2024
Bizzy Baker is the manager of the Country Cottage Inn. It’s located in Cider Cove, Maine and seems to be the place everyone goes to party. One night things get out of hand and Bizzy discovers a dead body. To make matters worse, she knew the victim. She sticks her nose right into the middle of the investigation. She figures it shouldn’t be a problem to find the killer since she can read minds.

Then the local homicide detective, Jasper Wilder, works the case and demands Bizzy stay out of it. Of course she’s not going to listen to his demands, but she will secretly read his mind. Not only will she continue her snooping, but she also finds herself quite attracted to the detective.

This cat lover couldn’t help reading this one. Not only is it a cute title, but a cute cat is on the cover. How could I resist? I admit it took a little time for me to get involved in this one, but it didn’t take long for me to be drawn in. I liked how Bizzy could even read the animals’ minds and was able to communicate with them. It was cute.

The story is a combination romance and mystery. I thought there was more romance than mystery, though. I usually like my cozies to be the opposite, but this worked. I did like the potential romance between Jasper and Bizzy. It should be fun to see how this plays out.

It’s a long series (27 books) and I do plan to read more. I love the kitty, Fish, and the dog, Sherlock. They are adorable. I’m looking forward to reading what happens next.




Disclosure: I borrowed this one from the Kindle Unlimited library . I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Susan Ferguson.
1,087 reviews21 followers
July 12, 2020
Bizzy (because her sister couldn't say Elizabeth) Baker runs the Cottage Inn in Cider Cove. She can sometimes read minds and understands cats and dogs. In fact, she has a kitten named Fish. Fish has an encounter with a dog named Sherlock Bones, and Bizzy gets knocked into the water at the cove. She is terrified of water and being submersed. Sherlock's owner manages to haul her out of the water and she learns he is checking into one of the cottages. Then she learns he's the new homicide detective for the town. After she finds a dead body at the crowded beach celebration. The victim is one of her waitresses and Bizzy is determined to find out who killed her and why. The only person who knows that Bizzy can read thoughts is Goldie, the mother of one of her father's ex-wives that she is fond of. Goldie also lives in one of the cottages. Bizzy drags her best friend along to interview suspects on some pretext or other, trying to get an insight into what is going on.
And I have to read the next, because someone else has turned up who can also read minds and is looking for Bizzy.
Profile Image for Carol.
1,642 reviews69 followers
October 26, 2021
Welcome to Cider Cove! Maine and the home
of Bizzy Baker. The nickname Bizzy was the
result of a sibling unable to pronounce her
real name and it stuck with her.
Bizzy can read minds, not everyone’s and
not all the time. She can also communicate
with animals. Only one other person knows
of her special ability. Bizzy does not want to
end up caged in a government paranormal
agency because of this ability.
It is Autumn in Cider Cove where people come
to see the changing leaf colors. There is a
Harvest Festival at the Cove and Haunted
Harvest Festival at the pumpkin patch.
Down on the beach Bizzy’s cat which is a
black and white longhaired tabby named
Fish is being chased by a freckled mixed
breed named, “Sherlock Bones”. Sherlock
owner is Jasper Wilder who everyone calls
a vampire. Their is an instant attraction
between Bizzy and Sherlock.
During a bonfire on the beach, Bizzy
discovers one of her waitstaff stabbed to
death.
Turns out Jasper is actually a detective
who will handle the murder investigation.
Bizzy decides to start her own investigation
even after Detective Wilder warns her to not
get involved due to the danger involved.
A myriad of cleverly created characters, some
quirky, some zany, but all well defined.
I felt the murder mystery mixed with romance
enhanced the book.
Recipe for Café Apple Walnut Cinnamon Rolls
given at the end.
Profile Image for Melissa.
1,944 reviews
August 28, 2024
Too juvenile for me.

Too much silly lust talk from the Main Character. There were too many extras clogging up the pages.
I Did enjoy the pup and cat, they made this juvenile mess fun.
735 reviews5 followers
February 11, 2021
Cute, Spunky, Fun

This story is lighthearted, fun and thoroughly enjoyable. Bizzy and Fish are quite a pair. Add Jasper and Sherlock and you've got a winning combination. An all to serious, gorgeous detective and a mind reading Inn manager united by the murder of an Inn employee. Great job. Thank you.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 199 reviews

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