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Second Chance Cat Mystery #8
Undercover Kitty
Sarah Grayson and her capable cat, Elvis, go undercover in the newest installment of the New York Times bestselling Second Chance Cat Mysteries.
Sarah and Elvis can always be found at a charming secondhand shop in the village of North Harbor, Maine. Despite the small-town setting, the daring duo often find themselves wrapped up in murder, but luckily they have help—a quirky group of senior citizens runs an amateur detective agency called Charlotte's Angels out of the store.
The Angels are hired to look into who is sabotaging cat shows in the state, and they decide the best way to do that is to send Elvis the cat undercover as a contestant. But then one of the cat show volunteers is murdered just before the latest competition, and Sarah and the Angels have to catch a killer in two shakes of a cat's tail!
Sarah and Elvis can always be found at a charming secondhand shop in the village of North Harbor, Maine. Despite the small-town setting, the daring duo often find themselves wrapped up in murder, but luckily they have help—a quirky group of senior citizens runs an amateur detective agency called Charlotte's Angels out of the store.
The Angels are hired to look into who is sabotaging cat shows in the state, and they decide the best way to do that is to send Elvis the cat undercover as a contestant. But then one of the cat show volunteers is murdered just before the latest competition, and Sarah and the Angels have to catch a killer in two shakes of a cat's tail!
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 26, 2021
230 people are currently reading
605 people want to read
About the author
Sofie Ryan
13 books567 followersPseudonym for Darlene Ryan. Also writes under Sofie Kelly.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
January 24, 2021
I've read every book in the Second Chance cozy mystery series and was thrilled that a new one was releasing this year. Ms. Ryan's stories are always a delight to read.
Elvis and Sarah go undercover at a cat show and pet expo to help Charlotte's Angels find a saboteur. Unfortunately before the investigation is completed, one of volunteers is murdered which added a new dimension to the investigation. Ms. Ryan's characters are now well developed and Sarah, Mac, Charlotte, Liz, Rose, Avery and Mr. P. are all close friends that I look forward to spending time with as they solve the mysteries. The story is quickly paced, the twists and red herrings kept me guessing and there were many viable suspects. I kept questioning whether the sabotage and the murder were connected even though Sarah and the Angels seemed to think they were. Elvis was his usual lovable self and I wasn't surprised that he strutted his stuff at the cat show. After all, he is "the King".
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Berkley via NetGalley. Thank you Berkley for approving my request. All of the above opinions are my own.
Elvis and Sarah go undercover at a cat show and pet expo to help Charlotte's Angels find a saboteur. Unfortunately before the investigation is completed, one of volunteers is murdered which added a new dimension to the investigation. Ms. Ryan's characters are now well developed and Sarah, Mac, Charlotte, Liz, Rose, Avery and Mr. P. are all close friends that I look forward to spending time with as they solve the mysteries. The story is quickly paced, the twists and red herrings kept me guessing and there were many viable suspects. I kept questioning whether the sabotage and the murder were connected even though Sarah and the Angels seemed to think they were. Elvis was his usual lovable self and I wasn't surprised that he strutted his stuff at the cat show. After all, he is "the King".
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Berkley via NetGalley. Thank you Berkley for approving my request. All of the above opinions are my own.
April 2, 2021
Sarah gets talked into putting her cat into a cat show and looking for clues to find out who is sabotaging cat shows. One of the volunteers is murdered right enforce the show so she has to speed up her efforts.
March 12, 2021
The Angels are hired to find out and prevent sabotage to a couple of cat shows. For cover, they enter their cat, Elvis into the show. He enjoys the attention.
Along the way, they meet some people, and one of them ends up dead.
Not a bad cozy, but could use some livening up.
Along the way, they meet some people, and one of them ends up dead.
Not a bad cozy, but could use some livening up.
February 3, 2021
Another wonderful book to add to the Second Chance series.. Once again, Sarah and her posse of seniors in the Charlie's Angels PI group embark on adventure investigating sabotage at cat exposure. Of course that involves entering her charming rescue cat, Elvis, in the competition. The mystery is engaging and the cast of characters, in all their quirkiness, keeps me coming back and excited whenever I find out a new book is being published. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 12, 2022
I love when we get more Elvis! The mystery was interesting and I felt very attached to the victim. I was sad when the victim died.
January 21, 2021
I love Elvis, the cat that is! He makes this series stand out from all the other animal series I've read. Ryan definitely knows how to grab her readers and take them on adventures with Elvis' help. I enjoyed this well written book immensely.
I received this ebook ARC from NetGalley and this is my voluntary, honest review.
I received this ebook ARC from NetGalley and this is my voluntary, honest review.
January 24, 2021
This is the eighth book in the Second Chance Cat series. We once again return to North Harbor, Maine where Sarah runs a shop that sells repurposed items. The group of older ladies along with Alfred work out of the shop as Charlotte's Angels, a group of private investigators. Elvis the cat is the star of this book. The Angels are asked to look at strange happenings at a cat show. Elvis is their ticket in a a competitor in the household pet category. Sarah and the Angels go into full sleuth mode when a show participant dies under questionable circumstances.
I had forgotten how much I love this series! I need to go back and catch up on previous books that I have missed. The characters are so well written that it feels like being among friends as you read. I am really enjoying the growing relationship between Sarah and Mac. I enjoy reading about the items that get refurbished or repurposed. Avery is a wonderful addition to the shop with her eye for design.
Of course as a cat lover, Elvis is my all time favorite. He is so well written and his mannerisms are so spot on that you know the author has been owned by cats for years.
The mystery is well done and I missed a few clues along the way that pointed to the culprit. This was definitely a one sitting read. I simply did not want to put it down to do anything else. I look forward to catching up with books I missed and to the next book in the series. I highly recommend this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Books for the opportunity to read this. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I had forgotten how much I love this series! I need to go back and catch up on previous books that I have missed. The characters are so well written that it feels like being among friends as you read. I am really enjoying the growing relationship between Sarah and Mac. I enjoy reading about the items that get refurbished or repurposed. Avery is a wonderful addition to the shop with her eye for design.
Of course as a cat lover, Elvis is my all time favorite. He is so well written and his mannerisms are so spot on that you know the author has been owned by cats for years.
The mystery is well done and I missed a few clues along the way that pointed to the culprit. This was definitely a one sitting read. I simply did not want to put it down to do anything else. I look forward to catching up with books I missed and to the next book in the series. I highly recommend this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Books for the opportunity to read this. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 13, 2021
Undercover Kitty is another strong entry in the “Second Chance Cat Mystery” series. This is a terrific book and series, filled with cats, great characters, and a delightful second-hand shop that I could spend hours roaming the building and uncovering treasure. Elvis, Sarah’s feline companion, and all the other cats make me wish I still had my purring friends to keep me company.
When Elvis, along with Sarah, and the Angel’s go undercover to find out who is sabotaging the cat competitions, they find more than they bargained for. Not far into the story, someone is killed, and the PI’s add murder to their caseload. Suspects are almost everywhere, but the evidence is in short supply yet meaningful. Even though the sabotage seems to have subsided, it doesn’t take long for everything to spiral out of control and puts our heroines in the sights of a killer. Things get fishy and not in the sardine kind of way.
There is plenty of action in this book, and a world of cats and cat people to explore. There are twists and turns along the way that may throw readers off the scent. But by the time you get to the end of Undercover Kitty, there will be no more secrets to uncover, some new lesser-known characters to smile about, and a couple of close calls that will leave you wanting more. Elvis will steal your heart, Gram, Liz, Rose, and Charlotte, as well as Mr. P and Mac, will keep you reading. The relationship between these characters will have readers happy and looking forward to their continuing adventures.
When Elvis, along with Sarah, and the Angel’s go undercover to find out who is sabotaging the cat competitions, they find more than they bargained for. Not far into the story, someone is killed, and the PI’s add murder to their caseload. Suspects are almost everywhere, but the evidence is in short supply yet meaningful. Even though the sabotage seems to have subsided, it doesn’t take long for everything to spiral out of control and puts our heroines in the sights of a killer. Things get fishy and not in the sardine kind of way.
There is plenty of action in this book, and a world of cats and cat people to explore. There are twists and turns along the way that may throw readers off the scent. But by the time you get to the end of Undercover Kitty, there will be no more secrets to uncover, some new lesser-known characters to smile about, and a couple of close calls that will leave you wanting more. Elvis will steal your heart, Gram, Liz, Rose, and Charlotte, as well as Mr. P and Mac, will keep you reading. The relationship between these characters will have readers happy and looking forward to their continuing adventures.
November 28, 2020
Enjoyable, but not the strongest entry in the series. The mystery takes second place to the relationships between the characters. That's not a bad thing, and it's why this author's series are among my top five favorites cozies. Most of the character growth occurs two of the minor characters, and it's nice that we got to see the whole gang in action.
There was such emphasis on one of the plot devices that I was perplexed that none of the amateur sleuths asked the obvious question when the item was found at the site of a death. The book would have been at least a third shorter if any of them had asked, though, so I'm glad they didn't.
Nice story with the spotlight on Elvis (as it should be), who once again helps solve the crime and who saves the day.
I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
There was such emphasis on one of the plot devices that I was perplexed that none of the amateur sleuths asked the obvious question when the item was found at the site of a death. The book would have been at least a third shorter if any of them had asked, though, so I'm glad they didn't.
Nice story with the spotlight on Elvis (as it should be), who once again helps solve the crime and who saves the day.
I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 4, 2022
True rating about 3.8. Characters carry this series, although I will add that the plotting is well done and it tends to be fair play. After reading so many in both series, I can often spot the culprits but they aren't obvious. Where Ryan/Kelly excels is in her dialog between the characters. There is a genuine feel of camraderie and a good bit of non-slap-stick humor. I especially like that there are a lot of older characters who are also vital, energetic, and knowledgeable. Most series have a token one or two; in this series they all drive the action. I also like the interplay between generations. Most of the characters are female, but there are important male characters as well.
June 12, 2025
4 stelle e mezza
A lungo ho temuto di non poter leggere questo libro perché l'ebook non era disponibile per l'Italia (non chiedetemi perché); quando poi è miracolosamente comparso, l'ho subito comprato e ora l'ho finalmente letto. Ci sono ben due misteri da risolvere, che non si capisce bene se siano collegati o meno: alla fine avevo capito chi fosse il colpevole di una cosa subito, non appena succede, mentre all'altro colpevole sono arrivata forse trenta secondi prima della protagonista. Lettura molto soddisfacente.
A lungo ho temuto di non poter leggere questo libro perché l'ebook non era disponibile per l'Italia (non chiedetemi perché); quando poi è miracolosamente comparso, l'ho subito comprato e ora l'ho finalmente letto. Ci sono ben due misteri da risolvere, che non si capisce bene se siano collegati o meno: alla fine avevo capito chi fosse il colpevole di una cosa subito, non appena succede, mentre all'altro colpevole sono arrivata forse trenta secondi prima della protagonista. Lettura molto soddisfacente.
February 2, 2021
I've always enjoyed this series. The writing flows smoothly for me and the story moves along at a good pace. The setting of a cat show was intriguing (I've seen the dog shows on TV but never cat ones) and I can believe that Elvis would do well with his charming personality. All in all, a great addition to the series and I will definitely continue on with it.
I received a copy from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
#UndercoverKitty #NetGalley
I received a copy from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
#UndercoverKitty #NetGalley
February 6, 2021
I really enjoy this series. I love the setting, Maine, the whole Second Chance shop vibe, the characters of all ages and of course Elvis. The Angels have a job at a cat show and decide to use Elvis as cover, you know, chaos, mystery and murder are to follow. This was actually two mysteries involving all our favorite people and fur babies, I strongly recommend this book.
January 27, 2021
I think this might be my favorite book in the whole series. Once I started, I couldn't put it down.
April 6, 2021
Elvis wins a cat show! Plus there was a murder and some other stuff.
February 28, 2021
Cute entry into the series! And I ALMOST guessed whodunit!
June 5, 2021
If I ever get another cat, I would love them to have just a bit of Elvis's personality. This series has been one of the best ones I have read in a while. The characters feel like family and you can feel the love that they have for each other, they really are a family. The mysteries do not disappoint as the hints are awesome and even though you think you figured it out, the next clue just keeps you on your toes. I really hope there are more books.
December 30, 2022
I loved this book. If I had to use two words to describe this book they would be charmingly adorable. I loved that this book gave the cats their own 'voices.' That they were so much apart of this book just as much as the MCs.
Sarah and Elvis make a great team. Sarah obviously loves her kitty, Elvis and the affection is reciprocated. Their whole story on how Sarah ended up with Elvis is so cute! I originally picked this book based on nothing but the title and the cover and this book definitely lived up to my expectations. Yeah, kitty books are not for everyone, however, to me it was incredibly enjoyable.
Sarah and her Second Chances store staff all work together great. I love the budding romance between her and Mac. And I especially love how everyone is like one huge giant family. I love that Ruth, Liz, and Gran all love on Sarah like she so obviously needs it.
I found this book heartwarming and I thought the mystery was great. And the idea of using Elvis as an "undercover kitty' was genius. This was my first book by Sofie Ryan and I am so happy that I read it. I will definitely be reading more of her books in the coming years.
I received this ARC by NetGalley to read and review and give my own honest opinions. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
Sarah and Elvis make a great team. Sarah obviously loves her kitty, Elvis and the affection is reciprocated. Their whole story on how Sarah ended up with Elvis is so cute! I originally picked this book based on nothing but the title and the cover and this book definitely lived up to my expectations. Yeah, kitty books are not for everyone, however, to me it was incredibly enjoyable.
Sarah and her Second Chances store staff all work together great. I love the budding romance between her and Mac. And I especially love how everyone is like one huge giant family. I love that Ruth, Liz, and Gran all love on Sarah like she so obviously needs it.
I found this book heartwarming and I thought the mystery was great. And the idea of using Elvis as an "undercover kitty' was genius. This was my first book by Sofie Ryan and I am so happy that I read it. I will definitely be reading more of her books in the coming years.
I received this ARC by NetGalley to read and review and give my own honest opinions. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
November 2, 2020
This is one of my favorite cozy series and have always high expectations.
I can say I wasn't disappointed as I found this story highly entertaining and engrossing.
It was great to meet again the cast of characters and catch up with the developments in their life.
They are fleshed and likable as usual.
The mystery is solid, full of twists and turns, and it kept me guessing. The solution came as a surprise and I wasn't expecting what happened.
I can't wait to read the next installment in this series, this one is highly recommended.
Many thanks to Berkley and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine
(Shared in various FB cozy mystery themed groups, around 5k member on the whole)
I can say I wasn't disappointed as I found this story highly entertaining and engrossing.
It was great to meet again the cast of characters and catch up with the developments in their life.
They are fleshed and likable as usual.
The mystery is solid, full of twists and turns, and it kept me guessing. The solution came as a surprise and I wasn't expecting what happened.
I can't wait to read the next installment in this series, this one is highly recommended.
Many thanks to Berkley and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine
(Shared in various FB cozy mystery themed groups, around 5k member on the whole)
February 11, 2021
https://openbooksociety.com/article/u...
Undercover Kitty
Second Chance Cat Mystery #8
By Sofie Ryan
ISBN 9781984802354
Author’s Website: Sofiekelly.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
Sarah and Elvis can always be found at a charming secondhand shop in the village of North Harbor, Maine. Despite the small-town setting, the daring duo often find themselves wrapped up in murder, but luckily they have help–a quirky group of senior citizens runs an amateur detective agency called Charlotte’s Angels out of the store.
The Angels are hired to look into who is sabotaging cat shows in the state, and they decide the best way to do that is to send Elvis the cat undercover as a contestant. But then one of the cat show volunteers is murdered just before the latest competition, and Sarah and the Angels have to catch a killer in two shakes of a cat’s tail! (From Goodreads)
Review:
I loved this latest cozy mystery in its series! I look forward to each new one and was not disappointed. The mystery is complex, the characters continue to grow, and Elvis is, no doubt, the star of the series. No, not Elvis Presley, but Elvis The King, the black cat with a scar on his nose and personality that doesn’t quit who hopped into Sarah’s truck a couple of years ago and never looked back.
Sarah owns Second Chance, part collectibles, and part secondhand store that appeals to locals and tourists alike. They get antiques, collectibles, and other items that can be repurposed into useful, salable treasures. It wasn’t her original goal in life, but she wouldn’t trade it now for anything. She moved to North Harbor, Maine, where Gram lives, during a crisis, and found a better life. She also has Gram’s close friends, friends from when she grew up there, and Mac, her second in command in the shop who is first in her heart other than her family.
Gram’s friends Liz, Rose, and Charlotte, plus Rose’s beau Mr. P, have a PI agency, Charlotte’s Angels. They office out of Second Chance and help police solve murders and other crimes due to their extensive network. These are not a bunch of ditzy oldies, but very intelligent, resourceful, lovable seniors who Sarah couldn’t imagine being without.
Rose and Mr. P have drafted Elvis, the feline lie detector, to be part of their new case. The Angels are providing security at upcoming American Feline Association cat shows in Maine until they can catch the source of vandalism being done at their shows. Elvis will be their “cover” to enable them to move about the shows freely. Sarah and Mr. P will enter Elvis in the household pet category. Mr. P will show Elvis to the judges at the assigned times, Rose and Mr. P will both get to know some of the other people showing cats to see what they can learn about the inner circle.
Elvis takes to being a show cat as if he were born to it. His personality enhances his natural handsome features and roguish charm. At his very first show, he takes second place!
Rose and Mr. P learn there could be several motives behind the sabotage, so there is much for them to do. Sarah was happy to see Debra, the woman showing purebred Socrates next to Elvis. Debra and Rose had once been in a class together. She introduces them to her close friends Christine and Tim.
Sarah and Christine had lunch one day and were on their way to becoming fast friends until the worst happened. On a night when Christine would normally be in class, her apartment burned down, the only unit in her building destroyed. Christine’s professor had called off class at the last minute and Debra had borrowed her car, so nobody knew she was home. Christine, who shut out the world when she studied, died from smoke inhalation.
Debra is devastated, as are Sarah and the Angels. Whether or not this fire was related to the troubles at the cat shows has yet to be seen. If her death was not related to the cat shows, then the Angels have a new case, as Sarah will hire them. If she has the patience to wait for the fire investigator’s report.
I always enjoy learning more about Sarah, the Angels, and their friends! Sarah’s new relationship makes me happy for her. The characters are three dimensional, ready to step out of the pages into the cat show or Second Chance. While I missed seeing Liz more often in this novel, I did appreciate the possible new circumstance in her life. As always, I loved seeing Elvis, and already am looking forward to seeing his next adventure! His purple blankets and accessories for the show are not only perfect as Elvis Presley’s favorite color but the color of royalty for the very popular Elvis “The King” house cat.
This can be read as a standalone, as there is sufficient backstory for the new reader or one who has missed parts of the series. Plot twists and turns kept this story moving and this armchair sleuth on her toes! I didn’t realize who the bad guy might be until a heartbeat or two before Sarah did. I love how Elvis and Socrates were heroes! There were still surprises in the resolutions, and the end is very satisfactory. I highly recommend this and am looking forward to the next one!
Undercover Kitty
Second Chance Cat Mystery #8
By Sofie Ryan
ISBN 9781984802354
Author’s Website: Sofiekelly.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
Sarah and Elvis can always be found at a charming secondhand shop in the village of North Harbor, Maine. Despite the small-town setting, the daring duo often find themselves wrapped up in murder, but luckily they have help–a quirky group of senior citizens runs an amateur detective agency called Charlotte’s Angels out of the store.
The Angels are hired to look into who is sabotaging cat shows in the state, and they decide the best way to do that is to send Elvis the cat undercover as a contestant. But then one of the cat show volunteers is murdered just before the latest competition, and Sarah and the Angels have to catch a killer in two shakes of a cat’s tail! (From Goodreads)
Review:
I loved this latest cozy mystery in its series! I look forward to each new one and was not disappointed. The mystery is complex, the characters continue to grow, and Elvis is, no doubt, the star of the series. No, not Elvis Presley, but Elvis The King, the black cat with a scar on his nose and personality that doesn’t quit who hopped into Sarah’s truck a couple of years ago and never looked back.
Sarah owns Second Chance, part collectibles, and part secondhand store that appeals to locals and tourists alike. They get antiques, collectibles, and other items that can be repurposed into useful, salable treasures. It wasn’t her original goal in life, but she wouldn’t trade it now for anything. She moved to North Harbor, Maine, where Gram lives, during a crisis, and found a better life. She also has Gram’s close friends, friends from when she grew up there, and Mac, her second in command in the shop who is first in her heart other than her family.
Gram’s friends Liz, Rose, and Charlotte, plus Rose’s beau Mr. P, have a PI agency, Charlotte’s Angels. They office out of Second Chance and help police solve murders and other crimes due to their extensive network. These are not a bunch of ditzy oldies, but very intelligent, resourceful, lovable seniors who Sarah couldn’t imagine being without.
Rose and Mr. P have drafted Elvis, the feline lie detector, to be part of their new case. The Angels are providing security at upcoming American Feline Association cat shows in Maine until they can catch the source of vandalism being done at their shows. Elvis will be their “cover” to enable them to move about the shows freely. Sarah and Mr. P will enter Elvis in the household pet category. Mr. P will show Elvis to the judges at the assigned times, Rose and Mr. P will both get to know some of the other people showing cats to see what they can learn about the inner circle.
Elvis takes to being a show cat as if he were born to it. His personality enhances his natural handsome features and roguish charm. At his very first show, he takes second place!
Rose and Mr. P learn there could be several motives behind the sabotage, so there is much for them to do. Sarah was happy to see Debra, the woman showing purebred Socrates next to Elvis. Debra and Rose had once been in a class together. She introduces them to her close friends Christine and Tim.
Sarah and Christine had lunch one day and were on their way to becoming fast friends until the worst happened. On a night when Christine would normally be in class, her apartment burned down, the only unit in her building destroyed. Christine’s professor had called off class at the last minute and Debra had borrowed her car, so nobody knew she was home. Christine, who shut out the world when she studied, died from smoke inhalation.
Debra is devastated, as are Sarah and the Angels. Whether or not this fire was related to the troubles at the cat shows has yet to be seen. If her death was not related to the cat shows, then the Angels have a new case, as Sarah will hire them. If she has the patience to wait for the fire investigator’s report.
I always enjoy learning more about Sarah, the Angels, and their friends! Sarah’s new relationship makes me happy for her. The characters are three dimensional, ready to step out of the pages into the cat show or Second Chance. While I missed seeing Liz more often in this novel, I did appreciate the possible new circumstance in her life. As always, I loved seeing Elvis, and already am looking forward to seeing his next adventure! His purple blankets and accessories for the show are not only perfect as Elvis Presley’s favorite color but the color of royalty for the very popular Elvis “The King” house cat.
This can be read as a standalone, as there is sufficient backstory for the new reader or one who has missed parts of the series. Plot twists and turns kept this story moving and this armchair sleuth on her toes! I didn’t realize who the bad guy might be until a heartbeat or two before Sarah did. I love how Elvis and Socrates were heroes! There were still surprises in the resolutions, and the end is very satisfactory. I highly recommend this and am looking forward to the next one!
February 4, 2021
What a fabulous new cozy in this series! I can’t believe it is already number 8, as it is as fresh and exciting as if it were the first. Actually, it is better than the first, or maybe I just adore Elvis, and love the characters, more than ever. Sarah, her family, and friends, are well defined through their actions and realistic conversations. Elvis has a unique cat-sonality; he is a spoiled boy and everyone encourages it. The feline lie detector is put to the test again, and he is one of the true heroes of this tale.
Charlotte’s Angels, the private investigation firm that Sarah’s senior friends have formed, has gained a better reputation with North Harbor, Maine, police department as they become privy to information that the average police officer can’t. Rose, Liz, Charlotte, and Alfred are adorable. Originally lifelong friends of Sarah’s Gram, they are like aunts and friends to Sarah for most of her life.
Charlotte’s Angels has a new client, the owners of one of the two feline associations in the country. Rumors abound of the future of the American Feline Association and the sabotage that has been occurring at their recent shows. To discover who is behind the vandalism, the Angels will be undercover at these shows. Sarah and Alfred will show Elvis in the housecat category, even though he has never been shown before. He loves being in the ring and being watched by everyone. His gorgeous appearance captivates even the judge.
Set up next to Rose, Alfred, and Elvis is the very handsome cat, Socrates, and his human, Debra. Rose and Debra are pleasantly surprised, as they had once had a class together. Debra’s best friends Christine and Tim do not have cats, but they help set up and tear down each show and assist wherever needed during the show. Sarah likes Christine and Debra, and she and Christine begin what they hope will be a great friendship. At least until Christine is found dead of smoke inhalation from a fire in her apartment.
It is with great sadness that the Angels take on the case of Christine’s death, and also want to determine if it is related to the cat shows. Christine seemed to have an idea about what was behind the sabotage at the shows, so they wonder if the fire was an accident or arson.
Sarah tries to stay out of the cases of the Angels, as her Second Chance shop that sells repurposed items, collectibles, and musical instruments, keeps her busy. Curiosity led her into involvement with the sabotage, and grief for her new friend planted her squarely in the investigation.
This novel drew me in from the start and held my attention throughout until it was impossible to put down. As Elvis, a show favorite, wins his first ribbon, the Angels seek clues throughout. It is exciting and unpredictable as events snowball to an incredible denouement when whodunit is revealed. I highly recommend this fabulous novel to those who love cats and appreciate well-written cozy mysteries, characters with a variety of ages including seniors, and a hard-to-solve whodunit.
From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary copy of this novel, and this is my honest review.
Charlotte’s Angels, the private investigation firm that Sarah’s senior friends have formed, has gained a better reputation with North Harbor, Maine, police department as they become privy to information that the average police officer can’t. Rose, Liz, Charlotte, and Alfred are adorable. Originally lifelong friends of Sarah’s Gram, they are like aunts and friends to Sarah for most of her life.
Charlotte’s Angels has a new client, the owners of one of the two feline associations in the country. Rumors abound of the future of the American Feline Association and the sabotage that has been occurring at their recent shows. To discover who is behind the vandalism, the Angels will be undercover at these shows. Sarah and Alfred will show Elvis in the housecat category, even though he has never been shown before. He loves being in the ring and being watched by everyone. His gorgeous appearance captivates even the judge.
Set up next to Rose, Alfred, and Elvis is the very handsome cat, Socrates, and his human, Debra. Rose and Debra are pleasantly surprised, as they had once had a class together. Debra’s best friends Christine and Tim do not have cats, but they help set up and tear down each show and assist wherever needed during the show. Sarah likes Christine and Debra, and she and Christine begin what they hope will be a great friendship. At least until Christine is found dead of smoke inhalation from a fire in her apartment.
It is with great sadness that the Angels take on the case of Christine’s death, and also want to determine if it is related to the cat shows. Christine seemed to have an idea about what was behind the sabotage at the shows, so they wonder if the fire was an accident or arson.
Sarah tries to stay out of the cases of the Angels, as her Second Chance shop that sells repurposed items, collectibles, and musical instruments, keeps her busy. Curiosity led her into involvement with the sabotage, and grief for her new friend planted her squarely in the investigation.
This novel drew me in from the start and held my attention throughout until it was impossible to put down. As Elvis, a show favorite, wins his first ribbon, the Angels seek clues throughout. It is exciting and unpredictable as events snowball to an incredible denouement when whodunit is revealed. I highly recommend this fabulous novel to those who love cats and appreciate well-written cozy mysteries, characters with a variety of ages including seniors, and a hard-to-solve whodunit.
From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary copy of this novel, and this is my honest review.
October 24, 2025
Ahoy there me mateys! Though this log’s focus is on sci-fi and fantasy, this Captain does have broader reading tastes. So occasionally I will share some reads that I enjoyed that are off the charts (a non sci-fi or fantasy). This series was brought to me attention by
Matey Nicole @ BookWyrmKnits
. It consists of 12 books. I bought them all from Audible during their summer sale. At this time, there is no indication that the author will write more in this series. So another series done! Of course, if that changes and other books are written, then I will likely read them too.
Sarah Grayson owns the store Second Chance, a secondhand and thrift shop in the (made-up) coastal town of North Harbor, Maine. Sarah has a group of elderly friends of her grandmother who are like family. These friends run an investigative agency called the Angels.
Where does the cat come in? Elvis was a stray wandering around the waterfront. "The big black cat with a scar across his nose turned up at a local bar when the band was playing the King of Rock and Roll’s music and [then one day] hopped in Sarah’s truck. Since then, he’s been her constant companion and the furry favorite of everyone who comes into the store." And aye, Elvis does play a part in helping solve crimes (in a mostly realistic way).
This book made me laugh! Elvis goes undercover at a cat show to help the Angels figure out who is sabotaging the local cat shows. I have been to a couple of cat shows (for work) and this book gets the dynamic very nicely. Of course, murder happens (to a person) and the Angels have to solve a murder too.
I was sad at who died in this one. Sarah takes this death a bit harder than some of the other books due to the personal angle. I, of course, guessed the killer immediately but how it happened was still somewhat of a surprise. I did appreciate that there were two separate mysteries involving the cat show. And of course Elvis rocks. I love that he made a friend of sorts with Socrates, another cat in the show.
I wish my cats were as chill as Elvis. But I would never put them in a cat show regardless :) Arrr!
Sarah Grayson owns the store Second Chance, a secondhand and thrift shop in the (made-up) coastal town of North Harbor, Maine. Sarah has a group of elderly friends of her grandmother who are like family. These friends run an investigative agency called the Angels.
Where does the cat come in? Elvis was a stray wandering around the waterfront. "The big black cat with a scar across his nose turned up at a local bar when the band was playing the King of Rock and Roll’s music and [then one day] hopped in Sarah’s truck. Since then, he’s been her constant companion and the furry favorite of everyone who comes into the store." And aye, Elvis does play a part in helping solve crimes (in a mostly realistic way).
This book made me laugh! Elvis goes undercover at a cat show to help the Angels figure out who is sabotaging the local cat shows. I have been to a couple of cat shows (for work) and this book gets the dynamic very nicely. Of course, murder happens (to a person) and the Angels have to solve a murder too.
I was sad at who died in this one. Sarah takes this death a bit harder than some of the other books due to the personal angle. I, of course, guessed the killer immediately but how it happened was still somewhat of a surprise. I did appreciate that there were two separate mysteries involving the cat show. And of course Elvis rocks. I love that he made a friend of sorts with Socrates, another cat in the show.
I wish my cats were as chill as Elvis. But I would never put them in a cat show regardless :) Arrr!
January 27, 2021
Princess Fuzzypants here: Have mew met Elvis? He is the kitty star of the Second Chance Cat series and when Elvis is in the building, all eyes are on him. This time out the senior detectives, the Angels, have a case involving cat shows. In order to infiltrate and get the scoop, Mr. P convinces Sarah to enter Elvis in the pet category. She should have known his star power would enchant the judges, as he does his readers.
It started out as small acts of vandalism but they begin to escalate and the Angels and Sarah want to discover the perp before someone human or feline gets hurt. But then someone Sarah has just met is killed in a tragic apartment fire and Sarah is convinced, long before the authorities concur, that it is murder. Now the Angels have two cases that may or may not be connected.
The senior characters who make up the Angels are all great, each one bringing something different to the table. Sarah and her boyfriend Mac are also wonderful. As a team they are impressive as they figure things out. But the hero of the story is always Elvis, occasionally assisted as he is in this book, by other kitties. His cohort this time is Socrates. It is just so much fun reading about their exploits. It is a solid mystery with lots of twists and I confess, I did twig to the murderer quite early and the motive. Other parts of the mystery were a big surprise until the final clues fell into place. All in all, it was just what I needed for a cold snowy January day.
Five purrs and two paws up.
It started out as small acts of vandalism but they begin to escalate and the Angels and Sarah want to discover the perp before someone human or feline gets hurt. But then someone Sarah has just met is killed in a tragic apartment fire and Sarah is convinced, long before the authorities concur, that it is murder. Now the Angels have two cases that may or may not be connected.
The senior characters who make up the Angels are all great, each one bringing something different to the table. Sarah and her boyfriend Mac are also wonderful. As a team they are impressive as they figure things out. But the hero of the story is always Elvis, occasionally assisted as he is in this book, by other kitties. His cohort this time is Socrates. It is just so much fun reading about their exploits. It is a solid mystery with lots of twists and I confess, I did twig to the murderer quite early and the motive. Other parts of the mystery were a big surprise until the final clues fell into place. All in all, it was just what I needed for a cold snowy January day.
Five purrs and two paws up.
September 8, 2025
My fave so far. It has everything - mystery, banter, and CATS. This book in the series is set at two cat shows. It felt like my dream location and I loved every second of it. I continue to be impressed with the mysteries in this series. Without giving too much away, the "scale" of the mysteries (yes, even with murder) just fit the small town vibes. There is corruption, anger, bad people, etc. everywhere, and when those things manifest in Sarah and the Angel's town, it just fits. The mysteries seem like exactly the sort of thing that would / could happen in a town like their's, which I appreciate.
Some spoilers ahead if you haven't read previous books.
I think I'm about 3/4 of the way through this series now. I will be so sad when I catch up with the latest book. It has been such a joy to read about Sarah and the Angel's escapades in between some more serious book choices lately. I even find myself reaching for them when I have other books to finish. Well, on to the next one!
Some spoilers ahead if you haven't read previous books.
I think I'm about 3/4 of the way through this series now. I will be so sad when I catch up with the latest book. It has been such a joy to read about Sarah and the Angel's escapades in between some more serious book choices lately. I even find myself reaching for them when I have other books to finish. Well, on to the next one!
February 2, 2022
Undercover Kitty by Sofie Ryan is the 8th book in the "Second Chance Cat" cozy mystery series. Sarah Grayson is the main character, and the story is told in her pov.
When the Angels, a detective agency comprised of Sarah's senior citizen friends, are hired to find out who's been sabotaging cat shows in the area, Sarah is talked into entering her cat, Elvis, as a contestant to provide cover for the Angels' sleuthing. Elvis seems more pleased with the prospect than Sarah does, but she goes along with it. What began as annoying pranks escalates into murder when one of the show volunteers is killed. At first it doesn't seem there's any correlation, but Sarah is convinced that the sabotage and the murder are connected. Now the Angels have two cases on their hands, but they are determined to get to the bottom of things.
I do enjoy these stories. I like that Sarah spends plenty of time at work in her second-hand shop, socializing with friends, and going about her other daily activities. It was delightful to reconnect with familiar characters and meet new ones. The only character I've taken truck with lately in these books is Rose. Initially, I found her charming, but in the past few books in the series, she comes across as condescending, smug, and almost rude. I enjoyed that the plot of this one featured cat shows. I figured out who the killer was rather early, but it was interesting to see Sarah put the pieces together.
Overall, very good. Four stars.
When the Angels, a detective agency comprised of Sarah's senior citizen friends, are hired to find out who's been sabotaging cat shows in the area, Sarah is talked into entering her cat, Elvis, as a contestant to provide cover for the Angels' sleuthing. Elvis seems more pleased with the prospect than Sarah does, but she goes along with it. What began as annoying pranks escalates into murder when one of the show volunteers is killed. At first it doesn't seem there's any correlation, but Sarah is convinced that the sabotage and the murder are connected. Now the Angels have two cases on their hands, but they are determined to get to the bottom of things.
I do enjoy these stories. I like that Sarah spends plenty of time at work in her second-hand shop, socializing with friends, and going about her other daily activities. It was delightful to reconnect with familiar characters and meet new ones. The only character I've taken truck with lately in these books is Rose. Initially, I found her charming, but in the past few books in the series, she comes across as condescending, smug, and almost rude. I enjoyed that the plot of this one featured cat shows. I figured out who the killer was rather early, but it was interesting to see Sarah put the pieces together.
Overall, very good. Four stars.
November 9, 2020
I love everything about the Second Chance Cat Mysteries and Undercover Kitty, the eighth book, delivers it all. My favorite part of any book is the relationship among the central characters. I adore the whole crew, and this visit with Sarah's friends was better than ever because we get to see a special relationship bloom! Oh, how I love it.
All of Sarah's women friends are warm, smart, and sassy. The senior ladies are even more smart- mouthed than her contemporaries. The guys can hold their own with the ladies and each of them brings something special to the group. Those warm and humorous interactions are the reason The Second Chance Cat Mystery series is one of my two favorite cozy mystery series and as my friends know, I am a big cozy mystery fan. I appreciate the fact that author Sofie Ryan treats the older characters with respect. They create much of the humor, often through delightful friendly banter, but it is the same kind of gentle fun humor that the rest of the characters share.
When Rose and Mr. P enroll Elvis in a cat show to provide open access for an investigation, that little guy handles his introduction to the cat show circuit with his usual confidence, but Sarah is surprised to find herself captivate by the competition. As they search for the person who has been sabotaging the shows tragedy strikes, leading the team to a more serious investigation.
You can imagine how excited I was to discover that I was approved for an ARC of Undercover Kitty by Sofie Ryan thanks to NetGalley and Berkley!! As always, I share my enjoyment of Second Chance Cat Mysteries because I love them.
#NetGalley #UndercoverKity
All of Sarah's women friends are warm, smart, and sassy. The senior ladies are even more smart- mouthed than her contemporaries. The guys can hold their own with the ladies and each of them brings something special to the group. Those warm and humorous interactions are the reason The Second Chance Cat Mystery series is one of my two favorite cozy mystery series and as my friends know, I am a big cozy mystery fan. I appreciate the fact that author Sofie Ryan treats the older characters with respect. They create much of the humor, often through delightful friendly banter, but it is the same kind of gentle fun humor that the rest of the characters share.
When Rose and Mr. P enroll Elvis in a cat show to provide open access for an investigation, that little guy handles his introduction to the cat show circuit with his usual confidence, but Sarah is surprised to find herself captivate by the competition. As they search for the person who has been sabotaging the shows tragedy strikes, leading the team to a more serious investigation.
You can imagine how excited I was to discover that I was approved for an ARC of Undercover Kitty by Sofie Ryan thanks to NetGalley and Berkley!! As always, I share my enjoyment of Second Chance Cat Mysteries because I love them.
#NetGalley #UndercoverKity
November 20, 2020
Undercover Kitty by Sofie Ryan (A Second Chance Mystery #8) 5 stars
Elvis is back and I don't mean the King of Rock and Roll. A new Second Chance Mystery is always on the must read list - No disappointments here.
Charlotte's Angels have a new case and they need an undercover operative. Sabotage and vandalism at the Atlantic Coast Cat Shows, Who has rakish charm and savoir faire to be a contestant - Elvis of course and he has to bring along his person, Sarah Greyson. Sarah meets other cat people at the shows, like Debra Martinez and her champion cat Socrates. Debra's friend Christine Eldridge provide Sarah with color background of the other owners and judges. In the midst of investigating the sabotage, a tragic accident happens. Christine Eldridge is found dead in her apartment after a fire breaks out. But is it an accident? You'll have to read the book to find out the conclusion to that mystery and the sabotage.
I adored this book. The Angels, a band of "elders" who still have a lot of vim and vigor and smarts are fun to read about. Just because they are "old" it doesn't pay to underestimate them. The actual mystery was great, but what makes this series excellent is the relationship between all the regular characters. I can' wait for the next book in this series.
Elvis is back and I don't mean the King of Rock and Roll. A new Second Chance Mystery is always on the must read list - No disappointments here.
Charlotte's Angels have a new case and they need an undercover operative. Sabotage and vandalism at the Atlantic Coast Cat Shows, Who has rakish charm and savoir faire to be a contestant - Elvis of course and he has to bring along his person, Sarah Greyson. Sarah meets other cat people at the shows, like Debra Martinez and her champion cat Socrates. Debra's friend Christine Eldridge provide Sarah with color background of the other owners and judges. In the midst of investigating the sabotage, a tragic accident happens. Christine Eldridge is found dead in her apartment after a fire breaks out. But is it an accident? You'll have to read the book to find out the conclusion to that mystery and the sabotage.
I adored this book. The Angels, a band of "elders" who still have a lot of vim and vigor and smarts are fun to read about. Just because they are "old" it doesn't pay to underestimate them. The actual mystery was great, but what makes this series excellent is the relationship between all the regular characters. I can' wait for the next book in this series.
January 27, 2021
"Undercover Kitty" is a cozy mystery. It's the eighth book in the series, but you don't need to read the previous books to understand this one. This book did not spoil any of the previous mysteries. The main characters were nice, engaging people. The cat was mainly the excuse for being at the cat show and played little role in the detection of whodunit. More time was spent describing the cat show than on doing actual detection.
The mystery was a clue-based puzzle mystery. The amateur detectives asked questions and looked into various alibis. My main problem was that the fire didn't seem to actually destroy anything, even allowing the investigators to determine the exact type of "kindling" used to start the fire. Also, the initial clues greatly restricted the possible suspects for the murderer, though none of the investigators seemed to notice this. They also seemed especially dense when a major clue was dropped by a suspect. The readers' were going, "Oh, whodunit!" but Sarah's going "um, seems like I should be able to put this together by now, but I'm just not sure..."
There were no sex scenes. There was only one use of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable mystery, but it's my least favorite of the series.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
The mystery was a clue-based puzzle mystery. The amateur detectives asked questions and looked into various alibis. My main problem was that the fire didn't seem to actually destroy anything, even allowing the investigators to determine the exact type of "kindling" used to start the fire. Also, the initial clues greatly restricted the possible suspects for the murderer, though none of the investigators seemed to notice this. They also seemed especially dense when a major clue was dropped by a suspect. The readers' were going, "Oh, whodunit!" but Sarah's going "um, seems like I should be able to put this together by now, but I'm just not sure..."
There were no sex scenes. There was only one use of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable mystery, but it's my least favorite of the series.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
February 22, 2021
Another excellent entry in Ryan's Second Chance Cat Mysteries, starring the ever-lovable Elvis. Swoon! Elvis the cat, that is, who definitely has some of The King's catitude. I finished this one at record pace, much as I have the other books in this series (and same with Ryan's other series under her pen name of Sofie Kelly, the Magical Cats Mysteries with Hercules and Owen).
Reading about Sarah and her friends is like visiting with old friends. But do NOT call the Angels and Mr. P "old"! I find myself enjoying the interaction between Sarah and the 3 ladies who are basically surrogate grandmothers (Liz, Rose, and Charlotte), as well as Sarah's conversations with Avery, who is still a teenager. And then there's Mac, her business partner and now romantic partner as well. I like Mac a lot, and I'm so glad the author is moving their relationship forward. YAY!
The mystery in this one is pretty good - well, mysteries I should say, as there's more than one case to solve. The two do seem to be connected, though, and it's interesting to watch the characters puzzle over the clues. I could do without all the descriptions of Mr. P's pants, though (hiked clear up to his armpits, which is mentioned several times).
Quite a fun little book, and looking at the reviews, it would appear that many agree. To quote Liz, "Yeah, yeah...everybody does." Yes Liz, we do!
Reading about Sarah and her friends is like visiting with old friends. But do NOT call the Angels and Mr. P "old"! I find myself enjoying the interaction between Sarah and the 3 ladies who are basically surrogate grandmothers (Liz, Rose, and Charlotte), as well as Sarah's conversations with Avery, who is still a teenager. And then there's Mac, her business partner and now romantic partner as well. I like Mac a lot, and I'm so glad the author is moving their relationship forward. YAY!
The mystery in this one is pretty good - well, mysteries I should say, as there's more than one case to solve. The two do seem to be connected, though, and it's interesting to watch the characters puzzle over the clues. I could do without all the descriptions of Mr. P's pants, though (hiked clear up to his armpits, which is mentioned several times).
Quite a fun little book, and looking at the reviews, it would appear that many agree. To quote Liz, "Yeah, yeah...everybody does." Yes Liz, we do!
November 9, 2020
Undercover Kitty at a Cat Show is a new role for Elvis and he manages it surprisingly well. He is recruited by Rose and Charlotte’s Angels. The detective agency is holding space at the Second Chance Repurpose Shop. Rose and the Angels don’t take no for an answer easily and Sarah finds herself learning all about Cat Shows. Elvis takes it easily in stride fast becoming a favorite. This was new territory for me. I’ve always had a cat but have never considered entering one in a show. This story reveals some of the trials and tribulations of such an endeavour.
I enjoyed reading about the repurposing of objects at the store. I’ve dabbled a bit in refurnishing furniture and always have a few minutes to stop at a yard sale. I’ve enjoyed television shows about abandoned storage units. The finds that Sarah and her crew pull together for amazing displays inspires me to do the same!
The relationships between the characters is enjoyable.Unfortunately, tragedy strikes a newly met friend of Sarah’s at the Cat Show and the mystery deepens. The Angels are on the case and the bad characters get caught. Meanwhile a romance deepens.
This was a nice cozy mystery. Congratulations are in order for Elvis on winning in the companion cat category.
I enjoyed reading about the repurposing of objects at the store. I’ve dabbled a bit in refurnishing furniture and always have a few minutes to stop at a yard sale. I’ve enjoyed television shows about abandoned storage units. The finds that Sarah and her crew pull together for amazing displays inspires me to do the same!
The relationships between the characters is enjoyable.Unfortunately, tragedy strikes a newly met friend of Sarah’s at the Cat Show and the mystery deepens. The Angels are on the case and the bad characters get caught. Meanwhile a romance deepens.
This was a nice cozy mystery. Congratulations are in order for Elvis on winning in the companion cat category.
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