Framed in Cherry Hills

Cozy Cat Caper Mystery #2

by Paige Sleuth

Kat Harper doesn't expect her first meeting with the Furry Friends Foster Families non-profit organization to kick off with the mysterious absence of another member. But it soon becomes clear why Willow Wu is a no-show; she's been arrested for a crime that nobody can believe. Now, with a little help from her cat Matty, Kat has to figure out who is framing Willow and why.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Cats, Animals, Fiction, Contemporary

152 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 21, 2015

About the author

Paige Sleuth is a pseudonym for mystery author Marla Bradeen. She plots murder during the day and fights for mattress space with her two rescue cats at night. When not attending to her cats' demands, she writes.

Please join her readers' group so she can keep in touch.

Reviews

[Quincy McIlvaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars. Digital book.
Fear not! Kat is still throwing out accusations willy-nilly! I do find it interesting we’re led to believe nothing happens in this sleepy town but so far we’ve solved a murder, tampered with a vehicle, and planted drugs in less than 150 pages. Also if Kat inherits a cat every book in this series I’ll die 🤣

[Chris Blackton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly not any better than the first in the series. Plot is superficial and not much character development. Okay read if you are looking for something quick without much substance.

[Sandie Herron · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second entry in this cat caper cozy mystery series finds Kat Harper waiting to meet another board member of the 4F, the cat rescue organization she recently joined. However, Willow Wu doesn't show up because she's been arrested for possessing cocaine with an intent to sell. Her friends are convinced that the drugs were planted in her car without her knowledge. Who would have done that to this high school English teacher? A disgruntled student? Unhappy pet owner? The caterer for their fund raiser that Wu fired?

Kat is able to talk with many people involved with Wu in her waitressing job at Jenny's Diner. Plus she is getting friendlier with her childhood friend Andrew who is a detective on the local police force. He knows her secret shame over her mother being a drug addict and Kat being put into foster care.

This was an enjoyable quick read. I thought solving the mystery of whodunit was better played out than in the first of this series. With such a short story line, the perpetrator was revealed just after the clues pointed in that direction. No brain teaser, but fun nonetheless.

[James Garman · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this episode of 4f's (a charity centered around cat rescue) Kat Harper is pulled into another mystery. This one starts with her going to Imogene Little's house about a cat that she later finds out needs to be found another temporary home. The cat has been in Paul McGinty's house but recently his wife as found that she is pregnant and doesn't feel comfortable have a cat in the house so Tom is being moved much to Harrah, Paul's daughters disappointment.

Meanwhile, they have found out that Wanda Wu, a teacher at the hight school in Cherry Hills, has failed to show up for a couple of meetings. It turns out that she has been arrested for having cocaine in her glove compartment. Imagene is absolutely sure that she has been set up although Kat is not so sure, not having ever met the woman before. But her background might be influencing her opinion so she tries to give Wanda the benefit of the doubt.

But then with her usual tendency to investigate, she finds that Wanda Wu is an unpopular teaching because she is very hard on her students, forcing them, at least in the students opinion, to know enough facts to write essays instead answering multiple choice or true and false question. It apparently has ended with Hannah McGinty getting a C and getting harrassed by her mother, and a boy that loves playing ball to lose the right because she gives him a very bad grade.

She also finds who set Wanda Wu up for the drug charge and solves the case. She does feel sorry for the boy because his mother was one of the "mean girls" in the high school when Kat was there as a freshman, and they are not friends or friendly now either.

Oh and Kat's friendship with Andrew Milhorn, on the police force continues.

I recommend this as a very good mystery that gives us an insider introduction to several different households in Cherry Hills, Washington.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cherry Hills, Washington is the home of the 4F.
This stand for Furry Friends Foster Families.
Imogene Little and Katherine Harper are
waiting for another member, Willow Wu to
meet them. Willow is going to orient Kat to
inner workings of the organization. This is the
first time Willow has ever been late. Then one
foster families that Willow calls because she
missed an appointment with them. Where is
Willow? Is she ok?
They are shocked when they discover that
Willow has been arrested and is in jail on a
drug possession charge. Imogene and Dan
Wu, Willow’s husband know that she would
never be involved with drugs. This could ruin
her job as a teacher.
Kat sets out to uncover who set Willow up.
Kat uncovers several reasons Willow might
have been set up.
An interesting, colorful array of characters
including the love able fur babies that add
to the story: Clover (the white cat), Tom
(the brown-and-black cat) and Matty (the
tortoiseshell cat).

[Ken Finlay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cherry Hills, Washington, is home to the cat rescue charity the Furry Friends Foster Families (aka 4F). With just three committee members it is also a magnet for crime - in the first episode the Treasurer was murdered and in "Framed in Cherry Hills" another member, Willow Wu, has been arrested for cocaine possession.
Kat Harper is the new Treasurer and, of course, she sets out to investigate when any sane person would be running for the hills - the 4F is jinxed I tells ya!
And, of course, she solves it lickety-split (not that there is much solving involved.
It a long short story or a short novella, coming in at just 60 pages, and took me around 45 minutes to read.
We do get a little more information about Kat's early life, but overall it is instantly forgettable. I won't be reading any further in the series.
2.5 Stars, lowered to 2 Stars.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kat Harper has joined the 4F (Furry Friends Foster Family) group in town.
One of the members is missing and cannot be reached.
It later turns out that she has been arrested for possession with intent to sell.
As none of the people believe the woman capable of the crime, kat sets out to find the person framing her.

This was a decent mystery, without a murder in it.
The only drawback was there were too few suspects so I figured this one out as soon as met the group who were together.

[Sandra Holladay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as part of the 1-3 Box Set. These are short stories and as such are limited in depth and character development. The stories were ok, though I’m a bit tired of these untrained ‘super sleuths’ getting upset when the police tell them to leave the investigation to the police.

Framed in Cherry Hills--3 stars: And here’s Kat again, jumping to conclusions with nothing but a “they were angry or they could have.”

[moxieBK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Framed in Cherry Hills (Cozy Cat Caper Mystery Book 2) — Paige Sleuth (11 chapters) October 30, 2024

The second book has new 4F member Kat Harper looking into the disappearance of another member and his (kinda maybe) boyfriend trying to get her to stop. Especially when the member is accused of doing a dastardly deed that her fellow members insist she would never do.

Kat wants to find this member before another death appears on her doorstep.

Good, quick read.

Four stars.

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short cozy. Main characters are part of a cat rescue organization. I think the series has great possibilities. The story was very short. Main ideas seemed to be covered ok. Would love to read this story again with more character depth and even more cat antics as it is a cat caper mystery. I will read more of this series to see how it develops.

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now I have read enough mysteries to be suspicious of both taillights suddenly not working. You think the police would be aware of this also. Then when I found out Willow Wu’s occupation, it was a no brainer. Mainly because I used to do the same thing as Willow. I enjoyed this story and recommend the book.

[Linda Rainey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting Cozy Mystery

This interesting cozy mystery meets my expectations by having plenty of suspense twists and turns.
This book is recommended for those who love cozy mysteries.

[Cheri Schaefer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful little who done it!!

Very enjoyable and entertaining! I loved the
characters and the kitties. Hope Tom stays
with Kat. These little mysteries are just
right when I don't feel like reading a long
book. I do like this series very much!!

[Louisa Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always like a quick read! This little novel seems like a novelette. It’s warm and funny, full of hometown sweetness.

[Sherron · Rating 3 out of 5]

too short. Not bad, but not enough pages to really care about the subjects.

[Winter · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice short read that wrapped itself up pretty tidely.

[Susan Lock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good stoyruline

I enjoyed the book, though it did seem a quick conclusion .
Ft pretty easy to read, all ages wouldn't have any issues understanding the storyline

[Melody · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty light weight, novella length mystery that was not fully thought out. Second in a series and not really much development of characters or plot.

[Bentonkk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kat is getting to know old and new friends. When a murder is done she believes her old friend to defend a person she does not know

[Katrien En Mollie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5⭐

[Rachelle Bachiu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading this author. This is the second book in this series and cannot wait to read the next book. Entertaining and keeps you wanting more.

[Ewa · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was OK book, very short (and expensive vs. number of pages) but parts about cats were nice

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect!

Well, I've definitely found another perfect series. I mean who can resist mysteries, cats and a good looking policeman. Certainly not me.

[Helen Bassett · Rating 3 out of 5]

very short but cute story. If a cat is adopted in each following book, she will have a lot of cats. Hannah is a very confused teen but all is sorted.

[Virginia]

I liked it very much started and finished on the 10th