Persian Perpetrator

Marjorie's Cozy Kitten Cafe #4

by Katherine Hayton

Marjorie Hardaway is going stir-crazy. With the country under Level 4 lockdown, her entire world has shrunk to the size of a computer screen. Braden is stuck at the other end of the country and zoom meetings are very nice but they're no substitute for a chest-crushing hug. Her few ventures into the community to exercise or deliver meals on wheels are the only opportunity for company—at a strict two-metre distance.

But when a regular meal client is found dead, Marjorie discovers how lucky she's been. Better to have nobody knocking at the door than answer it to find a killer waiting on the front step.

With no other distractions on hand, the local community soon bands together (figuratively) to hunt down the person responsible. If they can't innovate new ways to investigate, the murderer might get away with the purr-fect crime.

Marjorie's Cozy Kitten Cafe Mysteries are quick 1-2 hour reads perfect for filling in time waiting for appointments, commuting to work, or when your significant other insists on watching the show that makes you roll your eyes!

They are chock-a-block full of kittens, but I promise there's no swearing, no cliffhangers, and no graphic scenes.

Genres: Mystery, Cats, Cozy, Audiobook, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Cozy Mystery

113 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 7, 2021

About the author

I'm a middle-aged woman who works in insurance, doesn't have children or pets, can't drive, has lived in Christchurch my entire life, and currently reside a two-minute walk from where I was born.

For some reason, I've developed a rich fantasy life.



I like to write mysteries, some set in my hometown of Christchurch, others ninety minutes up the road in the beautiful township of Hanmer Springs, or in the quasi-fictional town of Pinetar. These mysteries range from hard-hitting psychological thrillers, through to police procedurals, or the lighter adventure of a cozy mystery.

Reviews

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting to read a cozy mystery taking place during the beginning of Covid. Enjoyed the 4th novella in this series!

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is set during Covid in New Zealand. It was interesting getting a peek at how a different country try handled it. The murder mystery was good and I loved getting to see more of the kitten cafe.

[Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

A period piece honestly

[Christopher Shepherd · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read to take me away from where the world is these days. This book only emphasizes it. I liked the others in the series but I'm done now.

[Sue Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was well written, but I just wasn't ready to be reading a book set in the time of covid. I read to get away from the reality of the pandemic. I missed the kittens. I didn't enjoy the confusing online group meetings.

[Sheryl Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flashback to Covid 19 with a very different perspective given the story takes place on a small continent rather than in the rather large United States. It's fascinating to get their take on the spread of the virus and the precautions they took that we probably should have taken, too. They were not allowed to even drive their cars unless it was absolutely necessary. Going to get groceries or going to the doctor were about the only good reasons they could find. Driving to the next town was absolutely forbidden. Now that's one way to keep the virus from spreading!

In Marjorie's Kitten Cafe, all of the kittens get adopted out except for her favorite Monkey Business. She has to have at least one companion, after all. As she is delivering Meals on Wheels to one of her elderly friends she comes upon a murder and there is the setting for this wonderful cozy mystery.

We are treated with the initial challenges of villagers trying to figure out zoom and having a blast gossiping because there isn't much else to do. Speculations fly and feathers get ruffled. They start a fun activity of putting teddy bears in windows and then listing them on an app so that kids young and old can wander through town discovering the bears. What fun!

What I like best is getting to know more about old characters and meeting new characters. They are so vividly written that I imagine them existing in this small town beyond where I'll ever travel. In the end the killer is caught. It may not be the last person I'd thought of, but I admit they weren't on my radar.

[Suzanne Hare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marjorie has had to close her bakery due to Covid-19 and all her kittens have found forever homes. It is just her and her Persian, Monkey, and she bored. Along with her boyfriend, they set up an internet meeting group but one of them gets murdered and once again Marjorie is in the middle of it.

This is a fun cozy mystery series with great characters and delightful furry friends. As this is the fourth book in Marjorie’s Cozy Kitten Cafe, the characters are like old friends by now. The mystery is well done, with numerous viable suspects, subtle clues, surprises and suspense. The narrative is great, giving insight into Marjorie’s thoughts, feelings and her motivations. I totally enjoyed this cozy mystery and if you like cozy mysteries with furry friends, you will too.

[Raji · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I am unfair to my cozy mysteries. I rarely ever rank them above 3 because I am usually comparing them to my literary fiction. However, it's not a fair comparison. They serve different purposes and delight in different ways so I am going to think about how I want to rate them.

As a cozy mystery, this series was delightful. Kittens, baked goods, small town, likeable people and believability in the crime and its deduction, everything that I want from a cozy mystery. I enjoyed every book in this series; the last one maybe a little less. I am not convinced by group mystery solving on Zoom although the meetings themselves were wonderfully portrayed.

[Debra Hahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

From Theft to Murder

Another twisting murder mystery. This one during the corvid virus, that has
everyone stressed out in lockdown. A murder and how twisted is that, praying
on an elderly person, and why, whats up with that? Everyone suspects each
each other, will the case ever be solved and the murder brought to justice?
Debra H.

[Debra Hahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A murder gone down during the corvid virus lock down. Was it greed, or a robbery
gone horribly wrong? What ever the reason was, it has everyone suspecting each other. In fear for their lives, everyone is hoping the murder will be brought to justice, before another victim is found murderd. A great little mystery to read.
Debra H.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

This 4th installment finds our friends at the beginning of the pandemic. Marjorie has adopted out all of her kittens so it’s just her and Monkey Business for a while. She is out delivering meals when a community member that attends Zoom like meetings with Marjorie isn’t home. Marjorie becomes concerned and so begins the mystery.. .

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute mystery. The story occurred during Covid lock-down and much of the story includes details of that time. For anyone who had a difficult time during those months, it might be a bit much. But the cats are cute, the characters a bit quirky, and there’s a mystery to solve. Overall an entertaining read.

[pamtxmom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery solving during a pandemic

A community manages to solve a murder mystery while on lockdown by using a virtual meeting to gather clues. First pandemic related mystery that I have read.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coved-19 lockdown

Although they are locked down and travel is banned, Margery can still end up in the wrong place at the wrong time. Zoom. Meetings with her friends actually solve a crime. Now to read and find out who did what...

[Jolynn Kuhlman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable

I thought it was a great book, there's mystery who do it , it is written around this civic 19 virus, it has a cat called monkey business it the story who is also doing something cute. I really enjoyed it.

[Cheri Schaefer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining and enjoyable!

Great story line. Goes right along with what's going on in
today's world. I like the characters, but Monkey Business
is my favorite. This is a great series!

[Diane Hartman · Rating 1 out of 5]

Okay. Not very exciting

The first three books in this series were enjoyable reads. I felt cheated by the very SHORT story. The main thrust of the "story" was disastrous, vindictive Zoom meetings. Not very interesting at all.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

As promised, these are very quick reads. Within two days, I listened to #1-3 and read #4. They were very light and enjoyable, which I always feel a bit bad for saying about books that involve murder.

[Doreen · Rating 3 out of 5]

With Covid-19 raging, Marjorie fills her time with delivering Meals on Wheels and a one hour zoom call with friends. Lilith, one of Marjorie's deliveries, doesn't answer her door and her cat is running loose in the yard. Thus plunges Marjorie into the mystery of who killed Lilith and why?

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book I read that acknowledged the pandemic. But this one did not have as much detail or plot twists as the others in the series.

[Patricia H. Phelps · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Cats Take Center Stage

Monkey Business and Salty act up. The video group gossip and get a reality check by Sunny, who has been the subject of their speculation.

[Marilyn Mccloud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting!!!

I loved the people and the story. The story was very up to date and timely. I hope many more books are written so I can read and enjoy them. 💞💞💞💕💕💕

[Cathy Raboldt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read worthy

As always the author doesn’t disappoint. Makes you want to keep reading even tho you should go to work. Hopefully she keeps writing and her publisher doesn’t cancel.

[Deborah Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Monkey Business

With lockdown in place, Marjorie and friends through daily computer conferences try to solve Lilith's murder, focusing on her nephew!

[Jayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the only book I've read (so far) that takes place in the early days of COVID. How the community in New Zealand copes with the restrictions is an interesting side story.

[Cindy B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pleasant storyline and interesting narration. No Gore or other discomfiting situations.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and done! Enjoyed these cute and cozy audiobooks.

[Wilma Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Covid kitten

It was healing to read a mystery with murder, mayhem, kittens, and covid all in one fun setting. Thanks for the healing fun.

[Audiophile · Rating 1 out of 5]

As someone who lived through 2020, reading this was like getting stabbed in the heart. Not enjoyable. Too real. Not for me.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute, but I got confused on characters. There are a lot of them