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Cat in the Stacks #13
Cat Me If You Can
Charlie Harris and his feline companion Diesel take a bookish vacation but discover that murder never takes a holiday, in this all-new installment of the New York Times bestselling series.
Charlie and Diesel along with Charlie's fiancée, Helen Louise Brady, are heading to Asheville, North Carolina to spend a week at a boutique hotel and participate in a gathering of a mystery reader's club composed of patrons of the Athena Public Library. In addition to seeing the local sights, the members will take turns giving talks on their favorite authors.
The always spry Ducote sisters, friends of the hotel’s owners, are helping underwrite the expenses, and they’ve insisted that Charlie, Helen, and Diesel join them. Anxious to get Helen Louise away from her bistro for a vacation, Charlie readily agrees. While Charlie is looking forward to relaxing with Helen Louise and Diesel, other members of the group have ulterior motives including a long-standing score to settle.
When an intrusive, uninvited guest turns up dead, only one mystery club member with a connection to the deceased appears to have a motive to kill. But could the answer really be that simple? Charlie and Diesel, along with the detecting Ducote sisters, know that every murder plot has an unexpected twist.
Charlie and Diesel along with Charlie's fiancée, Helen Louise Brady, are heading to Asheville, North Carolina to spend a week at a boutique hotel and participate in a gathering of a mystery reader's club composed of patrons of the Athena Public Library. In addition to seeing the local sights, the members will take turns giving talks on their favorite authors.
The always spry Ducote sisters, friends of the hotel’s owners, are helping underwrite the expenses, and they’ve insisted that Charlie, Helen, and Diesel join them. Anxious to get Helen Louise away from her bistro for a vacation, Charlie readily agrees. While Charlie is looking forward to relaxing with Helen Louise and Diesel, other members of the group have ulterior motives including a long-standing score to settle.
When an intrusive, uninvited guest turns up dead, only one mystery club member with a connection to the deceased appears to have a motive to kill. But could the answer really be that simple? Charlie and Diesel, along with the detecting Ducote sisters, know that every murder plot has an unexpected twist.
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First published August 25, 2020
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About the author
Miranda James
25 books1,255 followersPen name of Dean James, who also writes as Honor Hartman and Jimmie Ruth Evans
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 303 reviews
October 11, 2020
Cat Me If You Can is the 13th book in the Cat in the Stacks Mysteries written by Miranda James. I've read all the books in this series plus the companion one focusing on the Ducote sisters, who feature prominently in this book; I highly recommend all of the author's work and really enjoyed this one.
Charlie and Helen Louise take a trip to Asheville, North Carolina (a wonderful place) along with Diesel, a memorable Maine Coot cat. The Ducote sisters arranged a week's tour of the Biltmore and a bunch of mystery book discussions with several folks from their hometown, Athena, Mississippi. When Charlie arrives in his hotel room, there is a dead body on the couch... well, not exactly... but it is a hint of things to come. Several bodies do eventually stack up, and it's quite a confusing case. Why would someone wait for this trip to murder all these people? Who really knew each other before arriving? Charlie relies on his friendships back home to learn secrets about some of the guests; he even works closely with Kanesha, a deputy back in Athena, who's summoned to Asheville to help the local police. Luckily, Charlie and Helen Louise solve the case with the Ducote sisters before ending up another victim of this angry killer.
When my two favorite series are combined, I am a very happy guy. I loved this one. Although it takes us away from Athena, we've visited a place I know well and love. It was good to feel that connection with a story. I liked the mystery plot too, as it touches on social issues and different lifestyles and approaches to relationships. I got a hoot out of Cora's narcolepsy, and figuring out which guest might get knocked off next was intriguing -- all in fiction, of course. If you enjoy locked room mysteries, or you like two different detective teams partnering together to solve a mystery, this will be a winner for you.
As always, the writing is solid, the coziness is superb, and the eagerness to finish the book all in one setting are abundant. I split it across two nights because I wanted the book to last longer. After thirteen strong, the series is doing well, and I find myself more and more interested in keeping up with the characters' lives over and above the mystery too. They feel real, and that's what makes this series special to me.
Charlie and Helen Louise take a trip to Asheville, North Carolina (a wonderful place) along with Diesel, a memorable Maine Coot cat. The Ducote sisters arranged a week's tour of the Biltmore and a bunch of mystery book discussions with several folks from their hometown, Athena, Mississippi. When Charlie arrives in his hotel room, there is a dead body on the couch... well, not exactly... but it is a hint of things to come. Several bodies do eventually stack up, and it's quite a confusing case. Why would someone wait for this trip to murder all these people? Who really knew each other before arriving? Charlie relies on his friendships back home to learn secrets about some of the guests; he even works closely with Kanesha, a deputy back in Athena, who's summoned to Asheville to help the local police. Luckily, Charlie and Helen Louise solve the case with the Ducote sisters before ending up another victim of this angry killer.
When my two favorite series are combined, I am a very happy guy. I loved this one. Although it takes us away from Athena, we've visited a place I know well and love. It was good to feel that connection with a story. I liked the mystery plot too, as it touches on social issues and different lifestyles and approaches to relationships. I got a hoot out of Cora's narcolepsy, and figuring out which guest might get knocked off next was intriguing -- all in fiction, of course. If you enjoy locked room mysteries, or you like two different detective teams partnering together to solve a mystery, this will be a winner for you.
As always, the writing is solid, the coziness is superb, and the eagerness to finish the book all in one setting are abundant. I split it across two nights because I wanted the book to last longer. After thirteen strong, the series is doing well, and I find myself more and more interested in keeping up with the characters' lives over and above the mystery too. They feel real, and that's what makes this series special to me.
January 20, 2024
I loved the idea of a mystery club on a getaway and finding themselves in the midst of a murder mystery. I also loved that the setting finally took us out of the usual Athena into Asheville, a town very close to me, so it was endearing to read about locations I’m so familiar with.
September 4, 2020
This series is just not as appealing to me as it was in the beginning. I much prefer the earlier books in the series.
August 26, 2020
Charlie Harris, his fiancée, and his cat, Diesel, are heading to Asheville, North Carolina for a week of tourism and talking about favorite mystery authors with the members of the Athena Public Library mystery group. Unfortunately, an outside member has crashed the trip and picks a fight with several members. When he turns up dead the next morning, Charlie feels the obvious suspect couldn’t have done it. Can he figure out what really happened?
Pulling off a vacation mystery in a series can be tricky. In this case, it works well since we have several of the supporting players on the trip and we get updates from some of the others. Of course, the series really belongs to Charlie and Diesel, and we get plenty of both, but I was happy to see more of Helen Louise than usual, and I enjoyed spending time with the other regulars on the trip. Unfortunately, some of the suspects could have been stronger, but that didn’t stop me from getting involved in the mystery. As usual, the tension is high and the twists are plentiful. While the climax does answer all our questions, I felt a few lines made it more preachy than it needed to be. Still, this is a strong book that fans of the series will find hard to put down.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
Pulling off a vacation mystery in a series can be tricky. In this case, it works well since we have several of the supporting players on the trip and we get updates from some of the others. Of course, the series really belongs to Charlie and Diesel, and we get plenty of both, but I was happy to see more of Helen Louise than usual, and I enjoyed spending time with the other regulars on the trip. Unfortunately, some of the suspects could have been stronger, but that didn’t stop me from getting involved in the mystery. As usual, the tension is high and the twists are plentiful. While the climax does answer all our questions, I felt a few lines made it more preachy than it needed to be. Still, this is a strong book that fans of the series will find hard to put down.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
September 11, 2020
I love Diesel. I think he's a fun addition to the stories. I was, however, so annoyed that they brought this cat on vacation. The constant shuffling around of people trying to find someone to stay with the cat bothered me. He added nothing to the story and actually detracted from it. Just as well, there wasn't much to it. As a few other reviews have pointed out, besides trying to find someone to watch the cat, they spent a lot of time talking about what to eat, when to nap or shower; there wasn't much substance to the story and the series seems to have run its course. This series used to be one of my favorites but this one fell short.
September 4, 2020
Hm. I'm not really sure how to feel about this one. It's missing some of the characters we usually see, such as Charlie's kids, the grandkids, and wonderful housekeeper, Azalea. Helen Louise is in it more, which is nice. Miss An'gel and Miss Dickce are also featured more, which I enjoyed. But...
Yeah, too many buts.
Originally I enjoyed this series because Diesel was definitely a main character, as well as a Maine Coon. It was awesome to see the interaction between him and Charlie, how he would help solve the mystery, etc. As more humans have been featured in each book, Diesel feels more and more like an afterthought - just around to eat, trill and warble a bit, and use his litterbox. While I'm glad to see the human interactions, they aren't terribly exciting. With this novel, I was again struck by how much time is spent by Charlie - and in this installment, Helen Louise - on mundane things like where to eat a meal, taking a nap (OH MY GOD! Folks, I love a good nap, but he needs to see a doctor. He's always sleeping!), washing hands, etc. To me, the fact that I'm noticing all these things means there's just not enough going on in the rest of the book.
I'm sorry Diesel. I think you're a wonderful kitty, but I just don't see me picking up another one of these books.
Yeah, too many buts.
Originally I enjoyed this series because Diesel was definitely a main character, as well as a Maine Coon. It was awesome to see the interaction between him and Charlie, how he would help solve the mystery, etc. As more humans have been featured in each book, Diesel feels more and more like an afterthought - just around to eat, trill and warble a bit, and use his litterbox. While I'm glad to see the human interactions, they aren't terribly exciting. With this novel, I was again struck by how much time is spent by Charlie - and in this installment, Helen Louise - on mundane things like where to eat a meal, taking a nap (OH MY GOD! Folks, I love a good nap, but he needs to see a doctor. He's always sleeping!), washing hands, etc. To me, the fact that I'm noticing all these things means there's just not enough going on in the rest of the book.
I'm sorry Diesel. I think you're a wonderful kitty, but I just don't see me picking up another one of these books.
April 23, 2022
Cat Me If You Can by Miranda James is the 13th book in the Cat in the Stacks Mystery series. The Athena mystery readers club has travelled to Asheville for a week of activities, but when an uninvited gatecrasher is killed, the group has a real murder to solve. It was nice to see more of Helen Louise although she does leave most of the investigation to Charlie. I love that they put Diesel's safety and comfort foremost in their thoughts and actions. Most of the characters from Athena are there to lend a hand making for an enjoyable, comfortable and typically cozy read.
August 31, 2020
I can't believe this is from the same author! This will be my last purchase!
Language like "Dude. Slippery as eel snot." These are not words that I expected to read from this author. The story line is totally involved with the gay lifestyle with anti-heterosexual overtones. Like real life, there has always been a homosexual situation in this author's books, and that's okay, but this book is just too much and should be marketed as a GLBT genre book.
Not only that, but in this book Charlie is portrayed differently than before, not being as positive a person and seemingly playing second fiddle to Helen Louise's wishes. I really can't quite put a final reason why this book dismays me; but it strongly seems that this was written by someone else of a different mindset.
Language like "Dude. Slippery as eel snot." These are not words that I expected to read from this author. The story line is totally involved with the gay lifestyle with anti-heterosexual overtones. Like real life, there has always been a homosexual situation in this author's books, and that's okay, but this book is just too much and should be marketed as a GLBT genre book.
Not only that, but in this book Charlie is portrayed differently than before, not being as positive a person and seemingly playing second fiddle to Helen Louise's wishes. I really can't quite put a final reason why this book dismays me; but it strongly seems that this was written by someone else of a different mindset.
December 29, 2022
Charlie and Diesel, along with Charlie's fiancée, Helen Louise Brady are attending a mystery readers club meeting in Asheville, North Carolina. The Ducote sisters and the hotel's owners are underwriting the expense of the get together. When a man, who disrupted the first meeting, is found dead, Charlie, Helen Louise and Diesel unintentionally gather facts, because club members and hotel staff are talking to them. The lead detective on the case warns the trio against interfering in his case. When another body is found dead at the hotel, Kanesa Berry is called in to help with the investigation. Will Kanesa, Charlie, Helen Louise, Diesel and the detective discover who is the murderer before another person is found dead?
Cat Me If You Can is the thirteenth novel in the Cat in the Stacks series. I found the writing to be superb. The characters feel personable and feel like family. The dialogue flows easily between characters. The descriptions get the imagery across whether it is Diesel chipping and warbling, or the death scene of the murdered victims. The pace is smooth without snags in the middle of the novel. This cozy mystery audiobook was narrated by Erin Bennett, who did a terrific job differentiating between the characters' voices. I feel Miranda James did a great job moving the characters from their main setting at Athena College to the hotel in Asheville, North Carolina, without losing the characters' identities or diluting their personalities.
The only drawback and the reason for four stars is I felt Charlie and Helen Louise spent an inordinately amount of the book searching for a sitter for Diesel, who wasn't welcome in many of the establishments they attended. Diesel was present at all the mystery readers club meetings and was instrumental in finding some evidence. I feel, however, mentioning Diesel instead of making him one of the key characters in the storyline would have been better. I do realize Charlie and Diesel are a team. Still, I feel Diesel should have been left at home, and the focus be on Charlie and Helen Louise as the main protagonists in this novel.
Cat Me If You Can is the thirteenth novel in the Cat in the Stacks series. I found the writing to be superb. The characters feel personable and feel like family. The dialogue flows easily between characters. The descriptions get the imagery across whether it is Diesel chipping and warbling, or the death scene of the murdered victims. The pace is smooth without snags in the middle of the novel. This cozy mystery audiobook was narrated by Erin Bennett, who did a terrific job differentiating between the characters' voices. I feel Miranda James did a great job moving the characters from their main setting at Athena College to the hotel in Asheville, North Carolina, without losing the characters' identities or diluting their personalities.
The only drawback and the reason for four stars is I felt Charlie and Helen Louise spent an inordinately amount of the book searching for a sitter for Diesel, who wasn't welcome in many of the establishments they attended. Diesel was present at all the mystery readers club meetings and was instrumental in finding some evidence. I feel, however, mentioning Diesel instead of making him one of the key characters in the storyline would have been better. I do realize Charlie and Diesel are a team. Still, I feel Diesel should have been left at home, and the focus be on Charlie and Helen Louise as the main protagonists in this novel.
September 5, 2020
This is a fun series about Charlie, a college reference librarian, and his Maine coon cat, Diesel. Their hometown mystery book club is on a retreat to discuss Golden Age mysteries when an uninvited guest dies.
Miranda James really outdid himself on this book .... well done!
Miranda James really outdid himself on this book .... well done!
June 5, 2021
Dollycas’s Thoughts
The wonderful Ducote sisters have planned a bookish vacay to Asheville, North Carolina for the Athena Public Library’s Mystery Readers Book Club to discuss Golden Age Mysteries. They are staying at the Hindman Hotel and because the sisters know the owners they have taken over the hotel and Charlie has been given permission for Diesel to tag along. They plan to see some local sights including the Biltmore Estate and each member will give a talk about their favorite Golden Age authors. In addition to the sisters, their ward Benjy, Charlie and Diesel, Charlie’s lady love Helen Louise, Ellie Arnold, Zac Ryan, Johnny Ray Floyd, Burdine, and Elmore Gregory, Melba and her beau Paul Brown, and Celia Bernardia have all arrived for the event. Denis Kilbride later crashes their party claiming to be Ellie’s fiancee. She is just a surprised as the rest of the group. It isn’t long before Denis is dead and Ellie seems to be the only one with a connection to the man. Charlie thinks there is more to the story so he, Helen Louise, Diesel, and Miss An’gel start investigating on their own.
I have enjoyed this series from the start and Diesel is my favorite literary animal. I enjoy the stories even more Miss An’gel and Miss Dickce Ducote make an appearance. This time a narcoleptic maid shakes things up when Charlie and Helen Louise think they have found yet another dead body. Thankfully she wakes up and walks away . . . at least this time. All the supporting characters are cleverly crafted and knowing one of them may be a killer keeps everyone on their toes.
Taking the characters on the road to a special place like Asheville was a great twist even though most of the time was spent at the hotel. I did enjoy the visit to the Biltmore Estate but it would take days to see everything the place has to offer. It is a place I would love to visit.
The mystery was more complicated than I thought it would be. We needed to do a deeper dive into the book club members’ backgrounds to open up the pool of suspects and things were made more difficult because the local police were not as forthcoming with information as Kanesha is back at home. I applaud the author for taking on some lifestyle topics within the mystery. There were also some corkscrew twists and misdirections that really blew each theory I had out of the water so I was totally surprised at the end.
I really enjoyed this story. This is one of the books that came out during my cancer treatments and I am mad at myself for not reading it sooner. I am excited about the next book in the series, What the Cat Dragged In. Its release date is August 31 and it is prominently noted on my reading calendar so I will read it right away.
Cat Me If You Can has everything I look for in a cozy mystery and I am truly invested in these fabulous characters. You really can’t go wrong with anything written by Miranda James.
The wonderful Ducote sisters have planned a bookish vacay to Asheville, North Carolina for the Athena Public Library’s Mystery Readers Book Club to discuss Golden Age Mysteries. They are staying at the Hindman Hotel and because the sisters know the owners they have taken over the hotel and Charlie has been given permission for Diesel to tag along. They plan to see some local sights including the Biltmore Estate and each member will give a talk about their favorite Golden Age authors. In addition to the sisters, their ward Benjy, Charlie and Diesel, Charlie’s lady love Helen Louise, Ellie Arnold, Zac Ryan, Johnny Ray Floyd, Burdine, and Elmore Gregory, Melba and her beau Paul Brown, and Celia Bernardia have all arrived for the event. Denis Kilbride later crashes their party claiming to be Ellie’s fiancee. She is just a surprised as the rest of the group. It isn’t long before Denis is dead and Ellie seems to be the only one with a connection to the man. Charlie thinks there is more to the story so he, Helen Louise, Diesel, and Miss An’gel start investigating on their own.
I have enjoyed this series from the start and Diesel is my favorite literary animal. I enjoy the stories even more Miss An’gel and Miss Dickce Ducote make an appearance. This time a narcoleptic maid shakes things up when Charlie and Helen Louise think they have found yet another dead body. Thankfully she wakes up and walks away . . . at least this time. All the supporting characters are cleverly crafted and knowing one of them may be a killer keeps everyone on their toes.
Taking the characters on the road to a special place like Asheville was a great twist even though most of the time was spent at the hotel. I did enjoy the visit to the Biltmore Estate but it would take days to see everything the place has to offer. It is a place I would love to visit.
The mystery was more complicated than I thought it would be. We needed to do a deeper dive into the book club members’ backgrounds to open up the pool of suspects and things were made more difficult because the local police were not as forthcoming with information as Kanesha is back at home. I applaud the author for taking on some lifestyle topics within the mystery. There were also some corkscrew twists and misdirections that really blew each theory I had out of the water so I was totally surprised at the end.
I really enjoyed this story. This is one of the books that came out during my cancer treatments and I am mad at myself for not reading it sooner. I am excited about the next book in the series, What the Cat Dragged In. Its release date is August 31 and it is prominently noted on my reading calendar so I will read it right away.
Cat Me If You Can has everything I look for in a cozy mystery and I am truly invested in these fabulous characters. You really can’t go wrong with anything written by Miranda James.
August 21, 2020
Cat Me If You Can by Miranda James is the 13th A Cat in the Stacks Mystery. It can be read as a standalone for those new to this feline cozy mystery series. I thought Cat Me If You Can was well-written with developed characters. Charlie Harris and Diesel are back. They are heading out of town with Helen Louise Brady, Charlie’s fiancé, for Asheville, North Carolina. A chance for their mystery’s reader club from the Athena Public Library to get to know each other and talk about their favorite mystery authors. The group also gets a private tour of the Biltmore Estate and a chance to visit other sites in Asheville. Their plans are soon derailed when an uninvited guest is murdered. Charlie along with Miss An’gel do a little investigating on their own. Of course, Diesel gets in on the action. They learn some surprising information and uncover a clue or two. Then comes the reveal reminiscent of Mrs. Fletcher. There are multiple suspects, good clues, and misdirection. I enjoyed solving this whodunit. It was a nice change of pace for the story to take place outside Athena. It gives Charlie and Helen Louise some alone time which they rarely get back home. I enjoyed the groups discussion on the Golden Age of mysteries. I wrote down several authors that I am looking forward to exploring. Diesel was his usual adorable self with his cute little trills and chirps. Miranda James has created a great cast of characters for this series. They are likeable and relatable. There were some discussions along with attitudes about a sensitive subject that were realistic (I could imagine similar thoughts and actions happening around the world). I enjoyed the humor scattered throughout the book. Cat Me If You Can was an entertaining cozy mystery and I cannot wait to read What the Cat Dragged In next spring. Cat Me If You Can is a charming tale with the beautiful Biltmore, a Golden Age gumshoe expose, mystery meetings, a sleepy servant, a painful pin, and the darling Diesel.
January 29, 2023
This book is ridiculous but worth a quick read if you like mysteries and cats.
September 6, 2020
Normally I enjoy these books very much I've read the entire series. I however could not get into this book it was very slow going. Charlie seemed very grumpy and in a bad mood through the whole thing and Diesel seemed to pick up on his bad mood and he seemed to be very uncomfortable as well. I also felt uncomfortable with the constant discussion of homosexual partners. Normally this is not something that is in cozy Mysteries. Hopefully the next book will be better.
January 23, 2021
Murder and cats and suspects aplenty! This series is one of my coziest comfort zones. I don't know if it's the levelheadedness of Charlie or the constant companionship of Diesel. But I do know that when I dove into this story it was enjoyable and fast paced enough to stay intriguing the whole time. I had no idea what was going to happen next and I was very surprised by the ending. The characters are well described and I got a pretty good feel for all the suspects and the victim. I loved the travel theme included in this story and am now tempted to go see the Biltmore Estate myself one day. We also got to see more of Helen Louise, whom I really adore. All in all a very enjoyable cozy mystery.
August 12, 2020
I loved this fabulous new mystery, Cat Me if You Can! I always enjoy spending time with Diesel, the Maine Coon, Charlie, his human, and now Helen Louise, Charlie’s fiancée. The characters are excellent and well defined by their conversations and behaviors. The setting of Asheville, NC was a breath of fresh air, and the mystery is one that I couldn’t figure out. While this is #13 in the series, it can be read as a standalone – but one will want to binge on the rest!
Charlie, Diesel, and Helen Louise are in Asheville, North Carolina, along with other members of the Athena Public Library mystery group. They are there for a week to celebrate the Golden Age of mysteries and spend time having fun with other club members. The septuagenarian Ducote sisters, well-known in Athena, Mississippi, made all the arrangements and helped underwrite the event for those who couldn’t afford the week’s hotel stay.
Charlie and Helen both love mysteries. Charlie has proven to be excellent at helping solve them in real life, having found information and various clues that help catch the bad guys in Athena. Diesel, his almost constant companion since the two met several years ago is also very helpful when Charlie’s seeking information. One of the ladies attending this week is Ellie, a loan officer at a local bank. When she made the spur-of-the-moment decision to go to Asheville, Ellie didn’t tell the man she used to date as he had almost become a stalker since she broke up with him. When he showed up at their hotel, she was unhappy, to say the least, especially when he claims they are engaged.
That evening, Denis, Ellie’s ex-boyfriend, stormed into the first meeting on the first evening of the week away. He threatened Zac, a younger man in the group who most present don’t know very well. Zac issued a threat of his own, then another man in the group who had been ripped off by Denis KO’d him. Ellie and Denis had a long conversation that night while he recovered from the blow. The next morning, he is found dead in his room. He had high blood pressure, so they hope his death was of natural causes. A day later, a woman was found dead, murdered, in their meeting room. Even hundreds of miles from home, a murder finds its way into Charlie’s circle of influence. After all, the police don’t want anyone to leave town, so what else can an intelligent man, used to doing complex research for his job, do, but ask a few questions about the dead man?
Charlie and Helen Louise sound like people I would enjoy knowing. This cat lady would love to know Diesel! There is information about cats in each of the books in the series, and I always enjoy “watching” his behaviors. I also appreciate the energy and creative expression of ideas and descriptions. This is a series that, when I began reading cozy mysteries again, I was hooked on from the start, and each successive mystery is as fresh as the one prior. I confess to not being able to get whodunit, so was surprised at the resolution. All of the loose ends are tied up, and I am already looking forward to the next in series. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves cats, books, well-written cozy mysteries, and wonderfully engaging characters!
From a thankful heart: I received complimentary copy of this novel; a review was not required.
Charlie, Diesel, and Helen Louise are in Asheville, North Carolina, along with other members of the Athena Public Library mystery group. They are there for a week to celebrate the Golden Age of mysteries and spend time having fun with other club members. The septuagenarian Ducote sisters, well-known in Athena, Mississippi, made all the arrangements and helped underwrite the event for those who couldn’t afford the week’s hotel stay.
Charlie and Helen both love mysteries. Charlie has proven to be excellent at helping solve them in real life, having found information and various clues that help catch the bad guys in Athena. Diesel, his almost constant companion since the two met several years ago is also very helpful when Charlie’s seeking information. One of the ladies attending this week is Ellie, a loan officer at a local bank. When she made the spur-of-the-moment decision to go to Asheville, Ellie didn’t tell the man she used to date as he had almost become a stalker since she broke up with him. When he showed up at their hotel, she was unhappy, to say the least, especially when he claims they are engaged.
That evening, Denis, Ellie’s ex-boyfriend, stormed into the first meeting on the first evening of the week away. He threatened Zac, a younger man in the group who most present don’t know very well. Zac issued a threat of his own, then another man in the group who had been ripped off by Denis KO’d him. Ellie and Denis had a long conversation that night while he recovered from the blow. The next morning, he is found dead in his room. He had high blood pressure, so they hope his death was of natural causes. A day later, a woman was found dead, murdered, in their meeting room. Even hundreds of miles from home, a murder finds its way into Charlie’s circle of influence. After all, the police don’t want anyone to leave town, so what else can an intelligent man, used to doing complex research for his job, do, but ask a few questions about the dead man?
Charlie and Helen Louise sound like people I would enjoy knowing. This cat lady would love to know Diesel! There is information about cats in each of the books in the series, and I always enjoy “watching” his behaviors. I also appreciate the energy and creative expression of ideas and descriptions. This is a series that, when I began reading cozy mysteries again, I was hooked on from the start, and each successive mystery is as fresh as the one prior. I confess to not being able to get whodunit, so was surprised at the resolution. All of the loose ends are tied up, and I am already looking forward to the next in series. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves cats, books, well-written cozy mysteries, and wonderfully engaging characters!
From a thankful heart: I received complimentary copy of this novel; a review was not required.
November 6, 2020
This is one of my favorite cozy series. This is book 13 in the Cat in the Stacks and it's another great addition. Set in Asheville, NC the book club with all your favorites present are having a weekend getaway to discuss their favorite authors. Charlie, Helen Louise and Diesel their Maine Coon cat are enjoying the stay until one of the groups boyfriend is murdered at their small hotel. The Ducote sisters want Charlie to help solve the crime so they can get on with the gathering. A good mystery to solve and good catch up with all the previous characters. Can be read as a stand alone but having the background of the characters helps keep things clear. Looking forward to 14. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
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April 11, 2022not for me
September 6, 2020
https://openbooksociety.com/article/c...
Cat Me If You Can
Cat in the Stacks Mystery #13
By Miranda James
ISBN 9780451491183
catinthestacks.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
Charlie Harris and his feline companion Diesel take a bookish vacation but discover that murder never takes a holiday, in this all-new installment of the New York Times bestselling series.
Charlie and Diesel along with Charlie’s fiancée, Helen Louise Brady, are heading to Asheville, North Carolina to spend a week at a boutique hotel and participate in a gathering of a mystery reader’s club composed of patrons of the Athena Public Library. In addition to seeing the local sights, the members will take turns giving talks on their favorite authors.
The always spry Ducote sisters, friends of the hotel’s owners, are helping underwrite the expenses, and they’ve insisted that Charlie, Helen, and Diesel join them. Anxious to get Helen Louise away from her bistro for a vacation, Charlie readily agrees. While Charlie is looking forward to relaxing with Helen Louise and Diesel, other members of the group have ulterior motives including a long-standing score to settle.
When an intrusive, uninvited guest turns up dead, only one mystery club member with a connection to the deceased appears to have a motive to kill. But could the answer really be that simple? Charlie and Diesel, along with the detecting Ducote sisters, know that every murder plot has an unexpected twist. (from Goodreads)
Review:
It was pure delight to join Charlie, his fiancée Helen Louise, and his beloved Maine Coon cat companion, Diesel, on their bookish trip to Asheville, NC! The Ducote sisters, An’gel and Dickce, set up the Athena Public Library mystery club members for this week away to get to know each other better in a relaxed setting and discuss the Golden Age of mysteries. The sisters reserved the Hindman Hotel, from where they also hope to see some tourist attractions, including the Biltmore. An’gel ensured that Charlie could bring Diesel, as he rarely goes anywhere without him. The mystery kept me guessing and is, as are the other novels in the series, is written with excellence.
Charlie Harris, whose career has spanned years in a public library in Houston and now in his hometown of Athena, Mississippi at Athena College, is a wordsmith, expert now as an archivist and rare book cataloger. He also loves mysteries and has often been involved with helping solve murders in Athena. Well, with the help of Diesel, a fine, handsome Maine Coon, who walks on a leash while wearing a harness. He and Helen Louise are a perfect match in many ways. She doesn’t like Charlie risking his safety when looking at potential murder suspects, yet she isn’t going to stop him. She loves Diesel almost as much as Charlie does, and Diesel clearly adores her.
When they are leaving for dinner, they see Denis trying to check in, the guy that one of the club members, Ellie, is dating. He claims that he is her fiancé, which is news to Charlie and Helen Louise. After dinner, Denis came in the meeting and threatened Zac, a younger man who has been a member of the group for a short time. Zac returned the threat, another man punched Denis, then Ellie led Denis away. The next morning, Cora, one of the housekeepers, found Denis dead in his room. The group is shocked, and assume that even though he is relatively young, he has health concerns that may have caused his death. After all, they couldn’t be out of town for the week only to have someone be murdered at the hotel!
Or could they? Stranger things have happened and still do. The next morning, Cora, the housekeeper, is found dead in their meeting room by Charlie and Helen Louise. Cora was murdered, stabbed in the heart with a valuable hatpin that she claimed to have lost the day before. Later, they learn that Denis was murdered. This week is not simply about the Golden Age of mysteries. The group gathered seem to be living some of the primary elements common to mysteries written in the Golden Age.
The author gifts us with a unique gathering of engaging friends and mystery lovers! Each are defined as necessary according to their roles. Helen Louise and Charlie are perfect for each other; it will be fun to watch them going forward with their lives together. Since we aren’t in Athena this time, we don’t see Charlie’s adult children, but part of Athena is there in person with Diesel and the couple.
This novel could be read as a standalone, as the author gives sufficient background. However, one will probably enjoy this so much that going back to read the earlier mysteries will follow; I have appreciated this series for several years. Plot twists and turns kept me on my toes, and I was unable to figure out who the real culprit could be. I was quite surprised with the resolution, and very satisfied with it, regretting only that it will be a while before the next one is released! I highly recommend Cat Me If You Can!
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review as part of their ongoing blog tour*
Cat Me If You Can
Cat in the Stacks Mystery #13
By Miranda James
ISBN 9780451491183
catinthestacks.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
Charlie Harris and his feline companion Diesel take a bookish vacation but discover that murder never takes a holiday, in this all-new installment of the New York Times bestselling series.
Charlie and Diesel along with Charlie’s fiancée, Helen Louise Brady, are heading to Asheville, North Carolina to spend a week at a boutique hotel and participate in a gathering of a mystery reader’s club composed of patrons of the Athena Public Library. In addition to seeing the local sights, the members will take turns giving talks on their favorite authors.
The always spry Ducote sisters, friends of the hotel’s owners, are helping underwrite the expenses, and they’ve insisted that Charlie, Helen, and Diesel join them. Anxious to get Helen Louise away from her bistro for a vacation, Charlie readily agrees. While Charlie is looking forward to relaxing with Helen Louise and Diesel, other members of the group have ulterior motives including a long-standing score to settle.
When an intrusive, uninvited guest turns up dead, only one mystery club member with a connection to the deceased appears to have a motive to kill. But could the answer really be that simple? Charlie and Diesel, along with the detecting Ducote sisters, know that every murder plot has an unexpected twist. (from Goodreads)
Review:
It was pure delight to join Charlie, his fiancée Helen Louise, and his beloved Maine Coon cat companion, Diesel, on their bookish trip to Asheville, NC! The Ducote sisters, An’gel and Dickce, set up the Athena Public Library mystery club members for this week away to get to know each other better in a relaxed setting and discuss the Golden Age of mysteries. The sisters reserved the Hindman Hotel, from where they also hope to see some tourist attractions, including the Biltmore. An’gel ensured that Charlie could bring Diesel, as he rarely goes anywhere without him. The mystery kept me guessing and is, as are the other novels in the series, is written with excellence.
Charlie Harris, whose career has spanned years in a public library in Houston and now in his hometown of Athena, Mississippi at Athena College, is a wordsmith, expert now as an archivist and rare book cataloger. He also loves mysteries and has often been involved with helping solve murders in Athena. Well, with the help of Diesel, a fine, handsome Maine Coon, who walks on a leash while wearing a harness. He and Helen Louise are a perfect match in many ways. She doesn’t like Charlie risking his safety when looking at potential murder suspects, yet she isn’t going to stop him. She loves Diesel almost as much as Charlie does, and Diesel clearly adores her.
When they are leaving for dinner, they see Denis trying to check in, the guy that one of the club members, Ellie, is dating. He claims that he is her fiancé, which is news to Charlie and Helen Louise. After dinner, Denis came in the meeting and threatened Zac, a younger man who has been a member of the group for a short time. Zac returned the threat, another man punched Denis, then Ellie led Denis away. The next morning, Cora, one of the housekeepers, found Denis dead in his room. The group is shocked, and assume that even though he is relatively young, he has health concerns that may have caused his death. After all, they couldn’t be out of town for the week only to have someone be murdered at the hotel!
Or could they? Stranger things have happened and still do. The next morning, Cora, the housekeeper, is found dead in their meeting room by Charlie and Helen Louise. Cora was murdered, stabbed in the heart with a valuable hatpin that she claimed to have lost the day before. Later, they learn that Denis was murdered. This week is not simply about the Golden Age of mysteries. The group gathered seem to be living some of the primary elements common to mysteries written in the Golden Age.
The author gifts us with a unique gathering of engaging friends and mystery lovers! Each are defined as necessary according to their roles. Helen Louise and Charlie are perfect for each other; it will be fun to watch them going forward with their lives together. Since we aren’t in Athena this time, we don’t see Charlie’s adult children, but part of Athena is there in person with Diesel and the couple.
This novel could be read as a standalone, as the author gives sufficient background. However, one will probably enjoy this so much that going back to read the earlier mysteries will follow; I have appreciated this series for several years. Plot twists and turns kept me on my toes, and I was unable to figure out who the real culprit could be. I was quite surprised with the resolution, and very satisfied with it, regretting only that it will be a while before the next one is released! I highly recommend Cat Me If You Can!
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review as part of their ongoing blog tour*
February 27, 2025
2.5 ⭐️ perhaps.
Man, what a strange, strange book. Miranda James, pseudonym for Dean James, just has such an odd style of writing.
He's so fastidious and deliberate with the characters' movements and conversations. He focuses on the most superfluous details. I think it easily adds 30 pages to this book. He'll say something and then give an explanation, as if the readers are questioning every detail. For example, he'll say something like, "I gave the cat a piece of cheese" and follow up with "But only after I've ascertained that it isn't harmful and ensured others had not given him a taste because too much dairy can cause horrible gastric distress in cats." If Charlie and Helen Louise (whose names are repeated 9 million times - not a 'he' or 'she' in sight) decide to go out to dinner, we get every step detailed, from them calling the restaurant for hours of operation, to ordering a taxi, to harnessing the cat, etc. over and over again.
The conversations are so stilted and strange too. People get offended over the most innocuous comments. Everyone talks like robots who were given directives to converse like humans. And it's just constant "Charlie said", "Helen Louise said", "Charlie said", etc.
The cat was of course adorable but completely underutilized. His main role in the book is to be harnessed and leashed 50x a day, brought up and down the stairs, and mentioned in conversations as people try to decide what to do with him or wonder why he's there. I was totally hoping he'd play a bigger role in solving the murders, but I think including the cat is more so a gimmick to set the books apart from other amateur detective series.
Charlie is basically Jessica Fletcher who "Murder, She Wrote"s his way through crimes. But where Fletcher feels competent in ways that are both confusing and entertaining, Charlie kinda just asks people direct questions (which they usually answer.) He didn't really solve the crime. He's more like a framing device as the crime solves itself lol. But true to form with these kinds of series, the killers confess under pretty much zero duress, and the bow is tied up all neatly within 5 pages.
I do not care about any of these characters, except Diesel. Their names annoyed me but probably just because they're repeated constantly. Miss An'gel and Miss Dickce 😐 Helen Louise and Johnny Ray. Burdine and Elmore. They literally could have all died, and I wouldn't have cared. Also, why do Miss An'gel and Miss Dickce only refer to each other as "sister." Like they'll say, "Sister and I were talking..." or "Sister will be here soon." They never call each other by their names. I have literally never referred to my sister that way.
I know this review is a bit harsh. This was given to me as a Christmas present for the sole reason that a cat was on the cover. I love my cat, so I get why it was purchased for me haha. This guy has published sooo many books, so he obviously has a reader base. And look, it's not easy coming up with countless new murder mysteries to write about. And I'll add that I had no idea who the killer was until the end. But to be fair, that's because the key piece of evidence wasn't given until the very end. You get little tidbits throughout the book but it was all stuff that points to the obvious red herrings. The ones you know can't possibly be the murderers. Then randomly we learn this hugely relevant piece of information that makes it pretty clear where it's all going.
But again, what I like about Murder, She Wrote is that Jessica Fletcher usually finds evidence. Little things the police somehow missed lol. She then takes that evidence to the killers (finally with the cops in tow) and confronts them with it. Then they immediately choose to admit to the crime with no lawyers present and all is well. It's ridiculous but entertaining lol. But that didn't happen here. Charlie didn't find any evidence. A piece of info was told directly to him and all he did was share it with the group and BAM, they confessed. It was so anticlimactic.
Also, homophobia as the reason for murder was not what I was expecting, but good on James for writing characters who don't tolerate it. Basically all of the characters are sleeping together. Will I read more of these? No. But Diesel is adorable. Who doesn't love a Maine Coon? 🐱🫶
Man, what a strange, strange book. Miranda James, pseudonym for Dean James, just has such an odd style of writing.
He's so fastidious and deliberate with the characters' movements and conversations. He focuses on the most superfluous details. I think it easily adds 30 pages to this book. He'll say something and then give an explanation, as if the readers are questioning every detail. For example, he'll say something like, "I gave the cat a piece of cheese" and follow up with "But only after I've ascertained that it isn't harmful and ensured others had not given him a taste because too much dairy can cause horrible gastric distress in cats." If Charlie and Helen Louise (whose names are repeated 9 million times - not a 'he' or 'she' in sight) decide to go out to dinner, we get every step detailed, from them calling the restaurant for hours of operation, to ordering a taxi, to harnessing the cat, etc. over and over again.
The conversations are so stilted and strange too. People get offended over the most innocuous comments. Everyone talks like robots who were given directives to converse like humans. And it's just constant "Charlie said", "Helen Louise said", "Charlie said", etc.
The cat was of course adorable but completely underutilized. His main role in the book is to be harnessed and leashed 50x a day, brought up and down the stairs, and mentioned in conversations as people try to decide what to do with him or wonder why he's there. I was totally hoping he'd play a bigger role in solving the murders, but I think including the cat is more so a gimmick to set the books apart from other amateur detective series.
Charlie is basically Jessica Fletcher who "Murder, She Wrote"s his way through crimes. But where Fletcher feels competent in ways that are both confusing and entertaining, Charlie kinda just asks people direct questions (which they usually answer.) He didn't really solve the crime. He's more like a framing device as the crime solves itself lol. But true to form with these kinds of series, the killers confess under pretty much zero duress, and the bow is tied up all neatly within 5 pages.
I do not care about any of these characters, except Diesel. Their names annoyed me but probably just because they're repeated constantly. Miss An'gel and Miss Dickce 😐 Helen Louise and Johnny Ray. Burdine and Elmore. They literally could have all died, and I wouldn't have cared. Also, why do Miss An'gel and Miss Dickce only refer to each other as "sister." Like they'll say, "Sister and I were talking..." or "Sister will be here soon." They never call each other by their names. I have literally never referred to my sister that way.
I know this review is a bit harsh. This was given to me as a Christmas present for the sole reason that a cat was on the cover. I love my cat, so I get why it was purchased for me haha. This guy has published sooo many books, so he obviously has a reader base. And look, it's not easy coming up with countless new murder mysteries to write about. And I'll add that I had no idea who the killer was until the end. But to be fair, that's because the key piece of evidence wasn't given until the very end. You get little tidbits throughout the book but it was all stuff that points to the obvious red herrings. The ones you know can't possibly be the murderers. Then randomly we learn this hugely relevant piece of information that makes it pretty clear where it's all going.
But again, what I like about Murder, She Wrote is that Jessica Fletcher usually finds evidence. Little things the police somehow missed lol. She then takes that evidence to the killers (finally with the cops in tow) and confronts them with it. Then they immediately choose to admit to the crime with no lawyers present and all is well. It's ridiculous but entertaining lol. But that didn't happen here. Charlie didn't find any evidence. A piece of info was told directly to him and all he did was share it with the group and BAM, they confessed. It was so anticlimactic.
Also, homophobia as the reason for murder was not what I was expecting, but good on James for writing characters who don't tolerate it. Basically all of the characters are sleeping together. Will I read more of these? No. But Diesel is adorable. Who doesn't love a Maine Coon? 🐱🫶
November 12, 2024
What is up with Charlie's constant napping and dozing off? This has been happening constantly in the past several books almost to the point of distraction. Isn't this guy in his early fifties, then stop portraying him as if he is in his late eighties. 😴💤
October 15, 2020
Several laugh out loud moments in this cozy Who-done-it mystery. I also loved that the author referenced several Golden Age mystery authors making me want to add them to my "wanted" list.
September 5, 2020
I hate it when authors take their main characters out of their normal setting and plop them down elsewhere for no logical reason. I missed the kids and grandkids and Azalea. I can see no reason for the book club's trip to Asheville except it seemed the writer was determined to have a variation of the "locked room" scenario. This is the third book I've read this year that's been set at Biltmore Estates. Was there a writer's convention there in real life that inspired it as a setting? I still enjoyed having another visit with as much of the cast as we got to see in Asheville and via cameo appearances, but I hope the next book takes them back in Athena where they belong. Was I getting a hint that Charlie and Helen's wedding might be held at Biltmore? If so, I hope it's a brief epilogue chapter in a future book. And yes, I'm not giving up on the series though this book was a bit of a disappointment.
August 31, 2020
I love this series and this book is excellent. We have a new location but most of the regulars are present. The author never disappoints.
August 30, 2020
Love This Series!
A cozy wonderful series I found years ago with the very first book. I read immediately when a new one comes out!
A cozy wonderful series I found years ago with the very first book. I read immediately when a new one comes out!
September 21, 2020
Cat Me If You Can (Cat in the Stacks Mystery, #13) by Miranda James.
Charlie and his fiance Helen Louise are on their way for a mystery reader's club gathering in Asheville, North Carolina. Of course, Diesel is coming along. Some of their friends from Athena will be there as its being hosted by the DuCote sisters. It will be a week-long mystery lovers vacation for patrons of the Athena Public Library.
Their first day there the entourage assembled for a ride to the famous Biltmore Estate. It was such a successful tour that Helen Louise already mentioned a return visit. Although not everyone was in good spirits at the start of this tour. A member of the group, Ellie, appeared a bit shaken and definitely not her usual self. Could it have been that unforeseen outburst last night during their meeting?
That outburst catapulted a week of planned festivities into another much more sinister direction.
Another wonderful addition to the Cat in the Stacks series. Very enjoyable and highly recommended.
Charlie and his fiance Helen Louise are on their way for a mystery reader's club gathering in Asheville, North Carolina. Of course, Diesel is coming along. Some of their friends from Athena will be there as its being hosted by the DuCote sisters. It will be a week-long mystery lovers vacation for patrons of the Athena Public Library.
Their first day there the entourage assembled for a ride to the famous Biltmore Estate. It was such a successful tour that Helen Louise already mentioned a return visit. Although not everyone was in good spirits at the start of this tour. A member of the group, Ellie, appeared a bit shaken and definitely not her usual self. Could it have been that unforeseen outburst last night during their meeting?
That outburst catapulted a week of planned festivities into another much more sinister direction.
Another wonderful addition to the Cat in the Stacks series. Very enjoyable and highly recommended.
June 21, 2020
This is the 13th book in the Cat in the Stacks mysteries, I have not read any of the books in this series before. What drew me to this book was that the Ducote sisters were featured in it. As i mentioned I have not read this series but I have read and enjoyed Miranda James' other series Southern Ladies mysteries with the Ducote sisters as the sleuths.
I think that this book works well as a standalone. I appreciated all of the nods to the Golden Age of mystery. There was a lot of heart and humor in this book. Miranda James did a great job with the characters and Diesel maybe my new favorite animal companion.
I think that this book works well as a standalone. I appreciated all of the nods to the Golden Age of mystery. There was a lot of heart and humor in this book. Miranda James did a great job with the characters and Diesel maybe my new favorite animal companion.
June 19, 2020
Cat Me If You Can by Miranda James. Although Diesel has ventured out the stacks in his 13th book for a bookish holiday with the Athena Library Book club to Asheville, NC, he and Charlie discover murder does not take a holiday. Another delightful cozy mystery, it does touch on an alternative life style that may be controversial to some.
Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.
Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.
September 8, 2020
This was my first completed Audible book. I usually have a hard time with audibles and keeping track.
This one went fine, so hopefully past that.
This book was heavy into gay lifestyle. It seems to be recurrent topic and one that is tiring to me lately.
I, too, miss the older books with the other characters. Haven't heard much from them for a few books.
I gave it a 4 star rating, but just barely. I am hoping for a return to the other characters and some different stories emphasis.
This one went fine, so hopefully past that.
This book was heavy into gay lifestyle. It seems to be recurrent topic and one that is tiring to me lately.
I, too, miss the older books with the other characters. Haven't heard much from them for a few books.
I gave it a 4 star rating, but just barely. I am hoping for a return to the other characters and some different stories emphasis.
February 14, 2021
Another excellent mystery. Well written.
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