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Moorecliff Manor Cat #3

Homicide in the Hydrangeas

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When a body is found in the hydrangeas at Moorecliff manor, certain members of the family fall under suspicion. Inspector Ivan Hershey is starting to wonder why dead bodies keep cropping up at the mansion. Especially since this particular body belongs to a member of a local organized crime gang and there are a lot of unanswered questions.

Who is Daisy's secret admirer? Why did the victim have a picture of Daisy? Why have people been lurking around the grounds at night? Who is in the limo that watches the house? Why did the killer return to the scene of the crime?

Sasha, Arun and Aunt Araminta must put themselves in danger as they travel to the seedy underbelly of the city to solve the crime. That's okay though, because this time, solving the case is personal.

150 pages, Paperback

First published March 11, 2021

200 people are currently reading
155 people want to read

About the author

Leighann Dobbs

135 books1,862 followers
USA Today bestselling author, Leighann Dobbs, discovered her passion for writing after a twenty year career as a software engineer. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband Bruce, their trusty Chihuahua mix Mojo and beautiful rescue cat, Kitty.

Her book "Dead Wrong" won the "Best Mystery Romance" award at the 2014 Indie Romance Convention.

Her book "Ghostly Paws" was the 2015 Chanticleer Mystery & Mayhem First Place category winner in the Animal Mystery category.

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5 stars
259 (54%)
4 stars
136 (28%)
3 stars
70 (14%)
2 stars
7 (1%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
674 reviews15 followers
March 19, 2022
While Araminta and her family are enjoying breakfast in the Solarium, the two Siamese cats, Sasha and Arun, are exploring the garden. At first they only looked slightly interested, but then their tails are standing straight up in the air. This made Araminta wonder what caused the change. Upon closer inspection, she discovered a body in the hydrangeas, but nobody seemed to know who the deceased was. One item found near the body was a matchbook from the Lantern Lounge, a somewhat risque establishment.

It turns out that the corpse was Joey Tuccinelli, with connections to organized crime. Joey was also known to have connections with the Lounge. To add to the mystery, Daisy has been receiving flowers almost daily, but doesn't know who is sending them.

Why was Joey at the Moorecliff Manor? Why was Joey killed in the garden? Who killed Joey and why was he killed? Why does Detective Hershey think a Moorecliff is involved? Can Araminta and her cats solve the mystery?

Leighann Dobbs has another wonderful mystery with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader intrigued clear to the end. The characters and situations are very realistic.
Profile Image for Mara.
1,471 reviews112 followers
April 1, 2021
Moorecliff Manor is the scene of another murder. In this third book in the Moorcliff Manor series Araminta's Siamese cats, Sasha and Arun, discover a body in the hydrangeas. Unlike the previous people who died at the manor, this person is not known to anyone living in the house, or so they all claim. When the body is identified as someone associated with organized crime, the hunt for the killer leads Araminta and her niece Stephanie to the seedier part of town. It's all hands on deck as Reginald and Stephanie join their Aunt Araminta (and Sasha and Arun) to prove their stepmother, Daisy, had nothing to do with it.

It's a good thing Minta is there to help bring some clues to the attention of Detective Hershey because it seems he's determined to arrest Daisy for a murder, although I keep getting the feeling he kind of likes her. Thankfully Minta gives the detective enough proof to doubt Daisy did it, and he sets his sights on someone else.

I like that a lot of the detective work in this story is done outside of Moorecliff Manor, although that means we don't see that much of Sasha and Arun. We also get see more of one of the family's employees, and find out how much the family appreciates and takes care of those who work for them. The mystery of Daisy's secret admirer(s) may have been solved too.

I enjoy these cozy mysteries, and like to read them sometimes after I've read an intense suspense book to help ease me into a different genre. This is the shortest of the series at only 98 pages, but I feel the story was complete and I didn't feel cheated.
Profile Image for Sandy Bartles.
1,395 reviews37 followers
March 4, 2021
Araminta Moorecliff and her two cats, Sasha and Arun, are already solving a new murder when they discover a body in the hydrangeas. They have several suspects, but when the murderer is found out, it surprises several people. I believe this book to be the best in the series. I highly recommend it.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
Profile Image for Miss W Book Reviews.
1,781 reviews154 followers
February 24, 2021
Homicide in the Hydrangeas is the third book in the wonderful Moorecliff Manor Cat Series.

A body is found in the garden in the hydrangeas and there is another murder to solve.

The police are looking at one of the family members and Aunt Minta is out to prove her innocence.

This book has well developed characters and that includes the crime solving kitties.

There is a mob element which is really fun. The mystery is well written and multi-layered.

I like the interactions between the family members. The cats storyline is done really well.

I can't wait for more in this incredible mystery series.
323 reviews3 followers
March 13, 2021
This is the third book in Moorecliff Manor Cat Cozies. Leighann Dobbs has written another great series. When Araminta Moorecliff notices her cats, Sasha and Arun, sniffing aroutTnd the hydrangea bushesm she suspects they have found another dead body. When Detective Ivan Hershey comes to the manor he is sure one of the family has killed this man. Daisy has a secret admirer (or is it two)? She has been receiving roses one day and wild flowers the next.
Everyone claims they do not know the man. The dead man is Joey Tuccinelli, a member of the mob, who works for mob boss, Tony "The Fist" Romano.
Moorecliff Manor is gearing up for their annual Moorecliff Cat Competition.She visits Tony asking for donations for the Cat Competition and questions him about Joey.
This series is well written. I have enjoyed watching the characters develop. This series is a must read. I received an advance copy of this book. This is my honest review;
Profile Image for Debi Paglia .
614 reviews17 followers
March 11, 2021
I’m really enjoying this new series. I like watching the family relationships change and grow. This book was very involved. I love the “cat detectives”! They are almost the best part. There were lots of ups and downs and red herrings, with a surprise ending. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes cozy mysteries with interesting characters, multifaceted storylines and a little investigative help from two very wise cats.
1,701 reviews35 followers
February 24, 2021
When Araminta disrupts her breakfast because her cats are acting suspiciously.
The rest of the Moorecliff gang complain, until they find the body.

Apparently, Daisy, the new widow at the manor has a secret admirer.
She has been receiving flowers practically every day.

And it's possible that one of her admirers is the deceased.

As this is one body too many at the manor for inspector Hershey, he is out to prove that Daisy is a murderer.

Once again it's up the manor felines to point Araminta in the right direction to find the clues she needs to put the correct person in Detective Hershey's line of sight.

This is the third book in the Moorecliff Manor series.
There are defined characters, some humor, and a bit of misdirection.
As is standard with Leighann Dobbs stories, the main mystery is satisfactorily solved, while leaving some questions open so you know to look forward to the next coming book in the series.
29 reviews1 follower
May 19, 2021
I don't like cats so I was convinced I would hate this book. Even though the cats were featured, I found all three books in the series enjoyable.
Profile Image for Kim.
129 reviews
February 25, 2021
More murder & mayhem @ the Moorecliff Manor!!
Just when Minta and the rest of the family thought things had finally settled down, the cats sniff a corpse in the Hydrangea bushes.
Why was a local mobster lurking outside the manor, and who put a bullet in his brain??
Minta, the cats, and the family are all on the case!!
Great characters, and a fast, engaging story will keep you guessing "Whodunnit" until the end!!
Absolutely loved it, and can't wait to see what kind of Cat-astrope is bound to befall the upcoming Charity Cat Show at the Manor.
Profile Image for Margaret.
432 reviews12 followers
February 24, 2021
The Moorecliff family is once again under suspicion of murder when a man's body is discovered in the Manor's hydrangeas. Araminta and her kitties are on the case, which involves some shady characters not related to the family, but who might be the recently widowed Daisy's secret admirer. She is receiving fresh flowers daily from an anonymous sender. This is book 3 in the series. The characters are interesting and nicely developed, and the mysteries provide lots of twists and turns. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!
Profile Image for Rhonda Jones.
2,794 reviews17 followers
April 19, 2021
Good Mystery

It was an interesting mystery. I am unclear what happened that caused such an infatuation with Daisy. I like where it is slowly going with Araminta and Jacob. And I like the little snippets of their past involvement in mysteries of long ago.
Profile Image for moxieBK.
1,763 reviews4 followers
June 28, 2023
Homicide in the Hydrangeas (Moorecliff Manor Cat #3) — Leighann Dobbs/Narrator: Hollis McCarthy (18 chapters) June 11, 2023

These stories follow the semi-serious cozy mysteries of the Moorecliff clan, with the matriarch, Araminta, the head protagonist.

In this story, a local gang member is killed in the bushes at Moorcliff Manor, and Inspector Hershey is starting to wonder if one of the clan members is responsible for all the recent dead bodies appearing at the manor. And Daisy is getting anonymous flowers delivered every day. Was it the murderer, a stalker, or someone else?

As always, awesome narrator; quick listen, quirky plot by one of my all-time favorite authors.

And…. CATS! Cats with solving crimes! Cats are conversing with each other. And did I mention…. CATS?

Four stars.
1,372 reviews13 followers
June 24, 2021
I am absolutely loving this series!!

A truly wonderful series with fantastic cats
and human characters. I adore Arun and Sasha!
I'm enjoying the fact they have major parts in
the mysteries with speaking parts. I sincerely
hope there will be more mysteries in this
series. If course, it mentions a cat show at the
end as sort of a cliff hanger. I hope it comes
our soon!!!!!! Phenomenal series!!!!!
81 reviews
June 27, 2021
Another Murder Solved

This is the 3rd murder at Moorecliff Manor but at least it's not family this time! Aunt Araminta, along with her cats Arun & Sasha, once again work to find clues to solve the case before a family member is suspected! Looking forward to what happens in the next book!!
Profile Image for Ruth McDaniel.
271 reviews4 followers
February 12, 2022
Always a pleasure

I really love the Moorecliff Manor series! They're such a pleasure to read. They aren't crazy long, they move along very well all throughout the story and aren't bogged down with a lot of unnecessary wordiness.
Oh, and I adore Sasha and Arun the cats!
Keep them coming! I'll read every single one.
Profile Image for loretta.
535 reviews13 followers
June 21, 2022
This series is a light, enjoyable, predictable group of novels for summer reading or resting your psyche during this chaotic season our nation and world is in. I love the cats! The cast of this somewhat dysfunctional family is enjoyable and along with the hokey ‘guys and dolls’ portrayal of italian mafia members, just easy to read.
29 reviews
August 21, 2022
This is another book in the series that is easy to read but very hard to put down and has a senior as the main character.
Needless to say I ended up buying the entire series and am on book 4 now although I'm hoping for book 6 to come out soon because I may need an Araminta fix shortly after I finish with book 5.
762 reviews2 followers
March 12, 2021
Knew it was a jealous person who killed Joey

Who knew that Daisy could become a stalker's obsession and not just one man. She actually had 2 secret admirers. At least Araminta found the real culprit.
1,033 reviews2 followers
March 18, 2021
A Family Story

Ariminta is the family matriarch. Daisy was married to Minta's late nephew, and Reginald and Stephanie are Daley's stepchildren. A man Daisy knew in the past is found murdered in their bushes. Minta and Daisy set out to solve it before the police.
51 reviews1 follower
April 12, 2021
Another fun cozy mystery.

Leighann Dobbs latest Moorecliff Manor Cat Cozy mystery was a clean well written book. While each book can stand alone, the main characters are the same. Knowing their background does add to the story.
69 reviews
November 30, 2022
This One Had Me Guessing!

Best plot sequences yet! The cats take a more active role, and the plot is entertaining and tight! Moorecliff Manor is starting to get a reputation, what with all the bodies showing up…
Profile Image for Deborah.
671 reviews11 followers
April 7, 2023
Things were just settling down when Sasha and Arun (the Siamese cats) go for their morning frolic in the gardens and find a dead body in the garden. But who is the person and why was that person in the garden. How could this happen, again?
Profile Image for Nancy Lanko.
54 reviews1 follower
March 1, 2021
I really have been enjoying this series, enough clues given without being a slam dunk to solve. Just enough discription to envision the story without going on to distraction. Loved the story line!
510 reviews3 followers
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March 13, 2021
These cats are too cute

As if one stalker is bad, nothing like having two. Now top that off with one being the head of the local mob and the other a henchman.
Profile Image for Debra Moore.
116 reviews4 followers
March 16, 2021
Fun cozy with a murder. This is a quick read with like able characters. The house cats lend their sleuthing abilities to their mistress to help solve the case.
386 reviews1 follower
March 17, 2021
Book #3 was as entertaining as the first two. I am amazed at the imagination of these cozy mystery writers. I hope to see #4 — where there will be a murder at the cat show???
422 reviews2 followers
March 21, 2021
Homicide in the Hydrangeas

I always enjoy reading books written by Leighann Dobbs. Her mysteries are entertaining, have a little romance and a surprise ending.
Profile Image for Francine.
144 reviews
April 4, 2021
Another great book

I love this series & I really enjoyed reading this book! The characters are so fun & this storyline was very interesting!
26 reviews
August 4, 2021
Great read!

These books are a quick read, but leave you guessing until the end "who dunit"! I love Sasha and Arun.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews

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