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Cold Snap: A Viking Cat Mystery
Tucked in the cold Colorado mountains lies the remote village of Gray Birch, a place where outsiders are frowned upon. In this village lives a cat named Bijou. But she’s no ordinary house cat; her ancestors were mousers on Viking longships, and their blood runs through her veins. Since her battle skills are hardly needed in this modern age, however, she spends her energies running the Fox Burrow Pet Inn with her human, Spencer, and her assistant, Skunk, a mentally negligible Pomeranian. Together, the happy trio has created a safe haven for their four-legged guests.
But when Eddy Line, a handsome baker from California, comes to the inn―along with his piglet and pit bull puppy―everything changes. Spencer falls for Eddy, Bijou is unhappy with the sudden changes to her clan, and the townspeople are anything but welcoming; in fact, threats are made against Eddy when he buys the town’s historic firehouse in order to open a bakery.
Then a shocking murder/dognapping occurs on the night of the bakery’s grand opening, and Bijou finds herself thrust into a tangled mystery. To solve it, she will have to summon her inner Viking―and fight tooth and claw for her new clan.
But when Eddy Line, a handsome baker from California, comes to the inn―along with his piglet and pit bull puppy―everything changes. Spencer falls for Eddy, Bijou is unhappy with the sudden changes to her clan, and the townspeople are anything but welcoming; in fact, threats are made against Eddy when he buys the town’s historic firehouse in order to open a bakery.
Then a shocking murder/dognapping occurs on the night of the bakery’s grand opening, and Bijou finds herself thrust into a tangled mystery. To solve it, she will have to summon her inner Viking―and fight tooth and claw for her new clan.
256 pages, Paperback
Published September 14, 2021
45 people are currently reading
2836 people want to read
About the author
Codi Schneider
1 book67 followersCodi is the award-winning author of Cold Snap: A Viking Cat Mystery. When not writing, she can be found traveling, running, riding horses, or curled up at home with a hot coffee and a good book. She lives in Oregon with her husband and animals.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
September 5, 2021
A cute cosy mystery about a cat who has the blood of Vikings roaring in her veins, along with her virtual viking helmet on her head and her virtual sword at the ready. Bijou is a Norwegian Forest cat who lives in the Colorado mountains, running a pet hotel with her owner Spencer and Pomeranian called Skunk. When Eddy Line, the handsome mystery buyer of the old fire station, arrives in town, he moves into the pet hotel with his pets, Fennec a deaf puppy and Hamlet, a baby potbellied pig. Eddy will be staying for a few weeks while he completes renovations to turn the fire station into a bakery and an upstairs apartment for himself.
Bijou is not sure she approves of pigs, but when she learns that the Norse goddess Freyja had a battle boar she often rode, she decides to take on Hamlet as an apprentice Viking. When a man is murdered and Fennec the puppy disappears on the opening night of Eddy's bakery, Bijou is determined to find the puppy, along with her brave companions Skunk and Hamlet. A fun and witty cosy mystery, suitable for teen readers as well as adults. 3.5★
With thanks to Spark Press and Netgalley for a copy to read
Bijou is not sure she approves of pigs, but when she learns that the Norse goddess Freyja had a battle boar she often rode, she decides to take on Hamlet as an apprentice Viking. When a man is murdered and Fennec the puppy disappears on the opening night of Eddy's bakery, Bijou is determined to find the puppy, along with her brave companions Skunk and Hamlet. A fun and witty cosy mystery, suitable for teen readers as well as adults. 3.5★
With thanks to Spark Press and Netgalley for a copy to read
September 15, 2021
autumn, pot of tea,
and a cozy mystery –
this I want to see!
******************************
Read the interview with Codi Schneider!
******************************
A Mystery, with a cat in the role of the detective! If this description doesn't get you all riled up, I don't know what will. Of course, this is a house cat - and really a cat, so if you're expecting a Blacksad like noire experience, you're looking at the wrong book.
Bijou is a descendant of Viking longboat mousers, and she has a really dry humour, as this quote will surely prove:
Well, you can't argue with impeccable logic like this, right?
Talking about humour, there are some things in this book that seem a little forced to me, like calling the local police lieutenant Lou Tennant. I mean, come on! That's almost like having Joe Parts joining the military in the rank of a Private.
You can't be serious about those names!
Sadly, we aren't done with, ahem, »funny« names. There's also Dr. Flora, the local veterinarian, of Flora's Fauna. Or Bobi Pinn, the hairdresser (bobby pin - you get it?). Oh boy. That's cringe worthy.
The story also tries to switch between the past and the now, by throwing in statements given in the present to the police. I'll guess in the final book, they will be marked in a way that lets you clearly distinguish them from the rest of the chapter. In the galley, they were just there, but I caught their meaning quickly. And talking about dramatics, it's always a good idea to start the book with something dramatic. In this case, a homicide - in combination with a dognapping!
Oh no, a dognapping!
The animals are really cute, and naturally they have more personality than some of the humans we encounter. This is not a point of critique - our first person narrator is a cat, so it follows the animals are of more interest than the humans. And the important humans are portrayed very well, too.
Really, despite the somewhat silly names, characters in this book are just great. As well as the village itself - it's a place where I could immediately settle down, between all those people. It's a real boon for the story.
Some parts are, well, I don't know why they are. Not what, but literally why. Here we have a domestic cat following along a homicide investigation. That in itself is already enough - it's what the story should be. There really was no need to throw in some supernatural stuff.
Pacing is a different thing. There are some really good scenes, when the pace is just right and everything flows and you find yourself turn page after page, in excitement. During those moments, this book shines as a great mystery novel.
So much stuff, what's going on?
But there are those other moments, too. When the cat-ness of our hero dictates the pace too much and a lot of stuff revolves around food. There are some funny moments here, no questions, but they're not doing anything for the plot. They're stalling, thus making this story longer. I would have preferred it trimmed down a little bit. It took me longer to read the book than expected because of those avoidable lengths.
Then again, for cat lovers those scenes will probably be somewhat golden, when you look at Bij and think »Oh yes, cats and their knacks.«.
*****
So, all in all, this was a mixed bag. On the downside are some pacing issues, some unnecessary supernatural elements and quite a bunch of goofy names. On the upside we have really loveable characters and an intriguing mystery behind all those minor (and major) crimes. 3.5 out of 5, rounded up to 4 for cat lovers! It's going to be a good read for the coming cold season, along with a cup of hot beverage. Or some ale.
You can also read this review on my Blog.
and a cozy mystery –
this I want to see!
******************************
Read the interview with Codi Schneider!
******************************
A Mystery, with a cat in the role of the detective! If this description doesn't get you all riled up, I don't know what will. Of course, this is a house cat - and really a cat, so if you're expecting a Blacksad like noire experience, you're looking at the wrong book.
Bijou is a descendant of Viking longboat mousers, and she has a really dry humour, as this quote will surely prove:
The corpse was, as corpses tend to be, very dead.
Well, you can't argue with impeccable logic like this, right?
Talking about humour, there are some things in this book that seem a little forced to me, like calling the local police lieutenant Lou Tennant. I mean, come on! That's almost like having Joe Parts joining the military in the rank of a Private.
You can't be serious about those names!
Sadly, we aren't done with, ahem, »funny« names. There's also Dr. Flora, the local veterinarian, of Flora's Fauna. Or Bobi Pinn, the hairdresser (bobby pin - you get it?). Oh boy. That's cringe worthy.
The story also tries to switch between the past and the now, by throwing in statements given in the present to the police. I'll guess in the final book, they will be marked in a way that lets you clearly distinguish them from the rest of the chapter. In the galley, they were just there, but I caught their meaning quickly. And talking about dramatics, it's always a good idea to start the book with something dramatic. In this case, a homicide - in combination with a dognapping!
Oh no, a dognapping!
The animals are really cute, and naturally they have more personality than some of the humans we encounter. This is not a point of critique - our first person narrator is a cat, so it follows the animals are of more interest than the humans. And the important humans are portrayed very well, too.
Really, despite the somewhat silly names, characters in this book are just great. As well as the village itself - it's a place where I could immediately settle down, between all those people. It's a real boon for the story.
Some parts are, well, I don't know why they are. Not what, but literally why. Here we have a domestic cat following along a homicide investigation. That in itself is already enough - it's what the story should be. There really was no need to throw in some supernatural stuff.
Pacing is a different thing. There are some really good scenes, when the pace is just right and everything flows and you find yourself turn page after page, in excitement. During those moments, this book shines as a great mystery novel.
So much stuff, what's going on?
But there are those other moments, too. When the cat-ness of our hero dictates the pace too much and a lot of stuff revolves around food. There are some funny moments here, no questions, but they're not doing anything for the plot. They're stalling, thus making this story longer. I would have preferred it trimmed down a little bit. It took me longer to read the book than expected because of those avoidable lengths.
Then again, for cat lovers those scenes will probably be somewhat golden, when you look at Bij and think »Oh yes, cats and their knacks.«.
*****
So, all in all, this was a mixed bag. On the downside are some pacing issues, some unnecessary supernatural elements and quite a bunch of goofy names. On the upside we have really loveable characters and an intriguing mystery behind all those minor (and major) crimes. 3.5 out of 5, rounded up to 4 for cat lovers! It's going to be a good read for the coming cold season, along with a cup of hot beverage. Or some ale.
You can also read this review on my Blog.
September 24, 2021
Cold Snap by Codi Schneider is a very wonderful mystery book with lots of lovely animals, I really hope there will be more in this series!
In Gray Birch village lives a Viking cat named Bijou (It means jewel). She is co-owner and manager of the prestigious Fox Burrow Pet Inn, with her human, Spencer, and her dog assistant, Skunk.
Eddy Line, a handsome baker from California, comes to the inn with his boys, Fennec and Hamlet, piglet and pit bull puppy to rent the new bakery.
Bijou is not very happy with the little pink piglet at first but, when the threat comes for the handsome California man, she does her best to help her new friends.
Many stranger things start to happen, a knife, robbery, threat letters, attempts to start the fire, dogfights, and a murder. Apparently, people can't do much, So this is a time for Bijou and his warriors to handle these.
"According to my moral code, abusing animals was no different than abusing humans."
This is a very lovely and mysterious story. I hardly could put it down. The best part of this story is that it has been told by Bijou. Bijou, what a beautiful name I adopt in my new kitten.
I enjoyed the story and narration. Bijou and his animals' friends are very kind and cute, I love them. I can't say this is a cozy mystery exactly, but it's a suspenseful story with a gorgeous detective, oh no sorry, A Viking and her warriors.:)
Many thanks to SparkPress and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read Cold Snap: A Viking Cat Mystery by Codi Schneider, I have given my honest review.
Pub Date 14 Sep 2021
In Gray Birch village lives a Viking cat named Bijou (It means jewel). She is co-owner and manager of the prestigious Fox Burrow Pet Inn, with her human, Spencer, and her dog assistant, Skunk.
Eddy Line, a handsome baker from California, comes to the inn with his boys, Fennec and Hamlet, piglet and pit bull puppy to rent the new bakery.
Bijou is not very happy with the little pink piglet at first but, when the threat comes for the handsome California man, she does her best to help her new friends.
Many stranger things start to happen, a knife, robbery, threat letters, attempts to start the fire, dogfights, and a murder. Apparently, people can't do much, So this is a time for Bijou and his warriors to handle these.
"According to my moral code, abusing animals was no different than abusing humans."
This is a very lovely and mysterious story. I hardly could put it down. The best part of this story is that it has been told by Bijou. Bijou, what a beautiful name I adopt in my new kitten.
I enjoyed the story and narration. Bijou and his animals' friends are very kind and cute, I love them. I can't say this is a cozy mystery exactly, but it's a suspenseful story with a gorgeous detective, oh no sorry, A Viking and her warriors.:)
Many thanks to SparkPress and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read Cold Snap: A Viking Cat Mystery by Codi Schneider, I have given my honest review.
Pub Date 14 Sep 2021
August 22, 2021
Funny, witty, with a cast of colorful characters, this cozy is the purrrfect mystery with humorous moments for cat lovers. Cold Snap, A Viking Cat Mystery, makes a brilliant debut by author Codi Schneider. I really enjoyed this cozy with a very feisty feline, amusing fur-babies, and a baby pot bellied pig that can hold her own! Between the settings of an animal inn which Bijou Bonanno (Viking Cat) co-manages with her human Spencer, and a new bakery opening in town (The Witching Flour), there is a murder and a dog-napping to solve. Be ready for the Dewclaw!
5 Stars!
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and Codi Schneider for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own.
5 Stars!
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and Codi Schneider for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own.
Want to read
August 3, 2021Not going to lie. I am here for that cover. And I too am paired with a mentally negligible Pomeranian.
June 20, 2021
Cold Snap: A Novel by Codi Schneider is told in a suspenseful manner by a cat. Bijou isn't any cat; she's a cat with a long history of courageous Viking ancestors. Her human, Spencer, runs Fox Burrow Pet Inn, where she boards animals in her home. Bijou's assistant is a Pomeranian dog named Skunk. She is flighty and easily distracted, which irritates Bijou at times. Spencer's newest arrivals include Eddy Line, who is opening a bakery, Hamlet the potbelly pig, and Fennec, a scared puppy. The adventures are whimsical as Bijou's pride, loyalty, and knowledge are put to the test. Her greatest challenge comes when Eddy's threatened, and someone dognaps a guest at the Fox Burrow Pet Inn. Bijou has to call on her inner Viking to help humans find the culprits. Will it be enough?
I found Codi Schneider to be a creative writer with compassionate insight into feline thinking. Cold Snap is a steady stream of humor, suspense, and amazing antics of Bijou the Viking cat. This novel is refreshing as you never know what Bijou will do next or what other animal she will enlist as her accomplice. The author keeps you entertained with the drama animals come up with while the humans fall in love, start a business, and solve a crime. This novel was a delight to read, and I enjoyed the trivial information the author wove into the story. I have never heard of river surfing until reading this book and enjoyed reading more about this. I highly recommend this story to animal lovers.
Written by Peggy Jo Wipf for Readers' Favorite.
I found Codi Schneider to be a creative writer with compassionate insight into feline thinking. Cold Snap is a steady stream of humor, suspense, and amazing antics of Bijou the Viking cat. This novel is refreshing as you never know what Bijou will do next or what other animal she will enlist as her accomplice. The author keeps you entertained with the drama animals come up with while the humans fall in love, start a business, and solve a crime. This novel was a delight to read, and I enjoyed the trivial information the author wove into the story. I have never heard of river surfing until reading this book and enjoyed reading more about this. I highly recommend this story to animal lovers.
Written by Peggy Jo Wipf for Readers' Favorite.
October 1, 2021
Wonderfully witty and heartfelt. I laughed a lot, cried a little and snuggled up feeling abundantly cozy throughout.
February 4, 2022
If you are an animal lover and need a good laugh, make sure you put Cold Snap on your list. This humorous mystery will be just the one for you. Bijou, the assistant manager of the Fox Burrow Pet Inn, is used to a quiet life with her human, Spencer, and sidekick Pomeranian, Skunk. Living in the Colorado Mountains gives them enough of an adventure. However, when Eddy Line rolls into town with his pet piglet and skittish pit pull pup with a mysterious tattoo, everything changes. Eddy is working on the village’s history firehouse, turning it into a bakery when he begins to get threats. On the night of the bakery grand opening, things escalates when the threats turn into a murder and dog napping. While the humans think they have everything under control, Bijou knows differently. Summoning her fiercest inner Viking, she sets off to solve this mystery with her new clan and nothing will stop them in their tracks at finding the truth.
Cold Snap is such a fun and witty mystery. I am clearly biased, but this book had one of the best protagonist I have read about in awhile. I loved Bijou’s friends as well. They really rounded out a cast of characters. This is certainly light heated and keeps you entertained. A must read for any animal lover who enjoys a good mystery and needs a good laugh. Also, fun fact.. I just got Bella’s DNA results back and she is 10% Norwegian Forest Cat. Perhaps she has some viking cat in there after all and is here to solve the next big mystery with Bijou.
Thank you Love Book Tours, IG Book Tours & Codi Schneider for my gifted copy of Cold Snap and my spot on this tour!
Cold Snap is such a fun and witty mystery. I am clearly biased, but this book had one of the best protagonist I have read about in awhile. I loved Bijou’s friends as well. They really rounded out a cast of characters. This is certainly light heated and keeps you entertained. A must read for any animal lover who enjoys a good mystery and needs a good laugh. Also, fun fact.. I just got Bella’s DNA results back and she is 10% Norwegian Forest Cat. Perhaps she has some viking cat in there after all and is here to solve the next big mystery with Bijou.
Thank you Love Book Tours, IG Book Tours & Codi Schneider for my gifted copy of Cold Snap and my spot on this tour!
May 17, 2023
Very cute and cozy book! Slow burn and takes a while to get to the heart of the plot, but so original, beautifully descriptive, and warm.
October 4, 2021
I received a copy of this book from Booksparks, but all thoughts are my own.
I was excited to read this one, because that cover! Also, a Viking Cat mystery? Sign me up!
But...it was different than I expected and not really my cup of tea. Don't get me wrong, the story is great and the writing is well done, but this is my first cosy mystery and I felt bored at times reading this. I think I expected more of a Viking story, not just a story with a Viking solving a murder/dognapping duo.
I wasn't really expecting this to be set in a small town in present times type thing, I thought there would be more Viking-ness to this book. There wasn't even a scene where the animals imagine they're on a boat (like in the cover)? I did enjoy the little history lessons and God mentions throughout the novel, Bijou really did seem immersed in her culture and I enjoyed her enthusiasm for fitting her friends into the Viking narrative as well.
But this book gets kind of deep too, for a lighthearted mystery it really does delve into dogfighting and the brutalities of it, especially near the end. It kind of threw me for a loop! I did like the camaderie of animals that went on to solve this mystery, even if they weren't actually able to communicate with the humans. I loved Bijou as a character too, I have a fat cat and can imagine mine having many of the same thoughts Bijou had throughout.
Anyway, this is a small town novel with tons of kitty adventures and a bit of mystery woven throughout. Possibly some magical realism too, from the extent that the books POV is through the eyes of a cat. The story was good, but I had a hard time getting into it and the pacing was just not for me. BUT, that is just my opinion!
I was excited to read this one, because that cover! Also, a Viking Cat mystery? Sign me up!
But...it was different than I expected and not really my cup of tea. Don't get me wrong, the story is great and the writing is well done, but this is my first cosy mystery and I felt bored at times reading this. I think I expected more of a Viking story, not just a story with a Viking solving a murder/dognapping duo.
I wasn't really expecting this to be set in a small town in present times type thing, I thought there would be more Viking-ness to this book. There wasn't even a scene where the animals imagine they're on a boat (like in the cover)? I did enjoy the little history lessons and God mentions throughout the novel, Bijou really did seem immersed in her culture and I enjoyed her enthusiasm for fitting her friends into the Viking narrative as well.
But this book gets kind of deep too, for a lighthearted mystery it really does delve into dogfighting and the brutalities of it, especially near the end. It kind of threw me for a loop! I did like the camaderie of animals that went on to solve this mystery, even if they weren't actually able to communicate with the humans. I loved Bijou as a character too, I have a fat cat and can imagine mine having many of the same thoughts Bijou had throughout.
Anyway, this is a small town novel with tons of kitty adventures and a bit of mystery woven throughout. Possibly some magical realism too, from the extent that the books POV is through the eyes of a cat. The story was good, but I had a hard time getting into it and the pacing was just not for me. BUT, that is just my opinion!
December 19, 2021
2.5 stars, but I couldn't round up for this one. It was an entertaining book, but not a great one. The author has some weird conventions that impede the story-telling. For example, she repeatedly capitalizes concepts like "Play", "Burden", and "Dilemma" that you think will lead to some more explanation but don't. They appear to be just a way to set the cat narrator apart from the humans. She introduces characters through a brief interrogation scene at the end of each chapter, pages before she ever refers to them again, so you're lost as to who these people are for quite a while. There are sections where she tries painfully hard with descriptive language. And there are too many loose ends and red herrings. Okay plane or beach reading, but I wouldn't recommend unreservedly.
November 1, 2021
I think the biggest take away from other reviews is they don’t mention the dog fighting. For animal lovers looking for a cozy mystery, which I thought I was getting, will be shocked! Most will not want to read those chapters even if they seem “tame”. While this novel was set in a quiet community, most readers will find that it was just middle ground with somewhat slow pacing, strange human/animal interactions, and resolution that felt incomplete. I really wanted to love this series and even showed it off at work, but don’t think this is one that I will keep and share.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2022
What do a cat with a Viking heritage, a Pomeranian who likes essential oils, a piglet who wears jumpers and a deaf-mute pit bull with a belly tattoo have in common? Well, they are the unusual protagonists of Cold Snap by Codi Schneider and the leading investigation team in this bizarre cosy crime novel.
Told from the perspective of Bijou, a fluffy cat proud of her Viking ancestry, the story is set in a fictional small town, Gray Birch, in Colorado. Everyone knows each other and the sudden arrival of a new resident unleash an upheaval. The narration begins with a short chapter, announcing the discovery of a heinous crime and then resumes to describe the previous months leading up to it.
What is peculiar to this novel is that animals take more space than humans, and are the ones driving the investigation - often resulting in comic accidents.
Overall, the tone is lighthearted, but, towards the end some violent and unsettling scenes are described. The strong bond developed between the animals and their friendship is, however, heartwarming to read.
Told from the perspective of Bijou, a fluffy cat proud of her Viking ancestry, the story is set in a fictional small town, Gray Birch, in Colorado. Everyone knows each other and the sudden arrival of a new resident unleash an upheaval. The narration begins with a short chapter, announcing the discovery of a heinous crime and then resumes to describe the previous months leading up to it.
What is peculiar to this novel is that animals take more space than humans, and are the ones driving the investigation - often resulting in comic accidents.
Overall, the tone is lighthearted, but, towards the end some violent and unsettling scenes are described. The strong bond developed between the animals and their friendship is, however, heartwarming to read.
September 16, 2022
Quite funny at times but a true slog between quips and animal humor. If that’s really your thing I’m sure you’d enjoy this but the dialogue, characters, and story led me to completely zone out and not care about anything that was happening. It was also strangely difficult to keep track of who is who in this and it often felt like the narration kept shifting from the cats point of view to a third party in order to explain more but it ended up creating confusing scenes.
February 3, 2022
This was such a fun cozy mystery & is a fantastic story for cat or viking lovers of any age.
Such an awesome bunch of characters, both human & creature, with a genius concept for the storyline, this was entertaining, humorous, heartwarming & cute.
I have four house cats & reading a book from the perspective of a cat is genius.
Many thanks to Love Books Tours for my tour spot.
Such an awesome bunch of characters, both human & creature, with a genius concept for the storyline, this was entertaining, humorous, heartwarming & cute.
I have four house cats & reading a book from the perspective of a cat is genius.
Many thanks to Love Books Tours for my tour spot.
December 31, 2021
The cats and other animals were fun, but the story was kind of over-stuffed with various story elements. Things could have been pruned a bit which would have made more room for development of the human characters. As it was, the mystery seemed kind of thin because we didn't see enough of the people and their interactions (with each other and with the cat).
December 24, 2021
Bijou, a fat and fearless cat, leads her clan on adventures. She's a Norwegian Forest Cat with a Viking background. Her current clan includes Spencer, her human, and Skunk, a flighty Pomeranian. Then another human joins the clan with Fennec, a pit bull rescue with problems, and a small potbellied pig. (They do grow, you know.) This is a fun and imaginative read--with depth and adventure and mystery. I enjoyed it--and Bijou and Skunk...
Notes: Look up hygge. I wonder about the origin of the Hachiko Suite.
Good quotes, including: "... she is like a polished gem...Shiny and round."
Notes: Look up hygge. I wonder about the origin of the Hachiko Suite.
Good quotes, including: "... she is like a polished gem...Shiny and round."
February 1, 2022
Almost a wonderful cozy mystery..
I was willing to ignore the flaws within Cold Snap -- the confusing cast of characters, the truly awful dialogue, the baffling interrogation sections -- because ultimately this book is about a cat who believes herself to be a Viking, and what could be more delightful than that?
I cannot ignore the upsetting and completely unnecessary dog fighting sections. Upsetting, because cruelty to animals does NOT belong in a cozy mystery. Unnecessary because Fennec could have been placed into any "dangerous" situation, and just about any other dangerous situation would have been better than this one.
I dislike that I would only be able to recommend Cold Snap with a caveat ("the story idea is great but there's this dog fighting thing..") and I especially dislike that the author chose to give us a lecture about the treatment of pitties rather than just allowing Cold Snap to be the magic that it should have been.
I was willing to ignore the flaws within Cold Snap -- the confusing cast of characters, the truly awful dialogue, the baffling interrogation sections -- because ultimately this book is about a cat who believes herself to be a Viking, and what could be more delightful than that?
I cannot ignore the upsetting and completely unnecessary dog fighting sections. Upsetting, because cruelty to animals does NOT belong in a cozy mystery. Unnecessary because Fennec could have been placed into any "dangerous" situation, and just about any other dangerous situation would have been better than this one.
I dislike that I would only be able to recommend Cold Snap with a caveat ("the story idea is great but there's this dog fighting thing..") and I especially dislike that the author chose to give us a lecture about the treatment of pitties rather than just allowing Cold Snap to be the magic that it should have been.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2021
Hidden away in the Colorado Mountains, the residents of Gray Birch live a quaint life. The town is small, the people are quirky and gossip spreads like wildfire. Up at the Fox Burrow Pet Inn, Bijou manages the guests with her human, Spencer, and her faithful assistant, a Pomeranian called Skunk. Of course, it should be mentioned that Bijou isn’t just any old cat, no. Bijou is a descendent of the brave Viking Cats and she’s certain she possesses the same ancient battle skills, lurking in wait until they’re needed. As it turns out, the life of a pet inn manager is fairly tedious and Bijou prefers to put her skills to the task of convincing her human to give her as much food as possible.
Then something out of the blue happens – a stranger from California moves to town. Handsome and full of dreams of running his own bakery, Eddy takes up residence in Gray Birch after buying the town’s old firehouse. Of everyone in the town who is upset by this occurrence, Bijou is the most. Ordinarily, a guest staying at the inn with his two pets would be a perfectly fine thing – but not when said guest brings of all things, a pig (and a puppy, but that’s besides the point). At first, Bijou is disgusted. Soon enough though, they set their differences aside and she comes around to the unlikely trio of guests. As Spencer begins to fall for the newcomer, it becomes more and more obvious that not everyone in town is quite as fond of Eddy.
As the weeks go by, Bijou entertains herself by teaching her Viking wisdom to the pig, Hamlet, and performing her usual rounds of the town. Everyone is excited leading up to the bakery’s opening day, until the most shocking thing to have ever happened in Gray Birch takes place. On the night of the grand opening, Bijou stumbles across the murder of one of the locals! Meanwhile, Eddie’s beloved puppy, Fennec, has gone missing!
The police are immediately on the case, as is everyone else in town. But most importantly, Bijou, with her Viking ancestors behind her, is determined to solve the case and bring the puppy safely home again. The question is, who is the murderer? And what could they possibly want with the puppy?
My Thoughts…
Not going to lie, when I saw the cover of this book I expected an adventure story onboard a Viking ship with cats… Although I’m sure this is what Bijou would be hoping for as well, it’s not at all the case! This book is a cozy mystery set in a small town with your typical bunch of characters. There’s the friendly inn-owner, Spencer, the old bartender, the cranky old lady who complains about everything and the mischievous youngster. A neat little mystery that finally gets solved after each of the residents have a chance to have their say about the matter, only it’s told from the perspective of the animals living at the inn.
I should preface this by saying that I am not a cat person. So why did I pick up a book with a cat as a main character? That’s a good question. I thought it was interesting reading a book from a completely different perspective than I’m used to. However, I often felt disinterested in the daily commentary of cat-things like eating, grooming and looking down on dogs for chasing things. Perhaps if I had a pet cat I might have found it more endearing or funny. Despite the occasional lapses in keeping my attention, I enjoyed the general storyline. I thought the mystery was interesting and not something I suspected right from the beginning. At the end of each chapter the story was partially broken up by interview statements from different members of the community. I thought this was a nice way of including side characters in the story and allowing the reader to attempt to piece things together bit by bit.
One thing I would have liked to see more of is the Viking aspect of Bijou’s life. She finds a book for Viking novices and talks a lot about spending time reading it, but the reader doesn’t get to find out the contents of said mysterious book. How does one become a Viking Cat? I thought the references to the Viking gods was intriguing and it would have been interesting to go into more depth there. Granted, the main focus of the story is supposed to be the murder/dog-napping so I get that it wasn’t the priority. I think with the way the book ended, any following books might delve further into the Viking side of things.
It was amusing to read about the relationships between the various animals and the way they interacted with the townspeople. I thought it was a little odd how people would talk to Bijou and ask questions as though she would respond, but quirky can be entertaining! I really liked the setting – a little mountain town where everything is in cat-walking distance. It really added to the cozy atmosphere of the mystery. If you’re an animal lover who likes reading mystery books, this one is for you!
Then something out of the blue happens – a stranger from California moves to town. Handsome and full of dreams of running his own bakery, Eddy takes up residence in Gray Birch after buying the town’s old firehouse. Of everyone in the town who is upset by this occurrence, Bijou is the most. Ordinarily, a guest staying at the inn with his two pets would be a perfectly fine thing – but not when said guest brings of all things, a pig (and a puppy, but that’s besides the point). At first, Bijou is disgusted. Soon enough though, they set their differences aside and she comes around to the unlikely trio of guests. As Spencer begins to fall for the newcomer, it becomes more and more obvious that not everyone in town is quite as fond of Eddy.
As the weeks go by, Bijou entertains herself by teaching her Viking wisdom to the pig, Hamlet, and performing her usual rounds of the town. Everyone is excited leading up to the bakery’s opening day, until the most shocking thing to have ever happened in Gray Birch takes place. On the night of the grand opening, Bijou stumbles across the murder of one of the locals! Meanwhile, Eddie’s beloved puppy, Fennec, has gone missing!
The police are immediately on the case, as is everyone else in town. But most importantly, Bijou, with her Viking ancestors behind her, is determined to solve the case and bring the puppy safely home again. The question is, who is the murderer? And what could they possibly want with the puppy?
My Thoughts…
Not going to lie, when I saw the cover of this book I expected an adventure story onboard a Viking ship with cats… Although I’m sure this is what Bijou would be hoping for as well, it’s not at all the case! This book is a cozy mystery set in a small town with your typical bunch of characters. There’s the friendly inn-owner, Spencer, the old bartender, the cranky old lady who complains about everything and the mischievous youngster. A neat little mystery that finally gets solved after each of the residents have a chance to have their say about the matter, only it’s told from the perspective of the animals living at the inn.
I should preface this by saying that I am not a cat person. So why did I pick up a book with a cat as a main character? That’s a good question. I thought it was interesting reading a book from a completely different perspective than I’m used to. However, I often felt disinterested in the daily commentary of cat-things like eating, grooming and looking down on dogs for chasing things. Perhaps if I had a pet cat I might have found it more endearing or funny. Despite the occasional lapses in keeping my attention, I enjoyed the general storyline. I thought the mystery was interesting and not something I suspected right from the beginning. At the end of each chapter the story was partially broken up by interview statements from different members of the community. I thought this was a nice way of including side characters in the story and allowing the reader to attempt to piece things together bit by bit.
One thing I would have liked to see more of is the Viking aspect of Bijou’s life. She finds a book for Viking novices and talks a lot about spending time reading it, but the reader doesn’t get to find out the contents of said mysterious book. How does one become a Viking Cat? I thought the references to the Viking gods was intriguing and it would have been interesting to go into more depth there. Granted, the main focus of the story is supposed to be the murder/dog-napping so I get that it wasn’t the priority. I think with the way the book ended, any following books might delve further into the Viking side of things.
It was amusing to read about the relationships between the various animals and the way they interacted with the townspeople. I thought it was a little odd how people would talk to Bijou and ask questions as though she would respond, but quirky can be entertaining! I really liked the setting – a little mountain town where everything is in cat-walking distance. It really added to the cozy atmosphere of the mystery. If you’re an animal lover who likes reading mystery books, this one is for you!
September 18, 2021
COLD SNAP by Codi Schneider
The First Viking Cat Mystery
Proud of her Viking heritage, Bijou Bonanno is a Norwegian Forest cat with an attitude. She happily runs a pet inn with her human, Spencer, and a Pomeranian named Skunk. When Eddy, a baker moving from California comes to stay, along with his two pets, Bijou senses a change in her clan. While she sympathizes with the terrified deaf mute rescue puppy, she is affronted with the man's other pet - a pig, at least until she learns of the pig's status in Viking lore. Soon cat, dog, and pig are working together-someone they know had been killed, and someone they love is missing.
COLD SNAP is a fantasy adventure wrapped in a mystery. With character names like Dirk Square Jaw and Bobi Pinn, who just happens to be a hairdresser, not to mention a pig named Hamlet, Gray Birch, Colorado takes on the appearance of a fantasy village. There's also the fact that the protagonist is a cat who knows her Viking lore and dons her imaginary helmet to take on foes. The format of the mystery is also unusual. The story opens with the discovery of the crime, but readers are unaware of the identity of the murder victim and though readers know the name of the other victim, we know nothing about him...yet. From this point the story backtracks and readers get to meet the varied characters, taking quite some time for the murder to occur, although other sinister events as well as snippets from police interviews keep the crime fresh in readers minds.
I absolutely adore Bijou. She's smart with decided opinions, yet she's able to admit when she's been wrong. In fact, I love all of the animals here, from boy crazy Skunk, to the intelligent and eager Hamlet, and poor little Fennec, as well as the guests of the Fox Burrow Pet Inn and their neighbors.
The first Viking Cat mystery gives plenty of laughs, but there are also heartbreaking moments. Indeed one incident leads me to question the cozy genre label, and still has me tearing up, especially as I remember last words, even though we never really knew this character.
COLD SNAP is a delightfully unique adventure mystery. Norse mythology and real world issues combine in an animal buddy story that tugs at the heart strings while also making you chuckle. I truly enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more about Bijou and her clan.
The First Viking Cat Mystery
Proud of her Viking heritage, Bijou Bonanno is a Norwegian Forest cat with an attitude. She happily runs a pet inn with her human, Spencer, and a Pomeranian named Skunk. When Eddy, a baker moving from California comes to stay, along with his two pets, Bijou senses a change in her clan. While she sympathizes with the terrified deaf mute rescue puppy, she is affronted with the man's other pet - a pig, at least until she learns of the pig's status in Viking lore. Soon cat, dog, and pig are working together-someone they know had been killed, and someone they love is missing.
COLD SNAP is a fantasy adventure wrapped in a mystery. With character names like Dirk Square Jaw and Bobi Pinn, who just happens to be a hairdresser, not to mention a pig named Hamlet, Gray Birch, Colorado takes on the appearance of a fantasy village. There's also the fact that the protagonist is a cat who knows her Viking lore and dons her imaginary helmet to take on foes. The format of the mystery is also unusual. The story opens with the discovery of the crime, but readers are unaware of the identity of the murder victim and though readers know the name of the other victim, we know nothing about him...yet. From this point the story backtracks and readers get to meet the varied characters, taking quite some time for the murder to occur, although other sinister events as well as snippets from police interviews keep the crime fresh in readers minds.
I absolutely adore Bijou. She's smart with decided opinions, yet she's able to admit when she's been wrong. In fact, I love all of the animals here, from boy crazy Skunk, to the intelligent and eager Hamlet, and poor little Fennec, as well as the guests of the Fox Burrow Pet Inn and their neighbors.
The first Viking Cat mystery gives plenty of laughs, but there are also heartbreaking moments. Indeed one incident leads me to question the cozy genre label, and still has me tearing up, especially as I remember last words, even though we never really knew this character.
COLD SNAP is a delightfully unique adventure mystery. Norse mythology and real world issues combine in an animal buddy story that tugs at the heart strings while also making you chuckle. I truly enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more about Bijou and her clan.
October 4, 2021
If you want to get lost in a very unique book, Cold Snap by Codi Schneider is just want you are looking for. Cold Snap is a story told from the viewpoint and experience of a CAT.
In Cold Snap readers are introduced to Bijou, a Viking cat, that takes her heritage very seriously. She lives with her human owner Spencer and a dog named Skunk. Spencer has turned her family Inn into the Fox Burrow Pet Inn. Usually the Inn houses pets whose owners will be gone for a fair amount of time so Spencer, Bijou, and Skunk work together taking care of them and making them feel at home. However, Spencer has taken on a new client in the human form. Eddy Line is moving to town having recently purchased the old firehouse. He is working at turning it into a bakery downstairs and his living quarters upstairs and while he is going that, he is staying at the Inn with his two animals, Fennec a recently rescued pit bull that is a deaf mute and Hamlet, a piglet.
Unfortunately someone doesn't want Eddy to open up the bakery as he receives a threatening note and other things happen before he can finish the renovations. And when he does have his grand opening, the evening doesn't end well when someone is murdered and Fennec is dognapped.
Bijou digs into her Viking background and with the help of Skunk and Hamlet, they set out to rescue Fennec.....but will they get there in time ??
Readers will enjoy reading Cold Snap and seeing the story through the eyes of the cat. And when Bijou and Spencer communicate, you will wonder if Spencer can actually understand what Bijou is saying. And if you are a cat owner you know that it is very likely that they are talking to each other. You will also enjoy the other conversations that the animals throughout the story have.
Cold Snap is a definite read and I look forward to more books in this series to see what trouble awaits this crazy group of humans and animals.
In Cold Snap readers are introduced to Bijou, a Viking cat, that takes her heritage very seriously. She lives with her human owner Spencer and a dog named Skunk. Spencer has turned her family Inn into the Fox Burrow Pet Inn. Usually the Inn houses pets whose owners will be gone for a fair amount of time so Spencer, Bijou, and Skunk work together taking care of them and making them feel at home. However, Spencer has taken on a new client in the human form. Eddy Line is moving to town having recently purchased the old firehouse. He is working at turning it into a bakery downstairs and his living quarters upstairs and while he is going that, he is staying at the Inn with his two animals, Fennec a recently rescued pit bull that is a deaf mute and Hamlet, a piglet.
Unfortunately someone doesn't want Eddy to open up the bakery as he receives a threatening note and other things happen before he can finish the renovations. And when he does have his grand opening, the evening doesn't end well when someone is murdered and Fennec is dognapped.
Bijou digs into her Viking background and with the help of Skunk and Hamlet, they set out to rescue Fennec.....but will they get there in time ??
Readers will enjoy reading Cold Snap and seeing the story through the eyes of the cat. And when Bijou and Spencer communicate, you will wonder if Spencer can actually understand what Bijou is saying. And if you are a cat owner you know that it is very likely that they are talking to each other. You will also enjoy the other conversations that the animals throughout the story have.
Cold Snap is a definite read and I look forward to more books in this series to see what trouble awaits this crazy group of humans and animals.
October 4, 2021
Thank you to BookSparks for sending me a copy of Cold Snap!
Cold Snap is the cutest little cat story you’ll read in a long time! Bijou thinks she’s a Viking, but really she just lives up in the mountains of Colorado with her human, Spencer, and her dog friend, Skunk. When Eddy, a handsome baker who has recently purchased the old, abandoned firehouse in town, comes to stay at Spencer’s pet inn with Fennec the pup and Hamlet the pig, things start to get interesting.
As Spencer and Eddy work on bringing the bakery Eddy plans to open to life, Bijou begins her Viking training with her newfound friends by her side. And when a murder/dognapping occurs on the night of the bakery’s official opening, Bijou and her friends will have to help solve the case, with or without their owner’s approval.
Cold Snap reminded me of Homeward Bound with a mystery twist! I loved the viewpoint of Bijou, though it did take some getting used to seeing as she’s a cat and not a human like her owner, Spencer. Spencer is very protective of her pets and her guests. Eddy and her share their love of animals, and I was intrigued with where the story went, because it was completely unexpected for me. I feel like Cold Snap is a book that does more than entertain. I learned a lot about a subject that I previously had very little knowledge about. I don’t want to spoil the ending, so we’ll leave it at that! *wink*
Cold Snap is available now wherever books are sold!
Cold Snap is the cutest little cat story you’ll read in a long time! Bijou thinks she’s a Viking, but really she just lives up in the mountains of Colorado with her human, Spencer, and her dog friend, Skunk. When Eddy, a handsome baker who has recently purchased the old, abandoned firehouse in town, comes to stay at Spencer’s pet inn with Fennec the pup and Hamlet the pig, things start to get interesting.
As Spencer and Eddy work on bringing the bakery Eddy plans to open to life, Bijou begins her Viking training with her newfound friends by her side. And when a murder/dognapping occurs on the night of the bakery’s official opening, Bijou and her friends will have to help solve the case, with or without their owner’s approval.
Cold Snap reminded me of Homeward Bound with a mystery twist! I loved the viewpoint of Bijou, though it did take some getting used to seeing as she’s a cat and not a human like her owner, Spencer. Spencer is very protective of her pets and her guests. Eddy and her share their love of animals, and I was intrigued with where the story went, because it was completely unexpected for me. I feel like Cold Snap is a book that does more than entertain. I learned a lot about a subject that I previously had very little knowledge about. I don’t want to spoil the ending, so we’ll leave it at that! *wink*
Cold Snap is available now wherever books are sold!
February 10, 2022
A viking cat mystery. Literally a cat stumbling across a dead body… a cat that narrates in such a quirky way your left mind blown and in hysterics. Especially when you come across the pot bellied pig wearing pomegranate jumpers. The chapters flow and introduce you to wonderful characters animal and human. I found myself really humoured by Bijou and her antics. If you love cats and dogs you’ll adore this read.
The author does an amazing job at imagination and perfectly matching up the behaviours you meet with certain breeds. The adventures are creative, funny and joyful. Along the way you get hints of certain reveals to mysteries. This instantly started to make me think how horrible certain human characters were in this. The chapters are small and leave you with anticipation as questioning takes place in-between.
I kept coming across ‘snaggletooth’ and had no idea what this was until I googled cats snaggletooth and I could then vividly picture bijou in my mind. I loved the relationships between the animals and the humans. The remarks and conversation from the animals to the humans tickled me so much. This book was very entertaining, unusual and proved that animals are better than humans. Loved it.
I’m so glad I didn’t just take the book by it’s cover and gave this a shot.
The author does an amazing job at imagination and perfectly matching up the behaviours you meet with certain breeds. The adventures are creative, funny and joyful. Along the way you get hints of certain reveals to mysteries. This instantly started to make me think how horrible certain human characters were in this. The chapters are small and leave you with anticipation as questioning takes place in-between.
I kept coming across ‘snaggletooth’ and had no idea what this was until I googled cats snaggletooth and I could then vividly picture bijou in my mind. I loved the relationships between the animals and the humans. The remarks and conversation from the animals to the humans tickled me so much. This book was very entertaining, unusual and proved that animals are better than humans. Loved it.
I’m so glad I didn’t just take the book by it’s cover and gave this a shot.
September 26, 2021
This book killed me with cute! Its Viking kitty Bijou portrayed the ultimate cat qualities perfectly by being equal parts silly and intelligent. I fell in love with her attitude and her imposed superiority over the other animals felt like real thoughts that could actually be going on in a cat’s head. Skunk the Pomeranian was a great comic relief and Hamlet the pig’s different sweaters made me melt! It wasn’t only the animals that stole my heart in this one but the characters’ names as well: the local hairdresser is Bobi Pinn, the police lieutenant is Lou Tennant, and the bakery is called Witching Flour. The fact that all this takes place in a sleepy Colorado mountain town made this book so cozy I wished it was snowing outside my Texas window.
I was so caught up in the adorable world-building going on that when the murder mystery aspect came up I was caught off-guard! I appreciated how it was a truly a whodunnit, there were a few people with motive and opportunity and the perpetrator wasn’t immediately obvious. For all those reasons I felt this book was a solid five stars and highly recommend if you’re an animal lover in search of a good mystery.
Thank you to the publisher Sparkpress and NetGalley for providing an advanced readers copy for review.
I was so caught up in the adorable world-building going on that when the murder mystery aspect came up I was caught off-guard! I appreciated how it was a truly a whodunnit, there were a few people with motive and opportunity and the perpetrator wasn’t immediately obvious. For all those reasons I felt this book was a solid five stars and highly recommend if you’re an animal lover in search of a good mystery.
Thank you to the publisher Sparkpress and NetGalley for providing an advanced readers copy for review.
May 16, 2024
This clever book is narrated by Bijou the cat. Don’t let the name fool you: he’s a descendant of Viking cats and, armed with his invisible shield and helm (and very visible dewclaw), he sets out to solve the mystery when there’s a murder and his new friend is dognapped.
This one takes a bit to get started but once it gets rolling it’s super fun. Bijou runs a pet hotel with his owner, Spencer. All the animals can communicate (though the humans of course cannot understand them) and it’s great fun as Bijou and his “assistant”, a Pomeranian named Skunk, get to know some new residents (a puppy and a pig) as Spencer falls for their owner, Eddy (which plays out completely in the background because it’s not something Bijou noticed – but as the book goes on, Eddy and his pets simply become part of Bijou’s clan.)
The only reason I gave this a 4 instead of a 5 is because the dognapping mystery leads to some nastiness that I won’t go into because of spoilers, and while it’s certainly not graphic it was still disturbing, as all animal abuse is. I wasn’t really expecting it and I’m not sure it fit into this style of book. Just be forewarned. It’s only a part of a chapter and I still loved the book.
This one takes a bit to get started but once it gets rolling it’s super fun. Bijou runs a pet hotel with his owner, Spencer. All the animals can communicate (though the humans of course cannot understand them) and it’s great fun as Bijou and his “assistant”, a Pomeranian named Skunk, get to know some new residents (a puppy and a pig) as Spencer falls for their owner, Eddy (which plays out completely in the background because it’s not something Bijou noticed – but as the book goes on, Eddy and his pets simply become part of Bijou’s clan.)
The only reason I gave this a 4 instead of a 5 is because the dognapping mystery leads to some nastiness that I won’t go into because of spoilers, and while it’s certainly not graphic it was still disturbing, as all animal abuse is. I wasn’t really expecting it and I’m not sure it fit into this style of book. Just be forewarned. It’s only a part of a chapter and I still loved the book.
February 4, 2022
“We Norsecats look splendid in armor. Particularly in helmets. And this was why, alone in the firelight of the living room, I stuck my head into an empty succulent pot. Instantly I felt connected to the ancestors and to that fjord of blood that ran all cool and slushy in my veins”
Have you ever wanted to read a book from the perspective of a cat of viking descent? Then this is for you! I truly have never read a book quite like this, it’s quirky from the outset and really unexpected. The narrator, Bijou, is the star of this novel, with a distinct and witty narrative voice that gives the book its humorous edge. Bijou balances her Viking ancestry alongside her duties at the Fox Burrow Pet Inn with her owner, Spencer. When new guests arrive and tragedy strikes in town, Bijou becomes embroiled in an unexpected mystery. Observing the plot unfold through their eyes adds to the excitement, and the mystery elements of story. A fun read for mystery and animal lovers alike.
Have you ever wanted to read a book from the perspective of a cat of viking descent? Then this is for you! I truly have never read a book quite like this, it’s quirky from the outset and really unexpected. The narrator, Bijou, is the star of this novel, with a distinct and witty narrative voice that gives the book its humorous edge. Bijou balances her Viking ancestry alongside her duties at the Fox Burrow Pet Inn with her owner, Spencer. When new guests arrive and tragedy strikes in town, Bijou becomes embroiled in an unexpected mystery. Observing the plot unfold through their eyes adds to the excitement, and the mystery elements of story. A fun read for mystery and animal lovers alike.
September 13, 2021
Bijou, a Norsecat with the blood of her Viking ancestors flowing through her veins, lives in a small town in the Colorado mountains with her owner Spencer and Skunk, a high energy Pomeranian. When a murder and dognapping plague the small town, Bijou is on the case with her sword and helmet at the ready. With the help of her friends, will she be able to solve the mystery?
What a fun journey this was! Bijou was a charming narrator, quirks and all, and was surrounded by equally charming and equally quirky characters. The writing style was fun and kept me engaged, and the mystery was compelling and kept me on my toes. I really appreciated how Codi Schneider brought real life issues facing our furry friends into the plot and the cruelty that they may be forced to endure, while also showing how deeply they can be loved (and love in return). I recommend!
What a fun journey this was! Bijou was a charming narrator, quirks and all, and was surrounded by equally charming and equally quirky characters. The writing style was fun and kept me engaged, and the mystery was compelling and kept me on my toes. I really appreciated how Codi Schneider brought real life issues facing our furry friends into the plot and the cruelty that they may be forced to endure, while also showing how deeply they can be loved (and love in return). I recommend!
February 11, 2022
This was a cute and funny light read, and I wish I could meet Bijou!
I loved the animals and how their relationships developed - they really were a little unit. The underlying murder and dognapping were entertaining too - the action picked up then. The story was definitely humourous, I found myself chuckling away at little snippets.
Only negatives were that I got confused when the labelled conversations started (may be due to the ARC formatting) - who was it and when/where were the conversations happening. Also, I thought the story and pace dragged in the second quarter; I struggled to keep focus. However, it definitely picked up again after that.
It was a warming tale, and I can't wait to read the continuing adventures of Bijou and the gang.
*I received a complimentary copy of the e-book from LoveBooksTours and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I loved the animals and how their relationships developed - they really were a little unit. The underlying murder and dognapping were entertaining too - the action picked up then. The story was definitely humourous, I found myself chuckling away at little snippets.
Only negatives were that I got confused when the labelled conversations started (may be due to the ARC formatting) - who was it and when/where were the conversations happening. Also, I thought the story and pace dragged in the second quarter; I struggled to keep focus. However, it definitely picked up again after that.
It was a warming tale, and I can't wait to read the continuing adventures of Bijou and the gang.
*I received a complimentary copy of the e-book from LoveBooksTours and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
May 7, 2022
I picked up this book at The Brown Dog Bakery in Buena Vista, Colorado because my 9 and 6 year old grandsons were intrigued by the cover and said, "Read it, Nonna!" And so I did, and with great interest and pleasure. Codi Schneider is a clever writer! Having just spent time in this location, I think she describes the setting of her story really well. And her characters, human AND animal, come alive and I really cared about all of them. I do like a good mystery and Cold Snap kept me guessing, "who dun it?" I will say that there is a deeply disturbing element to the crime and I probably won't be sharing this story with my grandsons. But for adult mystery lovers, for anyone who enjoyed animal stories as a child, for Coloradans (and, possibly, Scandinavians!), this book is a very, very good read!
November 14, 2021
Mystery. Humor. And lots of heart. Cold Snap is told from the perspective of Bijou, a brave Viking Cat full of purrsonality, who goes on a series of epic feline adventures over the course of this witty whodunit. As a cat lover, I loved Bijou, and I’d happily join her cozy clan. This story had me giggling one moment and cuddling my own cat tighter the next. Schneider is without a doubt an animal-lover and advocate herself, handling an intensely hard to write (and read) about topic with a sensitive touch and giving readers a hopeful resolution. I highly recommend this engaging story to all animal lovers, who will find much delight in the pawsitively purrfect puns that had me laughing out loud!
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