When the Cat's Away

by Molly Fitz, Bailey Booth, M.L. Bonatch

From all-inclusive cruises to all-American road trips, sometimes we all just need to get away. And what better escape than into the pages of a book?

USA Today bestselling author Molly Fitz has gathered a fantastically talented group of emerging and established talent in the Cozy Mystery genre. Together, she and her ten author friends are ready to present the ultimate bookworm staycation.

The best part? Kitty doesn’t have to stay at home. Grab your favorite furry friend and snuggle up to read this fun collection of 11 travel cozies, each including a fabulous feline along for the ride.

All aboard for intriguing mysteries, hilarious banter, and good, clean fun. Grab your copy of WHILE THE CAT’S AWAY to catch up with your favorite characters and meet some new friends along the way. You’ll be oh-so glad you did!

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Paranormal, Ghosts, Cats, Humor, Contemporary

697 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 17, 2021

About the author

Molly Fitz is the quirky, cozy mystery pen name of USA Today bestselling author, Melissa Storm. And while she can't technically talk to animals, she and her doggie best friend, Sky Princess, have deep and very animated conversations as they navigate their days. Add to that, five more dogs, a snarky feline, comedian husband, and diva daughter, and you can pretty much imagine how life looks in the Casa de Fitz.

Molly lives in a house on a high hill in the Michigan woods and occasionally ventures out for good food, great coffee, or to meet new animal friends.

Reviews

[Chad Barrus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mallory wins a trip to New Orleans to attend a cooking tour and brings Amber and Hunch at the last
minute since his “sitter” fell though. Good thing though because Mallory should know by now that her cat needs to be with her at all times even under the guise of a food tour because where Mallory (and Amber) go trouble seems to follow!

Things get off to a rocky start when on the first day a food critic dies and Amber seems to be a prime suspect! Good thing Hunch is nosy on the scene because once again he comes up with a critical clue to save Amber!

I love Denise’s wonderful series about two best friends who meet under horrifying circumstances but form a bond with no small assistance from the one and only Hunch and this intrepid trio find they have a knack for sniffing out killers and saving the day in each delicious outing we’re treated too!

This is a short story but has all the ingredients of its big sisters as things remain the same whether in Honeysuckle Grove or New Orleans!

Pick up this book by multiple authors and have a meowingly good time as cats rule the day!! Then do yourself the pleasure of getting Denise’s Mallory Beck series and enjoy the sleuthing abilities of Mallory, Amber, Alex and the one and only Hunch!
You’ll be delighted that you did and at the end you can even cook up some delicious food you read about because Denise has graciously included the recipes she mentions in each book! It’s a win win for sure!!

I have only read this story in this collection but I am sure the other cats are just as smart as our Hunch! Wouldn’t it be something if they all got together in one place? Crime wouldn’t have a chance!!

I recommend this story for the sheer delight of a story that you’ll enjoy! Bravo Hunch and the humans he helps in a big way to bring the bad people to justice no matter where they are!

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grizzle Grievance - Molly Fitz
Nice to get my Angie and Otto-cat fix, highly enjoyable
After all the stress Angie's been under with work and her family, Charlies decides to take her away for the weekend. Octo-cat and Pringle sneak on board the camper van, so the quite weekend goes out the window. To make matters worse Angie finds a dead body. Can the find the killer and also help Gloria protect her family


The Magical Mocha Latte - Becky Muth

Quite an enjoyable short story. When Zips, Aunt Carliss sends her on a delivery errand she doesn’t expect it to turn her world upside down. When magical coffee gives her cat and new puppy the ability to talk can they use it to their advantage when her aunt is kidnapped

Murder and Mice and Everything Vice by Patti Larsen

A nice short murder mystery. Persephone Pringle has agreed to help out her friend Lou Ellen on a Wellness retreat. Natasha is a nasty women intent on spoiling the weekend for everyone, when she pushes one of the guests too far. Can she solve the murder before the murderer flees the island

What A Ghost Around - Jane Hinchey

A Ghost, a murder and talking animals. When Audrey Fitzgerald wins a funny animals photo competition. She and her detective husband as well as her cat Thor and Bandit her Raccoon get week on a tropical island. What They didn’t expect from was a murder and having to help solve it

Murder in the Meow - Daphine Hunt
A cute murder mystery. Pepper is a lawyer on holidays in England from the USA and Osiris is an Egyptian Mew Cat. When Osiris owner is murdered can the pair find the real killer before an innocent man is punished

Curses, Cats & Corpses - M.L Bonatch
A witch who’s latest backfiring spell has caused not only a permanent streak in her hair but the ability to talk to a bald cat named Jasper. Can they find the killer before her new Demon friend gets the blame

Murder of a Po’Boy - Denise Jaden
When Mallory wins a Recipe competition and trip to New Orleans little does she suspect she will need her friend Audrey and cat Hunch to solve a murder


Art Heists and Hairballs! - Bailey Booth

An enjoyable mystery of a missing artwork. Plus who dumped Addie’s new friend Persephone on the door step of the animal shelter. With help of the talking cat will the solve the crime and claim the reward to help the animals in the shelter

Murder in the cards - Morgan Vale

Rose has been hired as the cruise ship physic,
She’s never had any signs that she might actually been one till now. Between the power of her tarot cards and Darwin the Siamese ship cat is taking to her. Will the pair along with a Pi solve the most recent murder

Hawaiian Kitten Curse - Daisy Finch
Poppy wants to find her Best friend’s aunt, so she borrows her kitten bubbles and flies off Hawaii. Will she succeed or will the bad guys stop them

Catastrophe on the Road - Rosie Pease
Meredith is hoping for a smooth bus ride home from her short trip away. Sadly one of the passengers drops dead and the bus is forced to detour. Where she meets a cute detective and cat called trouble who definitely leads up to his name. Will Meredith be able to help the police solve the mystery and will Trouble find a permanent home

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is for What Ghost Around by Jane Hinchey

Loved this short story which adds to Jane's Ghost Detective Mystery series. You do not need to have read any other books in the series to enjoy this story. I would recommend reading the series as it is very entertaining and you will love Thor and Bandit after reading this novella.

Audrey and Kade are off to vacation at a pet-friendly resort. Audrey won the week at Wild Haven Lagoon after submitting a picture of her cat Thor and her pet raccoon Bandit. Her boyfriend, Captain Cowboy Hot Pants (Detective Kade Galloway) came with her and they can't wait to sample what the resort has to offer. Clumsy Audrey decides to try her hand at learning to surf while Kade goes off to do some deep-sea diving. It is not until she hurts herself that she figures out that her instructor is a ghost and his body has been lying hidden since before her lesson began. Sometimes the ability to see and hear ghosts is a real pain. Now she and Kade are once again in the middle of a murder investigation where she is an immediate suspect. So much for fun in the sand and sun.

I was given an advanced copy of this story by the author. My review is voluntary.

[Jodi Sweet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is for What Ghosts Around by Jane Hinchey. I absolutely love this series and this was a great addition to it. Only Audrey can get herself hit with a surfboard in the chin while on vacation! Oh, and meet a ghost that needs to have his murder solved so she can get on with her vacation. Yeah, there’s that little hiccup in her plans. Galloway helps the two local police officers with the investigation. Surprisingly, they are actually quite competent, other than the absent investigator on their team that may or may not exist. Who knows, he never seems to be around. Lol! I was completely surprised with how it ended, which made it that much more enjoyable.

[Debbie Eyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edited - Edited - this is a fantastic boxset written by some fantastic authors. Each story is gripping and fun, the storylines mysterious and suspenseful and the furry friends and their humans just awesome!

So road trip anyone??


Review for What Ghost Around

This is another fab story from this author and her ghost mystery series. Audrey and Kade win a holiday to an island beach resort but it ends up anything but restful! A murdered surf board instructor, an entertaining and exciting storyline, fun characters with great chemistry and some cheeky pets all together make for a fantastic read!

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humor, suspense and an absolute clowder of feline sleuths. From prequels of upcoming series to bonus stories in existing ones, this anthology has a little bit of everything. I got the chance to see where some of my favorite characters are now and I’ve just added dozens and dozens more books to my always-growing list of things I MUST read (eventually). I had a lot of fun with this book and sorry it’s over already. I want to know where all these characters go next.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the publisher.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this collection and so far have only read Jane Hinchey;s "What Ghosts Around" It definitely rated a 5*, and if the rest of the stories are as good, I will upgrade this review.

[Nicole Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Ghosts Around by Jane Hinchey was another classic Audrey book. So if you’ve been reading this series by Jane you’ll know that Audrey is a bit of a klutz and if there’s an accident to happen Audrey is bound to be involved. In this story Audrey and Galloway have won a holiday thanks to Thor and Bandit. But in usual fashion things don’t go to plan, first it’s the classic Audrey accident then the dead body. And from there the story just holds you captive till the end. This was a quick and enjoyable read that was fun to read as per usual.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is for What Ghost Around. Audrey wins a vacation at an island beach resort. Actually, Thor and Bandit win it for being so cute. Once again, Audrey's ghost seeing abilities land her in hot water. After all, who else would take a surfing lesson from a ghost and not know it. So Audrey and Kade work with the two local policemen to solve the mystery. A fun read.

[Angel Ballard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is for What Ghost Around by Jane Hinchey

What's not to like?
Winning a free trip to an island paradise! Yayyy! Sounds like loads of fun in the sun right? Wellll, not when Audrey is on that island! She and Captain Cowboy Hot Pants get caught up in a mystery that needs solved fast so they can enjoy their island getaway!

[Juanita E. Arp · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is only for What Ghost Around by Jane Hinchey. I enjoyed this book, the storyline is entertaining and filled with action and adventure. The interaction and chemistry between the characters is wonderful. I can't wait for more from this author. I received this book 📚as a FREE ARC copy to read and I voluntarily leave this review.

[Bec · Rating 4 out of 5]

What Ghosts Around by Jane Hinchey
What a fun story. Audrey won a holiday to an island resort by entering a photo of Thor, her British talking cat and Bandit, her talking racoon into a competition. So of she goes with Thor and Bandit, and her hot boyfriend Detective Galloway. Of course nothing is ever straight forward for Audrey and she ends up going on a surfing lesson with a ghost, and then finds his dead body. The police on the island doen't seem that experienced at solving a murder so Audrey and Detective Galloway get in on the action to determine who killed the surf instructor.

[Candylynnbluegmail.Com · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Ghosts around by Jane Hinchey
Audrey and Captain Cowboy Hot Pants won a trip with Thor the cat and Bandit the raccoon.

Thor and Bandit get to go on a beach vacation! I love the comedy that the animals bring to this story!

Audrey takes a surfing lesson from the resort surf instructor who turns out died that morning. Audrey and Kade help with the investigation. The surf instructor is a flirt even in death, and can’t imagine who might have killed him.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Ghost Around by Jane Hinchey
This was an all-too-brief visit with Audrey and company. There was a suitably unexpected resolution to the case, and then more vacationing. Very enjoyable.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder of a Po Boy by Denise Jaden
Mallory wins a food tour of New Orleans and she takes Amber along as her plus one. Without a cat sitter, Hunch is along and has to stow away in the hotel. But it works out that Hunch is on the trip because Mallory and Amber stumble on yet another murder and Hunch is the big hero again. Fun quick read with a good mystery.

[Julie Pederick · Rating 4 out of 5]

☆ WHAT GHOST AROUND ☆ Book #5.5 Ghost Detective Series ☆ JANE HINCHEY ☆


JANE HINCHEY IS MY FAVOURITE GO-TO COZY AUTHOR AS A CLEANUP HITTER! 

SHORT & SWEET 
MUCH LIKE AUDREY, THOR & BANDIT!!!

I began reading this series from the start & is an absolute favourite of mine by an absolute favourite South Aussie Author. What I love most about The Ghost Detective Series, is it's a light-hearted, funny romp with brilliantly written characters who are flawed, realistic & relateable.

Audrey (Fitz) Fitzgerald: our leading lady, a Private Eye that's smart as a whip, but just as likely to trip herself up on said whip 'cos that's just how she rolls as the world's biggest klutz! She has great instincts like a cop but isn't restricted by all the laws, rules & regulations that gets her into the most compromising & hilarious situations. She fall's 'head over heels' literally for her 'Captain Cowboy Hot Pants' Bigtime! He still sends shivers up & down her spine from a single glance. I'd be surprised if she even knew there were other men in the world.

Thor: The British Short Haired Talking Cat: And watch out for Thor, he's a lot like Garfield, always thinking of his stomach! That sharp tongue & claws are just as likely to cut you cos if you snooze, you lose! If his kibble bowl isn't full all Hell is about to break loose! And quick with the lip, but loves his Momma, even saved her life a time or two & quite the charmer!
And just as well Audrey, Bandit & the ghosts are the only one's who can hear the pompous little shite! 

Bandit the Raccoon: a recently new member of the family, this sweet little fluffy naive thing adores everyone & everything and wouldn't harm a fly. She's always being led astray & conned by her naughty BFF Thor, whom she looks up too & idolises, but he does loves her dearly as long as he doesn't have to say it out loud.

Detective Kade Galloway:
aka Captain Cowboy Hot Pants: remains the cool headed calm of reason that only a Police Detective can be especially in the storm of calamity of klutz of Fitz. Reliable, dependable, honest & trustworthy, he is the glue that keeps his little family of four together & is madly truly deeply in love with Audrey. They're both completely goo-goo over each other.

Thor, Bandit & Audrey are the comedic relief & you'll never know if it's them who'll end up in stitches or if you'll be laughing in stitches at them or with them!

These stories are not to be taken too seriously & continue to be a tonne of fun & are what I've termed 'My Palate Cleansers!' They're exactly what I need after reading an epic Shayne Silvers full-on Urban fantasy non-stop action novel that blows the mind, but then I have trouble getting out of his books, or did, until I found my shot of calming Jane Hinchey Cozy's to bring me back to reality and normalcy, getting my head out of those Silver-lined clouds and my feet back on the floor. So thank you Jane you've made slipping back into reality with these books an easier process and this is why JANE HINCHEY IS MY GO TO GAL & AUTHOR AS A CLEANUP HITTER! 

These 2 favourite authors always release within days of each other so it always works out well for me!

What Ghost Around Book #5.5 is a short & sweet novella & could be read as a stand-alone or in order in the series, coming between books 5 and 6 if you want to read in order.

Audrey enters a pet photo competition of food obsessed Kitty with 'tude Thor, face down 'asleep' or food comatosed in his kibble bowl & wins first prize! A holiday at a swanky beach villa at the Wild Haven Lagoon Resort & a photo shoot for the family of 4 which is kind of pet friendly, well sort of, pets in your room & pets on the beach, but that's it!
But you know wherever Audrey, Detective Kade Galloway aka Captain Cowboy Hot Pants, Thor their talking British Short Hair Cat & Bandit the Talking Raccoon go, there's sure to be Mayhem, Magic, Munchies, Mojitos, Mystery, Madness, Murder & Meow-Wows! 

And just like every other book in this series I absolutely loved, loved, loved it, but a certain incident left me scratching my head. At first I thought it was a plot hole or ghost lore had a sudden changed, so I contacted Ms Hinchey before posting my review.

As an (ARC) Advanced Readers Copy you receive an e copy of a book before release. You read it, check it for typos, grammar, punctuation, plot holes & write a review to post online on Amazon, Goodreads, Bookbub & other book stores, on your social media & to book groups to promote the book for its release.
This way readers who are interested have genuine reviews to see what people think of the book before they buy.
Reviews are an important part of the selling process for all authors. So if you read a book, think about leaving a review. It can be as small or large as you like.


I wanted to chat to Jane, give her the chance to change or fix the book if there is an issues, if it's wrong or to edit my review if I am the one wrong.

Normally, newly formed ghosts can not touch, carry nor affect small solid items, but in this novella, we see the newly murdered victim carrying a very large, very heavy, very solid item, but then a few minutes later said victim can not lift a lid nor touch a first aid kit? And all this occurs before the victim knows they have succumbed to the big Kahuna in the sky?
Sorry, Ms Hinchey, you know I've been one of your biggest supporters from day one, I love you & your books, but lore must flow & be uniform from one book to the next.

And yes, Audrey acknowledge it was unusual, but that was all she said, there was no further comments making this whole situation very confusing.
At first I thought Rory was murdered after Audrey's accident, while going to get her the first aid kit.
And I thought Rory's surfboard was real until Jane herself told me differently.
I had no idea Rory's surfboard was incorporeal, the whole time, but there is no explanation in the book itself to explain this other than the term Audrey quotes as "unusual".

To be perfectly frank & honest this whole Rory, the surfboard after murder scene was as clear as mud for me, but I still enjoyed the book & your writing as always.
This does not quite seem like your usual self. I've never known you to write like this in all these years & I have been with you since book 1 First Witch. I know much has been going on this past year & is understandable. Is this the reason?

I love that you are progressing & upping your game with your writing to make things more appealing & exciting as this keeps us, the readers on our toes with new ideas & totally blows our minds or would have for me if only...
Such a brilliant & unique idea having ghost Rory cross over to the Spirit realm but still Earthbound. And carrying, his most prized possession, his one true love, his surfboard. No wonder its like an extra appendage to Rory. I was like that with my Pentax SLR camera, it was my 3rd arm.

With what we know of 'Ghost Lore' from the 'Ghost Detective Series', no one has crossed over with a possession before. Brilliant move BTW Jane! Just make things are crystal clear so there's no confusion.

There is nothing in the story to explain the surfboard is incorporeal & I still wouldn't know that unless I contacted Jane. She explained that as surfing is Rory's one true love his surfboard went with him when he died.
Where is this crucial piece of information in the story Ms Hinchey?

I believe this aspect must be added to the story to make it more authentic, clear up a somewhat confusing storyline to turn it rock solid like a Hinchey novel normal is, but as it currently stands I do think its a little muddy around the murder/surfboard scenes & will allow my views of an unclear situation to stand.

And Ben (Audrey's BFF, who does not appear in this book) is an advanced ghost, one who refused to cross over, and who's been on the Earthen Plain for quite some time now and even Ben has not mastered this art if moving items or touching things. Although Ben can affect technology like phones & computers.

In regards to Rory's death I first thought it was because the victim hadn't expired until later in the story, after Audrey's injury, but we quickly find out that isn't so. For this reason & the unclear storyline which I think is all related, I will knock off some points in the ratings, but otherwise the writing & the editing is as tight as usual. Honestly I didn't spot a simple typo or grammar issue. Congratulations.


I RATE WHAT GHOST AROUND 4.5⭐ OUT OF 5⭐


I received an ARC of this book from the author and as always this is my fair, honest and impartial review.



Reviewed By: Jewelz Pederick. 

🙋‍♀‍ ❤ The 🤪 🇦🇺 📖🐛❗
(Bye Love The Crazy Australian Bookworm)!

[Sylvie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review for What Ghost Around

I love reading Audrey's stories!  She's clumpsy, funny, lovable and surrounded by talking pets and ghosts.  What's not to love!  She always ends up in the middle of a murder mystery and, with the help of her detective boyfriend, finds a way to solve the mystery.  I highly recommend this series!

I received this book as part of an ARC team and this is my honest review.

[Dana Busenbark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grizzly Grievance by Molly Fitz - Who are Charles and Angie? Interesting name for a cat, Octo-cat. Who and what is Pringle? Oh, I feel slightly sorry for Angie and what has been happening the last 6 months. I like Nan. I wish I had my own Charles trying to surprise me for a weekend! Oh god, Pringle had me in stitches!!! Oh goodness, now I need to keep reading this series! It was a fun read!

The Magical Mocha Latte by R.A. Muth - Who is Tziporah? Who is Corlis? Where do each of them live? What do they each do for a living? What happens when Corliss asks Zip to make a delivery for her? I think Murphy's law kicked in!!! What hpapened after rescuing a pup and getting a coffee had me laughing deeply. Oh goodness, I have to read more of this series to see what happens with Zip and her deadline! Deadline for what? I loved that this story was not a murder mystery. It was so much fun!

Murder & Mice & Everything Nice by Patti Larsen - Who is Persephone? What does she do for a living? Where do we find her? Who is Natasha? What do we learn about her very quickly? Who is Lou Ellen? Who is Trent and what do we learn about him? I liked how Persephone dealt with Daphne and Fern. Who is Shauna and what does she do for a living? Who is Helen and what do we learn about her job? When Persephone apologizes to someone, how is it given and received? Who do we find dead? Where do we find the person, and what unusual clues do we get? What happens when Persephone calls Cherise for help?

What Ghost Around by Jane Hinchey - Where do we find our intrepid ghost talker going on vacation? What was the cause of the vacation? Oh goodness, our poor, intrepid ghost whisperer finds herself injured. How did that happen? Oh my! I tripped out while reading as to how the dead body was found and who it was. Way to go Ms. Hinchey!!! Way to go!! You really got me with this story! I have some thoughts about the police department, but I don't think they'll ever be confirmed unless we revisit this location! Kade and Audrey are two of the most fun people to read about! This story was short and fun. I was shocked at the reason behind the murder!

Murder in the Meow by Daphne Hunt - Who and what are Osiris and Pepper? Where do we find them in this story? I found myself liking Ewan pretty quickly. Nicky seemed an interesting sort. Wow, things get pretty weird. Who is witness to the weirdness and what happens when Pepper contacts the constable about her suspicion? What shocking things do we learn? This story ended with me chuckling! Read and see why.

Curses, Cats, & Corpses by M.L. Bonatch - Who is Marissa? What does she do for a living and where do we find her? Who and what is Mulder? What do we find her conversing with? What is so unusual about where she is visiting? Who is James? Who calls him in and why? Jasper is definitely a character! Well that mystery turned out to have some real shockers in it! Enjoy!

Murder of a Po'boy by Denise Jaden - Who is Mallory? Where do we find her going and why? Where is she from? What does she do for a living? Who is Amber? How do they know one another? Who and what is Hunch? Oh goodness, the pun that leads us into chapter one had me groaning! Who is Seth? I like Liam and Emile! I cannot stand Clive. I feel sorry for Scarlett. Not sure what to make of Victor and Victoria! I hope to learn more about Lisa. Is it wrong of me to wish someone dead in a murder mystery? Who is Alex and why does Amber call him? Oh goodness, that was a fun read, especially based on where it was set.

Art Heists & Hairballs by Bailey Booth - Who and what is Persephone? Where do we find her? Who are Henry and Margaret? who are Brooke, Casey, and Addie? What did they do for a living? What do we learn about Margaret? Where is she from? What do we learn about Henry? How does Addie meet him? Who is Nicole and why do I find her suspicious? What do we learn from Persephone? Oh goodness, who was behind what was going on was unexpected! Especially because I found I liked the reason why. I loved the ending and really want to read more of this series!

Murder in the Cards y Morgan Vale - Who is Rose, where is she, and what does she do for a living? Who is Darwin! He was a card! Who are rita, Loretta, and Peter? I liked Harry! Who is Evan? When and where does Rose meet him? What does she know about him? Who are Eckers and Jones? Why do they show up at Rose's door in the middle of the night? Ooooh, that was a very surprising ending!

Hawaiian Kitten Curse by Daisy Finch - Who are Layla, Dom, Adam, and Poppy? How do they all know one another? What task does Poppy take on? Who is Bubbles? Their 'adventure' was definitely something that had me puzzled, but what happened on the adventure with Bubbles was definitely different! Read and see why!

Catastrophe on the Road by Rosie Pease - Where does Meredith go and why? What happens that derails her trip and when? Oh my, Trouble was so much fun. I really like that little guy! I could easily see why he was called Trouble. Read and see what happens in this mystery. I cannot wait to read more.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Ghost Around (Jane Hinchey)
Ever had a ghost cheer you on when you are on your first surf? Well Audrey certainly did and she didn't even know it, until she found his dead body while speaking to his ghost, who didn't know he was dead either!

A fun read from Hinchey as part of the anthology. I have always enjoyed her books and this one is full of giggles as well as a good mystery, so what's not to like?! Short but sweet and yes, more please!

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I give the book 3.7 Stars. Most of the stories were good and I found several new series/authors to follow.


Grizzly Grievance by Molly Fitz--4 Stars
When Angie and Charles go away for the weekend. Octo-Cat and Pringle stow away in the RV. A murder occurs and Angie is determined to solve it. Pringle was much more involved than Octo-Cat in this case. The story was enjoyable and held my attention from beginning to end. I had the culprit figured out before the reveal.


The Magical Mocha Latte by R. A. Muth--4 Stars
A cute cozy mystery with a talking cat and dog. I never expected the outcome from Aunt Corliss being missing. Zip is fairly sensible and Jones was competent. This is the introduction to a new series and I am looking forward to reading more.


Murder and Mice and Everything Vice by Patti Larsen--2 Stars
If this hadn't been a short story I wouldn't have read the whole thing. The author writes in too many partial sentences. It was off-putting. Why Persephone was the one who helped with everything that needed done at the inn was beyond me. She wasn't the one who organized the retreat. This was the introduction to a new series and I won't be reading any more.


What Ghost Around by Jane Hinchey--4 Stars
Another cute cozy this time with a talking dog and raccoon. Audrey and Galloway are on vacation and right in the middle of a murder investigation. There were several suspects and motives but the killer and motive came as a surprise. I hated the way Audrey called her boyfriend by his last name. I enjoyed this story and already downloaded the first book.


Murder in the Meow by Daphne Hunt--3.5 Stars
I like the way the book was told from dual POVs--Pepper and Osiris. I also like the fact that Osiris was just a cat and couldn't talk. There were several suspects and I was surprised at who the culprit and motive turned out to be. The book was in dire need of a proofreader. I was interested in reading more of the series but the next book doesn't come out until 8-16-22. By then I will have forgotten about the series.


Curses, Cats & Corpses by M.L. Bonatch--3 Stars
This is another one I wouldn't have finished except it was a short story. Marissa is not a character I could relate to. She's a bit dippy. Gran was flaky. Jasper the cat seemed to be the only one with any sense. The author kept shifting tenses and really needed a proofreader. I won't be reading any more of this series.


Murder of a Po’Boy by Denise Jaden--4 Stars
An entertaining cozy. Mallory and Amber don't get to see much of New Orleans before a murder occurs. There are several suspects and motives. I had the culprit figured out before the reveal. I like that Hunch is a regular cat but still helps with the investigation. It seems strange that a grown woman has a teenager as a BFF but maybe that makes more sense when you read the series from the beginning. I've already downloaded the first book in the series.


Art Heists and Hairballs by Bailey Booth--4 Stars
I really enjoyed this story. Addie runs an animal shelter. When Persephone shows up and can talk to Addie, they get involved in solving an art heist. The culprit was obvious to me from the beginning but that didn't detract from my enjoyment. I wish this series was in KU because I would like to read the series.


Murder in the Cards by Morgan Vale--4 Stars
A cute cozy mystery. Rose may not claim to be a psychic but she seems to be spot on when reading the cards. Darwin was a bit of a surprise. He was a smart, talking cat but he wasn't as much of a diva as so many of them are. I found it strange that apparently all of the characters lived on the ship. The culprit was obvious to me. This is a standalone but I wish it were a series.


Hawaiian Kitten Curse by Daisy Finch--3 Stars
I felt like I came in in the middle of the story. References were constantly made about things that had happened before the book started. Even the reason Poppy was looking for Carolann(and the reason Carolann had run away) had to do with those references. It wasn't hard to follow but it was off-putting. How was Bubbles glowing? I won't be reading this series.


Catastrophe on the Road by Rosie Pease--5 Stars
An entertaining cozy mystery. I liked Meredith. She was sensible and competent. The police were also competent--which is a terrific thing in a cozy. The idea of a death on a tour bus was interesting since, if it was murder, it narrowed the suspect pool. Trouble was precious. I liked the surprise at the end. This was a prequel to a new series. I look forward to reading the series.

[Sandra Holladay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grizzle Grievance - Molly Fitz-3 stars
Interesting enough but not one that would inspire me to read more in the series.

The Magical Mocha Latte - Becky Muth-4 stars
Fun story, loved the fact that her animals could talk to her.

Murder and Mice and Everything Vice - Patti Larsen-4 stars
Enjoyable from the start. Another author I need to look up books from.

What A Ghost Around - Jane Hinchey-4 stars
Another enjoyable short story. Loved everything about this, the ghost, the animals, and the characters.

Murder in the Meow - Daphine Hunt-4 stars
No talking animal this time, but one pretty smart cat. Loved the interactions and the story line. The chapters going between Pepper and Osiris really did add to the story.

Curses, Cats & Corpses - M.L Bonatch-4 stars
Inept witches seems to be the current trend, but that didn’t detract from this story. Gran is a lot of fun and Jasper is great.

Murder of a Po’Boy - Denise Jaden-3 stars
An ok story, nothing great about it.

Art Heists and Hairballs! - Bailey Booth-4 stars
I enjoyed Addie and Persephone. The storyline was good. Persephone’s owner, Margaret was a rare find.

Murder in the cards - Morgan Vale-4 stars
As a last minute replacement, Rose is hired as the cruise ship physic, only to find she actually does have an ability and the ships cat, Darwin, is able to talk to her. Definitely a fun read.

Hawaiian Kitten Curse - Daisy Finch-2 stars
I thought the first story in this book would be my least favorite, but no, that honor belongs to this story. Just could not get into it.

Catastrophe on the Road - Rosie Pease-4 stars
I enjoyed this one, Trouble is a great cat and I’m glad Meredith was able to keep him.

[Merry Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a review of Jane Hinchey's What Ghost Around. This is an incredibly fun series and this short story should introduce anyone who hasn't read the books in this series. The main character, Audrey who not only can see and talk to ghosts, her boyfriend, Captain of the detectives also know as Captain Hot Pants, Thor her pet cat, she inherited from her best friend, now a ghost and talking pet racoon. Finally, Kade and Audrey can take a resort vacation thanks to Audrey entering her cat and racoon in a contest and winning. They can finally go away and except for a short photo shoot, she and Kade can relax. Or so they thought! While Kade goes snorkeling, Audrey decides to take a surfing lesson from the womanizing instructor. She goes down to the beach looking for the instructor and not finding him she decides to try the surf herself. When a rogue wave knocks her down and the surfboard gets her in the face, she gets out and goes to the instructor stand looking for a first aid kit and instead finds the dead instructor. So begins their relaxing vacation. And when the local constabulary finds out Kade is a detective, they enlist his help to find a murderer. Meanwhile, the ghost of the surfing instructor when realizing he is dead, goes off to do his nasty womanizing. What fun this one is. You must read this series! Each book in this series can be read as a standalone. I can't wait to see what Audrey and the gang have in store next! I received and ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been provided with a copy of When the Cat's Away: 11 All New Travel-Themed Cozy Mysteries by Whiskered Mysteries for an impartial review. This box set has the following titles Grizzly Grievance by Molly Fitz, The Magical Mocha Latte by R.A. Muth, Murder and Mice and Everything Vice by Patti Larsen, What Ghost Around by Jane Hinchey, Murder in the Meow by Daphne Hunt, Curses, Cats & Corpses by M.L. Bonatch, Murder of a Po-Boy by Denise Jaden, Art Heists and Hairballs by Bailey Booth, Murder in the Cards by Morgan Vale, Hawaiian Kitten Curse by Daisy Finch, and Catastrophe on the Road by Rosie Pease. I’ll be updating my review as I finish each title.

Grizzly Grievance by Molly Fitz

The Magical Mocha Latte by R.A. Muth

Murder and Mice and Everything Vice by Patti Larsen

What Ghost Around by Jane Hinchey

Murder in the Meow by Daphne Hunt

Curses, Cats & Corpses by M.L. Bonatch

Murder of a Po-Boy by Denise Jaden

Art Heists and Hairballs by Bailey Booth

Murder in the Cards by Morgan Vale

Murder in the Cards is a standalone mystery cozy title that takes place on a cruise ship. I just really enjoyed this new world and it’s characters. It was just a really quick read and I immediately wanted more after turning the last page. I hope the author will decide to revisit this world and it’s characters. I can’t wait to read the next book from this author.

Hawaiian Kitten Curse by Daisy Finch

Catastrophe on the Road by Rosie Pease

[Nadine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great stories!

So far, I’ve read three stories. I will edit my review when I’ve read more.

Molly Fitz Grizzly Grievance -
I’m always happy to be back with Angie and Octo-Cat. First sentence and I’m already pulled in. So more-ish, so one-more-chapter-ish that it kept me up way past my bedtime. Which is the sign of a great story! And if you are not familiar with the Pet Whisperer PI series, then I do believe you can read this as a standalone, as everything is well explained. Full of fun, full of snark (Octo-Cat), this is a story that I highly recommend!

R.A. Muth The Magical Mocha Latte -
It took me a little while to warm up to Zip, the main character - maybe a generation gap thingy? - but warm up I did. The story grabbed me and was well written. The pages turned themselves. Basil the grumpy, three-legged cat and adorable, over-excited pup Loki really added a fun element to the story. It may not be Muth’s best story IMHO, her full-length stories are better developed, but it was definitely hard to put down and it shows great promise for a new magical series!

Patti Larsen Murder and Mice and Everything Vice -
Persephone Pringle finds herself at the center of a massive storm that knocks out power, an infestation of mice the resort's cat does her best to eliminate and taking charge in a murder investigation when one of the guests turns up dead. A lighthearted tone had me immediately liking this story. This novella was a fun read. I can’t wait to read more by this author.

[SOS · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Jane Hinchey's What Ghost Around, Audrey and Captain Cowboy Hot Pants are off to enjoy a luxurious holiday on a tropical island, thanks to Thor and Bandit, who entered a selfie contest and won. They’re all looking for a relaxing vacation, until Audrey takes a surfing lesson and discovers the instructor dead. She and her detective offer their help to the island’s police department, and the Wild Haven Lagoon Resort provides lots of suspects for Audrey and Kade to take into consideration.

This was another fun installment in this series. Audrey and Kade and the animals always provide lots of interesting antics. The ghost this time is quite the ladies’ man, and he doesn’t want to give that up just because he’s dead.

I love this series, and I hope it goes on and on and on. Though this book is part of a series, it can easily be read on its own, as a standalone. It’s a quick and entertaining read.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the author through Bookfunnel. I thank her for her generosity, but it had no effect on this review. All opinions in this review reflect my true and honest reactions to reading this book.

[Andrea Stoeckel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so excited about this anthology of feline connected mysteries! As I was given this by the publisher just before it's set to drop, I've only begun to read it and can happily review the first 2 stories by Moly Fitz and R A Muth.

Author Molly Fitz has revisited her *Pet Whisperer PI*series with "Grizzly Grievance"; bring Octocat, Angie, and their crew to a new adventure with a grizzly bear, a salmon and Pringle the raccoon together to solve the death of the manager of a campground.

And then, in "Magical Mocha Latte" the first in the *Magical Beans* series, we are introduced to Tziporah Esther Graham, aka Zip, recently discovering the most magic can occur at home when you least expect it to. Take a 3 legged cat- Basil, and a puppy found living in a dumpster; add coffee and ...

Well, I can't and won't give away any spoilers here except to say that I am looking forward to reading the other stories here and I'm sure you will as well. Highly Recommended 5/5

[Disclaimer:I received this book from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving this review]

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is for What Ghost's Around by Jane Hinchey.

Another in the Ghost series, but this time a short story published in an anthology. A photo of Thor and Bandit entered in a competition scores Audrey, the clumsiest PI around, and her hunky boyfriend Detective Kade Galloway (affectionately known as Captain Cowboy Hot Pants) a resort holiday.

Audrey decides to take surfing lessons, and unsurprisingly hits herself in the face with the surfboard, while searching for the first aid kit to treat her bleeding chin she comes across the body of the surfing instructor, which begs the question, who, or what, was instructing her this morning?

Audrey and Kade get involved in trying to solve the murder, after first having to persuade the local police that Audrey was not the murderer.

Twists and turns ensue, and the ending definitely caught me by surprise.

What can I say, I love the Ghost series, another five star review from me.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is for What Ghost Around by Jane Hinchey. I’ve been reading this series since it began, and it is my absolute favorite by this author. This short story can be read without having read the previous books, and what a great short story it is! Audrey is her cute, clumsy loveable self in this, and she and Captain Cowboy Hotpants, er, ah Detective Kade Galloway are on a vacation won with pictures of her two “pets” which are a cat and a racoon. Of course, they get involved in a murder mystery, and there is great hilarity until they get their villain. The author does a great job of making this short story feel like a full story, and you will love this whether you’re a long-time fan of the series or this is your first glimpse. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

[Misty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've only read Jane Hinchey's What Ghost Around so far. I will update my review as I read the other stories in the collection.

What Ghost Around by Jane Hinchey
This was an okay story to continue with the Ghost Detective Series. My main issue with this one is that it reads like a novella - meaning it seems a tad rushed. The suspects are all from the same room and the culprit was found a little too easily. Other than that, I enjoyed it. There was something cool about Audrey's first encounter with the ghost, though I won't say what because that would give away the identity of the ghost/victim and it's more fun to find out yourself. The characters were interesting and there were plenty of fun moments. There were several suspects, which helps to keep things interesting. Overall it was a decent story. It just read a little rushed to me.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read the first 5 of the stories in this book. I have been waiting quite a while for Ms. Fitz's Grizzly Grievance. I love the Pet Whisperer series. This one features Octo-Cat & Pringle helping Angie solve the murder. Pringle especially complicates the weekend away for Charles & Angie. He is always more of a nuisance because of his outrageous behavior. But I love these stories.
The Magical Mocha Latte is also enjoyable. Nothing like magic in a drink to cause murder. Ms. Muth writes fun books.
Murder, Mice & Everything Vice: This author is new to me but her story is good.
What Ghost Around: I did not care for this one. It is very short & was easily solvable.
Murder in the Meow: This one is really cute with the "King Cat" helping point the heroine in the right direction to solve the murder. I will look for more books by this author.