This is a quirky collection of stories where the main mystery solver is a cat - Octo-Cat to be precise. First in series is Kitty Confidential, which introduces both Octo-Cat and his human. Octo-Cat is a lovely character, and so is Angie Russo who, after an electrical accident, can understand him. There are twists and turns (as there would be in in a “Pet Whisperer PI” story), but the ending is satisfactory and this is a lovely new string to Melissa Storm’s writing bow, as Molly Fitz.
The second book, Terrier Transgressions, is a laugh-a-minute, over-the-top combination of an ability to talk to animals and detective work. Pet Whisperer Angie and her trusty sidekick Octo-Cat (who’m I kidding; Octo-Cat is no-one’s sidekick) are rumbled by one of Angie’s colleagues and, to keep her abilities a secret, she has to help him solve a case. It’s impossible to take a book seriously when one of the main characters is a Yorkie named Yo-Yo that is also a key witness. If you’re looking for bizarre, daft, and lighthearted, this is the book you’ve been waiting for.
Finally, book 3, Hairless Harassment: This book has twists and unexpected turns, and the murderer uses the cats’ natural inclinations to subvert them to his/her evil purposes. As with the other Octo-Cat books, when you read this, you’re assured of a gentle and ultimately satisfying reading break, and I recommended it on that basis.