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A Cats in Trouble Mystery #1
The Cat, the Quilt and the Corpse
Jill's quiet life is shattered when her house is broken into and her Abyssinian, Syrah, goes missing. Jill's convinced her kitty's been catnapped. But when her cat-crime-solving leads her to a murdered body, suddenly all paws are pointing to Jill.
Soon, Jill discovers that Syrah isn't the only purebred who's been stolen. Now she has to find these furry felines before they all become the prey of a cold-blooded killer-and she ends up nabbed for a crime...
Soon, Jill discovers that Syrah isn't the only purebred who's been stolen. Now she has to find these furry felines before they all become the prey of a cold-blooded killer-and she ends up nabbed for a crime...
278 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 30, 2009
110 people are currently reading
4683 people want to read
About the author
Leann Sweeney
27 books524 followersLeann Sweeney was born and raised in Niagara Falls and educated at St. Joseph's Hospital and Lemoyne College in Syracuse, NY. She also has a degree from the University of Houston in behavioral science and worked for many years in psychiatry. Her short fiction won many awards and several mysteries were published in small market mystery magazines. Leann has written 13 cozy mysteries: 5 in The Yellow Rose Mystery Series and 8 in the Cats in Trouble Mysteries. #9 is being written now that Leann is recovering from a three year illness after a fall. Both series are published by Berkley and several titles made the NY Times bestseller list.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 390 reviews
February 12, 2015
Opens: My cat is allergic to people – yes, odd, I know – so when I came in the back door and heard Chablis sneeze, I stopped dead. Why was she sneezing?
My Thoughts: THE CAT, THE QUILT AND THE CORPSE is the first of the ‘Cat in Trouble Mysteries’ and I can’t wait to work my way through the rest. Shortly after moving to their retirement home in Mercy Jillian’s husband dies leaving her a widow and single mum to 3 rescue cats all named after different wines. Jillian’s life now revolves around her cats and her online business of making and selling cat quilts. She does not mix much with other folk in Mercy, still grieving her loss.
The story opens with Jillian returning home after attending a quilting show; as she walks through the door she hears one of her cats sneezing – this may not be immediately seen as a problem but this cat is allergic to humans so a sneeze indicates someone has been around. Jillian finds that she has been broken into and one of her cats has gone. She calls the police to report a kidnapping – but kind of gets off on the wrong footing when she says my baby has been taken. When the police dispatcher finds out the ‘baby’ is a cat she is quite dismissive.. Candace Carson is one of the police officers sent to investigate the crime and she becomes firm friends with Jillian, and through her Jillian starts to interact with the community. Candace wants to be a ‘proper’ detective and is a stickler for gathering forensic evidence and bagging it up. A habit condemned as overkill by her senior who is disinclined to treat the catnapping as an important crime and writes it off as a prank. Jillian decides to do some investigation herself to find the catnapper, and starts to meet other Mercy residents and make friends while she investigates; including the charming ex-cop now PI, Tom Stewart who installs her new security system. When Jillian decides she knows who has stolen her cat she impulsively goes to his house to confront him – and there she does find her cat, but also an open door through which she finds the catnapper’s body with a knife sticking out of him. There are also more cats in the house. The police once again turn up to investigate the murder and decide to follow who gains the most from his death after they decide it is probably not by Jillian. Jillian decides the police are wrong and the murder must be cat related so starts her own investigation to find the owners of the cats – and maybe the murderer as well. THE CAT, THE QUILT AND THE CORPSE has a few twists and turns that kept me guessing until all fell into place at the end and I slapped by hand on my forehead and said DOH – because it absolutely made sense!!
Mercy is a perfect small-town community with a gossip network that has Jillian’s head spinning at how fast the information gets around. All the support characters are alive on the pages, and there are some delightfully quirky ones, Leann Sweeny writes very well and describes vividly the relationships between the different characters and their interactions; the gossipy information leaving this reader thinking she is almost part of the community as well. Jillian is a not a dithery, brainless woman – she is intelligent, determined and brave and I would love to sit down with a glass of iced tea and have a chat. The cats are themselves they don’t talk or do any investigating or even hint with a twitch of a tail. But they are very central to the story and make their presence known.
August 20, 2012
I started this book and, after a couple of chapters, put it down again and decided it wasn't something I was at all interested in. Then, due to internet issues and not being able to load anything else onto my Kindle, I ended up finishing it for lack of any other options. After finishing it, my opinion got slightly better, although not much. The mystery got slightly more interesting midway through the book, but even as much of an animal person as I am, I got really tired of being bashed over the head with the message that animals are people too. (A more subtle approach would have been preferable; instead, there were odd little speeches and soapboxes in the mouths of characters that were out of place and added nothing to the plot whatsoever. It felt like, "insert PSA here.")
In the worldview of the book, people are divided into two camps: those that love cats and "get it," and those that don't, and are basically brutish plebes. Such a narrow focus of character description got boring and predictable. "Doesn't like cats? Must be a bad guy." I did like a couple of the characters and, by the end of the book, was further along in liking the main character Jillian than I started. But, still, not quite enough.
It's the first book in a series so perhaps if I were to read more, the character development and world development would help create a more engaging storyline. The problem is, the first book didn't grab me enough to make me want to read more.
In the worldview of the book, people are divided into two camps: those that love cats and "get it," and those that don't, and are basically brutish plebes. Such a narrow focus of character description got boring and predictable. "Doesn't like cats? Must be a bad guy." I did like a couple of the characters and, by the end of the book, was further along in liking the main character Jillian than I started. But, still, not quite enough.
It's the first book in a series so perhaps if I were to read more, the character development and world development would help create a more engaging storyline. The problem is, the first book didn't grab me enough to make me want to read more.
August 7, 2023
I loved this story! It’s very well written, and plotted. The protagonist and main characters are well-fleshed out and interesting. There are several cats and cat mysteries throughout the story. I’ve had this book on my shelf forever, and now I’m going to read the whole series. I highly recommend!
August 18, 2018
Jillian Hart is a widow who lives with her three cats in the small town of Mercy, a town full of diverse and interesting people (and pets). She's new in town, has lost her husband recently and doesn't know anyone, but this is soon to change. Coming home from a trip she finds a broken window and one of her cats missing.
The cats: Syrah (sorrel Abyssinian), Chablis (colorpoint Himalayan) and Merlot (red Maine Coon). All Katrina rescuees and named after wines.
I'd say it was a solid mystery after all, annoying how most of the police didn't seem to care about the cats (dismissing concern for obsession) but I understand it can happen.
I did guess that person was suspicious almost at first introduction, the attempts at steering my attention didn't really work. Only in the end was revealed the full story behind the crime.
I liked all the characters, even if only briefly introduced (for the most part) they still managed to receive a well rounded personality. Even the victim, described by everyone as the worst person imaginable, revealed a vulnerable side.
One thing I didn't like is that everyone in the town seem to have purebreed cats, there's little to no mention that some cats aren't even if most of them have been rescued or taken from an animal shelter. All cats are beautiful but, especially in this kind of story that enphasize on the value of an animal friend, they probably shouldn't focus so much on breeds. Maybe the author could have included a line or two about choosing adoption over purchase, the feel may be there but it's never stated clearly.
Overall I loved this book and I'll surely be reading more by this author.
The cats: Syrah (sorrel Abyssinian), Chablis (colorpoint Himalayan) and Merlot (red Maine Coon). All Katrina rescuees and named after wines.
I'd say it was a solid mystery after all, annoying how most of the police didn't seem to care about the cats (dismissing concern for obsession) but I understand it can happen.
I did guess that person was suspicious almost at first introduction, the attempts at steering my attention didn't really work. Only in the end was revealed the full story behind the crime.
I liked all the characters, even if only briefly introduced (for the most part) they still managed to receive a well rounded personality. Even the victim, described by everyone as the worst person imaginable, revealed a vulnerable side.
One thing I didn't like is that everyone in the town seem to have purebreed cats, there's little to no mention that some cats aren't even if most of them have been rescued or taken from an animal shelter. All cats are beautiful but, especially in this kind of story that enphasize on the value of an animal friend, they probably shouldn't focus so much on breeds. Maybe the author could have included a line or two about choosing adoption over purchase, the feel may be there but it's never stated clearly.
Overall I loved this book and I'll surely be reading more by this author.
October 12, 2017
This series isn't your typical cozy type, at least not to me. The crime was a little more grizzly and the circumstances and mystery seemed to delve a little deeper. I liked all of the characters and can't wait to read the next one. It also really helps if you like cats. I loved the spunk of the main character, Jillian , and her kindness. I loved what she did for a living and how she deals with loss. She was kind of inspiring that way.
February 18, 2015
Leann Sweeney is a pleasant surprise! To benefit from bargains, I collect handfuls of books years before I peer into them. I’m aware there are several in this series and with ‘cozy mysteries’; you just can’t tell if you’re going to get overly cute fluff, or excellent plots in high quality writing. Needless to say these bright covers are picturesque but would the titular cats merely trot across the pages in name? Would their roles be central and at all realistic? It is a five-star, resounding “yes”!
Our heroine is recently widowed in a new house and new town. Her felines are now her sole family. It’s no small ordeal for Jill when one is missing, upon her return from an overnight quilt-selling convention. A sour, elderly policeman investigates with an energetic, young partner. Without stolen objects, he is hasty to assume the cat wandered; she doesn’t see why they should waste her talent for crime scene investigation. It takes most of the novel to convince their chief of what readers know: the town’s cats are the victims at risk. The details and people behind it are complicated. Many more characters are introduced along the way and very well identified in their particular traits. Adding interest throughout these goings-on, is Jill: making friends and getting to know her townspeople for the first time.
The plotting really is well done in that it takes such widespread effort to siphon out each piece of information and suspicious personalities. Jill’s kindness and warmth despite some of their gruff exteriors, makes you rally for this new protagonist all the way. Not least of all: she, the lady officer, the shelter husband & wife team, and an elderly man demonstrate a true love for cats that I enjoy reading with all of my own heart.
Our heroine is recently widowed in a new house and new town. Her felines are now her sole family. It’s no small ordeal for Jill when one is missing, upon her return from an overnight quilt-selling convention. A sour, elderly policeman investigates with an energetic, young partner. Without stolen objects, he is hasty to assume the cat wandered; she doesn’t see why they should waste her talent for crime scene investigation. It takes most of the novel to convince their chief of what readers know: the town’s cats are the victims at risk. The details and people behind it are complicated. Many more characters are introduced along the way and very well identified in their particular traits. Adding interest throughout these goings-on, is Jill: making friends and getting to know her townspeople for the first time.
The plotting really is well done in that it takes such widespread effort to siphon out each piece of information and suspicious personalities. Jill’s kindness and warmth despite some of their gruff exteriors, makes you rally for this new protagonist all the way. Not least of all: she, the lady officer, the shelter husband & wife team, and an elderly man demonstrate a true love for cats that I enjoy reading with all of my own heart.
June 28, 2013
"You love cats. I mean, you really love cats! I get that now."
Jill's home has been broken into and her cat stolen. With fingers pointing in one direction she joins the owner of a local cat shelter to confront the guilty party, Flake Wilkinson. After Flake's body turns up with a rather large knife in his chest suspicion immediately falls on Jill.
Jill is convinced that his murder must be related to the cats he has been stealing and with the police not interested in her theories she takes matters into her own hands.
The Cat, the Quilt and the Corpse is a very good cozy murder mystery. It has all the elements you want...a small Southern town, quirky characters, a likeable sleuth and a bunch of cats (if you like cats).
The Cat Lady Rating: (3 Cats out of a possible 5)
1 Cat = Pet Cat
2 Cats = Cat Lover
3 Cats = Cat Posters and Figurines....everywhere.
4. Cats = Cat Lady
5 Cats = Cat Porn (laws have been broken)
October 16, 2013
I'm a quilter and cat lover who enjoys a good mystery once in awhile, so what was not to love about this book? It's a quick-read, light-as-air whodunit set in a small town where the recently-widowed, recently-arrived main character Jillian manages to solve the mystery in one short week, with the help of the town grapevine and her new friends.
I'm not enamoured of people who give their pets "group names" such as Jill's choice of "Merlot, Chablis and Syrah" for her cats. Why not give each pet a name that fits with their personality, rather than going for twee effect? We're told the cats are post-Katrina rescue adoptees, and yet there isn't a single tabby or alley cat in the bunch--nope, they're all purebreds: a Main Coon, an Abyssinian and a Himalayan. Of course, as the widow of a "financial adviser" who left her well-placed enough to run a quilting business from home and still pay the bills, I guess it all fits, in a nineties, Lifetime Channel sort of way. A hundred bucks a pop for a cat-quilt? Which I suppose would be lap-quilt size? Poor little widow woman. As my mother would have said, I can feel for her, but I can't reach her.
From the beginning we are told that Jill has kept herself aloof from community life due to her recent bereavement. When one of her cats is stolen, she has an epiphany--hey, if you go out and meet people, you have a greater chance of making friends and getting help when you need it! Magically, she doesn't seem to have any trouble making everybody like her, even the angry daughter of the murder victim. Even the people whose lives are disrupted by her bumbling imitation of Miss Marple. She doesn't seem to run into the small-southern-town suspicion of outsiders, but maybe her financial status helped her over the barriers, since even after becoming Suspect Number One she is immediately on huggin' terms with the police officer who investigates her.
A few of the details seem to get lost in the storm...the cat that is so terribly allergic to humans (!) seems to get over the affliction in a hurry, and doesn't react to anyone it's seen above twice? and some of Jill's deduces are pretty wild. But if you just want to be entertained, and don't mind the catlover "expert" drone (I guess selling quilts at cat shows automatically makes one a mine of information on breeds, their temperament and needs, and people), it's an OK read.
I'm not enamoured of people who give their pets "group names" such as Jill's choice of "Merlot, Chablis and Syrah" for her cats. Why not give each pet a name that fits with their personality, rather than going for twee effect? We're told the cats are post-Katrina rescue adoptees, and yet there isn't a single tabby or alley cat in the bunch--nope, they're all purebreds: a Main Coon, an Abyssinian and a Himalayan. Of course, as the widow of a "financial adviser" who left her well-placed enough to run a quilting business from home and still pay the bills, I guess it all fits, in a nineties, Lifetime Channel sort of way. A hundred bucks a pop for a cat-quilt? Which I suppose would be lap-quilt size? Poor little widow woman. As my mother would have said, I can feel for her, but I can't reach her.
From the beginning we are told that Jill has kept herself aloof from community life due to her recent bereavement. When one of her cats is stolen, she has an epiphany--hey, if you go out and meet people, you have a greater chance of making friends and getting help when you need it! Magically, she doesn't seem to have any trouble making everybody like her, even the angry daughter of the murder victim. Even the people whose lives are disrupted by her bumbling imitation of Miss Marple. She doesn't seem to run into the small-southern-town suspicion of outsiders, but maybe her financial status helped her over the barriers, since even after becoming Suspect Number One she is immediately on huggin' terms with the police officer who investigates her.
A few of the details seem to get lost in the storm...the cat that is so terribly allergic to humans (!) seems to get over the affliction in a hurry, and doesn't react to anyone it's seen above twice? and some of Jill's deduces are pretty wild. But if you just want to be entertained, and don't mind the catlover "expert" drone (I guess selling quilts at cat shows automatically makes one a mine of information on breeds, their temperament and needs, and people), it's an OK read.
December 16, 2010
At first I didn't think I would like this book. It is written in the first person, and I've had a lot of bad luck with books written like that and the drama it dumps on the reader. But this book didn't do that. Jillian Hart is a crafter and cat-lover, two things that give her a plus in my book. If fact, she cares more for the cats in trouble than the person murdered. Another plus from me.
The characters around her good too, from her first friend Candace, the female police officer with a gung-ho attitude toward evidence gathering, to Lydia, the former pageant queen who is also the cornerer's assistant who has eyes for Tom, the security expert, PI and former police officer who is more interested in Jillian.
It's set in another small Southern town, this time in South Carolina, but the town folk are quirky in an interesting way. I really enjoyed this book, and can't wait to get my hands on the next one. It's a new series, with only one other one out, and a third due in 2011. Get in on this series early, while you can!
The characters around her good too, from her first friend Candace, the female police officer with a gung-ho attitude toward evidence gathering, to Lydia, the former pageant queen who is also the cornerer's assistant who has eyes for Tom, the security expert, PI and former police officer who is more interested in Jillian.
It's set in another small Southern town, this time in South Carolina, but the town folk are quirky in an interesting way. I really enjoyed this book, and can't wait to get my hands on the next one. It's a new series, with only one other one out, and a third due in 2011. Get in on this series early, while you can!
May 20, 2016
The Cat, the Quilt and the Corpse was a fast-paced, stunning debut that I really enjoyed.
I really like the MC Jillian. she is different from many of the protagonists in other cozy series because of a few reasons. first she is a widow, and second, she was a relative recluse until she stumbles across a murder victim. It was a nice change, in most cozies the MC is well-liked and well-known, but to many of the townspeople of Mercy, South Carolina, Jillian was a recluse that they only heard of through the grapevine. It was really nice seeing Jillian meet people and make friends during the course of her investigation.
The mystery plot was nice, I don't think I've read a mystery that took this angle before, but the killer really lacked the big reveal at the end and was kind of obvious. I like to be surprised when the killer is revealed, but sadly I wasn't here.
Overall a really good first in a series novel. I'll be reading more in this series!
I really like the MC Jillian. she is different from many of the protagonists in other cozy series because of a few reasons. first she is a widow, and second, she was a relative recluse until she stumbles across a murder victim. It was a nice change, in most cozies the MC is well-liked and well-known, but to many of the townspeople of Mercy, South Carolina, Jillian was a recluse that they only heard of through the grapevine. It was really nice seeing Jillian meet people and make friends during the course of her investigation.
The mystery plot was nice, I don't think I've read a mystery that took this angle before, but the killer really lacked the big reveal at the end and was kind of obvious. I like to be surprised when the killer is revealed, but sadly I wasn't here.
Overall a really good first in a series novel. I'll be reading more in this series!
July 20, 2010
Excellent first book in this new series about Jillian,a quilter and owner of cats that bear wine names ( really cool ! )I love Leann's writing style and I will definitely keep reading. Of course the fact that I' m a cat aficionado is a plus!You can expect to have a good time curled up with "The Cat, the quilt and the Corpse" and trying to find out who the killer is.
October 27, 2010
I have to admit, I really enjoyed this book. I actually enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. I don't know if I was just on vampire/fae/paranormal burnout or what, but it was nice to get back to a "real" story.
I liked the main character, Jillian, even if she did seem a little over the top when it came to her cats. Some of her actions were a little hard to believe (like when she still stormed the house looking for her cat even after stumbling across the body), but after all, it's a work of fiction. I appreciated the vulnerabilities the author wrote into her character as well, the fact that she was new in town, recently widowed, etc. made her more down-to-earth and believable.
As for the mystery, I honestly did not know who committed the crime until the author chose to reveal it. At first I thought it was the obvious guy, but then it seemed too obvious. Then I switched to the nice guy, but it seemed way too out of character for him. Then I switched to the police chief, and I really thought it was him. But in the end, I was wrong on all three counts!
I liked the main character, Jillian, even if she did seem a little over the top when it came to her cats. Some of her actions were a little hard to believe (like when she still stormed the house looking for her cat even after stumbling across the body), but after all, it's a work of fiction. I appreciated the vulnerabilities the author wrote into her character as well, the fact that she was new in town, recently widowed, etc. made her more down-to-earth and believable.
As for the mystery, I honestly did not know who committed the crime until the author chose to reveal it. At first I thought it was the obvious guy, but then it seemed too obvious. Then I switched to the nice guy, but it seemed way too out of character for him. Then I switched to the police chief, and I really thought it was him. But in the end, I was wrong on all three counts!
May 8, 2015
Missing Cats
The first of the Cats In Trouble series. We are introduced to the characters Jillian, a widow who loves cats and her three rescues, Merlot, Chablis and Syrarh who is missing. Candace a young cop who is fascinated with forensic science and Sean Cuddedee who runs a no-kill animal rescue site. The characters well developed and catch your interest at once. This one of my favorite series
The first of the Cats In Trouble series. We are introduced to the characters Jillian, a widow who loves cats and her three rescues, Merlot, Chablis and Syrarh who is missing. Candace a young cop who is fascinated with forensic science and Sean Cuddedee who runs a no-kill animal rescue site. The characters well developed and catch your interest at once. This one of my favorite series
January 1, 2019
It was so cool of my secret Santa to send me a cat mystery, and the fact it was the very first in the series was particularly good.
The best thing about this book is the cats. The author and protagonist seem genuinely obsessed with cats. The cats are portrayed with a high degree of realism (most of what they do is sleep) although the part I don't quite buy is the bit where you can put any number of cats in a house together and they don't fight or suffer extreme stress...but the idea that people adore their cats and everyone just needs their cat was a lovely escapist idea and the book gets some stars from me for focussing on that.
The humans were less well written. They were cartoonish and hard to believe in. I wanted to like Candace for example but she behaves so unprofessionally that it's hard. All of Jillian's friendships are variations on "instalove" (she just abruptly decides to like someone and be friends with them and further in the book misses them) there is no allowance made for slow development of human relationships. I think one of the dangerous fallacies that actually stops people forming meaningful relationships is the idea that you can instantly switch on friendships the minute you make an effort.
The worst example of this was the quite unnecessary romance (and the really dumb, childish jealousy this generated in a third party, "he's mine" FFS). I understand that being widowed does not mean you have to hide in a bare room forever and see nobody, but it seems too fast, too soon and too abrupt given HOW grieved over her husband's relatively recent death the protagonist is in the opening pages. Would it really have harmed us all if there was no romance for her for a few books, or if the said relationship developed into a friendship first? Also it seemed like practically everyone in the book had to have a partner and there's the whole "presumed heterosexuality" thing going on for all that I think there was a gay (male of course and very stereotypical) character.
Anyway I gave it 3 stars because the cats are charming and the mystery itself while not brilliant is OK. I think more focus on the mystery instead of making all the humans in the book so wacky and instead of unnecessary romances would help but I do like how persistent and smart Jillian can be when she is looking for evidence. I think the Jillian/Candace team has some potential and I hope it gets developed more in later books.
The best thing about this book is the cats. The author and protagonist seem genuinely obsessed with cats. The cats are portrayed with a high degree of realism (most of what they do is sleep) although the part I don't quite buy is the bit where you can put any number of cats in a house together and they don't fight or suffer extreme stress...but the idea that people adore their cats and everyone just needs their cat was a lovely escapist idea and the book gets some stars from me for focussing on that.
The humans were less well written. They were cartoonish and hard to believe in. I wanted to like Candace for example but she behaves so unprofessionally that it's hard. All of Jillian's friendships are variations on "instalove" (she just abruptly decides to like someone and be friends with them and further in the book misses them) there is no allowance made for slow development of human relationships. I think one of the dangerous fallacies that actually stops people forming meaningful relationships is the idea that you can instantly switch on friendships the minute you make an effort.
The worst example of this was the quite unnecessary romance (and the really dumb, childish jealousy this generated in a third party, "he's mine" FFS). I understand that being widowed does not mean you have to hide in a bare room forever and see nobody, but it seems too fast, too soon and too abrupt given HOW grieved over her husband's relatively recent death the protagonist is in the opening pages. Would it really have harmed us all if there was no romance for her for a few books, or if the said relationship developed into a friendship first? Also it seemed like practically everyone in the book had to have a partner and there's the whole "presumed heterosexuality" thing going on for all that I think there was a gay (male of course and very stereotypical) character.
Anyway I gave it 3 stars because the cats are charming and the mystery itself while not brilliant is OK. I think more focus on the mystery instead of making all the humans in the book so wacky and instead of unnecessary romances would help but I do like how persistent and smart Jillian can be when she is looking for evidence. I think the Jillian/Candace team has some potential and I hope it gets developed more in later books.
December 14, 2011
I really enjoyed this book and will read the others in the series - as soon as my Kindle gets fixed! Again the main character is a woman who doesn't do whatever because she's told to not do it. I'm so over simpering, ditzy women that finding strong women characters is refreshing!
Here's what Publisher's Weekly had to say about the book:
"Sweeney (Pick Your Poison) launches the Cats in Trouble mystery series with a meandering whodunit. Jillian Hart is content making and selling cat quilts and living quietly in Mercy, S.C., with her three cats, Syrah, Chablis and Merlot. When Syrah is catnapped, Jillian finds not only the thief-thanks to a state-of-the-art alarm system installed by charming PI Tom Stewart-but also a murder mystery to solve. The cats are entertaining four-legged assistants, with traits like Chablis's human allergy and Merlot's ninja-style defensive tactics. Jillian's quirky neighbors also liven up the thin plot, particularly Tom, whose knack with alarms and computers comes in handy, and flamboyant deputy coroner Lydia Monk. Kitty-lovers will enjoy the feline trivia, but readers looking for a complex mystery will chafe at the slow pace and last-minute revelations.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved."
If you like quilts, if you like cats, and if you like cozies, I think you will enjoy this book.
Here's what Publisher's Weekly had to say about the book:
"Sweeney (Pick Your Poison) launches the Cats in Trouble mystery series with a meandering whodunit. Jillian Hart is content making and selling cat quilts and living quietly in Mercy, S.C., with her three cats, Syrah, Chablis and Merlot. When Syrah is catnapped, Jillian finds not only the thief-thanks to a state-of-the-art alarm system installed by charming PI Tom Stewart-but also a murder mystery to solve. The cats are entertaining four-legged assistants, with traits like Chablis's human allergy and Merlot's ninja-style defensive tactics. Jillian's quirky neighbors also liven up the thin plot, particularly Tom, whose knack with alarms and computers comes in handy, and flamboyant deputy coroner Lydia Monk. Kitty-lovers will enjoy the feline trivia, but readers looking for a complex mystery will chafe at the slow pace and last-minute revelations.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved."
If you like quilts, if you like cats, and if you like cozies, I think you will enjoy this book.
July 9, 2015
I read mysteries because I like mysteries, plain and simple. I enjoy the different backgrounds and settings and have always liked how our animal friends are worked into the storyline and murder plot. But, this is the first time where the central characters really were the cats and they were what caused the murder. I really enjoyed how this was presented and can't wait to read more in the series. Jillian is a recent widow living in South Carolina where she and her husband had moved shortly before his death. She makes and sells quilts for people and cats, of which she has three. When one of her babies is stolen she makes the effort to get to know the small town she is living in and makes new friends while working hard to find her cat. When her efforts lead her to the dead body of her main suspect, she really has her work cut out for her, as a prime murder suspect. I really enjoyed how her love of her cats drove her and helped to expand her horizons. This was an extremely well plotted murder with many diverse and entertaining suspects and helpers. The ending was a complete and satisfying surprise and I really enjoyed how the cats played in. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
February 6, 2012
The Cat, The Quilt and the Corpse is the first book in the Cats in Trouble Mysteries series by Leann Sweeney.
I'm an avid cat lover and am constantly bossed around by my own two felines, so when I saw that Leann Sweeney had a new series out involving cats of course I had to read it!
Jill's new life in Mercy is in shambles when her house is broken into and her cat, Syrah, is missing. She sets on the trail to find Syrah and discovers a dead body, by the way of a evil man who is stealing Mercy cats and selling them!
This mystery was first class. I really adored Jillian and her partner-in-crime, Candace, and right from the first page I was hooked!
Her cats, Merlot, Syrah and Chablis... adorable!
From the cats quilts she makes, to trying to piece together clues Jillian takes readers on a fabulous adventure, as she tries to locate the missing cats and find the murderer!
I loved this mystery immensely and I definitely will be continuing on with the series.
I'm an avid cat lover and am constantly bossed around by my own two felines, so when I saw that Leann Sweeney had a new series out involving cats of course I had to read it!
Jill's new life in Mercy is in shambles when her house is broken into and her cat, Syrah, is missing. She sets on the trail to find Syrah and discovers a dead body, by the way of a evil man who is stealing Mercy cats and selling them!
This mystery was first class. I really adored Jillian and her partner-in-crime, Candace, and right from the first page I was hooked!
Her cats, Merlot, Syrah and Chablis... adorable!
From the cats quilts she makes, to trying to piece together clues Jillian takes readers on a fabulous adventure, as she tries to locate the missing cats and find the murderer!
I loved this mystery immensely and I definitely will be continuing on with the series.
January 23, 2011
When Jillian Hart returns home from a business trip, she discovers one of her beloved cats is missing. There clearly has been a break-in, and it's unclear whether Chablis was catnapped or got out of the house. Nothing else is missing. When her house is burglarized a second time, this time the thief caught on tape, she takes matters into her own hand and goes to confront him. Only, what she finds is a dead body.
Jillian is sure the murder is tied to the cats that have been going missing around town, but the Chief of police doesn't agree. As a result, Jillian begins her own investigation with the help of her new friend and police officer, Candace.
I am not sure how bold I would be, stepping into a police investigation like Jillian did, especially when murder was involved. But then isn't that part of the reason I read books like this, to live vicariously through the characters, stepping out of my own shoes for awhile?
Jillian is recently widowed, she and her husband not having lived in the town long before his sudden and unexpected death. Jillian has kept mostly to herself, in the company of her three beautiful cats. As a result, as Jillian begins to step out into the town and become more social in her search for the truth, the reader meets many of the other characters in the book for the first time right alongside her. I really appreciated this approach in introducing the reader to the various characters.
Like you might expect in a cozy mystery set in a small town, the other characters are varied and quite entertaining all on their own. Many of which I liked instantly and others that grew on me after awhile. Ed was perhaps my favorite. He's not only charming in a cute sort of way, he's also very resourceful. Oh, and of course the cats! They steal the show in the scenes they are in.
The mystery itself was quite engaging. It didn't take me long to finish the book as I didn't want to put it down. It was a perfect book to finish and start a new year with. And the end made me smile. I look forward to reading the next in the series!
Jillian is sure the murder is tied to the cats that have been going missing around town, but the Chief of police doesn't agree. As a result, Jillian begins her own investigation with the help of her new friend and police officer, Candace.
I am not sure how bold I would be, stepping into a police investigation like Jillian did, especially when murder was involved. But then isn't that part of the reason I read books like this, to live vicariously through the characters, stepping out of my own shoes for awhile?
Jillian is recently widowed, she and her husband not having lived in the town long before his sudden and unexpected death. Jillian has kept mostly to herself, in the company of her three beautiful cats. As a result, as Jillian begins to step out into the town and become more social in her search for the truth, the reader meets many of the other characters in the book for the first time right alongside her. I really appreciated this approach in introducing the reader to the various characters.
Like you might expect in a cozy mystery set in a small town, the other characters are varied and quite entertaining all on their own. Many of which I liked instantly and others that grew on me after awhile. Ed was perhaps my favorite. He's not only charming in a cute sort of way, he's also very resourceful. Oh, and of course the cats! They steal the show in the scenes they are in.
The mystery itself was quite engaging. It didn't take me long to finish the book as I didn't want to put it down. It was a perfect book to finish and start a new year with. And the end made me smile. I look forward to reading the next in the series!
May 13, 2021
First in the Cats in Trouble cozy mystery series and revolving around Jillian Hart who lives in Mercy, South Carolina, on Mercy Lake.
My Take
I gotta confess that the start of The Cat, the Quilt and the Corpse almost had me quitting. It was pretty lame. But, I was in the mood for a cozy and so not in the mood to go hunting for a different read, so I kept on. I'm glad I did as the writing did get better. Not great, but definitely better.
The beginning is an introduction to a cat-obsessed Jillian. We know how passionate (and clueless) she is about her cats experiencing the break-in as Sweeney uses first person protagonist point-of-view from Jillian's perspective. She is a good person. She wants to help in most anything. At the start we learn that she donates quilts for the children of military men and women killed in Iraq and Afghanistan and later she's helping some of the locals. Her quilting experience does come in pretty handy for piecing together some clues. As for her cat cam, all I can say is I want one! Sweeney makes good use of Jillian "spying" on her clowder to bring in comic relief.
It's rather amazing how unsympathetic the police department is. They're pretty hidebound too. The cop characters are each distinct. Candace is gung-ho about forensics but her partner is quite disparaging. Her police chief isn't a whole lot better. As for Lydia...dang, they should arrest her for existing.
Mercy? Well, it's a small town which means everyone knows everyone else's business, for good and for bad. And some of the people I like are Belle and Karen and Ed. Belle's got some sense of humor and sounds easygoing as well as smart. That Ed...he's got a screw loose when it comes to stuff, but I can't fault him for his thoughts.
Tom now. I like that boy, and he sure is forgiving, even if he does jump the gun a bit.
The story isn't a whole lotta action but there are a whole lotta thoughts from Jillian. There's a reasonable pace to The Cat, the Quilt and the Corpse, although Jillian goes on and on a bit about how important the cats are and that they play a part in the murder. I do agree with her, but oy...she does go on and on.
The Story
Jill's quiet life is shattered when her house is broken into and her Abyssinian, Syrah, goes missing. Jill's convinced her kitty's been catnapped. But when her cat-crime-solving leads her to a murdered body, suddenly all paws are pointing to Jill.
Soon, Jill discovers that Syrah isn't the only purebred who's been stolen. Now she has to find these furry felines before they all become the prey of a cold-blooded killer — and she ends up nabbed for a crime...
The Characters
Jillian Hart is a widow subsuming her grief by making cat quilts. Her three rescued cats keep her company: Syrah is an Abyssinian and the alpha, Chablis has allergies, and Merlot is a Maine Coon. Hmmm, I'm getting this urge for a glass of wine... Her beloved husband, John, died ten months ago. She'll temporarily adopt "Dove". "Boy" is hanging with Candace, for the now.
Mercy PD
Deputies Candace Carson and Morris Ebeling respond to Jillian's call. Mike Baca is the police chief who needs to work on his tact. Barbara Lynne is the unsympathetic dispatcher. Lydia Monk is the deputy coroner with a HUGE chip on her shoulder. Beecham is the coroner but doesn't like to get out much.
Tom Stewart, a retired cop, is the local security expert — who's sweet on Jillian. Dashiell is his cat. Karen is Tom's mother and a former alcoholic. She's a great cook and dating Ed Duffy. a hoarder who comes in right handy selling his "collectibles" through Ed's Swap Shop.
Billy Cranor is a volunteer fireman and works at the hardware store. Dr Jensen is a veterinarian; Agnes is his receptionist. Martha works at the Cotton Company, the local quilt shop. David is a sacker at the Piggly Wiggly. David has a Grandpa Nagel with a mean cat. Dan Meade is an EMT. Lewis Rainer does love his lights at Christmas. Belle Lowry owns Belle's Beans where they make really good coffee. And all her baristas are named "Belle", including Shondra. Java had been Belle's kitty. Frank Donnelly accidentally shot himself. Marian Mae Temple appears quite classy; she lost her cat, Diamond. The Mercy Messenger is the local weekly paper. Helen Harper passed two weeks ago. Flake Wilkerson is the local hermit who lives in the Pink House. Daphne Wilkerson is a scary woman and Flake's daughter.
Mercy Animal Sanctuary is...
...almost spa-like for the animals. It's run by Allison and the hot-tempered Shawn Cuddahee. He's also a great furniture maker. Snug is an African grey parrot at the shelter.
Dale Bartlett lost his Tonkinese, Beatrice. Chase Cook, a graphics designer, lost his tuxedo, Roscoe. Toby is Chase's partner and a contractor. B Smith bought six cat quilts. Cole Green is retired and trying to find a new Banjo. Alfreda is Mr Green's caregiver. Barney Smith had a possible replacement for Mr Green. Match-a-Cat helps find replacement cats for people.
The Cover and Title
The cover has a dark feeling despite the pale green of the grass and the paled pinks of the Victorian at the end of a twisty path. In the foreground is an old iron lamp post with a "missing cat" poster and a cat arching its back at the base...its shadow is rather scary looking. On the bottom right are legs with slippers on lying horizontally. The far background is hilly looking with its crowns of pink leaves and stick branches. The upper (and shorter) half is a blue sky that gradates to black, forming an excellent background for the title and epigraph, which are in white. The uppermost sixth is a royal blue banner surrounded in sky blue that gets narrower as it flows right, making an excellent background for the author's name and an info blurb. A black cat is the badge for the series info in a pale pink.
The title includes The Cat, the Quilt and the Corpse which incorporates the major elements of this cozy mystery.
My Take
I gotta confess that the start of The Cat, the Quilt and the Corpse almost had me quitting. It was pretty lame. But, I was in the mood for a cozy and so not in the mood to go hunting for a different read, so I kept on. I'm glad I did as the writing did get better. Not great, but definitely better.
The beginning is an introduction to a cat-obsessed Jillian. We know how passionate (and clueless) she is about her cats experiencing the break-in as Sweeney uses first person protagonist point-of-view from Jillian's perspective. She is a good person. She wants to help in most anything. At the start we learn that she donates quilts for the children of military men and women killed in Iraq and Afghanistan and later she's helping some of the locals. Her quilting experience does come in pretty handy for piecing together some clues. As for her cat cam, all I can say is I want one! Sweeney makes good use of Jillian "spying" on her clowder to bring in comic relief.
It's rather amazing how unsympathetic the police department is. They're pretty hidebound too. The cop characters are each distinct. Candace is gung-ho about forensics but her partner is quite disparaging. Her police chief isn't a whole lot better. As for Lydia...dang, they should arrest her for existing.
Mercy? Well, it's a small town which means everyone knows everyone else's business, for good and for bad. And some of the people I like are Belle and Karen and Ed. Belle's got some sense of humor and sounds easygoing as well as smart. That Ed...he's got a screw loose when it comes to stuff, but I can't fault him for his thoughts.
"Trash can be treasure. We're a nation of wasters. Throw everything out before it's served its purpose. And that purpose isn't always what a thing mighta been made for in the first place."Then there's that bit about not having any idea what could be salvaged from an object, but hunting for it is part of the fun of it.
Tom now. I like that boy, and he sure is forgiving, even if he does jump the gun a bit.
The story isn't a whole lotta action but there are a whole lotta thoughts from Jillian. There's a reasonable pace to The Cat, the Quilt and the Corpse, although Jillian goes on and on a bit about how important the cats are and that they play a part in the murder. I do agree with her, but oy...she does go on and on.
The Story
Jill's quiet life is shattered when her house is broken into and her Abyssinian, Syrah, goes missing. Jill's convinced her kitty's been catnapped. But when her cat-crime-solving leads her to a murdered body, suddenly all paws are pointing to Jill.
Soon, Jill discovers that Syrah isn't the only purebred who's been stolen. Now she has to find these furry felines before they all become the prey of a cold-blooded killer — and she ends up nabbed for a crime...
The Characters
Jillian Hart is a widow subsuming her grief by making cat quilts. Her three rescued cats keep her company: Syrah is an Abyssinian and the alpha, Chablis has allergies, and Merlot is a Maine Coon. Hmmm, I'm getting this urge for a glass of wine... Her beloved husband, John, died ten months ago. She'll temporarily adopt "Dove". "Boy" is hanging with Candace, for the now.
Mercy PD
Deputies Candace Carson and Morris Ebeling respond to Jillian's call. Mike Baca is the police chief who needs to work on his tact. Barbara Lynne is the unsympathetic dispatcher. Lydia Monk is the deputy coroner with a HUGE chip on her shoulder. Beecham is the coroner but doesn't like to get out much.
Tom Stewart, a retired cop, is the local security expert — who's sweet on Jillian. Dashiell is his cat. Karen is Tom's mother and a former alcoholic. She's a great cook and dating Ed Duffy. a hoarder who comes in right handy selling his "collectibles" through Ed's Swap Shop.
Billy Cranor is a volunteer fireman and works at the hardware store. Dr Jensen is a veterinarian; Agnes is his receptionist. Martha works at the Cotton Company, the local quilt shop. David is a sacker at the Piggly Wiggly. David has a Grandpa Nagel with a mean cat. Dan Meade is an EMT. Lewis Rainer does love his lights at Christmas. Belle Lowry owns Belle's Beans where they make really good coffee. And all her baristas are named "Belle", including Shondra. Java had been Belle's kitty. Frank Donnelly accidentally shot himself. Marian Mae Temple appears quite classy; she lost her cat, Diamond. The Mercy Messenger is the local weekly paper. Helen Harper passed two weeks ago. Flake Wilkerson is the local hermit who lives in the Pink House. Daphne Wilkerson is a scary woman and Flake's daughter.
Mercy Animal Sanctuary is...
...almost spa-like for the animals. It's run by Allison and the hot-tempered Shawn Cuddahee. He's also a great furniture maker. Snug is an African grey parrot at the shelter.
Dale Bartlett lost his Tonkinese, Beatrice. Chase Cook, a graphics designer, lost his tuxedo, Roscoe. Toby is Chase's partner and a contractor. B Smith bought six cat quilts. Cole Green is retired and trying to find a new Banjo. Alfreda is Mr Green's caregiver. Barney Smith had a possible replacement for Mr Green. Match-a-Cat helps find replacement cats for people.
The Cover and Title
The cover has a dark feeling despite the pale green of the grass and the paled pinks of the Victorian at the end of a twisty path. In the foreground is an old iron lamp post with a "missing cat" poster and a cat arching its back at the base...its shadow is rather scary looking. On the bottom right are legs with slippers on lying horizontally. The far background is hilly looking with its crowns of pink leaves and stick branches. The upper (and shorter) half is a blue sky that gradates to black, forming an excellent background for the title and epigraph, which are in white. The uppermost sixth is a royal blue banner surrounded in sky blue that gets narrower as it flows right, making an excellent background for the author's name and an info blurb. A black cat is the badge for the series info in a pale pink.
The title includes The Cat, the Quilt and the Corpse which incorporates the major elements of this cozy mystery.
March 21, 2017
Read~August 15, 2010
4 Stars
WOW!!!!
This has the potential to be a REALLY great series. Very well written with LOTS of humor. The "crime" was very believable, as were all the characters (including the cats. We have cats. They ARE that smart). Jillian is a delightful (if slightly odd, in a good way) heroine, as are her wine-named kitties, who all have interesting personalities of their own (ONE is allergic to humans!!!).
I really enjoyed this book. So much n fact that I am going right out and buying the next one (there are only 2 so far. The third is being written)!!!!
Jillian is new to the small town of Mercy. She and her husband moved there to spend their retirement years and then, he suddenly passes away. Jillian goes into "survivor" mode, only leaving the house to go to quilt shows (for she is a quilter. For both humans AND cats). Its on one such occasion that she returns home to find Merlot (her cat) sneezing and Syrah missing.
As she searches for her cat, Jillian learns she needs to come out of her grief and learn to live again AND use all her wits to save not only her cat, but her new friends AND herself!
LOVELY read!!!!!!
July 31, 2012
The initial novel in the "Cats in Trouble" series, "The Cat, the Quilt & the Corpse" is a fun introduction to Jillian Hart & her 3 cats (Syrah, Chablis & Merlot). When Jillian returns from an overnight quilting show & finds a window broken & Syrah missing she must enlist the help of people in a town that she really doesn't know based upon just moving there recently. When a local man, Flake Wilkinson comes up dead & cats are found along with Syrah a murder mystery ensues with twists & turns all over the place. Sweeney does an excellent job of setting the story in motion & brings to life the interactions of the Candice, Tom, & Morris. She also sets the stage for the future installments within the series by giving us the installation of the cat cam that plays a prominent role in things to come & also the nature of what it means to love animals more than life itself. The story keeps you guessing right up until the end although the title as will become the case with this series pretty much gives you the clues you need on the initial set up of things the book as a whole is a nice introduction to yet another series in the cozy cat mystery genre
October 19, 2013
I have looked at this series several times and finally decided to try it on my Kindle. I read lots of mysteries and love cats and wine, so expected to love this. The main character is a young widow who is a relative stranger in the small town she lives in, people know of her but don’t know her. Her life revolves around her three cats and her quilting business and the mystery begins with one of her cats, an Abyssinian, named Syrah, being catnapped. The other two, Merlot and Chablis, were apparently the “brains” of the crew and hid from the cat napper. There is a murder later with a human victim, but make no mistake the cats are the stars of this show.
I found the book to be okay, maybe 2.5 out of 5 stars, but there was not enough there to keep me going back for more in the series. Not when I am interested in so many other series and have so many started. I didn’t connect with the character, Jill, that well and found a couple of the other characters a little odd, not odd in the cozy mystery, quirky character kind of way, just odd. I will say I was surprised at the reveal and the mystery was solved satisfactorily.
I found the book to be okay, maybe 2.5 out of 5 stars, but there was not enough there to keep me going back for more in the series. Not when I am interested in so many other series and have so many started. I didn’t connect with the character, Jill, that well and found a couple of the other characters a little odd, not odd in the cozy mystery, quirky character kind of way, just odd. I will say I was surprised at the reveal and the mystery was solved satisfactorily.
March 3, 2017
In The Cat, the Quilt, and the Corpse by Leann Sweeney, Jillian Hart comes home from an overnight conference to find that someone has broken into her home, with her Abyssinian cat, Syrah, missing. The senior officer in the police team that responds looks upon Jillian with scorn for her frantic response to having lost her cat, but the younger officer, Candace, jumps with enthusiasm into the case, collecting all the forensic evidence she can find and developing a friendship with Jillian. The narrator, Jillian only moved to Mercy, South Carolina a year earlier in a relocation to her and her husband's dream home when he suddenly died right after they arrived, leaving Jillian isolated and virtually friendless for months until this incident, which has forced her to make friends in order to survive and also to solve the mystery.
Read the rest of this review, more reviews, and other wonderful, geeky articles on FangirlNation
Read the rest of this review, more reviews, and other wonderful, geeky articles on FangirlNation
April 10, 2011
I bought this one for a theme read in one of my reading groups. Cats have always been an important part of my life, so reading it was bound to be a pleasure. I'm so glad I did. Ms. Sweeney's characters are full-bodied, just like I like them. She rounds them out with both good and bad; strong characters to build on. I thoroughly enjoyed all the cat facts interspersed throughout the storyline; some I knew and some I didn't. Overall, this is a very good book and I definitely would recommend it. Can't wait to read the next one in the series.
August 11, 2010
I'm more of a dog person than a cat person, but I still really liked this book. The three main cats in the story are like characters in their own right- and it was fun to read about their different idiosyncrasies, and to see what they were up to when Jillian checked in on her "cat cam." The mystery, ,which had to do with missing cats, was very unique and I liked that the animals played such a big role in this book. I just bought the next title in this series so I guess I'm officially hooked :)
May 13, 2015
I really enjoyed this. Many of the cozy mysteries I have read I feel like you have to be patient with the first book as the characters have to be established and sometimes the pacing is a little funky. This book really flowed for me and I was drawn back to it when I wasn't listening to it and wanted more. Already started the next book in the series!
June 25, 2010
Leann Sweeney had me at the title of the series (Cats in Trouble). This is the star of a terrific new series and I'm glad to see it's getting a lot of buzz. Wonderful mystery by a master story-teller.
July 17, 2011
What a fun book to read on a rainy day. Really enjoyed this book and looking forward to reading the next book in the series :)
October 4, 2016
Compulsively readable: I finished this in one day. Unfortunately, the protagonist is a brass-plated idiot.
February 13, 2021
"The Cat, the Quilt, and the Corpse" was a surprisingly well-written cozy mystery. I say "surprisingly" because as much as I enjoy cozies, few of them would be considered decent mysteries, much less any form of literature. But they are my guilty pleasure. Some people read bodice-rippers; I read cozies.
I needed something refreshing after "The Underground Railroad" and "Where the Crawdads Sing," as those were simply engrossing, heart-rending literary fiction. But "The Cat..." was much more than a refreshing sip of soda pop; it was a well-constructed mystery. To enjoy this series, you need to be a cat-lover, or at least understand those of us who are, because the cats are actually quite important to the story, instead of window dressing like most cozies that feature cats.
Jillian is a recent widow who makes cat-sized quilts; apparently, there's a market for those? BTW, I'm also a quilter so you can see the appeal here. Anyway, Jillian comes home to find her picture window smashed and her Abyssinian, Syrah, missing. One of her other cats is sneezing. This cat has an allergy to humans, so putting all the clues together.... Jillian figures out that someone broke into her house and stole her cat. Jillian is a relatively-recent transplant to Mercy, SC, from Houston, so is apparently unaware of the gossip network and how everyone-knows-everyone is small-town, southern USA. She learns quickly though, and uses this network and her new friendship w/ the female cop in town to start tracking her lost cat. At first, I thought, "As much as I like cats, tracing her lost cat doesn't feel like much of a plot line for an entire mystery." I was wrong. Jillian goes to confront the man that she is sure abducted her cat... and finds him murdered. She also finds her "lost" cat.
Jillian - like any other plucky cozy mystery heroine - wants to get to the bottom of the case herself, b/c the police don't seem to understand that people will go to any lengths to recover their lost pets, and there are more cats in the murder victim's house - as well as a few cat quilts which Jillian recognizes that she herself made. Had she sold these quilts to the dead cat-napper at a quilt show? Or at a cat show? She can't remember. With help from the new friends in town that she is making, Jillian attempts to get to the bottom of the cat-nappings AND the murder. I like that the author doesn't create stereotypical southern characters, but makes them unique, flawed individuals w/ personalities. I LIKE that the victim's daughter is damaged and unlikeable - and that her dad actually stole HER cat and sold it! Because it turns out that the cat-napper has a website where he sells cats to folks. The clients are generally heartbroken over their lost cats and hoping for a new cat that looks like their lost love. This is why he stole Jillian's cat, and luckily had not delivered her cat to the buyer yet.
Jillian should have been a detective because she pieces together shredded flyers about lost cats and finds a pic of what she thinks is the daughter's cat. Of course, the chief of police is sure the daughter is the murderer b/c of a large inheritance and Jillian is positive that the CATS are the important angle, which it turns out is the truth. There is the obligatory heart-stopping, dangerous encounter w/ the actual murderer (You HAVE to have this in a cozy mystery!) and most everything works out well. The daughter is serendipitously reunited w/ her long-lost cat; Jillian has made new friends in town; and she might have a new man friend also. yay!
I wasn't sure I was going to like this one, because as I already said, I didn't think a missing cat was going to carry an entire mystery, and the actual murder didn't occur until 25% into the book. But that actually WORKED because we got to know Jillian a little better and realize just how MUCH she loved her cats, and that other people feel like this too. I liked that the towns folk were quirky Southerners, but not stereotypically so. But most of all, I liked that I never figured out the identity of the murderer until told - even though you have to be suspicious of everyone in cozy mysteries, so was suspicious of the actual perpetrator.
Therefore, this is a solid 4.4ish stars, but I can't round up to a full 5 stars, b/c I simply can't put this fun mystery on the same footing as "Where the Crawdads Sing" or a Louise Penny mystery.
I needed something refreshing after "The Underground Railroad" and "Where the Crawdads Sing," as those were simply engrossing, heart-rending literary fiction. But "The Cat..." was much more than a refreshing sip of soda pop; it was a well-constructed mystery. To enjoy this series, you need to be a cat-lover, or at least understand those of us who are, because the cats are actually quite important to the story, instead of window dressing like most cozies that feature cats.
Jillian is a recent widow who makes cat-sized quilts; apparently, there's a market for those? BTW, I'm also a quilter so you can see the appeal here. Anyway, Jillian comes home to find her picture window smashed and her Abyssinian, Syrah, missing. One of her other cats is sneezing. This cat has an allergy to humans, so putting all the clues together.... Jillian figures out that someone broke into her house and stole her cat. Jillian is a relatively-recent transplant to Mercy, SC, from Houston, so is apparently unaware of the gossip network and how everyone-knows-everyone is small-town, southern USA. She learns quickly though, and uses this network and her new friendship w/ the female cop in town to start tracking her lost cat. At first, I thought, "As much as I like cats, tracing her lost cat doesn't feel like much of a plot line for an entire mystery." I was wrong. Jillian goes to confront the man that she is sure abducted her cat... and finds him murdered. She also finds her "lost" cat.
Jillian - like any other plucky cozy mystery heroine - wants to get to the bottom of the case herself, b/c the police don't seem to understand that people will go to any lengths to recover their lost pets, and there are more cats in the murder victim's house - as well as a few cat quilts which Jillian recognizes that she herself made. Had she sold these quilts to the dead cat-napper at a quilt show? Or at a cat show? She can't remember. With help from the new friends in town that she is making, Jillian attempts to get to the bottom of the cat-nappings AND the murder. I like that the author doesn't create stereotypical southern characters, but makes them unique, flawed individuals w/ personalities. I LIKE that the victim's daughter is damaged and unlikeable - and that her dad actually stole HER cat and sold it! Because it turns out that the cat-napper has a website where he sells cats to folks. The clients are generally heartbroken over their lost cats and hoping for a new cat that looks like their lost love. This is why he stole Jillian's cat, and luckily had not delivered her cat to the buyer yet.
Jillian should have been a detective because she pieces together shredded flyers about lost cats and finds a pic of what she thinks is the daughter's cat. Of course, the chief of police is sure the daughter is the murderer b/c of a large inheritance and Jillian is positive that the CATS are the important angle, which it turns out is the truth. There is the obligatory heart-stopping, dangerous encounter w/ the actual murderer (You HAVE to have this in a cozy mystery!) and most everything works out well. The daughter is serendipitously reunited w/ her long-lost cat; Jillian has made new friends in town; and she might have a new man friend also. yay!
I wasn't sure I was going to like this one, because as I already said, I didn't think a missing cat was going to carry an entire mystery, and the actual murder didn't occur until 25% into the book. But that actually WORKED because we got to know Jillian a little better and realize just how MUCH she loved her cats, and that other people feel like this too. I liked that the towns folk were quirky Southerners, but not stereotypically so. But most of all, I liked that I never figured out the identity of the murderer until told - even though you have to be suspicious of everyone in cozy mysteries, so was suspicious of the actual perpetrator.
Therefore, this is a solid 4.4ish stars, but I can't round up to a full 5 stars, b/c I simply can't put this fun mystery on the same footing as "Where the Crawdads Sing" or a Louise Penny mystery.
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