Saturday, March 21, 2015

Review and Giveaway: Borrowed Crime

Borrowed Crime (Bookmobile Cat Mystery - Book 3) by Laurie Cass

Publication Date: 03/03/2015
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Obsidian Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 352
ISBN-100451415485
ISBN-13978-0451415486

(Received for an honest review from Obsidian Mystery)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound, itunes

Laurie Cass on the WEB: websitefacebook, goodreads

Books in the series:

Bookmobile Cat Mystery

1. Lending a Paw
2. Tailing a Tabby
3. Borrowed Crime

Coverart: Click on the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series




Excerpt from Borrowed Crime, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature

Synopsis:

Librarian Minnie Hamilton spreads the joy of reading throughout Chilson, Michigan, with her bookmobile, but she doesn’t ride alone. Her rescue cat, Eddie, and a group of volunteers are always on board to deliver cheer—until one of her helpers gets checked out for good...

When Minnie loses a grant that was supposed to keep the bookmobile running, she’s worried her pet project could come to its final page. But she’s determined to keep her patrons—and Eddie’s fans—happy and well read. She just needs her boss, Stephen to see things her way, and make sure he doesn’t see Eddie. The library director doesn’t exactly know about the bookmobile’s furry co-pilot.

But when a volunteer dies on the bookmobile’s route, Minnie finds her traveling library in an even more precarious position. Although the death was originally ruled a hunting accident, a growing stack of clues is pointing towards murder. It’s up to Minnie and Eddie to find the killer, and fast—before the best chapter of her life comes to a messy close…


Thoughts:

Readers looking for a great series featuring not only cats,  but books, will love the Bookmobile Cat Mystery series. Laurie Cass brings readers the latest book in the series, Borrowed Crime. The fate of the bookmobile is in danger and there's murder afoot. Minnie and her cat Eddie must figure out who the killer is and how to keep the bookmobile going. This is a great new addition to the series. Cass gives readers an eclectic mix of characters and an interesting set of problems in this small town mystery!

This series has some of my favorite things in it. I loved the idea of the series featuring a library and bookmobile. As a child the bookmobile was a special treat for me. I became an avid reader at an early age and the library is one of my favorite places in the world, so the setting for this one was perfect for me. Books, books and more books. For someone who loves the written word this would make a great series. 

I am not a cat person, yes I said it. I like dogs. However, in cozy mystery writing more times than not the primary pet that ends up in the series is a cat. And to be honest there are some really good ones. Eddie, in the Bookmobile Cat Mystery series is an interesting cat. I like the fact that Minnie considers him like she would a child. She talks to him and makes him a part of everything she does, but if her boss found out that would probably be the end of the bookmobile. I liked the fact that the fate of the bookmobile gave readers a secondary focus, besides the mystery in this one as well. 

The mystery was top notch in this one. Roger, takes his wife's place as a volunteer on the bookmobile, and then he ends up dead. Shot in an apparent hunting accident. When it turns out that it isn't an accident at all, Minnie and Eddie are on the trail of a killer. I thought Cass was very thoughtful with how she presented the clues. It was easy to follow the trail right along with the heroine and that is nice, sometimes they just get too complicated. Cass proves that simple is sometimes best here.

Bottom Line:

This is a great book and a great series. I like the interactions between the characters and the secondary focus of the bookmobile and the library. There is a lot to love here and if you are cat person, it's right up your alley. Give this one a try, you'll be glad you did!

Borrowed Crime is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!




About the Author:


Laurie Cass, the national bestselling author of Lending a Paw and Tailing a Tabby, lives on a lake in northern Michigan with her husband and two cats. At the moment, she is busy working on the next Bookmobile Cat Mystery and even busier picking Eddie hair off her clothes.


Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Borrowed Crime by Laurie Cass.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, April 4th.

1. Please leave a comment. What's another good series featuring cats that you like and why?


2. Please fill out the FORM.


32 comments:

traveler said...

The Ghost and Mrs. Mewer is a cat series I enjoy. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

I like the Bookmobile Cat Mystery series by Laurie Cass

Barbara T. said...

I like the inclusion of a cat in a story as long as it does not "talk" or provide clues. I want it to be a normal pet.

holdenj said...

Sofie Kelly's cats, Owen and Hercules, in the Magical Cats mysteries are great.

skkorman said...

I like Lilian Jackson Braun's "The Cat Who …" series—the books in this series always are fun reads!

skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net

Linda Kish said...

I like the Nick & Nora mysteries.

Sue Farrell said...

The series that got me started reading cozy mysteries was The Cat Who... series by Lillian Jackson Braun---and it's still my favorite.

kec200 said...

I have become a cat person and love books with a resident cat. Can't think of any series right off that have cats though.

Anonymous said...

We love animals cats and dogs alike.
Love reading cozies.

Angela - Bookaunt said...

I also enjoy Heather Blakes' Potion series as her cats are talked about a lot in the stories.

Debbie S said...

The Cat Who series by Lilian Jackson Braun is what got me started on cozies, I loved how the cat gave hints. The first book of this series sort of gave me the same feeling.

Vicki said...

I found a set of about 12 books in The Cat Who series at a flea market a few years ago. I love the series because of the unique talents of Koko and Yum-Yum. Yum Yum reminds me of my sons cat who also loves opening drawers, doors, etc.

Carol N Wong said...

I am more a dog person but I love Rita Mae Brown's books, have Cat's Eye Witness waiting to be read.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Rita Wray said...

I like The Cat Who series by Lilian Jackson Braun.

Annette N said...

I enjoy Leann Sweeney's series - The Cat and....And when I was small in Indiana the bookmobile was one of the joys in my life.
annettena at yahoo dot com

bn100 said...

haven't read any series with cats

Alicia said...

I like Rita Mae Brown's book with Sneaky Pie and also Leann Sweeney's series.... :)

Karen B said...

A Second Chance Cat Mystery Series by Sofie Ryan (Kelly) - starring Elvis.

Robin Coxon said...

The first book series I loved that had cats in it was the Lillian Braun, The Cat Who series. Since that series there have been so many more.

Nancy said...

I also really enjoy "the Cat Who" Series.I can't think of the other one I enjoyed but it ended. The pets do add a little extra to the stories. I'm looking forward to this series.l'm putting it on my TBR list.

Unknown said...

I love Miranda James Cat in the Stacks series. Always wished I could have a cat who walked on a leash. None of my cats have so far.
dotkel50@comcast.net

lag123 said...

My favorite is "The Cat Who" series.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

Jeanette Green said...

The Cat Who series by Lilian Jackson Braun was the first one that came to mind.
I have Meow if its Murder by TC. LoTempio on my shelf that I haven't read yet..

Grandma Cootie said...

I started with The Cat Who Series but now a cozy just doesn't seem quite right if it doesn't have a cat (or dog) in it. I especially love The Good and The Bad cats in The Book Collector Mysteries.

Theresa N. said...

I like The Cat Who series.
Theresa N
weceno(at)yahoo(dot)com

Meg C. said...

Laurie Cass' series has became a favorite really quickly. But like a lot of others I started out with The Cat Who series. With a cat as smart as Koko and one as sweet as Yum Yum, was there anyone who read about them and didn't love them? Though I gotta admit, Diesel from the Cat in the Stacks series and Elvis from the Second Chance Cat series are also on my favorite cats in cozies list.

Brooke Showalter said...

Joyce & Jim Lavene have some fun books with cats, like their retired witches series and the food truck series they write as JJ Cook.

cyn209 said...

I enjoy The Magical Cats series...........

Bonnie said...

I like ones where the cat talks.

Unknown said...

I love any book with mysteries and cats. I like The Cats That Mystery series.

Unknown said...

I love any book with mysteries and cats. I like The Cats That Mystery series.

Michelle F. said...

I love the Cat Who series by Lilian Jackson Braun and want to read the cat series by Sofie Ryan. I own cats.