Publication Date: 03/03/2015
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Obsidian Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 352
ISBN-10: 0451415485
ISBN-13: 978-0451415486
(Received for an honest review from Obsidian Mystery)
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound, itunes
Laurie Cass on the WEB: website, facebook, 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:
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.
The Ghost and Mrs. Mewer is a cat series I enjoy. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI like the Bookmobile Cat Mystery series by Laurie Cass
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteSofie Kelly's cats, Owen and Hercules, in the Magical Cats mysteries are great.
ReplyDeleteI like Lilian Jackson Braun's "The Cat Who …" series—the books in this series always are fun reads!
ReplyDeleteskkorman AT bellsouth DOT net
I like the Nick & Nora mysteries.
ReplyDeleteThe series that got me started reading cozy mysteries was The Cat Who... series by Lillian Jackson Braun---and it's still my favorite.
ReplyDeleteI have become a cat person and love books with a resident cat. Can't think of any series right off that have cats though.
ReplyDeleteWe love animals cats and dogs alike.
ReplyDeleteLove reading cozies.
I also enjoy Heather Blakes' Potion series as her cats are talked about a lot in the stories.
ReplyDeleteThe 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.
ReplyDeleteI am more a dog person but I love Rita Mae Brown's books, have Cat's Eye Witness waiting to be read.
ReplyDeleteCarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
I like The Cat Who series by Lilian Jackson Braun.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteannettena at yahoo dot com
haven't read any series with cats
ReplyDeleteI like Rita Mae Brown's book with Sneaky Pie and also Leann Sweeney's series.... :)
ReplyDeleteA Second Chance Cat Mystery Series by Sofie Ryan (Kelly) - starring Elvis.
ReplyDeleteThe 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.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeletedotkel50@comcast.net
My favorite is "The Cat Who" series.
ReplyDeletelag110 at mchsi dot com
The Cat Who series by Lilian Jackson Braun was the first one that came to mind.
ReplyDeleteI have Meow if its Murder by TC. LoTempio on my shelf that I haven't read yet..
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.
ReplyDeleteI like The Cat Who series.
ReplyDeleteTheresa N
weceno(at)yahoo(dot)com
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.
ReplyDeleteJoyce & Jim Lavene have some fun books with cats, like their retired witches series and the food truck series they write as JJ Cook.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy The Magical Cats series...........
ReplyDeleteI like ones where the cat talks.
ReplyDeleteI love any book with mysteries and cats. I like The Cats That Mystery series.
ReplyDeleteI love any book with mysteries and cats. I like The Cats That Mystery series.
ReplyDeleteI love the Cat Who series by Lilian Jackson Braun and want to read the cat series by Sofie Ryan. I own cats.
ReplyDelete