Publication Date: 10/07/2014
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Obsidian Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 336
ISBN-10: 0451414713
ISBN-13: 978-0451414717
(Received for an honest review from Obsidian Mystery)
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Indiebound
Sofie Kelly on the WEB: website, news, goodreads
Books in the series:
Magical Cats Mysteries
1. Curiosity Thrilled the Cat
2. Sleight of Paw
3. Copycat Killing
4. Cat Trick
5. Final Catcall
6. A Midwinter's Tail
Coverart: Click the Image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.
Excerpt from, A Midwinter's Tail, courtesy of the author's website.
Synopsis:
Kathleen Paulson is snowed under running her library and caring for her extraordinary felines, Owen and Hercules. But when a fund-raiser turns deadly, she’ll have to add sleuthing to her already full schedule....
Winter in Mayville Heights is busy and not just because of the holidays. Kathleen is hard at work organizing a benefit to raise money for the library’s popular Reading Buddies program. She has her hands full hosting the event. And when a guest at the gala drops dead, her magical cats, Owen and Hercules, will have their paws full helping her solve a murder.
The victim is the ex of town rascal Burtis Chapman, but she hasn’t lived in the area in years. And though everybody is denying knowledge of why she was back in town, as Kathleen and her detective boyfriend, Marcus, begin nosing around, they discover more people are connected to the deceased than claimed to be. Now Marcus, Kathleen, and her uncanny cats have to unravel this midwinter tale before the case gets cold.
Thoughts:
Owen and Hercules are back in the sixth book in the Magical Cats series by Sofie Kelly. A Midwinter's Tail takes place during the Christmas season in Mayville Heights and readers will quickly be drawn into a murder mystery. With plenty of suspects, some burgeoning romance, a wedding and fundraiser gone awry, there is plenty going on in this addition to the series. Readers looking for a fast paced whodunit, with a touch of magic will love this one!
What I liked:
As always with the Magical Cats series, Owen and Hercules are the feline stars of the show. With their magical abilities these two kitties have become quite the cozy sleuths. Kathleen may be the heroine of the series, but she wouldn't get anywhere without her feline sidekicks. In A Midwinter's Tail, the cats seem to have acquired a couple of new skills, reading and computer savvy. Though some suspense in reality is required for this series, Owen and Hercules make up for it by making their actions seem realistic for the situation. They still behave like cats for the most part, from one having a catnip addiction to spats between them. Kelly makes it easy to believe in magic, with these two around.
One of my favorite parts of this series is the interactions between Kathleen, Owen and Hercules and the rest of the town of Mayville Heights. From Kathleen's relationship with Marcus to the her friendships with Roma and Ruby and the rest of the gang. I love all of the side plots and stories that add so much to this series. In this addition to the series, there is a lot of romance in the air, as well as, murder. A wedding, some new budding relationships, and just the ongoing details of what's going on around town, make me smile every time I read one of the Magical Cats books.
The mystery in this one centers around the return of Burdis Chapman's ex wife Dayna and her subsequent murder during a library fundraiser. Now that puts a damper on one budding romance since Burdis becomes suspect number one. I thought this was an interesting turn of events and one I didn't see coming. The mystery itself was a bit overshadowed by all of the other things going on in town, but it was still entertaining and kept me guessing to the end. There were suspects aplenty, but the burden of proof eventually landed and Kathleen with the help of Hercules an Owen was right in the middle of it as usual. Another well written whodunit by Sofie Kelly.
What I didn't like:
As I said the mystery was slightly on the back burner due to everything else going on in the book. But I think that's a natural progression for a series sometimes. You just have to have those books that tie up a lot of loose ends or start new threads and that felt like what this one was. The mystery was still just as good, there was just a lot of other stuff getting in the way a little bit.
Bottom Line:
Mayville Heights is busy, busy, busy in this addition to a great series. Kathleen along with her friends and her felines once again are on the track of a killer. Romance is blooming but murder was looming! The background stories take over a little bit but not to worry the mystery is still there and is just a riveting as usual.
A Midwinter's Tail is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.
I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!
About the Author:
Giveaway Details:
The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of A Midwinter's Tail by Sofie Kelly.
~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, October 30th.
1. Please leave a comment. If you had a magical cat what ability would you like it to have?
2. Please fill out the FORM.
24 comments:
I would like it to have the ability to catch and release mice :)
I would like it to have the ability to clean its own litterbox.
I would like a cat that could switch places with me occasionally! Sometimes it seems as though it would be really nice to be a house cat.
The ability to talk.
seriously cook to be able to talk to my cat. especially when she is biding her time waiting to pounce!
I am not sure what ability I would like the cat to have other than maybe use the toilet, lol.
My kitty-boy and I have long conversations every day—of course, I do both voices; it's sort of like Norman Bates and Mother without the violence. Because I wish we truly could converse, I would like my magical cat to have the ability to speak English!
skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net
I would like the cat to be able to heal people.
Penney
Take care of all the hairballs and litterbox, and then be able to talk to me!
A cat who would respond to my comments. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
My magical cat would read other peoples thoughts...then, tell me!
patucker54 at aol dot com
I'd love for Ruby and Reba to be able to talk!
I would like my cats to be able to easily communicate with me.
I would like for him to be able to talk.
lag110 at mchsi dot com
I think I already had one. He had the ability to make me and others feel better. I think most cats do, but this guy was better than most. He could do it from across the room with a look or his purr. He seemed to know exactly what was needed every time. He was my extra special fur baby and I'm well aware I was lucky to have him. I also love Sophie Kelly's books and Owen and Hercules are written so well they're very believable.
Big thanks to Debbie for the great review!
Good luck, everyone.
clean the house
I would want my magical cat to be able to grant me a wish.
Having a cat that would be able to read people's minds and then talk to me telepathically would definitely be interesting.
I would want to to be able to turn kitty liter into gold. :P
If I had a magical cat I would like it to have the ability to talk to me, but only to me. Thanks for having the giveaway.
ayancey1974(at)gamil(dot)com
I would want my cat to talk to me. I wonder what he keeps trying to tell me. But there could be a downside to that because he probably wouldn't shut up.
It would be awesome if my cat could talk!
Thanks for the chance to win!
For one thing, to clean up after itself. I just love these kind of cozy reads. Thanks for the opportunity.
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