by Sandra Murphy

Details on how to win a copy of Buy a Whisker at the end of this review, along with a link to purchase the book from indie bookstore Mysterious Galaxy where a portion goes to help support KRL.

Since Sarah Grayson was rescued by Elvis the cat (although she thinks it was the other way around), things have been going well in North Harbor, Maine. Busloads of Canadian tourists drop by to shop at her resale store. Quilts and other portables are flying out the door. Mac is working wonders on discarded, unloved furniture. Elvis mostly gets his way, as it should be for any cat, especially this one. Things are good.

Of course, there’s the developer who wants to make a big deal out of the pier, which means some shops will have to move. Everyone is in agreement that it could be a boon to business for all concerned. Well, all except Lily at the bakery. The basements under her building are all connected. Knock down one building and they all collapse like dominoes, so there’s no building around her shop.

The odd thing is, when someone wanted to do a similar project five years ago, she was on board. Now she won’t consider it, no matter how much money is offered. The bakery gets TP’d (toilet paper hanging on the bakery is not an appetizing look), and egged (eggs go in food, not on the window). These juvenile harassments make life miserable for Lily.

When Lily is found dead at the bottom of the basement stairs, the obvious assumption is that she went down for supplies for the day’s baking and fell. The thing is, Lily was more than a little OCD. She got all her supplies and ingredients ready the night before, just so she wouldn’t have to run up and down the stairs in the morning. Is that enough to call it a suspicious death?

The Angels think so. They are the older ladies (and one gent) who work part-time or hang out at Sarah’s store. Charlotte’s son Nick is an investigator. He’d rather the ladies stick to a more genteel pursuit but there’s no arguing with them. It’s easier to keep track of what they’re doing than to stop them.

Once Lily’s death is declared a murder, there are a number of suspects to choose from. For instance, Victor is acting weird. He needs to sell out so he can afford to keep his father in the nursing home. Then there are: the developer, a secret investor, someone from Lily’s past, and maybe a few who are not so obvious. Liz, one of the Angels, is also a suspect, although not a strong contender. She won’t talk to the police, and she and Lily had a bit of an argument the night before Lily died.

Rose and Mr. P (he’s the Angel’s computer whiz and Rose’s sweetie), are a delight. Rose has been living at a senior complex but has been evicted, reason unknown. With only two weeks for Rose to find a new home, what can Sarah do but offer the upstairs apartment? Now it will be Sarah, her grandmother and her new hubby, and Rose sharing the building. That should be interesting.

Mac also needs a new place when he gets notice his building has been sold. No room left in Sarah’s house but there is room above the shop. Things are getting cozy. Given Nick’s attraction to Sarah, her assurances that they are only friends, and Mac’s quiet manner that (I think) hides an equal attraction for her, this could be nice twist for the future.

The Whole Cat and Caboodle was the first in the series. Although you can read them out of order with no difficulty, I recommend getting both books and reading them back-to-back, they’re that enjoyable. The next book, A Whisker of Trouble, won’t be out until February 2016, and you’ll get a bigger dose of Elvis. Remember, everyone has a secret, even the cat.

To enter to win a copy of Buy a Whisker simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “Whisker,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen April 18, 2015. U.S. residents only. If entering via email please include your mailing address, and if via comment please include your email address.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & short stories in our mystery section.

Use this link to purchase a copy of the book & a portion goes to help support KRL & an indie bookstore:

Buy a Whisker: Second Chance Cat Mystery

Sandra Murphy lives in the shadow of the arch, in the land of blues, booze and shoes—St Louis, Missouri. While writing magazine articles to support her mystery book habit, she secretly polishes two mystery books of her own, hoping, someday, they will see the light of Barnes and Noble. You can also find several of Sandra’s short stories on UnTreed Reads including her new one Bananas Foster. Sandy’s latest short story “The Tater Tot Caper” is one of eleven stories in The Killer Wore Cranberry: Fourths of Mayhem. The annual Thanksgiving anthology has eleven stories and this year, includes recipes. And it’s on sale! Available in all e-versions and in print.