by Sandra Murphy

Details at the end of this review on how to win a copy of Meow If It’s Murder, along with a link to purchase the book where a portion goes to help support KRL & an indie bookstore.

A psychic best friend, a cat who’s in the know on crime, and a deli shop to run, you’d think that would be enough to keep Nora Charles busy. She’s a former crime reporter from Chicago, moved back home to run the family sandwich business after her mother’s death. Sandwiches are named after movie stars and other celebs. The pull of a crime mystery is still there, encouraged by her part time work for the crime magazine, Noir.

Nick the cat has a nose for clues. He doesn’t talk but he can get his point across without a problem. Lucky for Nora, he’s decided to adopt her. His former owner, a private investigator, has gone missing as well as his client, Adrienne. He was hired to find out if the Adrienne’s sister was killed or died accidentally. It’s a puzzle how the client is identified as the dead woman’s sister who died two years ago in prison.

There are any number of twists and turns in the plot but they move to a satisfactory ending without tying up each and every loose end. Nick’s intuition about what’s important for Nora to find doesn’t intrude on the story but is a seamless part of it. The side characters Oliver and Chantal are a great addition to the story. Nora takes a few risks but nothing out of line. The hunky and mysterious detective provides just the right amount of spice.
This is the first in a new series. The storyline holds together well and will leave you wanting more, just like the recipe at the back of the book–The Thin Man Tuna Melt with cheese and bacon.

To enter to win a copy of Meow If It’s Murder, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “Meow,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen January 3, 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:

Meow If It’s Murder

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.