by Sarah Erwin

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win an $15 Amazon gift card, and a link to purchase the book from Amazon.

Cats, Carats, and Killers is book four in T.C. LoTempio’s Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries and the perfect read for cozy mystery lovers who enjoy stories that include some wonderfully smart and cuddly feline companions.

Urban Tails Pet Shop owner Shell McMillan is helping with a fundraiser for the Fox Hollow animal shelter. Shell’s mother, Clarissa, designed the antiques appraisal fundraiser, and crowds are flocking to the event to have their old keepsakes and collectibles evaluated.

The event, however, seems to also attract some shady characters, including former resident Pete Martin, as well as a mysterious couple who is determined to get their hands on an old wooden jewelry box. Shell manages to secure the jewelry box, but realizes there is more to the story when Pete is found murdered. Could the murder be tied to the box with its secret compartments? And why is the FBI in town investigating a long-ago unsolved diamond heist? Shell dives into this mystery with both feet, especially when her friend Gus is arrested for the murder.

This is such an entertaining and puzzling mystery–the perfect combination of all the elements I love in a cozy mystery: small town setting, determined amateur sleuth with a detective boyfriend, unique side characters, and cats with delightful personalities (and names! You have to love cats with the names Purrday, Kahlua, and Princess Fuzzypants).

I was glued to this mystery, following Shell’s journey, and while I had solved part of the mystery, I did not see that ending coming and it had me sitting straight up to read. Shell’s sleuthing partnership with Gary adds so much fun to the story, and Shell’s mother is quite the character. No spoilers, but Shell’s mother has an idea for another fundraiser at the end of the book and this reader is hoping it is featured in book five!

You can click here to purchase this book.

To enter to win a $15 Amazon gift card, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “cats and carats” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen April 27, 2024. U.S. residents only, and you must be 18 or older to enter. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

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Sarah Erwin started her career as a children’s librarian, later becoming a public library director and now she’s a stay at home mom. While her career might have changed, her love of reading has been a constant since 4th grade and she reads over 200 books a year. Read along with her on her blog Sarah Can’t Stop Reading or on Instagram. Sarah lives in St. Louis, MO with her two kids, her husband and a family dog and cat.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.