Claws for Celebration

Welcome back to Whisker Jog, New Hampshire and the High Cliff Shelter for Cats! Third in the Cat Lady Mysteries, this continues to be one of my favorite “new” cat mystery series. The characters are likable and drawn with care, the cats are adorable, and the mystery is complex. It is fun to see how this little town celebrates Christmas, from decorations to the annual Cookie Challenge. Lara Caphart and her Aunt Fran began the High Cliff Shelter for Cats, which gave their cat-loving hearts a new purpose. It is housed on the first floor of Aunt Fran’s Folk Victorian home, and they live on the second floor. People regularly brought abandoned cats to Fran; now she can give them good homes. Lara is also a watercolor artist and Fran will return to teaching next term. Sherry Bowker is Lara’s best friend. She and her mother, Daisy, own Bowker’s Coffee Stop, where they serve Daisy’s baked goods. Daisy has been trying to make the best cookie for the annual Cookie Challenge. She placed second in the past and is determined to win the challenge and the $1,000 prize money. Daisy’s main competition is Loretta Gregson, the mother of Sherry’s boyfriend David. Loretta has begun to wear her makeup, hair, even hair coloring, to match Daisy’s. Much to their horror, Gladys Plouffe is a judge in the Challenge this year. She was the Home Ec teacher until her recent retirement. Gladys didn’t like anyone who didn’t excel in sewing, including Sherry. Lara had contacted the sponsor to see if they would consider adding a division for cat (treat) cookies but was turned down. Lara got a library book about making healthy cat treats and would try baking and selling some in the high school with others selling cookies. Hidden inside the book, however, is a handwritten letter dated a week after Lara was born, and with the writer claiming to have seen someone murdered exactly one week before, on the day Lara was born. The morning of the Cookie Challenge arrived. Daisy’s ornately-decorated cookies are the most beautiful on display. Just as the last bag of cat cookies sells, someone ran from the room where the judging was underway, yelling for someone to call 911. Gladys couldn’t breathe, had one of Daisy’s cookies in her hand, and CPR was not working. When the dust settled, it is determined that the cause of death was something Gladys was severely allergic to. Lara, Sherry, Fran, and Daisy are my favorites, due to their long-term friendships, loyalty to the town, and courage and ability to work their dreams. Lara is the most 3-dimensional, then Fran; others are defined as suiting their roles. This is a fabulous mystery, one that confounded me. Plot twists kept me on my toes. There were a couple stunning surprises waiting at the end! There is more than meets the eye in this mystery, especially when considering how the murder of 28 years ago ties in to a murder in the present. Just when I thought I had solved the mystery, there was another turn that changed my perception. I love how the author describes the cats and their antics, and I especially enjoyed Lara’s secret ‘helper’ and her struggles of how to reveal how she gets some of her answers. I highly recommend this cozy mystery, whether during the Christmas season or the heat of summer, when the thought of snow is a pure delight! From a grateful heart: I received an e-Arc of this book from the publisher through NetGalley, and this is my honest review.