A Tale of Two Kitties

A Tale of Two Kitties is a fun, unique, interesting and all around good cozy mystery.

Hercules and Owen are cats with magical abilities that help them to help Kathleen in solving crimes. I laughed at how they are typical cats with being persnickety and moody. They are a big help to Kathleen when she has to solve a murder and prove her friends innocence. With her cats help will she be able to and find the real murderer?

This book has all the right ingredients for a wonderful read. For me since I had not ready any of the other books in the series, it took me a little bit to be drawn into the book. Once I did though I couldn't put it down. I like a good puzzle with unpredictable outcomes and that fits this book. I really got a kick out of show more the interactions between the cats, Hercules and Owen and others. This is a mystery for people who love cats, a good puzzling mystery with interesting characters and a little bit of magic. It shows how sometimes our past still finds away to effect our present. It is a good fun book.
I recieved this book for my honest opinion and review. show less

Small-town librarian Kathleen solves mysteries with the help of her two highly intelligent cats, Owen (who can become invisible) and Hercules (who can walk through walls); the premise sounds too twee for words, but it actually works.

In this ninth in the series, a former resident returns to town shortly after a cache of old letters and photos are found stashed inside the post office wall. When he is killed, Kathleen pokes into the case because of her friendship with the old man's granddaughter, aided by hints from the cats, and by her friendship with a wide range of locals, including her detective boyfriend.

The bonus story at the end is slight but enjoyable, as well.

Charming as always.

There is bad blood between two estranged brothers, and when one returns after a long absence, the whole town is interested to see what will happen. Interests peak when one brother is found murdered. His granddaughter is devastated, and Kathleen feels she must get involved to prove her friend - the deceased man’s son - had nothing to do with his murder. You can be sure that Kathleen will need help from her magical cats to keep herself out of harm’s way. This is another great installment in this entertaining series. Well written with cat characters who steal the show from their human counterparts, these stories will capture the interest of cozy readers as well as cat lovers.

The Magical Cats books are easily in my top three favorite cozy mystery series. I enjoy the characters, the antics of the cats, and the interesting problems that pop up in Mayville Heights, MN. Head Librarian Kathleen Paulson came to town to help with renovations to the city library, and 9 books later she is a vital part of the small community. Her cats, Owen and Hercules, are amazing. Not only do they seem to understand what people say to them, but they have strange powers. Owen can become invisible. And Hercules can walk through walls. Kathleen keeps this a secret though, hoping nobody finds out what her cats can do. She doesn't want them exploited or endangered. I love this little splash of supernatural in these books.....it's not show more overdone...just a bit of sprinkles on top the cupcake.

In this 9th book in the series, a bit of long lost undelivered mail and several photographs are discovered behind some furniture in the local post office. The items are given to the library. Kathleen and the other library employees go through them to identify people in the photos so they can be given to the families that own them. The mail is also delivered into the hands of those it was intended for, albeit decades late. They decide to put the unidentified items on display in the library so people can come look at them and claim any that belong to them. Meanwhile, two brothers -- twins in fact -- are in town for the first time in many years to try and smooth over a fracture in their family. Years ago, Victor Janes stole his brother Leo's wife. The wife later died in a car accident. Nobody in the family has ever forgiven Victor for what he did. His brother dislikes him. His nephew and great-niece have no use for him either. The drama is pulled out into the open when Leo is found dead, bashed in the head with a heavy object. Does it have anything to do with his former wife's undelivered letter to a friend supposedly found with the others in the post office? Is it related to Victor and the family schism? Unfortunately, the police suspect that Leo's son, Simon, may have had something to do with his death. Kathleen knows Simon did not kill his father, and starts investigating to prove it. Will she discover vital clues in time? And is anyone else in danger?

I love the cover art for this newest book!! Hercules calmly licking his paws while Owen plays with the title letters....all near the open sardine can. Perfect! I'm sure hidden behind Owen somewhere is his latest kill -- another torn apart cat nip funky chicken toy, I'm sure. :)

The mystery in this latest book kept my attention. It is perfectly paced and builds suspense nicely. I also enjoyed the character development in this newest book. Some side characters got a bit more story this time around. There were plenty of suspects and surprises. Some things I had figured out early on....but a few things I didn't see coming. Herc and Owen are up to their usual antics. Just an enjoyable new book in this series!

This book also contains a short story "The Cat Burglar,'' previously published in the ebook Two Tall Tails.

Sofie Kelly is a pseudonym used by YA Author Darlene Ryan. She also writes under the name Sofie Ryan (Second Chance Cat series -- another of my favorites!) For more information on the author and her books, check out her website: http://www.sofiekelly.com/

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Berkley Publishing via NetGalley. Opinions expressed are entirely my own.** show less

A Tale of Two Kitties by Sofie Kelly is the ninth mystery in A Magical Cats Mystery series. Kathleen Paulson is a librarian in Mayville Heights, Minnesota and owns (well, as much as you can own a cat) two special cats named Owen and Hercules. When remodeling a local post office, undelivered mail and photos were discovered. The library has agreed to take possession of the photos. Kathleen wants to find a way to identify the people in the photos and get them in the hands of family. Twin brothers, Victor and Leo Janes have returned to town for Thanksgiving and the gossip mill is buzzing. People remember that Victor had an affair with Leo’s wife. Unfortunately, Meredith died in a car accident shortly afterward. This is a chance for a show more reconciliation between the two men. Mia Janes, a library student intern, is tickled to have her grandfather in town. Kathleen drives Mia to visit Leo one day after work and Kathleen notices the apartment door ajar. She goes inside to find Leo dead from obvious blunt force trauma. The police soon narrow their sights on Simon Janes, Leo’s son and Kathleen’s friend, when they discover he an argument with Leo and lacks an alibi. Kathleen with the aid of her two magical sidekicks, Owen and Hercules, delves into the case intent on tracking down Leo’s killer. Come visit Mayville Heights and help Kathleen solve her latest case in A Tale of Two Kitties.

A Tale of Two Kitties has good writing, but the pace is a little slow. There are nice, relatable characters and a charming small-town setting. Kathleen is a great character who has a wonderful job—a librarian! I enjoy her interactions with her fur babies. A Tale of Two Kitties contains an extra amount of cozy. There is socializing, meals, work at the library, romance, the cat’s antics, the found photographs and mail, plus much more. I wish the author had not devoted so much time to the lost (and now found) photographs and mail. It seemed to dominate the story. The mystery was interesting and I liked how it was structured (containing several different components that all fit together). The author included some good clues which will aid readers in solving the crime (plus the suspect list is very small). My rating for A Tale of Two Kitties is 4 out of 5 stars. A Tale of Two Kitties is a cute story and I delighted in the paranormal element. The magical cats are adorable and entertaining (especially Owen with his funky chickens). If you have not read any of the previous A Magical Cat Mystery novels, you will be a little lost (since there are so many secondary characters) in the beginning and it might hinder readers in solving the crime. A Tale of Two Kitties is a charming cozy mystery that will delight readers. show less

A solid mystery in a solid series. Nothing spectacular but a setting and characters you can lose yourself in and amongst for a quick read when you're looking for a light mystery that's rife with strong friendships and small town charm.

The mystery plotting is solid, or maybe I wasn't paying close enough attention; in retrospect I should have seen straight away what went over my head while I was reading.

Oddly, though I (of course) really like the cats, Owen and Hercules, I find myself more enchanted by their everyday cat antics (Owen's love for Fred the Funky Chicken catnip treats and his hatred of Barry Manilow music, for example), than any of their magical feats. I don't think cats need the supernatural leg up to make them the stars, show more although I do wish Kelly would delve more into their origins and what's going on at Wisteria Hill. show less

With a well-placed paw on a keyboard or a pointed stare, Kathleen’s two cats, Hercules and Owen, have helped her to solve cases in the past—so she has learned to trust their instincts. But she will need to rely on them more than ever when a twenty-year-old scandal leads to murder…

The arrival of the Janes brothers has the little town of Mayville Heights buzzing. Everyone of a certain age remembers when Victor had an affair with Leo’s wife, who then died in a car accident.

Now it seems the brothers are trying to reconcile, until Kathleen finds Leo dead. The police set their sights on Leo’s son and Kathleen’s good friend Simon, who doesn’t have much of an alibi. To prove her friend innocent, Kathleen will have to dig deep into show more the town's history—and into her sardine cracker supply, because Owen and Hercules don't work for free... Magical Cats #9 show less