terpkristin's Reviews > Cat Trick

Audiobook from Random House Audio
Narrated by Cassandra Campbell
Length: just over 9 hours

I received this audiobook for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The magical cats are back, bringing Kathleen back with them. In a wonderful return to Mayville Heights, narrator Cassandra Campbell brings us another mystery from small-town Minnesota. On the one hand, it's fun being back with familiar characters--it's like being a resident of the small town, of knowing everybody by name (and possibly knowing too much about them, as seems to happen in small towns). On the other, if this town really existed, I'd be worried to visit, as they seem to have a lot of high-profile murders to visitors.

This book chronologically follows the events of Copycat Killing. This time around, it's Kathleen's cat Hercules who finds the victim, Michael Glazer. Glazer was originally from Mayville Heights but moved away shortly after a family tragedy many years ago. He returned to the small town to try to encourage a tour company to set up tours there; the entire town is on display! Unfortunately, in his return, he rubbed many of the townsfolk the wrong way and there end up being a lot of suspects.

In every book in this series, Ms. Kelly has improved her mystery writing style. Where the first book (Curiosity Thrilled the Cat) was overly predictable, this one definitely kept the whodunnit going to the very end. I thought I had the murderer pegged pretty early on, and I was intrigued to find out that I was wrong. The story also continues the narrative of the townspeople, and it's quite relaxing getting to know them better. Of course, this "same" formula can make the format a bit predictable, and some might mark that against the book. The only thing I'm really still "wanting" from the series that I'm not getting is more information about what makes the cats magical. I like the format of the stories and each time I read a new book, it's like returning to an old friend. But I really do want to know more about those cats and Wysteria Hill/Manor in general!!!

As usual, Cassandra Campbell's narration is perfect. I easily believe that she's Kathleen and that the listener is just another person in town, listening to things going on. I can't wait to read the next one, Final Catcall.