Genre: Paranormal Cosy Mystery
Reviewer: Linda, Paranormal Romance Guild
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About The Book
AN ARSONIST, A KIDNAPPER, AND A CAT
Kitty is the mom, a cat whisperer, and a keen observer. Saddled with debt, she has taken up catsitting to pay her mortgage. When the house next to where she’s catsitting burns down, and a boy goes missing, Kitty decides to get him back or die trying.
Diana is the daughter, a tech geek married to a grifter in prison for perpetuating a Ponzi scheme. With her assets frozen by the FBI, Diana has had to move back in with her mother, and is trying not to let depression overwhelm her. As she job-hunts, her mom’s latest obsession is just the distraction she needs.
Muse is the cat. The king of cats in exile, to be exact. Literally. This rascally tuxedo follows Kitty around and offers keen observations on the people, places, and hijinks they encounter. He thinks he’s being helpful.
Wyrdwood is the weirdly magickal town on the Oregon Coast. It provides refuge for the descendants of mythic races. Normals coexist side-by-side with modern-day elves, witches, orcs, and etcetera in a volatile melting pot. The residents are just living their lives, falling in love, and trying to make a buck. And, of course, engaging in mischief.
With insight into cat minds and red herrings galore, THE CATSITTER’S CONUNDRUM is a mystery that will keep you guessing all the way to the end.
The Review
This was a fun book about a mother, Kitty Kats, her daughter, Diana Kats and the King of Cats in exile, Muse. Diana had to move back with her mom when her husband Kyle Butts was arrested for bilking seniors out of their money with a Ponzi scheme, leaving her without a job, a house or money. Due to her husband’s incarceration and reputation, Diana has been unable to find a job. Her husband’s crime left her with nothing, but she is determined to rebuild. One thing she is thankful for – that she never hyphenated her last name to Kats-Butts.
Kitty’s husband died, but she never realized that as the keeper of the bills, he had put them in debt. Now she faces foreclosure, which would leave her and Diana homeless. While Diana searches for work, Kitty has taken on the job of catsitting – certainly not enough to pay their past due bills and mortgage, but enough to at least survive for a while.
She is presently catsitting a neighbor’s cat, Greta, who although small has a defensive attitude. Just getting to the food bowl is a battle. Then trouble comes calling when another neighbor’s home – the Ortiz family – burns to the ground. and that’s when The King of Cats in exile, Muse, comes calling. Muse was living with the Ortiz family – mom, dad and eight-year-old son – but they changed his name to Ralp,h and that was reason enough to move.
Muse relocated to Kitty’s house, where he is fed, has a comfy bed, and grows to love her. After the fire is put out it, authorities believe it was arson, but no bodies are found. The only person missing is their eight-year-old son.
Diana finally finds a job working on the computers in the sheriff’s office, while Kitty keeps herself busy investigating what happened to the Ortiz boy. When the parents put up a $10,000 reward, a sum of money that could save Kitty’s home, all of her attention is focused on finding the kidnapped child, especially after a ransom note is delivered.
Muse is also investigating, determined to protect Kitty from those who would harm her. The kidnappers deliver the ransom note to the house where Kitty is catsitting, and she finds herself torn between keeping it a secret to help her earn the reward or telling all to save a little boy whom no one likes.
This book was both fun – thanks to Muse – and scary at times, with a kidnapper on the loose and Kitty and Diana becoming more and more involved. There are secrets, surprises and an ending I never even considered. I’m always impressed when I’m lucky enough to read a book where the criminal evades me till the very end.
Now I’m lucky enough to have book two to delve into with the same three amazing characters. I can’t wait.
5 stars.
The Reviewer
I am an avid reader the mother of 3 sons and grandmother to seven grandchildren. Since retiring I have been doing more reading while volunteering as a CASA worker. CASA is an organization that works with the family court system to ensure that children are in the best living situation. There are way too many children that get overlooked in the foster care system and I visit homes and make visits to the parents. I was born and raised in New York and my husband of 50 years and I live in Upstate New York.
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