What do you think?
Rate this book
Norwegian Forest Café #1
Purrs and Peril
A cat café Murder Who is the killer? Lauren Crenshaw and her Norwegian Forest Cat Annie run their own certified cat café in the picturesque small town of Gold Leaf Valley, Northern California. Lauren’s fun cousin Zoe helps out as well.Lauren, Annie, and Zoe are shocked when one of their favorite customers is poisoned. Steve came into the café nearly every day – but who wanted him dead?The trio find themselves suspecting their customers – even elderly Mrs. Finch, whom Lauren thinks of as a substitute grandmother, doesn’t escape their scrutiny.The new (and attractive!) police detective warns them off the case. But Annie, the Norwegian Forest Cat, seems to have a nose for sniffing out trouble.Can Lauren, Annie, and Zoe catch the killer before the killer catches them?This is a humorous, clean, cat cozy mystery with female amateur sleuths – and a gorgeous Norwegian Forest Cat!You may also Means Murder - A Norwegian Forest Cat Cafe Cozy Mystery - Book 2 Whiskers and Warrants - A Norwegian Forest Cat Cafe Cozy Mystery - Book 3
228 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 25, 2018
About the author
Jinty James
38 books173 followersJinty James grew up reading Enid Blyton's Famous Five and Secret Seven mysteries, as well as all the Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden books. Later on, she graduated to mysteries written by Agatha Christie, Elizabeth Peters, and many other authors. It was her dream to one day write her own cozy mystery, and now she has, with plans for many more.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 161 reviews
January 16, 2023
Annie was the only reason I stuck with this book. She is a wonderful cat. I love her. She’s got personality, independence and exhibits her intelligence every time she’s mentioned on the page. I love how she greets guests at the cafe door and leads them to a table. She’s precious.
Other than Annie, this wasn’t really worth my time. I still struggle to let go of books once I start them, and this is an example of that. I probably won’t be continuing this series unless it suddenly improves. I hate having to say how much I don’t like a book because (usually, at least) these people put a lot of effort, and love, into their stories, and I respect and appreciate that. However, this book reminded me far too much of H.Y. Hanna’s Oxford Tearoom Mysteries and she did it much better. The setting, the writing, the characters, and even the budding romance in that series are much better.
Annie earns this book a star, and the second star is due to the fact that I didn’t get ahead of Lauren and Zoe in guessing the murderer, and that I liked the cafe.
Other than Annie, this wasn’t really worth my time. I still struggle to let go of books once I start them, and this is an example of that. I probably won’t be continuing this series unless it suddenly improves. I hate having to say how much I don’t like a book because (usually, at least) these people put a lot of effort, and love, into their stories, and I respect and appreciate that. However, this book reminded me far too much of H.Y. Hanna’s Oxford Tearoom Mysteries and she did it much better. The setting, the writing, the characters, and even the budding romance in that series are much better.
Annie earns this book a star, and the second star is due to the fact that I didn’t get ahead of Lauren and Zoe in guessing the murderer, and that I liked the cafe.
February 11, 2023
Audiobooked this one. The reader did a fantastic job but, especially on the cat sounds, but Lord it couldn't save this.
I was so excited about the premise of a Norwegian Forest Cat Cafe, and I thought Annie's job there was adorable.
The main issue with this book is that the main character is profoundly annoying. She's supposedly 26 but sounds like the worst busybody who used to nag you over something meaningless at Sunday school when you were a kid.
She works alongside her cousin, Zoe, who would have been a wayyyyyy better MC- and she's constantly narrating condescending thoughts about her or talking down to her- and they're only a year apart in age!
She judges her for "online dating," (seriously, you'd think this was published in 2004, not 2020) remarks on how much food she eats, and seems to think her cousin's ability to be excited and enjoy life is irresponsible.
Then, she spontaneously decides to start attending church regularly again and immediately looks down her nose at everyone who doesn't drop what they're doing to come to the church repainting she's organized on like 4 days notice. Absurd.
I also can't think of a less urgent charity project to get so worked up about.
There's a cop love interest I could not care less about, and the two women spend most of the book either 1) talking about painting the church or 2) talking about who has a keurig to find the killer, which has only the most facile and tenuous connection to the murder.
I don't need a 4D chess sort of murder plot to enjoy a good cozy. I would have been very happy with mid plot and a Norwegian Forest Cat if Lauren (protagonist) wasn't such a smug, insufferable dolt.
I was so excited about the premise of a Norwegian Forest Cat Cafe, and I thought Annie's job there was adorable.
The main issue with this book is that the main character is profoundly annoying. She's supposedly 26 but sounds like the worst busybody who used to nag you over something meaningless at Sunday school when you were a kid.
She works alongside her cousin, Zoe, who would have been a wayyyyyy better MC- and she's constantly narrating condescending thoughts about her or talking down to her- and they're only a year apart in age!
She judges her for "online dating," (seriously, you'd think this was published in 2004, not 2020) remarks on how much food she eats, and seems to think her cousin's ability to be excited and enjoy life is irresponsible.
Then, she spontaneously decides to start attending church regularly again and immediately looks down her nose at everyone who doesn't drop what they're doing to come to the church repainting she's organized on like 4 days notice. Absurd.
I also can't think of a less urgent charity project to get so worked up about.
There's a cop love interest I could not care less about, and the two women spend most of the book either 1) talking about painting the church or 2) talking about who has a keurig to find the killer, which has only the most facile and tenuous connection to the murder.
I don't need a 4D chess sort of murder plot to enjoy a good cozy. I would have been very happy with mid plot and a Norwegian Forest Cat if Lauren (protagonist) wasn't such a smug, insufferable dolt.
January 28, 2022
Book 1. Lauren had inheritance from her grandma a cafe cafe Norwegian Forest Cafe ( that she renamed after her 3 year old Norwegian cat Annie) and adjacent Victorian home. Lauren and Zoe( her 2nd cousin) were roommates. Zoe and Ed ( Lauren also inherited Ed for the cafe he made all the pastries) She was glad he wanted to work in cafe still. Because she only made cupcakes and cake. To Lauren it was a mystery to make pastries. Annie the cat would seat all the regulars and costumers that came in cafe.She could talk in a cat voice and act like she knew what people told her. Mrs. Finch an 80 year old woman always came in cafe and asked Annie for her opinion of treats and Lauren would give to her. Then there was Pamela a secretary for a church that always complained about the cafe. And Pastor Mike. Lauren and Zoe were helping set up a painting of the old church. And Steve the man that loves his coffee fix and is auditing the church records.Steven acted kinda worried the last time Lauren saw him alive. Mrs. Finch was the number one suspect cause she was his neighbor and she had belladonna that poisoned Steve coffee. Then Zoe told Lauren that she believed all different people were the murderer. Detective Mitch was main man on the case. This was kinda simple story. But to many suspects. It just did not grab my attention really. Lauren and Zoe had a fun day going to a casino and bingo hall in casino it brought back memories of when my family would go to casinos. And me and my dadRon would go to Bingo houses. My dad was called unconscious because he would always win in Bingo. lol. That is really only reason I gave 3 stars and because of Annie the Norwegian Forest cat
August 16, 2019
I cannot resist a cat, and the cute Norwegian forest cat in this book is the best part of it, but the rest....
The writing was a fairly cliche cozy. I like cozies, but the characters were acting too stupid and were getting on my nerves
SPOILER: Steve was killed when someone mixed belladonna leaves in his coffee pods, a fairly exotic murder technique, but I could handle it. So Lauren and Zoe decide they have to lock up the coffee BEANS for the coffee shop (a coffee shop BTW that apparently does not open until 9:30 AM, which means they miss the whole morning rush?? HUH?). How would this relate? Even people as clueless as these two should see if their beans had leaves mixed in before they ground the beans.
It was getting worse and worse, and I decided to throw in the towel when Lauren and Zoe decided to learn to knit and were told they had to learn the "pearl" stitch. Even I know it is "purl".
SPOILER AGAIN: So when we met Steve, the murder victim, at the very beginning of the book, we knew he would be the victim if we read the publisher's blurb. He mentioned then that he was doing an accounting job for the local church, and I thought "He will be killed because of uncovering some malfeasance." And then obnoxious Pamela comes into the cafe, and she is the church secretary. And I thought, "Oh, she is the killer." When I aborted the read, l I decided to read the end. Yeah, Pamela did it.
Some readers must be very easy to please.
The writing was a fairly cliche cozy. I like cozies, but the characters were acting too stupid and were getting on my nerves
SPOILER: Steve was killed when someone mixed belladonna leaves in his coffee pods, a fairly exotic murder technique, but I could handle it. So Lauren and Zoe decide they have to lock up the coffee BEANS for the coffee shop (a coffee shop BTW that apparently does not open until 9:30 AM, which means they miss the whole morning rush?? HUH?). How would this relate? Even people as clueless as these two should see if their beans had leaves mixed in before they ground the beans.
It was getting worse and worse, and I decided to throw in the towel when Lauren and Zoe decided to learn to knit and were told they had to learn the "pearl" stitch. Even I know it is "purl".
SPOILER AGAIN: So when we met Steve, the murder victim, at the very beginning of the book, we knew he would be the victim if we read the publisher's blurb. He mentioned then that he was doing an accounting job for the local church, and I thought "He will be killed because of uncovering some malfeasance." And then obnoxious Pamela comes into the cafe, and she is the church secretary. And I thought, "Oh, she is the killer." When I aborted the read, l I decided to read the end. Yeah, Pamela did it.
Some readers must be very easy to please.
February 4, 2022
3.5
Okay, the cat -- a Norwegian Forest named Annie -- is the star of this book. I LOVE Annie! i love how she's the hostess with the mostest at the cafe and greets and seats their guests. And her conversational mmpurps (I don't speak any feline dialects so please excuse misspellings.) This is likely because I listened to the audible edition of this book and Devon Sovari did an amazing job with bringing personality to all the characters including the cat!
There are a lot of classic cozy tropes in this novel, which I'm actually fine with, but I did find the mystery pretty obvious. I spotted the victim before he was one, identified the killer before there was a murder and knew the motive quickly after that. Maybe I've been reading too many cozies but there just weren't any legitimate red herrings. And the big reveal and wrap up at the end came across as forced and stilted.
BUT
I still really enjoyed this read and I'll be continuing with the series because...Annie!
Okay, the cat -- a Norwegian Forest named Annie -- is the star of this book. I LOVE Annie! i love how she's the hostess with the mostest at the cafe and greets and seats their guests. And her conversational mmpurps (I don't speak any feline dialects so please excuse misspellings.) This is likely because I listened to the audible edition of this book and Devon Sovari did an amazing job with bringing personality to all the characters including the cat!
There are a lot of classic cozy tropes in this novel, which I'm actually fine with, but I did find the mystery pretty obvious. I spotted the victim before he was one, identified the killer before there was a murder and knew the motive quickly after that. Maybe I've been reading too many cozies but there just weren't any legitimate red herrings. And the big reveal and wrap up at the end came across as forced and stilted.
BUT
I still really enjoyed this read and I'll be continuing with the series because...Annie!
November 26, 2018
A gentle cozy for all coffee cat lovers out there.
A gentle easy read cozy that features a wonderful cat and two cousin's. Okay guessing the killer wasn't hard but if you want something that doesn't need too much thinking then this is perfect. The characters are still developing (at least the human ones) but should get better as the series progresses.
They have worked at the cafe since she inherited it from her gramms. With her cat, Annie! Acting as hostess. When one of the regulars is found dead, everyone assumes it was a heartache. However the news soon trickles out that it was murder! The girls then start looking at their customers with fresh eyes. Could one of them be responsible? Especially as he had been worried the last time that they had seen him and his last job was auditing the local church. Can they find the killer before the killer comes after them?
A gentle easy read cozy that features a wonderful cat and two cousin's. Okay guessing the killer wasn't hard but if you want something that doesn't need too much thinking then this is perfect. The characters are still developing (at least the human ones) but should get better as the series progresses.
They have worked at the cafe since she inherited it from her gramms. With her cat, Annie! Acting as hostess. When one of the regulars is found dead, everyone assumes it was a heartache. However the news soon trickles out that it was murder! The girls then start looking at their customers with fresh eyes. Could one of them be responsible? Especially as he had been worried the last time that they had seen him and his last job was auditing the local church. Can they find the killer before the killer comes after them?
February 3, 2020
This first book in the Norwegian Forest Cafe Series was really cute! I love the idea of a cat cafe, and the cat, Annie, really ran away with the show here. She was so charming, and I loved the way she "seated" the cafe patrons.
The main human character, Lauren, and her cousin Zoe, were both great characters, and some of the clientele of the cat cafe made wonderful secondary characters. The storyline was entertaining and kept my interest.
In this charming book, Lauren and her cat, Annie, have recently opened a certified cat cafe. Lauren's cousin, Zoe, comes to work at the cafe. When one of the patrons, Steve, is poisoned, Lauren, Annie, and Zoe investigate to find the killer.
The main human character, Lauren, and her cousin Zoe, were both great characters, and some of the clientele of the cat cafe made wonderful secondary characters. The storyline was entertaining and kept my interest.
In this charming book, Lauren and her cat, Annie, have recently opened a certified cat cafe. Lauren's cousin, Zoe, comes to work at the cafe. When one of the patrons, Steve, is poisoned, Lauren, Annie, and Zoe investigate to find the killer.
October 1, 2023
I had a lot of fun reading this book. It’s bad in a good way. It’s a murder mystery but instead of slowly building up the clues and the characters figuring it out slowly, the murderer just confesses everything in the last chapter. It was a bit of a let down. I was expecting it to be a 5 star book until then
October 14, 2023
2.5, but rounding up for the cat
June 2, 2019
I thought the 'mystery' was unchallenging and the plot kind of boring. The writing was too repetitive but the cat sounded cute.
September 8, 2023
There's a distinctive reason to visit the Norwegian Forest Café in Gold Leaf Valley. If you visit Northern California, please know that enjoying your time in this café will be the highlight of your travels. You might even want to consider moving to the area to enjoy the pleasure more often. Why is it so unique to deserve your attention? As you pause to be seated at the "Please Wait to Be Seated" sign, Annie will greet you at the door with a welcome greeting of "Brrt!" Yes, now you're catching on. You've entered a certified cat café. Annie, a Norwegian Forest feline, will escort you to your table. Ed creates scrumptious pastries, delectable cupcakes by Lauren, the owner, and either Lauren or her cousin Zoe will serve you. Please be patient, as Lauren and Zoe are shocked by the loss of one of their favorite customers.
I love Annie, Lauren, Zoe, and the very dear Mrs. Finch, another favorite customer, and the grandmotherly dear thought of with special affection. With Annie's care of the café customers, the paw-some pace of her escort depending on customer needs and designated seating choices, Ed's marvelous baking skills, Annie's cupcake menus, and café oversight, the café is full of charm beyond measure.
I guessed the culprit early on, but I enjoyed Lauren and Zoe's sleuthing skills as they led the young women to an array of experiences in their neighborhood. In between, Zoe's internet dating experiences lead her to suggest another way to spend her time, inviting Lauren to enjoy it too.
Based on the start, this is the purr-fect series to recommend as an introduction to cozy mysteries and a paw-some delight for cat lovers.
I can hardly wait to continue reading this cozy series. Just the introduction to this café is filled with enchanting and cozy mystery fun!
I love Annie, Lauren, Zoe, and the very dear Mrs. Finch, another favorite customer, and the grandmotherly dear thought of with special affection. With Annie's care of the café customers, the paw-some pace of her escort depending on customer needs and designated seating choices, Ed's marvelous baking skills, Annie's cupcake menus, and café oversight, the café is full of charm beyond measure.
I guessed the culprit early on, but I enjoyed Lauren and Zoe's sleuthing skills as they led the young women to an array of experiences in their neighborhood. In between, Zoe's internet dating experiences lead her to suggest another way to spend her time, inviting Lauren to enjoy it too.
Based on the start, this is the purr-fect series to recommend as an introduction to cozy mysteries and a paw-some delight for cat lovers.
I can hardly wait to continue reading this cozy series. Just the introduction to this café is filled with enchanting and cozy mystery fun!
February 12, 2021
An interesting and well executed, light-hearted story; I'd say it's halfway between chick-lit and a cozy. One of the characters is trying online dating, the results adding a humorous note.
Lauren has inherited this cafe in northern California after her grandmother passed away; now she and Zoe, her live-wire cousin who works for her, are running the popular cafe with the help of Annie, Lauren's three-year-old N.F. cat. All the customers love Annie; she acts as hostess, greeting and seating people and is almost super-human in her awareness of people's moods/needs. I felt that a cat seating customers at the cafe, cute though it was, seemed a bit over the top.
One of the customers was found dead -- poisoned, as it turns out. Enter handsome hunky detective. This one looks and behaves like a real detective, tight-lipped with regard to details of the case. I appreciated that realistic touch, lacking in many cozies.
The two ladies came across as amusingly ditzy when they started trying to guess whodunit, hopping all over with their suspicions, but overall they're quite likeable. The ending was a surprise -- especially when the unarmed culprit tries to do Lauren & Zoe in. A complete reveal and no weapons but bare hands seems a tad unrealistic for such a clever plotter. Still, I'd be glad to read more in this series.
Lauren has inherited this cafe in northern California after her grandmother passed away; now she and Zoe, her live-wire cousin who works for her, are running the popular cafe with the help of Annie, Lauren's three-year-old N.F. cat. All the customers love Annie; she acts as hostess, greeting and seating people and is almost super-human in her awareness of people's moods/needs. I felt that a cat seating customers at the cafe, cute though it was, seemed a bit over the top.
One of the customers was found dead -- poisoned, as it turns out. Enter handsome hunky detective. This one looks and behaves like a real detective, tight-lipped with regard to details of the case. I appreciated that realistic touch, lacking in many cozies.
The two ladies came across as amusingly ditzy when they started trying to guess whodunit, hopping all over with their suspicions, but overall they're quite likeable. The ending was a surprise -- especially when the unarmed culprit tries to do Lauren & Zoe in. A complete reveal and no weapons but bare hands seems a tad unrealistic for such a clever plotter. Still, I'd be glad to read more in this series.
August 29, 2021
This is a great start for a cozy mystery series. Lauren Crenshaw and her cousin Zoe, own a cat cafe in their hometown of Gold Leaf Valley, California. Lauren has a Norwegian Forest Cat named Annie, the Cafe's only cat. One of their customers ends up murdered and the new police detective on the force is questioning them about their involvement.
May 3, 2023
cat murder mysteries are a guilty pleasure of mine but this was a pce of sht
September 26, 2023
Light cozy, not much investigating, lots of chatter, knitting, suspicions, romantic interest that’s a cop 🙄 and a cat.
March 10, 2024
DNF @ 50%
August 2, 2024
Thought it was a cute, quick read book. Definitely enjoyed Annie (the cat).
March 1, 2021
I read it as an audio book. I found the characters "dumb" for lack of a better word. I often found my self thinking "why does she think that" it was a mystery but pretty much it just told us the story with out really finding and clues. Wasn't impressed with writing, plot, or characters.
July 23, 2021
The cat is lovely, the women not so much. I felt as if the story and interaction was forced.
March 27, 2022
I love cozy mysteries and they're always good for a quick read if I want something light and fun. I also love cats and live with two rescue cats (as well as various other rescue animals). I especially like Laurie Cass's books and she writes exceptionally good cozy mysteries featuring a cat. But, I've read all of that series and am waiting for the next book to come out, so I thought I'd try someone new.
Honestly, I rarely give bad reviews, but this book really missed the mark for me. In fact, I am surprised to see that there are a lot of them in the series. The characters had no depth and no matter how I tried, I couldn't invest in any of them. Descriptions of the cat really missed it too and I wondered if the author even owned a cat. Perhaps. But, there was a chance here to add so much more to the story when describing the cat's part in the little cafe and her interaction with her humans. There wasn't though.
I did listen to this book on audible and I didn't like the narrator at all. I didn't like the way she did voices for the characters--really, there wasn't much change from character to character and I thought it was a little demeaning the way she read the elderly woman as if she were on her last legs. I know lots of senior citizens who have a lot of vigor left in their lives.
Also, one of the things I absolutely hate in a cozy mystery is for the author to have a scene at the end of the book where a character tells everything that happened and why it happened. She's had the whole entire book to leave clues and have characters try to solve the crime, so that at the end we can all say "I thought that's who did it" or "I never saw that coming." This ending was predictable and when you meet the character, read her/his description and interaction with other characters, you'll say to yourself, "I hope this doesn't wind up being the killer because it's so obvious." I don't like the obvious.
Honestly, if you're considering this book and you have to pay for it. Don't. Maybe later on in the series, these books get better , but I'll never know because I can't pick up the second one.
Honestly, I rarely give bad reviews, but this book really missed the mark for me. In fact, I am surprised to see that there are a lot of them in the series. The characters had no depth and no matter how I tried, I couldn't invest in any of them. Descriptions of the cat really missed it too and I wondered if the author even owned a cat. Perhaps. But, there was a chance here to add so much more to the story when describing the cat's part in the little cafe and her interaction with her humans. There wasn't though.
I did listen to this book on audible and I didn't like the narrator at all. I didn't like the way she did voices for the characters--really, there wasn't much change from character to character and I thought it was a little demeaning the way she read the elderly woman as if she were on her last legs. I know lots of senior citizens who have a lot of vigor left in their lives.
Also, one of the things I absolutely hate in a cozy mystery is for the author to have a scene at the end of the book where a character tells everything that happened and why it happened. She's had the whole entire book to leave clues and have characters try to solve the crime, so that at the end we can all say "I thought that's who did it" or "I never saw that coming." This ending was predictable and when you meet the character, read her/his description and interaction with other characters, you'll say to yourself, "I hope this doesn't wind up being the killer because it's so obvious." I don't like the obvious.
Honestly, if you're considering this book and you have to pay for it. Don't. Maybe later on in the series, these books get better , but I'll never know because I can't pick up the second one.
April 27, 2019
There were elements to like in this first book of a new series, but there are also some deficiencies that need to be stepped up if this series is to retain readers. If half stars were available, I'd give this 2.5 stars. I liked the main characters, but the secondary characters came across as cardboard cut outs. I love the idea of a cat café, but this did not meet the basic concept of a cat cafe. First of all, there should be more than one cat! I loved the cat, but one cat does not a cat café make, especially when the cat has a forever home. The main purpose of a cat cafe is to give diners the chance to interact with more than one feline. It gives folks who can't have cats a way to interact with friendly cats, and it gives homeless cats a chance to find a forever home. This cafe has one cat belonging to the owner of the cafe. The cat acts as the greeter who leads customers to their tables.
Secondly, the mystery itself was not well plotted. The main suspects had absolutely no motive to commit the crime and the real killer was so obvious that I figured it out before the crime even happened.
I liked it well enough to try the next book in the series.
Secondly, the mystery itself was not well plotted. The main suspects had absolutely no motive to commit the crime and the real killer was so obvious that I figured it out before the crime even happened.
I liked it well enough to try the next book in the series.
January 2, 2024
The last cozy I read that featured a cat didn't go very well, so I was a little wary going into this one. However, it came highly recommended by a friend, and I was definitely not disappointed!
Annie absolutely steals the show, and stole my heart. She's a very smart cat, with a ton of personality, and an opinion on everything! She kind of reminds me of my own sassy, smart kitty, which really endeared me to her right away.
I was also endeared to Lauren and Zoe right away. They seem like very level-headed women, with a wonderful relationship. They may be cousins, but they really act more like sisters. They seem to really get along well, and they balance each other out very well.
This was a very sweet, very cozy introduction to what appears to be a lengthy series. It was just the right amount of small town charm, sweetness, and mystery. And let's be honest, the handsome detective doesn't hurt much, either.
I have a feeling I'm going to absolutely fall in love with Annie over the course of this series. And honestly, how could I not? She's a beautifully intelligent Norwegian Forest cat, after all.
Annie absolutely steals the show, and stole my heart. She's a very smart cat, with a ton of personality, and an opinion on everything! She kind of reminds me of my own sassy, smart kitty, which really endeared me to her right away.
I was also endeared to Lauren and Zoe right away. They seem like very level-headed women, with a wonderful relationship. They may be cousins, but they really act more like sisters. They seem to really get along well, and they balance each other out very well.
This was a very sweet, very cozy introduction to what appears to be a lengthy series. It was just the right amount of small town charm, sweetness, and mystery. And let's be honest, the handsome detective doesn't hurt much, either.
I have a feeling I'm going to absolutely fall in love with Annie over the course of this series. And honestly, how could I not? She's a beautifully intelligent Norwegian Forest cat, after all.
October 29, 2020
This book has all the ingredients for a great cozy mystery: a murder, several suspects, a handsome detective, and two amateur sleuths.
Lauren has inherited a small café and runs it with the help of her cousin, Zoe, and her Norwegian forest cat, Annie. When one of the regulars is found dead, everyone is surprised to find out it was murder. Mrs. Finch, one of Annie's favorite customers, falls under suspicion and it's up to Lauren and Zoe to help clear her name.
Annie was a such a great cat character. She was charming, and I loved the way she "seated" the cafe patrons. I also liked Zoe's dating disasters and her solution to keeping her mind off of men. There is a touch of budding romance between Lauren and the requisite handsome detective who leads the murder investigation.
The mystery itself was not well plotted. The real killer was so obvious and the preliminary suspects had absolutely no motive to commit the crime. Nevertheless, I liked it well enough to try the next book in the series. I'm a sucker for cozy cat and dog series.
Lauren has inherited a small café and runs it with the help of her cousin, Zoe, and her Norwegian forest cat, Annie. When one of the regulars is found dead, everyone is surprised to find out it was murder. Mrs. Finch, one of Annie's favorite customers, falls under suspicion and it's up to Lauren and Zoe to help clear her name.
Annie was a such a great cat character. She was charming, and I loved the way she "seated" the cafe patrons. I also liked Zoe's dating disasters and her solution to keeping her mind off of men. There is a touch of budding romance between Lauren and the requisite handsome detective who leads the murder investigation.
The mystery itself was not well plotted. The real killer was so obvious and the preliminary suspects had absolutely no motive to commit the crime. Nevertheless, I liked it well enough to try the next book in the series. I'm a sucker for cozy cat and dog series.
May 2, 2019
Lauren Crenshaw along with her cousin, Zoe, run a cat café in the small town of Gold Leaf Valley in northern California. Lauren's Norwegian Forest cat, Annie, is their official greeter. While Lauren bakes cupcakes that are a huge hit, they also have Ed who makes delicious pastries. Lauren and Zoe are shocked one day to hear that one of their favorite customers. an accountant named Steve, is murdered. The detective out to solve the murder is Mitch and there's a bit of connection between him and Lauren. Lauren and Zoe are pulled into the investigation as they try to determine who wanted Steve dead and to help prove another one of their favorite customers innocent.
I'm both an avid reader and a huge cat lover so this new series really called to me. I even had a Norwegian Forest cat myself several years ago. The book is well written and I loved getting to know all the characters. I highly recommend this to those who love cats and mysteries.
I'm both an avid reader and a huge cat lover so this new series really called to me. I even had a Norwegian Forest cat myself several years ago. The book is well written and I loved getting to know all the characters. I highly recommend this to those who love cats and mysteries.
September 17, 2023
A mystery for young readers
This is a hard book to rate. If it is aimed at readers older than 9, I'd give it a two, but for a younger audience it may be more of a four.
The cat character is the best! Smart and talented and acting like a familiar, though without a magic user. It was the cat that brought me into the book and kept me there.
The cafe customers were nicely unique and fairly well developed. I enjoyed meeting them, but wished I could know them better. The cafe owner and her cousin were hard workers but woefully unintelligent--irritatingly so--about the mystery and the people around them. The murderer used a clever method, but was otherwise equally unintelligent.
The mystery does lay out clues neatly and overall the story proceeds well at a steady, albeit slow, pace. The dialog suits the characters. It is a simple, uncomplicated story with no twists or surprises.
It's a quiet little read with a great cat, best for young readers.
This is a hard book to rate. If it is aimed at readers older than 9, I'd give it a two, but for a younger audience it may be more of a four.
The cat character is the best! Smart and talented and acting like a familiar, though without a magic user. It was the cat that brought me into the book and kept me there.
The cafe customers were nicely unique and fairly well developed. I enjoyed meeting them, but wished I could know them better. The cafe owner and her cousin were hard workers but woefully unintelligent--irritatingly so--about the mystery and the people around them. The murderer used a clever method, but was otherwise equally unintelligent.
The mystery does lay out clues neatly and overall the story proceeds well at a steady, albeit slow, pace. The dialog suits the characters. It is a simple, uncomplicated story with no twists or surprises.
It's a quiet little read with a great cat, best for young readers.
November 12, 2021
Simple Enjoyment
An enjoyable clean mystery. Nothing paranormal and no sex although there's a hint of a possible future romance between cat cafe owner, Lauren and detective Mitch. Annie, the Norwegian Forest Cat is the star of story. She's an intelligent friendly cat who graciously escorts customers to tables. A favorite customer is murdered and Lauren and her cousin Zoe are horrified when another special customer, the sweet elderly Mrs. Finch becomes the police's prime suspect. Not trusting the police to look beyond Mrs. Finch, they begin looking for others who may have reason to kill. It wasn't hard to figure who the killer was but the method used to commit the crime was fascinating. Despite the relatively simple story, I enjoyed it very much and have already bought the second book in this series, Meow Means Murder.
An enjoyable clean mystery. Nothing paranormal and no sex although there's a hint of a possible future romance between cat cafe owner, Lauren and detective Mitch. Annie, the Norwegian Forest Cat is the star of story. She's an intelligent friendly cat who graciously escorts customers to tables. A favorite customer is murdered and Lauren and her cousin Zoe are horrified when another special customer, the sweet elderly Mrs. Finch becomes the police's prime suspect. Not trusting the police to look beyond Mrs. Finch, they begin looking for others who may have reason to kill. It wasn't hard to figure who the killer was but the method used to commit the crime was fascinating. Despite the relatively simple story, I enjoyed it very much and have already bought the second book in this series, Meow Means Murder.
March 22, 2022
Is there a young adult branch of the cozy mystery genre? If so I think this series might fit the bill.
I probably should have guessed given the length of the novel, but Purrs and Peril is pretty much as simple as a cozy mystery can possibly be. I don’t think that – objectively – is a bad thing. So far, none of the characters really have any character, the murder mystery was so obvious one would expect a bait and switch, and the romance reminded me of something from a school-age chapter book. But sometimes that’s OK. Nothing in this novel made me swoon, but nothing made me angry either. Sometimes that’s enough.
That being said, I probably won’t read the 10+ novels in this series. I think I’ll give the next one a chance and see if the characterisation picks up at all.
Also Annie’s pretty adorable.
I probably should have guessed given the length of the novel, but Purrs and Peril is pretty much as simple as a cozy mystery can possibly be. I don’t think that – objectively – is a bad thing. So far, none of the characters really have any character, the murder mystery was so obvious one would expect a bait and switch, and the romance reminded me of something from a school-age chapter book. But sometimes that’s OK. Nothing in this novel made me swoon, but nothing made me angry either. Sometimes that’s enough.
That being said, I probably won’t read the 10+ novels in this series. I think I’ll give the next one a chance and see if the characterisation picks up at all.
Also Annie’s pretty adorable.
July 29, 2023
After reading the first book in the author’s new series had Lauren, Zoe and Annie in cameo or mentioned roles, I knew it was time I started reading this series which I’ve collected for years so I could read about these awesome ladies and adorable kitty firsthand in their first story. Zoe cracked me up with her seemingly endless app dating. Good thing they got to be friends with sweet Mrs. Finch since that gave Zoe the idea for the knitting club to get her brain off men for a while.
I started suspecting whodunit and why eventually. The cousins had an exciting showdown with the killer, and readers got to see the first time Annie would help out with a case too. Who’s a good girl, Annie? Give that kitty some extra treats! I’m wanting to start the next book really soon because I fell in love with this town and these characters just from this first book.
I started suspecting whodunit and why eventually. The cousins had an exciting showdown with the killer, and readers got to see the first time Annie would help out with a case too. Who’s a good girl, Annie? Give that kitty some extra treats! I’m wanting to start the next book really soon because I fell in love with this town and these characters just from this first book.
November 5, 2023
I love cats. And lately I've been reading an awful lot of cozy mysteries involving cats. I almost feel as though I could write one myself. Heroine inherits business from relative--something cozy, i.e. coffee shop, knitting shop, bookstore, inn--and next thing you know, she finds a dead body, often with the help of her cat. Usually there is a handsome detective... This one had a twist, though. The cat, Annie, actually participates in running the cat cafe--okay, she's actually the only cat at the cafe--by seating people and interacting with them, and when someone turns up dead, she is an active participant in the investigation. Is it believable? Let's just say that I was able to suspend disbelief for the duration of the book, and I will be looking for the next book in the series. Listened to the audiobook and loved the way the narrator did the little chirps that cats do!
Displaying 1 - 29 of 161 reviews