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This week was exceptionally busy so I picked a short, easy read. “Paw and Order” by Chris Abernathy. It is the first in the Detective Whiskers Cat Cozy Mystery series.
Whiskers the cat spent many hours helping Detective Fred Mason work on cases at home. They had an impressive solve rate earning Whiskers his own detective badge.
Fred and Sheila hoped to retire to Florida. They found the perfect place, but it was too expensive. To surprise Sheila, Fred bought the little house in Paradise Cove. Sadly. Fred died in a traffic accident on his way to his retirement party.
The story opens on the day of their arrival. Boxes are stacked everywhere, and Whiskers isn’t pleased when the doorbell rings. It is local Realtor Becky with a basket of fruit and a reminder that Sheila’s welcome party is that evening.
Next to arrive is Julia. After giving them a bag of “welcome” groceries, she helps Sheila unpack and organize the kitchen.
The next is former actress, Tarrie Ann. She’s got tequila and margarita mix. Soon the blender is out, and Sheila is getting to know her new neighbors.
Whiskers senses bad vibes when their next-door neighbor Roger shows up. In no time, he offended Sheila by trying to get her to sell him her house. Before Whiskers can pounce, HOA President Nancy walks in and shoos Roger away. She tells Sheila that they will go over the HOA rules in the morning then offers to take her to the party.
Refusing to attend empty-handed, Sheila grabs her special knife and uses the fruit basket goodies to whip up a salsa. Tarrie Ann tells her to leave the mess in the kitchen, because her welcome gift is the services of cleaner extraordinaire, Suzie.
Just before they are ready to leave, there is a commotion. Buster the dog next door had escaped and stole a fish from Jimmy the fisherman. Mitch, Buster’s owner, tried to blame Whiskers.
When things calmed down, everyone left for the party and Whiskers prepared for a nap. Just before he dozed off, he heard Mitch tell Buster goodbye.
The next morning, Sheila is feeling the margaritas when Nancy shows up. Buster has been barking nonstop and she can’t find Mitch. About then time, Whiskers looks out in time to see Mitch’s body tumble out of the garbage can into the truck. He tries to alert Sheila, but she doesn’t speak cat.
When they notice a puddle of blood, the Paradise Cove police are called. Chief Anderson doesn’t take the blood seriously, but he’s back later questioning Sheila about her favorite knife. Since Suzie had cleaned the kitchen, Sheila didn’t know where it was. That’s when Chief Anderson tells her that it has been found on the path and it has blood on the blade.
Mitch’s body is found at the dump, and Sheila becomes the prime suspect. Despite the evidence to the contrary, Chief Anderson remains focused on Sheila. She senses she’s being set up but can’t imagine who or why.
Of course, everyone eventually discovers who the real murderer is, and they may not realize it, but Detective Whiskers has played a major role in exposing the murderer’s plans. I’m sure we’ll be reading about his adventures in many future books.
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Books and Stuff
Detective cat is hero of cozy mystery series
Jan Jones column head
AT A GLANCE
Book: “Paw and Order” (Detective Whiskers Cat Cozy Mystery, Book 1)
Author: Chris Abernathy
Publisher: Wright on the Mark LLC
Year published: 2023
Number of pages: 218
Books and Stuff
