Cynthia M. (clariail) -
Helpful Score: 2
This is the first in a series by Sofie Ryan which is a pen name for Sofie Kelly who writes the Magical Cat series. First off, the Magical Cat series is my top favorite cozy series mainly because of the cats, Owen and Hercules. The personalities are great that she gives to each one and she has done the same with in this new series.
Elvis is the star cat that we meet and he has personality to boot. He has a scar on his nose that makes you know that he has an interesting past but no one knows exactly where he has come from. Sarah, the main character and amateur detective for the series, is who he has chosen to make his home with. She owns and runs Second Chance resale shop. You will also meet several friends from her childhood that have their own quirky characters, Rose, Liz, and Charlotte. Working in the shop you will meet Avery and Mac who round out a great working environment. Let's not forget about Mr. P who lives in a senior home and ends up being too funny.
The mystery portion was strong enough for me but others might not agree. I didn't guess who did it but didn't put a lot of thought into trying to guess either.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and can't wait for the next one to come out which I saw posted yesterday is tentatively titled "BUY A WHISKER".
Elvis is the star cat that we meet and he has personality to boot. He has a scar on his nose that makes you know that he has an interesting past but no one knows exactly where he has come from. Sarah, the main character and amateur detective for the series, is who he has chosen to make his home with. She owns and runs Second Chance resale shop. You will also meet several friends from her childhood that have their own quirky characters, Rose, Liz, and Charlotte. Working in the shop you will meet Avery and Mac who round out a great working environment. Let's not forget about Mr. P who lives in a senior home and ends up being too funny.
The mystery portion was strong enough for me but others might not agree. I didn't guess who did it but didn't put a lot of thought into trying to guess either.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and can't wait for the next one to come out which I saw posted yesterday is tentatively titled "BUY A WHISKER".
Pamela C. (pj-s-bookcorner) reviewed The Whole Cat and Caboodle (Second Chance Cat, Bk 1) on + 885 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Cute beginning for the Second Chance Cat mystery series by Sofie Ryan. Felt sometimes that the author got a little bogged down in some very minor details. Overall, a cute and easy cozy mystery read. Second hand retail store owner, along with Elvis her adopted cat, and her group of senior friends investigate the murder of an older con man who had chosen one of their own to scam.
Bonnie A. (ladycholla) -
This book is a combination of mystery, humour, quirky characters, great relationships and the opportunity of really growing. Elvis is as much fun as, but different than Owen and Hercules from her other series. She can only get better from here. Look forward to some falling down laughter, at least for me. I'm not looking for perfect tenses at my age, I just want fun, cozy, great relationships and light romance. I had guessed what was going on, but I won't be a spoiler and tell, didn't know the final answer tho' until closer to the end. Had a moment of wonderment, but wasn't sure. Looking for more of the same.
In almost all of the books lately, the proof reading could really be improved, but I'm not going to let it spoil my enjoyment of reading. I'm old enough to pick my battles carefully and decide what's important and what isn't. Reading is important to me as well as my vision. Praise the Lord for cataract surgery and glaucoma medication. Just think a few years ago both would have meant blindness. (Just saying)
Please enjoy this book, it's a great beginning.
In almost all of the books lately, the proof reading could really be improved, but I'm not going to let it spoil my enjoyment of reading. I'm old enough to pick my battles carefully and decide what's important and what isn't. Reading is important to me as well as my vision. Praise the Lord for cataract surgery and glaucoma medication. Just think a few years ago both would have meant blindness. (Just saying)
Please enjoy this book, it's a great beginning.
Nicole G. (nyteacher) reviewed The Whole Cat and Caboodle (Second Chance Cat, Bk 1) on + 152 more book reviews
Sarah Grayson has recently opened a second hand shop and taken in a cat named Elvis. When one of her grandmother's friends is accused of murder, she ends up trying to be the voice of reason for a group of senior citizens who are amateur sleuths.
Overall, a good start to a new cozy mystery series. Lots of humor mixed with suspense. I would've liked more explanation of characters. I found it confusing to keep everyone straight.
Overall, a good start to a new cozy mystery series. Lots of humor mixed with suspense. I would've liked more explanation of characters. I found it confusing to keep everyone straight.
Brenda H. (booksinvt) -
The first in the A Second Chance Cat Mystery introduces Sarah Grayson, owner of Second Chance a small shop in the small town of North Harbor, Maine that specializes in refurbished and repaired items. Sarah has recently adopted Elvis, a big black cat with a huge scar across his nose who has the ability to tell when people are lying. No, Elvis doesn't talk but through his "meows" and posture he is able to hold conversations with Sarah and her friends. As a pet owner who has daily conversations with my animals I could really relate to the idea that your animals understand everything you say and they answer you too.
Sarah spent her summers in North Harbor with her grandmother Isabel, and has now moved back to town, bought a new house and opened her secondhand shop. In addition to her best friend Jess, she has three surrogate mothers; Charlotte, Rose and Liz who are her grandmother's closest friends. Shop employees also include craftsman Mac and spunky Avery, Liz's granddaughter.
When Sarah goes to the local senior center to teach a class on furniture restoration she notices that one of her elderly friends, Maddie, does not show up for the class. It is unlike Maddie not to call so Sarah and Charlotte head over to check on her and discover her sitting at her patio table with the dead body of her boyfriend Arthur Fenerty. When the autopsy shows that Arthur died from poison in his coffee, Maddie becomes the prime suspect.
The three elderly ladies dub themselves Charlie's Angels and enlist the help of Mr. Peterson, the nude model and computer hacker to clear Maddie's name. Despite the warnings from the new Medical Examiner Nick, who is also Charlotte's son, the ladies convince Sarah to assist in their investigation. It turns out that Arthur is a con man who prays on elderly women and has left a string of "wives" and crimes in his wake - providing an abundance of suspects with a motive to kill the man.
A terrific storyline with likeable characters that make you laugh out loud. Refreshing and fun friendships with a little hint of romance too. And who doesn't love a good mystery featuring a cat? Looking forward to reading the second in the series - Buy a Whisker.
Sarah spent her summers in North Harbor with her grandmother Isabel, and has now moved back to town, bought a new house and opened her secondhand shop. In addition to her best friend Jess, she has three surrogate mothers; Charlotte, Rose and Liz who are her grandmother's closest friends. Shop employees also include craftsman Mac and spunky Avery, Liz's granddaughter.
When Sarah goes to the local senior center to teach a class on furniture restoration she notices that one of her elderly friends, Maddie, does not show up for the class. It is unlike Maddie not to call so Sarah and Charlotte head over to check on her and discover her sitting at her patio table with the dead body of her boyfriend Arthur Fenerty. When the autopsy shows that Arthur died from poison in his coffee, Maddie becomes the prime suspect.
The three elderly ladies dub themselves Charlie's Angels and enlist the help of Mr. Peterson, the nude model and computer hacker to clear Maddie's name. Despite the warnings from the new Medical Examiner Nick, who is also Charlotte's son, the ladies convince Sarah to assist in their investigation. It turns out that Arthur is a con man who prays on elderly women and has left a string of "wives" and crimes in his wake - providing an abundance of suspects with a motive to kill the man.
A terrific storyline with likeable characters that make you laugh out loud. Refreshing and fun friendships with a little hint of romance too. And who doesn't love a good mystery featuring a cat? Looking forward to reading the second in the series - Buy a Whisker.
Sandra C. (shinypenny) -
I really enjoyed this new series. It is a book filled with humorous, enjoyable characters. The cat is named Elvis. I will be on the outlook for the next in this series.
Susan W. (WriterOne) -
No, no, no. It was not a good read on many levels. Verb tense errors, editing errors abound. I found several in the first 32 pages.
I know many who enjoyed this book - especially because of the cat Elvis. But the author doesn't employ the basic tenet of writing, and that's "show, don't tell." I felt the author did a lot of "telling" about Elvis and not so much showing and as a result, I didn't see Elvis' personality emerge like it should have.
Just not for me.
I know many who enjoyed this book - especially because of the cat Elvis. But the author doesn't employ the basic tenet of writing, and that's "show, don't tell." I felt the author did a lot of "telling" about Elvis and not so much showing and as a result, I didn't see Elvis' personality emerge like it should have.
Just not for me.
