Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Review of Escape Claws (Cat Lady, Bk 1)

Escape Claws (Cat Lady, Bk 1)
booksinvt avatar reviewed on + 465 more book reviews


Escape Claws is the first in the Cat Lady Mystery series set in the small town of Whisker Jog, New Hampshire and featuring watercolor artist, Lara Caphart and her Aunt Fran Clarkson. It's been 16 years since Lara left Whisker Jog with her parents but when her childhood friend Sherry Bowker calls to tell her that her aunt is having knee problems and that the townsfolk have given her the moniker of crazy cat lady due to her collection of 11 cats, Lara makes the trip from Boston to check in on Fran.

Intending to only spend a few days to catch up with Aunt Fran, Lara quickly learns that her aunt is being bullied by local businessman Theo Barnes. Theo is trying to get Fran to sell her property so that he can put up a new development. On an early morning walk around her aunt's property Lara stumbles over Theo's dead body and when the murder weapon turns out to be Fran's hoe, she decides to stay and help find the real killer.

A great plotline and a touching cast of both humans and animals. Several subplots surround the actual murder mystery including why Lara and Fran have had no communication for 16 years and the mystery surrounding Lara's childhood pet, Ragdoll cat Blue.