Book Review: Gone With the Whisker

Title:  Gone With The Whisker
Author:  Laurie Cass
Pages:  340
Publication Date:  2020
Version:  Paperback
Genre:  Adult Fiction, Mystery

Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"A friendly feline and a feisty librarian merrily roll along in the newest Bookmobile Cat mystery...until murder stops them in their tracks!

It's the summer season in Chilson, Michigan, and the town is packed with tourists ready for a fabulous Fourth of July fireworks show. Minnie Hamilton and her rescue cat, Eddie, have spent a busy day on the bookmobile, delivering good cheer and great reads to even the library's most far-flung patrons. But Minnie is still up for the nighttime festivities, eager to show off her little town to her visiting niece, Katrina.

But then, during the grand finale of the fireworks display, Katrina discovers a body. Minnie recognizes the victim as one of the bookmobile's most loyal patrons. And she knows she--and Eddie--will have to get to the bottom of this purr-fect crime."

My Review:

Wow!  What a book!  I must say that I absolutely was hooked on this book from the first chapter to the last chapter.  It was full of amazing characters, who I only wish would live in my town to be my "real life" friends.  They were hilarious and full of sass and curiosity and love and friendliness.  I loved how I got to watch Minnie and her niece Kate grow over the season in the book.  It proved to me that you really don't know what someone is really thinking, even if you ask, sometimes.  Sometimes you have to stumble upon the truth of that matter to really see what you couldn't before.  The relationships in this book were shown to be tried and true and unbreakable no matter what.  That is something people dream of having.  I loved reading about it and seeing how the characters developed throughout the book.  The plot was great!  No shortage of mystery in this book and no shortage of suspects either.  I must say I was stumped on who could really be responsible for the murder, but as the book came to a close I "saw the light" and had my "ah ha" moment.  This was a fast paced read with twists and turns along the way to really draw a reader into the whole thing!  I felt like I was watching a movie when I was reading because everything was so well explained....from characters to settings.  It may have been a little longer read, but I was never hoping it would end and I drank it all in as anxiously as I drink my morning coffee.  If you are a mystery lover, this is the book for you to put on that "to be read" list for sure!

5 out of 5 Stars!

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Book Review: Killed on Blueberry Hill

Title:  Killed on Blueberry Hill
Author:  Sharon Farrow
Pages:  335
Publication Date:  2018
Version:  Paperback
Genre:  Adult Fiction, Mystery

Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"It's peak tourist season in Oriole Point, Michigan--the blueberry buckle of the fruit belt. Nothing draws the crowds quite like their annual carnival. And nothing turns it sour faster than murder . . .

The Blueberry Blow Out festival has begun and it's time for Marlee Jacob, owner of The Berry Basket, to shine. Unfortunately it's also bringing out the worst in her fiance Ryan Zeller. Ryan's rivalry with Porter Gale, owner of Blueberry Hill Farm, spills over into a very public and very ugly fight. And after they compete in the pie-eating contest and a raucous tug of war, their orchard blood feud takes a deadly turn . . .

The death of the king of Blueberry Hill is a shock but not too surprising--he was a diabetic whose last pig out meal was deliciously fatal. But when authorities discover that someone tampered with Porter's insulin, a tragic accident is looking like murder--and Ryan is the key ingredient. Now Marlee's investigation to clear his name is taking her deep into the Gale family secrets, and she's being shadowed every step of the way by a killer whose sweet revenge is just beginning . . .
Includes Berry Recipes!"

My Review:

This....book....was....AMAZING!!!  If you like mystery books and just a good 'ole who dunnit you will LOVE this book!  From the start of the book I was hooked.  The main mystery may have not taken place for a little bit into the book, but the book started in such a way that I was into the backstory and the characters and what was going on with the characters right away.  Marlee was by far my favorite character and one that I would give anything to have be a real life person to become friends with.  She is funny, independent, and yet can't help but investigate things that maybe she shouldn't be.  There was so much happening in this book, yet it all worked perfectly.  I loved the side plots and the feel of not just a mystery, but developing characters too and their lives.  This was a book in a series, but it did very well as a stand alone book too.  I had not read the previous books in the series, but was never confused or had the feeling that I should stop and read the others first.  Some series are not like that, so to have this one be great as a stand alone OR as a continuation in reading the series was a great talent on the author's part.  There were some parts that referenced things in the past books, but they were explained by the characters to make sense in the context of the scene.  I was so sure I had the mystery all figured out, SO SURE, but then I got toward the end and went, wait.....what?!  It's not too often I am completely wrong on my who dunnit thinking, but this book had me headed in the complete wrong direction.  Kept me on my toes.  This book was fast paced and always had me wanting to keep reading and not put it down.  I absolutely loved it!  Mystery lovers should check this book out for sure and I can tell you I will be looking for this author again and seeing where the characters continue going in their development.  :) 

5 out of 5 Stars!!

Picture Taken By Me