When the ghost of a murder victim appears in Last Chance Books, middle-aged bookstore owner, Willa Chance, must find the ghost's killer or risk being haunted with its unwanted advice forever.
Too bad the ghost suffers from amnesia and only has a few scant clues as to the identity of the killer. That's okay, though, because Willa has a pretty good idea who did it ... until her investigation turns up additional suspects with curious motives.
Meanwhile her cat, Pandora, is on the hunt for a mystical kitten that the cats of Mystic Notch must bring into the fold before the kitten is enticed to the side of evil by a powerful foe.
When Willa's own life is threatened, she enters into a race against time to figure out the identity of the killer before she becomes the next victim.
USA Today bestselling author, Leighann Dobbs, discovered her passion for writing after a twenty year career as a software engineer. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband Bruce, their trusty Chihuahua mix Mojo and beautiful rescue cat, Kitty.
Her book "Dead Wrong" won the "Best Mystery Romance" award at the 2014 Indie Romance Convention.
Her book "Ghostly Paws" was the 2015 Chanticleer Mystery & Mayhem First Place category winner in the Animal Mystery category.
This was the third book in the series. We are getting to know the character fairly well and she's definitely addicted to meddling which drives her sister and her boyfriend (they are both in law enforcement) nutty. She's a bit harsh on her good friend Pepper, and as others have stated in their reviews, unwilling to let go of her first impressions on who a killer is, and oddly ignores informations she doesn't care for. It's a bit tiresome the repetition of her ignoring facts and new information. She also ignores what her cat is telling her which may make some cat people a tad cross. It’s not helping the cat I can tell you! Pandora seems to have her work cut out for her, the poor wee fluffy butt. None the less, the stories are oddly captivating. If you like cozy mysteries, and a good quick read which has a bit of the paranormal thrown it, these are rather fun. Find a nice comfy sofa or chair and lose yourself for a while.
Paisley Brown is used to finding ways to get people to do what she wants...in this case getting a coveted spot in the arts festival. Though lacking in talent as a photographer, her skills as a manipulator assured her success, all though it was only temporary.
In the early hours of the next morning Paisley's photography studio burns to the ground and her body is found in the ruins. This isn't the end of Paisley's manipulation, however.... her ghost appears in Willa's bookshop seeking justice. Paisley needs Willa to find her murderer so she can pass to the other side. The question is, was her death linked to the art festival, or did Paisley's tendency for blackmail finally catch up to her?
Meanwhile, Pandora learns about a special kitten that was saved from a fire the previous summer. Could this kitten be the one from the prophecies? As in the last in this series that I read, (I've only read one other one), the cats taking over is entertaining, if not more entertaining than the human parts of the mystery. Although the cats are intelligent and communicate with each other, they keep their dispositions and personalities entirely feline. It's like they are saying "If you can't be a cat, why bother?".
What I really liked most was that at the end of the story the animals that needed a loving home are adopted by the humans who will give them that in spades. It's a really cute little series.
This is the third book in the Mystic Notch series. Fortunately, the series has gotten better as it has progressed. With that being said, however, there are two problems I have with the series. The first is the "helpful" sheriff from a neighboring county. He has a responsibility to the county that pays his salary. What justification is there for spending so much time in another county solving crimes? Also, in this installment in the series, he books someone for the murder being investigated. Can a sheriff of one county book a criminal in another county outside his jurisdiction?
Another issue I have with the series is trying to figure out a mental image of the streets in the downtown area of Mystic Notch. In order for people to look out the window of the bookstore and see the alley behind the stores facing the bookstore, do you have to have x-ray vision? I, for the life of me, can't get the logic of the street pattern in my mind's eye. These are two aspects of the series that seem to defy logic for me.
Fortunately, the books are quick reads. No substance. Just fluff.
Not everyone is a fan of Paisley Brown's photography but she is sure she can get them into the Mystic Notch art fair. And when that happens the art judges are not happy. You see Paisley has a different look on the world, and her pictures show that.
That night a fire starts in her studio and in the morning her body is found. Of course her ghost shows up in Willa's bookstore and wants Willa to solve her murder so she can move on. Along with her friend Pepper she proceeds to investigate which isn't the smartest thing to do. And her magical cat Pandora finds evil lurking just around the corner.
Again I am enthralled with the story. And this time I realized something a little different about this series. Food and eating isn't the main activity. No sitting and eating sweets all day and the characters actually work and then snoop. It's almost real life. How refreshing.
Willa Chance inherited her Grandmother's home, bookstore & cat, Pandora... This cozy who-done-it has a bit of witchcraft and is a fun read. My favorite portion was from Pandora's perspective. I am enjoying this series.
Leighann Dobbs continues to delight animal lovers with her cozies blending magic and mystery. A Mew to a Kill is the third novel in the Mystic Notch mystery series.
Paisley Brown is used to finding ways to get people to do what she wants - in this case getting a coveted spot in the arts festival. Though lacking in talent as a photographer, her skills as a manipulator bring her success, albeit temporary. Early the next morning Paisley's photography studio burns to the ground and her body is found amidst the ruins. This isn't the end of Paisley's manipulation, however, as her ghost appears in Willa's bookshop seeking justice. Paisley needs Willa to find her murderer in order to pass to the other side.
Was her death linked to the arts festival, or did Paisley's blackmailing tendencies get the better of her?
Meanwhile, Pandora learns of a special kitten, saved from a fire the previous summer. Is this kitten one from the prophecies?
As in the previous novels, the parts where the cats take precedence are as entertaining as the human parts of the mystery. Although the cats are intelligent and communicate with each other, they keep their feline dispositions.
I also like that by the end of the novel those animals needing homes are adopted by humans who will love them.
The central characters are well developed and likable. The relationship between Willa and Striker is sweet, with it being clear how much they care for each other. Friends and family alike care even when they would prefer that Willa take fewer chances while investigating.
Mystic Notch is a town that any self described crazy cat lady would love to visit. Filled with charming characters and fascinating felines it has a special allure. I look forward to delving into the town's secrets in Dobbs's future Mystic Notch novels.
The Mystic Notch cozy series does not have to be read in order. Newcomers to the series will find that Dobbs does an excellent job introducing the characters without being repetitive.
If you love well written cozy mysteries filled with cats and magic - look no further. A Mew to a Kill is a fantastic addition to the library of any mystery lover.
Well, this series is just getting better volume by volume. This episode revolves around the Mystic Notch Art Show.
Our Willa (Owner of the Last Chance Bookstore) is one of six judges for this year's event. There is one opening and Willa is shocked by it. Picking up the portfolio and looking at it, Willa can't imagine the creator's over confidence of winning the last remaining spot...yes, you can tell I'm keeping this vague, but that is because, the scene was well written and I do not want to spoil it for you.
There is a murder, but, is it the first? It certainly is not the last. And, when Willa tries to stay in the background, her ghostly assignment makes sure she can't as well as giving out beauty tips!
This book was suspenseful, humorous, and steady reading. Gus has a secret, heck, everyone has a secret in this novel. The light romance is enjoyable. I love the animals and their viewpoints. I love this series!
For a journalist, she’s remarkably incurious. And a bad interviewer. And ageist.
Oooooh, should I wear a short tight skirt? Oh, no, I’m too old.
I guess I don’t find Willi terribly interesting or likeable.
Here’s a quote that shows what I don’t like. "What I really wanted was to prove that George did it." Why? Just because she doesn’t like him? Because he’s fat? Who knows. Bad investigator, bad.
More things I hate - subverting the course of justice. By breaking into a house, finding evidence, she’s tainted the investigation irreparably. Her giving that evidence to the police is not a good thing, it’s a perversion of the course of justice.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
A Mew to a Kill is the third book in the Mystic Notch Cozy Mystery series. Willa Chance, who can talk to ghosts, continues to run the used bookstore she inherited from her grandmother in the town of Mystic Notch. And dead people continue to ask for her help in finding their killers.
With talking ghosts and magic cats, this is not a series designed to be taken too seriously. But it is a fun read and one that I just flew through.
In this instance, what starts as a dispute over who will be allowed to fill the one empty slot in an art show leads to a fire in the photography shop across the street from Willa’s bookstore. The further investigation, as usual, puts Willa’s life in danger � multiple times.
Willa’s cat, Pandora, becomes involved as well. I liked that Pandora seemed to have a larger role in this story than she had in the first two books. When Pandora visits a young cat who had been involved in an earlier fire, she finds a powerful cat who she hopes will become an ally of the Mystic Notch cats � who all seem to possess magic powers. She also encounters an incredibly powerful, and incredibly evil, white cat who seems to be trying to dominate the younger cat.
It ultimately turns out that that earlier fire is not unrelated to the current case. But this is not something that Willa would have ever thought of to begin with.
I think the first book of the series was the best so far (I am 3 books in). I would definitely want to read some more, but the "hooks" I don't like are: the globe on Willa's table and how she acknowledges it as being magical in the first two books, but it doesn't seem to bring any value in book 3; the fact that Pandora fights the forces of evil, but we don't know what "evil" that is in the first place, as murderers are everywhere, right?; the fact that Willa's sheriff boyfriend makes an arrest in Mystic Notch when he is a sheriff in the neighbour county; the fact that Willa is too stubborn (so I don't say stupid) to ignore the evidence that she, in fact, might have a flawed logic. As a quick read, it was okay, but I had a feeling the author kept the same overall line from the first two books, without improving the character or bringing more development to the supernatural bits of the story. It does leave a few hooks in there, so you want to read the fourth book, but overall, it can very well be just a stand-alone Sunday read. Entertaining as a light read can be.
"A Mew To A Kill" is third in this series, and the underlying story has captured my imagination! Pandora is part of an underground coterie of cats whose mission is to prevent evil from overshadowing good. The cats are doing a laudable job considering they have to maneuver clueless humans in order to succeed. Willa is the human that Pandora needs to manage, and this human is wearing on the nerves a bit. She's constantly flexing her former career as a crime reporter to prove her prowess at crime-solving; however, her process involves picking a suspect and then proceeding to prove their guilt, only to fall into the real culprit's grasp and need to be rescued. This character needs to evolve into awareness of the magic around her, and what happened to the magical prowess of her own that was mentioned?! The murder mystery is solid and adds details to the secret society. All of this creates a satisfying, clean, paracozy mystery.
OOooo drama at an art show! One dead. Blackmail. Tempers flaring. It was fun!
The Gist: One of the photographers who schemed her way into an art show...is dead! And her ghost is, well, haunting Willa until Willa finds out who did the photographer in!
Willa's really a great heroine. She gets herself into some sticky spots now and again but she's a book lover, a fan of kitties, and pleasant to be around. She's just a nice person and it's fun spending time with her as she works through mysteries.
The mystery was good. I liked how it was set up though I caught on a bit before Willa as usual. But somehow that's okay with this series and doesn't really bug me.
I do wish the romance with the sexy cop from the town over was a little more present but I enjoy the tiny glimpses of it.
I did wonder where the pup from the previous book went.
All in all, though, a fun read and a nice mystery spent with characters I'm quickly growing to love.
A Mew To A Kill (Mystic Notch Cozy Mystery #3) [Kindle Unlimited]� Leighann Dobbs (29 chapters) July 13-14, 2019
Third in the series, I read this as a part of Mystic Notch Cozy Mystery Series Book Set #1.
Third and final story in this set. A floozy who thinks her photographs are da bomb is killed and comes to Willa to find out who dunnit. Willa uncovers a web of secrets and uncovers a previously unknown secret.
Pandora the cat has a side story where she meets a kitten who she believes is a past reading come true. [Note: The reader really needs to read the series in order, or these kind of statements get lost on new readers.] A new cat is also revealed to be not so friendly to the cat clan.
This was a well written plot, with a few twists and turns that kept this reader turning the pages. This series is firming up to be a jim-dandy of a set. Each book's plot is leading to a new discovery....and the plot thickens with Pandora's story.
This is the 3rd story in the Mystic Notch series. This time Willa, the former crime investigator did not find the body, but the ghost of the murdered person appears anyway to insist Willa find the murder so she can cross over. This story immediately catches your interest with the excitement of the crime scene. Then it doesn't stop until the end. The clues are given out at appropriate times and when one suspect is exonerated, Willa moves to another instead of hounding the first one she thinks did the dastardly deed. You get to see more of the development of Willa's relationships with her sister and Striker. And the cats are always fun to read about. I do recommend this to anyone that enjoys cozy mysteries.
4 1/2 stars just as good as the others in this series
If you haven’t read the books before this on you can still read this and not be totally lost. The author does a good job at letting you know about past stuff when you need to know. There were just a few small things mentioned that had I not read the others I wouldn’t have know what she was referring to, but wasn’t a big deal in this book. Like the others you will be guessing “who did it� right up until the end, very fun to put all the clues together. And like the other books in this series I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend these to my preteen -tween friends. No sexual situations and no (that I can remember) curse words. Another well written book, didn’t wan5 to stop reading it each night to go to bed
Willa gets invovled in another murder when the new ghost of the photographer across from her bookstore gets killed and threatens to haunt her unless Willa agrees to help her cross over. This is after she had blackmailed her way into an art contest with a $20,000 prize.
Meanwhile, Pandora, the cat she inherited from her grandmother tries to help her while at the same time the town cats are out to rescue a supposedly strong cat with two faces.
This is another fun story from Leighann Dobbs with well defined characters, a few twist, and several humorous incidents.
I really enjoyed the other series I have read by Dobbs but not this one. I do not like Willa...I can not stand her know it all attitude. I predicted the killer shortly after the clues began rolling in but of course the know it all crime journalist, who is honestly just terrible at it, could not figure it out! Aside from the annoying main character and the obvious killer it was a fairly cute story. I would recommend Dobbs' Blackmoore sisters series and Silver Hollow series for a better set of characters.
Satisfies the Mystery Lover and the Cat Lover in me
I am loving the town of Notch Cove and all of the wonderful people living there (and the cats, too!). As the story unfolds, I am wondering (like Pandora) when Willa is going to catch on and realize her potential and I am anxious to see where the stories go from there. I like that the mysteries are not easily solved, even with the help of the victims in ghost form, and how everyone works together (whether they know they are or not). The people in this town are people I want to be friends with and again, LOVE the cats! :)
Willa's ghost visitations continue bringing another murder to solve. With Pepper, her faithful friend often by her side, Willa attempts to find her way through the many twists; although, it seems to me, if she listened to Pepper more often, she'd get ahead much faster. This time wears have some new cat characters, and one of them is definitely not one any of us would want in our homes. I do wonder, though, how long will it take Willa to realize Pandora can talk, and her glass globe is far more than an ornament?
Willa Chance thinks that because she used to be a crime reporter, she’s an ace sleuth. Yeah right. To be frank, she sucks at it. It’s her mystical cat, pandora, who does all the heavy lifting. Thing is though, she’s a witch, but she doesn’t know it yet. Her best friend, Pepper sells special “teas� designed to help folks. Teas? Can you say potions?
A local photographer has been killed, and her ghost has asked Willa to find her killer. Will Willa find the killer so the ghost can cross over? Buy the book and find out. Another must read from Ms Dobbs!
Once again, Leighann Dobbs has a winner! This mystery introduced two new cats, one on the dark side, one on the side of good. Pandora and her friends are aways on the lookout for bad things that are going on in Mystic Notch. Once again, Willa is in the middle of solving a crime to help a ghost pass on, and this one was really twisty! These aren't "average" stories, IMO. I absolutely love that cats, cat welfare, and adoption is featured. Great story, great flow, excellent character building and very nice place description. A-1 story, Ms Dobbs!
Kindle Unlimited, Leighann Dobbs writes under Leighann Dobbs, Annie Dobbs and (soon) L.A. Dobbs but her real name {not sure if she writes under that one} is Lee Dobbins, Hazel Martin Mysteries only one I found for this type with her, she has not made sure that terms used match the British terms as well as in other areas for that period of architecture and assorted styles.
The Notch Cozy Mystery Series {5 out as of this writing} and the Blackbore Sisters Cozy Mysteries are not on Kindle Unlimited which as said before about 1 & 7 {the only ones given free, sure would not have bought them} and ditto for Ghostly Paws which is 1 of 5 at this time but did get others free over time.
While some of her other books are Kindle Unlimited none of the Blackmoore Sisters Cozy Mysteries are which doesn't matter to me as read #1 and #7 and was way underwhelmed. Leighann Dobbs writes under Leighann Dobbs, Annie Dobbs and (soon) L.A. Dobbs but her real name {not sure if she writes under that one} is Lee Dobbins, Hazel Martin Mysteries only one I found for this type with her, she has not made sure that terms used match the British terms as well as in other areas for that period of architecture and assorted styles. By the way, bakeries and other food service places don't run like that. Badly needs to proof things, it's messing up the flow of the book, which my computer reads to me, so that's bad. As for these, it's not that the situations couldn't happen, it's in the telling of the story, with unlikable unbelievable characters and situations, again.
Yet another goodreads won't hide it don't want to see the badly proofed badly plotted poor excuse for bad soft core porn crap. The 'historical' ones are like that and so are the some of the non cozy mysteries and some of the sorta but not really mysteries because can't write, etc ad nauseum. The most any of them got was 2 changed to 1 for crap cozy, some get a 1 which means basically crappy soft porn 'romance' etc.
3 in Silver Hollow Paranormal Cozy Mystery Series so far which are on kindle unlimited, 3 in the Moosamuck Island Mysteries , 5 in the Mystic Notch Cozy Mysteries so far {not ku}, Blackmore Sisters has 7 {not ku}, Hazel Martin Mysteries only has 1 so far, Lexy Baker Cozy Mystery series 12 so far is on ku. Others.including Scandals and Spies Book series so far 4 which are basically romance soft core porn dreck but hey you can get them on ku. Witches of Hawthorne Grove 1 so far,Cevonne Bride of Oklahoma, Unexpected Series 4 so far ku.
The Lexy Baker Cozy Mystery Series By the way, bakeries and other food service places don't run like that. Badly needs to proof things, it's messing up the flow of the book, which my computer reads to me, so that's bad. As for these, it's not that the situations couldn't happen, it's in the telling of the story, with unlikable unbelievable characters and situations, again.
Copy/paste fill in the blank seems to be pretty much what she is doing in her books, which wouldn't be half as bad if the plots and ploys and actions were believable at all.Just change the name for a book and maybe change the series list under, and you are right back to copy paste same old same old.
NOTE: I specifically mentioned certain of the 'books'/series were achieving soft core crap status, and specifically said which ones those were, reference AGAIN the above quoted review, and did not specifically mention the blackmore ones as that, BUT and had not mentioned that had went back and rated all no talent no plot cardboard charactered 'stories' listed above as 1 as well. I will change the original review to reflect that, but it is still a 1, and MY review of the crap stands.
I really liked this one. I cannot put my finger on what it is exactly about this series that I like the most but I just really enjoy reading about the adventures of Willa and Pandora. I think the ghosts are funny at times, others may not. If you're really serious and don't like a hint at humor don't read this. It's probably not for you. But it is for me. Looking forward to the next one!
A Mew To A Kill is the best so far in this series. 4.8 stars
I admitted in the review of the previous books in this series that I am a sucker for animals, dogs and cats in particular. Since the cats were a much bigger focus in this episode, this story was my favorite to date. I hope the next episode continues this cat-centered mystery. The cats are great and most of the people seem pretty nice. Enjoy!
Leighann Dobbs is one of my favorite authors, and this book is one of the reasons why. Books, cats, ghosts and a surprising mystery are just the right combination for a great book. However, there are some things you don't need to know, but Willa is curious (nosey) and has to solve the mystery because, well, she's better at it then the law, so she thinks. Unfortunately, it gets her into some pretty scary and dangerous situations. However, it does make for a great mystery.