Customer Reviews

The Cat, The Professor and the Poison: A Cats in Trouble Mystery

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Jillian Hart had finally begun to settle into Mercy, South Carolina quite nicely and had made a friend in Deputy Candace Carson. Making a friend while hovering over Flake Wilkerson's corpse wasn't exactly like meeting one in Belle's Beans over a cup of coffee, but hey . . . whatever works. Belle's was a "hotbed of Mercy gossip" and all the news that was fit to cross anyone's lips was more than likely uttered over a cup of java or in the produce department at the Piggly Wiggly. Aside from a few juicy tidbits, including the arrival of her stepdaughter, Kara, there wasn't much to report since Flake's demise some time ago. The only stiff in town lately was Deputy Coroner Lydia Monk. She obviously had taken out stock in a volumizing hair spray by the look of that teased blond hair and she definitely needed those 38D implants to hold everything up.

Lydia was all bent out of shape because she thought Jillian was some kind of man-eater and was chasing Tom Stewart, her latest paramour. Jillian was a widow and the only things that mattered in her life were her three cats, Syrah, Merlot, Chablis and her quilting business sewing cat quilts. It was truly relaxing to be able to enjoy her babies and the company of her new friend, without of course, a corpse getting in the way. Candace's sole ambition in life was to be a "crime scene investigator." Show that gal a thread, a piece of hair or a foot print and she'd have an "evidence obsession seizure" before you could bat an eye. Robin, "the most overprotective mother in Mercy," soon shattered the two women's peaceful evening with a call. "We're gonna see a woman about a cow." Now what?

Harriet, Robin's cow, was missing, but cats and kittens were showing up in droves. The most obvious suspect was that nutty Professor Hubert VanKleet. Candace wasn't the only one who had a "constant love affair with anything criminal" and Jillian was shocked at what she saw at his farm on her sleuthing adventure. Candace stumbled out of VanKleet's house, fell to her knees and began to retch. The professor looked like a twisted up Gumby. There were cats, cats, and more cats, with yet another cat soon to arrive . . . Ms. Monk. Add to the mix Rufus Bower, owner of "What's Bugging You," who was a "whacked on the head" kind of corpse. Jillian and Candace seemed to attract dead bodies like black polyester pants attract lint and cat hair, but this was insane. "If it isn't Cagney and Lacey . . . " Lydia had arrived and the gossip mill would soon be in full force!

This is the second installment of the "Cats in Trouble Mystery" series, one that is sure to please the cat and cozy fans of the world. I loved Leann's quirky and cute sense of humor and, by default, learned many interesting things about cats, including some about the human persuasion. This chemistry between the characters is beginning to gel nicely and the introduction of new characters is seamless. After reading the first book, I just knew I was going to fall in love with this series and have. I was like a young girl again reading this book. I giggled, smiled, guffawed, and my eyes widened trying to figure out whodunit. I've already conveniently forgotten, so you won't find any spoilers here . . . you'll just have to read the book!

When a milk cow disappears from a neighbor's farm, cat lover Jillian Hart already has her hands full taking care of four preemie kittens at Mercy Animal Sanctuary's office with Deputy Candace Carson. At first, the call seems almost inane and a bit irritating, but the investigation leads to the discovery of a huge number of needy stray cats and the body of a professor. Who would want the professor dead? What is the connection between the professor and all the stray cats? The more Jillian investigates, the more determined she is to solve the case. Jillian might just need a little help from her cats to solve this one. When cats' welfare is at stake, cats can depend on Jillian Hart!

In her second Cats in Trouble mystery, Leann Sweeney once again gives cats lovers a mystery where cats take center stage in all aspects of the mystery. Jillian Hart makes quilts for cats, rescues cats and has three special cats of her own, Chablis, Syrah and Merlot. Jillian Hart may have a soft spot in her heart when it comes to animal welfare, but she is no push over. If a cat is in trouble, Jillian Hart will use her vast knowledge of cat lore, her intellectual acumen, her instincts and her heart to solve the case. In THE CAT, THE PROFESSOR AND THE POISON, Leann Sweeney takes readers more into the character of her sleuth as Jillian and Candace form a friendship. A reader gets to know one character through the other, catching a glimpse of the emotional character as well as the sense of humor they elicit. One is the perfect counterpoint to the other. Above all, these additional heartwarming insights into endear a reader to the series. The first book in the series, THE CAT, THE QUILT AND THE CORPSE is an outstanding introduction to the series, but the character developments and new mystery in THE CAT, THE PROFESSOR AND THE POISON marks the Cats in Trouble series as one well worth following.

The clever and sometimes humorous mystery takes readers right into the heart of feline territory, the good and the bad. Cat lovers will appreciate some of the distinctions Jillian Hart makes between political activists and those who truly care for the welfare of cats. Without being preachy, Jillian Hart is a woman whose love and respect of cats is more than surface deep. Leann Sweeney's Cats in Trouble mysteries are the cat's meow!

Courtesy of Book Illuminations

The book is well written and moves right along. Plot is believable and entertaining. Had never read her books
before, but I will now. Am waiting for another to come out in this series.

This is the second book in the "A Cats in Trouble Mystery" series. Leann Sweeney has done a wonderful job with the series so far. If you are looking for a quick, sometimes funny, not at all gory book, then you should check out this series. Her 3 main cats are hysterical and the humans are not your typical characters. I can't wait for the next installment.

When a cow goes missing from a neighbor's farm, the last thing Jillian Hart expects is that she'll end up, once again, entangled in a murder mystery. The cow, it turns out, was "borrowed" by Prof. Hubert VanKleet, on sabbatical from Denman College, who needs the milk for "my pets." One of those pets is a friendly calico cat who turns up at the doorstep of the cow's owner looking for food. When Jillian backtracks her, she discovers that VanKleet's "pets" are caged cats--dozens of them, many meowing and crying as if in distress. Then VanKleet turns up dead in his own kitchen, and the cages are suddenly empty. Were they released by a radical animal-rights organization? Did its members kill the professor? Not likely, says the coroner: he was poisoned with strychnine. But when Jillian inquires of the local exterminator about the accessibility of the substance, he shortly turns up dead too. And then a masked intruder breaks into Jillian's home and threatens both her and her three beloved cats, Chablis, Merlot, and Syrah. It seems Jillian is involved whether she likes it or not, and only by finding out the truth can she guarantee her own safety.

Besides lots of cat trivia and an intriguing mystery, this second in a series introduces a new character, Jillian's stepdaughter Kara Hart, a reporter recently laid off from the Houston Press who shows up on Jillian's doorstep with a car "packed to the roof with stuff" and seems at first to be a possible rival for the affections of Tom Stewart, Jillian's casual guyfriend. Jillian's best friend, Deputy Candace Carson, and the flamboyant assistant coroner, Lydia Monk, are back too. And Dame Wiggins, the friendly calico, not only causes altered relationships in Jillian's house (Chablis, Jillian's female, becomes an aunt to her kittens and refuses to let her male housemates anywhere near them) but proves to be an important piece of the puzzle. A worthy sequel that maintains the quality of its predecessor.

The murder that Jillian is looking into become more personal when she is threatened in her own home. While figuring out the clues, her stepdaughter comes to visit and her cats play a protective role in keeping Jillian safe. This was a good mystery with good humor and twists and turns as I kept turning the pages to see what happens next. This was a great read and I can't wait to read the next book.

Jillian Hart and her cats are back to solve another mystery -- and it's a good one! A stolen cow...missing cats...weird experiments...and murder! Leann Sweeney's characters -- both human and animal -- are well-developed and personable, and her plotting is fantastic. She weaves an intriguing mystery with surprising twists, humorous moments, and real emotion.

Ms Sweeney's writing, like her references to good wine, just keeps getting better and better over time. I was grabbing for the tissues in the first few pages when the sad situation of the cats in captivity was described ( I confess, I do not do well with reading or hearing about animals in distress) but I knew Jillian and her partners in cat rescue would "make it all OK"! Am so glad I continued reading as this book has become my favorite of the author's many delightful stories. The introduction of her step-daughter and her evolution from a "brat" ( with unresolved grief) to a likable character leads me to hope she will become part of the future tales of this not-so quiet southern town. But most of all, it was the increased focus on all the cats , Jillian's and the rescued ones. And the happy ending...I need that in this day when they are often few and far between. If you love a good mystery, skilled writing and cats...plus a unique plot, don't miss this book.

I bought/read both of Leann Sweeney's cat cozies, "Cats in Trouble Mystery" and they were very easy and fun to read. There's so much gratuitous, sickening violence in mysteries these days, and Ms. Sweeney's mysteries are a pleasant diversion. I hope she keeps writing them.

I am happy to say that I finished this mystery and really enjoyed it.
The characters in the book just melt your heart.
Jillian and friend Candace(a dectective), are best friends, and watch each others backs.
Once again, Jillian is knee deep in trouble .
She just happened to be at the wrong place, and at the wrong time.
Murder, I say, murder. And not a pretty one at that.
Poison, and murder go hand in hand, in this mystery.
Of course, Jillian has to help. It's just in her nature.
But, she also has a new problem.
Her second husband's death, brings his daughter, Kara, at her doorstep.
Jillian has a full plate. Keeping her stepdaughter safe and out of trouble,
helping to find stray cats, and course, finding out "Who did it".
This mystery by Sweeney is really rather well written.
It started out slow, and ended up with me reading much faster
than usual. I had to keep up with the clues, and figure out, "who did them in".
Thanks you Ms Sweeney for a wonderful cozy.
As always, more, please