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    Cat About Town
    Cat About Town
    Cat About Town
    Audiobook8 hours

    Cat About Town

    Written by Cate Conte

    Narrated by Amy Melissa Bentley

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Maddie James has arrived in Daybreak Island, just off the coast of Massachusetts, eager to settle down and start her own business-and maybe even fall in love. When a stray orange tabby pounces into her life, she's inspired to open a cat cafe. But little does Maddie know that she's in for something a lot more catastrophic when her new furry companion finds the dead body of the town bully. Now all eyes are on Maddie: Who is this crazy cat-whisperer lady who's come to town? If pet-hair-maintenance and crime-fighting weren't keeping her busy enough, Maddie now has not one but two eligible bachelors who think she's the cat's pajamas . . . and will do anything to win her heart. But how can she even think about happily-ever-after while a killer remains on the loose-and on her path?
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateNov 28, 2017
    ISBN9781541489479
    Cat About Town
    Author

    Cate Conte

    Cate Conte writes the Cat Cafe Mysteries and the Full Moon Mysteries. As Liz Mugavero, she writes the Pawsitively Organic Mysteries, the first of which was an Agatha Award nominee for Best First Novel. She lives in Connecticut with her rescue pals.

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    Reviews for Cat About Town

    4/5

    37 ratings4 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Maddie James has arrived on the island where she grew up, to attend her grandmother’s funeral. She now lives in San Francisco and owns her own business, but has taken a leave of absence. However, when talking with her mother, she learns that her mom thinks her grandfather, Leo, might be getting forgetful about certain things and asks Maddie to keep an eye on him.While at the graveyard she comes across an orange cat that seems to like her, and Maddie does her best to make friends and get the cat to come to her, but people keep interrupting and the cat skitters away. Also, while at the graveyard, a man approaches Leo and Maddie later learns that Frank O'Malley wants him to sell his home — the home her mother grew up in, where she lived until she was nine with her parents, and where her grandfather grew up. Maddie’s appalled, and Leo insists he doesn’t want to talk about it. But Maddie when Maddie learns that Frank went so far as to threaten Leo, she decides to speak with Frank herself and tell him that there’s no way her grandfather is going to sell and he needs to back off. While the talk didn’t go well, Maddie isn’t going to give up and have her grandfather lose his home. Dejected, she goes to the cemetery again to visit her grandmother’s grave and the cat once appears, and this time he follows her home. After walking with him throughout the day, he's been named JJ; and she takes him with her to the food festival that evening. But JJ skitters away again, and she follows his tail to one of the tents and sees him under a table — when she raises the cloth to get him, she comes across the body of Frank O’Malley, who’s been stabbed. Now her grandfather is a suspect in the death, and Maddie is determined to stay and find out who killed Frank...and hopefully the killer won’t come after her, too...This is the first in a new series, and like all new ones, I'm always a bit skeptical of what might be inside the pages. But I was pleasantly surprised in the fact that this book is actually very good. The plot is delightful, I love JJ's personality, and also the fact that Maddie doesn't allow him outside alone. (I don't even believe in cats being outside at all, but I do understand that JJ is crucial to the story so it wouldn't make much sense otherwise; and the fact that Maddie has him on a leash when he's with her mitigates it for me). I like Maddie, since she's not broke, didn't come running home with her tail between her legs, and actually has intelligence. This book would have been five stars for me but for two things: I really did feel that the way Maddie was asking questions was intrusive to other people. I get that she was trying to find answers, but she was pretty much cornering people and demanding them at times. That bothered me.The second is the obligatory love triangle. While there isn't one yet, I will say (as I've always said) that I absolutely detest them. Let's put it this way: if it were a man and he was stringing along two women, you'd think he was a dog, or worse. So why is it okay when a woman does it? Now, as I've said, there's really no love triangle going on. But the potential is there, and I, for one, hope it doesn't come to fruition. A book can be just as interesting without two guys hating each other and trying to outdo each other. They don't need to put on their chain mail and joust for fair maiden in this century.That being said, I was pleased with the rest of the book. It was written well, the plot was interesting, Maddie and her family definitely has potential, and I like the secondary characters as well. I do love the idea that she's going to open a cat café, which makes all the more enticing to read the next in the series. As an owner of several cats, this series appeals to me; the author is a pleasure to read, being able to create definitive characters and descriptions of the area; and I will continue on with the series. Recommended.
    • 2/5
      This is the first novel that I have read by Cate Conte (pseudonym of Liz Mugavero) and I thoroughly enjoyed it as the opening of a new series starring Maddie James, amateur sleuth, and her new rescue feline friend, JJ (initially referenced as Orange Guy).

      The setting is fictitious Daybreak Island, off the coast of Massachusetts patterned by the author's visit to Martha's Vineyard. Having visited Martha's Vineyard in the midst of tourist season and off-season it was easy to become absorbed in the story and the descriptive nuances of seasonal business were captured very well.

      My only disappointment was the illustration of JJ on the cover. I wish illustrators would read the novels or someone that read the novel would be more direct with the illustrator. JJ's harness and leash are not simply red in the novel but "skull-and-crossbones design in red and black." It would have added to the delight if this was illustrated on the cover design.
    • 5/5
      Maddie is home on Daybreak Island for her grandma’s funeral, staying with her grandpa at his old homestead. But even while coping with the loss of her grandma, Maddie’s concern is centered on her grandpa. Her mom thinks he may be having some memory problems, because he is being evasive about certain things. Maddie is taken into his confidence, and he explains that someone is trying to force him to sell his home for its land. When this person turns up dead, Maddie and her grandpa head the list of suspects - sort of. No one reallly believes they did it, but then who did? Maddie must get to the bottom of things in her not so subtle manner. Luckily, her high school sweetheart is on the force and can watch out for her. And so does her newly acquired orange cat, who paves the way for her in her investigations. This delightful cozy is wonderfully written, with engaging characters in an engrossing plot. A great start for a promising new series.
    • 3/5
      Cat about Town by Cate Conte is the first novel in A Cat Café Mystery series. Madalyn “Maddie” James has returned home to Daybreak Island for her grandmother’s funeral. At the cemetery, Maddie spots an orange cat peeking around a gravestone. Later at Grandpa Leo’s beautiful old Victorian home, he tells Maddie that Frank O’Malley is trying to force him to sell the house. Frank has big plans for the island which include a transportation rental center on Leo’s property (tearing down their family home). Maddie arranges to meet Frank at a local restaurant and heated words are exchanged. After walking around town, she ends up at her grandmother’s grave where she meets up with the orange cat again. The cat follows Maddie to the Food Stroll where she meets up with her friend, Becky Walsh. Suddenly, the cat takes off with Maddie quickly following behind him. She finds her furry friend under a table staring at a deceased Frank O’Malley. The police put Maddie and her grandfather, Leo at the top of the suspect list. Maddie and her new feline companion, J.J. (who is being hailed a hero) set out to discover Frank’s killer. Will the killer strike again before Maddie uncovers his identity?Cat about Town started off at a good pace and I was intrigued by the story. The further I progressed into the book, the more mundane it became. It seemed like the author had followed a formula or outline for a cozy mystery. We have our female protagonist, two male suitors, a cute cat, nasty guy who gets himself murdered, our suspects, rude investigator, protagonist investigates to clear her name or that of loved one, life threatened, and bad guy apprehended. I liked the addition of the mysterious benefactor and the idea of a cat café. I not heard of cat cafes prior to this novel. I am giving Cat About Town 3 out of 5 stars. The murder of Frank O’Malley was easily solved. There is some misdirection, but the killer’s identity was not a shocker. There is a little twist that will surprise most readers (I would say more but it is a spoiler). I do wish the author had not given Maddie two beaus. The last thing I want (or readers need) is another love triangle in a cozy mystery. I like how close Maddie is with her grandfather, Leo. They have a sweet relationship. I wish there had been less repetition of case details and more solid content (less fluff and romance). I will read the next book in A Cat Café Mystery series. I am curious to find out more about the mysterious benefactor and see the development of the cat café.