I have to say that I just love this series!!! I have hooked since the very first book and I now eagerly look forward to each new addition. Kathleen is so much fun to follow along with. She feels like your very own BFF. Add in Owen and Hercules with all of their antics and you will not be able to put this book down. We get an intriguing mystery filled with surprise clues while also keeping us up-to-date on all of the town residents. Sprinkle a little past history as two twins try to settle their past dispute before one of passes away only to end up with one of them murdered to get a mystery you will not want to put down. I was hooked until the very end. A must read for fans of cozies and cats. I totally loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.

I unfortunately was not able to read this book. I was excited when ever I had chosen to download or pick this book up on Netgalley. However, time moves by so quickly and I never got to read it.

I love this series! These cats always give me a chuckle with their interactions with Kathleen and with each other. They are very helpful when she's trying to get away from the killers and in this book, Hercules and Owen lived up to their great reputation.

An intriguing read that had great mysteries past and present, some serious curve balls and plenty of the fun, friendly characters that Kelly is great at writing!

Having now just discovered this series, I’ve now committed myself to go back and catch up on the magical goings-on of Hercules and Owen. I was quickly swept away in their uncanny methods of working with Kathleen. The writing was fast paced and engaging, the twists and turns of the plot kept me guessing only to find that I had tripped up and was very much off the mark. The clues were intriguing, the banter lighthearted and their methods of communication that the kitties had with Kathleen clever. This is a series that is quite addictive...Hercules and Owen have sunk their claws into my imagination!

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

This was a wonderful book. I highly recommend it. I have followed this series for a while and think it deserves more than 5 stars. If you are a fan of cozy mysteries then buy the whole series, you will not be sorry.

Thank you for the chance to review this book, however, unfortunately, I was unable to read and review this title before it was archived.

I've read this series from the beginning, I always enjoy a visit to Mayville Heights and Owen and Hercules never fail to put me under their spell. A Tale of Two Kitties is the perfect addition to this wonderful series, I enjoyed the the exciting plot; a pair of estranged brothers, a love triangle, and a decades old death combine lead to a present day murder, tearing a family apart. I love the extra layer that Kathleen and Simon's friendship adds, that what-if feeling it gives me. I mean, Kathleen and Marcus spend almost no time together. They've been together how long and they haven't moved in together yet? Clearly this relationship is going nowhere. Yes, I'm shipping Simon and Kathleen, make this happen, for Mia's sake. The trove of lost mail discovered behind a wall at the post office was a fun way to tie the story together and add some Mayville Heights history to the story. Combine all of it together and you get a suspenseful and enjoyable cozy mystery with Owen and Hercules saving the day. Irresistible!

This book was not my cup of tea; it was also the ninth in a series and I was lost throughout most of it.
I had a very hard time wrapping my head around cats that have magical powers and it made the whole book just meh for me. I couldn't get into the characters [that I didn't know anything about] and I barely remember what the book was about to begin with.
Very disappointed in this.

**As a side note, it would be nice if you knew that a book was number 9 [or whatever number it is] in a series BEFORE you request it. I was quite disgruntled when I found that out as I was not about to read 8 books before rating this one.

A Tale of Two Kitties a story that melds the past with the present in Mayville Heights. Simon Janes' family history is wrought with pain, heartache, and betrayal. His family is embroiled in a feud and everyone is surprised when Simon's father and uncle show up in Mayville Heights. It seems that the two want to put the past behind them and move forward as a family. All is going well-ish until Leo is found dead - murdered, and the police have their sights set on Simon. Kathleen knows that Simon isn't to blame but she seems to be the only one. Now it's up to Kathleen and her two magical kitties to solve the crime.

A Tale of Two Kitties is another great book in Sofie Kelly's Magical Cats Mystery series. The pacing is steady and the entire novel is easy to read and understand. Multiple suspects keep the reader guessing and keep Kathleen and Marcus on their toes. The author added great emotional content to this book.

I really enjoy the Magical Cats Mystery series even if newcomers to the town are the ones that are murdered. I don’t like it when authors kill off main characters or characters that are important to the Hero/Heroine. The continued world building and character development of Kathleen, her magical kitties, and Marcus, along with the secondary characters, is fresh and original with each installment.

The books in Sofie Kelly's Magical Cats Mysteries are descriptive without going overboard. I feel like I'm in every scene of the story. The books also have the right amount of suspense to keep the reader engaged all the way to the end. The romance included isn't over the top and doesn't overshadow the mystery solving. It's a nice addition to give the story and characters realism.

The Magical Cats Mystery series is one of my favorites. I enjoy the lowkey nature of cozy mysteries. They keep me entertained with their quirky main characters. I recommend the series to all cozy mystery lovers.

I voluntarily reviewed a hardcover version of this book.

A Tale of Two Kitties by Sofie Kelly is the ninth mystery in A Magical Cats Mystery series. Kathleen Paulson is a librarian in Mayville Heights, Minnesota and owns (well, as much as you can own a cat) two special cats named Owen and Hercules. When remodeling a local post office, undelivered mail and photos were discovered. The library has agreed to take possession of the photos. Kathleen wants to find a way to identify the people in the photos and get them in the hands of family. Twin brothers, Victor and Leo Janes have returned to town for Thanksgiving and the gossip mill is buzzing. People remember that Victor had an affair with Leo’s wife. Unfortunately, Meredith died in a car accident shortly afterward. This is a chance for a reconciliation between the two men. Mia Janes, a library student intern, is tickled to have her grandfather in town. Kathleen drives Mia to visit Leo one day after work and Kathleen notices the apartment door ajar. She goes inside to find Leo dead from obvious blunt force trauma. The police soon narrow their sights on Simon Janes, Leo’s son and Kathleen’s friend, when they discover he an argument with Leo and lacks an alibi. Kathleen with the aid of her two magical sidekicks, Owen and Hercules, delves into the case intent on tracking down Leo’s killer. Come visit Mayville Heights and help Kathleen solve her latest case in A Tale of Two Kitties.

A Tale of Two Kitties has good writing, but the pace is a little slow. There are nice, relatable characters and a charming small-town setting. Kathleen is a great character who has a wonderful job—a librarian! I enjoy her interactions with her fur babies. A Tale of Two Kitties contains an extra amount of cozy. There is socializing, meals, work at the library, romance, the cat’s antics, the found photographs and mail, plus much more. I wish the author had not devoted so much time to the lost (and now found) photographs and mail. It seemed to dominate the story. The mystery was interesting and I liked how it was structured (containing several different components that all fit together). The author included some good clues which will aid readers in solving the crime (plus the suspect list is very small). My rating for A Tale of Two Kitties is 4 out of 5 stars. A Tale of Two Kitties is a cute story and I delighted in the paranormal element. The magical cats are adorable and entertaining (especially Owen with his funky chickens). If you have not read any of the previous A Magical Cat Mystery novels, you will be a little lost (since there are so many secondary characters) in the beginning and it might hinder readers in solving the crime. A Tale of Two Kitties is a charming cozy mystery that will delight readers.

Synopsis:

In this charming mystery from the bestselling author of Paws and Effect, two magical cats have powers of detection that prove indispensable to librarian Kathleen Paulson…

With a well-placed paw on a keyboard or a pointed stare, Kathleen’s two cats, Hercules and Owen, have helped her to solve cases in the past—so she has learned to trust their instincts. But she will need to rely on them more than ever when a twenty-year-old scandal leads to murder…

The arrival of the Janes brothers has the little town of Mayville Heights buzzing. Everyone of a certain age remembers when Victor had an affair with Leo’s wife, who then died in a car accident.
Now it seems the brothers are trying to reconcile, until Kathleen finds Leo dead. The police set their sights on Leo’s son and Kathleen’s good friend Simon, who doesn’t have much of an alibi. To prove her friend innocent, Kathleen will have to dig deep into the town's history—and into her sardine cracker supply, because Owen and Hercules don't work for free... (Goodreads)

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. Kathleen is a smart hardworking protagonist. She is loyal and is willing to do most anything to help her friends when they are in need. She loves her cats, and who would not love these magical felines. They were as real of characters as the humans were. Owen can disappear at anytime and Hercules can walk through walls. Those are special talents that can come in handy in crime solving. Both of the cats seem to understand what humans are saying, and although they cannot talk, they have an uncanny way of helping Kathleen figure out clues and help in the investigation.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read.The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book I felt like I was right there, watching all the action taking place around me. The mystery was well plotted and had enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through (with Owen’s and Hercule’s help) that it was not easily solved.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy. If you love cats, this is a must read book. I had not read any of the other books in the series and I did not have too much trouble knowing what was going on.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

I loved it! What fun these two magical cats are! I enjoy what Kathleen does as head librarian. This is a delightful novel that includes many moments of heart-thumping suspense. At the end of this charming tale, we are gifted with an excerpt from the short story, “A Cat Burgler”. This would make a great beach read or something to wrap up in an afghan with in front of a fireplace.

Owen and Hercules are the cats who chose Kathleen as their person shortly after coming to Minnesota from Boston. Originally there for the remodel of this Carnegie library for it’s 100th anniversary, Kathleen was later hired to be the head librarian and has a family within the library and her circle of friends. She discovered something unique about these adorable kits – one can disappear completely and reappear in another room, while the other can walk through walls and doors. Both have a knack of understanding what she talked about, and helped her with the mysteries that presented themselves in the past couple years. Every cat owner “gets” their pet’s habit of walking away mumbling, but I might have a hard time if one of my cats were to … well, you know. I think I could handle Fred the Funky Chicken more easily…

Kathleen’s boyfriend Marcus, detective at the local police department, has a kitten who was from the same place Owen and Herc came from. Little Micah just might have some of the same characteristics as her boys. And one of these days, Kathleen has to find a way to tell him.

Mia is a student intern at the library, and her father Simon is a widower. They are very close, in spite of Simon’s long working long hours. With Thanksgiving on the way, Simon’s father Leo is coming to visit. He and Mia have been very close, and he couldn’t say no to her loving pleas. Unfortunately his twin, Victor, is also coming to town at Leo’s invitation. There has been bad blood in the family for over 20 years, and Leo wants to make peace. Victor has cancer, and may not have long to live.

One evening Kathleen was going to visit her friend Rebecca, taking Mia to visit her grandfather next door. Something seemed off. Especially when she saw the look on Owen’s face. She had Mia stay with Owen and Rebecca while she went in to see why Leo wasn’t answering and found Leo dead, murdered with a heavy sculpture.

Marcus is the detective on the case, so he can’t share anything discovered with Kathleen. She did learn that Simon is the main suspect. Kathleen could think of at least a couple other culprits, and wanted to give Mia some peace about what happened. Photos and unopened mail from at least 20 years earlier and discovered in the wall of a remodel may hold at least one clue.

Kathleen and her friends genuinely care about and will do anything to help another. While we know Kathleen best, we learn more tidbits throughout that round out the other regular characters. For example, Mary, the older librarian on staff, is a sweet lady who looks like a grandmother and is the long-running state kickboxing champion in her age group. Kathleen shares hard-learned bits of wisdom with Mia, which each of the friends do freely with each other. Marcus is a great guy, also, well-liked by his co-workers and Kathleen’s friends.

There are plot twists and turns that change the landscape of the mystery; the breakup of the family more than 20 years ago is an added layer. I really enjoy reading about the antics of the cats, as well as some general historical notes on Carnegie libraries. Simon says he is innocent of Leo’s murder, and Kathleen believes him. She had caught Simon in a couple fibs, so he knows he has to be honest with her. There are several viable suspects, and I admit to have followed one of the red herrings, at least until Owen uncovered the truth. The culprit has been a suspect, yet was still a surprise. The ending is satisfactory, with much ahead to look forward to in Mayville Heights. The author has gifted us with another magical cats mystery that I highly recommend to cozy mystery and cat lovers. Even Owen and Hercules would give this a five sardine cracker (or Fred the funky chicken) rating!

A librarian and her two cats solve mysteries—is that a cozy cliché? A Tale of Two Kitties, the ninth in Sofie Kelly’s Magical Cats Mystery series, is anything but facile. It stars the vibrant, occasionally mettlesome, intelligent Kathleen Paulson.

You’d think by now it wouldn’t bother me to step on a body in the middle of the kitchen floor, but I was in my sock feet and the body—missing its head, no surprise—was damp.

Horrors! A dead body in the opening paragraph? But it’s only a “headless yellow catnip chicken, aka Fred the Funky Chicken,” which belongs to Owen, one of Kathleen’s two cats. Owen and Hercules have individual superpowers as well as possess a “seemingly uncanny ability to understand” conversations. Owen has “the ability to vanish” at will, and Hercules can walk through walls.

Check out Sofie Kelly's list of five of her favorite cozy mystery series featuring cats!

Kathleen has lived in the fictional town of Mayville Heights, Minnesota, on the shores of Lake Pepin for two and a half years. She’s the head librarian of the town library.

The Mayville Heights Free Public Library is a Carnegie library, built in 1912 with money donated by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. I’d originally come to town to supervise the restoration of the building for its centenary, as well as update the collections and set up Internet access for the library’s patrons. Very quickly the town and its people began to feel like home and when I’d been offered the chance to stay I’d said yes.

The library feels like the heart of the community, and Kathleen has some of the attributes of an unofficial mayor. A crime-solving mayor at that … with whimsical furry assistants.

With a well-placed paw on a keyboard or a pointed stare, Kathleen’s two cats, Hercules and Owen, have helped her to solve cases in the past—so she has learned to trust their instincts. But she will need to rely on them more than ever when a twenty-year-old scandal leads to murder…

The 20-year-old scandal: Leo Janes’s wife left him for his brother, Victor. Tragically, she died in a car accident. Now, Victor—diagnosed with cancer—is back, hoping to repair relations with his brother before it’s too late. Unfortunately, it is too late, and Kathleen is there to witness it.

I knocked on the door. “Leo,” I called. “It’s Kathleen Paulson.”

There was no answer.

I pushed the door open and stepped inside. Please don’t let this be bad, I prayed silently. Please let me find Mia’s grandfather listening to John Coltrane with his headphones on.

But it was bad.

Before the advent of the internet, librarians were like human Google know-it-alls. That’s certainly true of Kathleen, the “kid back in elementary school who had liked to read the encyclopedia for fun.”

Her boyfriend, detective Marcus Gordon, is unsurprised that Kathleen is a witness, again, to a murder; he compliments her detective abilities, even though he “only believed in the facts, in things he could see and touch.” Kathleen never takes statements—even from her talented boyfriend—at face value. For example, she thinks a 20-year estrangement might give Victor a motive to kill his brother. Marcus disagrees, saying, “He had nothing to gain.” Kathleen is inclined to kick the tires on that statement.

I looked at the computer screen again. Marcus had said once that I had the mindset of a detective. I wanted to know the what and the why about everything.

No wonder Kathleen Paulson is such a talented sleuth—she had magical accomplices and a librarian’s mad skills—which makes A Tale of Two Kitties a very entertaining read.

This is a delightful tale of a librarian with psychic cats. When Leo, the grandfather of one of her co-workers is murdered Kathleen must figure out who killed him as she sorts through a strange collection of family and friends. I liked the cat communication as well as her loving boyfriend Marcus and all the great food this character enjoyed. Made me hungry! Tale of Two Kitties is a perfect cozy for a cool fall day. It has humor, suspense and a trip to the library!

Kathleen Paulson’s friend, Simon Janes, is in the midst of an old family scandal when both his father and uncle show up in Mayville Heights. Unfortunately, Kathleen finds Simon’s father, Leo, dead and she’s right in the middle of it all. She knows Simon would never hurt his father, but the police don’t agree. Not even her detective boyfriend agrees with her. Kathleen vows to prove Simon’s innocence but it’s not easy.

Kathleen uncovers some deeply hidden Mayville Heights secrets. With the help of her two cats, Hercules and Owen, she tries to figure out what is going on before her friend finds himself spending the rest of his life in jail for a crime he did not commit.

I always enjoy my visits to Mayville Heights, Minnesota. The adorable magical cats, Hercules and Owen, always make me smile. In case you were wondering, their secret powers include disappearing and walking through walls. They don’t talk, but they do play a part in solving the mystery. They are main characters as much as any of the human characters.

This has always been one of my favorite cozy mystery series. Of course it also has two cats, which is a major plus for this reader. The storyline is fast-paced and the characters feel like old friends. There is something comforting about re-visiting characters you’ve grown to love over the years and catch up with their lives.

The mystery had several different suspects. It could have gone in any direction. I was surprised how it all wrapped up. I’m looking forward to another adventure with Kathleen and her kitties. This is the perfect escape for this cozy mystery reader.

The Magical Cats Help to Solve a Murder

Kathleen Paulson, Head Librarian in Mayville Heights, MN and owner of the two cats, Owen and Hercules, is pulled into a mystery when Leo James is murdered and his nephew Simon is suspected.

Leo has a twin brother, Victor James. He’s been away from the town for years after seducing Leo’s wife who later died in a one-car crash. Leo has never forgiven his brother, but now Victor has cancer. He says he wants to return and try to make amends.

A wall in the local post office is taken down revealing a space no one remembered. The space contains undelivered mail and a number of photographs. Kathleen and the library staff are asked to take on the identification of the photos to try to get them back to the owners. This task on top of trying to solve Leo’s murder has her quite busy, not to mention keeping track of her magical cats who can disappear and walk through walls. Kathleen doesn’t want people to think the cats are freaks so she tries to keep their magical talents a secret.

This is a delightful cozy mystery. The intriguing plot involves long lost letters and old crimes. The facts come out throughout the story, but it’s not easy to guess the murderer before the end. Kathleen and her cats are great sleuths. I particularly like the little bit of supernatural attached to the cats. It’s not heavy handed just a little extra sparkle for these fascinating creatures.

If you enjoy small town mysteries, this is a good one. It doesn’t hurt that the cats have prominent role in solving the mystery.

I received this book from Berkley Publishing Group for this review.

The Magical Cats books are easily in my top three favorite cozy mystery series. I enjoy the characters, the antics of the cats, and the interesting problems that pop up in Mayville Heights, MN. Head Librarian Kathleen Paulson came to town to help with renovations to the city library, and 9 books later she is a vital part of the small community. Her cats, Owen and Hercules, are amazing. Not only do they seem to understand what people say to them, but they have strange powers. Owen can become invisible. And Hercules can walk through walls. Kathleen keeps this a secret though, hoping nobody finds out what her cats can do. She doesn't want them exploited or endangered. I love this little splash of supernatural in these books.....it's not overdone...just a bit of sprinkles on top the cupcake.

In this 9th book in the series, a bit of long lost undelivered mail and several photographs are discovered behind some furniture in the local post office. The items are given to the library. Kathleen and the other library employees go through them to identify people in the photos so they can be given to the families that own them. The mail is also delivered into the hands of those it was intended for, albeit decades late. They decide to put the unidentified items on display in the library so people can come look at them and claim any that belong to them. Meanwhile, two brothers -- twins in fact -- are in town for the first time in many years to try and smooth over a fracture in their family. Years ago, Victor Janes stole his brother Leo's wife. The wife later died in a car accident. Nobody in the family has ever forgiven Victor for what he did. His brother dislikes him. His nephew and great-niece have no use for him either. The drama is pulled out into the open when Leo is found dead, bashed in the head with a heavy object. Does it have anything to do with his former wife's undelivered letter to a friend supposedly found with the others in the post office? Is it related to Victor and the family schism? Unfortunately, the police suspect that Leo's son, Simon, may have had something to do with his death. Kathleen knows Simon did not kill his father, and starts investigating to prove it. Will she discover vital clues in time? And is anyone else in danger?

I love the cover art for this newest book!! Hercules calmly licking his paws while Owen plays with the title letters....all near the open sardine can. Perfect! I'm sure hidden behind Owen somewhere is his latest kill -- another torn apart cat nip funky chicken toy, I'm sure. :)

The mystery in this latest book kept my attention. It is perfectly paced and builds suspense nicely. I also enjoyed the character development in this newest book. Some side characters got a bit more story this time around. There were plenty of suspects and surprises. Some things I had figured out early on....but a few things I didn't see coming. Herc and Owen are up to their usual antics. Just an enjoyable new book in this series!

This book also contains a short story "The Cat Burglar,'' previously published in the ebook Two Tall Tails.

Sofie Kelly is a pseudonym used by YA Author Darlene Ryan. She also writes under the name Sofie Ryan (Second Chance Cat series -- another of my favorites!) For more information on the author and her books, check out her website: http://www.sofiekelly.com/

This was such a delightful read. You can't go wrong with a mystery that has great twists and cats. I thought the book had a great flow.Hercules and Owen really steal the book with their magical personalities, that jump off the page. I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good mystery.

This is a pleasant contrast to fast paced murder mysteries - the narrative seems to be very close to the Mitford series by Jan Karon. I love the "Mrrr" sound her cats make, just like mine. It is a cosy mystery to read with tea and cookies before bedtime.