Cozy mysteries are my favorite genre and although I've only read this book in this series, this was delightful. This is fifth in the series and there are quite a few characters but I never felt out of place.

The starting of the mystery was a tad slow. Maybe it was the fact that I was getting to know the characters that made it feel like a first in a series but I kept wondering when the big mystery was going to come about. Even so, it was delightful to have so many animals mentioned. A menagerie of all sorts. The animals even helped in find and solve the culprits from the mystery.

The characters were memorable, which is a feat since there were so many. I enjoyed all the comings and goings and felt that I knew the town and the people. This also made for quite the extensive suspect list.

I enjoyed this enough to go back to find the first and possibly reread this at holiday time again!

Although my usual reading diet is Horror and Science Fiction and Speculative Fiction, sometimes I need to clear my reading palate (and take a break from scaring myself) so I read mysteries and Cozy mysteries. I don't mind an occasional pleasant ending [though I couldn't tolerate a steady diet] and NOT A CREATURE WAS PURRING brought exactly what I needed: a fun, intriguing, mystery with well-delineated characters, a community suffused with dogs, cats, and Pet lovers, some really worthwhile folks and some we'd wish to avoid, and a clever canine sleuth and stalwart protective feline. There's even a sturdy twist in the denouement which verges toward a more edgy type of Villain than I expected. It's a warm-hearted feel-good suspenseful mystery with a snowy Christmas setting. Just what I needed at the moment.

This was another entertaining visit to Wagtail. It is Christmas in Wagtail and the town and the Sugar Maple Inn are dressed up for the holidays and there is a Christkindl Market on the Green too. Also in town is Holmes Richardson, along with his fiancee Norma Jean and her family to meet the Richardson's for the first time. The Thackleberry clan, who also own a pet clothing business, plan to spread some holiday cheer while they are in town to the pets and the children too. Things start to go wrong when Trixie finds a body and the suspect list is long, including someone close to Holly. The mystery was interesting and I loved the ending. This was another great addition to the Paws and Claws Mystery series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is book 5 of the Paws and Claws Mystery series and I don't know how I've missed the first 4 stories. I had no problems following the plot and getting all the characters and town locations . Set for the Christmas season in Wagtail, Virginia the series caters to the dog and cat lover. The murder mystery is pretty good and clues eventually lead you to the murderer. (a surprise for me). The bed and breakfast is run by Holly and her family and are a big part of the pet themed Christmas celebration for the town. Nicely done Krista Davis who also writes the Domestic Dive series.

Not a Creature Was Putting is a wonderful holiday cozy and a great addition to this wonderful series. A must read for all cozy fans, Krista Davis will become your new favorite author of the isn't already.

Santa Claws has delivered up a mystery that is certain to delight animal lovers and mystery lovers alike.  The newest mystery in Krista Davis’s bestselling Paws & Claws series is a wonderful holiday themed treat that serves up pets and corpses aplenty.  Wagtail, Virginia is a pet lover’s dream - a town devoted to pampering humans and their beloved pets, where there is no such thing as “no pets allowed”.  In this installment, Christmas is on the horizon and Holmes has brought his fiancee and her family to Wagtail.  Seeing Holmes with his glamorous, self indulgent and snobbish bride-to-be is difficult to handle but things get worse when Trixie finds a corpse - that of Holmes’s fiancee’s grandfather, a successful businessman beloved in Wagtail for his generosity and kindness.  Unfortunately the rest of the family doesn’t follow his example, ranging from the vicious and cheap Vivi to the self-indulgent wastrel Blake.  When Holly’s aunt falls under suspicion, it becomes all the more important for Holly and Trixie to find the real murderer.

Not a Creature was Purring is a great cozy that will definitely appeal to fans of the series and newcomers alike.  Krista Davis is a fantastic storyteller who has a wonderful way of characterizing pets and their beloved owners.  If you enjoy pet cozies, you should not miss this series.

5 / 5

I received a copy of Not a Creature was Purring from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

--Crittermom

Not a Creature Was Purring by Krista Davis was a very fun read! I definitely recommend this for a cold winter day entertainment!

What a fun holiday mystery. This book made me so happy and really helped with my Christmas spirit. This is the first book I've read in this series, but it won't be the last. Krista Davis is quickly becoming one of my must read authors.

Holly Miller owns a special Inn in a special town. Wagtown is the most pet-friendly place you will ever see. The Inn caters to guests who want to travel with their furry friends and even serve cat and dog specialties on their menu. Christmastime in this special town is even more festive with the German-style Christkindl Market. When a dramatic family comes to stay at the Inn for Christmas, all chaos breaks loose. Holly quickly finds herself embroiled in the drama and also trying to solve a murder.

I love the characters in this story. Holly and her lovable companions Trixie and Twinkletoes are too cute and make the story even more enjoyable. I love how they both play their part in help Holly try and solve the mystery. I also enjoyed the other characters such as Holmes, Oma, and even Aunt Birdie. I absolutely loved the descriptions of everything from the Inn, to the holiday celebrations, to the various pets that make this series special. This is a town I would love to visit myself.

As for the story, I really appreciated the connection between the "family of interest" and Holly. It made more sense for her to be snooping since she has a (somewhat tenuous) tie to the suspects. Though she didn't do a ton of snooping around town, she was privy to many intimate conversations and was able to gather most of her information that way. I was thrown off the trail many times and was completely surprised by the culprit. I also liked leanring more about Holly's personal story.

I definitely recommend this cozy mystery, whether it is the holiday time or not. I cannot wait to return and read the rest of these novels.

This is a perfect cozy mystery for the Holiday Season. This is the 5th book in the series and Holly and her Pets are solving murders in Wagtail during the Christmas Holiday. A rather unlikable family have gathered at the Inn to celebrate the Holidays. When the head of the family is found dead all the members of the family are suspect as well as Holly's Aunt Birdie. The author does a very good job with the small town setting and creates a cozy Christmas Setting. The mystery was good with enough suspects and red herrings to make it interesting. Even though Holly's aunt is a suspect I liked that she still worked with the local police. The pets and the supporting characters are a lot of fun too. This series does not have to be read in order. Enjoy this fun Christmas Cozy Mystery

I am a huge fan of Cozy Mysteries, I absolutely love to read them! I will admit that I have not read any of the other Paws and Claws Mystery books but I definitely will now! I wanted to read a Christmas book so bad this year, probably because I have not been in the holiday spirit (I'm pretty much a Grinch!). So when I decided to request this book it was with the sole purpose of just reading a book with Christmas elements. It was an added bonus that it was a cozy mystery and with cats and dogs to boot!

I really like that even though I have not read the other 4 mysteries I did not feel lost or confused on who the other characters were. I did not feel like I was reading the fifth book is a series (is that a bad thing?) but it also was not bogged down by character explanation. I also liked and also disliked the fact that the murder happened toward the middle of the book and sort of took a backseat to the story of the characters. I liked it because it gave me a chance to actually learn the victim and what kind of person he was, it made me sympathize and want to learn who the killer was. I disliked it because this is supposed to be a mystery and well it was missing some of those mystery elements that I felt it needed.

Holly, Trixie, and Twinkletoes are loveable characters that made me wish my animals were as well behaved as them. Holly was not overbearing (just a little too nice for me, but the heroines are always too nice for me) and the side characters did not make me want to strangle them. They had the right amount of nosiness and didn't meddle as much as other side characters usually do, which can annoy me.

The story itself was great and easy to read, definitely would recommend for an in-between epic or dramatic reads. While the story was a bit predictable I will say that the murderer actually didn't turn out to be who I thought, which I loved.

Super cute cozy mystery. This is the 5th in the Paws and Claws Mystery series. I've read most of them and enjoyed all of them. I really enjoy this author's writing style, it keeps me guessing the whole time. Definitely recommended!

Not a Creature was Purring by Krista Davis is the fifth book in the A Paws and Claws Mystery series. Holly Miller is looking forward to Christmas in Wagtail, Virginia with her Oma and large circle of friends. Then Holly discovers that Holmes Richardson has brought his fiancé, Norma Jeanne Blume along with her extended family home for the holiday. Holly was hoping Holmes would realize Norma Jeanne was not the right woman for him and see that the perfect partner for him is right under his nose. Dale Thackleberry, Norma Jeanne’s grandfather and CEO of a pet apparel company, is in the Christmas spirit and distributes gifts to local children (despite his families grumpy and haughty demeaner). Rupert Grimpley, though, disturbs the entire town with his giant blow up Grinch (with lights and music). Birdie Dupuy, Holly’s aunt, is particularly disgruntled over this new edition. Holly is out walking Trixie when she takes off towards Rupert’s Grinch. Inside, Holly finds the body of Dale Thackleberry. Holly is asked to put her sleuthing skills to work and track down the killer. Can Holly uncover the culprit before Christmas? Is there a chance for Holly and Holmes? There is if Holmes’ grandmother, Rose and Holly’s grandmother, Oma have anything to say about it.

Not a Creature was Purring was just delightful. It has lovely, well-developed characters and a gorgeous setting. Who would not want to live in Wagtail? A place that welcomes people and fur babies. Ms. Davis brings her characters and town to life with her descriptions. I found the story to be well written and have a nice, steady pace. My attention was grabbed right away, and it was held until the very last page (something I rarely say about a book). It has two mysteries, Christmas spirit, secret Santa elves, a Christkindl Market, adorable dogs and cats, a couple of quirky characters, plenty of drama, a dash of humor and a touch of romance. I found the murder mystery to be complex with a unique murder weapon. There is misdirection, a couple of twists and several possible suspects (including Aunt Birdie). I believe many readers will be surprised by the killer’s identity. I am giving Not a Creature was Purring 5 out of 5 stars (I loved it). While Not a Creature was Purring is the fifth book in the series, it can be read alone. There are human and pet recipes at the end of the book. Personally, I find A Paws and Claws Mystery series delightful and have yet to miss each new installment. Not a Creature was Purring is an entertaining cozy mystery that will put you in the Christmas spirit.

Christmas is coming to Wagtail, Virginia and Holly’s grandmother wants to set up a traditional German Christmas market. As owner of the Sugar Maple Inn, Molly loves the idea, knowing it will bring more tourists to town. She’s not so happy that one of those tourists is her former boyfriend and his fiancée, but before she can get to worked up over that, a pet clothing designer is found dead in Wagtail. Holly and her friends, both human and animal, will have to track down the dastardly villain before he can strike again. Am absorbing mystery sure to entertain pet lovers. Includes recipes for humans and animals

Not a Creature was Purring: A Paws & Claws Mystery
By Krista Davis
Berkley
November 2017

Review by Cynthia Chow

Ever since Wagtail, Virginia rebranded itself as a destination spot for vacationers and their pets, the town has prospered through its pet-friendly businesses. This holiday season they are spreading their bounty through a sorta-secret Elf Squad who deliver gifts, services, and any suggested need made by thoughtful neighbors. Holly Miller, co-owner of the Sugar Maple Inn, is one of those designated elves, but it appears that a literal Grinch has emerged on the horizon. Or more specifically, over the house of Rupert Grimpley, where a 45-foot-tall inflatable Grinch looms over the neighborhood while questionable holiday music blares throughout the night.

A more figurative Grinch arrives in the form of Norma Jeanne Blume, who along with the rest of her Thackleberry family have descended on Wagtail to meet her impending in-laws. The demanding, self-involved Norma Jeanne would be hard to take even if her fiancée wasn’t Holly’s childhood sweetheart, Holmes Richardson. The Thackleberry patriarch is far more appealing and generous, but the CEO of a pet attire company has his own troubles what with rumors of his product causing allergic reactions, ungrateful children, and a villainous, shop-lifting third wife. His problems are ended when Dale is found stabbed to death under the deflated Grinch, with suspicion quickly pointing towards Holly’s Aunt Birdie Dupuy. Her antipathy towards Rupert Grimpley’s green monster was well-known, and secrets over Aunt Birdie’s relationship with Dale will not be held long. It was Holly’s rescue Jack Russell terrier Trixie who used her nose for sniffing out corpses to discover Dale, but it will be the imperious calico Twinkletoes who leads them to clues. With Dale’s mother Doris forbidding her family to leave – or inherit any money – until the murderer is revealed, a countdown is started on solving the crime if anyone hopes to have a happy holiday.

This is a delightful Christmas novel that explores family relationships while truly delving into the Thackleberry interactions. Of course Dale’s wife Vivienne, Norma Jeanne, and her Instagram “trendsetter” cousin Blake are the absolute Worst, but as the story plays out we are shown why. No character has just one side, and even the most irritating and unlikable become sympathetic. That doesn’t mean that readers won’t be rooting for Holly to find her own happy ending, or for Holmes to open his eyes and get a backbone. This is a novel of families, whether by blood or by love, and the furry companions who join them. This is mystery that will leave readers with warm hearts, and an appreciation of the stellar animals who choose to be a part of our family.

NOT A CREATURE WAS PURRING, book 5 in the Paws and Claws Mystery series by Krista Davis, has to be my favorite book so far! Set in adorable Wagtail, Virginia during the Christmas holiday, the setting sets the scene for getting the reader in the mood for holiday cheer. Even though I read an advance copy in autumn, I was ready to trim my tree and deck my halls. Holly Miller is an engaging protagonist. I love how she jumps in to tend to both human and pet guests’ needs at the family Sugar Maple Inn, even when there’s good reason to not like some of the human guests. Holly’s darling sidekicks, Trixie and Twinkletoes, get themselves right in the action and prove themselves to be worthy crime stoppers. Holly and her friends also show great generosity towards those in their community who are struggling, and the author provides plenty of heartwarming moments to add to this holiday cheer book.

The subplots are woven effortlessly throughout the main murder mystery plot with plenty of suspects to keep you guessing. Early on in the book I thought I knew who the victim would be and who the suspects could be… boy was I wrong! The author provides lots of twists and turns, keeping the reader engaged and turning pages. With an exciting, suspense conclusion I can barely wait for the next in this darling series!

Holly’s grandmother is German and there’s plenty of mouthwatering delectable dishes mentioned. The author has included several recipes at the back of the book, both for human and furry friends’ consumption. I was drawn to her recipe for Krista’s Modern Christmas Stollen for several reasons. First, I’ve heard of the traditional German bread numerous times but while I’ve been intrigued, I have never tried it. One of the things that stopped me is the use of Christmas candied fruit, which I have never developed a taste for. Ms. Davis, fortunately, substitutes dried cherries and apricots which I find much more palatable and definitely adds to the appeal of this yummy yeast bread. I found the directions easy to follow and the result Stollen was delicious!