In Death by a Whisker, by T. C. LoTempio, Sydney McCall, Publicity Director of Friendly Paws Animal Shelter, in quiet and peaceful Deer Park, must solve a crime again, this time to prove the innocence of a friend and collaborator of the shelter.
This is the first book I have read by this author and the second in the A Cat Rescue Mystery series, a series that promises many hours of entertainment, with the adventures of Syd and the antics of her cat Toby.
Highly recommended for readers who love animals, especially cats, and also enjoy a well-written mystery.
I thank the author, publishers, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book, and declare that the opinion I have expressed above is based solely on what I think of this book.

When Kat and Syd plan a fundraiser for the shelter the last thing they expect is to have their guest of honour get in a serious car accident and not be able to attend, but have no fear, Tara comes to the rescue and books Ulla Townsend the shopping queen to substitute. The onlyl problem is that Ulla has as many enemies as fans. Having grown up in Deer Park, North Carolina, there are many who do not want her to come back. When she ends up dead at the book signing, all signs point to anaphylaxis which also could mean murder. When Maggie, an employee at the shelter looks like she could be a suspect, Syd and her roommate Leila, who is also a reporter with contacts, begin an investigation of their own. Will they find the murderer before Maggie ends up in jail?

This is the second book in this series, but the first that I have read. I am definitely going back to read the first one. I enjoyed this book very much and want to find out the back story to Sydney returning home and working with her sister at the Pet Rescue and Shelter. I really enjoyed the characters of Syd and Leila. They work well as a team, are both very smart, tenacious and not about to back down from a bully (i.e. the new police detective in town). The secondary characters were also very interesting. Learning about their backgrounds, interactions, and back stabbing kept the story even more interesting. I enjoyed meeting others that live in town and are recurring characters in the story. Although not too quirky, it is a nice mix of ages and personalities. Toby, the cat was a wonderful addition to the story. He is adorable and very smart, even to the point that he may have pointed Syd in a specific direction. There are a couple of romance storylines as well, one with Sydney and Will, a police detective, who of course wants her to stay out of the investigation, but knows that she won't.  The mystery was a little slow to start at first, but once Ulla was gone, the pace picked up nicely. There were several suspects and some interesting twists along the way. I did figure out who the murderer was part way through the book with a well placed clue, but I still enjoyed the motive, how Syd was going to figure it out and the final showdown. All in all, a nice, enjoyable cozy mystery that I recommend to cozy mystery lovers, especially if you love animals. The publisher generously provided me a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.

Sydney McCall has moved back to Deer Park, North Carolina. Her job at the ad agency in New York was rewarding, but so is being home and helping her sister Katherine at the Friendly Paws Animal Shelter. And when she got to put her marketing skills together with her passion for finding furever homes for cats, life for Syd is good. 

New York Times bestselling author Dudley Simmons, whose latest book is a memoir about his relationship with his rescue cat, is coming to town for a book signing, where a percentage of his sales go to help out the shelter. But when a car accident waylays him a week before the event, it's bookstore manager Tara who comes through with a replacement, Ulla Townsend, beloved shopping channel hostess and bestselling author. 

When news of Ulla's event gets out, the line for the book signing stretches out for blocks. She decides to tape it to show on her shopping show, Shopping Your Way, for her upcoming fifteenth anniversary. Ulla and her entourage take over the bookstore, but Syd and Kat are able to find a place for themselves and the cats they are trying to find homes for and set up the kitties for maximum cuteness. 

But when the guest of honor appears to stop breathing late in the book signing, Syd wonders if it could be foul play. Ulla certainly seemed to have made some enemies along the way, like the younger show host whose name is throughout Ulla's memoir, and not in a favorable way. There's the manager who is too involved with his clients' affairs. And his wife, who is all too aware of his affairs. And even though Ulla no longer lived in Deer Park, there were still those in town who remembered her from high school, for all the wrong reasons.

While the event was successful for the felines, will Syd's curiosity do to her what it can do to a cat? 

T.C. LoTempio's Death By a Whisker, the second in her Cat Rescue Mystery series, is a charming cozy with cats, books, and pastries galore. Set in a warm community with lots of colorful characters, this mystery is also filled with juicy show business gossip and people behaving badly. It's a great ride, perfect for reading to your own rescue cats on a sleepy afternoon. 



Galleys for Death By a Whisker were provided by Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley, with many thanks.

“Death by a Whisker” earns 4.5/5 Clever Cats…Murderously Fun!
I am a fan of T.C. LoTiempo’s Nick and Nora Mysteries, so I was eager to check out her newest Cat Rescue Mystery series. Even though I am starting with the second book in the series, enough background and character connections were revisited to make it easy to join in with Sydney McCall and her rescue cat Toby (a delightful barrel of fun!). Set in North Carolina, the Friendly Paws Animal Shelter is having a big fundraiser and adoption event, and Sydney, publicity, and her sister Kat, director, are excited to have landed hometown star Ulla Townsend, shopping channel diva, for a guest appearance. However, she's not what they thought she'd be…public disagreements and less-than-positive memories of her by several residents. But dead? They never expected that. And Maggie, the shelter administrator? She's on the hook for the murder. Entertaining fun! The story seemed to have a slower start than I prefer, but T.C.’s descriptive style and delightful dialogue kept me engage to a very rewarding and exciting finale. I enjoyed the dynamic between the sisters with each taking the lead in their amateur investigation trying to weed through a plethora of suspects whose motives and suspicious behaviors make this a very entertaining story. I highly recommend this series, and starting here is great!

Death By A Whisker is the second installment of the Cat Rescue Mysteries series. And it is a great addition to the series. It is the continuing story of Sydney McCall and her sister Kat, who run the local animal rescue. Plus Syd's cat, Toby is there to help. When a murder happens in their small community, Syd and Toby are there to help! The storyline is great, and fun, too. Plus, the characters are very realistic. This tale is too good to miss. I read it in one sitting, but I just could not put it down!

T.C .Lotempio presents Death by a Whisker in which an author promoting adoption of cats from an animal shelter
dies from allergic shock from what was in her lipstick. Sydney butts into her boyfriend, the homicide detective's murder investigation. Was it an old enemy from high school? A missing witness? The staff of the dead woman?
Read and find out if you solved the cozy. .

Cozy's with an animal rescue theme are becoming popular and this one is written pretty well. This is book one in the Cat Rescue series that has two sisters working for the local animal shelter raising money. When a celebrity visitor is killed during their fund raiser the head of the shelter is prime suspect when police discover their high school connection. Lots of adorable animals and the required romantic love interest.

Death by a Whisker by T. C. LoTiempo is the second book in the Cat Rescue Mystery series. I had read the first book, but it is not necessary to enjoy this one. Sydney and her sister Kat run the y. animal shelter. They take part in a combined event with a shopping channel star, Ulla, to raise funds for the shelter and showcase some cats for adoption. When Ulla dies suspiciously, shelter volunteer Maggie is the top suspect, and Sydney sets out to solve the mystery. I enjoy the characters and setting for this series. In this particular book, they mystery was not as strong. I knew the who and how quickly, but the why was not revealed until later in the book. I adore this series but am hoping for a more solid mystery next time.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Syd and her sister Kat are gearing up for another fundraiser for their Friendly Paws Animal Shelter. This time Ulla Townsend, shopping channel queen and former resident of Deer Park will be the special guest with a book signing. There will also be cats playing nearby that are all up for adoption.

Not everyone is excited about the guest of honor so when she is found dead in the bathroom in the middle of the event there are quite a few suspects including Maggie Shayne from the shelter. Seems the author/queen of shopping left behind some upset people behind when she left Deer Park and the people she has been working with lately aren’t her biggest fans either. With a bit of help from her lovable tabby Toby, and her friend Leila, Syd purr-sues the truth to get Maggie off the hook and the real killer pawing around in prison.

This was a very entertaining read. Cat lovers, rejoice. The felines in this story are super special and I love the pop-up events Syd and Kat host to get these wonderful animals into their fur-ever homes. I am so glad Syd has stayed in Deer Park to work at the shelter.

Ms. LoTempio creates fantastic characters, both 2-legged and 4-legged. They are immediately engaging and readers quickly become invested in their well being. She also gives us those characters that rub us the wrong way. Ulla is quite a diva, and the people she surrounds herself with have secrets, affairs that are not so secret and other reasons to get rid of the woman. They all make great suspects in her murder.

The story starts out slow to refresh the reader’s memory and introduces the new characters but after the body is found the pace really picks up and the pages quickly turning. I was patting myself on the back for figuring everything out only to have a twist and turn send my theory out with the kitty litter. But that is the joy of a cozy mystery, and the reason I love them.

Toby has found a place deep in my heart. His antics with Melvin the Marvelous Mouse made me laugh out loud, especially when taking the empty threats of his new person, Syd. She loves that cat and spoils him rotten, just as she should. 🙂

Syd McCall is very passionate about animals. With her work at the shelter she keeps herself busy but not busy enough to keep herself out of trouble. It’s a big day in her small town when none other than Ulla Townsend is coming to town to promote her book and give a part of the proceeds to the shelter. I wouldn’t say everyone was thrilled to find out that Ulla was coming back to town. She did become this famous television personality but can it erase all the horrible things she did to some of her classmates in school? I can’t believe how vicious she was. Ulla is what I call a first class bully.

Syd is really a smart person who has a bit of a problem. She doesn’t seem able to keep her nose out of trouble. The author sets readers up for the crime in a setting that is sure to cause a stir among the community. Ulla is all set to sign her new book as a big crowd starts to grow. I was not surprised that Ulla was going to be the victim and I figured out how she was killed. What I couldn’t figure out was who did The dastardly deed. With a room full of suspects and a list a mile long of people she had tortured in the past, I found it hard to narrow it down to just one suspect. I’m not saying she deserved to die, but let’s just say sometimes your past can come back and cause you harm. I wanted to feel sorry for Ulla, but she was just a conceited and mean person.

I thought the story was well written and I loved that the author showcased pet adoptions. The author really made me want to adopt a cat after reading about all the love able ones up for adoption. I as kinda upset that Syd kept going behind her boyfriends back to investigate the crime. After all, Will is a detective and I’m pretty sure he is good at his job. What makes the story so appealing is their relationship. He seems sensible, smart and patient. Syd is none of those things which makes them the perfect couple. It’s a great read and one that I enjoyed with all the shenanigans Syd got involved in. Overall a good book and one I would recommend to all those who like a fast pace mystery.

I received a copy of this book from The Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour. The review is my own opinion.

DEATH BY A WHISKER by T.C. LoTempio
The Second Cat Rescue Mystery

The Friendly Paws Animal Shelter is gearing up for a big media event, when the author planning to attend is hurt in an accident. A replacement is quickly found, another Deer Park native and current shopping host megastar and new author, Ulla Townsend. While Sydney McCall and her sister Kat are pleased to have a replacement, especially one who will also donate a portion of the book sales to the shelter, Maggie is aghast and vows to be nowhere near the event. Ulla and her entourage ooze scandal, vindictiveness, and a proclivity for backstabbing so when Ulla dies at the event there are plenty of suspects...including Maggie. Syd is bound and determined to prove Maggie's innocence and help her detective boyfriend solve the case. But is she risking her future by looking into Ulla's past?

One of my favorite aspects of this book is that the setting centers around an animal shelter. I appreciate the dedication and hard work necessary to provide a haven and a chance at a new life for animals in need and am glad that this series shines a light on it, even though it doesn't really touch on the sadness and harsh realities also found there. The cats here are real characters with personalities and ties to the action and plot. They're also plain lovable. I want to hang out with Toby and give him another Melvin the Magnificent Mouse. I am also sorely tempted to adopt Annie Reilly myself, even if she is fictional!

DEATH BY A WHISKER is a cautionary tale dealing with bullying and how the past impacts both the present and future. Can we fully escape our past? How do we move on...or do we? Crisp writing and a fast paced storyline kept me quickly turning the pages easily following the multiple suspects and many motives. This second Cat Rescue Mystery was a fun read and I look forward to hearing more from Syd and the residents of Deer Park, North Carolina. Meanwhile my cats want to know where they can get their own Melvin toys!

Wonderful addition to this cute cozy mystery series that circles around an animal shelter. We follow the adventures of Sydney with her car Toby as she gets wrapped up in another murder case due to insatiable curiosity. Full of realistic characters the story has lots of twists and turns until I get only thought I knew who the killer was. Nice intrigue at the end and Toby may be my new favorite cat. This is a must read for Cat lovers and cozy mystery fans. I enjoyed it quite a bit so I give it 4/5 stars.

This was another fun visit to Deer Park and the Friendly Paws Shelter. I enjoyed this one as much and maybe a little bit more than the first one--it was a twisting and intriguing mystery, full of possible suspects. The characters were already well-developed so that always makes it easy to go right and remember who was who.

The shelter was holding another cat adoption in conjunction with a book signing at Tara's bookshop but at the last minute the author couldn't come. Instead, they managed to get Ulla Townsend, a famous shopping channel diva and former resident of Deer Park. The book sales would benefit the shelter since part of them would be donated. Ulla was not a very nice person so it's no surprise when she ended up dead but due to previous bad blood and a video that surfaced, Syd was worried their assistant at the shelter, Maggie, would go down for the crime. Worst of all, Maggie was missing!

Will's new detective partner was just as annoying as the previous one but I was glad something good came out it at the end when everything was wrapped up and the perp was hauled off to jail. I had guessed something was off with one of the characters, then later put it together but I think that was due to the author's series of clues she left the reader. It was really exciting at the end how it went down and of course Syd helped Will solve another murder with a key piece of evidence.

Leila still cracks me up! Who wouldn't love to have a friend like her? She's smart, funny and very faithful to her friends. Syd's sister Kat wasn't featured quite as much, but we did see quite a lot of her in the first book so that was ok. I loved how all the kitties that were at the book signing eventually ended up with furever homes. Syd's kitty Toby once again clued Syd in a few times, almost like they have little conversations with each other. He is so darn cute with his meowy comments, even on her outfits!

I'm really enjoying this series and I can't wait for the next book to come out!

Sydney has been helping her sister run the Friendly Paws Animal Shelter since returning to North Carolina with her cat, Toby. The shelter is in need of money to keep running and provide much needed upgrades. A fundraiser has been planned with a famous author at the local bookshop. Unfortunately, the author experiences a nasty accident and is unable to attend. They decide to turn to Ulla Townsend, a Shopping channel queen. While at the fundraiser, Ulla falls victim to a fatal accident. Can Sydney solve the crime??

This is the second installment in the Cat Rescue Mystery Series. It was a quick read and I love Toby the cat!!

Since returning to Deer Park, NC, Sydney has been helping her sister run the Friendly Paws Animal Shelter. They are in need of money to keep the shelter running and provide much needed upgrades. A fundraiser has been planned with a famous author at the local bookshop. Unfortunately, the author experiences a nasty accident and is unable to attend. They decide to turn to Ulla Townsend, a local girl who made it big. While at the fundraiser, Ulla falls victim to a fatal accident. Can Sydney solve the crime without upsetting someone who is close to her?

This is a fast-paced cozy mystery that can be read quickly. I thought it was good but not one of my favorites as it did not hold my interest exclusively. I cannot pin point why as the writing and plot were good. Maybe my interest was not as keen since it was not a culinary cozy, which are my favorite.

I have not read the first book in the series but I did not feel as if I missed anything nor did I feel lost as I was reading. The author did a great job giving brief backgrounds of the characters. It does appear there could be a love triangle brewing for the main character, Sydney. I'm not sure Will is her "ride or die". It would be interesting to follow this particular story line.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for a copy to read in exchange for an honest review in my own words.

Princess Fuzzypants here:
In the spirit of honest reviewing, I confess. I am the Princess Fuzzypants. Yes, I am the one who is the model for the character in the book. Toni also used both of my parents’ names in the book. Of course, I am going to like this book but I can be fair.
I loved it. I love Toby and the way he communicates with Syd. I like the humans- Syd, Kat, Maggie, Leila and Will. Of course I just love the cats especially Annie Reilly. The idea of a series set in an animal rescue allows all sorts of great human/cat interactions. I am a big fan of books that have feline heroes.
But there is another reason I can recommend this book. It happens to be a good mystery with compelling characters. Mean girl grows up and becomes a star on a Shopping network. When the celebrity slated to attend a fundraiser for the rescue bows out, mean girl (Ulla) returns home, supposedly to make amends to some of the people she hurt in her teens. There is quite a list of them and some of her “pranks” were egregious. There is an ulterior motive for her “reformation” but whether it is genuine or not, Ulla does not get the chance to ask for forgiveness to those she has injured. Someone decides to take their own revenge.
Lots of suspects have motive but when Syd’s friend Maggie seems to be the most likely suspect, Syd gets involved. Her friends call her Nancy Drew for good reason. She does not fling herself into dangerous places but does a good job of finding herself in them. But she has help in solving the mystery. Not boyfriend Will who is a local detective. She has a feline sleuth in Toby. He is good.
If you are looking for a fun read filled with lots of great kitties, check it out.
I loved it and give it five purrs and two paws up. But then I am biased.

This delightful cozy is second in A Cat Rescue Mystery series, and it is even better than the first! Syd, Kat, and the ladies of the Friendly Paws Animal Shelter are putting together a pop-up cat cafe at Crowden’s Bookstore. To sweeten the event, a book signing is planned; the cat café and book signing will complement each other. I love the characters, including Syd’s cat, Toby (fka The Wanderer until he adopted Syd). The mystery is intriguing, humorous, and fast-paced.

Ulla Townsend came from the less-affluent part of town, but has been a host on the Shopping Your Way show for the past fifteen years. Her autobiography has people lined up several hours before the event. The shopping network decided to film Ulla’s event, so the bookstore is crowded even before the doors open.

Syd and her sister Kat, the manager of the shelter, have brought the cats they hope to adopt out in the event. Maggie, Kat’s right hand, usually willing to do whatever she can, refuses to help. Maggie knew Ulla in high school, and whatever happened between them, Maggie won’t reveal. Ulla is the queen of snark and is generally rude and nasty to everyone, and her book is full of the dirt she could reveal about co-workers and people she had known back in her high school days.

One positive thing about Ulla is that she adores cats, and there is one that she is particularly attracted to. She is even filmed playing with her favorite. After a break from signing books, Ulla seems not quite well, and collapses. As EMT’s take her away, fans are snapping photos and uploading videos faster than you can say “adopt a cat”. At the end of the day, Ulla is dead, all cats have adoption applications in for except one, and Maggie has been seen in a video outside the bookstore – just before she left town and stopped answering her cell phone. Because of her strong dislike for Ulla, she is now a person of interest.

Syd and Kat are my favorite ladies in this mystery. I envy their work at the shelter! That would be a dream job in many ways, especially as their fur babies are held until adopted. It may be frustrating, but ultimately rewarding, work! Especially among the people in Deer Park, most of whom are supportive of the cause. Ulla is so well defined that I can almost hear her, syrupy sweet in front of readers, and a bully around the rest. All the primary characters are well defined, as well as those who are suspects.

First, I love this series! And second, where can I find some Toby’s favorite Melvin the Marvelous Mouse toys? There is no shortage of suspects in this novel, including those girls and guys who she tormented in school. Literally. The plot twists are well-placed and perfect, changing the mystery over and over. There were a couple people who I liked for the culprits, who should have spent a bit of time behind bars for general principle. I learned some new things, including … I can’t say what! While I had an idea about a part of the crime, I just couldn’t come up with the right person. Which is great, as the real killer had barely registered on my radar and been quickly eliminated. This is an A+ story that I highly recommend! Cat lovers, cozy mystery lovers, and even those who love bookstores will enjoy this. It can be read as a standalone or as part of the series, but either way, don’t miss it!

From a grateful heart: I received a copy of this from the publisher and NetGalley, and here is my honest review.

Death By A Whisker
Cat Rescue Mystery, Book #2
T. C. LoTempio
5 Stars


Synopsis:

Getting used to life back home in Deer Park, North Carolina, Sydney McCall and her right-hand tabby, Toby, are helping her sister Kat run the local animal shelter. Syd and Kat are all excited about the prospect of the shelter's newest fundraiser: shopping channel queen Ulla Townsend. Shelter admin Maggie Shayne vehemently refuses to have anything to do with the woman, but the fundraiser ensues as planned. That is, until Ulla turns up dead in the middle of the event.

The cause of death is determined to be an allergic reaction, but Syd and Toby are sniffing out something fishy. When Syd met Ulla, it was clear she was distasteful and rude. And right before the event, Syd spotted some behind-the-scenes drama between Ulla and her manager. As they begin to investigate, they realize there is no shortage of suspects, and Maggie is at the top of the list.

Now Syd and Toby must claw their way to the truth before everything goes paws up at their animal shelter in Death by a Whisker by national bestselling author T. C. LoTempio. (Goodreads)


Review:

The characters are well developed and well rounded. Sydney is a likable, hard working woman. She gets along well with her sister, Kat, and all of the other workers at the animal shelter. Her roommate Leila is an investigative reporter and they make a good team when it comes to sleuthing. And that is exactly what they will have to do when another dead body turns up. Toby, her rescue cat, is also very helpful when it comes to solving crimes. All of the characters and secondary characters were engaging and I was happy to be able to visit with them again.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and I felt like I was right there, involved in the story personally. The community that she has created, Deer Park, North Carolina, is a place I would definitely like to visit.

The mystery was well plotted and moved along at a nice pace. There were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through, and enough twists and turns that it was not an easy mystery to solve.

I would recommend this well crafted cozy mystery to anyone who likes animals with their mysteries. The characters are great, the setting is great, the mystery is great and the book is great. I am already looking forward to the next book in the series.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in the hopes of receiving a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and review this great book.

Although the last fundraiser Sydney and her sister Kat held was tarnished by death, the idea of a Cat Cafe seems to be popular and their main concerns are for the well being of the kitties. When their main guest, a hometown boy who became famous, is unable to attend, a last minute substitution is arranged. Also from Deer Park, North Carolina, this celebrity has a different reputation among those who knew her when. Ulla Townsend was from the wrong side of the tracks, with a chip on her shoulder. Even when people love to claim a connection before someone is famous, it doesn't look like this will be the happiest homecoming. Ulla has secrets, many of which seem to be revealed in a tell-all new release book which she will be signing.

I liked getting to know more about the people in this series. Although Sydney reconnected with her old boyfriend, she doesn't get to spend much time with him. The shelter volunteers are wonderful, each in her own way. Then there is the television shopping channel connection, and the secrets, lies, competition and scandal attached to that world. Syd tries her best not to "investigate" and ruin Will's chances at a top spot on the force, but maybe her information could help him. I appreciated her turmoil over choosing her actions. The suspects and motives were varied and believable.
The cats add details to the mystery and helped us better relate to the characters.

I really enjoyed this book, but I did feel that it had some minor pacing issues. The mystery was well-written, and I was surprised by the ending.