Absolutely loved the first in this new series! Cats are always a plus and I love the small town atmosphere.

A brilliant start to a new series, I couldn't put it down.
Lara comes home to her aunt who's not coping very well after surgery and also has a lot of cats in the house.
Lara reconnects with her old friends who are still living in the small town and who all want her to stay.
I had a guess who the killer was but not sure why they killed him.
I loved the book and cannot wait for the next to come out and would recommend this book to my friends .

Fun mystery with great characters. There's some terrific depth and nuance to the relationship between Lara and her aunt that I enjoyed. Lots of suspects to work through in the mystery. The cats are fun and have their own personalities to bring to the story. I will definitely read more books in this series.

I loved this book. What's not to love, a bunch of kittens, a cozy, and nice characters. Lara comes back to help her Aunt after sixteen years. But is she helping or did she bring bad luck with her. She and her Aunt are tied up in a murder. Lara found the victim at the edge of Aunt Fran's property. He had been harassing her Aunt to sell her land to him. Next, the murder weapon is found and it just gets worse from there.

I liked Lara and all the cats. Blue is a special cat from Lara's childhood. Blue keeps appearing, but Lara wonders if she is imagining Blue. I was so engrossed in the story and just enjoying it that the murderer took me by surprise. I would read another book by this author.

Escape Claws
Cat Lady Mysteries, Book #1
Linda Reilly
5 Stars

Synopsis:

Here, killer, killer, killer . . .

For the first time in sixteen years, Lara Caphart has returned to her hometown of Whisker Jog, New Hampshire. She wants to reconnect with her estranged Aunt Fran, who’s having some difficulty looking after herself—and her eleven cats. Taking care of a clowder of kitties is easy, but keeping Fran from being harassed by local bully Theo Barnes is hard. The wealthy builder has his sights set on Fran’s property, and is determined to make her an offer she doesn’t dare refuse.

Then Lara spots a blue-eyed ragdoll cat that she swears is the reincarnation of her beloved Blue, her childhood pet. Pursuing the feline to the edge of Fran’s yard, she stumbles upon the body of Theo Barnes, clearly a victim of foul play. To get her and Fran off the suspect list, Lara finds herself following the cat’s clues in search of a killer. Is Blue’s ghost really trying to help her solve a murder, or has Lara inhaled too much catnip? (Goodreads)


Review:

The characters are well developed and well rounded. I really liked the relationship between Lara and Aunt Fran. They had not seen each other for a long time, because Lara has not come to visit. Although there is some tension and hurts feelings, you can tell that their love for each other has never waivered. I enjoyed reading about them working through those feelings and becoming a family again. Lara is a likable, warm, hardworking woman and she wants to help her aunt in anyway she can. I thought the secondary characters added a lot to the story and I enjoyed meeting all of the characters. And all of the was an added bonus and variety, with all of their differing personalities. And there was even a bit of paranormal in this book, courtesy of Blue, Kara’s ragdoll cat.

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through most of the book, I felt like I was right there, watching all of the action taking place. She is also very talented in building suspense with the written word. I found myself turning pages as fast as I could to see what was going to happen next.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The mystery was well plotted and difficult to solve. There were enough suspects to consider, clues to sift through and twists and turns that I did not figure it out until it was revealed at the end.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. This is a great first book in the series and I am looking forward to reading the next book.

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

A delightful light cozy mystery. I look forward to reading more.

This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. The story flowed very well and was very enjoyable. This book will keep you reading long into the night and you will not want to put this book down until you finish. This was such a great read and full of surprises. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

This was a great book - full of mystery, cats, an interesting cast of characters, and murder. Lara is a kind and loving protagonist who desperately wants to help her ailing aunt. I wasn't sure what to think of Aunt Fran at first, but once I understood why she was on her guard, she grew on me. The elusive Blue (a cat that only Lara can see) is an interesting mix to the story, however I wish the backstory of Blue and Lara had come a little earlier in the book. I can't wait to read book #2.

I give this book 5 out of 5 Purrrrfect Stars!!! I just adored this book!😄 The author did such a great job fullfilling my “crazy cat lady” needs! Well I love all animals but have 5 cats 1 dog and 2 turtles so reading this book was blissful! Since I have rescued and foster animals this book really pulled at the strings of my heart.
This wasn’t your typical cozy mystery that has the sweet romance subplot while we figure out who killed the victim. This boon more focused on family, finding yourself and the love of the feline friends.
I really enjoyed Lara and Aunt Fran’s characterisation. I loved there genuine good souls and their love for animals. I could relate to Lara in a sense and felt she was a good choice for a main character. I also really enjoyed that there was a bit of supernatural aspects thrown in the story. The cats’ different personalities were great and I know from experience that cats and other animals do have their own personalities. If you are a feline lover or looking for a nice cozy I highly recommend this book and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next Cat Lady Mystery series!

The book for me was very good. The opening is wonky but the main idea is there. I wanted Lara to find her place with her aunt. It was great character development when Lara gets her new set of water colors. The mysterious cat Blue was a great device. I wish more people could see her. Though that led into how the murderer was dealt with. However, I did not suspect who did the murder at all. I hope to pick up the next in the series and find more about Josette, and Mary. I was happy that romance was not driving this mystery like others have done. I will say I am happy with how the story progressed. It seemed we could see what Lara was seeing. I want to see more of Whisker Jog. There has to be more shops, or places to visit. I want to explore it all with Lara. The twist of how to deal with the 11 cat cast of characters was a very nice touch. I still am leery about Kellie the hairdresser. Anyway a great read, and Highly recommended.

What a fabulous start to a new series, if you love cats and cozies this is a book for you!!! The characters were well developed and fun to become acquainted with, not to mention the small town feel the book gives you. The death and mystery unfolded seamlessly and makes it easy for you to devour the book. Lara was a great main character and I appreciated how she changed as a person throughout the read, you get to see her make true realizations about herself and I loved that. The cats were a terrific fit, each with their own personality and I look forward to what the future holds for them. I can't wait for the next book, and you won't want to either!!!

Princess Fuzzypants:
It has been sixteen years since Lara saw her Aunt Fran. The reason behind the absence is never explained but when Lara gets a message from her best childhood friend that her aunt needs her help, Lara returns. Aunt Fran has become the crazy cat lady in town but the chaos Lara finds is more due to Fran’s bad knees than neglect. It doesn’t take Lara long to repair the mess in the house and get things in order. It will take longer for the rifts to heal.
It is a good thing Lara has such fine feline help to smooth over the bumps and to bring the two women closer together. Munster, Ballou and the others have their paws full, especially after Lara discovers the body of the town bully who has been harassing her aunt. They spend some time in the suspect pool but when they are exonerated, Lara is convinced the real perp is getting away with murder.
This is one of those stories where the reader wants to bop the heroine on the head with a paw as she doesn’t see she belongs with her aunt and the cats. Thankfully, there is one cat, Blue, who is always there to help Lara figure things out. Or is Blue? No one else has seen the cat- ever.
At characters are drawn with love. Both humans and felines have layers upon layers, making them the kinds of characters with whom the reader enjoys spending time. The mystery was good as well as the murderer was not obvious. It was just a pleasurable way to spend some hours while it snowed outside.
I give this five purrs and two paws up.

Escape Claws by Linda Reilly is the 1st book in the Cat Lady Mystery series, and a great start. Lara Caphart goes to visit her Aunt Fran in Whisker Jog, New Hampshire who she hasn't seen in over ten years. Fran needs both her knees replaced, has eleven cats, and is being bullied by a man who wants her land. When Lara finds the bully dead, the mystery begins.

Escape Claws is a fun book, and the mystery keeps you guessing until the end. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. If you love cats and cozy mysteries, this book is for you.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Escape Claws by Linda Reilly was a fun read. As a cosy mystery, the plot line gave us a mix of people and the small town atmosphere. The story revolves around an aunt (Aunt Fran) and her niece (Lara). The two had been very close when Lara was young, but they had not had any contact for a number of years. Lara came up when she heard that her aunt was struggling and discovered that her aunt was in need of help. Aunt Fran needed to have operations on her knees and struggled with daily tasks. She also had taken in various stray cats and was struggling with their care. Meanwhile, a bully in town wanted her land. All this lead to a murder and then two with Aunt Fran and Lara in the middle.

Clearly the story was set in a make believe town in New Hampshire, but the town described could be anywhere, with the variety of characters. Lara was clearly torn between staying and helping her aunt or going back to Boston and her painting. She seemingly could not help herself as she asked questions and tried to figure out who committed the murder. I loved the addition of Blue as a character.There were so many clues, but no solid evidence.

Escape Claws was a fun read that kept my attention. As it is listed as the first in a series of cosy mysteries called Cat Lady Mysteries, I look forward to the next one.

Escape Claws by Linda Reilly is the first in a new cozy mystery series and I'm already anticipating the next one in this series.

Lara returns home of Whisker Jog, New Hampshire after having been gone for sixteen years to visit her Aunt Fran who needs help. Although she hasn't kept in touch with Aunt Fran, Lara has kept in touch with a friend who alerted her to the fact that Aunt Fran needs. Lara started to slowly fall in love again with Whisker Jog as she tries to reconnect with her Aunt and make amends for not keeping in touch with her over the years. I really liked Lara and felt that she was sincere in her feelings for her aunt. I also liked that she is an artist which is quite different from many of the other cozy mysteries out currently. I was on pins and needles to see what decision Lara would make about staying or leaving Whisker Jog again.

Ms. Reilly's descriptive writing made me feel very comfortable in Whisker Jog and the many characters that were introduced were extremely likable. The plot moved swiftly and there were plenty of suspects after the town bully, Theo Barnes, was murdered. The twists kept me guessing along with the clues provided by Blue, the rag doll cat/ghost.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Lyrical Underground via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.

This was a fairly strong start to a new series. The mystery was well written and a bit surprising. The only thing I didn't really like was that the whole beginning seemed to have an overall feeling of sadness to it. But it did end up with a happier feeling by the end.

Kick back after the Christmas festivities and treat yourself to one of the best cozies of 2017!
This is a brand new series that I look forward to reading more of!
This book has delightful characters with a whodunit that keeps you guessing.
Great subplots that don't take away from the mystery with a touch of the paranormal.
This is a winning start to the series and I highly recommend it!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

Entertaining and Enjoyable Read
Escape Claws is the first book in Linda Reilly’s Cat Lady Mystery series. This is a light cozy with a well-plotted storyline and a great cast of well-developed characters, both human and feline. The story flows at a steady pace, with several subplots, an intriguing murder mystery, and a hint of the paranormal. There are lots of twists and turns and plenty of viable suspects to keep the reader engaged. I’m looking forward to reading the next installment in this series.

Lara Caphart, a talented watercolor artist, lives in Boston, Massachusetts, selling her art, doing online art projects, and working part-time at the bakery she lives above. She and her parents moved from their hometown of Whisker Jog, New Hampshire sixteen years ago. When Lara learns that her that her estranged aunt, Fran Clarkson, is in need of help, she doesn’t hesitate to rent a car and travel from Boston, to her hometown of Whisker Jog, New Hampshire. She only plans to spend a day or two, but things happen and she ends up staying longer. Aunt Fran has become known as the Crazy Cat Lady and needs help with the eleven cats she’s taking care of that are mostly rescues and needs two knee replacements. Lara also learns that a wealthy builder, Theo Barnes, has his sights set on Aunt Fran’s property and has been harassing her. Early one morning Lara stumbles over Theo’s body and the murder weapon turns out to be one of Fran’s garden tools. Even though the victim wasn’t well liked and there are multiple people who had motive and opportunity, Police Chief Jerry Whitley naturally focuses his investigation on Fran causing Lara to extend her visit until the killer is found. Lara is enjoying spending time with her best childhood friend, Sherry Bowker, who owns and operates Bowker’s Coffee Shop with her mom, Daisy. There is also an ongoing mystery regarding a Ragdoll cat who Lara believes is the reincarnation of her childhood cat, Blue, but Aunt Fran claims she never had a Ragdoll cat.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

This is a nice start to a new cozy series- especially if you are a cat fan! Lara's not the best amateur detective you'll ever meet but she's got a good heart. She's moved to Whisker Jog (seriously?) to take care of her Aunt Fran, who has a myriad of issues. Of course, Lara's the one who discovers the rotten real estate bully dead - when she's chasing after a cat. Reilly has all the elements of the cozy in this one but she adds a bit with a ghost cat. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is a must read for fans of the genre.

3.5 stars
Another book where I was sucked in by the cover. I only have one cat at the moment (pats Claude), but I am a cat lady in waiting, lol. Cats, estranged family, cats, a hint of paranormal, cats, and a hint of romance all added up to a story that was fun to read. The cats were a delight, even Lara's ghost cat Blue. I loved Lara's idea for a cat shelter and can't wait to see how it works in future stories. Lara's investigation was believably amateurish and she used her brain. With her aunt as a possible suspect, Lara 's motivation was completely believable. Less believable was how much time, and how easily, Lara was able to take off from work. It also was annoying how much she fussed about how she'd come up to visit Fran, even when obvious solutions were staring her in the face, no did she make much effort to research options.


One thing I loved was how Lara's aunt Fran had a realistic view of Lara's investigations:


"But you have to remember something-we don't know everything the police know. Whatever information we have is limited. Please, let the do their jobs, okay?"


Of course, Lara keeps investigating but I was delighted to see that acknowledgement as so often in cozies, the police's work is ignored or downplayed. "Escape Claws" made good use of the animals and the mystery was tricky enough to keep me guessing.