Straight out of today's news - college fixers. The trouble is that this fixer is making sure not be discovered and is leaving threats and a body or two along the way. This story has a lot going on to keep your interest from the fixers to a colorful school play, ex-spouses and let's not forget a rooster that likes to ring doorbells.

The story is fast paced and easy to read with characters you can relate to in both good and bad ways. Although it is the third Gourmet Cat Mystery it could easily be read as a stand alone. Thanks to Lyrical Underground and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

Another delightful visit to Southern California. As our protagonist deals with her young son and his love of musical theater, her dad, ex, business, and so much more, there are some scary moments in her life. A timely issue is involved which has been in the news. I look forward to reading her further adventures.

The Trouble With Talent
Gourmet Cat Mystery, Book #3
Kathy Krevat
5 Stars

Synopsis:

Single mom Colbie Summers has a lot to be grateful for in the run up to Thanksgiving. Relocating back to her California hometown has brought her irascible dad and adolescent son closer. Her gourmet cat food line—vetted by her trusty taste-tester, Trouble—is about to get a big re-order. And she’s made wonderful new friends and colleagues. Too bad one them has just been accused of murder . . .

Sunnyside’s most gifted students have been at the mercy of a shadowy network of college fixers—including an abusive oboe teacher whose recommendation is necessary to get into Julliard and a school secretary who alters grades for cash. When they turn up dead, Colbie has to untangle a cat’s cradle of suspects and motivations—from livid parents and students whose dreams have been crushed to an entire secret Facebook group of spurned lovers.

Suddenly, holiday preparations just got a lot hairier. With the big re-order now on hold and the real killer still at large, Colbie discovers that someone has been grading on a very dangerous curve—and it will take all her newfound sleuthing talent to land safely on her feet. (Goodreads)





Review:

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and I felt like I was right there in Sunnyside, watching all the action take place and listening in on conversations. This description brought everything to life in my mind’s eye.

The characters are well rounded and well developed. Colbie is a smart, determined woman who has a lot on her plate, so when a murder takes place, she knows she has to help solve the mystery, even though she does not have the time. With the help of her friends, she sets out to do just that. I enjoyed reading about the relationships between Colby and her friends and coworkers. You can tell how much they care about each other and the fun they have when they are together. Her romance with Josh is moving along nicely. And of course, all of the animals stole the show.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read. The descriptions by this author drew me into the story and carried me along on a fantastic read. The mystery was well plotted and had enough twists and turns to make it difficult to solve.

I would highly recommend this book, and series, to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. Grab this book and read it, you will not be disappointed.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

I love this series and I loved this installment.
It was a very good mystery and I'm happy I met again characters I love like Colbie, Trouble and Charlie the chicken (I think that Charlie the bell ringing chicken is great).
The plot was full of twists and turns and I couldn't put this book down.
The fleshed out characters, the interesting subplots and the setting are great and they play a huge part in why I love this series.
The mystery was very good, it kept me guessing even if I had some doubt.
The romance was sweet and I like how it was written as a mature relationship.
I look forward to reading the next installment in this series.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

I love this series! Don't worry, though, if you haven't read the earlier ones because Krevat will quickly catch you up on the adventure of Colbie, her dad, her son Elliott, her love interest Joss, and Trouble the cat! This is topical in so many ways. There's murder of course but there's also a college admissions scandal going on in the small town of Sunnyside. Colbie's on the hunt for the real murderer even as she keeps her small business of gourmet cat food going- and expanding. She's a hoot in a positive, never twee way. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good cozy.

The Trouble with Talent by Kathy Krevat is the 3rd book in the Gourmet Cat Mystery series, and a great addition. Colbie, her 12 year old son, and their cat, Trouble, return to California to care for her sick father, and decided to stay. Colbie makes gourmet cat food, and is hoping to get a big re-order. When an abusive oboe teacher is found dead, Colbie is determined to solve the mystery. This book seems out of today headlines, with the fixers and university scandal, very interesting. The book is full of twists and turns, that kept me reading until the end. I am looking forward to the next book in the series. Well written with developed characters, I recommend this book for cozy book/series lovers. 

I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. Thank you.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book.

I must say, I really enjoyed this one! I liked the added Cat Food theme, because it was something that I'd not come across before to this extent. Colbie was a great character and sleuth, with the added bonus of having the cops on her side, and being a confidant of Norma. I didn't pick it fully, but I had a few suspicions. I felt like the idea of the college fixing was really current, especially with events that have occured recently in the news. It wasn't that far a jump to make for the story. I really liked the network in this one; the sleuth wasn't stretched too thin by not having access.

I'll have to go back and read more from this author, this new release was wonderful. Five stars!

Kathy Krevat
Trouble with Talent
I loved this 3rd book so much I ordered the first two book of this series
Great read to keep you captured, enjoyed meeting Colbie family and friends.
Plenty of suspects and twists to find the killer
Thanks to lyrical underground and NetGalley for advance copy for a honest review.
Can’t wait for the next book.

What a fun book! It kept me reading and when I wasn't able to read, I was trying to figure out "whodunit"! A timely topic made the book even more interesting!

When Colbie hears an oboe teacher berate high school students, she immediately jumps into action. However, her defense of the students is not appreciated as this teacher is the one person who can guarantee college acceptance. Unfortunately, for him, he won't have that power for long as he winds up a murder victim. Colbie's good friend Quincy, through a twist of fate, is seen fighting with the teacher and is accused of murder. Colbie has to intervene to clear her friend's name.

I loved this book! the story centered on the competition to get into college and the lengths that parents will go to for their children's college admission! How timely!!

The Trouble with Talent has everything I enjoy in a cozy - a good, solid mystery, quirky and lovable family & friends, a smart and kind main character (loved how she dealt with Joss's interfering ex-wife) and a main character who works with law enforcement. The romance, between Colbie and Joss, was perfect and I loved how the story included each of their children. I also enjoyed the supportive relationship Colbie has with her father and friends. And who could forget the lovable Trouble the cat, who is always one step ahead of Colbie in finding clues!

I'm impatiently waiting for another mystery to "solve" with Colbie and Trouble!

I received an ARC, from NetGalley for a fair and honest review of this book.

The Gourmet Cat Mysteries are a delicious treat for any fan of fascinating feline sleuths. Colbie Summers calls her finicky cat, Trouble, whose digestive issues became the basis for her new business start-up Meowio Batali Gourmet Cat Food. Originally sold a local famer’s market, thanks to Quincy Powell, Colbie now distributes through Twomey’s Health Food, a chain of stores all over San Diego.

In this 3rd Gourmet Cat Mystery, The Trouble with Talent, Colbie’s mentor, Quincy, becomes the chief suspect in the murder of his granddaughter’s oboe teacher, Brendon Tadworth. Considered a legendary teacher, Tadworth also mistreats his students who tolerate his behavior because his recommendation opens hard to get through doors in the music world. Informed that the teacher yells at his granddaughter, Quincy confronts him publicly and fires Tadworth just before he is found murdered in his home.

Colbie feels responsible since she told Quincy about Tadworth’s behavior toward his students, so she decides to investigate. Kathy Krevat fabricates amazing stories, skillfully interlacing diverse threads into a yarn of engaging suspense. In this adventure, Colbie juggles the appearance of Gemma, her boyfriend Joss’s ex; with supporting son Elliott’s being cast in the high school production of the Lion King; helping her company Chef fend off attempts from her ex to pursue custody of her son Zack; and figuring out how the murder of the high school guidance counselor may relate to Tadworth’s murder.

Ms Krevat captivates with well-developed characters, snappy dialogue and realistic situations. And the interplay between Colbie and Trouble is both affectionate and amusing. Truly, the best way to start a relationship with Gourmet Cat Mysteries is to begin with The Trouble with Murder, segue to The Trouble with Truth, then read The Trouble with Talent. The perspective of reading the three in order is worth the effort.

The Trouble with Talent is the third book in Kathy Krevat’s Gourmet Cat Mystery series. The storyline is well plotted, and the likable characters well developed. This steadily paced mystery kept me guessing until the reveal. The author addresses the issue involving wealthy families using their riches to gain access to top colleges for their unworthy children.

Colbie Summers and her twelve-year-old son, Elliott, who is an aspiring actor, and their cat, Trouble, are all settled in with her dad in her hometown of Sunnyside, California. Elliott recently contacted his biological father, Richard Winston III, and asked to meet him. At first, Richard didn’t want to see his son, but now they are trying to build a relationship. Colbie is dating her dad’s neighbor, Joss, a certified organic vegetable farmer who also raises chickens. Joss’s ex-wife, Gemma, recently bought their daughter, Kai, two adorable Nigerian Dwarf goats, and she wants to try rebuilding their marriage. Things are going well for Colbie’s business, Meowio Batali Gourmet Cat Food Company. Colbie picks up her friend, Yollie’s, son from his music lesson, hears the instructor, Benson Tadworth, verbally abusing Steven, and confronts him about his behavior. She tells her friend and investor, Quincy Powell, about Benson’s verbal abuse because his granddaughter is also taking lessons from him. When Colbie and Yollie go to Benson’s house to try to make amends a few days later, they discover a gas leak and a dead music instructor and barely escape an explosion. Clancy becomes a person of interest in Benson’s death because he had a negative reaction when he learned of the verbal abuse. Colbie starts snooping around and asking questions, and even though she shares her findings with Detective Norma Chiron, she still finds herself in over her head.

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

Series: A Gourmet Cat Mystery - Book 3
Author: Kathy Krevat
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Animal Pet
Publisher: Lyrical Underground
Page Count:188

Kathy Krevat’s latest mystery book addition to her “A Gourmet Cat Mystery” series The Trouble with Talent from Lyrical Underground is a fun-filled page-turner filled with real-world headlines and contemporary issues. Ms. Krevat (Aarons) has cooked up a mystery that will keep readers engaged and on the edge of their seats.

Colbie is a typical mom, protective yet not wanting to be intrusive, she wants what’s best for her son. She tries not to interfere any more than she has too and does her best to keep her motherly opinions to herself. But when she sees a friend’s child being verbally abused by a trusted teacher, her outrage can’t be contained.

Colbie is outspoken, sometimes mildly irritating, and completely charming. None of which is uncommon in a mystery book character, but she does keep us entertained and turning the page. The fact that she didn’t realize how bloodthirsty parents and educators could be, only shows how often she looks at the world from a different perspective than most people. This makes her a very engaging character.

Most of the characters in The Trouble with Talent provide an integral perspective on the mindset of parents who will go to almost any length to give their kid an advantage. From one parent who is obsessed with making sure her son goes the perfect school, to one who becomes violent upon learning about the teacher's abuse, to a parent who just wants to get an abusive relationship out of her child’s life, these characters show us a side of being a parent few mystery books allow.

The killer is not who you would expect, and although the clues were throughout the book, some readers may not connect them until the end. The resolution of the investigation is concluded successfully, with each twist and turn explained.

The Trouble with Talent is an engrossing mystery book that is easy to read and filled with fun, exciting action-filled scenes, memorable characters, and a great plot. I highly recommend this book and series to readers of all cozy mysteries.

I felt like 'The Trouble with Talent' had me jump right into current headlines about influence into college admissions. Colbie goes to pick up her friend's son from his oboe teacher's home and as she finds the teacher being abusive she unloads on him and tells others about doing so. That same teacher is killed as Colbie goes back with the friend who is making her apologize due to the negative impact on her son by a bad recommendation from the teacher. The murder unleashes a staccato infusion of events that causes Colbie to investigate. This book is just so full of well-executed storylines and fantastic characters. I can't recommend it highly enough.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

This book “The Trouble with Talent” is the third in a series. I have not read the first two books, but will definitely go back to the beginning and read the entire series.

Colbie has just moved back home to California and life seems to be going well until someone is found dead and one of her new friend is accused of the crime.​

​The Trouble with Talent is a cozy mystery that includes both animals and human and makes for a fun afternoon read. The story has well-written characters, even the animals are pretty comical. A rooster who rings doorbells, what is that? Hysterical!

I enjoyed this book tremendously and actually had no idea of the killer until the very end.​

​This book was provided to me for free in exchange for my honest opinion.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book for anyone who loves a good cozy mystery. 📕👍🏼

I GIVE IT A 5 STAR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

​

I will have to read the rest of the books in the series now because I am hooked. Reading series are my favorite because the reader gets to know more about the characters and their development. Kathy Krevat you are now one of my favorite authors. I love cozy mysteries. Thanks NetGalley as always.

The Trouble with Talent is the third in this series and the first I have read. I thought it was written well and I enjoyed the characters. I will go back and read the rest of this series.

I was excited to read this story, and found myself to be very pleasantly surprised.
The story was fast paced and the characters were believable from the beginning.
Trouble the cat made for a fun dimension to the book.
I look forward to reading more .

THE TROUBLE WITH TALENT, the third book in the Gourmet Cat Mystery series by Kathy Krevat, brings together well-developed characters, both humans and animals alike. The author opens the book with my favorite doorbell ringing rooster, Charlie, along with his new sidekick, an adorable Nigerian Dwarf goat. From there the story takes off, weaving humor, tender moments, murder, and mayhem into an entertaining and thoughtful read. One of the things I greatly enjoy and respect in Ms. Krevat’s works is that she always manages to weave insightful, current day social issues into her tale without detracting from the overall story. Long before the scandals hit recent headlines, Ms. Krevat managed to portend a social issue involving wealthy families using their riches to gain access to top school for unworthy students. THE TROUBLE WITH TALENT weaves a tight tale of murder in a timely and relevant story involving a college fixer.

In addition to admiring the inclusion of social issues in the story, the mystery involves many suspects who might have wanted to murder the abusive oboe instructor. It kept me turning pages long into the night. Clues are sprinkled throughout the story yet I still guessed wrong. There are strong subplots that interplayed with the murder mystery, and I liked that they were resolved, tying all the threads of the story together in a cohesive, satisfying and awesome ending. I also enjoyed the bits and pieces of information the author provides on what it takes to not only play the oboe, but to excel in playing the instrument. Top performers must make their own reeds and barometric pressure can even influence how the instrument sounds! It’s obvious Ms. Krevat did her research. With a great story and characters I can admire and laugh with, I look forward to each new book in this delightful series!

This is series just full of fun and mystery from start to finish. The author progresses the story nicely, from characters to even businesses. Murder, mystery, humor, and a touch of romantic conflict make this story a true gem.

This is a witty, well paced cozy mystery with realistic, humorous dialogue, engaging story lines and characters you would like to have as friends. When Colbie gets a call from her friend Yollie, asking her to pick up her son Steven from his oboe lesson, little does she realize that it will lead her into another murder investigation. Colbie hears Benson Tadworth, the oboe teacher, yelling at Steven and barges in to tell him off. Colbie also tells her cat food business benefactor, Quincy Powell, about this since his granddaughter was also taking oboe lessons from Tadworth, and Quincy then gets into a public fight with the teacher in which he threatens "to end him". Yollie is distraught that Colbie has interfered with Steven's oboe lessons, as he needs a recommendation from his teacher to get into college and begs Colibe to go and apologize to Tadworth. when Yollie and Colbie get to his house they are engulfed in a gas explosion and although they try to save Tadworth, they are unable to do so. When Qunicy is named as the primary suspect for political reasons, Colbie's police detective friend Norma is assigned the case and Colbie vows to help her find the real killer. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I can't wait to read the next book in this great series.