The Time for Murder is Meow by T. C. LoTempio is the 1st book in the Purr N' Bark Pet Shop Mystery series, and it's off to a good start. Crishell “Shell” McMillan is happy her television series got canceled, so she can move on to what she liks to do. After inheriting her aunts pet shop, the Purr N' Bark, she is determined to reopen and run the store, and quit acting. Soon Shell discovers that a lady who is very disliked in town, enemies of her aunt, is found murdered and Shell becomes a suspect. I really enjoyed this book and look for the next book in the series. Shell is very likable, and is a strong women, who I look forward to getting to know better. I enjoy reading about the two cats, Kahlua and Purrday. I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good cozy mystery.

I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Midnight publishing. Thank you.

This was a fun read with so many likable characters. I am always up for a mystery that also involves cats as the main center of the story, I can't wait to read more and share this book with my friends and followers

Series: A Purr N Bark Pet Shop Mystery - Book 1
Author: T. C. LoTempio
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Pet Shop
Publisher: Midnight Ink
Page Count: 312

Publishing Date: August 8, 2019

A new cozy series from Midnight Ink “A Purr N Bark Pet Shop Mystery” written by T. C. LoTempio, The Time for Murder is Meow will have readers clamoring for more. It is a dynamic fluid read that will keep readers guessing and happy.

Shell has had enough of Hollywood; it’s time for something different. Although she mourns the death of her aunt, her inheritance is a boon. She loves animals, and running a pet shop is right up her alley. Shell is enthusiastic and can’t wait to get started. Unfortunately, a woman she was seen and heard arguing with is killed, and she becomes the number one suspect. Shell is at an age when a person begins to think of the future more often. She is beautiful but not arrogant, intelligent, but not full of herself. Readers will enjoy learning and growing with her as she begins a new life and sets out to catch a killer.

She makes new friends and brings along an old one on her adventure into a new life. She also gets a few people very angry and upset. Readers will like Shell, Gary, and the gang immediately. They will cheer them as they dig into the murder of a person no one liked, and everyone had a reason to want dead.

The cast of characters are fun; they each add something to the story and keep readers entertained. The two cats take center stage several times endearing themselves to the audience for what will hopefully be years to come. Characters, with fur and without, evolve over several books in any new cozy series but most of the cast of The Time for Murder is Meow is already well-developed and have fascinating personalities. The writing is good, easy to follow, and the plot stays true. Some of the less exciting details slow it down slightly. There are a few inconsistencies which should be fixed by press time. Overall, I am happy to recommend this new cozy mystery series.

ARC provided by NetGalley

Usually I like mystery stories with a theme, but unfortunately not this one. The storyline was very predictable. You can tell everything that's going to happen. I personally found it to be boring for that reason. The main character was nice and easily able to be identified with. I will not read other books from this author. Other people may enjoy this book, but I am not one of them.

Shell McMillan has been a lead in a tv series. Just at the time the series ends, her aunt Tillie dies leaving Shell her house and her business. Shell moves to Connecticut to start a new life as a pet shop owner. The immediate shop-owners are welcoming. However, Shell soon butts heads with the head of the museum board. Amelia is an older woman who was friends with Shell’s aunt. However, they had a long-standing feud. When Amelia is found dead by Shell, she soon becomes embroiled in the investigation. Shell is joined by her new friends and Gary, her ex co-star.

I enjoyed the story and loved the characters, especially the two cats. I look forward to more books in this series.

The Time for Murder is Meow by T. C. LoTempio is the first book in A Purr N Bark Pet Shop Mystery series.

It features Shell McMillan, former actress who has decided to leave Hollywood and her own show for her dead aunt's pet shop in a little town in Connecticut.
As soon as she arrives she inherits her aunt's beloved cat, her house and her store which she plans to reopen.
Local museum is planning an exhibition for which Shell aunt's collection of Cary Grant posters and memorabilia would be perfect
However her generous offer is rejected. She gets especially upset when she hears that the unfavorable decision might be due to the long standing feud between her aunt and museum's board member.
Shell decides to talk to the members of the board and set things right. Unfortunately her aunt's nemesis ends up murdered and Shell is the one who finds her body.
Enter charming detective who has witnessed Shell's heated argument with the dead woman the day before.

Well written, with great cast of characters, who will obviously become great friends and possible sidekicks.
I did find main character's disappointment and heated reaction a bit strange especially her assertiveness, but it might be her character trait.
Some parts were a bit hard to go through. Although the story was interesting at times I felt that it was a bit slow moving and with unnecessary details.
I like the romantic angle with the gorgeous detective.
So this book has it all. good mystery, great characters, bit of romance. I am eagerly waiting for the next installment.

TC LoTempio’s The Time For Murder is Meow belongs firmly (or should that be furmly?) in what I’m beginning to recognise as a popular subgenre in crime — the cosy small-town murder mystery with cats. Who knew something like that would take off? But it has — and yes, though I think you can have too much of a good thing, I read it and will continue to do so.

The Time For Murder is Meow is the first in a series in which actress Shell McMillan takes over her aunt’s pet shop after losing her role in a major TV series. Arriving in small-town New England, Shell finds herself at the centre of a lot of small-town small-mindedness, and it all ends in murder.

I enjoyed this book, but only up to a point. It galloped along at a cracking pace (possibly too quickly to be realistic, but I don’t imagine that really matters). I did have some problems with it. I found the whole premise of the plot, which was based around the local museum’s decision not to display Shell’s aunt’s collection of theatre and cinema posters, very slender, and when further secrets were dug up they didn’t really provide a convincing motive for murder either.

When I think about that I wonder if it’s because the characters didn’t quite convince me. Other than Shell and her partner-in-crime (and former costar) Gary, they really weren’t very well developed and the potential bad guys tended to merge into one another. The effect of that was that I didn’t really engage with much of the plot and the whole murder side of it felt like much ado about nothing. And, dare I say it, the cats weren’t particularly appealing characters either. (Sorry!)

I did find Shell’s attraction to (and flirtation with) the handsome detective Josh to be a little different and, the local colour was greatly entertaining. The problem, I think, is that I found this subgenre has been so much better done by others (specifically Lilian Jackson Braun).

Nevertheless it was a pacy and an entertaining read, and anyone who enjoyed Braun’s The Cat Who… series will probably enjoy this one, too.

Thanks to Netgalley and Midnight Ink for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

This was my first time reading T.C. LoTempio and I thoroughly enjoyed her writing style. The Time for Murder is Meow is a perfect cozy. The story revolves around Shell who moves to Fox Hollow after inheriting her aunts home, cat and business, Purr N Bark. Shell retires from acting in order to start a new life in the small town. After an argument with a museum board member over posters from her aunts collection, the board member is found dead. Shell, along with some new friends from town, her former co-star Gary and her two cats Kahula and Purrday works to solve the murder and clear her name. Pacing of the book is great and I loved the ending. I can’t wait for the next in the series.

Princess Fuzzypants here: I admit I like T C LoTempio because she writes “good cat”. It may be the influence of her co-authors, Rocco and Maxx but she does get to the feline heart of things. I admit to a further connection as I was used as a character in her last series. That being said, I must be honest in my reviews.
I love this new series. The idea of a former tv star giving up the spotlight to take over the Pet Shop her aunt bequeathed her and having her costar follow her across country is a bit out there. The long running series has a chance to be rebooted but only if Shell signs on which is why the costar hopped the plane. But once there he likes it so well he joins Shell in finding out who killed the woman who has been riding roughshod over the entire town for decades. The fact that Shell and the woman had a very loud and public disagreement and that Shell discovered the body puts her on the suspect list. Good thing the hunky policeman whose dog loves Shell doesn’t think she’s guilty.
The humans are all interesting characters but the kitties are the true stars. Kalhua and Purrday are fabulous and Purrday is a very smart and very talented fellow as well as being adorable. The cat people are going to love him. I know I do.
Five purrs and two paws up.

T.C. LoTempio already has two cozy mystery series out, which the Nick & Nora Mysteries and A Cat Rescue Mysteries, so when I saw she had a third series coming out, A Purr N’ Bark Pet Shop Mystery, I knew I had to read it.

LoTempio has a purrfect trio of well developed characters, a charming small town, and real interactions between people and their fur babies. At least it’s how I react to my cats. I liked how Purrday has a magical aura about him and how sassy Kahlua is.

As with any great cozy, the characters are very important. As a reader, you want to find ones you can connect with so you want to keep coming back to the series to see what adventures they get into next. With this being LoTempop’s third series, she has established a real knack for this type of writing.

I really enjoyed Gary Presser, Shell’s co-star when she was in Hollywood. And the rest of their group, Rita, Ron, and Olivia, or as I affectionately think of them, The Scooby Gang, really added a nice layer of community and detecting help. I’m looking forward to more of their adventures together and separately.

The mystery itself was done well with details to try and throw the reader off the trail. I did know the killer before chapter twelve (don’t want to say which chapter exactly in the review), but it was still a fun read even knowing who dunnit. And as far as the motive, I had half of it guessed at the beginning as well, but the rest of the reason I didn’t learn about until the reveal.

I’m excited to see what new mystery Shell and the Scooby Gang have to solve in the next book in the Purr N’ Bark Pet Shop Mystery series.

This is a new series about a retired young actress who inherits her aunt's pet shop in a small town. She is determined to start a new life, along with her Siamese cat and her aunt's Persian cat. But, she gets involved in investigating a murder in the town before the shop can even reopen. This series has potential, but I wonder where this goes from here. I like the premise--small town pet shop owner with a unique past, cats, old house. But, I'm not sure how this will be sustainable as a unique type of series. I'd like to see more twists in the plot, making the killer a little less obvious. And, more detailed/unique character descriptions would also be helpful.

I received a free copy of THE TIME FOR MURDER IS MEOW (Purr N’ Bark Pet Shop Mystery: Book 1) by T.C. LoTempio in exchange for an honest review. Crishell “Shell” McMillan’s television series is cancelled right after she finds her producer-fiancé in bed with another woman. Fed up with the Hollywood lifestyle, Shell takes the opportunity to start afresh when Shell’s aunt unexpectedly passes away and leaves her estate to Shell. Shell moves into her aunt’s house with plans to reopen her aunt’s pet shop; however, the grand re-opening is suspended when she becomes a person of interest in the murder of the local termagant. With the assistance of her television sidekick, some new friends, and her aunt’s Persian tomcat, Shell sets out to clear her reputation so she can re-open the Purr N’ Bark without the shadow of scandal.

This was a pretty good start to a new series. The characters were charming, and the story was engaging. I recommend this book to fans of small-town cozy mysteries with cats and other animals.

#TheTimeForMurderIsMeow #NetGalley

Crishell "Shell" McMillan sees the cancellation of her TV series as a blessing in disguise. The former actress can now take over her late aunt's pet shop, the Purr N' Bark, and do something she loves.

While getting the shop ready for re-opening, Shell is asked to loan her aunt's Cary Grant posters to the local museum for an exhibit. She finds the prospect exciting—until a museum board member, who had a long-standing feud with Shell's aunt, votes against it. When she discovers the board member dead in the museum, Shell becomes suspect number one. Can she, her Siamese cat Kahlua, and her new sidekick—her aunt's Persian Purrday—find the real culprit, or will her latest career go up in kitty litter?

The first in a new series, The Time for Murder is Meow is fun and fresh! The plot and characters are well-developed, and I found this to be the perfect start for a new series.

A new series from T. C. LoTempio featuring engaging characters along with sleuthing felines. Good mystery, interesting twists and an entertaining read.

This is a really nice, murder mystery, well as nice as a murder mystery can be!
It's a very fun read, I read the majority of it in one sitting and it didn't at all feel like a chore.

What I really liked about it is that the crimes are murders, but it isn't horribly detailed and gory, this book is way more about a group of friends and two lovely sounding cats trying to work out who did what. It's a different angle, and not one I have come across before, and I really enjoyed it!

Every time Shell had a new suspect on her list I was sure she had the right killer, every time I was wrong and I didnt see the actual killer comin, which is always a plus for me! All threads were tied up really nicely too. A solid 4/5.

I thoroughly enjoyed this light cozy Mystery. I was entertained from beginning to end by the great protagonist, Shell McMillan, a former actress. I enjoyed the set-up of her inheriting her Aunt Tillie’s pet store and deciding to move to Fox Hollow, Connecticut for a slower, calmer pace of life. Shell has a beautiful Seal Point Siamese cat, Kahlua, and also inherits her aunts Snow White Persian, Purrday. Almost immediately, there is a division of opinion amidst the local museum board when Shell wishes to loan them Aunt Tillie’s extensive Cary Grant memorabilia collection. Shell wonders why board member, Amelia, is so spiteful?

The author offers reader’s a plethora of suspects to mull over. Shell gets the chance to get to know handsome Detective Josh Bloodgood, the investigator of the murder. Shell’s former co-star and friend, Gary, shows up for a stay and makes for a great partner to help Shell ponder motive for the homicide and get her name removed from the suspect pool.

The plot is clever and interesting, and I believe the author has debuted a great first story in a new cozy series, A Purr N’ Bark Mystery. Cat lovers are sure to enjoy the two cats! I look forward to reading book two when Shell re-opens the pet store.

I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Midnight Ink. Thank you.

This novel is surprisingly positive for being in the murder mystery genre. I was kept guessing the entire way through and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole storyline. Although the crime/murder/suspicions were spoken about throughout the story, it didn't feel particularly sinister to me.

I really liked that element because although the investigation was at the forefront of the story, it wasn't totally drenched in fear. This meant that the other aspects of the story could also shine through and meant that the crime/thriller element felt really natural, as opposed to being at all forced.

Before reading this book I already loved cats, and I partially picked the title because of the punny cat related title. But after reading, I can honestly say that I am even fonder of the friendly furry felines.

I would recommend this book and rate it at 5 stars because it's honestly such a fun read, you really experience everything with our leading lady and you really get to know all of the characters, meaning that you too can try to investigate along with the novel.

A new cozy mystery series that shows promise, the mystery was engaging and the characters likeable, can t wait to read more

LoTiempo, the best selling author of several cozy mystery series is introducing a new series. It will be known as "A Purr and Bark Pet Shop Mystery". Title one is called "The Time for Murder is Meow."; a natural draw for all cat lovers.

Our amateur sleuth is Crishell McMillan, aka Shell Marlow. Her successful television series was cancelled after a 10 year run, coinciding with the betrayal of her director/fiance, and the death of Aunt Tilly. Things happen for a reason, she believes. Shell is the heir to Aunt Tilly's estate. She takes this as a good omen, retires from show business to return to Fox Hollow. Her dream now is to follow in her Aunt's footsteps, keeping the legacy of The Purr and Bark pet shop alive. The shop is very well regarded by the towns people, as was her Aunt Tilly. What Shell did not expect was the hyper animosity from Amelia Witherspoon, the self proclaimed doyenne of Fox Hollow.

Whether it is Hollywood, or a small Connecticut town, feuds happen. A feud may last as long as one of the participants is still living. Why else would Amelia block an exhibition of classic movie posters from Aunt Tilly's very valuable collection? Used to negotiation, and unafraid of someone who has made arguing a high art form, Shell publicly confronts Amelia and the other recalcitrant board members.

Shell has a great support group. One that includes Kahlua, her Siamese, and Purrday an one eyed Persian of uncommon talents who serve as sounding boards. The other members of her group also include Josh, and Gary her former co-star. Is this the beginning of a romantic triangle? Their support is needed as Amelia is soon found dead. Will Shell's stay in Fox Hollow be over before it gets started? Finding the real killer seems to be the answer.

A solid introduction to a new series, Book One is a pleasant summer read.

Recommended

Full disclosure: I received an e copy of this book from netgalley and midnight ink in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you for this opportunity.

This book was a relatively quick and easy read.

The mystery wasn't particularly difficult to figure out though and the character's motivations seemed a bit thin - the main character was obsessed with the museum board because they turned down her aunt's exhibition offer. It's really not that big of a deal. Basically it felt like the characters were over acted soap opera caricatures.

I think what frustrated me most was the inaccurate descriptions of cat behaviour. If you're going to write a book to do with cats and have it in the title of your book, you should at least research cat behaviour.

It's a decent read, but just wasn't for me.