I’ve popped in and out of this series and overall I think it’s a fun concept. The series centers around Kathleen Paulson, who is a librarian from Boston who now lives in Mayville Heights, Minnesota. Her cats, Owen and Hercules, are always the star of the show. The mysteries in this series vary for me in terms of how complex or central they are.

The book kicks off with Kathleen’s brother Ethan and his band, the Flaming Gerbils, coming to visit Mayville Heights. Ethan has a thing for Kathleen’s friend Maggie, and he’s happy to spend time with his sister too. The festivities come to a halt when the band’s lead guitarist, Derek, gets into a fight in a bar on a night out with the band. The fight is with businessman Lewis Wallace who is the subject of rumors around town (and who kicked a dog, prompting the fight).

When Wallace is found dead, there are plenty of possible suspects. Unfortunately the altercation leads the police to consider Derek as a top suspect. Until they learn that the peanut butter muffins that killed Wallace were supplied by Ethan. Kathleen is dating Detective Marcus Gordon, so she has an in with the case. She’s determined to help solve it and keep her brother and his bandmate’s names off the suspect list.

I don’t mind when cozy mysteries have a victim who is from out of town, as Wallace was in this case. This is necessary because if the series continues for awhile, the author can’t continue killing off and arresting all of the locals. Wallace is not a sympathetic figure in the book, so his murder isn’t overly upsetting for the reader.

I didn’t love the pacing of A Night’s Tale. Though I enjoy Kelly’s books, she has a tendency to not kick off her mysteries until well into the book. In this case, Wallace is murdered just past 30%. There was a lot of chatting and catching up with characters at the beginning. I think that will appeal to readers who are fans of the series and looking to catch up with everyone. For those new to the series, this isn’t the book to start with. The beginning just isn’t interesting if you aren’t already invested in these characters. Even though I’ve read several books from this series, I was kind of over the mindless chatter for the first third of the book.

This wasn’t one of my favorites from the Magical Cats series, though I think that long-time fans of the series will enjoy it. The cats aren’t central enough in the story to make this a stand out among cat-lover mysteries that flood the cozy mystery market. I did find the mystery interesting, and I always enjoy the library and book tie-ins with Kathleen as our main character. A cute but not memorable mystery with a slower pace and two cute, magical cats.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for my copy. Opinions are my own.

Librarian Kathleen Paulson’s younger brother Ethan is visiting, along with his bandmates in the Flaming Gerbils (seriously I just wanted to write out that name). When band member Derek falls under suspicion of murder after a couple of altercations with the dead man Lewis Wallace, Ethan demands that his sister investigate. Along the way, she finds out that the offensive out-of-towner Wallace, with his bad attitude, infamous history, and shady past business dealings had no shortage of enemies. Though he was in town only a short time to negotiate the possible opening of a new business, even many of the townspeople had more than enough motive to wish him harm. Some adventures with friends along with some helpful hints from her feline buddies and few strong leads help Kathleen to close in the killer.

This is my first book in the series and though it is number eleven, I never felt lost in the story. Much of the series history came along naturally in the story. The mystery unfolded in manageable chunks and in retrospect, the story offered strong clues along the way. The day to day backstory, with the quilt fair offers a nice contrast to the sleuthing. As with any Cozy, relationships are key and it is obvious that Kathleen and the residents of the town of Mayville Heights have developed strong bonds. There are surely more tails to come. I can see why it is a best selling series.

A Night’s Tail is the eleventh book in Sofie Kelly's Magical Cats Mystery series and, just like the first ten, is wonderful. The author keeps her stories fresh and original, the characters likable and well-developed, and the scenes and imagery vivid.

A Night’s Tail takes place while Kathleen is organizing a quilt festival inside the library. During the festivities, Kathleen is also hosting her brother Ethan’s band, The Flaming Gerbils. During an evening at The Brick, emotions are heightened when a local man gets into a confrontation with a man about his service dog. This scene in the book just tore at my heart. I don’t tolerate abuse or mistreatment of animals well and reading about the actions of one man toward a dog was upsetting. When Derek, a temporary band member comes to the aid of the man and dog, he ends up in an altercation with the abuser. Later, the abusive man is found dead and Derek is a prime suspect.

I really enjoyed A Night’s Tail. The pacing is steady, and the entire novel is easy to read and understand. Multiple suspects keep the reader guessing and keep Kathleen and Marcus on their toes. The continued world building and character development of Kathleen, her magical kitties, and Marcus, along with the secondary characters, is fresh and original with each installment.

The Magical Cats Mystery series is one of my favorites. I enjoy the lowkey nature of these cozy mysteries. The series keeps me entertained with the human and feline characters, plots, and mysteries. I recommend the series to all cozy mystery lovers. The books are descriptive without going overboard. I feel like I'm in every scene of the story. The books also have the right amount of suspense to keep the reader engaged all the way to the end. The romance included isn't over the top and doesn't overshadow the mystery solving. It's a nice addition to give the story and characters realism.

I voluntarily reviewed a hardcover version of this book.

This series is consistently enjoyable. I really like that we got to see Kathleen interacting with her younger brother and would like to see more of her family visit Mayville Heights. I also think that this book had an interesting development between her and Marcus and I'm intrigued to see where there relationship will go in the next instalment. A go-to cozy mystery series for me.

I enjoy Sofie Kelly's writing. This is book 11 in her Magical Cats Mystery. Town librarian, Kathleen and her two wonderful cats, Hercules and Owen are busy solving the murder of a shady businessman. Her brother Ethan is in town, visiting with his band and when one of them becomes the major suspect he asks Kathleen to investigate. Romance with lawman Marcus is progressing nicely and I'm looking forward to book 12. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Set in Minnesota. Kathleen is a librarian with cats, Not just any librarian, and not just any cats. Kathleen solves murders and the cats are magical. Great characters and a murder with enough suspects to make life interesting.

I dove into this series with this book being my first to read, so it was a tad confusing for me, I found it hard to keep up with the characters. I read in another review that I should have at least read Curiosity Thrilled the Cat first. With that being said, the magical cats Owen and Hercules are my favorite characters, the second being Kathleen who is the head librarian at Mayville Heights Free Public Library in Minneapolis. I believe that if I would go back and read the start of this series, I would enjoy it so much more than I have. Do not get me wrong this sounds like a wonderful series and I do look forward to starting at the beginning to read much more about the mystery-busting trio.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is such a great cozy mystery series! I would recommend this book and series to anyone wanting a charming cozy mystery. I love Owen and Hercules and the whole town. The mystery centers on a business man that comes to town to start a new business and definitely makes a strong impression on the town. Great story, highly recommended!

This is a wonderful series and I have read each one. When I saw an ARC of the newest one on NetGalley, I had to request it.

We are back in Mayville Heights and librarian Kathleen Paulson is thrilled that her brother has come to visit. His band, The Flaming Gerbils, is playing some gigs nearby and have organized a song-writing workshop at the St. James Hotel. When they and Kathleen arrive at the hotel to check out the space they find a man the had encountered the night before dead. Lewis Wallace has been in town trying to work out a deal for a new business venture and it isn’t long before his true colors are exposed opening up a large variety of suspects. Because of the band members recent history with the man Kathleen, with a little assist from her magical felines, Owen and Hercules, strive to get the right person booked for the crime.

A Night's Tail by Sofie Kelly is a terrific story about family, friends, lies, and judgment all with a side of murder.

Why would anyone want to kill Lewis Wallace?

Kathleen and Marcus
Kathleen is our sleuth, head librarian, and she lives with Hercules and Owen two magical cats. Kathleen is involved in many things in Mayville Heights, especially if they include the library. She is one of those people who see a puzzle and has to know how to solve it.

Marcus is a police detective in town, and he has a magical female cat. Marcus is a nice guy; he always seems to help out with a local cause. In this installment, Marcus is coaching the girls' hockey team.

Kathleen and Marcus make an adorable couple. It's nice that they take the needed time to make a relationship work when they are both so very busy. They are a well rounded, happy, and healthy couple.

Friends and Family
Kathleen's younger brother, Ethan and his bandmates, Derek and Milo. Derek is a temporary member of the Flaming Gerbils. But he fits in and the band has been doing better now. Their music and songwriting skills have improved.
Kathleen's friends, Maggie, Roma, Rebecca, and Ruby are still there for her. In fact, without them who would tag along when she wanted to do some sleuthing.

Mystery
Lewis Wallace is found dead in the conference room reserved by Ethan and his bandmate Derek. The mystery was laid out well with plenty of red herrings to go around. But who did it? The answer to that question you will have to read this fantastic book.

5 Stars for A Night's Tail by Sofie Kelly
This book is my first in the Magical Cats Mystery Series, and I enjoyed everything. My mom has read most of the series. I loved Hercules with his wet feet issue and Owen with his chicken addiction. A Night's Tail by Sofie Kelly gets five stars, and this is a must-read for those who like cozies with cats.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of A Night's Tail by Sofie Kelly.

Anyways, until next time,
Karen the Baroness

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.

Kathleen Paulson is thrilled to have her brother, Ethan, and his band visiting her as they go on tour. It's not all a happy reunion when things take a nasty turn. Ethan’s friend gets into a fight in a bar with a businessman. When that businessman turns up dead, the police look right at Ethan’s friend as the prime suspect.

Ethan turns to his sister for help in solving this murder. He knows Kathleen has been successful in investigating murders. Kathleen quickly discovers there are many possible suspects and she plans to check them all out. She discusses her findings with her sidekicks - Owen and Hercules. Two kitties with very special powers - one disappears and the other walks through walls. Their special skills do tend to help her investigations.

It’s hard to believe this is the 11th book in the Magical Cats cozy mystery series. I’ve enjoyed this series since the first book. I did miss a couple along the way, but I do have them in my TBR and intend to read them. I don’t think you need to read the previous books to enjoy this one. The author gives you the back story throughout the current book, but it’s so much more fun to start at the beginning.

My favorite parts are always when Kathleen discusses things with her cats. They don’t talk back, but she has full conversations with them. They are as much main characters as Kathleen.

Her romance with Marcus is moving along nicely. It’s always fun to catch up with the folks in Mayville Heights. It’s like visiting old friends.

This is another fast-paced mystery written by this talented author. She never fails to disappoint me.

The question isn't so much who wanted to kill Lewis Wallace, rather who didn't or why did it take so long? The brusque former offensive NFL player offended people wherever he went and in so many ways. He was a womanizer, a business cheat and even such a mean drunk that he would kick a service dog belonging to a disabled veteran!

Kathleen and friends (plus her brother and a couple of magical cats) get involved to put this man in his place, which then puts one of them in the place of top suspect in his murder. With a multitude of suspects, motives and personalities to sort through, this book may confuse a bit if you have not read previous books in the series. Stick with it and all will come into focus. There is enough backstory and reference to catch you up. The cats help. Plus, Detective Marcus (Kathleen's boyfriend) adopts another special kitten. Does this mean more magical surprises in the future?

In this book we also get to know more about Kathleen's family and see her relationship with the detective weather some stormy times. The clues are well hidden within everything else that is going on. This series seems to have all the elements cozy reads look for in a favorite series.

A Night’s Tail by Sofie Kelly is the eleventh A Magical Cats Mystery and a joy to read. I like the author’s casual and engaging writing style. I was quickly drawn into this cute cozy mystery with librarian, Kathleen Paulson and her two magical cats, Hercules and Owen. The beginning with Mary is hysterical (I do not want to spoil it for you). Kathleen’s brother, Ethan is visiting town with his band, The Flaming Gerbils. The group recently lost one of its members to art school, so Derek Hanson has been playing with them. Derek ends up the top suspect in a businessman’s murder after having an altercation with him at a bar. Ethan asks Kathleen to prove Derek’s innocence. Kathleen soon finds the victim had a checkered past which leads to multiple suspects. There are good clues to help readers in solving the whodunit before Kathleen zeros in on her quarry. The cats help guide Kathleen along the way and provide some pivotal clues. There are charming cozy moments as Kathleen spends time with brother, enjoys outings with friends, plans a quilt show at the library, dates with her boyfriend, and interacts with her cats. Owen and Hercules are cute and clever felines. I like how Kathleen talks to them (uses them as a sounding board) and they respond with their little noises. Owen, of courses, manages to dismember a catnip chicken or two (he is addicted to catnip much to his brother’s disgust). Kathleen finds it is time to tell Marcus about his feline’s special ability, but she is not sure how he will react to the news. If you are new to A Magical Cats Mystery series, I recommend reading Curiosity Thrilled the Cat first. It will provide you with needed background information. I wish there had been less repetition of case details as Kathleen shares what she has uncovered with others and discusses the case with her cats. I had to laugh when Kathleen called Owen and Hercules “two mooching furballs” as they tried to acquire human food from Ethan (I had a cat like that). A Night’s Tail is a spellbinding tale with a catnip chicken catastrophe, quilt show quandaries, a cookie calamity, and a busy brother with a bothersome bandmate.

I enjoy the "Magical Cats" series. "A Night's Tail" is another great addition to this set of cozies!

In the eleventh installment of the charming magical cat mystery series, head librarian Kathleen finds herself embroiled in another murder mystery. Kathleen's brother Derek is in town along with members of his band, the flaming gerbils to play a gig and teach some songwriting workshops. On a night out on the town, Kathleen and the gang witness a drunken man kick a service animal. At a meeting with a manager of the local hotel, Kathleen finds the body of this drunken man in the meeting room. Turns out he has been murdered. As one of the first on the scene, Kathleen can't help but to become involved in the investigation. The stranger turns out to be a former local by the name of Lewis Wallace who is in town promoting and expanding his real estate business. He has a less than stellar reputation among the locals for some shady financial dealings in the past. Suspicion soon falls on Derek and his band, as they were on the scene and angry over the victim's violent behavior towards the service animal at the local bar. With the support of her local law enforcement beau, and her magical cats, Kathleen is sure she can get to the bottom of this mystery.
This just might be my favorite of this longstanding series. The writing flowed seamlessly and the magical antics of Kathleen's cats added an extra layer of enjoyment. The author does a great job of including just enough of Kathleen's inner thoughts for the reader to be able to follow along but not too much where the story can start to become redundant and convoluted. Although I highly recommend each book in the series, this one can be read and enjoyed on it's own.

A Night's Tail by Sofie Kelly. Another fun filled cozy mystery with kitties (magical no less), books, love and relationships and a bit of a mystery. Very good addition to the series.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

Kathleen and her magical cats are at it again when her brother and his band mates visit. Who knew that a small town could harbor so many mysteries? Even while she swears to herself to stay out of the investigation, she can't help but ask questions to try and help her brother Ethan and his friends, and try to find out who had it in for a new investor in town. To make things more interesting, Kathleen knows that time is ticking on sharing the secret of her cats with her boyfriend, Detective Marcus.

The reader's 11th return to Mayville Heights finds librarian Kathleen Paulson organizing a quilt festival, hosting her brother Derek as his band - The Flaming Gerbils - plays gigs at The Brick and teaches songwriting workshops, and enjoying life with friends who are artists, bakers, tai chi instructors, and (quiet daytime library worker demeanor notwithstanding) exotic dancers. The Gerbils have a fine new musician, Derek Hansen, Fern's Diner still has the best meatloaf in town, and Georgia's peanut butter and banana muffins are everyone's favorite treat.

Trouble begins when a drunk, blustery stranger kicks a disabled veteran's service dog at The Brick. Derek intervenes. Soon after, the stranger is found dead in hotel manager Melanie's office, with a peanut butter and banana muffin the only apparent cause. But why was his EpiPen on the floor, out of reach? Who could have gotten the muffin into a securely-locked office? And why?

Turns out the murder victim had enemies in town that went back much farther than his current abuse of animals. Quite a few people knew him from college, where he was a semi-successful offensive lineman - offensive both on and off the field. He also had a long history of shady financial dealings that included selling fake sports memorabilia on line, and he was in town to purchase property despite objections from local businesses, including Georgia's bakery...

And those magical cats? They're still walking through walls (Hercules), disappearing after dismembering catnip chickens (Owen), and providing crime-solving hints. Kathleen's beau, detective Marcus Gordon, has adopted a tiny cat whose attributes may also involve more than cuteness. Should Kathleen tell Marcus that all three cats have supernatural powers?

<i>A Night's Tale</i> is immersive and fun, from start to finish. The crime is sorted out, friendships and family ties strengthened, and delicious food consumed. To my delight, I learned that Kathleen and I share a love of washing dishes. Five stars - with two quibbles. One: we never meet the veteran and his dog. I hope we will in subsequent episodes. And two: Kathleen is dead wrong about one thing. It's never too early for pie.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC to review.

Another fun addition to Sofie Kelly's Magical Cats series. Love Hercules and Owen (and the rest of the cast). This are cozy mysteries with the cutest cat protagonists. Can't wait for the next one.

This is a very fun read, with Hercules and Owen continuing to use their magical ability's to help Kathleen solve the mystery. I enjoy reading about small town life and Kathleen's interactions with the rest of the folks that live in Mayville Heights. The character's lives move forward with each book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review. I look forward to each installment in this series to see how Kathleen and Marcus move forward especially with the latest development.