Love these books. How the author has written the actions mixed with words really makes you believe the cats can think like we do. I will never look the same again at a cat. Can't wait to read more the story lines are great and keeps you thinking right to the end who did it.

I've heard a lot about this author but haven't ready anything yet by her until this book. I enjoyed it for what it was for me: a fun, fast and easy read (the mystery wasn't too confusing or dramatic). In my opinion, the characters aren't developed too deeply and the romance piece was practically non-existent (which was too bad, seems like something good there). The main character, Josie, is very likeable. Her maid Flora is a total mess - Josie is nice to keep her on. The funniest characters are Josie's mom, Rose, and Rose's best friend "Aunt Millie." They were a hoot. They could carry the series as the main characters. Be-warned, there are cats that talk amongst themselves. Kinda weird, but I wouldn't have minded it so much if it didn't take up so many pages in the book. I found myself skimming over those parts. I'm a cat lover, but it was a little too much time (for me) devoted to the two house cats talking to their cat friends around town. I'm going to go back and read the first in the series.

This is such a wonderful cozy mystery series. I'm a big fan of the author and she never disappoints me! The cats are always the best part, lol, but I did enjoy the cast of characters provided. Leigh Ann always develops full bodied characters with interesting plots that are well driven. Well done!!

A Whisker in the Dark

Series:Oyster Cove Guesthouse #2

Leighann Dobbs

Genre: Cozy mystery

Rating: 4

Discovering the 300-year-old skeleton of shipping tycoon Jedediah Biddeford in the ballroom wall is a big old hassle for Josie Waters, owner of the Oyster Cove Guesthouse. Especially when Biddeford’s descendants turn up, certain that a family legend about treasure buried nearby must be true.

Josie is too busy dreaming up the perfect cake for the Oyster Cove’s 250th anniversary celebration to worry about the Biddeford family – plus half the town – digging up her yard... until one of her guests is murdered in the guesthouse garden.

With worries that her guesthouse will get a reputation for being the kind of place you only leave in a body , Josie must put her detective skills to work to find the killer. Lucky for her, Nero and Marlowe and their gang of cat sleuths are also on the case.

From the old wharf, to the town common, to the guesthouse itself with its many nooks and crannies, the cats are sure to sniff out the killer… but can they help Josie stop the person behind the mysterious murder before they strike again?



My thoughts

Would I recommend it? Yes

Would I read more of the series? Yes, in fact I have book 3 to read and review .

Would I read more by this author? Yes

For a second book in a series I actually liked this one away better then I did the first one ,the main character seemed to have growing some and the cats was still my favorite characters, plus the characters seem to come to life more in this one then in the first book.And i had to laugh because no matter how Josie tried to do somethings they never seemed to work out right . So if your looking for book that is nothing but craziness then check this one out, with that said I want to say think you to NetGalley for for letting me read it.

Such a wonderful cozy mystery. I hadn't read the first one but after went out and bought it. The cats are the best part, but I did enjoy the mystery solving heroine. Lovely to the last page and almost stumped me at the end. Nicely written!!

Cozies are fun, and Leighann Dobbs does an excellent job with her Oyster Cove Guesthouse Series. These cute cozies include Nero and Marlowe, two delightful cats who help solve the mysteries. Josie Waters is the new owner of the Oyster Cove guesthouse, and besides the problems encountered just getting acquainted with running it, it seems there are murders that seem to be connected with Josie and her guests. Josie needs to get involved in solving them before her reputation is ruined and her business goes downs the drain. The characters are likeable and believable; subsequent installments will be highly anticipated.

A Whisper in the Dark is the second installment in the series; Josie is remodeling, and the 300 year old skeleton of Jedediah Biddeford is discovered inside the ballroom wall. Of course the discovery sparks interest about the treasure he supposedly buried, and relatives of his from all over swarm the guesthouse and begin digging on the grounds. Finding him hidden inside the wall leads to the assumption that he was murdered, and Josie and her cats, Marlowe and Nero as well as their helpful feline friends are all for finding the treasure and solving the mystery.

In A Purrfect Alibi, One of the guests is found dead on the grounds of the guesthouse in the third installment of the series. Josie is not delighted to have mediums and fortune tellers taking over her guesthouse, trying to find out who murdered Jedediah Biddeford 300 years ago, and also suspecting him of the murder of Josie’s modern-day guest. Josie relies on her Mom and family friend, Millie to help her solve the murder; of course, Marlowe and Nero must be on their toes because they know who the murderer is and must get the message to Josie and the police. The cats believe in ghosts; do you?

Dobbs is an excellent storyteller; the novels flow and keep the interest of readers. She also does a good job of developing her characters. Josie is a great protagonist, and readers will be on her side and want her to succeed. The bad guys are numerous, and are also well-developed. Dobbs makes it so there are several suspects throughout the novels so readers will have difficulty guessing who-done-it. Even though the cozies are light, contain no blatant profanity, violence, or sex, there is building suspense, which keeps the interest of readers.

These two cozies are suitable for readers of all ages, and the cats especially make them fun for cat lovers. The novels also contain bed & breakfast type recipes, making these cozies delightful for everyone.

Special thanks to Net Galley for supplying review copies of these cozies.

Yes, you are seeing double today with a two for one review special. A Whisker in the Dark and A Purrfect Alibi by Leighann Dobbs are books two and three of the cozy The Oyster Cove Guesthouse series and since I read them together from my catch up pile I thought the reviews would pretty much mirror one another so in the interest of me not typing it all twice and you reading it twice I’m doing both in one go.

The Oyster Cove Guesthouse series is one that has a slight twist to the normal cozy formula of a sleuthing amatuer with it’s lead, Josie Waters, sharing the stories point of view with two sleuthing kitties who get to share their voices and also help solve the mystery. The formula is still the same though in which each book has an all new mystery to solve so they can be read as a standalone if choosing to do so.

In A Twist in the Tail we meet Josie Waters who had wanted to completely start over in life after her divorce and get away from her ex-husband. Moving from Ohio to Maine Josie purchased the Oyster Cove Guesthouse, a Victorian mansion turned into a bed and breakfast. After solving (with some kitty help) one mystery Josie has a couple more in books two and three now.

Being one that loves different of course I seek out these types of book that bend the mold of genre norms and being a sucker for cute critters I adored the antics of the resident felines as they help their clueless human (their words not mine) solve a crime. I actually like Josie quite a bit too and don’t think she’s as clueless as her pets seem to think and have plenty of laughs along the way not only due to the felines but some creative secondary characters. So I definitely do recommend checking out this lovely cozy series.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Schwungvoll wie immer, toller Schreibstil mit überzeugenden Charakteren und anbetungswürdigen Katzen. Einfach prima Unterhaltung!

This is such a brilliant book, as a reader and a cat lover what more could I want from a book.

I haven’t read the first in the series (but I will be) but this reads well as a standalone, although there are references to the cat’s previous accomplishments as detectives.

This book concentrates on a 300 year old body that is found in the guesthouse, Nero and Marlowe have known it was there for ages, but nobody listens to them! It is unearthed as the man descendants are staying at the guesthouse, and now they all want to know where the man’s treasure is.

The town goes treasure crazy and runs out of shovels as everyone starts digging. However cats don’t need shovels to dig (they are superior, obviously) and they start their own investigations and it doesn’t take long for a newly dead body to appear.

After reading, I checked Leighann Dobbs back catalogue of books and I was shocked that I haven’t read any of her work before. This book is wonderfully written and I loved it.

This book has so much good stuff in it. A discovery of a 300 year old skeleton in the ballroom and a family that can't get along is just a few great parts about this book. I love this series and the setting in delightful. I love how much of a role the cats take in the mystery and I recommend this book to anyone who loves a great mystery and cats

This is book 2 in the Oyster Cove Guesthouse and can be read as a stand alone. I did not read A twist in the tale which does give background about how Josie is now the owner of the Oyster Cove Guesthouse and the proud caretaker of Marlow and Nero, the two house cats that get frustrated with her for not understanding their detective skills. These cats remind me of Rita Mae Brown's Mrs. Murphy and her cat friends. Oyster Cove seems to be an ideal setting for this cozy series, small towns always appeal to me. Pet fans will love this new addition to the cat solving detectives. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A Whisker in the Dark was a fun, easy, silly read. Josie owns a guesthouse where people keep ending up dead. Well, this time around the first dead body is a skeleton from 300 years ago, but we end up with a murder soon enough—and it’s probably no surprise with so many folks thinking there’s a treasure buried on the guesthouse’s property.

So, the cats, Nero and Marlowe and their friends, are the real detectives here, although Josie does some investigating too. In Josie’s defense, she’s got a lot on her mind, with running the guesthouse, trying to learn how to cook, and flirting with the building inspector. The cats are pretty darn smart, and cats can get into places people can’t and eavesdrop without being noticed. I’m still getting used to the cats talking to each other, but it does make the series stand out.

The book is really about the characters, both human and feline. The mystery itself is a little simple to solve. Happily, I enjoy Josie and her cats. It’s fun to hang out with them for a while, although I don’t think I’d want to stay at the Oyster Cover Guesthouse. Between the food and the possibility of ending up dead, it’s doesn’t seem like the best vacation spot.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Boy, it is a jolly good thing Josie has the assistance of her two very smart and savvy cats, Nero and Marlowe, and their coterie of town cats including handsome Harry, the Maine Coon. With the way she finds dead bodies, if her skill as a sleuth matched her skill in the kitchen, there would be a lot of innocent people languishing in jail, including herself. Thank Bast, she has the cat gang to solve the murders and she is beginning to appreciate their abilities. She just cannot tell anyone.
In the two stories, it always seems a bit odd someone so pathetic in a kitchen would run a B & B, especially one noted for fine cuisine prior to her arrival. One can hope she improves before she burns down the building. It is but a small quibble since the human characters are likeable and the mysteries are interesting. It is, however, without a doubt, the cats who rock these stories.
The dialogue is always fun. Like the rest of us kitties, they understand human frailty but love the two legged creatures in spite of it- or perhaps because of it. Humans are really so needy. One shudders to think how they would get on without our guidance. Oh yes, the murder of one of the members of a family who create cheese sculptures is good but we all know, the readers are going to pick up the book to follow the exploits of Nero and Marlowe et al. As they should...
Five purrs and two paws up. Looking forward to #3.

Josie is just recovering from the last dramatic murder at her guesthouse (see my review of A Twist in the Tail) when a skeleton is discovered during the renovations. It is the body of Jedediah Biddeford and has been there for a couple of centuries. Coincidentally his family are staying at the guesthouse.
There is a legend that treasure is near by and the deceased’s family want to find it! Then one of Jed’s descendants is found murdered: is there a link to the mysterious treasure…? Or did Jed’s ghost unleash a curse…?
Josie continues to be a likeable character and the dimension of the cats investigating the murder and trying to communicate with her really raises this series and gives a fun element to the narrative.
There are lots of suspects for Josie and her friends to investigate, including her own employee Flora, a maid with an aversion to cleaning. There is also the romantic undercurrent between Josie and Mike which continues from the previous book as well as the rivalry with the other local guesthouse owner.
I really enjoyed this quick light-hearted read with a deadly mystery at its heart. The inclusion of recipes at the end is a lovely touch (if you try them out then I hope you have more success than Josie!)

The second in a series of cozy mysteries set in a coastal town, it highlights a murder of a member of a family that makes butter sculptures and does not get along. Lots of potential suspects in this one, and the main (continuing) characters are quite believable. I enjoyed the expansion of the elderly maid's character in this one. She becomes one of the murder suspects, but never loses her spunk! I also like the cats' perspective, which shows how much smarter they are than humans! It's cute, but not overwhelming.

Luckily Josie Waters has friends who stop by to lend a hand in the kitchen. Otherwise the guests at her bed and breakfast would be treated to her culinary misadventures., And the word of mouth would kill the venture before she got everything renovated. And speaking of killing, the word of mouth about the bodies certainly won't help its reputation. Still, with the resident felines, Nero and Marlowe, stepping up and providing the clues to solving the latest murder. Her guests now all belong to one family, and that family used to own the house where the B&B is located. Is there a connection between them and the skeleton found in the walls? Enjoyable mystery with a touch of humor.

Leighann Dobbs has built us a cozy community, actually two communities in Oyster Cove. One human, one feline, and I'm not sure which one is more entertaining. Ms Dobbs books are always an outstanding example of the perfect cozy mystery. Never boring, never so many characters that you cannot keep track of them all. The boarding house and the characters that live there keep us guessing what will happen next as they investigate crimes and dig out the villains just in the nick of time.

A Whisker in the Dark is the second book in The Oyster Cove Guesthouse series. I recommend reading A Twist in the Tail before starting this latest tale. Josie Waters needed a new start after her divorce and purchased the guesthouse from Millie Sullivan even though she cannot cook (plus cannot keep the books and lacks marketing knowledge). Josie’s cooking skills have not improved despite having Millie’s recipes (she really needs to invest in a timer too). I enjoy Leighann Dobbs relaxed writing style and the fact that the story progresses at a zippy pace (which makes for an easy to read story). I enjoy the sections told from the cat’s perspective. They are intelligent and perceptive felines who are working to train Josie. The cat’s sniff out clues that they share with the humans. It is cute that there is a network of cat’s around town who help to solve the mysteries. The modern whodunit has multiple suspects (the whole Biddeford clan) and misdirection. Flora, Josie’s maid who prefers to watch television to cleaning, is at the top of the suspect list. Millie has known Flora for decades and knows she would not commit murder. But they need solid proof for Sheriff Seth Chamberlain. Solving the mystery is child’s play, but readers will enjoy following the characters as they work to expose the truth. We are left to wonder, though, about what really happened to Jedidiah Biddeford and is there a treasure. We will have to wait for A Purrfect Alibi to get answers. A Whisker in the Dark is a lighthearted caper with quirky characters, zany antics, and madcap humor. A Whisker in the Dark has old bones, hidden treasure, friendly felines, bickering Biddeford’s, burnt bread, and three nosey parkers.

So this is book two of the Oyster Cove Guesthouse series, I have never read this author before but I don't feel I missed out by starting here. Josie Waters owns the guesthouse and is still finding her feet getting into the routine, cooking (without ruining the food) and a bit of a revamp going on. During which a skeleton is uncovered, this isn't the first time a body has been found in the guesthouse but this one is a few hundred years old and may be a relation to her current guests. Add to that there is a rumour of treasure bringing everyone and their shovels to Josie's yard to dig.

So the chapters alternate between Josie and her cats, Nero and Marlowe, the cats love a good investigation but how do they communicate with the silly humans? The cats speak to each other and do their own thing whilst Josie tries to keep on top of the challenges presented by running a guest house, looking after visitors, small town rumours, personal life and of course a murder mystery.

I loved the cat chapters, it won't be for everyone but I have read a few books with animals being characters and their point of views. They bring a bit of furry humour and sass which as a cat lover totally appeals to me. With them investigating along with the humans it was reminiscence of my Scoobie Doo days and the gang investigating only the humans in this don't realise the cats are awesome and helping.

There is a lot of family issues, friendships, police investigation, red herrings and I loved the overall feel of it was like watching a Murder She Wrote. You think one thing then something changes so you think you have it figured then something else makes you re evaluate. I love when a book does that and I think I am now a fan of cozy mysteries, sure this is the first one I have read.

I will absolutely be checking out the other books by this author and hope little paws are in them all, it is very cute but doesn't take away from the murder/investigation parts of the story, in fact for me it added to it. 4/5 for me this time, first dance with Dobbs but it won't be my last!

A Whisker In The Dark is the second book in a new cozy mystery series by Leighann Dobbs. Released 31st July 2019 by Bookouture, it's 233 pages and available in paperback, ebook, and audio formats.

This is a fun series, the coziest of cozies, with a guesthouse setting, a frazzled owner trying to keep it all afloat, and a crew of anthropomorphic cats who secretly think they're in charge. As with many series in the genre, the language is clean, the murder is off-scene and the slow-developing romantic interest is chaste. There are even some bonus family recipes at the end of the book.

The author is adept with characterizations and dialogue. It's a fast and easy read and will appeal to fans of the genre. It would make a good book club selection or summer read. I didn't try any of the recipes in the back of the book, but the author says in the afterword that they're from her family cookbook.

The denouement isn't a shocker, but it's a fun ride for all that.

Four stars.