It's great to be back at the Oyster Cove Guesthouse where we meet up again with Josie and some other characters from the previous book and of course with our feline friends who honestly are the real stars of the show.

It's great to see that the cats have a circle of friends who all help to solve the murder cases. They really think like people and where would the police be without the cats? Right, nowhere near the solution by far! Maybe the police should add more cats to their force? ;) :)

The author has painted the picture perfectly : cats are superior and humans should be glad to even be allowed in their neighbourhood and of course to wait on them. :) This adds some funny moments.

If you would ask me who my favourite character is, I would say Flora. She can always put a smile on my face.

This second book is yet again a very entertaining one and has everything a cozy mystery should have.  5 stars.

Thank you, Leighann Dobbs, Bookouture and Netgalley.

"A Whisker in the Dark" the second installment in the "The Oyster Cove Guesthouse Mystery Series" by Leighann Dobbs is quickly becoming one of my favourite series!

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 bag, 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?

The protagonist Josie is a likable, fun main character, with quirky supporting characters her mother Rose, her BFF Millie (prior owner of guesthouse) the cats Nero and Marlowe. I enjoyed this installment and was drawn in from the get go. I love cats and ones that help solve the murder and you know their conversations who wouldn’t love that.

The mystery was well written with plenty of twists and turns and had a steady pace. I didn’t figure out whodunit until it was revealed at the end. Also by the end you could sense a few of the characters have a crush on Josie...

I enjoyed this book and recommend to my friends and any fan of Leighann Dobbs.

I requested and received an advanced reader copy from Bookouture and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.

This is the second in the series and it is improving. Not sure if Nero & Marlowe will get Josie trained as well as Millie but they are trying. Josie’s handy man finds a skeleton in the wall and a few days later a guest is found dead.

Josie is involved in solving to clear Flora, her maid. I find it odd that Flora does do much of anything and that she stated she can only clean one or 2 rooms per day. By gosh, Josie is trying to run a B & B.

This is a light cozy read that can be accomplished in just a few hours. It provided enough of a distraction from the day to day news that I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thank-you Netgalley for allowing to read & review. I am not required to leave a positive review.

Thank goodness the people of Oyster Cove have Nero and Marlowe, because without these feline sleuths all the wrong people would be arrested for murder! Nero and Marlowe are the resident cats (ahem, owners) of the Oyster Cove Guesthouse, and when yet another of the guests is murdered the intrepid cats and their band of ragtag friends are on the case. Which is just as well, as the local sheriff has no clue, and their owner (ahem, slave) is too stupid to figure out the clues without a little help.

This is the second in the Oyster Cove Guesthouse Mystery series, and it's just as good as the first. Reading this book I couldn't get the smile off my face, but why would I want to? A good, fun, quick read that all lovers of cozy mysteries (and cats!) will enjoy.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Josie Waters, owner of Oyster Cove Guesthouse was startled when her odd job man called her to the area being renovated. But she was shocked to see the skeleton in the wall he’d just uncovered. It turned out to be Jedediah Biddeford and his remains were around 300 years old. But the strange part of the story was his descendants were currently enjoying the guesthouse’s facilities and were immediately sure there was treasure buried somewhere.

After a night of guests and town residents using shovels to dig for treasure, the discovery of a body in the pond was the start of an investigation where the sheriff, along with Josie, Millie and Rose, and the cats Nero and Marlowe tried to unearth the killer. The two cats enlisted the gang of local cats – the combination of skills should find answers. But was Nero able to make Josie understand the clues? Would they discover who killed Bob?

A Whisker in the Dark is the 2nd in The Oyster Cove Guesthouse series by Leighann Dobbs and is a fun and entertaining romp with a group of investigative cats, some ditzy humans and plenty of obscure clues to keep the reader guessing. Josie’s baking skills were lacking with many a burnt offering, and my constant wish to nudge her back to the kitchen instead of being side-tracked 😊 Recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

I have such a weakness for cozy mysteries so when I saw A Whisker in the Dark on Netgalley I had to request it even though I already had a number of July ARCs to read. I had read one book by Leighann Dobbs a while ago, A Zen for Murder, that I enjoyed greatly and so was happy to try another one of her cozies.

A Whisker in the Dark is the second book in the Oyster Cove Guesthouse series but it can be read as a stand-alone as I had not read book 1. I kind of wondered why Millie sold the guesthouse to Josie, but it wasn't really pertinent to the mystery.

I don't know if this is really a category of cozy mystery, but I would classify it as a cat cozy. The cats don't speak to the humans but they do "talk" to the reader. They are definitely sleuths in their own right and attempt to communicate clues to the humans. The human sleuths are Josie, Millie, and Josie's mother.

I haven't read too many animal cozies, but I definitely enjoyed this one. The cats are so cute (you all know I'm a cat person), and some of the thoughts the cats have I swear my cats think the same thing.

"Fresh water out of the tap always tasted so delicious it was worth the risk of getting swatted at." (chapter 12)

My cat Pete feels the same way. Though I don't swat at him. Instead, when I see him running after me to the kitchen I turn the faucet on for him.

I think I liked the cats more than the people. There wasn't much character development around Millie and Josie's mother. And I didn't really get Josie. If she can't cook, then why did she buy a bed and breakfast? And because her inability to cook was brought up early in the story, I thought perhaps she was a younger person (like in her 20s), but then her grown daughter is mentioned. I guess there are people who don't cook well that have children, but then I wonder what the kids eat.

The interactions between the characters were great. Dobbs has a talent for dialogue. The town's business showcase was a fun backdrop for many of these interactions.

A Whisker in the Dark has all the makings of a great cozy mystery - a fun, quick read and quirky characters. There are even recipes at the end. If you love cozy mysteries as much as I do, then you should add this one to your list.


Review will be published at Girl Who Reads on July 23 - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2019/07/a-whisker-in-dark-by-leighann-dobbs.html (link will be live at 6:30 am EDT).

It is so nice to be back at the Oyster Bay Guest house with Josie, her mum Rose and her partner in crime solving Millie. Also I mustn’t forget the crime solving cats Nero and Marlowe!

The family of Jedediah Biddeford, the original owner of the Oyster Bay Guest house, are staying at the guest house for the town’s celebrations. To call them dysfunctional is an understatement, they all seem to hate each other.

The renovations to the guest house are going as planned until the bones of Jedediah Biddeford are found in one of the walls! Jedediah’s family believe the family legend that he brought home treasure and set about looking for it, along with the rest of Oyster Bay.

One of the family turns up dead and suspicion falls on Flora, the world’s worst maid, it’s up to Josie, Nero and Marlowe to find the real culprit.

This is the second in the series but can easily be read as a stand-alone without missing feeling like you’ve missed any of the story. I would still recommend reading the first A Twist In The Tail just because it’s such an enjoyable book.

I am absolutely loving this cosy mystery series! I’ve been having a bit of a reading slump lately, I can’t tell you how much this cheered me up.

A Whisker In The Dark is a humorous and quirky read which features cat detectives Nero and Marlowe with their little gang of feline helpers. I loved the way that the relationship is developing between them and their human Josie, as she’s starting to understand them a bit more when they’re pointing her in the direction of clues.

I saw a few complaints about the first book saying it wasn’t a believable story line and frankly I think they’ve missed the point of these novels, they’re fun and a great way of escaping reality for a few hours.

A Whisker In The Dark is a fast paced and fun cosy mystery with likeable sleuths with plenty of twists and turns that makes it such great read.

Oyster Cove is about to have their 250 anniversary celebration. Everyone's excited and gearing up for it. Although Josie, the owner of the Oyster Cove Guesthouse, isn't much of a cook, she's trying to find just the right sweet bread recipe for her display table at the celebration. The Biddeford family, who have a cheese-sculpture business, are staying at the Guesthouse when the handyman discovers the 300 year old skeleton of Jedediah Biddeford in one of the walls while renovating the west wing of the mansion.

The discovery sends everyone on a crazy hunt for the treasure Jedediah supposedly hid somewhere on the property, since it used to be his. Josie doesn't have time to join in with the Biddefords and others who are digging all over the grounds of the Guesthouse trying to find nonexistent treasure, until one of the Biddefords turn up dead. Then she, her mom and Millie have to prove that Flora, the Guesthouse's maid (and a great-grandma) isn't the killer.

This is the second in this new cozy mystery series and a lot of the same characters from the first book make an appearance--Josie's mom, Millie--the former owner of the Guesthouse ,Ed--the handyman, Mike--the former hunky handyman who's the new building inspector, the sheriff, and of course Nero, Marlowe and the rest of the cats.

I like Josie, but she really needs to use some common sense while learning to bake--I kept yelling at her to use a timer!! The sheriff is batting 0-2 since he again picked the wrong person as the guilty party. Thank goodness for Nero and Marlowe because the mystery couldn't have been solved without them.

This cozy mystery series with cats who are detectives is a good escape. I like that the author includes recipes at the end of the book

My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with a copy of the book. My review is voluntary and all thoughts expressed are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Leighann Dobbs has written another brilliant installment in the Oyster Cove Guesthouse series. Once again Josie finds herself up to her ears in another murder to solve at the Guesthouse. The wonderful cast of characters is back - Josie, her mother Rose, Millie, Seth, Mike, Flora and of course the most important characters Nero and Marlowe who really make the story.

The Biddeford family is in Oyster Cover for the towns 250th anniversary. The family is in the cheese sculpting business and has ties to the original owners of the Guesthouse. When one a body is found in the walls of the Guesthouse it seems that everyone in town feels the need to dig up the land looking for supposed buried treasure.

While the Sheriff in town is not really quick to solve crimes, Josie is lucky to have Nero and Marlowe along with their gang of detecting cats on the job. They do more to solve the crime than the humans put together.

While Josie is trying to solve the crime and keep the reputation of the Guesthouse from being ruined by the bodies that seem to keep turning up, she is trying to learn how to bake. Many a poor loaf burned to death in this book. The charming part of the series - next to the adorable cats, is that the recipes that are talked about through the book appear at the end, with personal notes from the author.

Looking forward to the next installment in the series. This one definitely needs more than 5 stars.

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 bag, 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?

Oh, this was a fun one! I just love mysteries like this and even though I hadn't read the first book, I had no issue figuring out what was going on fairly quickly.

*Book received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Second book in the Oyster Cove Guesthouse Series. Like the previous book, the cats are smarter than the humans. I enjoyed the book, it's a cute series. Plus I'm a sucker for books were cats solve crimes. The book is a quick and fun read. Who knew cheese sculpting could be a lucrative business? The bigger question is, why did the Biddefords travel with so much cheese? Paula had a Gouda sculpture in her room. Why!!!??? Josie is the worst baker. With the amount of money she spends on all the baking ingredients that she ends up burning, she could have spent that money at a bakery for actual edible baked goods. Why does Josie keep Flora as a maid?? She pays this woman to clean, but she does nothing except give attitude. With all the murders that keep occurring in this town, a police officer who can actually solve crimes is needed. The cats pretty much solve everything with minimal help from two old ladies and Josie.

I recommend the book. It's short and full of cat detectives. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookouture through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This time it isn't one of Josie's guests who is found dead, it's the tycoon who built the mansion three hundred years ago. Repairs to the property reveal Jedediah Biddford's skeleton hidden in a wall at the same time as his descendants, a quarrelsome family of cheese sculptors, are staying at the guest house for the town's 250th anniversary celebration.

The local authorities aren't concerned about how Jedediah died or how he wound up in the wall, but everyone is searching for the treasure he supposedly left behind. They're digging up the property and tracking mud through the guesthouse...and then one of them winds up dead.

The second book in the Oyster Cove Guesthouse series is fast paced and fun, with quirky characters and an entertaining mystery. And did I mention that Josie isn't the only one trying to solve it? The two cats who came with the guesthouse, along with the other cats in town, are also working on the case and we get plenty of chapters from their point of view. I'll be watching for book number three.

A Whiskers in the Dark is an interesting second in this series. This story is told through the superior eyes of two cats that own the humans. They help Josie the new owner of the guesthouse. You'll keep guessing with all the twists involving the family that has come to stay here.

Ok, I have to say, I love Nero and Marlowe! I do agree with another reviewer that Josie really does need to learn how to cook, at least the basics. I could understand her burning almost everything in the first book. It's even believeable for her to mess up a few receipes in this book, but she can't keep hoping that Millie will keep saving her guests from her cooking.

As for the mystery itself, I really did enjoy it. Although the family with all of the infighting was annoying, it was believeable and it had me guessing until the end.

I am looking forward to the 3rd installment in The Oystercove Guesthouse series.

Just Josie's luck she and others discover 300 year old bones in her guesthouse. Trying to make the guesthouse profitable the last thing she needs is a murderer to strike. Josie and friends set out to solve the mystery of the recent murder. Quite a funny cast of characters

I was hoping to like this book from the blurb.
The premise of the cats was enjoyable but this felt like another guesthouse mystery with a skeleton discovered.
Unfortunately this book left me feeling like the theme has been done to death (no pun intended).

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. This was a real nice easy enjoyable read about the Oyster Cove Guesthouse. I enjoyed it.

We have skeleton, murder, family drama + rumor,amateur cooking and a good blend of sleuthing and mystery.

300 year old skeleton, rebirth of an age old tale of treasure, siblings clashing, all that may have led to the sudden corpse of the guest again.

This installment was even better than the first, it managed to snag my attention right away and especially with the cats invedtigating made this not your usual crime solving.

Pros
The mystery.
The charaters and their interaction
Josie with her insecurities and self determination to get her giesthouse to be success .
I would love to see more of Josie, Rose , Millie &Mike uncovering and bantering.
The cats quirkiness, the author managed to caych the feline nature and make it realistic enough to make this series enjouable

Cons
The pacing bothered me a little bit, it felt inconsistant at times.

In a nutshell thos installment managed to have a different unique mystery and LEFT YOU guessing throughout the story, with the right amount of chatacyer development and relationship (which I root for).

“Well at least Mike will get the ball rolling. If we waited for Josie to understand what our different cries mean this one might turn into a skeleton too.”

Josie Waters is still trying to improve her baking skills to impress the tourists staying at the Oyster Cove Guesthouse. In the meantime, the Biddeford family (Mom and four grown children and spouses) have booked the house for the whole week. Nero and Marlowe, the two cats who live at the guesthouse, continue to complain that Josie doesn’t understand what they try to share with her.

In fact, in Chapter 1, the cats try to alert Josie only to be ignored – that is until Ed yells through the house to Josie, “You’d better come see this.” Josie finds Ed in a pile of rubble from the plaster wall he is working on along with a skeleton. A skeleton that has the Biddeford family ring on his boney finger.

Rumors immediately circulate that the Biddeford treasure must be somewhere nearby. The hardware store sells out of shovels and that night people are digging by flashlight for the “treasure”. Unfortunately, one of the Biddeford sons, Earl, is found dead, again after an alert from the cats. Now Josie is a suspect since she is unhappy about all the digging on the guesthouse property.

Josie decides to do her own sleuthing to find the killer. And Nero and Marlowe head down to the bait wharf to enlist their feline friends - Poe, Stubbs, Boots, Harry and Juliette - to help them investigate.

While the mystery is not particularly deep, Leighann Dobbs creates captivating characters, especially the feline kind. The shifts in perspective, between the humans and the cats, is well done. Ms. Dobbs writes an entertaining and amusing story – a fun summer read and a treat for fans of feline sleuths.

This is a cute cozy mystery set in a small town and features a new B & B owner as the protagonist.
While the story was interesting, a did have a problem relating to the characters.
Usually I have a easy time finding someone who I immediately connect with, but I wasn't able to do that in A Whisker in the Dark.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for approving me to read the book.