In Claws of Action you find just the right mix to make this a fantastic read!

Evonda has put a snag in Lara and Aunt Fran's plan to make one of the rooms in the cat shelter a reading nook. However, when she's found dead holding the document which disqualified the "nook" at the shelter all eyes are on Lara and her aunt. Except they're a lot more suspects than just those two.

So, the ladies set off along with Blue, the spirit cat to solve the mystery of who killed Evonda.

A fun cozy I highly recommend.

This was my first book in this series but the fourth in the series. I was able to enjoy this book even without knowing the characters’ backstories. The characters are likable and relatable. The storyline is entertaining and well developed. I look forward to reading more of this series.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.

This is one of my favorite series. I love the idea of a cat rescue. Linda's plot was great, the character development ran smooth throughout the book. I felt like I was visiting old friends from the first page and could not put it down. I did not catch on to the murderer until the reveal. I cannot wait for the next book in this series!

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

I enjoyed this latest offering in the Cat Lady Mystery series! Life at the High Cliff Shelter for Cats offers an increasingly wonderful and professional service to the community of Whisker Jog, New Hampshire. Lara, a watercolor painter and cat lover, came to help Aunt Fran when she needed to have both knees replaced and had more cats than she could care for in her condition. Since then, Fran had her surgeries, Lara has helped establish the cage-free cat shelter, and there are more happy cat owners in Whisker Jog.

Renovations to add a reading room to the shelter are complete, with the first scheduled Read to a Cat day imminent and fully booked. It is a relatively new concept at shelters, the idea given to Lara when a child sneaked in one day with a book, determined to read to a cat. Their grand opening is scheduled. Until trouble walked in the shelter in the form of a health inspector, also known as Hurricane Evonda.

Evonda Fray is a health inspector who heard that High Cliff Shelter is a cat café. Fran and Lara do offer refreshments at no charge to visitors on adoption days, but beverages and cookies is at the option of the visitor. Not to be deterred, she issues them a citation for operating a cat café without a license and will obtain and deliver a cease and desist order the next day.

Gideon, Lara’s boyfriend and an attorney, advises them on the matter. If she tries to shut them down, he will file a “cause of action” and worst case, they can stop serving refreshments. While Gideon is there, Brian, a young man, arrives with his cat in a carrier. The new owner of his apartment building is none other than Evonda Fray. Despite his lease that allows him to have his older cat who sleeps most of the time, she claims the cat is damaging the place and he must get rid of the cat or she will. After pleading his case, Lara and Fran will keep Smuggles until Brian finds a cat-friendly apartment and moves.

The next morning, Evonda Fray is found dead in her car outside her home. The paperwork to get the cease and desist order for the shelter is clutched in one hand. As a result, Fran and Lara have to go to the police station to be questioned.

One suspect is the owner of Smuggles, Brian. He admits to having had run after Mrs. Fray’s car as she left the apartment building and sticking his hands in the back, driver’s side window that was open. Knowing his fingerprints would be found, he could be picked up for her murder, and asked if they would keep his beloved cat however long it takes. When cat hairs similar to those of two of the shelter’s cats are found in the back seat of Mrs. Fray’s car, where the killer had been waiting for her.

The characters are well-defined and likable, with few exceptions. Lara and Fran are delightful ladies, and I’m glad that they are in this business venture together. I also enjoy Lara’s best friend from childhood, Sherry. Evonda Fray loved birds, especially black birds, but had very few friends except for the remaining three of the “four old crows”, and her son Tim.

Plot twists continue to change who the suspects might be. I wanted to believe the innocence of those that Lara was sure of, despite some of the evidence that popped up. When it appeared that Lara might be suspect, at least according to the state police, things get heated and Lara just might choose to forget that she won’t ask a few questions around town. Lara also has help from Blue, a beautiful, mysterious ragdoll cat that only she has been able to see since childhood. Blue plays a very special part this time! I had a good idea who the bad guy was early on but couldn’t come up with the motive or determine the complexity. Time revealed more little clues that I was surprised nobody saw. There are some surprises, however, and all loose ends are tied up at the end. I highly recommend this cozy mystery and series! It just keeps getting better and better!

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

Definitely a one sitting book; quick but thoroughly entertaining. This series grips you, not just the mystery, the bond between Lara and Aunt Fran. This series starts off as feel good coming of age/coming home again story. It is so great to see Lara with her roots planted and relationships made.

In this installment, a health inspector shows up at the house/cat shelter just when they are finishing up on the remodel. Because they offer potential adopters beverages and snacks, the inspector deems them to be a "cafe" and unsanitary. When the said inspector is found dead the next morning, Lara and Aunt Fran are the primary suspects. With everything to lose, Lara sets off to solve the case.

What I always enjoy about the books in this series, there are secondary mysteries to solve too. There are many with secrets in the small town, and some will do whatever they have to for them to stay hidden. Things are definitely not what they seem.

In the remodel of the house/shelter, Lara has a reading room set up for children to come and read to the cats. I adore this idea and am very thankful that more rescues are starting to participate in activities like this.

There were a few small cliffhangers in this book; wedding plans, budding romances, etc. I cannot wait for more from Whisker Jog!!

I received an ARC of this novel from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Claws of Action was one of those fun and fast-paced cosy mysteries that kept me guessing till the very end. Something else that I really liked about this book was the cat shelter and the reading room where kids could read to the cats.

At first, I wasn't sure I would enjoy this book, even though I love cats, because there was a cat spirit that would occasionally appear to Lara and help her with problems. Once I got into it, things changed, and I was right there with Lara and Aunt Fran as they tried to figure out who killed Evonda Fray. One reason they were so interested in trying to find the killer was because Evonda had paid a surprise visit to Lara and Fran's High Cliff Shelter for Cats and declared that it qualified as a "cat cafe" and had to be shut down. The following day, Evonda's body was found in her car, holding a copy of the cease-and-desist order she was planning to give to Lara and Fran.

However, with the help of the police, a number of potential culprits are found, diverting suspicion from Lara and Fran. They continue to try to find clues, as one suspect, Brian, had asked them to keep his cat until he could find a new place to live. Evonda happened to be his landlord, and she had told him that the cat, Smuggles, had to go. When Brian is considered to be a top suspect, Lara and Fran had to assure him that they would take care of Smuggles, should he be arrested.

I rarely figure out who the murderer is, but that I one reason I enjoy mysteries! I was stymied in this instance as well. I did warm up to the characters, and since this is the fourth entry in the series, I should probably backtrack and read the other three.

As usual, Blue did come to the rescue. I look forward to the next entry in the series, as well.

Thanks to Net Galley and Lyrical Press for the ARC!

I have to say this the Cat Ladies Mysteries series is one of my favorites out there today. Each installment just gets better and better. Ever time I think I have a new favorite from the series, the next book I read ends up knocking the last one out of the water.

Claws of Action is a fun fast-paced mystery that kept me guessing until the end. This can be read as a standalone, but I truly suggest you start from book one and go from there because that way you can really truly appreciate how this series has grown by each installment. In this installment, you read about the same loveable characters with the addition of a couple of more new characters, which I hope will have some cameos in future books.

I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves cozy mysteries.

In this next book of the series the ladies have added in a reading room for the shelter and things are going well. All that is turned upside down when the local health inspector stops by and wants to close the shelter down. Lara is shocked and can't figure out why the woman is so hostile and tries to reason with her. Things take a turn when the health inspector is found dead the next day murdered. Having visited the shelter the day before her death puts Lara and her Aunt at the top of the suspect list which puts the shelter in a bad light. Lara is worried about the shelter and how Aunt Fran is dealing with the whole situation. With everything that is happening around her Lara decides she must take steps of her own and start looking into who killed Evonda and why. She soon learns that there were several people who disliked the woman with good reason. Lara knows she must sift through the suspects and figure out who the most likely culprit is and then find evidence. Follow along as Lara investigates a list full of suspects, will she come out triumphant in the end or has she put herself into danger by looking into things. This is a great series filled with characters that are easy to get to know, several furry friends, and a mystery that needs to be solved!

Princess Fuzzypants here: I have enjoyed this series greatly. How could I not like a book revolving around a cat rescue where the heroine is saved time and again by a ghost cat that only she can see? Lara, Blue, and the assorted other characters, human and feline, are back. This time they are threatened by a vile health inspector who is determined to shut down the rescue with capricious restraining orders. When she is strangled by material that had held a newly delivered door after she and Lara had a confrontation, Lara becomes suspect. No one believes either Lara or her aunt are involved but the investigation must follow the rules and the evidence.
This causes a perhaps irreparable rift between Fran and her boyfriend, the Chief of Police. Thankfully Lara’s Gideon is there to help as are her friends and supporters. However it is always Blue who provides the final blink on decisions and clues to the murder. Sadly, even as she tries to avoid entanglement in the mystery, Lara’s in deep trouble. Thank Bast, Blue is there to rescue Lara.
The stories always have a good mystery with lots of angles and twists that hit you unexpectedly. Even the murdered villain becomes a more sympathetic character as her backstory is revealed. The animals are delightful. We kitties steal the show. We always do. You could pick this book up and enjoy it. But why not go back and read the entire series.
Five purrs and two paws up.

A fun and entertaining cozy mystery with interesting characters. I loved the idea of a room were kids could read to cats.
Actually, I enjoyed the book so much, I bought the others in the series.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or remuneration.

#NetGalley #ClawsofAction

I really like this series about a woman and her aunt who run a small cat shelter in the aunt's historic Victorian home. I sort of wonder about the reality of this, as it's not clear how they're both able to make ends meet in this situation without other jobs. But, I enjoyed the descriptions of each unique cat, and the mystery story line (the health inspector is murdered after citing the shelter for violations) is a complex one. There's a bit of everything: mystery, murder, cats, and romance. Looking forward to the next book in the series!

I like everything about this charming cozy series. From the shelter cats and Lara's ghostly cat Blue to the various humans living in this little New Hampshire town, this series is just right. Here we are in the 4th entry to the series and the High Cliff Shelter for Cats is getting ready to launch something new for the children of the community. If it works out as planned it will be a win-win endeavor for Lara and her Aunt Fran. They are opening a reading nook for the children, a place for reading - with or without a kitty companion of the moment. It's another way to showcase the needy kitties and encourage the children to read. The day before the opening, in storms the local health inspector, a nasty woman named Evonda, who declares the shelter to be operating as an illegal cat cafe because the have some snacks available to the people who are interested in adopting a kitty or two. There go their plans and Evonda vows to return with further documents to shut them down.
The next day, with the opening events put on hold, Lara and Aunt Fran are wondering what the hold up is with their next confrontation with the health inspector. Maybe her car had a flat or she over slept or??? The thought of her demise at the hands of a killer didn't make their list of possibilities. Not only is Evonda found very dead in her car, she has the paper work on hand and she meant business when she said she was going to shut down the shelter. What motive could there be aside from the fact that she was not a nice person overall? Well, she wasn't a nice landlord and one of her tenants has been told to get rid of his cat or he will be evicted. Sure didn't take the police long to focus on both Lara and Aunt Fran as well as Brian, the tenant facing eviction. They all wonder why Evonda had such issues with cats.
From the well crafted mystery full of the usual twists, turns and red herrings to a sprinkling of romance - some going well and some turning a bit rocky - this entry shows me that this series has staying power and there is no doubt in my mind that I will enjoy the next book just as much.

Claws of Action: A Cat Lady Mystery
By Linda Reilly
Lyrical Underground
August 2019

Review by Cynthia Chow

Lara Caphart was about to see her dream come true. The High Cliff Shelter for cats is opening an official reading room, where shy children can sit and read to one of the resident shelter cats. Lara’s joy is cut short by the unexpected arrival of Evonda Fray, the new Whisker Job, New Hampshire health inspector. Declaring that the tea and cookies Lara and her Aunt Fran serve make it an unlicensed cat café, Evonda seems to revel in her promise to shut them down before their first official “Read to a Cat” day grand opening. Evonda’s nefariousness extends past her job duties, as her new tenant Brian Downing comes to the High Cliff Shelter pleading for them to take in his beloved cat Smuggles. It seems his anti-cat landlord Evonda has threatened to evict Brian or remove the cat herself from the premises, and after making a few threats himself Brian is looking for a safe haven for the feline who saved the man’s sanity after a divorce.

Unfortunately, when Evonda is found gruesomely murdered in her car, police are quick to arrive at the shelter doorstep. While cat hair on the scene leads them back to Lara as a suspect, it is additional evidence that places Brian in their sights. The real betrayal for Aunt Fran comes when it is her boyfriend, Police Chief Jerry Whitley, who not only delivers the news in person and takes hair samples from their beloved cat residents, he is unable to remember their names. With far too many murders in her recent past, not to mention the danger she faced, Lara has been adamant that she would remain uninvolved and leave the investigation up to the authorities. It seems that fate has different plans for her though, as her Guardian Angel Blue does everything an unseen cat can do to see that Lara tracks down the truth.

Pet lovers will immediately fall in love with this series that begins with a listing of the cat characters and all of their adorable traits. While they and the cage-free shelter are the heart of the novel, Lara and her friends propel the action and prove to be layered and realistically complicated. Lara and her attorney boyfriend Gideon have forged a supportive and trusting bond – he accepts her Cat Lady tendencies - but the relationships around them are shown to stumble through miscommunications and mistrust. Young assistant Kayla Ramirez is feeling sensitive about her single status amidst so many couples, “perfect” couple Charlie and Nina Blackstrom are sharing a lot of passive-aggressive exchanges, and Police Chief Jerry is definitely on Aunt Fran’s “ignore” call list. Intriguingly, the detestable, cat-hating Evonda is revealed to have a past that makes her, to an extent at least, sympathetic. Lara and her Aunt Fran have created an enviable cat haven for its lucky residents, and the appreciation of the bonds between felines and humans is celebrated. Whether through a creative Read-to-a-Cat program, Forever Home adoptions, or the healing power of companionship, these furry friends are lauded as being vital to a happy community. Readers can’t go wrong with this fun mystery full of books, cats, and the humans who love them.

This is such a fun series and a favorite of mine as it is a cat theme cozy series. I highly recommend the entire series as this is always a fun read and a great sleuth about a cat shelter and cat lovers.
This series is pure "catnip" for cat lovers. Linda Reilly is a favorite cozy author of mine and I was thrilled to receive this book for review. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the ARC. My opinion is my own.

In this next 4th installment of this beloved series our protagonist Lara and her Aunt Fran are excited for the grand opening of the reading area within the cat shelter where children will be able to sit and read with the cats. Its been very generously received by the community and everyone is excited for the reading room. The donations have been generous and the room is ready to be opened. . Their shelter within Aunt Fran's house is doing very well and popular . They are even serving some food and drinks to visitors to entice them to stay and visit the cats.

The local health inspector, Evonda, ( their nemesis) makes a visit the day before their opening . She's determined to shut them down, saying that they are in violation of the health code because they serve food on the premises . She states she will return the next morning with a court order. to shut them down. Lara and Aunt Fran are of course devastated . She is known to be a cat hater and not friendly toward their shelter in the past.

The chief of police arrives the next morning to tell them that Evonda had been murdered, strangled in her car, with the cease and desist order against the shelter with her. Now Lara and her Aunt are prime suspects and must investigate to save their lives and their beloved shelter. As soon they find out Evonda has many enemies and was greatly disliked in the community . Soon Lara is buried in clues and suspects and must act fast to save the shelter.

This is such a enjoyable read. The location of New Hampshire is described in detail so beautifully. The charcters are all likable and a fun addition to the story. The plot was multi layered and the sleuth very surprising to the conclusion. This was another winning book by Linda Reilly and a great addition to this fun series.

I highly recommend this book and this series for all of us cozy readers who love our animal themed cozies with a great mystery.

Lara and her Aunt Fran are happily preparing the latest addition to their High Cliff Shelter, a reading room where children can come read to the cats. Everything is coming together perfectly until the new health inspector, Evonda Fray, makes an unexpected appearance and claims that the cookies and drinks they serve to visitors make the shelter an illegal cat cafe. She vows to return the next morning with a cease and desist notice that will put them out of business, but before she can do that her body is found in her car with the paperwork in her hands.



The one thing Lara knows for sure is that she didn't strangle the unpleasant woman herself. She's not so sure about the owner of the shelter's newest resident, who brought them his cat because his landlord, Evonda Fray, has ordered him to get rid of his beloved pet...or about the many others who had reason to want Evonda gone.



I'm not much of a cat person these days, but that doesn't stop me from thoroughly enjoying the Cat Lady Mysteries. Lara and Aunt Fran are clearly devoted to their cats but they never come across as too judgmental of characters who aren't as enamored with cats. (Except for Evonda and she was just terrible towards cat and people.) The mystery was complex and kept me guessing...and worrying...until the solution.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

Book 4 in the series.

I didn't realize this was the newest in a series until I starting reading and decided I was missing a lot of back story. I ended up getting the previous three books from the library and reading them first. Do yourself a favor if you haven't read the previous books, don't start here.

It's an okay series. I like the main characters, Lara and Aunt Fran. They're both strong, smart characters. The ghost ragdoll cat is an interesting touch and I loved the rescue cats. I didn't have a lot of sympathy for the murder victim, she kind of deserved her fate.

All in all, I enjoyed the series and look forward to more.

Claws of Action by Linda Reilly is the 4th book in the Cat Lady Mystery series, and another great addition. Lara Caphart lives with her Aunt Fran in Whisker Jog, New Hampshire where they run High Cliff Shelter for Cats. The shelter has just added a reading room for the kids to snuggle with and read to the cats. Evonda Fray, the health inspector, makes a surprise inspection, and shuts down the shelter because they give away free refreshments. When Evonda is later found dead in her car, the sleuthing begins. Claws of Action is a fun book, and the mystery keeps you guessing until the end. These books always make me feel I'm right there in the shelter playing with the cats. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. If you love cats and cozy mysteries, this book/series is for you.

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

Claws of Action by Linda Reilly is the fourth book in the Cat Lady Mysteries. I love this series and this one did not disappoint.
We return to the High Cliff Cat Shelter in in Whisker Jog. Lara and her Aunt Fran are ready to open the cat reading room. The town's new health inspector shows up and appears to have a problem not only with cats but the entire idea of the shelter. Lara knows there will be problems. The next morning the inspector is found murdered in her car with the paperwork to close the shelter. All eyes are on Lara and Aunt Fran. Lara sets out to clear their names and the shelter.
There are great characters, humor, romance, plenty of twists and turns, and cats. This is an easy to read cozy that will have you guessing until the end.
I was given an ARC by NetGalley and Kensington books for an honest review.

I am loving this series. A cat rescue, how perfect would that be! Unfortunately, not everyone loves cats, but you don’t have to be so ugly about it! Love these characters and how they work through the problems thrown at them. It was a good story where you just may find out that first opinions are not always the best. I love small towns, and seems there may be secrets just waiting to be learned. I hope you enjoy visiting with the characters as much as I do. I can’t wait to see what happens next. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.