Another great installment in the Cat Lady mystery series. I'm happy to be counted amongst those who consider themselves 'cat ladies' (despite not currently having any, more's the pity), and this series appeals to me because not only are the stories well written, the mysteries well plotted and the characters appealing, there are plenty of cats for me to vicariously enjoy until that time I can have real life ones again.

This time Lara and her Aunt Fran are preparing to open a reading room, where people can come and spend time reading to the cats. All is ready to go when a health inspector drops by unannounced and says she is going to cite them for being an unlicensed 'cat cafe' because they serve cookies to potential adopters. It gets worse when the next day this lady is found dead - murdered - in her car at her home! The citation is on the seat beside her, and of course the finger points at Aunt Fran and Lara. It's now up to them to clear their names, and get the High Cliff Cat Shelter out of trouble.

The mystery was good and I thought I had fingered the perpetrator about halfway through - but I hadn't! I won't say there were a lot of clues that lead to the murderer (although, if I'm honest, I don't generally spot them anyway), but it was a good twist and it wrapped up well.

Claws of Action by Linda Reilly is the fourth offering in the Cat Lady Mysteries. I do not read a series without reading the previous books. But, the cover caught my attention. Covers are important to the cozy genre and I will buy any book that has an appealing cover.

Many cozy series can have several if not dozens of books in the series. So it is important that the reader can start with any book and not feel lost. I love the fact that the book begins with a cast of feline characters to tell you about all the cats. It would have been a helpful feature for the two legged characters.

The series follows Lara Caphart who runs High Cliff Shelter for Cats from her Aunt Flora’s home. As most cozies have themes, this one is themed around Lara and her cat shelter. There is also a supernatural aspect. As a cat named Blue that only Lara can see is important to the series. Blue is a patronus.

When the person who is threatening to close the shelter ends up dead Lara finds herself caught in the middle. I do not know the main character Lara. She has already solved a handful of murders and has established relationships. I felt a little lost. Oddly that did not detract from my enjoyment of the book.

What threw me was the choice of words for characters. I would immerse myself in the book and a word would come up and feel inorganic. Words that seems out-of-place like sitch, oh good gosh, or even bat in the wrong context. It was like these words or terms were not what I would expect these characters to say. Especially after following them for over a hundred pages.

Another example is when a character is swearing one minute and thanking the lord a second later. It may seem like nitpicking however as someone who is usually lax about such things it threw me off. I also feel like Lara gushed over her boyfriend a little much at some points. These two aspects threw me off.

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I also figured out the killer or killers on my own before the book was even halfway done. I think the ending was a planned twist ending, but I caught on right away. The plot was fairly predictable. Despite this, I enjoyed the book. But I have read dozens of cozy series over the years. So that may account for my accurate predictions of who the killer or killers were.

The main characters were all likable. The book was a fun and easy read. Despite the narrative throwing me off a few times Claws of Action proved to be a solid cozy. Despite murder and the main character’s peril there was enough substance. The light hearted parts made a serious subject enjoyable.

I rated Claws of Action four out of five stars on Goodreads. I would recommend reading this book as it takes 2-3 hours to read depending on reading speed. It a great way to spend a lazy Saturday curled up with a book and perhaps a cat.

Claws of Action is the fourth book in Linda Reilly’s Cat Lady Mystery series. This is a light cozy with a well-plotted storyline and a great cast of well-developed characters, both human and feline. The story flows at a steady pace, with an intriguing mystery, and a hint of the paranormal. The plot moves swiftly, and there are lots of twists and turns, a few red herrings, and plenty of suspects to keep the reader engaged. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading cozy mysteries.

Lara Caphart is a talented watercolor artist who moved back to Whisker Jog, New Hampshire to help her aunt, Fran Clarkson. Blue, a stunning Ragdoll cat who only Lara can see, is her guardian cat with powerful protective instincts and the ability to point out clues to mysteries. Lara and Fran own and operate High Cliff Shelter for Cats, a unique animal shelter in their home. Lara enjoys spending time with her old friend, Sherry Bowker, who owns and operates Bowker’s Coffee Shop with her mom. The relationship between Lara and Gideon Halley, a lawyer, continues to progress. Fran and Police Chief Jerry Whitley are spending time together, but she’s having trouble accepting the fact that he doesn’t love cats, but he’s trying to do better. Lara and Fran are working on a cozy reading room where children can read to the cats, and as they prepare for the grand opening, a health inspector, Evonda Fray, makes a surprise visit and informs Lara that she is shutting down the shelter for running a cat café without a license, which they aren’t doing. Brian Downing asks Lara to take care of his senior cat, Smuggles, while he looks for a new apartment because Evonda, his landlady, will be evicting him if he doesn’t get rid of Smuggles. When Evonda is murdered, Lara and Aunt Fran are considered suspects. As Lara asks about the deceased and those who knew her, she learns that the woman made enemies most of her life.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

Claws of Action is the fourth installment in the A Cat Lady Mystery series set in the small town of Whisker Jog, New Hampshire and featuring Lara Caphart and her Aunt Fran, owners of the High Cliff Shelter for cats which is found within the walls of Aunt Fran's Victorian home. Thanks to generous donations from the townspeople, the ladies have been able to complete a reading room at the shelter so that children can come in and read to the strays.

The day before the grand opening of the reading room, the new health inspector, Evonda Fray appears at the door and demands an inspection. She claims that the ladies are actually running a cat cafe because they occasionally offer a beverage and/or a snack to potential adopters, and because they aren't licensed for that she plans to shut them down. Lara is furious and vows to fight back.

When Aunt Fran's boyfriend, Whisker Jog Chief of Police Jerry Whitley arrives the next morning to say that Evonda has been found strangled in her car with the cease and desist order for the shelter in her hand, the ladies are not surprised that someone has done away with the nasty woman but they are shocked to learn that they are the prime suspects in her death.

Determined to clear their names, Lara teams up with her lawyer boyfriend Gideon and her ghostly cat Blue to sniff out the real killer. A fast paced plot featuring well developed characters, a romantic disagreement and a delightful cast of cats will keep you turning the pages. I look forward to the next adventures of Lara, Fran, Gideon and Blue.

I received an advanced copy of Claws of Action from NetGalley via Lyrical Underground. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.

Claws Of Action
A Cat Lady Mystery , Book #4
Linda Reilly
5 Stars

Synopsis:

Purr-suing a killer …

The only thing that could make the High Cliff Shelter for Cats even cozier is a reading room where kids can snuggle up with a furry feline and a book. But as Lara and Aunt Fran prepare for the reading nook’s official opening, the health inspector in their New Hampshire town, Evonda Fray, decrees that the shelter qualifies as a “cat café,” thanks to the free snacks it serves to visitors—and that it must be shut down.

When Evonda’s body is found in her car clutching a copy of the cease-and-desist order, suspicion naturally falls on Lara and Aunt Fran. But there’s a whole litter of potential culprits, including a tenant in one of Evonda’s buildings who’d been ordered to give up his rescue cat, a disgruntled daughter-in-law, and more. Now Lara—with some help from her aunt and her spirit cat, Blue—has to pin the tail on the right suspect …(Goodreads)


Review:

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and she brought the town of Whisker Jog, New Hampshire, to life in my mind. I could picture High Cliff Shelter for Cats, imagining all of the cats being loved and cared for.

The characters are well rounded and well developed. I love the relationship between Lara and Aunt Fran, they compliment each other wonderfully. Lara is more apt to fly of the handle, and Aunt Fran calms her down and thinks things through. Gideon is a great boyfriend and I like how their relationship is progressing. And I love all of the cats, they bring so much to the story. I like the mystical Blue, I like how he always appears when Lara needs him.

The mystery was well plotted and carried along at a great pace. There were plenty of suspects to consider and clue to sift through. I was very surprised at who the culprit was, which is a good thing.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. This is one of my favorite cozy series to read and I cannot wait until the next one is released (I know I will have to wait a while, unfortunately).

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

Cat Lady Mysteries #4 was called Claws of Action by Linda Reilly. The book is considered a cosy mystery and is focused on Aunt Fran and Lara and their homey shelter for cats. They have worked hard to set up a nice shelter for cats and to help them find their forever home. However, Lara seems to be a lightning rod for murder mysteries. She just can’t seem to help herself by asking questions and trying to figure out what happened and who did it!

This mystery introduced us to the new building inspector who was determined to shut down the shelter because it was not following the rules necessary to be a cat cafe. Too bad, she was the one murdered, since we already know we do not like her! We also met the town sheriff (special friend of Aunt Fran) and a lawyer Gideon (special friend of Lara). The town is populated as any small town would be with lots of people who all know each other and the rumors run fast! The town is based on a small town in the northern half of New Hampshire based on the hints given.

I really liked the two main characters of Lara and Aunt Fran. I felt they would be someone to be friends with and that this town could be a home for me. (The fact I do live in a small town in central New Hampshire could be a deciding factor.) I liked the way the mystery was rolled out with the various twists and turns. I did not have the mystery figured out so the ending was fun. Claws of Action by Linda Reilly, the fourth book in the Cat Lady Mysteries was a fun read.

Fun read, great mystery. I enjoy the characters and their interactions. The town is nice as well, and seems to be a great small town. The new cats in each book are fun and I look forward to their adoption.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Having free snacks at an animal shelter does not make it a cat cafe but the hateful health inspector Evonda is after Lara and her aunt Fran, who have created a lovely in home shelter for homeless cats. Evonda is (cozy fans can predict) found dead and Lara and Fran are tops of the suspect list. Hah- she's been awful to others in the town of Whisper Jog, New Hampshire and there's more to her story than it appears on the surface. Lara's car Blue (I know, I know, just go with it) helps out here, as in the earlier books. Reilly has a nice way with characters and has created a cozy series that keeps you guessing - this is no exception. I admit to being a fan because I like the characters (I'm happy to see a little but not too much love interest for BOTH Lara and Fran in this installment) and the setting, as well as the writing. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It will be great as a standalone and you'll want to read the next one as I do.

Claws of Action by Linda Reilly is the fourth book in the A Cat Lady Mystery series. I enjoyed this book and have purchased the previous three books so I can start at the beginning and be all caught up.

The only thing that could make the High Cliff Shelter for Cats even cozier is a reading room where kids can snuggle up with a furry feline and a book. But as Lara and Aunt Fran prepare for the reading nook’s official opening, the health inspector in their New Hampshire town, Evonda Fray, decrees that the shelter qualifies as a “cat café,” thanks to the free snacks it serves to visitors—and that it must be shut down.

When Evonda’s body is found in her car clutching a copy of the cease-and-desist order, suspicion naturally falls on Lara and Aunt Fran. But there’s a whole litter of potential culprits, including a tenant in one of Evonda’s buildings who’d been ordered to give up his rescue cat, a disgruntled daughter-in-law, and more. Now Lara—with some help from her aunt and her spirit cat, Blue—has to pin the tail on the right suspect …

Even though I haven't read the previous books in this series, it didn't cause a problem as this can be read as a stand-alone. I think this will be one of my favorite cat mystery series.

I like the Protagonist Lara who runs a cat shelter in her home, and once again is at the center of a murder. The characters are well developed and very likeable, such as her Aunt Fran and Blue a rag-doll cat that only Lara can see who provides hints in the direction that Lara should investigate plus who doesn't love a cats.

There are plenty of twists and turns to keep me wanting to find out what will happen next. The book is engaging from start to finish, grabbing you from the very beginning. I cant wait for the fifth installment in this series, I recommend this to cozy lovers.

I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Kensington Books - Lyrical Underground and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.

An engaging and clever addition to a charming series. I enjoy cats although I would be happier without the strange visions of one that provides clues. The main characters are kind, interesting people. The culprit was a surprise.

Claws of Action is a very entertaining cozy murder mystery. Great plot and quirky cast of characters. Mystery fans will love this book. I received an arc from the publisher and this is my unbiased review.

A "keep you guessing" mystery, cats, two strong and resourceful main characters, a lovely setting and did I mention kittens?! The latest book from Linda Reilly combines all of the elements above into a book that you simply can't put down!

When Lara and Aunt Fran are faced with their feline adoption agency being shut down by an overzealous health inspector, the two women are devastated. When the health inspector turns up murdered, things go from bad to worse since Lara and Aunt Fran are considered suspects.

I love this series because Lara is a very "real" character, that the reader can relate to, with doubts about her new-found amateur sleuth title. She's not sure why murder keeps finding her but she knows she has to help find the truth. The mystery/romance balance is perfect and I enjoyed the side stories involving Lara's best friend Sherry and assistant Kayla.

If you're a cat lover, you'll be enchanted by the funny and beautiful cats and kittens that are at the center. The most special being Blue, a gorgeous Ragdoll with a very special power!

I can't wait for the next book!

I received an ARC from NetGalley for a fair and honest review of this book.

This is the fourth book in The Cat Lady Mystery series and it's just as good as the previous books! This time, Lara and Fran are being cited by the health inspector, Evonda, but she is found dead before their next meeting. Part of what I like about this is that Lara acknowledges that it's crazy that she's closely involved with a murder again - ivecread quite a few series where there's almost no mention of how coincidental it is that the protagonist has been involved in solving so many crimes. The characters are great and I like how relationships are continuing to develop. I like how Linda Reilly made an unlikable victim sympathetic the more we learned about her and there were good plot twists while they were trying to solve this mystery. As always, the cats and their personalities shine, I particularly like Blue helping Lara. This is a lovely cozy series especially if you like cats!

I finished a five-star book before picking this one up and I could see the flaws in the writing, but it is a cozy and it did what it was supposed to do. The thing that drove me crazy was the shortened words - sitch, pics, sibs. I can't stand it!! This book has the same likable characters as before, lots of cats and the mystery was good. I liked getting the story on the unlikable victim, it was interesting to see how she ended up a miserable person (who, of course, did not deserve to die.)

CLAWS OF ACTION, the fourth book in the Cat Lady Mystery series by Linda Reilly, is another darling addition to a charming series. The premise revolves around protagonist Lara Caphart and her Aunt Fran, running a cat shelter in their home where they match clients with their adoptive cats. There are so many heartwarming scenes, such as Lara setting up a reading room where kids can read to the shelter cats. She’s found that the reading skills of kids increase while the cats received attention as they bond. When a witchy health inspector, who threatens to close them down, is found murdered, suspicion falls on Lara and her aunt. As Lara asks questions about people who had interaction with the deceased, she finds the woman made enemies most of her adult life. I liked that as Lara finds out information, the victim’s life is revealed and as a result, becomes a sympathetic person. This adds another layer of emotional connection to the story.

The plot is well thought out and fast-paced. Given the abrasive personality of the health inspector, it’s no surprise that there were plenty of suspects. Ms. Reilly does a great job of taking the reader along as Lara sniffs out the clues. In addition to asking questions and listening to talk around town, there’s a paranormal thread that runs through the story in the form of Blue. A rag-doll cat that only Lara can see, Blue provides hints in the direction that Lara should investigate. With a surprising, suspenseful reveal, the author wraps up the various subplot threads in the story and left me counting down the days until the next book in the series.

Claws of Action by Linda Reilly is the fourth book in A Cat Lady Mysteries but can be read as a stand alone.

In this installment Lara and aunt Fran are getting ready to open a special room for reading to the cat section in the shelter. Completely unannounced health inspector Evonda Fray, shows up, proclaims the shelter to be a cat cafe and not having a permit threatens to shut it down.
Next day, she is found dead in front of her house with a shoe stuck in her mouth.
As she was highly unloved, there are many possible suspects for her murder. So much so that Lara and aunt Fran are being considered for the role.
Needless to say, Chief warns Lara not to meddle. She really is trying to stay on the side being aware what happened the last three times. However, some things will happen that she will have no choice but to ask few questions here and there.

Lovely set of characters, whose relationship progresses more with each book, There is enough red herrings and twists to keep reading guessing.
I also like that side characters are also developing and that we get to know more about them.
I also like how realistic the books are. Even though she is a friend with the Chief, Lara isn't allowed any insight in police business nor does she have any privileges.
Beautiful cats make this even more special.

Claws of Action begins with Lara and Aunt Fran being cited for running a cat café without a license by the new health inspector, Evonda Fray, who happens to hate cats. The High Cliff Shelter for Cats is a rescue/adoption facility that serves cookies and drinks to prospective adopters when they visit on adoption days.

The next day, Evonda is found murdered in her car in her driveway, clutching the cease-and-desist order for the shelter. Both Lara and Aunt Fran become suspects along with Brian Downing and Trevor Johnson. Brian, in fear Evonda will harm his cat Smuggles, brings his cat to the shelter for safe keeping while he searches for a new apartment. Trevor, the former health inspector, was fired because Evonda shared photos of him accepting an envelop from a restaurant owner. Lara begins investigating, beginning with trying to discover why Evonda intensely disliked cats.

Linda Reilly’s ability to make cats an integral part of each story begins with the Cast of Feline Characters that prefaces Chapter 1 and includes a playful description of each cat that appears in the book. Throughout the following pages, the author skillfully describes interaction between feline and human characters bringing to life the relationships that define the High Cliff Shelter for Cats. Ms. Reilly writes a fascinating mystery with unusual twists and a pace that pushes the reader to finish.

The fourth in the series set in New Hampshire featuring the High Cliff cat shelter sees Lara and Aunt Fran in preparation to unveil the newly constructed reading room. An unexpected visit from the local health inspector results in a cease and desist order, as the reading room is now considered more of a cat cafe and less of a shelter, given the proximity of the cats to food. The appearance of a visitor who seeks Lara's help in re homing his senior cat, as the health inspector, who just so happens to own the building, is threatening to evict him unless he finds a new home for his elderly feline companion. It is no surprise then when the inspector turns up dead in his car in a most gruesome manner. Suspicion naturally falls on Lara and her Aunt Fran, with the most likely motive. Lara briefly considers allowing the police to handle this mystery however in true cozy form, she jumps right in to conduct her own investigation. What follows is a quickly paced, high stakes mystery full of plenty of likely culprits. Although the plot was easy to follow, the mystery was complex enough for readers to indulge in their own theories along the way. The cast of regulars made an appearance as well as some lively new additions. Lara's ghostly ragdoll ghost Blue appears as well, just in time to assist Lara, adding an extra layer of enjoyment. I really enjoy the New Hampshire setting and the cat shelter theme for these cozy whodunnits. I look forward to more adventures in this series.

Claws of Action is Book 4 in the Cat Lady Mystery Series. I have read every book in this series and I think this is my favorite. The author has outdone herself!

The High Cliff Cat Shelter is getting ready to show off the new reading room and open house.
The health inspector shows up and is threatening to shut down the shelter because food is being served when the cats are around. Next thing you know, the health inspector is found dead.

The mystery is extremely well written with twists and turns and enough sleuths for this sleuther to go on an adventure in mystery solving. Still, I didn't guess who the murderer was.

I live in New England and I love the setting of New Hampshire, its very accurate. The characters are well developed and fleshed out. This book can be read as a stand alone, but I highly recommend reading the first 3 books as you will enjoy them just as much.

This book is a mystery in a mystery. I hope, as this series continues, that we get to learn more about Blue and why he appears when he does - other than to help Lara when a murderer is attacking her of course! I really hope that Blue will reveal himself to Aunt Fran at some point - she seems to wish she could see Blue too.

A mean-spirited woman who hates cats comes to inspect the shelter and declares that she is submitting a cease and desist order to the courts; however the next morning she is found dead and, of course, Lara and Aunt Fran are on the suspect list, but instead of diving in headfirst to solve the murder, Lara decides she is going to let the police handle it. That lasts for a couple of minutes and then she is back to her sleuthing ways. Will her Ragdoll, ghost cat, Blue appear to her in time to save her?

I just love this series! As the series continues, I love the growing relationship between Lara and Gideon, Aunt Fran and the Chief, and the growing popularity of the shelter. This book is well-written and a quick read (which I love because there are so many books to read)! I love cozies with cats and this one has an entire shelter of them!

4.5 stars

I will post my review on Amazon and B&N when published.