A Whisker of a Doubt by Cate Conte is book four in the A Cat Cafe Mystery. This is a great series especially for cat lovers. It can be read as a stand alone.
This easy to read Cozy is a great to read at Christmas time. Conte has given plenty of suspects and plot twists to have you guessing to the end, likeable characters, romance, humor and lovable cats. I couldn't put it down.
I was given an ARC by St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an honest review.

A Whisker of a Doubt is the 4th Cat Cafe mystery by Cate Conte. Released 1st Dec 2020 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's Press imprint, it's 320 pages and available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is an enjoyable and well written holiday themed small town cozy mystery with an appealing female protagonist. I had read the first couple of books in this series, then sort of lost track of it and hadn't read any of them for more than a year. I didn't have any trouble following the story or keeping the main characters straight in my head whilst reading. The setting is a small relatively isolated island community in New England which gives the author broad scope to pepper the narrative with "eccentric" local characters.

There's a fair bit of unnecessarily drawn out romantic drama which I found mildly annoying (since a 10 second face to face chat would've rendered it moot) but readers who enjoy heartfelt longing and regret from their characters will undoubtedly find it worthwhile.

The denouement was perhaps a trifle heavily foreshadowed, but nevertheless well written and executed. The cats (as always) are delightful and add a lot of whimsy to the story.

Four stars. This will appeal to lovers of small-town cozy mysteries (with cats).

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

It’s Christmas time in New England and Maddie James’ cat cafe is thriving. Running her cat cafe isn’t the only thing she does, she also assists her friend Katrina in feeding the feral community. Unfortunately, the feral colony happens to be located in the area of the town’s wealthiest community. The residents are complaining. In fact, they are threatening drastic measures to get rid of the cats.

Maddie and her friends are not going to stand quietly by as the community accuses them of everything including stealing their Christmas decorations. When one of the wealthy is found dead, Maddie’s best friend is accused and arrested for the crime. Maddie isn’t going to let her close friend sit in jail for a crime she didn’t commit. Maddie vows to find the truth.

This is the 4th book in this series and another great book. While you don’t have to start with book #1, I think it’s much better to start at the beginning to get to know the characters and their motivations. I’ve read them all and have enjoyed them.

I did think Maddie was a bit annoying as far as her boyfriend, Lucas, goes. She wasn’t very understanding and had a bad case of tunnel vision. Although it’s great how loyal she is to her friend, Katrina, I didn’t think Maddie was very fair to the police. I guess that’s what happens in cozies, though, and it all worked out in the end, of course.

This particular mystery is intriguing with clues given throughout the book. There were so many different possibilities. They all kept this reader guessing until the end.

Just as a side note: I need more of JJ, Maddie’s cat. As a cat lover, I can’t get enough of the kitties, but that’s just me. I look forward to reading more in this series.




FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This series caught my attention from the first book as the subject is a cause close to my heart, feline rescue. Maddie has returned home to Daybreak Harbor and lives with her grandfather since her grandmother died. He is the former police chief and Maddie, it turns out, is pretty good at solving crimes. Together they maintain a cat shelter/cat cafe. Her business partner is also dating her sister. Cats are dear to their hearts and now Maddie is maintaining a feral colony in a very posh community. Not everybody is a cat lover and soon a dead man is found in his back yard, murdered and dumped in a snow bank. Was he done in over the feral colony or was it a neighbor trying to keep a secret? Maddie's friend, as an animal control officer, had a run-in with the community and was banned from further contact. Maddie took her place but who would have imagined that it would lead to homicide and her friend behind bars for the crime. (I know who I wanted to put behind bars in that neighborhood)
Feral cats are seen by some as pests and disposable. Others see them as animals who deserve the best we can do for them. I am firmly in the camp that supports trap/neuter/release programs and giving the cats the chance to decide if they want to hand in their feral card to become a pampered companion. Given the chance, many do go from feral to a loving family companion.
As for the mystery, it's well crafted and complex enough to keep me guessing. The characters of Maddie, her grandfather, Leo and Maddie's cat, JJ are fun to hang out with. If I had a cat cafe nearby I would be there every day both as a customer and as a volunteer to care for the cats awaiting adoption.
My thanks to the publisher, St. Martin's Press and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Cats, murder and Christmas: what more could one want from a holiday themed cozy. This was the first time for me to read this author. That said, I really enjoyed the character development and overall story and ties to past and present events in the timeline. I look forward to reading the three previous books in this series.

Whisker of a Doubt: A Cat Café Mystery
By Cate Conte
St. Martin’s Paperbacks
December 2020

Review by Cynthia Chow

It is just days until Christmas, but not all of Massachusetts’s Daybreak Island embraces the spirit of the holidays. In Turtle Point’s elitist Sea Spray Lane community, residents are less than welcoming to the animal rescuers who volunteer to fill feeders for a feral cat colony. Not only do the Sea Sprayers see the kitties as vile pests that must removed, the rescuers are themselves viewed as undesirables who cause vandalism and theft. In addition to the feeding stations that are dismantled and destroyed, outdoor Christmas decorations are being stolen from yards and roofs. As the owner of JJ’s House of Purrs Cat Café, Maddie James is the cat rescue superhero who not only houses nearly a dozen fosters in her café, she leads the few dedicated volunteers willing to traipse through the snow to feed hungry strays. It’s unfortunately on one of those missions that Maddie discovers the body of Trey Barnes, the much-younger trophy husband of one of the most anti-cat residents. That Trey was bludgeoned to death with a Christmas gnome points suspicion towards the decoration thieves, but it is Daybreak Harbor’s animal control offier Katrina Denning who is suspended and removed from animal shelter duties.

The contraversery of the cat feeding stations has become a heated topic among the wealthy locals, who consider the felines to be parasites that lower property values. The threats to take lethal measures against the cats understandably enrages Katrina, who isn’t shy about expressing her opinions. Knowing that her friend could never have committed murder and with the police heads wanting to quickly close the case before it jeopardizes tourism, Maddie begins delving into the secrets hidden on Sea Spray Lane. When it turns out that Katrina herself may have buried a past that she regrets and prefers to remain undiscovered, the fate of the animal rescue community may lay entirely on the results of Maddie’s investigation.

The holiday season comes alive in this 4th Cat Café mystery that makes the most of the wintery days before Christmas. Decoration battles, Christmas light thefts, and mouth-watering café creations for humans depict a perfectly entertaining and chaotic vicarious holiday setting. Maddie is feeling a bit of a scrooge herself, as possible-boyfriend Lucas Davenport went MIA ever since he departed to Boston for a dog-grooming conference and band gig. At least her feline companion JJ remains steadfastly loyal, as does the mysterious benefactor Leopard Man. The issue of how – and why - to manage a feral cat colony is compassionately and objectively examined, realistically tackling its many complications. A rogue Christmas saboteur is thrown into the mix to add motives for murder as well as providing humor, although there is nothing funny about the destruction of nurturing feeding stations. Maddie will have to let down her own guard if she is ever to embrace the warmth of the season, but rest assured that she will always have her friends, felines, and family by her side.

There isn’t A Whisker of a Doubt that Maddie loves cats. She is owned by her chunky orange cat, JJ. She owns a cat cafe called JJ’s House of Purrs. Maddie is also a long-time cat rescuer. Her current project is feeding the local feral cat population (though I wonder how feral you can be if you have a heated cat water bowl).

The feral cats have ignited a furor in ritzy Daybreak Island. When one of the most vocal of the feral cat critics is murdered, Maddie’s best friend, Animal Control Officer Katrina, is arrested for the killing. Maddie feels compelled to find the real perp to save her friend from jail.

Living with two rescue cats myself, including one formerly feral Siamese, I loved A Whisker of a Doubt. If you are a cat lover too, you will love this purr-fect cozy mystery! 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars!

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

A Whisker of Doubt is the fourth book in the Cat Café Mystery series. Somehow, I missed book three and will be picking it up after the holidays. This is a standalone book.
What drew me to the book other than the author is the cover. I saw it, had to read the description, and I was set on reading it.
Maddie is not in the Christmas spirit after a recent break up but is really busy at her shop. She happens upon another body and is compelled to resolve who the killer is. Her close friend is a primary suspect.

What I liked about this story is that;
It is well written, flows smoothly and has a delightful cast of characters.
Fast Paced and keeps you turning the pages.
The killer is not obvious.

I was given a digital advanced reader copy by the publisher, St. Martin's, through Netgalley. I am not required to leave a positive review.

This is the 4th book in this "purrfect" series that blends the love of cats with mystery. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinions are my own. I have read each charming book in this fun series and highly recommend this series for all that love cats. The author knows cats and has a great talent for translating their personalities in this series.

Maddie James has returned to the small island of Turtle Point and opened a popular cat cafe in her Grandfathers home, She has built a life here and is happy with her friends and her work. She has a great relationship with her Grandfather who is a fun endearing charcter in this series. The cafe is a combination coffee house and cat adoption center.
Maddie and her best friend Katrina are taking care of a feral cat colony in a pretentious neighborhood where many of the rich residents hate the cats. When one of the residents that was most vocal against the cats is murdered, Maddie has to solve the mystery.
This is a great addition to this series. Its catnip to cat lovers and has wonderful likable charcters we all wish we knew as friends. The sleuth is well crafted to conclusion . A delightful next in series.

A good mystery that also brings awareness to a real problem. Maddie operates a cat cafe and also volunteers with a cat rescue that works with helping feral cats. The newest colony is in the woods adjacent to a well-to-do neighborhood and opposing views about the cats cause problems, maybe even murder.

This story has an interesting group of characters and some funny moments too. You do not need to be a cat lover to enjoy this book but if you are you will love the story. Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

What a great story dealing with a subject close to my heart, feral cats. I loved this story and the way Katrina, Maddie and crew take care of these special animals. Unfortunately, they do meet some opposition. Some of these rich folks are certainly interesting. Who will come out the winners and what obstacles will be thrown in the way? This is a great story line with wonderful characters. I hope I get to hang out with them again soon. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

JJ's House of Purrs grounds Maddie James as her cat rescue group gets tangled up in murder over the holidays. Cate Conte continues to write engaging adventures featuring playful felines Please see my detailed review on www.reviewingtheevidence.com.

This was my first read in this series. I found it to be engaging but I did think the book went on a little too long, so I am docking one star.

Maddie James has returned to the small island of Turtle Point to open a cat café after living in California for the past 10 years. She and one of her best friends, Katrina, have been taking care of a feral cat colony in a rather ritzy neighborhood on the island and unfortunately not all the neighbors are friendly towards the volunteers or the kitties themselves. When one of the residents winds up dead, Maddie has to solve the mystery and keep her friend out of jail.

I found Maddie to be an okay protagonist but there were parts of her I did not like. She struck me as wishy-washy about her problems with her possible boyfriend and some of her protestations in that regard came across as whiny. Actually, I did not really like many of the characters in this book. They were either one-dimensional or just off. Katrina, the friend and murder suspect, treats her friends like dirt while they are trying to help her and at times she is downright mean. This was an okay mystery but I do not think I will seek out the others anytime soon.

What an adorable read that has everything necessary to make for a great cozy mystery. Maddie James has a cat cafe in New England and after a bad break up she is not feeling very cheerful during the holiday season. However, she is working more than usual so that takes her mind off of things. The residents of the area are not happy with he feral cat colony that she feeds but Maddie is not going to let them stop her. Then, a body is found in a snow bank that puts Maddie’s friend in the spotlight as the killer. Maddie must try to find out what really happened and fast. But could her friend have committed such a heinous crime? This is a very well written mystery that will delight animal lovers as well as murder mystery lovers. The characters are very like able and Well developed. I recommend this novel highly.

Thank you to netgalley as well as the author/publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Feral cat colonies can arouse passions with those who want them gone and those who help care for them. That's certainly true on Daybreak Island, where Maddie runs a cat cafe with her Grandpa Leo, the former Chief of Police. Maddie's friend Katrina, the animal control officer, has annoyed the people in the high end neighborhood where the colony is located so Maddie's feeding it- until she discovers the body of Virgil Proust, who really really hated the colony. Of course Katrina is a suspect and of course Maddie will investigate. And, of course, the cats aren't the problem here. Maddie's also dealing, btw, with the fact that her love interest Lucas has just arrived back after disappearing for a month- and, oddly, she doesn't push for answers. She can be a bit annoying but I like JJ the rescue cat, Grandpa Leo, and the setting. The mystery has enough suspects to keep you guessing. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. Will be fine as a standalone - especially for cozy fans.

Book number 4 in the series and book number 1 for me. So I will be needing to put 3 more books on my TBR list because I really enjoyed this Cat Cafe mystery. What a unique idea, a cat cafe where you can get to know a kitty while having a coffee. This story definelty proves that while cats don't change their spots, everything is not always what it seems. My imagination is every bit as wild as Maddie James, so when she was being a doubting I was doing the same, which means she is a completely relateable character. I also liked that she had a good relationship with her Grandpa, who gave credence to her theories no matter how wild though they may be. She is a bit like the feral cats that she is trying to protect, hesitant to trust and fearful of being hurt. She has a great support system of family and friends as all good cozy main characters have with lots of character developement. The story has lots of false leads and red herrings and just when you think you know what is happening, you find out that you were completely wrong. There were at least four times where I thought one thing and it turned out to be something else all together. Excellent work as an author because it made the story that much more entertaining. Looking forward to the next one as well!

Four and a half stars, but I'm rounding up because I enjoyed reading this book so much. Love all the characters in this series. Maddie James returned home after her grandmother's death and over the first few books in the series, she works to turn her grandfather's home into a cat cafe/adoption center. In this book, Maddie is helping to care for a feral cat colony in a ritzier neighborhood where the colony has become a neighborhood hot button issue. After she finds one of neighbors dead one night, her friend, Katrina, becomes the prime suspect. Maddie enlists friends and family in her search for the truth. One false note, I could not believe Maddie refusing to talk to her boyfriend for so long to find out why he had been missing for a month. Other than that, there were plenty of possible suspects and the mystery was fair and interesting.

What a wonderful cozy mystery! It is well written and has just enough twists and turns to keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. Thank you to the author for including feral cats and the help they need into this story. Thank you St. Martin's Press via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Its nearly Christmas on Daybreak Island. Maddie James is making her rounds to feed the strays out on Sea Spray Lane in the upscale area of Turtle Point. Most of the residents do not like having wild stray cats roaming their neighbor hood and cause issues for the rescuers. Maddie is on her way into the woods when she spots a lump in the snow on the Proust's yard. Thinking its an injuries cat she investigates only to discover the dead body of Virgil Proust. .Was Vigils death an accident? Not likely but when Married long time friend and former baby sitter Katrina Denying is arrested for the murder she knows she can't just walk away and let Katrina pay for the crime. Who was Virgil Proust and why would anyone want him gone.? Is there more going on out in Turtle Point than just the rift over the cats? Sure Christmas decorations are disappear ing but that's not enough to kill over. Maddie and her Grandpa Leo start digging into the crime. What Maddie discovers rocks her world a bit but the truth must come out and the real killer revealed.

Author Cate Conte dishes up an excellent cozy story for cat and mystery lover’s. Scooping up an enticing murder plot with a dwindling list of suspects due to Conte’s creative plotting; savvy protagonist Maddie James tunes in to her sleuthing vibes and goes after some vigilante cat hater’s who need to be behind bars.

I found this story steadily entertaining with lots of humor and action. I enjoyed re-visiting many of the secondary characters from previous books in the series—Ethan, Val, Grandpa Leo, Cass, Officer Craig, and my favorite, Leopard Man. The enigmatic JJ, Maggie’s rescue cat, always deserves a big shout-out for the love and personality he brings to the story. This is a solid, entertaining cozy series that I highly recommend!

I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. All opinions are my own. Thank you.