This is such an interesting and clever concept - the story from the perspective of the cat, who sees all but is limited in what they can influence, I really liked it and not just because the cat’s character is really engaging. The thrill of the mystery is almost increased because of the inside perspective offered and I found myself glued to the pages,

This book was an enjoyable thriller told from alternating perspectives between Theodore the cat and his owner Dean, who is a serial killer. I loved Theodore and his heroic efforts to try to save Dean's newest victim, Jane. Theodore is a smart cat and understands what's going on around him and even makes plans to try to help Jane.

The story was a fast read and not too long. I recommend for lovers of cats and thrillers. Cat Facts are displayed at the end of each chapter and some I've never heard, which i thought was a fun aspect to the book.

Thanks to Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review

Princess Fuzzypants here: As a Maine Coon, I feel I am far more qualified to review this book than Momma. It caught my attention with its unique purrspective. Theodore, a handsome tuxedo, who has been saved from a dangerous life on the streets, has what seems at first blush, a charmed life.

Dean, his human, treats him with respect and love and lavishes him with all a cat could desire. Life should be sweet. But Dean hides a dark secret. He is a serial killer. Handsome and charming, Dean stalks and kills women, almost analytically. There are no crazy sexual desires. It is just what he does.

He’s moved from England to Malta and he has found his next victim living across the street. There are slight complications in this new target. First, she is married and has friends. Dean likes solitary woman but feels she is worth the trouble.

That sums up a second problem. He likes her. He wants to get close to her and then he likes her even more. But his biggest problem is Theodore.

Theodore has a conscience and he really likes her. He doesn’t want Dean to kill anyone but he is especially determined to stop Dean from murdering his friend. But as smart as Theodore is, he is still a cat. He cannot stand up and explain things. He cannot testify. He must, however, find a way to thwart Dean.

The entire book is rife with suspense and tension. How can Theodore accomplish his goal without putting himself in danger. I am not going to give away the plot but it had both Momma and I on pins and needles right to the end. We loved it.

Five purrs and two paws up!

4.5 Stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I mean, cats and serial killers? A Cat whose owner IS a serial killer and the cat is actively trying to save and protect his potential victims? A million times sold. There were a few spelling and grammar errors, mostly missing commas and some missing and transposed words, but I loved the story so much that I was able to easily forgive this. Some of the things that I really enjoyed with this whole set up was that the serial killer, Dean, wasn’t your typical serial killer. He didn’t grow up in an abusive home and he never abused animals and just ultimately believes he was born that way. He is, however, definitely a psychopath. He completely lacks empathy and Theodore, the cat, is the only living creature that he feels any humanity towards. And even that is only when Theodore is just being a cat. His sympathetic feelings towards Theodore quickly evaporate when he begins to suspect his cat of thwarting his ventures.

I would definitely say this is a book for cat lovers. I absolutely adored Theodore and to add to the enjoyment, there are short little cat facts at the end of each chapter.

I would definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy serial killer fiction as well as cat lovers.

ARC received via Netgalley. All opinions are expressly my own.

Theodore knows his neighbor is in danger and he really wants to save her except it is proving difficult as he is a cat and his owner is a serial killer.

Okay , how unique and refreshing is this story! A serial killer story told from the cat, Theodore’s point of view! I felt that in of itself was a fun approach to the novel. Theodore was so cute and I really enjoyed his personality. I did not feel the dialogue from Dean’s POV was very believable and I did feel it could use some editing.

I did however enjoy the cute cat facts in between the chapters and like I said, the refreshing take on a murder novel was very nice. It makes me wonder what my dogs are thinking???

***Thank you to Netgalley and Victory Editing for a copy in exchange for my honest review.***

This is a one sitting read. Told from the viewpoints of Dean and Theodore. Pets pay attention to everything we do. They are smart and wise. Theodore knows Dean is a killer but can he save the latest victim on Dean's list? An amazing thriller that you will not want to put down. This book delves into the life of a killer and the pet that loves him.

What an interesting premise for a book...Serial killer and the cat that tries to stop him. This book is totally out of left field but I really liked it. Mostly humorous but the stakes are still high.

"... as I watch the house sparrow. It's safe from my claws as the window is closed."
That last sentence marked the end of this amazing, eccentric novel with a premise that I had never before encountered. First of all, I loved reading this book so much. I mean just the summary itself grabbed me in an instant; a cat, aware and knowledgeable of his owner's extracurricular activities in the murder department, schemes to save the victims that his owner 'elects'. What an amazing book and beautiful story! I very much enjoyed myself while reading this book and I highly recommend it!

I mean this as a compliment, but J.S. Ellis really wrote well as the voice of the cat, Theodore, and truly did an amazing job not only making the cat sentient, aware and extraordinarily smart; but also included little tidbits that screamed of natural cat behavior so the reader never loses sight of the narrator and the importance of reading this story from an animal's perspective. The cat's POV kept the suspense going throughout the book, and it was truly un-put-downable because while the pace seems slow at about 1/4 of the way through, it's actually just the attention to detail, and the pace is quite even and consistent while reading.

The chapters are also interspersed with 'Cat Facts' and I really loved this addition as well because while they don't connect with the actual chapter content, they add an educational spark to the book, and the reader departs the book knowing these tiny bits of information. I remember thinking, after reading a cat fact about using their tails for balance, that these facts help grow a new appreciation for cats and animals in general. The author states at the beginning that this book is for animals lovers and although it centers on a cat, I think I agree with her.

The chapters also go back and forth between Theodore the cat, and his owner, Dean. In Dean’s chapter, things are more ominous and deadly obviously because he’s the bad guy, but the fact that his chapters are just as interesting and intriguing make this book so fun to read. But of course my favorite chapters are from Theodore's perspective, and one of my favorite lines are:
"Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. I like the last name best; it sounds like a bird."
I have others, but this line and the last line in the book that I shared earlier just strike me as so amusing and adorable. This book is so good, a true thriller without any extra details on gore or bloody violence.

I loved reading this book and I'm sure anyone who likes murder mysteries, psychological thrillers, serial killers, or just cats, would also really enjoy this book as well. It was an amazing book about a cat, with the perspective from the cat, that takes you on a beautiful journey of found family, making the right choices, standing up for what is right despite how much it can hurt you, and being brave enough to heal from trauma and pain. That summary sounds very little like a thriller novel, but at the heart of the story, that is precisely what it is. Theodore is inspiring in his own way, and I also love the fact that this book does its best to change the opinion on the stereotypes surrounding cats, and helps the reader to see that all animals are special, beautiful, perfect in their own way, deserving of love and affection, and capable of giving love and affection right back to you ❤

*Thank you to the publisher; Black Cat Ink Press, the author; J.S. Ellis, and Netgalley for my free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review!

Expansion of a previously published novella.

High concept and unusual premise, some issues in execution.

A serial killer's cat tries to foil his human's murderous designs on the lovely, kind-hearted crime writer who lives next door. The POV alternates, with Theodore - the cat - narrating a significant part of the story.

That's part of the problem. I was willing to suspend belief and go with the idea of a conspiring cat. The author does a good job describing Theodore's physical actions and characteristics, and there are some suspenseful scenes. But I never bought that I was hearing the internal voice of a cat. His voice seems way too humble and self-deprecating.
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Editing errors, a fake-out ending, and questionable use of a key pharmaceutical also made the story less enjoyable than it could have been.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.