This was a quick easy read. The story was intriguing enough that I finished it in one sitting.

This book has the feel of a perfect summer beach read. The plot is easy to follow and i laughed out loud a few times.

So, what do Marilyn Monroe, a pet groomer in current day L.A., and a crime-solving cat have in common? Beautiful intersection in a delightful cozy mystery by Jennifer J. Chow.

Mimi Lee Cracks the Code is a fun jaunt into the cozy corner of amateur sleuthing with warm, quirky, inviting characters from the narrator Mimi Lee, to her sister, Alice, investor Pixie St. James, and the irrepressible colleague at the grooming shop, Nicola. Mimi Lee, narrator and pet grooming shop owner, takes us along for the ride through Catalina, L.A., and surrounding areas, along with a peek into her unique family culture and the world of terrible motherly setups with nods to amine, superheroes, and, of course, Hollywood.

This one is book number three in a series of “Sassy Cat Mysteries” in which Mimi and her Persian cat, Marshmallow, team up to solve a mystery begun on the paradisiacal island of Catalina, a short ferry ride from L.A. I haven’t read the previous two books in the series yet (though now I plan to), but I easily followed along with the plots, characters, and history, being dropped into the middle of the existing series.

A few twists and turns throughout the plot keep you guessing whodunnit, though, if you’re like me, you’ll have a niggling feeling. You know…but do you?

Jennifer J. Chow, author, does a wonderful job of pouring atmosphere and concrete imagery throughout the book, solidly anchoring the reader in the grooming shop, on the streets of L.A., in the parks, apartments, and rental chalets. You can smell the fruity beverages and feel the ruffly fluff of the various pooches and kitties who dance across the pages.

I easily finished the book in three days on work breaks and much-needed moments of relaxation after intense workouts.

You can pre-order your copy now and catch up on reading the previous two novels while you wait for the public release date in November 2021.

Looking for a young, modern cozy mystery? Look no farther!

MIMI LEE CRACKS THE CODE is a breath of fresh air in the cozy genre. It features a young amateur sleuth, a multicultural cast of characters, and an urban setting, in contrast to some of the more traditional cozies. Mimi Lee is smart and personable. Her sassy (and telepathic!) cat Marshmallow is a absolute riot, providing valuable clues and comic relief. Mimi's pet spa, Hollywoof, is a central anchor with all of L.A. and nearby Catalina island expanding the possibilities while still retaining a cozy vibe.

Plus, in a time when travel is difficult/impossible and I'm sick and tired of cooking the same three dishes or ordering pizza delivery, getting to run around L.A., drop in on friends, take a ferry for a quick holiday, and experiencing a delicious variety of food through Mimi's eyes is almost as good as the real thing.

This is the third in the Sassy Cat series, but works fine as a standalone. Although, after reading this book, you're going to want more! Jennifer J. Chow's mystery twists and winds through a barrage of suspects and kept me guessing to the very end, even though the clues were there all along.

I liked this book more than makes sense given its formulaic style. The main character Mimi has an interesting dog grooming business, Hollywoof, that affords her plenty of free time for sleuthing,. Something in the writing reminded me pleasantly of Nancy Drew mysteries, which are gentle and soothing reads. Normally a talking cat is a turnoff for me as a reader, but Marshmallow just works as a sidekick. A solid three star cozy mystery.

In this third installment of her Sassy Cat series, Jennifer J. Chow sets Mimi, owner of Hollywoof Pet Groomers, Mimi's boyfriend Josh, and her talking cat Marshmallow a tricky task. They were given the keys to one of her client's rental house on Catalina Island, but there they discover the home has been burgled and the previous renter has turned up dead. Pixie St. James, the owner, is a favored suspect and she pleads with Mimi to help find the real culprit. Turns out more than one burglary has recently occurred -- all at rental homes managed by the same agency. Hmmmm. Fortunately, Marshmallow not only talks psychically to Mimi, but is also adept at getting information from other dogs and cats who live on the island. This helps with the sleuthing, but it's still dangerous.

With character names like Mimi and Pixie, a romantic Catalina Island getaway for two love birds, and clues from cats, Mimi Cracks the Code is clearly a true beach or airplane read. The reader gets a peek into speed dating with a Superhero theme (!), Korean family dinners and techniques for fluffing and fixing pets large and small. There is some funny banter between Mimi and Marshmallow, but the cat's personality could be made more interesting, I think.