I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. I really enjoyed reading it the plot was interesting and the characters made me want to know more about them. I highly recommend.

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra

The Time for Murder is Meow is the first book in the Urban Tails Pet Shop Mystery series by T.C. LoTempio. I must say in summary – a fine introduction to a new cast of characters. I found “Shell” (Crishell McMillan – retired TV actress and amateur sleuth) an engaging and entertaining character. Shell’s co-star (“ex” co-star now that the TV series had been cancelled), Gary Presser, who has followed her to Fox Hollow, Connecticut to convince her to come back to Hollywood, is also quite a character, who grew on me throughout the story.

As with all cozy mysteries, there is a murder (no surprise there of course) but what is just a wee bit different for this first in the series book is that the main suspect is indeed the amateur sleuth, Shell. What a number of stressors for Shell – moving to Fox Hollow, grieving over the loss of her Aunt Tillie, the loss of her highly successful TV series, Spy Anyone and NOW being accused of murder. What is a gal to do but investigate to find the real killer and get herself off the police’s suspect list. And to further complicate matters for Shell – she is working on re-opening Aunt Tillies legacy – the Urban Tails Pet Shop. I think this is a lot to take on for any one person, but Shell seems to be handling it well enough.

The story begins with the her Aunt Tilly’s Cary Grant poster collection being sought out for display at the local museum – well except for one influential board member of said local museum. Shell is excited and was hoping to have a conversation with the lone board member to try and persuade them to borrow the collection. However, as Shell arrives at the museum to have that all important talk, what does she find but the board member (Amelia Withersppon) dead on the floor! And now the sleuthing begins to clear Shell’s name and find another viable suspect. There are of course – many potential suspects to work through, not the least are the myriad of board members. Especially when Shell learns that Amelia seemed to have something unsavory on each of the board members.

There are also a couple other town members of significance – Shell’s cat Kahlua and Aunt Tillie’s cat Purrday (the one-eyed kitty). With the setting of this series in a pet store – there had to be a couple of animals. I quite enjoyed the way that Purrday insinuated himself into the sleuthing part of the story – very clever.

And not to be left out – there is a bit of a romance beginning to take shape and I for one, cannot wait to see how it plays out throughout the series. Shell takes a shine to Josh Bloodgood, Detective.

If you are a fan of cozy mysteries featuring animals (specifically cats), with interesting characters set in small town USA, then the writing of T.C. LoTempio in this first book The Time for Murder is Meow from the new series, Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries series, is a story you will want to pick up, get comfy with your own cat and settle in for an enjoyable whodunit which will keep you guessing (well – it did me) until the end to find out the real murderer.

I really enjoyed The Time for Murder is Meow. For being a Hollywood star, Shell is down-to-earth, friendly, and a wonderful protagonist. Bringing Shell back to Connecticut to run her late aunt’s pet store is a unique setting and foundation for this new series. When she’s informed that the local museum board has rejected her offer to loan the museum an extensive collection of Cary Grant artifacts for an exhibit, Shell can’t believe their decision. Then she learns the reason why: apparently there’s a long-standing feud between her aunt and one of the board members, Amelia Witherspoon. On a quest to get those who voted against the loan, Shell confronts 3 other board members and Amelia. The discussions are heated, things are said, actions taken, then, when Shell thinks she’s going to get to talk some sense into Amelia, Shell finds Amelia dead in the museum. Even though there are many people who dislike Amelia, Shell finds herself a person of interest. Now she must navigate her new town, put plans to open up the pet store on hold, and figure out who killed Amelia before Shell finds herself unemployed and behind bars.

The character development was done well. We get a good look at Shell’s character, who she is, why she’s back in CT, and past relationships – boyfriends, co-stars, and managers, etc. Shell meets a lot of people in this book and the characters are written well. Bringing in Shell’s former co-start, Gary, into Fox Hollow was a nice touch. He brought a nice, supportive element to Shell’s life and is more than willing to help her solve the murder. The author also provides plenty of suspects for Shell, Gary, and their cohort to investigate.

The world created by the author is described well and I was able to visualize the setting, characters, and scenes. The only issue I had with the book is that I knew exactly who did it very early on. I didn’t have a clue as to why though. Knowing who murdered Amelia did not, at all, change my views of the book. I still enjoyed the characters, setting, and path taken for the reveal. There is the potential for a love interest and I am very excited to see where the author takes it through the series.

I was given a copy of this book to read.

A fun cozy mystery. New premise for me and I've recommended it for purchase by our mystery collection supervisor.

After her TV series is canceled, Crishell “Shell” McMillan gives up her life in in Los Angeles and heads to the small town of Fox Hollow, Connecticut. Her late aunt left her a pet shop and Shell is more than ready for the career switch. Not only does she inherit the shop, but she inherits her aunt’s Persian cat named Purrday. Her own cat, Kahlua, does not seem too happy to meet their new family member.

As Shell prepares for the grand re-opening of the Purr N’ Bark, she offers her aunt’s Cary Grant collection to the local museum to exhibit. She’s disappointed to learn the museum board voted against her offer. Shell is determined to find out their reasoning. All signs point to one particular board member who had a problem with her aunt. Shell is convinced the board member convinced other members to vote against her. Then, Shell finds the board member dead. It’s obviously homicide and the number one suspect is Shell herself.

With her freedom on the line, Shell figures she’s the best one to investigate this murder. After all, she used to play a spy on TV. With some help from her new friends, as well as her old ones, Shell vows to find a killer. She gets quite a bit of help from Purrday and Kahlua.

Two cats trying to get along and helping to solve a murder mystery? You know I’m going to love this one. I, also, love that it’s the first book in the series so I got in on the ground floor.

The author did a great job of introducing the cast without the stiffness that sometimes accompanies a new series and characters. Shell immediately came to life and her former co-star fit right in as well. They made a great team with a great rapport. There’s no romance involved between them, just a very close friendship. There is a possible romance for Shell, but we’ll find out more about that in subsequent books.

My favorite characters, of course, are Purrday and Kahlua…the kitties! There were so many cute scenes between them. They also helped to solve the mystery along with Shell. I found Shell having conversations with them to be so realistic, since I do that too. LOL

The mystery itself was filled with suspects and twists galore. I had my suspicions about who did it, but changed my mind numerous times throughout the book. It’s a fast-paced story and I can’t wait to read more. This is an excellent start to a brand new series.

Crishell "Shell" McMillan sees the cancellation of her TV series as a blessing in disguise. The former actress can now take over her late aunt's pet shop, the Purr N' Bark, and do something she loves.

While setting up the new pet store Shell stumbles into a long-standing feud between her late aunt and museum board member, Amelia. While trying to get to the bottom of this feud, Shell finds Amelia's dead body at the museum.

Can Shell, her Siamese cat Kahlua, and her new sidekick—her aunt's Persian Purrday figure out who killed Amelia, and why?

I liked the main characters and the story, but there were way too many minor roles in this book. And I really didn't need to know about each outfit Josh wore, but maybe that's just me?

*****For some reason this book is on my 'shelf' twice. I submitted the same review twice since it was the same book

Shell found herself in the thick of it when she became the number one suspect in the murder of the town’s most hated person. What a way to mark her arrival, but she had no intention of being anyone’s scapegoat. Shell, poor thing, she had no idea she was a potsy in someone else’s scheme, but with the help of Gary, things began to heat up and not in a good way.

Actress Shell McMillan is left a pet shop (and a Persian cat named Purrday) by her beloved aunt when she passes away. Since her TV show has been cancelled, Shell takes the chance to pack up herself and her cat Kalhua and step away from Hollywood and into the town of Fox Hollow. But it isn’t long before Shell is pulled into the investigation of the murder of a woman with whom she had a very public argument…which puts her high up on the suspect list.

Shell figures the only way to clear herself is to catch the murderer, so she starts checking out who else had a motive and finds out the victim made a lot of enemies. Shell and her cats have their work cut out for them, along with a cadre of new and old friends, to help clear the actress’ name!

T.C. LoTempio is a new author to me, and I really enjoyed how she included her heroine’s pets in the storyline. She has created an interesting town with some intriguing characters in a supporting role to a strong female protagonist, along with a plot line with enough twists and suspicious characters to keep you reading and enjoying this cozy mystery. I will certainly watch for the next in this new Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries series.

The Time for Murder is Meow -" A Purr N' Bark Pet Shop Mystery" by T. C. LoTempio, is the first book in a new series. a good start to a new mystery series.

I enjoyed the characters, both human and animal in this cozy mystery.

I really liked "shell". The mystery kept me guessing until the end. The town was a great cozy setting.

Absolutely brilliant! This story brought everything to start this series off right! I wanted to crawl inside its pages and be one of the characters. I wanted the story to continue with 10 more chapters after the wrap-up just because I was hooked on the lives of the characters. I found myself laughing, grinning, dropping my jaw, rolling my eyes, and a myriad of other things to annoy or amuse those around me. I only meant to get started on the book before bed and I ended finishing it in time to watch the sunrise. Even better, there’s a recipe to try! Sign me up for the next book and fingers crossed it comes soon!

Thank you to NetGalley, T.C. LoTempio, and Beyond the Page Publishing for giving me the chance to read this story and share my honest thoughts and opinions with others.

THE TIME FOR MURDER IS MEOW by T. C. LoTempio
The First Urban Tails Pet Shop Mystery

Inheriting her aunt's home and popular pet store was just the opportunity Crishell McMillan was looking for. With her popular TV series cancelled and no desire to join the reboot, she's ready to retire to a quiet life in Fox Hollow. Shell receives a warm welcome from several of the town's business owners and discovers she has a roommate as well, a charming Persian named Purrday, much to the dismay of her own cat, Kahlua. Not everyone in town is friendly though, especially Amelia Witherspoon, who has a striking resemblance to the Wicked Witch of the West, and not just in appearance. Within forty eight hours of arriving, Shell managers to anger a good portion of the museum board, finds herself getting bad press from the town's newspaper editor, and becomes a person of interest in the murder of Amelia, the museum board member who had a feud with Shell's aunt. In order to start fresh and re-open Purr N Bark without any hint of scandal, and perhaps pursue a relationship with a gorgeous detective, Shell gathers her friends to figure out who actually killed the wicked witch.

The Urban Tails Pet Shop Mystery series is off to a great start. I felt an immediate bond with most of the characters and loved spending time getting to know them. Shell McMillan is down to earth and completely real, despite being a successful Hollywood actress. She's friendly, honest, and determined, yet can get angry and act rashly. Her desire to resolve matters oftentimes gets her in more trouble! I especially love the unexpected arrival of her former co-star. She and Gary continue to make a great team. I look forward to the upcoming romance between Shell and Josh. Of course, Purrday, Kahlua, and Rocco are wonderful additions, smart cats and a lovable goofball of a dog are perfect assets to a cozy mystery.

This book would have received my highest rating, except for two things. The author gave a significant clue leading me to know the identity of the murderer early on. However, I considered it may have been a red herring and it didn't diminish my enjoyment of the story. The flaw for me was when the killer suddenly becomes crazy. The rational murderer with a solid motive who at the end of the mystery is now described as being crazy is a major pet peeve of mine. Still, I absolutely loved everything else in the book!

THE TIME FOR MURDER IS MEOW is a fantastic start to a new series. Entertaining, smart, and funny, the Urban Tails Pet Shop Mystery series has wormed its way into my heart and I can't wait to spend more time with its residents!

I love cozy mysteries and this was such a cute read! I'm a big cat person and I usually am drawn to books that have dogs and cats in them so I thought this book was so cute! I was hooked from the first page to the last and can't wait to read more by this author!

“Those bright lights aren’t all they’re cracked up to be.”

First and foremost...I have to say, I did not like Shell as a character. Now onto the review hahaha.

LoTempio made me hate --- no, despise --- a character a couple pages in. That is not an easy task. But he succeeded in concocting great dislike for Amelia in the span of a few minutes. Which is, in my opinion, impressive!

I wasn't able to feel a lot of the characters' emotions. They were a bit detached, especially during the first quarter of the story. I didn't sympathize with them in a lot of scenes (except during altercations), giving the novel less color, which is rather unfortunate.

This is definitely a cozy read. It's got a sense of entertainment, fun and lightheartedness to it despite its involving crime scenes. There are the occasional fun little plot twists, the persona reveal of Mr. Bloodgood for example had me confused yet amused!

Speaking of amusing, I loved all the interactions with Purrday and Kahlua. Such adorable little munckins --- albeit sassy! I myself have cats and can definitely relate to all the noisy ordeals, expressive meowing, demanding glares and so on.

The author used entertainment to improve the detective work side of the story, which made uncovering the mystery an enjoyable feat!

Overall, I have a love-hate relationship with The Time for Murder is Meow. Plotwise, I loved it. Characterwise...so-so.

The Time for Murder is Meow by T. C. LoTempio is book one in the Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries. I really enjoyed this easy to read Cozy.
It has plenty of plot twists and possible suspects. The characters are likeable, relatable and one is a tad bit quirky. I also enjoyed the setting and the feel of the town. There is humor, friendship, and a hint of possible romances. Of course, the cats take a front seat.
I'm already looking forward to book two.
I was given an ARC by Beyond the Page Publishing via NetGalley for an honest review.

Crishell "Shell" McMillan sees the cancellation of her show and the betrayal of her boyfriend as the sign to move to the more peaceful life of owning and running her deceased aunt's pet shop. But will life be quieter? After a public confrontation with a not so fan of her aunt is found dead, Shell is considered suspect number one. Will she and her two feline companions be able to solve the murder before she ends up in jail? Add in a whole bunch of quirky characters and one handsome police officer and you have have the right set up for fun. I loved the books and the characters from the start. I look forward to the next in the series. A received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.

This is the first book in a new series for beloved cozy author T.C. LoTempio. The author is presenting this fun new cozy series "Purr N Bark Pet Shop Mystery" series. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this for review. My opinions are my own . The author also writes a popular cat rescue series that is a hit with cozy mystery fans,

I loved this book ! T.C. LoTempio created a fascinating protagonist Crishell "Shell" McMillan. She was a famous actress who has left that life behind and come to settle down in a small town , Fox Hollow, Connecticut for a calmer pace of life. . Her funny cynicism about her former life lend to funny anecdotes and conversations. She has taken over her deceased Aunt' pet shop and is determined to make a go of the popular shop. She is welcomed with open arms by the townspeople who love the shop and appreciate her efforts for their pets.

Shell has two adorable cats, Kahlua her seal point Siamese, and her aunt's Persian Purrday. Both are featured throughout the book and are a delight for all cat lovers. The author knows cats well and she writes so beautifully of both cats and their human interaction. The addition of the two cats is pure catnip for cat lovers.

When a women Shell was seen arguing with is murdered, Shell is suspect number one., Now she must engage her new small town friends to help save her life and find out what happened. he also meets a handsome detective which will be a great part of her story for the next book. The victim is known for not liking her Aunt and now that Shell had a argument with her she feels her fate may be sealed. Shell had made her dislike of the women's feud with her Aunt known and the small town gossip is rampant with their feud. With her wit and savvy intelligence she begins to investigate. She soon finds out (with the help of her cats) that small town life can hide many secrets under the surface .

I loved this book ! I so look forward to the next in series., The writing is smart and well; crafted. .The descriptions of the likable charcters and location are enjoyable and fun. The sleuth was well crafted to the pleasingly conclusion. I highly recommend this wonderful mystery for all who enjoy cozy mysteries with animals especially cats. .The book receives 5 paw meowtastic rating from me for being pure catnip to readers. Very well done to the author.

I was hoping she might utilize her acting background and contacts more in her new pet store life but this was an fun read. I did love the cats Kahlua and Purrday more than the real characters. I loved how they were given actual personalities instead of just used as props in the books!

This was a very well written book. The plot was very enticing and I couldn't put the book down. This was a new to me author and I will definitely try another book by this author.

Took me a bit to get into the book, but I've always enjoyed this author and it is a first in a series. I did end up enjoying the book and look forward to more in the series.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review. I look forward to the next one.

A really fun cozy mystery! I loved everything from the cover to the characters and will recommend this new to me author to all my reader friends that enjoy this genre. I hope I can find any other books by this author!