The Time for Murder Is Meow by T. C. LoTempio is the first book in the Urban Tails Pet Shop Mystery series. It follows a woman named Shell who leaves behind her acting career in Hollywood to run her Aunt's pet shop in Fox Hollow, Connecticut after her death.

Shortly after moving to town Shell becomes a murder suspect in a local woman's death after they had a disagreement. Shell, along with some new friends, her adorable cats and even her old costar come together to uncover the mystery surrounding blackmail, old secrets and murder.
Lots of fun characters and potential suspects made this a real page turner and a fun read!

Princess Fuzzypants here: I admit I like T C LoTempio because she writes “good cat”. It may be the influence of her co-authors, Rocco and Maxx but she does get to the feline heart of things. I admit to a further connection as I was used as a character in her last series. That being said, I must be honest in my reviews.
I love this new series. The idea of a former tv star giving up the spotlight to take over the Pet Shop her aunt bequeathed her and having her costar follow her across country is a bit out there. The long running series has a chance to be rebooted but only if Shell signs on which is why the costar hopped the plane. But once there he likes it so well he joins Shell in finding out who killed the woman who has been riding roughshod over the entire town for decades. The fact that Shell and the woman had a very loud and public disagreement and that Shell discovered the body puts her on the suspect list. Good thing the hunky policeman whose dog loves Shell doesn’t think she’s guilty.
The humans are all interesting characters but the kitties are the true stars. Kalhua and Purrday are fabulous and Purrday is a very smart and very talented fellow as well as being adorable. The cat people are going to love him. I know I do.
Five purrs and two paws up.

I found this book easy to read and not to complicated to finish in one sitting. As I was reading I found it reminded me of a stage play in a prose-like setting. Shell’s character is easy enough to like and root for as she tries to prove herself in the small little Fox Hollow town. With her aunt’s legacy and her name on the line being accused of murder, Shell does do her best to get to the truth in a town where the people still don’t trust her.

The premise of The Time for Murder is Meow will hook readers into Shell ‘s new complicated life. However, I find it important to mention that the story and characters read like the setting is in the late forties/early fifties. There are phrases, wording and mannerisms that constantly reminded me of that era. This is the first book by the author I am reading and as the synopsis doesn’t allude to this, it came a surprise to me. Not an unpleasant one but just a surprise.

This book was a bit slow-paced for me for the most part but I read a lot of thriller/mystery stories. So, I was expecting it to pick up a bit. Nevertheless this is a good pick for a summer read for anyone looking to pick up something new or readers who love mystery wrapped up in a bit of small-town drama.

The Time for Murder is Meow has so many things I love in a cozy mystery: compelling lead and sidekicks, adorable kitties, bits of Hollywood behind-the-scenes, and red herrings that truly create a tangle. In this mystery, series lead Shell McMillan wants the local museum to do an exhibit of her late aunt's movie poster collection, but her proposal is blocked by a board member who reportedly had a long-standing feud with Shell's aunt. When the board member is murdered, Shell becomes the prime suspect, and must figure out the real killer to clear her name.

I was super confident for most of the book that I knew the villain, even while Shell pursued other suspects, but when my main suspect was unexpectedly cleared at the 82% mark, I realized this mystery was even twistier than I realized. I did figure it out within the next few pages, and am super proud of still solving the case before Shell did, but overall, I give major kudos to T.C. LoTiempo for a truly twisty and challenging whodunnit. 

The characters, both series mains and suspects, are fantastic. Lead character Shell is a former actress who left the biz to move to Fox Hollow, Connecticut and take over her late aunt's pet store, the Purr N Bark. It turns out she's never enjoyed the glitz and glamour of Hollywood life anyway -- she'd always wanted to be a veterinarian, and only fell into acting due to pressure from her actress mother. I love her backstory, and while she does make some questionable choices (pro tip: don't yell at someone that you'll make them while within earshot of a homicide detective), she's a good detective, and it's fun watching her wrap her head around the various clues.

Equally awesome is her former co-star Gary, who initially flies out to convince Shell to do their show's cable reboot (unfortunately, despite Gary's gorgeous head of hair, it's Shell whom the producers consider the star attraction), but then quickly gets caught up in her investigation. I love his and Shell's friendship, where their banter conveys mutual respect and affection. And Gary is hilarious -- I love the running gag about how he keeps wanting to try new restaurants (because he's always hungry and Shell's a terrible cook), but just before they can actually eat, they get a new lead in the investigation, and poor Gary's stomach has to wait. I don't know if I'd last long as Shell's investigative partner -- unlike Gary, I'd probably tell her to go ahead while I have my lunch! -- but these scenes made me laugh every time.

To the surprise of perhaps no one who knows me, the highlight of this book for me are Shell's two cats, Kahlua (a Siamese her snobbish mom gave her before Shell could adopt from a shelter) and Purrday (her aunt's one-eyed Persian 'roommate'). I absolutely love how rich and vivid these cats' characterizations are, and how distinct they are from each other. They're larger-than-life, and their personalities are given as much depth as the human characters, and as a cat lover, I just fell all the more in love with this book because of that.

While I generally love cats in cozy mysteries, this series has won a special place on my shelves because of how much I can actually see my own cats in these characters... and yes, how much I also see myself in Shell's cat lady-ness. The relationship between these two cats is hilarious, from Kahlua's initial jealousy and territorialism over Shell's bed, to their eventual teaming up when it comes to the all-important mission of demanding that Shell give them food and treats. Goofy and affectionate Purrday, with mischief that leads Shell and Gary to uncover important clues, is the more obvious feline hero, but any cat lover will also melt for the haughty and elegant Kahlua, who likely sees herself as far too smart to engage in such antics herself. These cats are a delight, and I can't wait to see more of them! I also love how so many of the town's residents seem to have their own pets, and I bet future instalments will give us more of a glimpse of these animals as well.

Overall, this is a fantastic beginning to a cozy mystery series. I'm hooked, and I can't wait to read more!

+

Thank you to Midnight Ink for an e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is an entertaining start to a new series. The characters are interesting and fun both human and animal. The mystery is full of red herrings to keep the reader engaged. I am excited to see how the series develops over time. I recommend this book to cozy mystery fans.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.

This was such a marvellous read! The Time for Murder Is Meow by T. C. LoTempio is the début instalment in her Urban Tails Pet Shop Mystery series featuring struggling actress Chrishell "Shell" McMillan. It certainly grabbed my attention and I was thrown in from the get-go and couldn’t flip the pages fast enough on my kindle.

With great characterisation, the pacing was good throughout. Shell's beloved Aunt Tillie recently died bequeathing her a Victorian mansion in Fox Hollow, Connecticut and her pet shop - Urban Tails. When a local woman who had a long-standing dispute with Aunt Tillie and Shell had a disagreement with is found dead, Shell is forced to try to clear her name with the help of her cats and newfound and other friends.

This was a well crafted cozy mystery that had me reading well into the night. The beauty of this book and the clincher for me was the novel's hilarity and the sparling personalities of a few of the characters. It kept things interesting and added lots of fun. Imaginative and thoroughly enjoyable, The Time for Murder Is Meow is well worth a read!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my own request from Beyond the Page Publishing via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

If you want to read a fun whodunnit with Feline as well as human detectives on the Case.! Lots of puzzles to solve, lots of Suspects in this small American town `Fox Hollow'& which one is the Killer or possibly Killers. How will the mystery unravel & who will find the best & most important clues Human or Feline ..So if you want I light entertaining read then this is the Book for you. #FB,#Instagram,#GoodReads, #Netgalley, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.co.uk/badge/c566f42be23a0e25d120e78a3454e2d427c4beee" width="80" height="80" alt="50 Book Reviews" title="50 Book Reviews"/>,#<img src="https://www.netgalley.co.uk/badge/ef856e6ce35e6d2d729539aa1808a5fb4326a415" width="80" height="80" alt="Reviews Published" title="Reviews Published"/>, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.co.uk/badge/aa60c7e77cc330186f26ea1f647542df8af8326a" width="80" height="80" alt="Professional Reader" title="Professional Reader"/>.

I love cozies, and this one did not disappoint. Chrishell, or Shell for short has inherited her Aunt's pet shop. She hasn't really had time to get to know the community before she is the number one suspect in the murder of a prominent member of the museum board.

The murder victim had a long standing feud with Shell's aunt. Shell's welcoming committee help her try to find the real murderer. Shell also has the help of her Siamese name Kahlua and her Aunt's cat Purrday.

I want to read more in this series. I loved the community and all the characters. I also liked the mystery and the writing style, which is easy-to-read. This was a nice escape.

After Shell McMillan’s tv show is cancelled she moves to Fox Hollow to run a pet store her aunt had left to her in her will. She has decided to leave Hollywood behind much to her mom’s unsatisfaction.

She’ll has an argument with the head of the museum, Amelia, over her aunts Cary Grant collection that she refuses to show. After Amelia is found dead, Shell is a suspect in the murder.

With the help of friends Shell will get investigate and prove her innocence.

Gary who is the co-star from her cancelled series shows up and even helps with the mystery. I hope that he is in the future books. Great character.

This is the first book of T.C. LoTempio that I have read and I will definitely continue reading this series. She writes characters that are likable which isn’t the case in all books.

The Time for Murder is Meow by T. C. LoTempio is the 1st book in the Purr N' Bark Pet Shop Mystery series, and it's off to a good start. Crishell “Shell” McMillan is happy her television series got canceled, so she can move on to what she liks to do. After inheriting her aunts pet shop, the Purr N' Bark, she is determined to reopen and run the store, and quit acting. Soon Shell discovers that a lady who is very disliked in town, enemies of her aunt, is found murdered and Shell becomes a suspect. I really enjoyed this book and look for the next book in the series. Shell is very likable, and is a strong women, who I look forward to getting to know better. I enjoy reading about the two cats, Kahlua and Purrday. I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good cozy mystery.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Time for Murder is Meow by T.C. LoTempio is the first in a new series featuring Shell McMillan who has retired from her career as a television actor. She is still in demand, not a has-been. She's just tired of the Hollywood life. Her aunt has died recently and left her a pet shop called Urban Trails in Fox Hollow, Connecticut, as well as her house and some money. Shell is settling on and pretty excited about it. She has offered her aunt's collection of movie posters for the museum's Gary Grant celebration and was turned down flat. She means to find out why. Approaching the grand dame of the museum board seemed like a way to begin, but the woman was most unpleasant so she determined to approach the other members who voted against accepting her offer. There seemed to be a longtime feud between this Amelia and her beloved aunt. Maybe that was it. The all of a sudden, Amelia is dead, Shell found her body, and evidence points to her as the murderer.

This is a glorious cast of characters, including Josh Bloodgood (unfortunate name, Gary Presser, a friend and past co-star on their TV spy show, and Rita, Ron, and Olivia, a trio of Fox Hollow merchants, and her two cats, Kahlua and Purrday. Between them they solve the murder of the infamous and unpopular Amelia and provide hilarity and personality along the way. This ensemble looks to be a terrific team in the future. The murder was plausible, the investigation unremarkable, until the end. The future looks bright for this new cozy mystery series. It certainly got off to the right start.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Time for Murder is Meow by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #thetimeformurderismeow

Do you like cats? Do you like to peek into the lives of Hollywood actresses? Do you like mystery? This book is for you! Shell is a Hollywood actress who moves to a small town to run her deceased aunt’s pet store. Before she can get it up and running she is thrown into the thick of a town drama and a murder. With a little help from some new friends (one of whom is a cat), Shell needs to get to the bottom of this mystery, since she’s the prime suspect and a potential target of the real killer. This mystery did not disappoint.

After her aunt dies, actress Shell moves to small town Fox Hollow. Here, she meets handsome detective Josh and discovers that everyone is not friendly. But when she discovers a dead body, she becomes the primary suspect. With help from her cats and a few new friends, Shell sets out to clear her name and uncover the town's secrets.
I enjoyed this book. It's a cozy mystery that's clean and also entertaining with plenty of twists and turns that kept my attention. The pace moves along at a pleasing rate, and the dialogue is witty.
And although the cats aren't the stars of the show, they do play a role. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

Entertaining read, good plot and easy reading while sitting in the sunshine. The plot was not too complicated and I loved the inclusion of the cats. Good summer holiday reading.

I really liked T. C. LoTempio‘a Nick and Nora series, so I couldn’t wait to read this first book in a new to me series. It was previously published but now it looks like we’ll get the whole series from Beyond The Page.

Shell McMillan has retired from acting to move and take over her late aunt’s pet store, Urban Tails. She’s looking forward to this opportunity, however when a museum’s board member is found dead after Shell had a public argument with her, Shell quickly becomes prime suspect #1.

I noticed this with T. C. LoTempio‘s first series, but I have to mention it here too. I absolutely love how she writes the cats and gives them personality. Purrday and Kahlua are even more delightful than the human characters. That being said, I do overall like Shell’s character, but I thought she had spectacular overreactions to some things. The mystery was overall well done even though I had an idea of the whodunit it.

I’ll definitely be reading the next book when it comes out!

Thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

T. C. LoTempio's new cozy mystery, The Time for Murder Is Meow, begins this author's new series, A Purr N Bark Pet Shop Mystery, with a home run. She hits all the right points for a fun cozy mystery. Main character Shell McMillan inherits her aunt's house and pet shop in Fox Hollow, Connecticut. Leaving her career in LA seemed to be the right move. What Shell hadn't planned for was becoming a suspect in the murder of a local Fox Hollow woman. Shell and her friends work together to find the killer. I really liked how methodically Shell eliminated suspects. The suspense kept me turning the pages. I look forward to the next book in the series.

I received an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

The Time for Murder is Meow by TC LoTempio is a great way to get this series going.

Can Shell McMillan start a new quiet life in Fox Hollow, Connecticut?

Shell McMillan
Shell McMillan is an actress that retired to go live in her aunt's hometown and run the pet shop she inherited. I have to say that I love small towns and I wouldn't mind living in this one. Well, except for the fact that there was a murder that took place there. Shell is, of course, our main heroine who wants to start a new life and keep her aunt's legacy alive. She gets noticed around town but not as bad as when she lived in Hollywood. The residents in Fox Hollow understand that she wants to start a new life, especially since she has big shoes to fill. Her aunt's pet shop is quite the place that gets many people to buy stuff for their furry companions and, well, their not-so furry ones.

There is a lot to like about Shell and some things to not like about her. One thing to like about Shell is that once she gets her mind made up about something, there is no way of turning it around unless you find evidence to support why she shouldn't be doing it. But, on the other hand, one of the things to dislike about her is that she is stubborn to a tee and won't stop at anything until she gets what she wants, in this case, for her aunt's Cary Grant movie memorabilia to be at the museum. Well, that is until Amelia Witherspoon turned up dead, leaving Shell as the prime suspect.

The Mystery
Shell McMillan finds Amelia Witherspoon's dead body in the museum's library and the police, of course, have to think of her as a suspect. To prove herself innocent in the eyes of the townsfolk, and of course, a charming looking detective, what harm can be done to look at the case. Shell thinking that set things rolling not only the killer but a certain friend of hers. Everything happens for a reason, and I think that what happens in this book is funny in a way. I figured out who killed Amelia but not the motive.

Four Stars
The Time for Murder is Meow by TC LoTempio is a perfect way to reboot this series. I loved the whole thing, even though I did figure out who did it but not with why. That motive and how the killer had the means and opportunity eluded me until it came out. Ms. LoTempio has done an excellent job on this book. The cats Purrday and Kahula are fantastic, along with Shell's friends from Hollywood. I am giving The Time for Murder is Meow by TC LoTempio four stars and recommend it to anyone that loves cozy mysteries, especially ones that feature cats!

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escapes Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of The Time for Murder is Meow by TC LoTempio.

Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.

A very well written cozy mystery. A great plot and cast of quirky characters. Mystery fans will love this book.

I enjoyed this mystery enough to be delighted there is already a second in the works. However, I did not think it was quite on par with her Nick and Nora series. That said, I will certainly read the next one.

Shell Marlowe, aka Crishell MacMillan, has retired from acting to Fox Hollow, CT to move into her deceased aunt's large home and take over her pet store business, Urban Tails. Shell is happy with retirement and looking forward to re-opening her aunt's store. Unfortunately, she is seen having a very public argument with the town's most hated citizen, only to discover her dead a few days later and someone is clearly framing Shell for this crime. Now on top of getting her business up and running, she sets out to solve the case so she can move on with her life.

Shell is an admirable protagonist and the cast of characters that accompany her on her journey through this book are who make the book so wonderful. Of course, Ms. LoTempio's shining glory is her ability to write the personality of cats. Both Kahlua, the Siamese, and her newly adopted Persian Purrday, add fun and feline sleuthing to the story. Since the passing of Lilian Jackson Braun, of the Cat Who... fame, I have been looking for another good series with an intelligent main character and a cast of fabulous cats. I think I have my new author to follow in Ms. LoTempio.

Her books are purrfect for winding down at the end of the day. More please!

What a fun town and group of characters! I was expecting not to like Gary much, and while it did take a while to warm up to him, I think he and Shell really have some good sleuthing vibes going on--naturally, since they acted together on a show. But I was happy she didn't hide her feelings about Josh, and I'm pretty sure the feelings were mutual from the beginning.

There was a fairly early clue that set me on the trail of who the killer was, but it was a lot of fun to read as Shel and her three new friends from town along with her former co-star Gary all sleuthed together. If Gary hangs around town now that the case is solved, I can see a lot of fun possibilities for Shell sleuthing with him...and I think it would be cute if he got together with Olivia. But only the next book can tell us all that, and I'm definitely anxious to read it!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.