Claws For Alarm
Cat Cafe mystery, Book #5
Cate Conte
5 Stars

Synopsis:

In Claws for Alarm, the fifth book in Cate Conte's delightful and cat-filled series, it’s the heart of the busy season, and JJ’s House of Purrs is booming—until a killer is let off the leash.

Maddie James has finally given in to her friend Katrina’s pleas to open up her cat cafe to more than ten felines: they’re now up to fifteen purring friends. In fact, JJ’s House of Purrs is making such a splash that she’s getting national attention. The Shoreline Animal Rescue League is quite interested in the cafe, and so Maddie accepts a request to meet with Jillian Allen, the executive director. Jillian shows up at the cafe and asks Maddie if they can partner on a fundraiser to support the local rescue efforts—and she offers up her celebrity endorser and her celebrity cat to sweeten the deal. Maddie, caught up in the prospect, offers up her sister Val to help plan the event.

But when Val shows up for a site visit at the venue, she finds Jillian strangled with a fancy cat leash—a piece of swag they were intending to use for the fundraiser—leaving Maddie with a lot of questions to answer. Was her death a tragic one-off event, or is there something more sinister going on? Maddie has to figure it out fast, before anyone else in the rescue community is jeopardized. (Amazon)

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. When Maddie is approached by Jillian Allen to have a fundraiser to support the local rescues. Jillian is the executive director of The Shoreline Animal Rescue League and she is going to help Maddie pull off the fundraiser. But before they are able to do very much, Jillian is murdered. Now Maddie and her gang have to figure out who the killer is and why.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions added so much enjoyment to my reading. The mystery is well plotted and there were enough clues to shift through and suspects to consider.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I cannot wait to see what happens to Maddy and her friends next.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

The cat cafe is getting a huge boost when the executive director of a rescue league shows up to meet with Maddie and wants to partner for an extravagant fundraiser to benefit the cafe and local rescue efforts, with the added bonus of celebrity endorsers. When Maddie and her sister, Val, show up to meet with the director at her hotel for a planning meeting they discover her strangled with a cat leash that was supposed to be swag for the big event. Maddie needs to solve this mystery quickly before her lifelong friend is arrested for the murder because it turns out her friend has familial ties to the deceased. If only Grandpa Leo would cooperate with her a little more….

Ms. James owns the successful JJs House Of Purrs. She and Katrina are having a good time with their fuzzy fluffy friends in their cat cafe. That is until the body turns up wearing her cat swag for the event. This book was cute and smart. I fell in love with the cats. The story is very engaging and the sheer cleverness of the plot keeps you turning the page. I read through this in one afternoon. I got so wrapped up in this light hearted cozy, that I was finished before I realized it. I can hardly wait for the next installment.

Claws for Alarm is the 5th book in Cate Conte's cozy Cat Cafe mystery series. Released 27th July 2021 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's imprint, it's 304 pages and is 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 a lighthearted island small-town cozy full of whimsy, a cat cafe, and eccentric small-town characters. Out-of-towner celebrity influencer Jillian blows into protagonist Maddie's orbit like a hurricane. Readers are clearly invited to take an instant dislike to her (which is handy since her role is mostly as Victim Number One) and I found my antipathy so extreme as to make me question reading past the first chapter.

The pacing and narrative are cleverly handled and although this is the 5th book in the series, it works well as a standalone. There are some relationships and developments which will slightly spoil earlier books in the series if read out of order, but nothing egregious. I found the dialogue glib and slightly unnatural occasionally but nothing which yanked me out of the story. The resolution and denouement are complete and mostly satisfying. There were some of really out-of-character actions on the part of protagonist Maddie with which I disagreed strongly and it colored much of the read for me.

Four stars. This is a very light and easy cozy and is both entertaining and diverting.

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

This is book 5 in the Cat Cafe Mystery series. The renovations are complete and the house has been turned into a cafe that has cats roaming the building. All are up for adoption and they have just upped the number of felines from 10 to 15. The East Coast Animal Rescue League is coming to town to host a fund raiser for the House of Purrs and everyone is excited. When they find the director dead just before the event everyone fears the money won't get to where it's needed most. A good mystery and a good re-visit with everyone from the previous books. This story can stand on it's own. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Claws For Alarm by Cate Conte

JJ’s House Of Purrs is booming —. Until a killer is let off the leash.

This is a fast moving novel dealing with cats. All kinds, hanging out at the cat cafe. This was an enjoyable book with many feline characters and much chaos. Cat lovers will like this book.

Maddie is excited about the possibility of a big fundraiser with a celebrity endorsement for her cat rescue. Unfortunately she gets sucked into the glitter of Hollywood and becomes blind to everything around her. The possible issues with the fundraiser are obvious. I do enjoy the series and the characters. My main issue is that Maddie tells the newpaper report everything, and I do mean everything including things she promised to never tell. It makes me not like Maddie as much as I did. Hopefully this was a one time thing and the character gets back to normal in the next book.

Claws for Alarm by Cate Conte is the 5th book in the Cat Cafe Mysteries and The first I've read in the series.
The story follows Maddie James, the owner of JJ's House of Purrs cat cafe. This business/charity is starting to really thrive and a well known animal welfare agency wants to partner with them on a benefit. Jillian Allen, the executive director of agency suggests a celebrity fundraiser and Maddie is intrigued and excited at the money and exposure the event could bring. Soon after Jillian and the famous celebrity arrive in town things get suspicious. One of Maddie's friends has an interesting reaction to Jillian and there's concern as to Jillian's power over her celebrity friends and her take of the donations. Maddie must try to make sense of everything, along with her ex-police chief grandfather once Jillian is found dead.

I loved the setting of this mystery - a quaint New England island town and the relationships between Maddie and her family, friends and new celebrity acquaintances. A solid cozy and a great read for a cat lover.

Claws for Alarm: A Cat Café Mystery
By Cate Conte
St. Martin’s Paperback
August 2021

Review by Cynthia Chow

Maddie James is living her dream, running a cat café and shelter out of her grandfather’s home on Massachusetts’s Daybreak Island. Co-owning JJ House of Purrs with her Grandpa Leo and chef Ethan Birdsong allows Maddie to offer customers tasty treats while also helping foster cats looking for their forever home. Her animal control officer friend has nudged Maddie into accepting a new litter that bumps up the feline residency to 15, pushing the limit of their ability to serve treats out of the adjacent café while also selling famous furry companion JJ’s line of JJ-branded merchandise. That helps to explain why Maddie is quickly swayed by celebrity philanthropist Jillian Allen, whose Shoreline Animal Rescue League attracts an enviable list of celebrity endorsers. Jillian proves to be an unstoppable force as she lures Maddie into throwing a mega fundraiser on Daybreak Island, one that will attract high-paying donors willing to pay the $1000 ticket prices. The two-week deadline has Maddie more than a little concerned, but by enlisting her event-planning sister as well as an assortment of other family members Maddie and Jillian are certain they will have a feline-beneficial party of the year.

Less enthusiastic is Maddie’s childhood friend and volunteer Mish Warner, who is seen loudly arguing with Jillian and then ducking out of future meetings. That means that when they discover Jillian’s body strangled to death at the event’s pricey hotel, Mish becomes a top suspect due to circumstantial evidence and a lack of an alibi. Unable to leave the investigation alone, Maddie follows up on the unsettling interactions she witnessed between year-round residents and the wealthy seasonal visitors. Now that her retired Chief of Police grandfather has started his own private investigation business to fill up his free time, Maddie has an occasional ally although he also proves to be frustratingly discreet with his client list. A movie star who most recently – and appropriately for the theme – has taken on the role of the latest cinematic Catwoman, her equally attractive actor boyfriend, and the accompanying entourage set up conflicts and motives as clashes increase between the year-rounders and summerers.

This fifth in the series excels at building up a fully realized island community that is filled with Maddie’s expansive but very supportive family. Her being the oldest has her in full Big Sister mode, feeling responsible for all parties and trying to please everyone. A love of cats is of course the revealing trait that determines these characters’ moralities, which makes the fundraiser all the more complicated. The question of whether the money used to throw lavish fundraising parties could better be spent simply donating to the cause is handled realistically and thoughtfully, especially considering human nature and egos. While some people simply do good for good, others prefer to be rewarded and recognized for their goodwill. A heartwarming finale delivers not just a satisfying conclusion to the murder, but promises an optimistic future for these very likable characters. Hopefully there will be another installment in the adventures of Maddie, Grandpa Leo, Leopard Man, and the rest of her furry and human family.

Princess Fuzzypants here: JJ has things well under paw at JJ’s House of Purrs. There is a steady stream of visitors and adopters but when a high octane woman who runs a big rescue operation drops by, things are going to become a lot more exciting. Jillian offers Maddie a celebrity driven fundraiser that would allow the rescue to go to the next level. She is a bit blown over by Jillian but when she shows up with her “ace”, a movie star and her equally famous kitty, there is no going back.

But there are darker forces behind the scenes playing out. Maddie and sister Val arrive for a meeting with Jillian and find her body instead. She has been strangled by a cat leash. The easiest suspect turns out to be a volunteer at the shelter whose husband has had a rocky relationship with the deceased. But there are lots of other unlikeable characters in the wings hovering around the movie star and her movie star boyfriend.
Both of the stars seem like they really care about animals and seem like decent people but they have some deep secrets that could ruin their careers. Could there be a reason one of them might have killed Jillian.

After being attacked on the beach, the actor is no longer a suspect. But what about Peyton, the actress. Is it all a facade? Could she truly be evil? By the time Maddie, her grandfather and JJ have figured it all out, there will be quite a nasty stew of evil-doers and bad guys. It is complex enough to keep the reader guessing. But, as it should be, the true cat lovers will prevail. JJ would not have it any other way.

Five purrs and two paws up.

This is the 5th in series and a delightful addition to this fun cozy mystery series. I enjoy returning to this series with each new release. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own.,

In this next in series our intrepid protagnist Maddie is running in the red with her cat cafe proving to be to much of an expense for her. She has arranged a fund raiser that all of a sudden has National attention on her cafe. When a murder occurs Maddie is involved as the smart savvy investigator she is. Soon clues abound and red herrings present themselves and while trying to save her cat cafe will she solve this mystery? A fun story that kept me turning pages with delightful cats and great charcters. I look forward to the next in series.

Claws for Alarm by Cate Conte is book five in the A Cat Cafe Mystery.. It can be read as a stand alone.I have read this entire series and have never been disappointed.
This easy to read Cozy is loaded with plot twists and suspects. The characters are likeable and relatable. There is a bit of romance, humor, family, and cats.
I was given an ARC by St Martin's Press via NetGalley for an honest review.

I really like this series and this was a good addition to it.

Maddie and her cat cafe are doing well and are starting to get some national attention for it. The director of an animal league, Jillian, comes to see Maddie to plan a fundraiser but when Maddie comes across Jillian’s body, it’s clear someone had an issue with her.

I love Maddie’s character, the cats are practically their own characters as well and I like Maddie’s former police chief grandfather Leo, who Maddie gets her sleuthing skills from. The mystery itself has some red herrings and the whodunit reveal was a surprise for me.

Definitely a great book and series to read is you love cat cozies!

Claws for Alarm by Cate Conte is the 5th book in Cat Café Mystery series, and another fun addition. Maddie James, co-owner to the Daybreak Island Cat Café, the café lets you visit cats that you might want to adopt, or just play with, while enjoying some coffee and a scone. When Jillian Allen, the executive director of the East Coast Animal Rescue League, offer to help Maddie with a local fundraiser. Unfortunately Jillian is found strangled in a cat leash and Maddie is determined to find the real killer. I enjoy this book and am looking forward to the next book in the series. I highly recommend this book/series for all cozy mystery and cat lovers.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I really enjoy this series! The cat café theme is fantastic, and the author does a great job of fleshing out the characters and the setting. The story was well-paced, and I had so much fun trying to solve the mystery.

I enjoy the small town setting and the characters. The mystery kept me guessing and I always love visiting the cat café & rescue.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cat lovers will especially rejoice over this twisty tale of murder, mayhem, and triumphs. A good series that gets better with each new publication. Thanks to #NetGalley and #ClawsForAlarm for advanced digital copy.

Full disclosure: I received this ARC from netgalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you for this opportunity.

Things are going well for Maddie. JJ's House of Purrs now is the home for 15 cats. The restaurant, now opened in Grandpa Leo's former garage, is attracting a wide audience. The renovations on their historic home are finally complete. Adele is enjoying her role as a manager, she might even give up one of her other three jobs. Her relationship with family and friends is happy and healthy.

Into this contentment breezes Jillian Allen, the CEO of the East Coast Animal Rescue League. Shrill, pushy and perhaps conniving, Jillian offers Maddie the opportunity to co host a charity event. Things that seem to good to be true often are. Is this another example? While this is book 5 for Maddie and her cats, it is a very successful stand alone. Conte is a popular author with a large following. It is easy to see why.

I was so excited to back into the Cat cafe series. I love the quirky characters and town and trying to solve the whodunit. highly recommend this cozy series.

I so enjoyed this cozy mystery. This was my first book that I have read by this author but it will not be my last. Even though I have not read the books that came before this one I was able to figure out who all the main characters were but I hope to read the other books in the series. I really liked Maddie and her Grandpa. I love that this shows cat cafes and how they help get cats adopted. I received a copy of this book from Minotaur for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.