An enjoyable enough read, good for the spooky season or spooky-loving readers. Did it knock my socks off? No, but I'm pretty easy to please when it comes to cozy mysteries. I'm happy to be entertained.

Was it enjoyable? Yes.

Did I like the setting? You bet. I brake for autumn.

Did I like the characters? They were fine. I often wish we could get a little deeper into who the characters are.

Did I guess whodunnit? Oh no... but I never do, so I'm always surprised!

Was it cozy? Yes. I put this question in my review and answered it because once, I read a cozy that was decidedly NOT cozy. That's really the only thing I'm picky about. Night of the Were-Cat fits the "cozy" genre just fine.

This is book 6 in the Cat Groomer cozy series. Cassie is visited by a friend looking to get her Maine Coon cat groomed. They joke about entering him into the towns Halloween Pet parade to raise money for the local shelter. It seems there is a drug dealer in town and he's making sure no one interrupts his operation. When someone breaks into Cassie's boyfriend's Veterinarian Clinic and a local woman dies from drugs stolen from there Cassie investigates to eliminate him as a suspect. I wish I had read some of the previous books in the series to have a little background but it was still a good cozy. I received a copy of this aRC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Halloween is fast approaching in Chadwick, New Jersey, and when Cassie McGlone, owner of Cassie’s Comfy Cats grooming and boarding business, meets Quentin, the Maine Coon cat who looks more lupine than feline, she’s struck by a great idea to help the local owner of the retro movie house promote a werewolf marathon that’s playing as a lead-in to Halloween. She suggests a werewolf-look-a-like pet photo contest.

Ratcheting up the tension in Chadwick, the local veterinary clinic is burgled and some pretty potent drugs are stolen, followed by an overdose death.

Cassie is dating one of the vets at the clinic, and her boyfriend Mark is scrambling to help police discover how and why the break-in occurred despite the great security they have in place. Is it an inside job? Did someone give private information to unscrupulous criminals?

In order to help out, Cassie and her friend Dawn go undercover at a local hangout, hoping to score some information on who the thieves are. They get a lot more than they were expecting and both are soon in danger.

It’s always a treat to sit back with a novel by Ms. Watkins. She creates believable characters and the plot twists keep you guessing on who it could be. Night of the Were-Cat is no exception and it was great to spend some time with the citizens of Chadwick, solving a mystery and meeting some interesting humans and felines along the way.

Night Of The Were-Cat
A Cat Groomer Mystery, Book # 6
Eileen Watkins
5 Stars

Synopsis:

Cassie McGlone’s Comfy Cats grooming service can turn a scruffy stray into a glamorous Cat-dashian. But with a drug-peddling killer at loose in her picturesque hometown of Chadwick, New Jersey, she’ll need to comb through some dangerous suspects to avert a catastrophe . . .

To an animal lover like Cassie, all cats are beautiful . . . though some may be more photogenic than others. When a customer brings in Quentin, a Maine Coon who looks more wolf than feline, it gives Cassie an idea. The owner of Chadwick’s retro movie theater wants to promote an upcoming werewolf movie marathon—how about a werewolf lookalike contest for pets?

Things are getting hairy around Chadwick in other ways too. A thief targets the clinic where Cassie’s veterinarian boyfriend Mark works, making off with anesthetics. Soon after, a young woman dies in a related drug incident. Wanting to help the police, Cassie and her good friend, Dawn, go undercover on the singles scene to investigate a suspected “party drug” ring, getting Mark’s protective hackles up. But the villain may be a wolf in sheep’s clothing—someone Cassie knows and trusts. And if her sleuthing skills aren’t up to scratch, the culprit may slink away to kill again . . .

Praise for Claw & Disorder

“Cat and mystery lovers alike will be charmed.”
—Publishers Weekly (Amazon)

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. Cassie is very happy with the way her cat grooming business is going. It is Halloween time and Cassie and her friends are enjoying the activities of the season. Cassie’s boyfriend, Mark has had a breakin at his clinic and anesthetics were stolen. When they are suspects in the robbery, including Mark, Cassie decides to try to figure out what happened.

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and because of this I was engaged in the book right from the start. The writing style flows smoothly and it defines the characters by their actions and words. The mystery was well plotted and it will take all of your detective skills to solve it.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a well written cozy mystery. If you are an animal lover, this book is for you. If you are a cat lover, it is a must read.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Cassie is such a great character and I do enjoy the humans who interact with her. It is a series of which I am fond but I absolutely loved this one. I was held from beginning to end and it is not just because she is a cat groomer. And it is not because one of the main feline characters is a gorgeous smoke Maine Coon named Quentin. Although I do confess I was a bit taken abAuckland when a noble and handsome creature could be compared to a were-wolf. We Maine Coons are far classier. But I did like how Quentin was the star of the show.

No, the story itself was great. Cassie and her boyfriend Mark convince a local entrepreneur to hold a Halloween Pet contest. But before there are any treats, there is a horrible trick played on Mark. His vet clinic is robbed of drugs and everyone is under the pall of suspicion especially after there is an overdose at a party that seems to be linked back to the theft. It soon becomes clear this is not a one-off when the primary suspect is murdered. There is a drug ring in town and Cassie offers to survey the place that might be a hotbed. This leads to one of the things I like best about the series. There is a mutual respect between our heroine and the police. While they do not encourage her to do anything dangerous, they are aware that she has good powers of observation and instincts.

The kingpin of the ring clearly does not want Cassie to get any closer and tries to frighten her and Dawn. But Cassie is on the scent. She is cautious but in spite of her awareness of her own safety, the villain still manages to put her life at risk. And boy that was an exciting climax. It had me on the edge of my seat. And the reveal was not a foregone conclusion so it kept me guessing. I liked it. I liked it a lot. Five purrs and two paws up. And not just for Quentin. For him I would give five and a half purrs.

Night of the Were-Cat Earns 5/5 Treats & Trials…Clever & Engaging!

It’s Halloween in Chadwick, New Jersey, and Cassie McGlone, owner of Cassie’s Comfy Cats, a grooming and boarding destination, is excited about the various activities happening to celebrate the season: a pet parade, photo contest, an art gallery exhibition, a cable television psychic, and a week-long marathon of classic werewolf films. It’s the perfect environment for tricking and treating, but it takes a darker turn when a night out with her handsome boyfriend veterinarian Dr. Mark Coccia is interrupted by a phone call about a break in at his clinic. The night shift attendant was overtaken by a solo intruder, forced to open the unmarked drugs’ closet, and choked to unconsciousness. The why is obviously drugs. The how is suspiciously an inside job. The who implicates the staff. And when a drug overdose death of a young woman is reported, the police widen their investigation from the clinic to the roadhouse hangout where many unsavory incidents have occurred. An undercover operation might be a good place to start, but who doesn’t look like a cop, have history with the place, or is available to take the assignment? Cassie volunteers along with her close friend Dawn for a girl’s night out to check into the place. It turns out to be an interesting evening that leads to police intervention, but it’s like stirring a hornet’s nest…someone’s going to get stung!

Eileen Watkins’ eighth Cat Groomer Mystery is a cozy Halloween treat with talk of costumes, horror movies, and pumpkin spice coffee putting me in the mood. The mystery shows the dark side of a small town with vicious thefts, physical assaults, drug dealing, and the innocent and not-so innocent casualties. Although Cassie and her friends actively get involved in the investigation or offer insights for its direction, some of the action takes place off the page including a deadly traffic accident. The drug ring idea offers a dramatic element and a hidden identity of the supplier casts suspicions on many residents and visitors. Although the final reveal was one of a few on my radar, the ending “cliff” hanger was intense. Cassie is a clever character running a fun business, surrounded by diverse friends, involved in an endearing, healthy relationship, and up for all sorts of pursuits, not all life threatening. Fun treat for any time of the year!

This is the sixth book in a series about Cassie McGlone and the mysteries she solves that have cats in their midst. In this book, I was pleased to meet up with Cassie again who is an expert cat groomer in and around Chadwick, New Jersey. The owner of Cassie’s Comfy Cats is very busy and a customer brings in Quentin, a Maine Coon who looks a bit like a wolf giving Cassie an idea; a werewolf lookalike contest for pets. Then things really get hot for Cassie when her vet boyfriend, Mark, has a break-in at his clinic and some drugs are stolen. Later, a young woman dies in a drug incident. Aided by her best friend, Dawn, Cassie sets out to find out who stole the drugs.

Although book #6 in the Cat Groomer Mystery series, this can be enjoyed as a stand-alone. With a compelling plot, drama aplenty, a great bunch of characters, and oodles of mayhem added to the mix, this was a fantastic read that kept me on my toes. Eileen Watkins' easy writing style is a good fit for me and I would like to read the first books I've missed in this series as I thoroughly enjoyed Night of the Were-Cat. Very highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Night of the Were-Cat by Eileen Watkins (Cat Groomer Mystery #6) 5 stars

Cassie McGlone, owner of Cassie's Comfy Cats Grooming Service is back again saving the cats from a bad hair day. It is Halloween in Chadwick, New Jersey and the spooks abound. But Cassie's boyfriend vet clinic has their drug cabinet broken into. Later, a young woman dies of a ketamine overdose. Is there a connection? At the request of the local police, Cassie and her best friend Dawn go undercover at a popular bar and find some drug activity. Some individuals are busted and leads are followed. Is this the end of her civic duty or did she just put herself in the crosshairs of a killer.

I love this series because the main character, Cassie McGlone is an independent woman doing what she loves. She uses her mind and observational skills to solve the occasional mystery. There was a scary part towards the end, but all's well that ends well. Cassie will continue to make the feline world a better place. I can't wait for the next book in this series.

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Books for this ARC.

For the cat lover/cozy mystery lover, this is a must read series. Each of the six books - so far - can be read as a stand alone. The location for the series is Chadwick, NJ and the main character is Cassie McGlone, owner of Cassie's Comfy Cats. She is the town cat groomer and cat boarder - the local cat expert. But that's not all. Cassie is also known for her detecting skills when it comes to crime...like the occasional murder.
Cassie has an idea to help a local business. The retro movie theater is going to show a werewolf movie marathon. When she sees Quentin, a gorgeous Maine Coon who bears a striking resemblance to a werewolf, she gets the idea of having a pet themed werewolf look-a-like contest to showcase the marathon. Then things really heat up for Cassie when her boyfriend, Mark, a local vet, has a break-in at his clinic and drugs are stolen that later turn out to be the cause of death for a young woman. With the help of her BFF, Dawn, Cassie sets out to find out who stole the drugs. It all makes for a great reading escape as the reader follows the twists, turns and red herring to solve the crime.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Kensington Books and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Fun series and a great addition to the cozy mystery series. Great story, developed characters.

Night of the Were-Cat by Eileen Watkins is the sixth book in the cozy A Cat Groomer Mystery series. Each book in the series has it’s own murder to be solved so they could be read as a standalone or in any order if choosing to do so. There is however a bit of character development that carries over from book to book for the fans who have read the entire series.

This series if centered around Cassie McGlone who had moved to the picturesque town of Chadwick to give herself a fresh start after leaving a horrible relationship. Cassie had opened her own shop, Cassie’s Comfy Cats, a cat grooming and boarding specialty boutique and had begun making a name for herself in the small town both for her unique business and cat knowledge and for becoming the town sleuth when murders occur.

This time around Cassie helps the owner of the retro movie theater in town come up with a plan for a promotion for the werewolf movie marathon. Cassie’s idea is to let folks enter a werewolf lookalike contest getting the idea from her latest border Quentin, a Maine Coon, who resembles a werewolf himself. Just as Cassie and her boyfriend, the local vet, are helping with the contest though someone breaks into the vet clinic and steals all the drugs leaving Cassie searching for the culprit.

The A Cat Groomer Mystery series is another cozy series that I have followed from the beginning and always look forward to coming back to. The author does a wonderful job bringing in all things kitty to where I feel like I’ve learned a thing or two even being a long time kitty pet owner. This is definitely one for the animal lovers and it has just that right mix of humor and quirkiness with likable characters I enjoy each trip back to the series.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

When I saw the cover, I knew this was the book for me! When Cassie McGlone, comes up with an idea to dress-up Chadwick, New Jersey's lovable pets, to promote a werewolf movie marathon, she has no idea how the chain of events will lead to a robbery and a murder - putting her boyfriend Mark, right in the middle of the mystery.

Cassie is such a likable main character - she's straightforward, determined to make her Comfy Cats Grooming Service successful and enjoy her relationship with the town veterinarian Dr. Mark Coccia as well as doing a bit of sleuthing. The supporting characters are well-written and I enjoy the small town atmosphere of Chadwick. The book kept me guessing and the twists and turns were fun! I loved the descriptions of the pets costumes and the personalities of their owners. Quentin the Maine Coon, represented on the cover was spectacular. He does look like a little werewolf!

I'm looking forward to the next book and finding out what Cassie is up to!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Someone has broken into Mark's veterinary practice, attacked his assistant, and stolen drugs! It looks like an inside job but even worse, one of the drugs was used on a young woman, who died. Cassie, our intrepid protagonist, is determined to find the culprit so she, along with her friend Dawn, start investigating. At the same time, she's been inspired by grooming client Quentin the Maine Coon who looks like a were-wolf. This is classic cozy territory - murder, pets, BFF, and a love interest. I've liked this series in the past but this time out, Dawn and Cassie took some risky and ill advised actions. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It might seem odd to read a Halloween themed cozy in February but it worked.

The cover of Eileen Watkins’ newest Cassie McGlone adventure sets the tone for this Halloween-themed mystery with the photo of a Maine Coon that looks more wolf than feline. While Quentin, the Maine Coon, provides an interesting subplot, the real action is around the break-in and theft of drugs at boyfriend Mark’s vet clinic that results in a drug death. Cassie, girlfriend Dawn, and Mark begin investigating.

Ms. Watkins’ sixth Cat Groomer Mystery is another well-conceived cozy. Again, the author introduces new characters with this visit to Chadwick, NJ, and keeps readers up-to-date with community regulars. And Ms. Watkins always provides appropriate feline antics to the mix.

Cassie is back in this Halloween-themed cozy installment of the cat groomer mysteries.

The book starts with a break in at Cassie's boyfriend, Dr. Mark Coccia's, veterinary clinic where multiple medications are stolen and his night tech is choked unconscious. Things get stickier from there as someone dies at a party of an overdose of one of the drugs missing from the clinic. Mark is suspicious of his staff given the break in and Cassie becomes involved to draw suspicion away from him. The namesake of the book is Cassie's new client, Quentin the Maine Coon kitty who looks like a werewolf. As Halloween approaches, werewolf sightings are happening all over the small town of Chadwick. Coincidence? Cassie doesn't think so.

I love diving into any new book in this series, not only for some cat-education but Cassie always feels like a friend you reunite with after a long absence. She is bright and inquisitive and really cares for her charges. I like her relationship dynamic between her and Mark as well as the friendship of herself and Dawn. The psychic in the story could have been left out but other than that I found it quite enjoyable.

I enjoy reading this series, with a different cat breed featured each time. We get the owner' s cats every book however. I like the characters and the town.

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

I'm a huge fan of this series as the books are always entertaining and compelling. This was a gripping story that kept me turning pages.
A bit darker than the average cozy mystery, it's a twisty and well written mystery that kept me guessing (even if I had some suspects).
I was glad to catch up with the relatable and fleshed out character.
Can't wait to read the next story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

My best friend has a Maine Cook and she will love this book as much as I do. And to be named Quentin after the character in Dark Shadows... what a hoot!

Eileen Watkins's series featuring cat groomer Cassie McGlone offers up a slice of life in small town Chadwick, NJ, in addition to a diverse and well-drawn cast of characters. Each book advances Cassie's business venture, Comfy Cats, and grows her romantic relationship with the town veterinarian, Mark. To date, each book in the series has introduced readers to a different breed of cat, and this one offers a fun backdrop of Halloween with an enormous Maine Coon cat.

Crime hits close to home when someone steals drugs from Cassie’s boyfriend Mark’s animal clinic. Shortly after the theft, a woman dies from a drug overdose. Is someone slipping party drugs into women’s drinks at a popular night spot? Cassie enlists the help of a friend to go undercover to investigate.

Meanwhile, the town’s movie theatre is looking to promote their Halloween movie marathon and based on the scary looking Maine Coon cat in her care, Cassie suggests a werewolf lookalike contest for pets. The idea garners attention until someone in a wolf mask starts scaring the employees at Cassie’s shop.

As an amateur sleuth, Cassie has intelligence, wit, and a common sense approach to solving crimes. Her detective skills have given her respect among Chadwick's citizens as well as its police department, whom Cassie has helped on more than one occasion.

With a respectable number of potential perpetrators, the reader is kept guessing until the end to uncover the killer. Watkins's writing style and likable characters make this a fun cozy series, not only for cat lovers, but for anyone longing to get lost in a home-town feel of characters who feel like your own neighbors.

I enjoyed the storyline of incorporating a pet contest that centered around Halloween. I felt the story was slow at times and there was a reach for our heroine to involve herself in the mystery. While I normally enjoy this series, I found the indiscriminate use of exclamation marks to be annoying.