What does a cat cafe, a family business, a small town by the ocean, hauntings and Halloween have to do with each other? That is what this story is based on. Maddie James and her family run a cat cafe which is an adoption center for kitties. It is Halloween and Maddie has been roped into being the coordinator for the Halloween Cat Parade and assorted activities. The headliner for the event is a psychic with ties to the town. Unfortunately, he is found dead at the bottom of the cliffs the night before the activities start.

The Inn where he is staying was the scene of a death and a missing maid 40 years ago. Are they tied together? Then there is the car crash of a gal stalking the psychic. Yet another question of how this all ties together.

Between the weird group that works for the psychic, the old death and the disappearance of the maid, you need to stay on your toes of who, what, where, when and why. A great who done-it!

I love a good cozy mystery! One that incorporates all of my favorite topics (i.e. genealogy, bookstores, libraries, cooking, painting, inn keeping, animals, etc.), throwing in some action-suspense, a who-done-it, interesting characters, and a plot that keeps me guessing, then you’ve got me hooked. I will say, I am one of those people who like to read a series from the beginning, but I often find you don’t have to… either way I highly recommend reading Nine Lives and Alibis by Cate Conte.

*I received a complimentary copy of this novel from NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.*

Maddie James hopes October in Daybreak Harbor is a grand month. She and other townspeople are planning an epic Halloween festival featuring the psychic Balfour and his cat. However, the cast of characters who accompany Balfour and a 40-year-old mystery at a haunted inn could ruin the festival. Can Maddie and her family and friends solve the mysteries and help their town thrive?
The action in this novel is fun. And I love the cats! But the plot fell a little flat with twists that didn't feel exciting. However, the novel is clean with several surprises. And even though it's number 7 in the series, the author does a good job of providing adequte flashbacks to explain some of the more complicated relationships. I'd read more books in this series.

Well written and an engaging cozy mystery. Purrrrrfect Halloween/Autumn read.

Thank you net galley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for the free eARC of this title.

I'm discovering the Cat Cafe Mystery Series with this book and can confirm it can be read as a standalone. BUT-I will definitely continue with the series. A very well written storyline with more than one mystery; a wonderful setting and characters that I would love to meet.

Now if you read the back cover synopsis then you know who dies. And that's a shame! The actual murder takes place over half way through the book and I'm really disappointed with the death. I really really liked the character! Please don't let anything I just said turn you off. It does not hurt the story in the least. Waiting for the murder to happen actually made it more poignant.

The story itself did feel a bit long. But that could just be me at the time of reading and it doesn't deter from my star rating.

I'm giving it 5 stars. Now, that's a big deal for me. Rating at a 3 or higher means it's a good story and I'm glad I read it. Just maybe a few ticks off for different reasons. I'm not quite sure I'm full on "5 star must have every version of this book on my shelf" kind of rating. It's more like 4.75 stars and I highly recommend it for the wonderful writing and thrilling story. So yeah, go read it. And then you can join me in waiting for the next book to release.

THis was the seventh book in the series. I did not miss anything by not reading the other six books. This is a cozy mystery. i enjoyed the story, and read it in one sitting.

Thank you Minotaur and NetGalley for the eARC of Nine Lives and Alibis! All opinions in this review are my own.

I really struggled with this one. Part of the reason is I was in a really bad reading slump but part of it was the pacing of the book. So much of the plot was revealed on the back of the book that it took 150 pages to catch up to it. This made the first half really slow and not very exciting. However, after hitting the halfway point, Nine Lives and Alibis got much better! Overall, I feel like the synopsis spoiled too much and the first half could have been much shorter. However, the second half was great and I wish the first half had been more succinct so we could get to the mystery faster!

A Halloween themed mystery with a recent murder and a cold case are all wrapped up into this book. Grandpa Leo is is my favorite human character along with feline JJ. Maddie has matured as the series progressed. I look forward to many more books in the series.

Nine Lives and Alibis is the 7th book in Cate Conte's cozy Cat Cafe mystery series. Released 22nd Aug 2023 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's imprint, it's 336 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 which make navigation easy.

This is a lighthearted small-town cozy full of whimsy, a haunted inn, and eccentric small-town characters set on a fictive island off the coast of Massachusetts, near Salem. A famous psychic is coming to town to do readings in the local inn for Halloween, and main character Maddie (and her cat JJ) are soon drawn into sleuthing yet again when Balfour the psychic is found at the bottom of the treacherous cliffs and his famous black cat has gone missing.

The pacing and narrative are competent and readable, and although this is the 7th book in the series, it works well enough as a standalone. There are some relationships and developments which will slightly spoil earlier books in the series if read out of order, but not egregiously so. The dialogue is glib and slightly unnatural occasionally but nothing which will yank readers out of the story (much). The resolution and denouement are complete and mostly satisfying albeit outlandish.

Four stars. This is a very light and easy cozy and is both entertaining and diverting, and that's pretty much the point of small town cozies. With 7 books extant and an 8th due out in Aug 2024, it would make a great binge or buddy read.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. This was the first book I have read by this author and I will be looking for more! I would definitely recommend this book.

A delightful cozy mystery! I enjoyed it very much. If you enjoy mysteries or stories with an amateur sleuth, and do not need the graphic reality with descriptions of gore and violence, this is a good choice. You can follow the clues to solve the mystery without any threat of nightmares.

bookscoffeebrews Book Reveiw: Nine Lives and
Alibi---A Cat Cafe Mystery
Stars: 3.5 x 5
Author: Cate Conte @lizmugavero
Publisher: Minotaur Book @minotaur_books from
@mcmillanusai
Thank you @negalley for this ARC

This is a lovely Cat Cafe cozy mystery. The island of
Daybreak is getting ready for Halloween. So many
tricks and treats are occurIng. Maddie's young sister
Sam books a famous medium for Halloween, Balfour
Dempsey. They are hoping that Balfour Dempsey will
help the solve a murder and missing maid.
Apparently, once the medium arrives to do this
someone does not want him involved. It looks like he
has also brought a stalker with him. Another issue is
the hotel he is staying at is suppose to be haunted. It
seems that Balfour Dempsey is pushed off the cliffs
and falls to his death. This is where past and present
collide.
Maddie runs a cafe and who takes in stray cats.
Maddie has a cat named JJ and
"together" they try to find the murderer. There are quite
a few surprising twist and
turns in this story. Since this was the 7th book in the
series it took me a bit to learn
the characters but once that was done it was a cozy
read. By the end of the book both new and old
mysteries are solved.
I love anything Halloween since that is my birthday and
any mystery with a cat is even better.

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I have been provided with a review copy of Nine Lives and Alibis from NetGalley for an impartial review. I just absolutely had so much fun getting to go along on these characters journey. I was just swept away and I just absolutely can’t get enough of this series or its wonderful characters. This author just has a way of drawing you in with her wonderful stories and you just can’t get enough of them. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

Meow-ving on Up: As the seventh installment in Cate Conte's beloved Cat Cafe Mystery series, Nine Lives and Alibis delivers a Halloween-themed whodunit brimming with charm, intrigue, and enough feline fluff to warm even the coldest of hearts.

Trick or Treat? Daybreak Island gears up for a spooky season unlike any other, aiming to outshine Salem's festivities. But with a famous medium, a missing cat, and a murder thrown into the mix, it seems Halloween has brought more tricks than treats.

A Cauldron of Quirky Characters: Maddie James, our protagonist, finds herself entangled in a web of mysteries alongside her vibrant family and friends. Each character, from the spirited Sam to the skeptical Becky, adds their own unique spice to the narrative, making the town feel like a cozy second home.

Unraveling the Threads: The plot unfolds like a well-spun yarn, weaving together the present-day murder with the whispers of past tragedies. The haunted inn provides a deliciously creepy backdrop, while the secrets hidden within its walls offer intriguing clues.

Claws-ome Twists and Turns: Conte masterfully sprinkles in red herrings and unexpected revelations, keeping the reader guessing until the very last page. The suspense builds steadily, culminating in a satisfyingly twisty resolution that purrfectly ties up all the loose ends.

Not Without Its Flaws: While the pacing can feel a bit slow at times, the charming atmosphere and endearing characters more than make up for it. The abundance of subplots might overwhelm some readers, but ultimately, they add depth and texture to the overall story.

Verdict: Nine Lives and Alibis is a delightful treat for cozy mystery fans who crave a touch of the paranormal. With its engaging characters, cleverly crafted plot, and a healthy dose of feline charm, this book is sure to leave you purring with satisfaction long after the last page is turned.

I hadn't read any of Cate Conte's cozy mysteries before this one, but I will now! Daybreak Harbor is hoping to put on a fantastic Halloween celebration that will bring lots of tourists to the island. A famous psychic is booked, there is a cat parade and contest, and Maddie is in the middle of it all.

Of course, there is murder - both in the past and in the story. The mystery is pretty good, and I didn't predict all of the twists. I liked the cast of characters, the island setting, and the cats.

I received an ARC of “Nine Lives and Alibis. A Cat Cafe Mystery” from NetGalley and Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review. Because of my reading slump, I let this book expire. So, in order to read this book and write the review, I purchased a Kindle copy.

Prior to reading this book, I’d never read anything by author Cate Conte, even though this is the seventh book in her Cat Cafe Mystery series. I don’t know the reason why, but I always seem to pick up the last book in a series—either the final one the very last one that’s been published. In a way, this is good because I can evaluate the book as a whole, standalone book rather than the entire series.

With some other book series that I’ve read, it is nearly impossible to pick up the most recently published book and understand what’s happening. This wasn’t the case with this book. The author introduced me to all of the main characters without me having to scratch my head and wonder who they were. The only part where I got lost was at the beginning when (if you can believe it) I was trying hard to figure out exactly what a cat cafe is. But, given that I’m a rural dweller, I forgave myself and Googled it.

I absolutely loved the MC Maddie James. And throughout the book, the rest of Maddie’s family, her friends, and the quirky people living on her island community quickly became endeared to me. The author is a really solid writer. And the way that she plotted this story was not only creative, but really shows what a good writer she actually is.

Tales of two 40-year-old murders appeared right away, with a third murder occurring at the 60% mark. In most cases, this would be far too late for a murder to appear. But Conte pulled it off beautifully by weaving together not just two unsolved murders, but THREE.

Conte also took an unusual approach by interspersing short, chapter-long newspaper articles in between her story. These really helped fill in the blanks. Through it all, the author brought up a ton of unanswered questions that kept the story moving, building up excitement with numerous suspects. The author kept me on edge trying to guess “Who-done-it?”

This story was really crafted well. At the midpoint, instead of sagging down—which happens a lot in other books—the book zoomed into action. By the time I’d read the first 23% of the book, I could **not** put this book down.

I do have to admit, however, that I was more than a little upset by the third murder. There was nothing inherently wrong with it—the author followed all of the conventions expected in a cozy mystery: it wasn’t a scary story; it wasn’t political; and etc. My dislike of this murder dealt more with how attached that I had become to the character. I kept thinking (and still do) that Conte could have used this now-deceased character to create a whole new line of cozy mysteries featuring this person. I just really liked that character and wish that she had killed off someone else who was less likable.

Overall, this was a great book that was expertly plotted. If you love cats, Halloween, and especially cats dressing up in Halloween costumes, then this book is for you. This cozy mystery includes everything that one would expect in this genre, so there’s no hidden surprises. Additionally, if you’re not a big cozy mystery reader, I would suggest this novel by Cate Conte. Not only is it a really good book, but a reader unfamiliar with her work can actually pick up this book and still completely understand who everyone is.

Nine Lives and Alabis finds us in Daybreak Island, Mass. The little island town is hoping to one up its neighbors in Salem, Mass who everyone goes to see for all their Halloween scares. This year Daybreak Island is hosting a Halloween Festival better than any of the previous years. A famous medium, Balfour Dempsey has come to stay at the reportedly haunted hotel. While there he is being asked to try to solve two cold cases from forty years ago, a murder and a missing maid. I enjoyed the New England setting, as we spent time there this Fall including Salem, Mass. When another murder occurs, the whole town is in an uproar and Halloween festivities are the last thing on their minds. Past and present come to mingle in the case being solved. Maddie runs a cat cafe and takes in strays and gives them the best care. She and her cat JJ also solve cases together and she's on the job here finding the murderer and discovering what happened to his cat. Surprising twists and turns I sure didn't see coming. I enjoyed all the Halloween descriptions from the decorations and foods to the pet costume parade to all the festivities at the haunted hotel This is a series I'll continue reading.

Pub Date: 22 Aug 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Ask a busy person to get something done and often they get it done. Maddie is that person. She doesn't seem to be able to say no. So she is running the town activity that includes a medium. The inn is haunted and is open to the paranormal events. And then there is a death. Maddie is on it. She wants to know what happened and how.
Good mystery, good bunch of characters. I was engrossed and had to finish even if it took all night

Halloween is almost here and Daybreak Harbor is going all out. Maddie has been roped into helping with all the planning. There is a little push-back from a couple of community members. They are hosting a psychic who is a home-town boy at supposedly haunted Inn. When the psychic is killed it is almost like a locked room mystery. How did he get outside without being seen? Was someone afraid he might solve two really old murders? Several suspects, who could it be.

Fun Halloween thriller. It is easy-to-read. The characters are fun and the story kept me turning the page.

Cate Conte does a very good job well written and able to follow even though this is the second book I have read. It is very interesting about cold cases 2 for the price of one and how coincidental the character who is killed fits into the whole part of the cold cases. I couldn't imagine it while I was reading that this would happen. I guess I have to find time and go read the first books in the series. Thank You Netgalley for giving me the chance to read the book.

If you are anything like me, you are begging for fall to stick around a little bit longer before the cold of winter sets in. I hadn’t read any of the Cat Café Mysteries before this book but I found it easy to jump into Nine Lives and Alibis! The book doesn’t reference the outcomes of previous mysteries so this is a series that seems to work in any order. I loved the fall and Halloween setting, though it takes a background to the broader mystery and this could be enjoyed at any time of the year.

Leading character Maddie James owns a cat café on Daybreak Island, which is a small island community off the coast of Massachusetts. Maddie lives with her grandfather and the café is located in a part of their house. This mystery doesn’t involve much of Maddie’s work at the café—it centers around the Haunted Halloween Festival which Maddie’s mother and sisters are working on (in addition to Maddie). The festival features nearly two weeks of events, including pumpkin carving, a cat costume contest, haunted tours at the local Inn, and the return of local resident and famous psychic, Balfour.

Though Balfour grew up on the island, he has gone on to have a successful career as a psychic. His mother Alice lives on the island and insists Balfour is the real deal. Many of the residents are hoping that Balfour can shed light on two forty-year-old mysteries on the island. The first is the murder of a wealthy man at the very haunted Inn hosting the festival, Archie Lang, who was found at the bottom of the elevator shaft. The second was the disappearance several days later of a maid at the Inn named Theresa, who was last seen wearing a catwoman costume at the Halloween party on the island. Pieces of the costume were found discarded at the Inn, but Theresa was never seen again.

These two mysteries are the focus for nearly half of the book, since the present day murder didn’t occur until nearly 50%. When it does, the island community is shocked when it is revealed that Balfour was pushed off a cliff as the festival is kicking off. Maddie finds herself involved in the search for Balfour’s killer, as well as helping her best friend Becky (a local reporter) try to solve the two mysteries from 40 years earlier. Is it possible the three are related?

It appears so, as it is revealed that Balfour had tuned into clues about what happened to Archie Lang many years before and revealed that the murderer was someone who still lived on the island. Maddie begins to suspect that Balfour may have been murdered before he could reveal more details about the identity of the murderer.

Given that the current murder doesn’t occur until halfway through the book, I did find it a bit slow in the first half. I was intrigued by the two cold cases, but they don’t become a focus until the second half. Much of the first half is spent setting up for the festival and learning who the various characters and suspects are. The second half featured a fascinating mystery and an intriguing conclusion to all three mysteries featured in the book.

While the mystery was great, I felt the pacing could have been balanced better if Balfour’s murder had happened sooner. The second half moves quickly as lots of clues, suspects, and motives are uncovered quickly. I ended up really enjoying the mystery and felt the first half could have been tightened up and the back half could have been spread out. However, one plus to the extensive first half is the list of possible suspects honestly felt endless and left a lot of paths that could be followed to solve each of the mysteries. I loved how they tied together in the end.

A great fall read or even a cozy mystery to enjoy any time you are looking to escape to a fall festival for a little bit of murder and mayhem!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for my copy. Opinions are my own.