This is my first cozy book by this prolific author, so it took me a while to get to know the characters. This is book #12 in the series!

I am sure that if I had started reading this series with book #1, it would have been easier to get into ir. After I was familiar with the protagonist and all the characters, I also discovered that there are 2 intriguing plots in this book.

This book was extremely well written and very tense. I liked the author's style of writing because it kept me engaged. I did figure out whodunnit, but I wanted to find out why the crime had been committed.

It was very satisfying to find out the why, as well as the who.

I look forward to the next book in this series, but in the meantime I will start at the beginning of the series.

Author pays a lot of attention to setting the scene. There were a number of characters and since this was the 1st time reading this series I was confused for a long time. However, the mystery kept me guessing.

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

Victoria Hamilton’s 12th book in the Vintage Kitchen series is extremely well written. While her sister is out of the country, Jaymie and her family have moved back into her family home in town. She gets volunteered to care for a group of feral cats and in one 12 hour period discovers two dead bodies near the feline colony. Her attempt to solve the crime, as usual, sends her all over town. She revisits some characters from her previous books which is a treat. She ends up in danger but uses her experience from previous adventures to work her way out of trouble. NetGalley was kind enough to provide me with an advanced reader copy, but the opinion is my own.

Cats! All over the place. Protecting them from a dark threat can be deadly, but Jaymie does her best and as usual, gets herself in a dangerous situation. Hamilton's created a memorable cast, and this installment expands upon the families we've gotten to know over the years in the Vintage Kitchen series. Solid mystery. Good romance. Smart friendships.

CAT GOT YOUR TONGS is the twelfth book in the Vintage Kitchen Mysteries by Victoria Hamilton. While I haven’t had the opportunity to keep up with the series, it was a pleasure to dive in and catch up with what protagonist Jaymie Müller has been doing. This newest book can easily be read as a standalone, but the characters are definitely worth getting to know over the course of the series. One of the best ways to describe Jaymie is she’s kindhearted and despite the crime, the book leaves you with warm and cozy feelings. Jaymie is a caregiver at heart and she’s passed that trait on to her darling stepdaughter, Jocie. They are helping take care of a colony of feral and stray cats during the brutal winter cold, while the normal volunteer goes on vacation. Ms. Hamilton brings the plight of the cats to life on the pages, and each scene is detailed, allowing the reader to feel invested. I also chuckled at the puns included and all the clever and pun-y business names. It brings a lightheartedness to the story.

On one of the visits to the cat colony, Jaymie comes across a murder victim. One of her friends had been seeing strange lights on the river from her home, and together they surmise that smuggling must be going on from Canada to the U.S. and the death is connected. Is the cargo human? Drugs? Or other illicit items? And why did an aging British rock star move into the neighborhood? The author weaves a multi-faceted tale filled with suspects, secrets, and lies. The twists kept me guessing, but it wasn’t until the bone-chilling, edge-of-your-seat reveal that I figured it out alongside Jaymie. With the adrenaline pumping, it was a pleasure reading the heartwarming last chapter, which left me with a feeling of contentment and a desire to catch up on the series.

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A cosy crime mystery set in Michigan and the latest instalment featuring vintage collector Jaymie. Cat and animal lovers will enjoy this warm and intriguing story like I did.

#CatGotYourTongs #NetGalley is another fantastic addition to this series.
This series has easily become my favorite and I'm always excited to read another book featuring my favorite characters.
Jaymie's love for animals shines through in this story, as she agrees to keep watch over a cat colony, so the current caretakers can have a break.
Jaymie doesn't expect to become involved in another murder investigation, but her fans know it's bound to happen.
I highly recommend the book and this entire series by author Victoria Hamilton.
Thank you for writing such a wonderful cozy mystery series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.