Hairballs and Homicide (Kitty Beret Café Mysteries Book 1) by Ruth J. Hartman – Review by Jennifer Gordon
Hairballs and Homicide by Ruth J. Hartman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
As a book lover, a fan of cozy mysteries and a cat lover this novel is absolutely perfect as it combines all three! I loved this heartwarming and original story by a new author to me Ruth J. Hartman, and I will definitely be reading more of her books. This is the first in the ‘Kitty Beret Café Mysteries’ series and introduces the reader to the Kitty Beret Café and its owner Ellie Warren. The author does a great job of setting the scene, so much so I could picture myself (and my cat) at the café. As well as running the café, Ellie finds forever homes for rescued cats, but not everyone is a fan of cats and one lady in particular makes her opinion known to Ellie in front of a full café. Unfortunately that same women is then discovered murdered behind her cafe and her husband believes Ellie is the murderer. Thankfully Detective Simon Dare is less convinced that Ellie is a suspect but the handsome Detective is not impressed when she decides to investigate herself along with her cat Templeton, of course. Templeton is very good as supplying clues and soon Ellie is discovering the identity of the murderer but she is unaware that she has put herself in their sights and is in danger.
The storyline flows well and is a lighthearted and fun read. The plot is full of quirky characters, drama, a murder mystery to solve and even romance, along with cats to keep you hooked and happily turning the pages. The descriptive narrative really brings both the quirky characters and the unique setting of the café to life and I felt completely immersed in the story. I was kept guessing as to the identity of the murderer and enjoyed solving the crime along with Ellie. I just wish I had a place like the Kitty Beret Café that I could visit along with my cat! An enjoyable and engaging read and I am already looking forward to book two.