Cat’s Meow (The 2 Sisters Pet Valet Mysteries #2) by Dane McCaslin #bookreview #mystery
Title: Cat’s Meow
Author: Dane McCaslin
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Publication Date: March 23, 2021
Page Count: 203
My rating: 3 1/2 stars
About the book:
Retired schoolteacher Gwen Franklin has a new pet project—and a sideline in sleuthing. But this new case has a dangerous sting in the tail . . .
Gwen’s calendar has been filling up ever since she was hounded by her best friend, Nora, into starting 2 Sisters Pet Valet Services. Now they’ve been invited to attend the annual Clear the Shelter event, hosted by Portland’s very own blonde bombshell newscaster, Babs Prescott. Babs is convinced she’s top dog among local celebrities, but it’s clear that someone disagrees when Babs’ body is found following a downtown press conference.
A story this juicy would be headline news at any time, but especially once local crime reporter Shelby Tucker is arrested for the murder. Gwen was Shelby’s high school teacher, and she’s sure her former pupil is innocent. But in that case, who was itching to take Babs out of the spotlight for good? As Nora and Gwen investigate, they find personal mysteries at odds with Babs’ public persona, all leading to a killer who’s not pussyfooting around . . .
Cat’s Meow by Dane McCaslin is the second book in the cozy The 2 Sisters Pet Valet Mysteries series. This series as with most other cozies has a seperate mystery to be fully solved within each book so a reader can read the books as a standalone or in any order if choosing to do so. There is however some character development that carries over from book to book for those that choose to read the entire series in order.
The 2 Sisters Pet Valet Mysteries series introduced readers to Gwen Franklin who had just retired from her career as a high school teacher and had plans to just relax and enjoy this new chapter in her life. Gwen’s best friend Nora however had other plans for Gwen now that she’s retired, Nora had the idea that she and Gwen should go into business together. Nora’s chosen plan is for the pair to open a pet-sitting service which Gwen isn’t too sure about.
Gwen eventually caved into Nora’s plans and the pair find themselves taking on all kinds of pets to get their business going. As their business began to pick up Gwen and Nora found themselves invited to the annual Clear the Shelter event. Unfortunately for the ladies though the hostess of the event, Babs Prescott, is found murdered and a former student of Gwen’s, Shelby Tucker, is arrested for the murder leaving Gwen wanting to catch the real killer.
After finishing the first book in The 2 Sisters Pet Valet Mysteries series I really enjoyed the characters and had a ton of laughs but when finishing the second book now I felt like it missed a bit of the sparkle the first book had. I’m not sure if it were simply the mystery or something else but I’ve lowered my rating of this second book to three and a half stars. I do still feel like this series has potential to really become a favorite so I do plan on coming back for book three hoping a new case, new surroundings and different events will bring my rating back up.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
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great review! i haven’t heard of this book before!
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Thanks Chelsea! I sometimes feel like I’ve picked up all the cozies out there but then I come across more i hadn’t even heard of either.🤣
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So many different cozy mysteries. I hope the next book in the series is better for you Carrie.
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Thanks Wendy!!🙂
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Sorry this didn’t measure up to the first book, Carrie. I hope the next one is back on track. ❤📚
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Thanks Sandy, I’m hoping the next will pick up or it may be a series off my shelf.
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Definitely a good read, 💕🍮🍮
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Thanks!
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Nice review Carrie. I hope it picks up for you in the next book. This is another series that I probably won’t start, but it sounds like a fun ride.
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Thanks Carla! If the next isn’t back to where the first was I will probably move on myself. 😦
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