What the Cat Dragged In - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads:  What the Cat Dragged In (Cat in the Stacks Mystery #14) by Miranda James

Rating:  Really Liked It!
Source:  Publisher

Description:  Librarian Charlie Harris and his faithful feline companion, Diesel, have inherited Charlie’s grandfather’s house, along with a deadly legacy: a decades-old crime scene, in this all-new mystery in the New York Times bestselling Cat in the Stacks series.

Charlie has always believed that his grandfather had sold his house to his longtime tenant, Martin Hale. So when Martin dies, Charlie is surprised to discover the house was not left to Martin but instead belongs to Charlie. As he and Diesel check out the house he remembers fondly from his childhood, he is pleasantly surprised that it is in better condition than expected. That is, until they find a literal skeleton in a closet.

While the sheriff’s department investigates the mysterious remains, Charlie digs deeper into the past for clues to the identity of the bones and why they are there. But the cold case heats up quickly when Martin’s grandson is found dead on the farm.

As Charlie delves into his own family history, he encounters many people who might have been motivated to take a life. But Charlie and Diesel know that things are not always what they seem, and that secrets seemingly lost to time have a way of finding their way back to haunt the present.

Genre: Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  I love this series and I love mysteries involving family history so there was no way I was passing this one up!  

My Impression: I kind of feel like this book was written for me.  I really enjoy this series.  I love Charlie and Diesel and all the side characters and then you throw in the inherited house that Charlie was unaware of AND the deep dive into family history and I was in bookish heaven.  The book starts out with a bit of a bang with Charlie and Diesel arriving at his grandfather's home that he thought had been sold decades before.  Within minutes Diesel has discovered a dead body and the mystery gets rolling.

There's a lot to clear up and figure out with just who is the skeleton in the house and just who killed the dead body found in the yard.  I flew through this book loving the addition of new characters and following Charlie as he learned more about his family that he never really felt very connected to.  As well I loved getting a little more in-depth look at Stewart and Haskell who have always been likable side characters but I've never really felt like I knew much about them.  

If you are not already invested in this series then this might not be a good place to start - especially if family history mysteries are not your bookish catnip.  This isn't the most action oriented mystery and there's very little actual feeling of danger for most of the book.  This is more of a character building story but I found it an absolute delight.  And once again I'm finding myself wanting to find a Maine Coon just like Diesel!  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Absolutely!  I'm really looking forward to seeing where this series goes and I hope one of the characters we met in this book becomes a permanent character in the book.

Would I Recommend this Book? If you enjoy this series already get this book immediately!  If you're new to the series you may want to start with an earlier book but if you are a mystery lover I think you'll enjoy this series.  

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *