The Cat, The Quilt And The Corpse: A Cats In Trouble Mystery
By Leann Sweeney
Signet, $6.99
ISBN: 978-0451225740

If there’s one problem Yellow Rose Mystery Series author Leann Sweeney might encounter with her new Cats in Trouble Mystery Series it would be scaring off readers who run at the mention of “cute,” “cats,” or “sewing.” That would be a shame, as in spite of the title, THE CAT, THE QUILT AND THE CORPSE is a complex, touching and very entertaining mystery that will please even the most cat-cozy-phobic of readers.

In the ten months since her husband’s death, forty-one year-old Jillian Hart has hidden herself in world that consists of sewing quilts and caring for her three Katrina-rescued cats. Her isolation ends when she returns home from a business trip only to discover a shattered window and her beloved Abyssinian cat Syrah missing. The Mercy, South Carolina police are quick to write it off as a prank, but Jillian finds unexpected aid in the form of Candace Carson, a young, very eager deputy who is more than willing to utilize her fledgling forensic skills. An ex-cop PI who sets up a security system provides additional help, and it’s his pet-cam system that leads Jillian to a suspect when she spots another attempt to break into her home. Her desperation to find Syrah compels her to impulsively rush out to confront the suspect, only to discover a body and pushing Jillian into the spotlight of both the small town and the police department.

Sweeney’s superior character development elevates this mystery to a higher level as she reveals how Jillian is slowly able to immerse herself into the small town and begin to once again form relationships and re-enter the world. The town’s lightning-speed gossip network is highlighted and exploited by Jillian, as is the way the people have come to watch out and care for each other. The relationship between cats and their owners is never overplayed and is displayed in a way that is touching and plays a significant role in the mystery. With her unique characters, complex relationships, and a plot that continually engages the reader, Sweeney once again creates a very entertaining new mystery series.

Review by CINDY CHOW

©2009 Lorie Ham. All rights reserved.