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A review by helenh
Magical Mystery Paws by Mandy Morton
3.0
Let’s get the band back together! And that’s one of the things that happens in Magical Mystery Paws, another chapter in the No. 2 Feline Detective Agency series by Mandy Morton. One needs to suspend all disbelief to read these books; once that’s accomplished, feel free to enjoy the feline antics of Hettie and Tilly, the proprietors of the aforementioned private detective company, and their many cat friends, who just happen to talk, and dance, and sing. And kill things. Like the drummer of the backup band The Cheese Triangles who quickly turns up dead, strangled by a guitar string. Hettie and Tilly are soon on the case, whiskers twitching and tails up.
Never mind the bodies strewn about, Hettie’s long-haired tabby hackles (as described) are soon raised over the disaster in the making of a musical tour, recalling her own history of being on the road. And disaster is a good word for a lot of what happens in the book, which is more a tale of musical misery (the lot of a performer, human or cat, is apparently not a happy one) than mystery.
The book itself, apart from the plot, is quite a wonder. The play on words flies fast and furious -- Tabby Road Recording Studios; Agatha Crispy, whose books Tilly adores, since she is so adept at ferreting out the murderer; M. Balm, the town’s undertaker. There's Enya, the cat with the beautiful singing voice that sings “Caribbean Boot.” And lest we forget, Nicolette Upstart, the famous writer. There’s more where that came from -- especially on the last page.
Finally, the killer is revealed (a bit before the ending), and everything plays out to a happy and triumphant end. The Summer of Fluff tour, when everythin’ seems better with a little bit o’ nip.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy of this book, in exchange for this review. (less)
Never mind the bodies strewn about, Hettie’s long-haired tabby hackles (as described) are soon raised over the disaster in the making of a musical tour, recalling her own history of being on the road. And disaster is a good word for a lot of what happens in the book, which is more a tale of musical misery (the lot of a performer, human or cat, is apparently not a happy one) than mystery.
The book itself, apart from the plot, is quite a wonder. The play on words flies fast and furious -- Tabby Road Recording Studios; Agatha Crispy, whose books Tilly adores, since she is so adept at ferreting out the murderer; M. Balm, the town’s undertaker. There's Enya, the cat with the beautiful singing voice that sings “Caribbean Boot.” And lest we forget, Nicolette Upstart, the famous writer. There’s more where that came from -- especially on the last page.
Finally, the killer is revealed (a bit before the ending), and everything plays out to a happy and triumphant end. The Summer of Fluff tour, when everythin’ seems better with a little bit o’ nip.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy of this book, in exchange for this review. (less)