Although I was sure I'd read some of this series, as I read I realized that I seemed to be mistaken. As it turned out, it didn't matter as it works well as a standalone. While, yes, it did take me a bit to sort out the characters, of which there seemed to be many initially, I quickly found myself caught up in vintage cookware collector Jaymie Muller's life and situation. The idea of a cat colony high on a bluff over a river was intriguing, especially as winter weather set in. We even get to know a few of the cats' quirks and personalities and a possible future solution to lessen the numbers there to be cared for. Jaymie also has a dog, a three-legged Yorkie named Hoppy and daughter Jocie's cat Lilibet. The relationship between Jayme and Jocie is adorable and nice to see. Husband Jakob is in and out of the story but plays a minor role of simply being there when support is needed this go-round. I ultimately enjoyed meeting the cast of characters, even the snoopy ones, and how they came together as a community as needed. Heck, even seemingly cranky Haskell Lockland turns out to have more dimensions than we first imagine.
As for the mystery/murder, it doesn't actually happen until you're nearly 1/3 of the way through the book but there's a growing sense of unease in the lead-up. Part of it comes from the ominous weather, yes, but we get peeks at activities that, well, let's just say seem highly unusual and surely illegal. By the time the first body is found, we're fully immersed in the happenings and, if you're at all like me, already considering whodunit. Jaymie's relationship with the local police force was a definitely plus. Nice to see the police treated with due respect and not somehow shown as being inept. Not only is Jaymie's love of animals obvious, but her sense of caring stands out as the story goes along. I mean, this woman doesn't hesitate to speak out on behalf of her town and friends, not to mention take on a major role in a major event with very little planning time remaining. She also seems to have learned from past mistakes, not always easy. Never poke a bear, indeed. Toss in some curious seniors, aging rock'n'rollers, shady business dealings, unpredictable felines, family emergencies, family ties, and, well, much more, an it makes for an intriguing mystery full of characters you'll like and humor (hope you like puns--grin), and you'll be hooked right up to the scary conclusion. Stick around, though, for the rest and a vintage recipe!
Bottom line, despite coming into this series late, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm a huge fan of character driven plots and this one had unique, well-fleshed out characters that I quickly came to like. While more a dog than cat person, I definitely enjoyed the story's focus on basically animal rescue/care. Reading of a potential option to help at the end made me hope to hear more of it in future books. Yes, I'll definitely be keeping up with this series from now on, not to mention checking the library for back installments. My thanks to #BeyondThePagePublishing for the advance copy that introduced me to Jaymie and her circle of friends, family, and pets. The setting was fascinating and, I might add, nicely introduced to us, and I'm looking forward to my next visit.
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