Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!
I am excited to welcome Rebecca M. Hale!
Her Cats and Curio Mysteries and Island Mysteries are some of my favorites !!
HOW TO PAINT A CAT,
My Mural Tour of San Francisco
The Cats and Curios mystery series features my two cats, Rupert and Isabella, their anonymous owner (a woman who looks a lot like me), and their adventures in San Francisco’s Jackson Square. Each book incorporates some aspect of San Francisco history, either through a treasure hunt-style mystery or, more recently, as part of a search for a murderer.
The fourth installment (How to Tail a Cat) culminated in the slaying of a young City Hall intern. How to Paint a Cat picks up the hunt for his killer – whose identity is revealed in a painting.
A number of New Deal-era murals are sprinkled throughout San Francisco, most notably in Coit Tower, the Rincon Post Office, and the Beach Chalet at the west end of Golden Gate Park. These murals were commissioned as part of a public works program initiated during the Great Depression to employ artists. The paintings are literally incorporated into the outer surface of a wall, so they can’t easily be moved. While this presents challenges to their preservation, it also ensures a unique historical designation to the buildings where they reside. Each of the mural locations described in the book are open to the public for free admission. They’re well worth a stop if you’re visiting San Francisco.
The public works murals depict themes related to California, such as its people, environment, and history, but beyond those loose classifications, the artists were given creative carte blanche. The result is a fascinating collection of artwork filled with visual references to San Francisco and multiple layers of symbolism. You can spend hours gazing up at the murals, picking out familiar images, and pondering the possible meanings behind their many curious anomalies.
You might find your own hidden messages – me, I found a murderer…
~Rebecca
About Rebecca M. Hale
Rebecca M. Hale is the NY Times bestselling author of How to Wash a Cat
Rebecca just released a new Mystery in the Islands series, set in the US Virgin Islands, which starts with Adrift on St. John.
Ode to a Fish Sandwich (Quirky Tales from the Caribbean)
How to Paint a Cat
(Cats and Curios Mystery)
5th in Series
Cozy Mystery
A Berkley Prime Crime Mystery
The Berkley Publishing Group (March 4, 2014)
Published by The Penguin Group
Cover Illustration by Mary Ann Lasher
Cover Design by Diana Kolsky
Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425258866
E-Book File Size: 2679 KB
ASIN: B00EOAS040
WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?
San Francisco isn’t the biggest city in the country, but it feels pretty vast when you’re canvassing its neighborhoods looking for clues to your missing uncle’s hidden location. Aided by my two cats, Rupert and Isabella, I try to follow Uncle Oscar’s painted clues on a trail that leads from Coit Tower’s famous murals through San Francisco’s New Deal art—all while hoping my uncle’s sudden disappearance is unrelated to the murdered intern at City Hall.
Just when it seems our search has hit a wall, we receive some surprising help from beyond. But will it be enough to save us from our own brushes with death? Here’s hoping we don’t paint ourselves into a corner…
Dollycas’s Thoughts
These stories are not your typical cozy mysteries, they are true adventures.
How to Paint a Cat picks up right where How to Tail a Cat leaves off. Uncle Oscar is still missing or dead depending on who you ask, but he is one of the prime suspects in the murder of a young City Hall intern. His niece assisted by her cats, Rupert, who will do anything for a bite of fried chicken, and Isabella, a very inquisitive feline, are doing their best to find him or the real killer. They are being led on quite a sightseeing tour by a clue and some beautiful murals. They are kept on track by a very unusual source.
I must stress that this series needs to be read in order. Each story builds to the next and without reading the previous one the reader would be totally lost. The author uses San Francisco as not only the setting but its very interesting history plays a huge part in the plot of each book. Using the multiple points of view of several characters including those fabulous felines readers are treated to not only an awesome mystery but the sites of the area. Let me tell you the view from the kitties perch can be down right hilarious.
Hale has a different way of telling a story that may take a little bit of getting used to but when you let go you will find yourself right in the niece’s shoes trekking all over San Francisco trying to follow each and every clue. I did take a small break in my reading to check out some of the murals. Gorgeous. Then the trip I was on in the story became quite real and a lot of fun.
I totally enjoyed this story. I am so ready for HOW TO CATCH A CAT coming in 2015.
Thanks to the people at Penguin I have 2 copies to give away!
Contest is open to anyone over 18 years old
with a US or Canadian mailing address.
Duplicate entries will be deleted. Void where prohibited.
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Followers Will Receive 2 Bonus Entries For Each Way They Follow.
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Leave a comment for Rebecca for 5 Bonus Entries !
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5 Bonus Entries For Each Link.
Contest Will End April 2, 2014 at 11:59 PM CST
Winner Will Be Chosen By Random.org
Winner Will Be Notified By Email
and Will Be Posted Here In The Sidebar.
CLICK HERE FOR ENTRY FORM
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
**Guest Post Pictures Provided by Rebecca M. Hale
I haven’t read the first book so will have to catch up. This book looks and sounds wonderful as well. I’m looking forward to reading this series. Thanks for sharing 🙂
I am looking now for the first in the series.
I haven’t tried you series, but I’ve added it to the list.
Sounds like a fun cozy.
I’ve always wanted to trek all over San Francisco. I’ve only seen parts of it. And, I’ve lovd the parts I’ve seen. The book sounds great.
A delightful cozy which interests me. thanks.
Congrats on the new book! I love San Francisco and enjoy reading books that are set in the city. I have added this series to my TBR list and look forward to reading How To Paint a Cat. Thanks for the great giveaway!
Hi Rebecca,
I love the series and own at least 2 of the previous titles. I’d really love to be the lucky winner of this book, to add to my collection.
I love the cat series! Going to look for the Island series too!
I need to find the first ones in this series. Also think I would enjoy the island series. Off to library and Amazon I go.
Love books with animal protagonists and books about cities. How have I missed these books? Would love to win this! Going over to but Virgin Island books now. A very close cousin lived worked there for five years. So many tales from then. Accents were interesting!
These books look like fun!
The title certainly catches my attention! Sounds fun!
Another series I’ve missed and getting added to my tbr list. I love cozies with animals and I have to say the title is intriguing. Thanks for the chance to win.
Already a fan of this series…looking forward to this new adventure.
Sounds like I better start reading book 1!
Cute book cover. Sounds like a great book. Those murals are really pretty.
Sue B
What a fun series. Love books with cats in them
Love this series! Can’t wait to rea this one. Thanks for the giveaway chance!
I love the murals in San Francisco, how cool to use them as inspiration.
I love the paintings / inspiration! Looks like I have another series to add to my TBR list!
It sounds like a cute mystery. I love the cats and paintings in the story.
i havent read any of the books in the series yet.the book sounds good.i love books with cats or dogs.
I love San Francisco—except for the earthquakes—so I think I’ll stay away and just read about it in your books.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Sounds like marvelous fun. I’m hoping I find the first book soon. Thank you for the giveaway.
I love books that take place in San Francisco. It is my favorite city to visit.
I have missed out on your first book. This sounds like such a cute mystery series!
beautiful illustrations and looks like a great series to add to my “to be read”
Love the murals, Rebecca. Adding this series to my list of books to read.
I have had your books on my TBR pile for a while. I am waiting for spring so I can sit outdoors and enjoy them in the sunshine.
I am looking for something new to read. Sounds interesting!