Cat Got Your Diamonds
by Julie Chase
Cat Got Your Diamonds:
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Louisiana
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books (November 15, 2016)
Hardcover: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1629538426
E-Book ASIN: B01H082DOU
Synopsis
Grandeur and opulence are everything in the famed New Orleans Garden District where pets are family and no bling is too big. Opening Furry Godmother, pet boutique and organic treat bakery, is Lacy Marie Crocker’s dream come true–until the glitter gun used to make her Shih Tzu tutus becomes a murder weapon. And Lacy becomes public enemy #1.
Now Detective Jack Oliver is hounding Lacy, and her Furry Godmother investor wants out before his name is tarnished by association. To make matters worse, a string of jewel heists with suspicious ties to the murder case has New Orleans residents on edge. To save her dream, Lacy must take a stand, put her keen eyes to work, and unravel what really happened at her shop that night. But can Lacy sniff out the killer cat burglar in time to get her tail-raising designs on the catwalk?
Dollycas’s Thoughts
As soon as I saw the cover for this story I knew I had to read this book!
Lacy Marie Crocker owner of The Furry Godmother and she is ready to make couture garments to make your pet feel special and/or make any other pet lover green with envy. She bakes up tasty treats for pets too. She has the purrfect opportunity to show off her talents at the Animal Elegance Gala, but before that happens one of the tools of her trade connects with a man’s head. The man had broke into her shop but she didn’t deliver the deadly blow. Now she just has to prove it as she is Detective Jack Oliver prime suspect. Is the murder tied to a bunch of jewelry thefts in the Garden District? Lacy needs to find the real killer and try to figure out why she ended up in the middle of this crime spree. That puts her right in the cross-hairs of the killer.
The story takes place in New Orleans and pets of all types, dogs, cats, turtles and even llama seem to be pretty popular in the area. Not just normal curl up and pet animals either, several can perform, and Lacy creates their costumes.
I love Lacy and the way she harnesses her creativity in her pet apparel. With a vet as a father she grew up around animals, but this is not the career he parents originally envisioned. I must say it seems to suit her to a tee even though her wealthy partner pulls his funding until she is cleared of the murder.
Detective Jack Oliver is a real pain when the story starts but by the end I was seeing him in a different light. We also meet Chase, a man from Lacy’s past, easy on the eyes and very interested in Lacy. I love a good romantic triangle. We meet several other characters in this first installment and many make good suspects. The dialogue between the characters is funny and realistic.
The story moves right along at a great pace. The author’s writing not only tells this cat – ivating mystery, her words create some vivid imagery too. She also sets up a fantastic twist that caught me totally by surprise.
This is a wonderful start for this series. Do you pamper your pets? This is a cozy for you. Heck, if you like your cozies with an animal or two or more, you will love this story. I am already looking forward to book #2.
Early Praise:
“In all that New Orleans heat and glitter, there’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing. A fun read.”
—Rita Mae Brown, New York Times bestselling author of the Sneaky Pie mystery series
“Everyone needs a Furry Godmother! A delightful new series steeped in the flavor of New Orleans and its old families. Julie Chase’s clever characters are guaranteed to make you smile.”
—Krista Davis, New York Times bestselling author of the Paws & Claws mysteries
“A stunning debut… Julie Chase’s new series is a cross between Laura Childs’ Scrapbooking series and Ali Brandon’s Black Cat Bookshop. A fantastic start to what looks like a promising cozy series. Even if you are not a cat/dog lover, you will love this one!”
—T. C. LoTempio, author of the national bestselling Nick and Nora mystery series.
More Praise for Cat Got Your Diamonds:
I keep starting and stopping as I write this review. I’m trying to figure out how to adequately express just how much I enjoyed Cat Got Your Diamonds. I’m tempted to gush and run on and on about it, but I also want my words to come across as sincere because this Kitty Couture mystery is outstanding.
~The Girl with Book Lungs
Wow. I really enjoyed this book a lot. The cover on this book is absolutely beautiful and I knew I just had to read it. I am also a animal lover so any good cozy with animals is a my kind of story.
~Books, Dreams, Life
This first in series will have you engaged in the story from the start. The characters bring the charm and wit that will leaving you wanting more.I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one.
~Shelley’s Book Case
I think I found a new favorite author! This was a really enjoyable book and fast paced.
~Kaisy Daisy’s Corner
With a great sense of humor and an interesting supporting cast, animal lovers, cozy lovers, and just about anyone else should love this book.
~The Book’s the Thing
…you never can tell you which books will draw you in. I would have never guessed that a cozy mystery series about a Kitty Couture shop would be so enjoyable, but Julie made a fan out of me. I’ll be anxiously awaiting next April and more adventures from Lacy!
~Grace. Gratitude. Life.
The writing of this story is superb and the setting and characters are so believable.
~Melina’s Book Blog
Cat Got Your Diamonds is an entertaining, well-written cozy mystery that’s full of southern charm.
~The Power of Words . . .
This novel is a great example of what I look for in a cozy mystery – a great case that keeps me guessing, a dash of romance, and splashes of humor. Both Lacy and Jack are well-developed and very likable characters with fantastic chemistry between them…
~Reading is my SuperPower
Chase created an interesting cast of characters and a delightful setting with the pet boutique. She also made good use of the New Orleans setting, showing us a New Orleans beyond the touristy stuff and the stereotypes.
~Bea’s Book Nook
Cat Got Your Diamonds is a captivating and fast-paced cozy whodunit tale that has enough quirky characters, witty banter and humor, drama, danger, and intriguing twists and turns that will keep you guessing the identity of the killer cat burglar.
~Jersey Girl Book Reviews
I’ve been looking forward to this book since I first saw it listed on Amazon. A new cat cozy taking place at a couture pet shop in New Orleans…how fast can I get there???
~Melissa’s Mochas, Mysteries & Meows
This was a really good start to a new cozy mystery series and I enjoyed it a lot.
~Books, Movies, Reviews. Oh my!
The path to solving the murder was paved with several potential candidates that had means and motive. There is also a twist to the story that I never saw coming. Bravo, Julie Chase, bravo!!
~Sapphyria’s Book Reviews
What’s not to love about this story? You get the fabulous setting of New Orleans, with all its culture and history, plus a main character who runs a pet boutique and bakery. Then you get a murder mystery on top of that.
~Book Babble
This book was fun, dangerous and the surprising ending has a real twist.
~Laura’s Interests
Cat Got Your Diamonds was the purrfect mystery that was filled with humor, charming characters and a delightful storyline…
~Moonlight Rendezvous
Filled with humor and fun CAT GOT YOUR DIAMONDS provides an intriguing mystery and great start to a new series.
~Cozy Up With Kathy
About The Author
Julie Chase is a mystery-loving pet enthusiast who hopes to make readers smile. She lives in rural Ohio with her husband and three small children. Julie is a member of the International Thriller Writers (ITW) and Sisters in Crime (SinC). She is represented by Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyons Literary Agency. Julie also writes as Julie Anne Lindsey.
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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.”
Sounds intriguing. Thanks for the chance to win.
This is a new author for me. 🙂 Thank you for the review and for the chance to win!