Requiem for a Mouse (Cat in the Stacks Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
16th in Series
Setting – Mississippi
Publisher : Berkley (June 25, 2024)
Hardcover : 288 pages
ISBN-10 : 0593199529
ISBN-13 : 978-0593199527
Kindle ASIN : B0CJT8QC1J
Audiobook ASIN B0D6NKY8Z2
Librarian Charlie Harris and his ever-intuitive feline friend Diesel must catch a killer in a deadly game of cat and mouse where no one is who they seem to be…
At last, Charlie and Helen Louise’s wedding is only a month away. They’re busy preparing for the big day, and the last thing Charlie needs is a new mystery to solve. Enter Tara Martin, a shy, peculiar woman who has recently started working part-time at Helen Louise’s bistro and helping Charlie in the archive. Tara isn’t exactly friendly and she has an angry outburst at the library that leaves Charlie baffled. And then she abruptly leaves a catered housewarming party Charlie’s son Sean is throwing to celebrate his new home in the middle of her work shift. Before ducking out of the party, Tara looked terrified and Charlie wonders if she’s deliberately trying to escape notice. Is she hiding from someone?
When Tara is viciously attacked and lands in the hospital, Charlie knows his instincts were correct: Tara was in trouble and someone was after her. With the help of his much beloved cat, Diesel, Charlie digs deeper, and discovers shocking glimpses into Tara’s past that they could never have predicted. Will they catch the villain before Charlie’s own happily ever after with Helen Louise is ruined?
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Charlie and Helen Louise’s wedding day is getting close. As they work on all the final details Charlie receives a large collection of books to catalog at the archive. He is happy to have an assistant to help him but Tara Martin is an odd duck, shy, quiet, and standoffish. She also has taken a part-time job working at Helen Louise’s restaurant. Then one day Charlie sees a whole new side of the young woman when she steps out of the office to take a phone call. She yells at whoever she is talking to and throws and breaks her phone. Helen Louise’s restaurant was catering Charlie’s son Sean’s new home and Tara was working the party, but she suddenly left looking scared of something or someone. Charlie finds her and she feigns a panic attack.
Later Tara is the victim of a hit and run or was it a deliberate attack? Charlie knows now someone was after her. Someone at Sean’s party? Soon he and his handsome feline, Diesel are finding clues that make him delve deeper into Tara’s past with surprising results. Working closely with the police he strives to get justice for his former assistant.
Some of my favorite cozy mystery characters are Charlie, Diesel, and all the folks in their world. I love catching up on what is going on with all of them and am delighted that we are getting close to Charlie and Helen Louise’s wedding. After 16 stories these characters are like old friends and I get a comfortable feeling from the moment I start to read.
In Requiem for a Mouse, Charlie wants to stay out of the investigation but he keeps finding clues in his office and suspects keep stopping by. Melba Gilley, his longtime friend and co-worker does her best to run interference or alert the authorities as needed. Helen Louise also had an interesting visitor at her restaurant. Sheriff’s deputy and Charlie’s friend and boarder Haskell makes several trips to the archive to pick up Charlie’s finds and getting statements regarding those finds. They also have some kitchen table discussions with Haskell’s life partner Stewart and their housekeeper Azalea, who happens to be Sheriff Kanesha Berry’s mother. I love how everyone gets in on the investigation including Diesel with his well-placed chirps and reactions to the strangers he meets. Everyone connected to the case seemed to have an alias and secrets. I always have a great time following all the clues and interactions. This time I had part of the puzzle figured out and loved the surprise ending when most of the clues fell into place.
I enjoy that the author blends normal everyday happenings in the characters’ lives seamlessly with the things to move the mystery along. The story has a nice flow but there are some repetitions to get all the information to the key players.
Requiem for a Mouse is a captivating addition to this long-running series. I look forward to the big event in Book 17 and Charlie and Helen Louise’s exciting adventure. They have to take Diesel with them, right? It should be a blast.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Berkley Mystery, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent
About the Author
, including The Pawful Truth
, Six Cats a Slayin’
, and Claws for Concern
, as well as the Southern Ladies Mysteries
, including Fixing to Die
, Digging Up the Dirt
, and Dead with the Wind
. James lives in Mississippi.Find out more about Miranda James and her books on her webpage here.
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Find the whole series here.
Southern Ladies Mysteries
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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.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.”
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