A Blue Ribbon Murder (Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries)
by T. C. LoTempio
About A Blue Ribbon Murder
A Blue Ribbon Murder (Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Setting – Connecticut
Publisher : Beyond the Page
Publication date : March 31, 2026
Print length : 260 pages
Paperback
ISBN-13: 9781966322467
Digital
ISBN-13 : 978-1966322443
ASIN : B0GPT7LN4H
When the organizer of a major cat competition is murdered and the grand prize is stolen, Shell McMillan will have to claw through the clues to catch a killer . . .
The Kitty Club Cat Show has come to Fox Hollow, and everyone from casual cat lovers to competitive breeders has shown up for the contest. Pet shop owner Shell McMillan has two cats entered, and like everyone else she has her eye on the grand prize, a vibrant red leash with a solid gold cat-head figurine attached. As the judging begins, cat owners clash and the fur flies, until a power outage throws the whole arena into darkness. But when the lights come back up, the event’s organizer is found dead and the grand prize is missing.
Shell knows the obvious suspect is the victim’s stepson, who’s up to his neck in gambling debts and would kill to get his hands on his inheritance. But there are plenty of disgruntled competitors to consider too, including some who had an old score to settle with the victim. Every clue is catnip for Shell, especially as she puzzles out whether the thief and the murderer are the same person. Either way, with two crimes to solve and a killer on the loose, she’ll have to tread carefully so that her dreams of Best in Show don’t end with Rest in Peace . . .
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Fox Hollow is abuzz with excitement as it welcomes the Northeast Kitty Club Cat Show. Competitive breeders from near and far gather to showcase their prized cats, while the event also offers a household pet category for enthusiasts of mixed-breed or undocumented cats. Shell McMillan, owner of the Urban Tails Pet Shop, not only sets up a booth at the show but also enters her two cats in the competition, hoping to bring home the grand prize and display it proudly in her shop.
Soon, the judging begins, and the event becomes organized chaos as the cats are groomed and fluffed and their handlers move them to the rings for competition. Then the lights go out. When power is restored, the grand prize is gone, and the woman in charge of the event is dead.
Shell slips right into sleuth mode with Gary right on her heels. The victim had made a long list of enemies in her career, but her stepson’s urgent need for inheritance due to gambling debts stands out as a possible motive. With two crimes to solve, Shell hopes they can get a leash on both the thief and the murderer before they get their paws on another victim, including Shell or Gary.
Kahlua and Princess Fuzzypants get their time to shine in this new installment of the Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries. Purrday didn’t mind being left out, because his time to shine was coming. These cats have such delightful personalities. I know the author and her cat, Rocco, collaborate to get these feline characters just right.
Managing the booth and showing Kahlua and Princess Fuzzypants keeps Shell and Gary busy, so they are grateful when Olivia steps in to help during the murder and theft investigations. Shell’s boyfriend, Josh, Fox Hollow’s lead homicide detective, was away getting specialized training for the new bodycams and armor the department just purchased. The victim, Isobel Lanford, the managing director of the event, was notorious for being difficult, giving Shell and Gary plenty of suspects to consider. When another victim is discovered, the stakes escalate. Shell’s curiosity and determination shine through as she and Gary follow every clue, working through the complex web of motives. Ms. LoTempio has plotted out a fantastic mystery giving readers, Shell, and Gary a tough mystery to solve. I was right there with Shell when she was trapped by the killer with an “itchy trigger finger” and all the evidence she needed. Then . . . nope, no spoilers.
A Blue Ribbon Murder is a highly entertaining cozy mystery, filled with fabulous feline characters and their wonderful human companions. The cats add charm and humor to a well-constructed plot, making it a delightful read. Ms. LoTempio’s storytelling shines throughout the series, and I recommend every book for fans of cozy mysteries and cat lovers alike.
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 the author, Beyong the Page, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
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About T. C. LoTempio
While Toni Lotempio does not commit – or solve – murders in real life, she has no trouble doing it on paper. Her lifelong love of mysteries began early on when she was introduced to her first Nancy Drew mystery at age 10 – The Secret in the Old Attic. She and her cat pen the Nick and Nora mystery series originally from Berkley Prime Crime and now with Beyond the Page Publishing. They also write the Pet Shop Series and the Tiffany Austin Food Blogger series and brand new Cozy Bookshop Mysteries!
You can cat-ch up with them at ROCCO’s blog, www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com or her website, www.tclotempio.net
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Find More Books by T.C. LoTempio HERE.
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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.” I am also an affiliate of Bookshop.org, and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.” These funds are often used for gift cards and other giveaways.
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