Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!
I am still behind on my posts but am making progress.
Rebecca was originally to be my guest last Wednesday.
San Francisco’s Golden Gate: Hidden in Plain Sight
In the first five books of the How to Wash a Cat series, Rupert and Isabella’s feline adventures have taken them all over San Francisco and across Northern California. From their home base in the Jackson Square antique shop, the cats have ventured out to explore the murals of Coit Tower, the science museum in Golden Gate Park, and the cupola at the top of City Hall. With the help of a cat-modified stroller, they’ve visited a California gold mining town, the State Capitol, and historic Monterrey. Along the way, the cats have uncovered Gold Rush treasure, cavorted with multitalented frogs, rescued an abducted albino alligator, and unmasked the murderer of a City Hall intern.
With each book in the series, I’ve tried to capture an intriguing aspect of San Francisco history or culture. There’s no shortage of potential material. The Bay Area has always prided itself on being quirky and peculiar.
The story of the San Carlos certainly fits the bill. For hundreds of years, mariners failed to notice the opening to the San Francisco Bay. Even after Governor Portola stumbled across the estuary on a land expedition, few believed the enormous bay he described existed.
The Golden Gate, the opening now spanned by San Francisco’s famous red bridge, was hidden in plain sight. The hills on the bay’s east side combined with the bay islands of Alcatraz and Angel to create an optical illusion. From the perspective of someone sailing in the Pacific Ocean, the shoreline appeared to be contiguous. Some of the world’s most famous explorers sailed right past the strait, never giving it a second glance.
The San Carlos might have missed it too – if not for the assistance of a sharp-eyed Siamese named Isabella…
~Rebecca
About The Author
NY Times bestselling author REBECCA M. HALE worked for almost ten years as a patent attorney in the San Francisco Bay Area before taking time off to write her first novel, HOW TO WASH A CAT. She is now the author of nine Penguin titles and a growing list of ebooks released under her own imprint Green Vase Publishing. She writes fiction, typically in the form of quirky mysteries that reflect her travel experiences and the people she meets on her journeys.
Rebecca lives in Western Colorado with her feline writing associates, that is, when she’s not off researching future books set in San Francisco, the Caribbean or wherever else her wandering spirit takes her.
Find out more on her webpage here.
(Cats and Curios Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Setting – California
A Berkley Prime Crime Mystery
The Berkley Publishing Group (March 3, 2015)
Published by The Penguin Group
Cover Illustration by Mary Ann Lasher
Cover Design by Diana Kolsky
Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425258880
A serial killer with a peculiar penchant for City Hall interns is on the loose in San Francisco, and it’s up to me—and my two cats, Rupert and Isabella—to put a stop to the spree. Unfortunately, worrying about my uncle Oscar’s failing health and assisting with the interim mayor’s America’s Cup regatta doesn’t leave me with much opportunity to chase down clues.
Could the key to apprehending the killer be found in San Francisco’s sailing history? The first European vessel to pass through the Golden Gate contained a familiar cast of human—and feline—passengers as well as an elusive killer who used a similar murder weapon. Will the past catch up to the present in time to crack the case?
The truly is one of my favorite series. They are so much more than mysteries that are adventures and Rebecca M. Hale spins quite a story or should I say stories. She takes the reader back and forth from 1775 to present time and gives this series a fabulous finish.
Again the story picks up right where the last one leaves off as Oscar, his niece and her cats are trying to catch the Knitting Needle Ninja. A killer who hides blades in the ends of knitting needles, apparently it is a weapon used way back in the past too. This time the story focuses on an America’s Cup Regatta in present day and the search for a hidden bay off the coast in the past. The stories parallel perfectly and leave the reader wondering about all the characters.
Like my reviews of previous books in this series I stress that these books need to be read in order because each one builds to the next. Reading this as a stand alone would leave too many questions or disappointment for the reader. The entire series is excellent so if you are not already a fan please start from the beginning.
The author does a vast amount of research and her fiction is based on facts which really draws me into these stories. I always want to do a little research on my own after finishing or sometimes during these stories. Her writing style is very creative and it takes a few chapters to get into the rhythm but soon the reader is so immersed in the story it is as if you are watching a movie as the pictures just form before your eyes.
The characters are rich, genuine and also quirky and the cats Rupert and Isabella are some of the finest felines you will find in fiction today.
This book is dedicated to the readers by Rupert, Isabella and Rebecca – stating “It has been a pleasure sharing our adventures with you.” Well all I have to say the pleasure was all mine. I loved each and every one of them!
Thanks to the people at Penguin I have 2 copies to give away!
Contest is open to anyone over 18 years old
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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.”
. The series, starring Rebecca’s cats Rupert and Isabella, takes place at an antique shop in San Francisco’s historic Jackson Square. While fictional, each book features a different aspect of California history — from the Gold Rush (
), to the Bear Flag Revolt (
). The fourth book in the series, 
, came out September, 2012.
The second book in the series, 
