Cate ConteReseñas
Autor de Cat About Town
Reseñas
This was on a sale rack at one of the local libraries. Like other reviewers, the cat on the cover caught my eye.
I'm not really sure how to categorize the plot. In some ways it reminds me of a Hallmark movie--main character comes home to attend her grandmother's funeral, intending to return to her business and life in California, but stays on because of her grandfather. There is a love interest angle (with 2 possibilities) but unlike the Hallmark movies, the book doesn't end with romance.
It's a murder mystery--I classified it on my shelves as a cozy mystery because of Maddie, but I'm not sure it 100% fits that category since one of Maddie's love interests is a police officer who is involved in the formal investigation, and Maddie's grandfather is a former chief-of-police. There's another mystery too--a mysterious benefactor.
JJ (the cat) is definitely the star of the book for me. I can just imagine him strutting around town in his harness and squeaking (rather than meowing). I like the idea of cat cafes--being able to visit, borrow, or interact with cats without all the responsibilities of ownership.
I'm still not clear if the benefactor expected the grandfather to run the cafe (he did try to support the local pet rescue places when he was in office) or was expecting Maddie to stay and run it. I thought Maddie would be talking to her business partner about buying her out rather than closing their business in California and moving to the NorthEast--unless Maddie only meant for him to visit her to help get the cat cafe up and running?? I guess future books in the series will tell.
Determined to release Mazzy from the bottle she’d been genied into when no one else seems interested in saving the other witch and catching the murderer of a local woman that comes to her for help unleashes more than Violet could have ever expected and it’s a journey you don’t want to miss!
This book is part of the Cat Cafe mystery series, and readers new to the series (as I am) will have some quick catching up to do in the first chapters. More than 20 characters were introduced at the outset. (I had to make notes to keep up!) However, despite my initial skepticism, I quickly became engrossed in the quirky characters and the highly atmospheric Halloween setting. The descriptions kept me interested and I could picture the settings and events. Now I am anxious to read more in this series about Maddie and her eccentric family (especially Grandpa Leo and JJ the cat.)
Readers who enjoy a cozy and quirky mystery with a lot of atmosphere and some paranormal action will find this a fun and intriguing read.
I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
There is a 40-year-old unsolved murder on the island, as well as a missing persons case from around that time. Maddie and her best friend Becky are hopeful Balfour may be able to get answers for the town. However, some of Balfour's team seem strange and possibly hiding secrets. A mysterious woman keeps showing up and making Maddie suspicious. Then, Balfour is found dead, and Maddie can't help but start asking questions.
What I really enjoyed about this book is that I could read it as a standalone, as I mentioned, I'm not a cat lover and have not read any other books in the series. I am now looking forward to starting the series from the beginning. The cast of characters, including Maddie's grandfather and friend Becky really drew me into the book and made it that much more satisfying. This was a great read, especially because it involves Halloween. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a great Halloween themed cozy mystery.
Seasonal entertainment read with cats in costumes, family, ghosts, and lots more! Publisher's blurb is a great hook but the story is even better than that. Loved it even though I haven't yet read the earlier in series.
I requested and received an EARC from St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thanks!
Maddie James has recently come home to Daybreak Harbor. She opened a Cat Cafe with a partner and is busy getting back into life on the island. Currently she's working with her mother and sisters to coordinate the local Halloween celebration which they hope will rival Salem's.
After all, they have a haunted inn with a variety of ghosts and they have two unsolved mysteries from forty years earlier which are also still garnering attention. They have hired a psychic named Balfour Dempsey to come to town to be the centerpiece of the festival and to possibly provide insight into the two long unsolved crimes. Balfour's mother is a local who is recently retired but doing some work for the local newspaper.
When Balfour is found at the bottom of a cliff the first night of the festival, Maddie finds herself getting involved in the murder investigation. There are lots of suspects including members of his entourage, a stalker, and locals who aren't at all sure that they want the forty-year-old mysteries solved.
This was a fun story. I liked the way Maddie uses her local knowledge to learn more about the past. I thought the plot was well-developed and interesting. I liked the way Maddie was a sceptic about the paranormal when everyone around her seemed much more open to believing in ghosts and psychics.
I received this novel from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
“Gone but Not Furgotten” is the nicely done sixth book in Cate Conte's Cat Café cozy mystery series. I love this series – especially the cat café setting. I also like the characters – Maddie is a great main character and her grandfather is a great partner. The cat hoarding plotline is sad but all too realistic – I felt like I was there alongside Maddie and her friends as they tried to trap and help the cats. As for the mystery plotline – besides the main murder mystery there are several smaller mysteries and all are done well. There are plenty of suspects in the murder and a few twists and turns – I was left guessing until the end as to who the killer was. Well done!
“Gone but Not Furgotten” is a nicely done cozy mystery.
In this second book in a cozy mystery series, Violet is a crystal shop owner with recently-unveiled magical powers. When a troubled customer goes missing, she sets out to investigate, uncovering sordid secrets in her hometown--even as other witches investigate her for an incident that happened in the previous book.
I didn't read the first book, but that didn't make it difficult to get into this one. The plots are fairly straightforward. I was left with many frustrations and questions as I read, though. So much of the book's prolonged drama is because people aren't engaging in basic levels of communication, which is exasperating. The magic here doesn't seem to have any rules. Witches can teleport wherever. Violet is treated like she's incredibly powerful, but I saw no evidence of that whatsoever. She's willfully ignorant about magic in general, and that seems to largely be the case to drag out the magical subplot. I was mystified as to why she was serving on a local magical-governing board.
Genies and their powers seem to be set up to be the big bad guys in this world, and though they aren't described here as having an origin here, it made me uncomfortable that the one Arabian/Middle Eastern aspect was elevated to such a dark role. I hope that more nuance comes into play in future books.
The mundane mystery at the heart of the book is the best part, but I couldn't turn off my author/editor mode to relax and enjoy the loose magical worldbuilding.
The Cat Cafe theme of this series is cute and enjoyable. The mystery moved along at a nice pace with some twists and plenty of suspects. I like the characters in this series. Maddie is intelligent and feisty when she has to be. There is a bit of a love triangle vibe in this series.....that's more than a bit old hat in cozies. I hope it doesn't develop into a main theme for this series. Really really really tired of that trope.
All in all, this book was a fun weekend read. Enjoyable theme, plot and characters! I will definitely continue to read this series.
The next book, The Tell Tail Heart, will be out in June 2019.
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St. Martins Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
I adore the idea of cat cafes! So I knew I just had to read this book! Loved it! A great start to a new cozy series! Cat About Town has a nice mix of humor and mystery. The mystery is engaging, and not entirely predictable. I like Maddie James as a main character .... she is intelligent and has spunk. The side characters are nicely developed and interesting, adding some depth to the story. JJ, the lovely ginger rescue cat, is awesome, of course. I was a bit skeptical about a former stray and adult cat adjusting immediately to being on a leash though.....I think in reality most adult cats would balk at a leash and require some time to get used to it. But.....it is a cozy mystery.....and a cat on a leash is just darling. So...I'm willing to suspend reality and just relax.
I am a bit weary of the budding love triangle cozy trope though. Maddie has a couple local men showing interest in her in this first story......just hoping this doesn't become a major plot point. Too formula. And....I'll be honest....the MCs never seem to choose the one I like best in these situations....or they end up marrying some other character that pops in from out of the blue, leaving both men in the lurch. Bleck. Just skip the love triangle.....and focus on the kitty cafe, IMHO. :)
I enjoyed this light-hearted cozy mystery and look forward to more books in this series! The cover artwork is just darling!
Cate Conte is a pen name used by the author Liz Mugavero, author of the Pawsitively Organic Mystery series. For more information on the author and her books, check out her website: http://lizmugavero.com/wp/
Witch Hunt by Cate Conte has Violet Mooney living in North Harbor, Connecticut with her cat and she owns The Full Moon, a crystal shop. She is picking up coffee with her best friend, Sydney when Councilwoman Carla Fernandez comes up and starts berating her about a supposed séance. After a very strange day, Violet goes home and takes a long nap. She is awakened by two policemen pounding on her door. Carla was found dead outside the yoga studio that Violet attends with Violet’s new scarf on the body. Violet is taken to the police station to give her statement and she is shocked when her estranged mother, Fiona appears with her other daughter, Zoe. Fiona reveals surprising information to Violet that she has hard time accepting as truth. Violet avoids her mother while searching for Carla’s killer. She does wonder if the powers her mother hinted that she has are real because they might come in handy. Witch Hunt is the debut of A Full Moon Mystery series. Violet Mooney is grieving the loss of her grandmother, Abigail who died a month prior. Violet is grateful for her friends in North Harbor now that she is without her grandmother and father. She owns a crystal shop called The Full Moon where she provides consultations. I have mixed feelings about Violet. She seems awfully naïve for a 32 year old woman and her attitude left a lot to be desired at times. I hope we see growth in Violet’s character as the series progresses plus, she needs a new boyfriend. As Fiona said Todd is subpar. The mystery of who killed Carla had several suspects and a red herring. Violet asks questions and does some snooping along with eavesdropping. She likes to think about the case and speculate. I did feel that the case information was repetitious. I was able to pinpoint the killer soon after the crime, but I did not know why until much later. I thought Witch Hunt was nicely written with steady pacing. The magical element was interesting, and I enjoyed how Fiona left glitter everywhere. I would like to see the magical element ramped up in the future (more witches using their power and learn more about the witchy world). There is a lot happening in this debut novel with a murder, Violet’s boyfriend acting sketchy, Sydney acting oddly, appearance of Violet’s mom and sister, learning about new magical powers, a mysterious black cat, and a critical reporter. Witch Hunt is a spellbinding new cozy mystery with a mystifying moggy, curative crystals, glorious glitter, a callous councilwoman, a bothersome boyfriend, a fetching friend, and mysterious magic.
I received an advanced copy of this book via Kensington Cozies Program. I am not a para-normal lover, so this is probably not one I would have chosen for myself. I liked the beginning of the book where Violet claims crystals and stones are not magical but more of a nature thing. I kind of wish it had stayed there instead of moving in the direction it did.
Violet's history reminds me a bit of the backstory of the TV show "Charmed" in which a grandmother hides the magical truth from her granddaughter(s), supposedly for their own good, though we're never really told why this happened in Violet's case except it was her father's wish--which doesn't explain why the grandmother didn't change it after the father died.
I'm guessing Monty is a normal earth cat. Xander is never really explained. He could be a familiar. He appears and disappears. He's gone for a long time then shows up again at the very end. It's also never explained how he and Monty reconcile living together since the other time we see them together, Monty is not happy about it.
I did not guess who murdered Carla until it was revealed. I agree with Fiona that Todd is a subpar boyfriend and I wonder how long it will take Violet to figure that out--I also wonder if Todd's from the opposing camp that wants men to rule the magickal world, but Violet seems much more invested in the relationship that Todd is--at least in this book.
I liked the characters, and if the book hadn't had such a magical spin, I might have rated it higher.
My favorite cozy mystery is a paranormal one. And my favorite type of paranormal cozy is when a witch is just coming into her powers. I have read many of these so maybe because of that I’m being a bit harder on Witch Hunt by Cate Conte than others who have read it. But since I’ve read so many good paranormal series (Witchcraft Mysteries by Juliet Blackwell, Bewitching Mysteries by Madelyn Alt, and Wishcraft Mysteries by Heather Blake to name a few) Witch Hunt just didn’t leave me satisfied.
Cozies are notorious for the main character to reiterate information over and over while they try to work out what’s happening and which one of the people in their town is the killer. The good cozies also incorporate character growth and in depth details about the town or other historical facts while doing so. This is what makes the cozy series so enjoyable, learning new things about history or hobbies and finding characters that you could see yourself becoming friends with and wanting to invest your time reading future books with them in it. For me, Witch Hunt didn’t do this. Violet kept repeating the same information over and over but we didn’t get much history or growth of characters. Now it is the first book in a series so that could be overlooked, but Cate Conte aka Liz Mugavero has two other cozy mystery series out (Cat Cafe Mysteries and Pawsitively Organic Mysteries), so she knows how to write a cozy.
As for the magical aspect I was really enjoying the way the witches could move themselves and other objects through space and time… some while leaving a glitter trail! In a lot of witch cozies their powers are not as advanced. They might have premonitions or make magical potions, but to be able to teleport, that’s a very big power.
But I wanted more of the magic and magical townspeople. Conte does give us information on various crystals and a bit of history about witches, which was wonderful, but I wanted more. When Violet meets other magical townsfolk, it’s just to move the story along and we really don’t learn much about them. And there is division in the ranks of the witch world with someone trying to keep Violet from claiming her heritage, but while it’s talked about at the beginning nothing comes of it, and at the end of the book all is good.
I may give book two in the series a read, but I won’t rush out to get it and it would probably sit on my TBR pile for awhile.
While at the graveyard she comes across an orange cat that seems to like her, and Maddie does her best to make friends and get the cat to come to her, but people keep interrupting and the cat skitters away. Also, while at the graveyard, a man approaches Leo and Maddie later learns that Frank O'Malley wants him to sell his home — the home her mother grew up in, where she lived until she was nine with her parents, and where her grandfather grew up. Maddie’s appalled, and Leo insists he doesn’t want to talk about it. But Maddie when Maddie learns that Frank went so far as to threaten Leo, she decides to speak with Frank herself and tell him that there’s no way her grandfather is going to sell and he needs to back off. While the talk didn’t go well, Maddie isn’t going to give up and have her grandfather lose his home.
Dejected, she goes to the cemetery again to visit her grandmother’s grave and the cat once appears, and this time he follows her home. After walking with him throughout the day, he's been named JJ; and she takes him with her to the food festival that evening. But JJ skitters away again, and she follows his tail to one of the tents and sees him under a table — when she raises the cloth to get him, she comes across the body of Frank O’Malley, who’s been stabbed. Now her grandfather is a suspect in the death, and Maddie is determined to stay and find out who killed Frank...and hopefully the killer won’t come after her, too...
This is the first in a new series, and like all new ones, I'm always a bit skeptical of what might be inside the pages. But I was pleasantly surprised in the fact that this book is actually very good. The plot is delightful, I love JJ's personality, and also the fact that Maddie doesn't allow him outside alone. (I don't even believe in cats being outside at all, but I do understand that JJ is crucial to the story so it wouldn't make much sense otherwise; and the fact that Maddie has him on a leash when he's with her mitigates it for me). I like Maddie, since she's not broke, didn't come running home with her tail between her legs, and actually has intelligence. This book would have been five stars for me but for two things: I really did feel that the way Maddie was asking questions was intrusive to other people. I get that she was trying to find answers, but she was pretty much cornering people and demanding them at times. That bothered me.
The second is the obligatory love triangle. While there isn't one yet, I will say (as I've always said) that I absolutely detest them. Let's put it this way: if it were a man and he was stringing along two women, you'd think he was a dog, or worse. So why is it okay when a woman does it? Now, as I've said, there's really no love triangle going on. But the potential is there, and I, for one, hope it doesn't come to fruition. A book can be just as interesting without two guys hating each other and trying to outdo each other. They don't need to put on their chain mail and joust for fair maiden in this century.
That being said, I was pleased with the rest of the book. It was written well, the plot was interesting, Maddie and her family definitely has potential, and I like the secondary characters as well. I do love the idea that she's going to open a cat café, which makes all the more enticing to read the next in the series. As an owner of several cats, this series appeals to me; the author is a pleasure to read, being able to create definitive characters and descriptions of the area; and I will continue on with the series. Recommended.
The setting is fictitious Daybreak Island, off the coast of Massachusetts patterned by the author's visit to Martha's Vineyard. Having visited Martha's Vineyard in the midst of tourist season and off-season it was easy to become absorbed in the story and the descriptive nuances of seasonal business were captured very well.
My only disappointment was the illustration of JJ on the cover. I wish illustrators would read the novels or someone that read the novel would be more direct with the illustrator. JJ's harness and leash are not simply red in the novel but "skull-and-crossbones design in red and black." It would have added to the delight if this was illustrated on the cover design.
In the 1st novel there is a rather lengthy conversation between Maddie and her friend Cass Hillaire (owner of the Ocean Avenue Bookstore). I have only copied the important segment for reference as follows:
Cass nodded. “A J name, then. The soul quality of a J is intuitive. Knowing.” He gazed at the cat again. “Does he like birds?”
I frowned. I'm sure he likes them more if he can catch them.”
He laughed. “You know John James Audubon was born in Haiti? It was not Haiti then, of course.”
“I didn't know that,” I said.
“I know a lot of useless trivia about my country,” he said with a chuckle. “John James. That should be his name. JJ for short. Double Intuition.”
“JJ,” I repeated, looking at the cat. It fit him well enough. Better than Rusty or Pumpkin or Tigger, typical names of orange cats christened in shelters. “I like it.”
However, in "Purrder She Wrote" Maddie's new explanation is that JJ stands for Junkyard Johnny. The author shares in the dedication that the novel is in memory of Junkyard Johnny, a feline companion. I appreciate JJ being remembered and memorialized as a character. But then certainly the conversation with Cass in the opening novel should not have referenced JJ as John James.
An additional comment would certainly be that if you selected the series because you thought you would enjoy reading about the various cats at the cat cafe, I know you will be disappointed. The cat cafe did not "open for business" until this 2nd novel. There is a great deal of time spent on Maggie's anticipation of cleaning litter boxes, etc. prior to opening the cat cafe for the hours of the day or closing the cat cafe prior to her dates or dinners at her parents. However by the time Maddie decides to start any cleaning duties, miraculously the cat litter boxes are most often finished and cleaned by Adele, Gigi, or Maddie's grandfather Leo.
I will not continue reading this series. There are too many other captivating and enchanting cat cozy mystery series where the felines are truly featured.
4.5 Stars
JJs House of Purrs is Daybreak Island's new cat café where customers can get cozy with an assortment of friendly felines―and maybe even adopt one or two. She and her business partners have done all they can to establish the "purrfect" grand opening. However, a cat fight ensues, but the fight is actually between two women. Things get back on track rather quickly, and the opening day becomes a wonderful successes. However, almost immediately after, the café is visited by the police to state that one of the women in the argument has been murdered. The other lady in the argument, one of Maddie's volunteers, is the main suspect in the murder.
Maddie's café may be open, there is still a lot of work to do. If that isn't enough to completely stress Maddie out, the fact that one of her volunteers is being questioned is truly disturbing to her. Meanwhile, another of her volunteers has been acting rather oddly. There is the possibility of someone else being responsible, but there is no love lost between them and Maddie. Her family is now involved, and her family means the world to her. Her love for family is just as intense as her love of cats.
This is a cozy mystery with just the right air of intrigue and quite a bit of humor. Maddie doesn't set out to be an investigator by any means, but can't help but be involved in trying to figure out what happened. Purrder She Wrote was an enjoyable, fast-paced read with a delightful plot, really likeable characters and wonderful little felines.The conclusion was rather a surprise. This is the second book in the series, and no doubt, several of the characters make repeat performances. I love Cate Conte's writing style and definitely look forward to reading more in this series. Maddie's cat JJ is a smart, fun cat and I hope he shows up in future books.
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Purrder She Wrote is easy to read and has a steady pace. There is a lot going on in this book. I do not quite understand why the author felt the need to jam so much into one story. I would prefer she take the time to fully flesh out her characters. I would like to know more about Grandpa Leo and have him take a more active role in the investigating. I also could do with less of Maddie’s father who comes across as self-centered. He cares more about how events affect his career than his family. There was a great Emily Gilmore (of Gilmore Girls) reference in the book as well as one referring to Lord Voldemort. It was clever how the author included Stan and her pet treats from the Pawsitively Organic Mystery series. The whodunit was straightforward, and readers will have no problem identifying the guilty party. Maddie was intensely focused on solving the crime. She went from suspect to suspect to obtain information and kept in touch with her contact at the local newspaper for the latest news. There is speculation, rumors, and red herrings. I do wish that the case had been solved differently by Maddie (I would say more but I do not want to spoil it for you). There is some mild foul language in the story. Maddie is dating local pet groomer, Lucas Davenport but an old beau is also trying to capture her attention. Personally, I prefer the old beau over Lucas. I would prefer the romance to be less prominent in future books. I enjoyed the descriptions of the adorable felines and their antics. However, we do not need to know how often or when the litter boxes are scooped (no matter how necessary the chore). The cat café concept is unique, and I had not heard about them until I read Cat About Town (you should look it up online to see the various designs). While Purrder She Wrote is the second novel in A Cat Café Mystery series, it can be read alone. My rating for Purrder She Wrote is 3 out of 5 stars.
By
Cate Conte
What it's all about...
Maddie moves back home to start a Cat Cafe. People can make a reservation to come in and have coffee and play with cats. You can even reserve your favorite cat and ultimately apply to adopt that cat. Maddie hopes to have beautiful cats always rotating through the cafe eventually finding their forever home. However on opening day a fight over a cat breaks out and later one of the women involved in the fight is found murdered! Suspects abound!
Why I wanted to read it...
I loved the idea of this book. I loved the cats. I loved all of the mystery surrounding the murder.
What made me truly enjoy this book...
This book had a little bit of everything. Swiss chard throwing mean girls...poorly behaved husbands...strange volunteers...and lots of strong coffees and muffins...these and an incredibly curious personality on Maddie’s part are what make Maddie and this book so much fun! And...I can’t forget sweet JJ...Maddie’s very special cat!
Why you should read it, too...
This is the second book in a new series...it’s a stand alone but you will want to read the first one, too! The beach environment, the cozy towns and all of those kitties made this book a lovely one. Cozy mystery readers will love it!
I received an advance reader’s copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley and Amazon. It was my choice to read it and review it.
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Alibi---A Cat Cafe Mystery
Stars: 3.5 x 5
Author: Cate Conte @lizmugavero
Publisher: Minotaur Book @minotaur_books from
@mcmillanusai
Thank you @negalley for this ARC
This is a lovely Cat Cafe cozy mystery. The island of
Daybreak is getting ready for Halloween. So many
tricks and treats are occurIng. Maddie's young sister
Sam books a famous medium for Halloween, Balfour
Dempsey. They are hoping that Balfour Dempsey will
help the solve a murder and missing maid.
Apparently, once the medium arrives to do this
someone does not want him involved. It looks like he
has also brought a stalker with him. Another issue is
the hotel he is staying at is suppose to be haunted. It
seems that Balfour Dempsey is pushed off the cliffs
and falls to his death. This is where past and present
collide.
Maddie runs a cafe and who takes in stray cats.
Maddie has a cat named JJ and
"together" they try to find the murderer. There are quite
a few surprising twist and
turns in this story. Since this was the 7th book in the
series it took me a bit to learn
the characters but once that was done it was a cozy
read. By the end of the book both new and old
mysteries are solved.
I love anything Halloween since that is my birthday and
any mystery with a cat is even better.
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