{I've Been Reading} Claws of Action

Claws of Action by Linda Reilly

Lara and her Aunt Fran are happily preparing the latest addition to their High Cliff Shelter, a reading room where children can come read to the cats. Everything is coming together perfectly until the new health inspector, Evonda Fray, makes an unexpected appearance and claims that the cookies and drinks  they serve to visitors make the shelter an illegal cat cafe. She vows to return the next morning with a cease and desist notice that will put them out of business, but before she can do that her body is found in her car with the paperwork in her hands.

The one thing Lara knows for sure is that she didn't strangle the unpleasant woman herself. She's not so sure about the owner of the shelter's newest resident, who brought them his cat because his landlord, Evonda Fray, has ordered him to get rid of his beloved pet...or about the many others who had reason to want Evonda gone.

I'm not much of a cat person these days, but that doesn't stop me from thoroughly enjoying the Cat Lady Mysteries. Lara and Aunt Fran are clearly devoted to their cats but they never come across as too judgmental of characters who aren't as enamored with cats. (Except for Evonda and she was just terrible towards cat and people.) The mystery was complex and kept me guessing...and worrying...until the solution.

Disclosure -- The publisher provided me with an advance review copy. This post contains affiliate links.