Genre:

When ex–Vegas showgirl and local business owner Bunny Reid starts an online dating service called Cupid’s Cat’s Meow, out-of-town visitors flock to her bowling alley for the speed dating and cat show events that she hosts to bring in extra cash. Bunny’s scheme sounds harmless enough, but school psychologist Skye Denison knows all too well that an influx of strangers in Scumble River always spells trouble….

Meanwhile, Skye is convinced that her house is haunted and is afraid her fiancé, police chief Wally Boyd, won’t move in until the ghost moves out. But ghost-hunting takes a back seat when Skye is called to the bowling alley, where a riled up contestant is choking a cat show judge for insulting his feline. Skye breaks up the scuffle, but the next morning the judge’s dead body is found, strangled with a cat toy. Now Skye must solve this purrplexing mystery—and show a devious killer that her sleuthing skills are the cat’s meow.

Review

Skye Denison already has her hands full with her job as the school psychologist for Scumble River, as well as consulting for the local police force. She also has to convince her fiancé, Police Chief Wally Boyd, to move into her inherited home after they’re married, even though it appears the spirit of the original owner is still there and doing everything she can to keep Skye and Wally apart. Now, Skye must deal with her ex-boyfriend Simon’s mother Bunny Reid’s latest scheme – an Internet matchmaking site for single cat lovers! With help from two of Skye’s former students, Bunny plans a combination cat show/speed dating event for middle-aged singles from all over Illinois at the bowling alley she manages. Bunny thinks the plan is foolproof as a money-maker and a way for her to meet eligible men, but Skye is afraid of what could happen with a bunch of strangers coming into Scumble River. Unfortunately, Skye’s worst fears are realized when Alexis Hightower, a bullying judge for the cat show, is found dead and the weapon is a cat toy! Skye is called into duty to help Wally find out which of the feline-loving singles is a murderer.
 
Those who have read the earlier books in the Scumble River series won’t be disappointed in Skye’s latest outing, and new readers are given enough information to enjoy this light-hearted mystery. Bunny Reid’s speed-dating event sets the stage for everything that occurs in the book. The antics of Skye’s ex-future mother-in-law are sometimes hilarious and other times ridiculous. I’m glad there’s a good mixture of humor and reality this time since Bunny’s latest adventure is at the center of the murder. Bunny is cleared as a suspect, but it’s clear she is trying to hide something. This storyline is never completely resolved, but I’m hoping it will continue into the next book in the series.

Sometimes in a cozy mystery series, as the main character gains more experience as an amateur sleuth, the thing that makes the character special to begin with (his or her unique career, talent, or hobby) takes too much of a back-seat to their detecting. This book has the perfect balance between Skye’s problem-solving at the local schools and crime-solving with Wally. The focus of the book is on the murder investigation, but the author doesn’t lose sight of Skye’s counseling job remaining true to the character and making the story more interesting. Of course Skye’s “problem patients” the Dooziers make an appearance and that sub-plot is amusing and realistic and not as exaggerated other times when Skye has dealt with this bizarre family.

I’m a long-time follower of this series, and love the counseling and the investigation portions of the book, but am not as interested Skye’s love life. I flip-flop on how I feel about Skye and Wally as a couple. Wally loves and respects Skye and is a better match for Skye that her ex-boyfriend Simon, but I’m not really connected to their romance one way or another. Skye says Wally has always been the right man for her, but always seems to have lingering feelings for Simon. Maybe when she commits 100% to Wally, I’ll become more invested in their relationship. However, those who root for Skye and Wally will find something to cheer about in this installment.

As an added touch to this delightful mystery, to tie in with the cat-lovers theme of the book, each chapter name is an expression that refers to cats, such as “Let the cat out of the bag”, and also relates to the events in that chapter. Fans of Joanne Fluke will feel right at home with Skye and her friends in Scumble River.

Reviewed by Christine K.

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