Escape Claws (Cat Lady Mysteries, 1), by Linda Reilly

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When I first discovered cozy mysteries I was amazed at how many cat-themed books there are. This series in particular stood out to me because it features not one cat, but MANY cats, each with their own names and personalities. I was immediately drawn to it, so much so that I bought a copy of Escape Claws for myself and I chose it as the animal-themed book for a cozy mystery challenge this year. After reading (and loving) the first two installments of The Grilled Cheese Mysteries, I was delighted to see the Cat Lady Mysteries are penned by the same author, Linda Reilly.

After 16 years away, Lara Caphart has returned to the town of Whisker Jog, where she grew up. She plans to stay for just a few days to help her Aunt Fran who is having problems with her knees. Aunt Fran has 11 cats, so she needs assistance taking care of them. Mysteriously, Lara's childhood cat appears in her Aunt Fran's yard and in an effort to approach Blue, Lara stumbles upon the dead body of the town bully, Theo. And so begins the quest to untangle this mystery.

This was an immensely enjoyable book. First and foremost, the primary mystery is strong, with plenty of clues and red herrings to direct and misdirect the reader. There are a number of suspects with motives and opportunities. I had fun trying to guess who the killer was. I thought I had it figured out pretty early on in the book, but then I became suspicious of other characters, only to find my way back to who I originally thought the culprit was. In the end, I was wrong and completely surprised when the killer was revealed. I love when that happens!

All of Aunt Fran's cats are delightful to get to know. The only thing that was missing in this book for me was more of the cats helping to solve the mysteries. They definitely did play a role in it, but I was hoping for more of that.  In the front of the book, there is a list of all the feline characters with descriptions of each one. I referred to this list a few times. And then there's the mystery of Blue, Lara's ragdoll cat from her childhood. How could she see Blue alive and well after all these years? Is Blue a ghost or is he really alive? Or is there something else going on? This is truly a heartwarming aspect of the book. I enjoyed getting to know Blue and everything about this mysterious cat. 

I also enjoyed the references to Charles Dickens and his novel, The Pickwick Papers. I was already a fan of Charles Dickens, but I am even more so now. The references to him led me to add this book to my TBR list. It's a long book, so it will have to be one of my slow and steady reads. I love when a book I'm reading gives me inspiration to read other books, which is what happened here.

Escape Claws has a satisfying ending that warmed my heart and filled me with hope. It provides closure, while also leaving room for new beginnings. I will definitely be continuing this series. I look forward to spending more time in Whisker Jog next year.