Meow Mayhem
[d-prc5445]

4 of 5 Stars If you are a fan of Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, you will enjoy Meow Mayhem, first in the series of Fancy Cat Mysteries, by Lisa Lickel. Both offer a challenging puzzle to unravel in a relatively wholesome setting—as murder mysteries go.

My wife and I appreciate Meow Mayhem for its intriguing characters and realistic portrayal of small-town manners and mores. The central question—who killed Mayor Donald Conklin—leads protagonist Ivy Preston to a string of suspects, allies, and love interests. Written in the first-person point of view, the story allows readers to get to know the actors in this drama as they reveal themselves to Ivy. As “the new kid in town,” she forms initial impressions, becomes emotionally involved, is disillusioned, and revises her judgment of them, much as we all do in real life.

Lickel uses description, dialogue, and action to paint a vivid picture of the people and places. We recognize the “types” of characters, yet they are not stereotypical; They are flesh and blood, with tiny flaws that set their basic goodness in bold relief—for the most part. There are also the deplorables of course, as befits a murder mystery.

In the end, virtue wins, but you will be hooked on Ivy, Memnet, her purebred Egyptian Mau cat, and Apple Grove, Illinois. I predict that you will eagerly reach for the next volume in the Fancy Cat Cozy Mystery series, Meow Matrimony.