At the risk of feeling disloyal to a handful of my favorite felines in other cat cozies, I love Toby in his first mystery, ‘Purr M for Murder’! I also appreciate and enjoy the person he chose, Syd. This may be my favorite ‘new cozy series’ for 2017. It is that good.

T. C. LoTempio, author of the popular Nick and Nora Mystery series hits a homerun with her extraordinary first novel in A Cat Rescue Mystery series! The setting is very appealing: a busy, no-kill shelter focusing primarily on cats but also takes in pups. Friendly Paws is run by Sydney’s sister Kat. Syd has is working there as part time publicity consultant, and they hope to bring in new donations and make it full-time. Syd, who just came back to beautiful North Carolina from the Big Apple, is living with her best friend and hopeful journalist Leila.

Friendly Paws is teaming up with Dayna’s Sweets and Treats for a Cat Café where people can relax over a treat and visit cats ready to choose new owners. Because there is no doubt that cats choose us, not the other way around. There is a fly in the ointment when talking about pets, however, and Trowbridge Littleton is it. He has become progressively more of a miser since his marriage, and is now trying to get a 30% rent increase on all the properties he manages. The shelter is one of those properties. He also doesn’t want the Cat Café to occur, and plans to put a stop to it the day before it is set to occur.

The good news is, the Cat Café goes on as planned. Because bad news is, Syd and Kat find Littleton dead, murdered, in his office that morning. Worse news is, Kat is a ‘person of interest’ and the detective seems more concerned with closing the case than putting the right person behind bars. The best news for the day is that all eight of the cats taken to the café have applications in for adoption. Syd has been chosen by Toby, a gorgeous ginger and white tabby who has driven away every other person who wanted to adopt him, even running away from the shelter at times to avoid adoption.

The characters each have depth, which we are shown in proportion to their relevance in the mystery. Syd’s hometown values have not been lost during her years in New York City. She may act with more caution than before, but overall she has wisdom and a good balance between caution and ability to act. The reader sees the action and the folks through Syd’s eyes, and learns about Kat, Leila, and several of the suspects. The author has a gift for dialog and behaviors that show much more about people than simply her descriptions. Toby and Syd have interactions demonstrating how well our cats choose us. No longer a runaway, Toby is a loving boy with a knack for knowing his mistress’s needs.

There are plot twists and turns that continue to bring surprises. There is much more to the murder of Littleton than meets the eye, leading to a very complex mystery. It was not easy to determine who the bad guy/ gal is as each person who considered suspects are off the list when alibis or motives were examined. I was partially surprised, but ultimately satisfied by the resolution. Overall, this is a top-notch start to what promises to be an awesome new series! I highly recommend it to cat and cozy mystery lovers who appreciate complex mysteries that are funny and intriguing.

From a grateful heart: I received this eBook from NetGalley and this is my honest review.

This is the first book in a new series by T.C. LoTempio, the Cat Rescue Mystery series, and I have to say that I was immediately taken in by the cover of this book, who doesn’t love a large orange tabby cat? This debut novel was a knockout book and this series looks to have a very bright future ahead. I completely enjoyed getting to know Sydney and Kat and the rest of the residents of Deer Park, NC they are lovable and realistic, both the people and the animals. I absolutely adore Toby, he is quite the quirky attention-grabbing feline that will steal your heart! While I did find the mystery a bit predictable in spots, it in no way hindered my enjoyment of the story. I enjoyed it so much that I couldn’t put the book down! Overall, this book was absolutely purr-fect and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next in the series!

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Purr M for Murder is a marvelous start for this new series!

Sydney McCall has come back to Deer Park to help her sister Kat do some major fundraising and promotion for the local animal shelter. Almost everyone is happy about their first scheduled fundraising event. Trowbridge Littleton is making a major fuss and wants the whole thing shutdown. You would think since he is their landlord he would be supportive. The girls make a plan to meet with him and try to convince him the project is a great idea. When Syd arrives at his gallery the next morning she finds Kat already there. She also finds their landlord dead.

Syd gets another surprise when the police show up. One of the detectives is Will Worthington, is her old high school crush. She is not sure if this is a good or a bad thing because his partner clearly thinks the sisters, specifically Kat, is the prime suspect. So with a little assistance of that darling cat on the cover Sydney is pawing around trying to find plenty of alternative suspects and save her sister but she is also putting herself in danger.

I loved everything about this story. Friendly Paws Animal Shelter , a no-kill shelter, not only has friendly animals but friendly owners and volunteers. Their idea of bringing adoptable cats to a friend’s coffee shop for a pop up event sounds like so much fun. The entire town with the exception of Trowbridge Littleton seems to embrace the idea. But we find he is not a favorite with the community. There are many that are not too upset or surprised that the man is dead. The author gives us an abundance of suspects including his wife, his business partner and all of his tenants. Each character is unique and very enjoyable. They are all believable and the dialogue is spot on.

Now let me tell you about Toby. A handsome orange tabby who is a bit of a wanderer. Kat believes he is searching for his purrfect human companion and she thinks that may be Sydney. His wandering is a bit mysterious as he shows up in some unusual places. By the end of the story we see what a truly fantastic feline he is and if he does find his furr-ever home.

The pace of this book is quick. The mystery is well written and has several surprising twists taking us to a very exciting ending. There are some romantic sparks and funny scenes too. Add in the frisky felines and cuddly canines and you have a cozy mystery the will have you meowing for more. I can’t wait for the next book in this series!

This is the debut book in the fantastic new cat rescue mystery series by T.C. LoTempio. A delightfully fun mystery that will capture every animal lover ! T.C. LoTempio is a well loved author of cat mysteries and she has another winning series . This is the definitive cat mystery series.
Our endearing protagonist is Sydney McCall who has moved back home to North Carolina to assist her sister in running the local animal shelter. Sydney has experience in marketing and advertising so the sisters plan a fund raiser for the shelter. The majority of the town is supportive with the exception of one person who is murdered. It is well known he had argued with both sisters before his death. As the sisters fall under suspicion Sydney works to clear their name.
This is a delightful fun series with the perfect well crafted sleuth. I loved the supporting characters who all add to the story with substance and depth. The sleuth is both mysterious and fun. The added element that is so enjoyable is the smart cat who plays a major part in the book. With the shelter animals and the remarkable cat this book is pure catnip to cat lovers. I highly recommend Purr M for Murder. Thank you to the publishers for the ARC which did not influence my review. This review will be cross posted.

PURR M FOR MURDER by T.C. LoTempio
The First Cat Rescue Mystery

After finding her fiance in bed with her secretary, Sydney McCall quits her job and moves back to North Carolina to help her sister, Kat, run the local animal shelter. Syd is planning a major event with the cats at a local bakery and everyone agrees it's a wonderful idea. Everyone, that is except the town Scrooge. Trowbridge Littleton is a rich, arrogant bully who happens to own most of Deer Park. When he threatens to not only shut down the event, but the shelter itself, Kat sees red. Syd decides to pay Littleton an early morning visit in order to reason with him, but finds her sister there as well and together they find his dead body.

With dreams of Nancy Drew and a one time desire to be a homicide detective, Syd aims to use her natural investigative instincts solve the crime herself. Aided by a wandering cat who finally chose his human, Syd begins to sort through the suspects, digging up far more dirt and many more motives than she ever imagined! Will she be able to clear her sister or will her former high school sweetheart arrest Kat for murder?

PURR M FOR MURDER is a delightful start to a new series. Personable characters, charming cats (including an extra special one) a nefarious victim, and a slew of viable suspects make this first book in the cat Rescue Mystery series a winner.

I've been frothing at the bit to read this book ever since the day I laid eyes on the cover. A precious cat in a cozy cafe setting...what more could you want? Not surprisingly, the story inside is just as delicious!

Syd has returned home to Deer Park, North Carolina to help her sister Kat with the local animal shelter, Friendly Paws. The shelter has fallen on hard times financially thanks in large part to landlord Trowbridge Littleton. Hopes are high for the pop-up cat cafe fundraiser they're planning at the local coffee shop until Littleton announces he not only hopes to shut down the event, but shutter the entire shelter as well! Threats are thrown but the sisters know they have to make amends, and schedule an early morning visit to Littleton's art gallery to prove to him that the shelter is a positive for the community. Their well thought out plan does not include finding the miserly man dead in an antique armoire in his office. Kat, who understandably will do anything to protect her beloved shelter, instantly goes to the top of the suspect list.

Syd takes it upon herself to clear her sister's good name, and she has a little help in the form of Toby the tabby, a handsome orange boy she's immediately smitten with who chooses her as his forever human. Together they form an unbeatable team and I'm looking forward to their many more adventures together.

Wow, wow, wow this book is magnificent and the mystery was ten stars! I was so thrilled by the series premise and this book lived up to all my expectations and hopes.

Sydney and her sister Kat love animals and are working to keep their no kill shelter open. However Trowbridge Littleton wants to shut it down. Nice set up for a murder and for Kat to look guilty. I liked how the shelter and no-kill were made a big part of the plot. There are several cats (my favorites) that are part of the story line. Toby, a big orange cat, often steels the show. There is the hint of a new romance for Sydney when Detective Will Worthington takes a job back in town. Just a hint but enough to add interest to the plot. A nice set up for a new cozy mystery series.

Purr M For Murder
A Cat Rescue Mystery, Book #1
T. C. LoTempio
5+ Stars


Synopsis:

Sydney McCall left behind an ex-fiancé and a New York advertising job to return home to Deer Park, North Carolina and help her sister, Kat, run the local animal shelter, Friendly Paws. Determined to save the shelter from financial trouble, Sydney and Kat organize a cat café fundraising event at a local coffee shop. Things are looking up until their landlord, Trowbridge Littleton, threatens to shut down the event. When Sydney drops by his art gallery to make peace, she finds Kat--along with Littleton's dead body.

Local homicide detective Will Worthington--who just happens to be Sydney's old high school crush--is highly suspicious of the sisters' involvement. Desperate to clear their names from the suspect list, Sydney pounces on the investigation. With the help of one of the shelter cats, a savvy orange tabby named Toby, Sydney begins poking her nose into other local businesses whose owners may have benefited from Littleton's death--until the killer notices she's pawing a little too closely at the truth.

Delightfully clever and charming, Purr M for Murder, the first in a new series from nationally bestselling author T. C. LoTempio, will leave readers clawing for more. (Goodreads)


Review:
The characters are well developed, well rounded, and three dimensional. Sydney loves her sister, Kat, and is willing to work very hard to help make Kat’s animal shelter a huge success. And when a dead body is discovered and Kat is a person of interest, she is willing to do whatever it takes to clear Kat’s name. She does not think twice about jumping into the investigation, trying to find the real killer. Even if snooping puts her in harm’s way, she is determined to find the culprit before Kat is put behind bars. She does have some help from her sister, from Will, one of the homicide detectives assigned to the case, (who happens to be an old crush from high school), and from the rescue cat that Sydney
has adopted, Toby. Toby is the most helpful of all, and I personally think he is a mystical cat. Although this is the first book in the series, I felt like I have known these characters for a long time. I really enjoyed getting to spend time with all of them.

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book, I felt like I was right there, watching all of the action taking place and eavesdropping on conversations. She created a small town setting that seemed realistic and was a place I would like to visit. The mystery was carried on well throughout the entire book. There were enough suspects to consider and enough clues and red herrings to make it hard to figure out the real killer.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. I found myself reading this book whenever I could and reading it well into the night, when I should have been sleeping. But it was worth losing sleep over, it was that good.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. It has everything I look for in a cozy: great mystery, great small town setting, great characters and plenty of cats. This is the first book that I have read by this author but I guarantee it will not be my last. I cannot wait to read the next one in this series and I plan on reading her other series. She is one of my new favorite authors.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and review this great book.

I love animals. I always have. Not much of a cat person, but nevertheless, still an animal lover. I love to read mysteries with animals featured in them. For some reason, I really enjoy cat mysteries. One of my favorite mystery series of all times is the Lillian Jackson Braun The Cat Who series. Ms. Braun has unfortunately stopped writing cat mysteries a long time ago and has passed away. I am always on the hunt for a series that reminds me of one I love so much. This cat mystery series has a lot of potential. I enjoyed this book a lot.


I found that I was drawn in by the characters and their stories from very early on with this book. I felt that I could relate to Sydney's character and I love that she has a past that the author only gives us a little glimpse into. I would love to learn more about Sydney and her past. Sydney has just ended a relationship with her ex-fiance and is looking to find some solace and escape from her troubles. She lands in Deer Park, North Carolina where she grew up and where her sister, Kat, still resides. Kat works at the local animal shelter and offers Sydney a job. Sydney and Kat's passion for animals show through every page in this novel.


I really enjoyed this first installment in this all new series. I thought it was well-written and very engaging. I found that I was eager to pick this book up every chance that I got. I will definitely be keeping my eye on this series. It was a light and engaging read that I highly recommend.

I haven't read anything by T.C. LoTempio, though I've heard of her - she writes the Nick and Nora Mysteries. Purr M for Murder is the first book in her new series, and since it featured both a cat and a plot to save an animal shelter, I jumped at the chance to finally read LoTempio's work.

Purr M for Murder introduces us to sisters Sydney and Kat. Sydney has just moved back home after finding out her fiance was cheating on her. Kat gives her a job as the publicity director for the animal shelter she runs, and Syd's first event is a Cat Cafe with a local business. It's such a fun idea - patrons pay a small fee to interact with shelter cats in a private room, all while enjoying pastries. It's an adoption event, as well as a way to increase revenue for all involved. Unfortunately, there's a town curmudgeon who hates everyone and everything, and is determined to ruin the whole thing. Naturally, he winds up dead, and Kat is the prime suspect, since she had everything to gain from his death.

Throw in a love-interest detective and a handful of supporting characters, plus a ginger cat named Toby, and you've got a cute little mystery. I really enjoyed the focus on shelter animals.

That said, I had a hard time getting into this one. I found the dialogue to be really forced and unnatural. For example, this line, "You query him subtly." I don't know anyone who speaks that way. It had the same feel as a bad movie, where everything is exaggerated and overacted. I also thought the book was awfully short on substance - while on the one hand, that's nice (it made for a very quick read), it also felt....superficial? I'm not sure that's the right description. There wasn't a lot of depth to the mystery, or to the sleuthing, and clues seemed to just fall into Sydney's lap. Overall, the characters didn't really do much for me - that's not to say I disliked them, but I didn't really have a whole lot of attachment to them.

But what I did like was the fact that this was such a quick read. The animals are cute, and present enough to keep this animal lover engaged when the mystery didn't feel quite mysterious enough. And I also liked that the book didn't take itself too seriously - cozy mysteries are supposed to be fun, and while this one wasn't a riot, it was light and fluffy.

Purr M For Murder is the first book in the, A Cat Rescue Mystery series. I am thrilled that I had the opportunity to read this book through Netgalley. I enjoy cozy mysteries because they are nice, clean stories with a twist and usually all the pieces are wrapped up tightly in the end. This author more than met my expectations with a book full of characters that were well developed, and likeable. While the ending was completely unexpected, and I definitely couldn’t guess who the murderer was, the story held my interest the entire way through the book.

I think this series will definitely be a winning one, and I recommend this book.

Purr M for Murder is the first book in the new Cat Rescue Mysteries by T.C LoTempio. I'm a total sucker for a good cat cozy, so I knew as soon as I saw this it was a book for me, and I wasn't disappointed.
Can I say , I just loved Toby! What a charming character, my only issue was, I wish he had been more involved in the mystery.
Overall it was a cute cozy with a good mystery, and more than enough suspects to keep you guessing " whodunnit?"
If you are a cat lover and a cozy reader , I recommend you check this one out!

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

Sydney with help from an unlikely source begins an investigation to clear her sister’s name when she becomes the prime suspect. I love books that completely have me engrossed in all aspects from the introduction of the characters to the murder to the interactions with secondary players to the list of suspects with much stronger motives to clues sprinkled throughout and the possibility of a blossoming relationship all enhanced the telling of this intriguing tale. The narrative kept me glued to the pages as it visually placed me alongside Sydney as she traversed the littered path in a finale worthy of this satisfying multi-plot story. With an adorable and likable cast of characters that also included Toby, engaging dialogue and the purrfect backdrop of Deer Park, North Carolina, this fast-paced whodunit was charmingly delightful. This is an excellent read and a great addition to the cozy mystery genre.

'Purr M for Murder' is a delightful start to a new series. All the characters were well drawn and engaging. The mystery was well done, with many possibilities to the surprising and suspenseful conclusion. There was a perfect mix of humor and romance, and charming interchanges between Sydney and her cat. I highly encourage you to share in the fun.

A purr-fect start to a new series. Some parts were a bit predictable if you read a lot of cozies, but that didn't affect my enjoyment at all. The mystery was great, with every character a plausible suspect. I can't wait for the next book to come out.

After a relationship fell apart, Sydney McCall is back home in Deer Park, North Carolina to be the publicity director at her sister's animal shelter. Her plan to run a cat cafe at a friend's bakery. But Trowbridge Littleton who happens to own an art gallery nearby and is the local rich person thinks a cat cafe will be bad for everyone's business.

When Syd and her sister Kat go to reason with him at his gallery, they find him dead and still warm. Syd has always wanted to be a detective and gets right on the case. Her incentive is that Kat is looking like the number one suspect. It doesn't take long for Syd to uncover a bunch of other suspects from the wife, to the stepson, to a few of Littleton's ex-lovers, to his business partner, and to most of the other shopkeepers who are Littleton's tenants.

The new detective in town - Will Worthington - was a good friend of hers in high school but they lost track as they went off to college tries his best to discourage her. But Syd is determined and finds a number of clues that are useful to Will.

Another big part of this story has to do with Syd's new feline companion. Toby has been living at the shelter for a while waiting for his perfect person. He's decided that Syd is that person. There are lots of cute cat moments as Toby and Syd interact. He also helps her find some clues.

This was fun. I liked Syd. I liked the small town setting. I see possibilities for Syd and Will to rekindle their relationship and work together to solve mysteries in future books.

Purr M for Murder is the debut installment for T. C. LoTempio’s new Cat Rescue Mystery series. This book is well written and the characters are well developed. There’s an interesting mystery, great characters, and a wonderful cat that has some unique abilities. I was kept guessing until the final reveal. I’m looking forward to reading the next installment in this series.

Sydney (Syd) McCall has recently quit her job in New York and returned to her hometown of Deer Park, North Carolina and is working as a temporary publicity consultant for Friendly Paws, her sister’s animal shelter which has run into some financial difficulties. Syd and her sister, Katherine (Kat) are excitedly preparing for cat café event they are co-hosting with their friend, Dayna Harper. The event is being held at Dayna’s pastry and coffee shop and the sisters are hoping to raise funds for the shelter and find forever homes for some of the shelter’s cats. The event was a success and Syd even adopted Toby, a lovable orange tabby. Kat exchanges heated words with Trowbridge Littleton, the proprietor of The Brush and Canvas and one of Deer Park’s most influential citizens, who is against the event and the shelter. Syd and Kat go to Trowbridge’s office early the next morning to try to smooth things out but Trowbridge doesn’t appear to be there. Kat sees a beautiful antique armoire, and when the sisters open it, imagine their shock when Trowbridge’s body falls out. Trowbridge isn’t liked by many people but because of their argument, Kat becomes Detective Henry ‘Hank’ Bennington’s prime suspect. Will Worthington, the other detective assigned to the case, knows the sisters from high school, and believes Kat is innocent. Syd refuses to sit by and sets out to prove her sister is innocent. She uncovers a long list of suspects and, with Toby’s help, finds the truth.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

Sydney and her sister Kat run Friendly Paws, an animal shelter in Deer Park, North Carolina. The shelter has run into financial difficulties, so Sydney and Kat team up with a local coffee shop to host a Cat Cafe, all to benefit the shelter and to get some of the cats adopted. The only problem is that one of the townspeople, an influential property owner named Trowbridge Littleton, is determined to shut the Cat Cafe and the animal shelter down. Determined to change his mind, Sydney and Kat show up at his shop and discover him dead on the floor. Under suspicion and intent on saving the animal shelter from being closed, the sisters team up to find a killer.

Purr M for Murder is a cute and entertaining debut in a new series, there was a lot to like about it. The twisty and engaging plot kept me turning pages, and Toby the cat made for one adorable sleuthing sidekick. Likable characters, a quick pace, and a fantastic ending, complete with a big plot twist and an action-packed conclusion, all combined to make a thoroughly delightful and enjoyable story.

And I loved the cat cafe idea (this should be done everywhere, along with a doggy diner!)

Overall, Purr M for Murder is a fantastic start to a new series and will appeal to cat fanatics and cozy mystery fans looking to curl up with a purr-fectly charming tale.

Sydney joins her sister, Kat, to assist at Kat's no-kill animal shelter in Deer Park, NC. They plan to open a 'cat cafe' room at a friend's Sweets and Treats shop so cats and people can meet and greet and, hopefully, fall in love and result in many successful pet adoptions. One wily tomcat, nicknamed 'The Wanderer', has caught Sydney's eye already--his name is Toby and the feeling is mutual!

Opposing the idea is a local 'old moneybags', Trowbridge Littleton. He's concerned the cat cafe would adversely affect the surrounding retailers, including the art gallery he co-owns. He intends to cause trouble, and he and Kat toss verbal threats back and forth like a football. Later, the snooping sisters are horrified when Littleton's body tumbles out of an antique armoire in his office. High school classmate, Detective Will Worthington, wants to believe Kat isn't a murderer, but evidence quickly needs to be found to clear her name.

With a list of suspects as long as a cat's tail, Sydney begins sleuthing for a culprit with motive; assisted by Toby! The story purrs along smoothly and rapidly, ending in a climactic rescue by two of Syd's heroes!

I found this debut story an enchanting mix of colorful characters, cuddly cats, and an intriguing mystery that picked up pace the further along I read. I eagerly look forward to book two.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy.