With the arrival of two towns members- twin brothers that haven't been back to their hometown in years- a twenty year old scandal is dredged up.  When one twin is discovered murdered it's a race to catch the killer.  
            Cats Owen and Hercules have helped their owner discover things in the past with a well placed paw on a keyboard or a pointed stare.  Kathleen has long since come to terms with the fact that they aren't "normal" cats, with the ability to comprehend what she is saying and make themselves understood through gesture (and with their other unique abilities).  
          Many thanks to First to Read for allowing me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.  While I had not known it was in the middle of a series when I requested it, I was still able to fall in love with the characters and follow the story.  There is a lot of back story referenced, though, and I recommend reading those books-I have bought the first one and will be doing the same.  Still, this seems like a series that can be started from any point.  
               I liked the premise here- two cats and their human trying to solve crimes- kind of a Nancy Drew/ Scooby Doo thing.  The characters were well developed and easy to love, I actually miss them now that the story is over.  There were times when I feel like Kelly went a bit far with explanation (magical kitties- got that the first three times it was said),  but the writing style was good and it was a quick, fun read.  Really, I just thought this was adorable.  Four and a half stars.  
          On the adult content scale, there is very little.  There's a bit of violence and I think someone cursed a couple times.  I give it a one at most.  This is a book I would hand a young teen without issue.

I absolutely love the small town Minnesota setting. I also love how Owen and Hercules have actual distinct personalities. The mystery was great but slightly predictable. The way the past and present were woven together to tell the story was wonderful and made it feel more realistic.

I love this series with librarian Kathleen and her two cats Hercules and Owen solving another murder. The library has a box of old photos of folks around town and are planning a display for townsfolk to come in and reminisce. This cozy series is a wonderful mystery blended with friends and a delectable setting. The unusual felines are an added bonus.

Head Librarian Kathleen Paulson has a reputation for solving crimes before the police do. What people in her little town of Maryville Heights don't know is that she gets a lot of help from her two cats Owen and Hercules. So when she stumbles into a long running family drama and then into a dead body, many of her friends want her to solve the murder and make the problem go away. Owen and Hercules may never have met Leo Janes while he was alive, but they certainly seem interested in helping him now that he's dead!

A Tale of Two Kitties lived up to the feeling of its blurb: a cute, fun, cozy cat mystery. I hadn't realized before starting Kitties that this is the latest in a series by Sofie Kelly, but found quickly that while she may often refer to things that happened in other books, we don't need to have read the rest of the series to jump right in here. Owen and Hercules (I enjoyed that she admits Hercules is named after Kevin Sorbo's Hercules, since I enjoyed that show too!) are magical mystery cats with special abilities. Owen can (literally) disappear from sight and Hercules can walk through walls. Both cats seem to understand what is said to them and both seem to have an instinct for crime solving and pushing hints Kathleen's way. No one else knows the cats can do this, but she's worrying about the time when she has to admit it to her boyfriend Marcus (a police officer who only believes in facts) since his kitten seems to be displaying the same talents. I liked that while Kathleen occasionally wonders how the cats can do what they do (who wouldn't?) she accepts their abilities as just one of those things, therefore the reader does as well.

I did have trouble keeping many of the secondary characters straight, which got a little confusing until I decided it didn't matter and just didn't try to remember who was who. This was probably something that someone who has read the other books in the series would not have had trouble with. Kathleen herself in often not a deep or well drawn character, but for this book I didn't necessarily feel like it mattered, although it would have been nice. She's the kind of person that others talk to, that complete strangers feel comfortable sharing secrets with. As someone in the library field myself, I can assure you that this happens more often than a skeptic might think. And it is certainly convenient for a civilian trying to solve a murder! I was a little disappointed in the solution itself. The killer is the most logical person who the characters never suspected, and the motive felt pretty weak and thin. It was the kind of motive that made you wish for more character development so that you could feel like it was more satisfying conclusion than it actually was.

Fans of Rita Mae and Sneaky Pie Brown's Mrs Murphy series and Lilian Jackson Braun's The Cat Who series definitely need to start reading Sofie Kelly's Magical Cats books! Those of us who enjoy a quick, fun mystery will also enjoy A Tale of Two Kitties, especially as a nice summer/fall read.

Kathleen Paulson is head librarian at a small town in Minnesota. She has two cats - Owen and Hercules - with a little magic in them. Not only can Hercules walk through walls and Owen make himself invisible at will, they understand what their human (and others) is saying, and help her solve crimes.

The grandfather of one of her employees, Mia, has arrived in Mayville Heights for Thanksgiving. While Mia is excited to see her grandpa, she's not as happy to find out her Grandpa Leo has asked his twin brother Victor to come as well. The reason she's not happy is apparent to anyone who knew them back when...as in back when Victor ran off with Leo's wife, depriving Leo's son Simon of a mother and eventually Mia of a grandmother she would never know. But the tale gets sadder when shortly after leaving Leo's wife Meredith died in a car accident.

Now Leo is dead; murdered. And with suspects aplenty, and the police thinking it had to be Simon, Kathleen takes it upon herself to find out who really killed Leo, and why. But can she catch a killer before the police convict the wrong man and throw away the key?...

I love mysteries, and I love mysteries that have animals, especially cats. This one was no different. Kathleen's two magical kitties are indeed endearing; Hercules is quieter and Owen is feisty, but both do their part to help her any way they can. While no one else is aware of their abilities, she depends on them for advice, and they never let her down.

The book had a very nice plot, and I enjoyed watching as Kathleen sifted through suspects one by one. But unfortunately, I kept getting sidetracked by subplots that had absolutely nothing to do with the murder,. (Marcus and Eddie going to Minneapolis, for one). It's a quirk of mine, but I really don't care for subplots unless they actually connect to the main plot somehow - for example, if when Marcus returned he mentioned something the person they were going to see had said something - but no, nothing except to give Kathleen more time to investigate without police presence.

Aside from that, there were enough red herrings thrown in and enough suspects thrown around to confuse matters, and that's what a mystery is all about. In the end, when we learn the identity of the killer and the reasons why, we knew there was no other way it could have ended; and that's what a mystery is all about. Recommended.

A Tale of Two Kitties: A Magical Cats Mystery
By Sophie Kelly
Berkley
September 2017

Review by Cynthia Chow

The past intrudes on the present in the ninth mystery featuring our favorite pair of charmingly gifted cats. When a lost cache of undelivered mail is uncovered during post office renovations, the Mayville Heights Free Public Library becomes a repository for the collection of twenty year-old letters and photos. Librarian Kathleen Paulson takes on the mission of identifying the owners and recipients of these time capsule items, in addition to placing them in an auction benefitting the library. It’s not just the mail that is returning to Mayville after two decades, as a dire illness has Victor Janes finally ending the long estrangement from his family. Meredith Janes left her family to run off with her husband’s twin Victor, and after she was killed in a car accident brothers never spoke again. Hope for an amenable reunion is dashed when Kathleen finds Leo Janes dead, and his own son Simon becomes a possible suspect.

Simon’s daughter Mia is a student intern at the library, so Kathleen can’t help but feel protective and want to help her friends. That does place her at odds with her boyfriend, Detective Marcus Gordon, but he is willing to listen to her as she investigates alternative suspects and new evidence. That some of this information comes from her two feline roommates is not something Kathleen is willing to share, as Marcus’s flexibility only goes so far. Owen’s gift at literally disappearing and Hercules’s teleportation powers are linked to the mysterious estate on Wisteria Hill, but that’s all Kathleen knows. It’s a mystery that can be left unsolved while she pursues a far more crucial one, that of whether Leo’s family, or perhaps The Family, may have had a hand in his death.

Longtime readers of this series will enjoy the brief appearances of their favorite characters, especially when it looks as though Kathleen will soon need to be fitted for a bridesmaid dress. Those new to the adventures of Owen and Hercules will be quickly caught up as well, as the author skillfully reintroduces the many likable residents of Mayville Heights. Owen and Hercules are the real attraction here of course, especially when Owen’s combative nature has him donning a veterinary cone of shame. The cats’ prescience points the way and help Kathleen find justice for the man liked by all, but it’s her knowledge as a librarian that provides the final clue. There’s so much to love about this magically enhanced mystery, from its hints of gothic romance to the sharply witted dialogue. An additional short story serves as the perfect treat for cozy-loving mystery fans, guaranteeing that by the last page they will be smiling and more than satisfied.

A wonderful addition to the series. I can't wait for more kitty adventures!

I love everything about this series, from the characters to the magical cats to the mostly realistic portrayal of everyday life working in a library. Cozies can sometimes be saccharine sweet, but there is just enough darkness in this one to keep you reading. A minor quibble--there are perhaps a couple too many red herrings before the mystery is finally solved but as in almost all cozy mysteries, the solution is satisfying and the loose ends are neatly tied up.

I truly enjoyed this story. If you’re a fan of cats, of which I hugely am, I couldn’t get enough of Hercules and Owen. Kelly knows cats well. She knows them inside and out. Of course, the cats were the star of the show and for that, I loved this story.

Kathleen Paulson is the head librarian in Mayville Heights. She, along with the board, have managed to restore the old library to its original luster. She and the library staff were getting it ready to open fully to the public, but what she hadn’t expected is what those old library walls had to tell.

The Janes brothers were a well-known family in Mayville not without their own fair share of history and drama to keep the rumor-mill fed. Melissa was the granddaughter of Leo Janes, a man very well respected in the community, however, his brother Victor, who hadn’t seen the town in more than twenty years, comes back to right many wrongs he committed years earlier. Leo and Victor are twins, and one would think with all you hear about the closeness of twins, the same couldn’t be more opposite for these odd twins. Victor did something despicable if not downright unthinkable to his brother, Leo. He had an affair with his twin’s wife. Hmm? No wonder the town had plenty to talk about.

Who does that, right? Well, Victor didn’t have any problems with it, but the thing you must ask yourself, is there more to the story than what the townspeople think they know? Kathleen meets up with Melissa to drop her off at her grandfather’s place, and right away Kathleen’s spidy senses began tingling. Sure enough, she found Leo Janes dead in his apartment. Now we’ve got ourselves a murder! Who would want the loveable Leo dead, especially with all he’s had to go through in his life? And that is where the real story becomes known.

I’ve never read any of this series before, but I must say it was quite enjoyable. My only issue I had with the story is that it dragged a little bit, but with the cute antics the cats performed, it made for quite an enjoyable read. This is a charming cozy mystery with all the glitz, glamour, and mayhem you could muster. This town and Kathleen sort of reminds me of Jessica Fletcher’s Murder, She Wrote. I really liked this story. A Tale of Two Kitties (Book 9) goes on sale, Tuesday, September 5, 2017. Make sure you pick up your copy, Intellectual Minds. Until next time, Keep on Reading!

When the Janes brothers arrive back in town, the people of Mayville Heights can't stop talking about them and their possible reconciliation. Before that can happen, though, one of them turns up dead. One of the primary suspects is Kathleen's friend, and she enlists the help of her magical cats, Owen and Hercules, to help her figure out who really did it.

When I requested this book, I wasn't aware that it's book #9 in a series that I haven't yet started (but it *is on my list!). I am generally a strict read-in-order person, so it bothered me to jump in to a new series that's already well-established.

I had a hard time getting into the book, and I blame a lot of that on not having the background established in the previous eight books in the series. It was hard to figure out which characters were worth considering as potential suspects and which are recurring characters in the series. Despite that, all in all, I liked the book and will keep the first in the series in Mt. TBR.

Great fun. Oliver and Hercules are totally likeable felines and the humans are pleasant too.

She's just met Leo Jane when his granddaughter introduced her at the library. Mia worked for her and she took an immediate liking to Leo. After a short visit, life went back to normal. But she had some strange visitors in library. One was Leo's estranged twin, Victor. One was a casino boss that had banned Leo from playing cards in his establishment. Then Leo turns up dead...

Berkley and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It will be published September 5th.

When the evidence (what little there was) is gathered, the son is accused of murder. That's Mia's father and Kathleen knows he didn't do it. But how do you prove that?

The first thing she does is look the archived news stories trying to find out more about everyone. She knew Leo's wife had left him for Victor. She also knows she was coming back to him when she ran off the road and died. There was nothing suspicious about the death, but there should have been...

The story is entertaining with some cat magic, Kathleen's romance, and trying to straighten out the Jane's family ties. There are several suspects but Kathleen finally gets it down to one. Now if she can just stay alive long enough to tell the police...

3.75 stars

This ninth entry in the Magical Cats mystery series is an above average cozy read with lots of charm. Librarian Katherine Paulson moved from the big city of Boston to small town Midwest where she manages the local Carnegie Library that she helped renovate. She has settled into the community and although I hadn't read earlier books in the series, the plot flow and character development stood alone very nicely.

Katherine stumbles across an old local tragedy that still embroils family members years later. Feuding elderly twin brothers take steps to make amends, but one is murdered before any reconciliation takes place. Katherine and her detective/boyfriend Marcus, along with the help of her two brainy and quirky cats, start sifting through evidence for the answers.

This was quite an enjoyable read. Because of the overly cute title and Magical Cats designation, I had expected a slightly saccharine and juvenile story, but that was not the case. Yes, there is a touch of otherworldiness about the cats, Hercules and Owen, but it's not over the top and the cats are an appealing part of the story.

I enjoyed Katherine and the local community and plan on returning to the series to enjoy it from the beginning. I received an ARC via Net Galley in return for my honest review.

Many thanks to The Berkely Publishing Group for the ARC of "A Tale of Two Kitties: Magic Cats." This story featuring two magical felines and a community of artists and librarians are cozy and fun. Library lovers will purr. Do not forget snacks for Hercules and Owen.

This is number 9 in the series but stands alone well. I did go back and listen to a few of the previous series. Cute and cozy.

A Tale of Two Kitties: Magical Cats Series
Author: Sofie Kelly
Publisher: Berkley

Kathleen Paulson’s two cats, Hercules and Owen, are very unusual and indispensable at times. They help her solve murder cases in their own unique way. So it is no surprise that she needs their help whether she asked for it or not to solve the latest murder.

Mayville Heights is filled with gossip and curious stares 3when the Janes brothers, Leo and Victor, are both back home after a long time away. Gossip rolls through the small town and Victor Janes is smack in the middle of it, again. Having stolen his brother's wife and destroyed his family, Victor has come home to make amends, or has he?

Are the brothers really trying to reconcile or is there something more sinister at the heart of the unexpected homecoming? When Kathleen finds Leo dead, she wonders who other than Victor would want Leo dead. Perhaps he wasn’t the great guy everyone thought he was. Her police boyfriend believes Leo’s son is to blame and sets out to prove it. Kathleen isn’t so sure he is guilty, so she aims to prove he isn't, one way or another.

--
The most memorable characters really are the cats, Owen and Hercules. They are highly intelligent and magical cats that can walk through walls, or disappear in the blink of an eye. Kathleen as well as her Detective boyfriend, Marcus is very well written and fun to learn about. The story of Victor and Leo is compelling with just enough of reality that makes you care about them and how their lives have gone.

Mia, Simon’s daughter, and Leo’s granddaughter is a well-rounded character that develops into a lovely young woman whose heart is broken by the unexpected and violent death of her beloved grandfather. She puts a brave face on but is still young enough to break down every once in awhile. Mia tugs at the heartstrings of the reader. Her loss and pain are real, and Ms. Kelly has created a character that the reader will want a happy ending for her.

The story is well written and flows naturally. There enough hints to the killer's identity that a reader can figure out the who did it, but not too soon in the story. Readers will continue to turn pages and become immersed in the story. It is fast-paced without sacrificing details and entertaining. This book can stand on its own as a solo cozy but fits in well with the entire series.

This book will appeal to anyone who enjoys a light-hearted mystery with no sex or actual violence and cats that are very unusual. It is highly recommended.

I received an ARC of this book.

This is a cute cozy mystery about Kathleen and her vaguely magical cats who must attempt to solve a murder in Minnesota that might be connected to the small town’s past. There are all the usual cozy mystery aspects–a handsome police detective boyfriend, lots of small town friends, a local diner–so if you like cozy mysteries in general, you’ll probably like this one. I wished the magical cats had a little more to do with the plot. Maybe their walking through walls and vanishing abilities get more play in other books in this series.

Well, I have to disagree with one of the reviews here that it was a seamless knitting of previous story into this 9th book in the series. Frankly, I got lost with all the characters that seemingly had nothing to do with moving the story along.

I love the small town relationships, it's just that there were so many of them. It took forever to get into the mystery. I finally gave up.

The writing is very good, the characters were already developed in earlier books so I missed out on that. But the kitties were a delight. I just love the premise of these books. I'll have to go back and read from the beginning so I'll know what's going on, I guess. Anyway, this is a good, clean story and the way Sofie Kelly tells the story is excellent. If you've read something of hers before, then you'll love this one just as much. If you haven't read anything of hers before, I strongly suggest that you purchase an earlier book and then come to this one just because there are so many characters to keep track of that you might get lost like I did. I said "might", not would.

Enjoyed the 2 short stories of 2 different cat series. No murders but some interesting who done its.

Kathleen Paulson, head librarian for the Mayville Heights Free Public Library, is sadly accustomed to encountering dead bodies. The bright yellow, catnip-filled, Fred-the-Funky-Chicken versions that her cat Owen likes to decapitate are a nuisance, but the human ones who've departed the earth as a result of violence are infinitely more disturbing. This time the deceased is a relative of her youngest employee, which hits too close to home for Kathleen, so she and her preternaturally clever cats start sleuthing to help Marcus close the case faster and bring the killer to justice. Thank goodness for Owen's superpower saving the day once more!

I really enjoyed how Sofie Kelly carefully wove together the seemingly separate storylines about the Janes brothers' estrangement and the future library exhibit of 20-year-old photos and mail found inside a post office wall. Some of my guesses turned out to be accurate, and yet I didn't put all the pieces together until the end.

Perhaps my favorite aspect of this volume in the series, however, was that Marcus and Kathleen's relationship was secure enough to withstand the potential love triangle Kelly hinted at in book #8 and developed in this one. What I don't understand is what is taking the two of them so long to get engaged & married!

For readers' advisors: story doorway is primary, character secondary. No sex or onscreen violence. Except for a smattering of mild swear words (mostly "damn" or "damned"), it would count as a "clean read." The series is best read in order, but you wouldn't have to read the first 8 books in order to understand what was going on in this one.

My advance reader's copy came with the novella "A Cat Burglar" at the end, but I don't know whether the published version will or not.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Strong addition to this series. I am a cozy mystery lover. The cats are the reason I continue to read this series. They are just so entertaining. The plot wasn't that unique, but it was still a fun read.