As a child, Lara Caphart spent a lot of time at her Aunt Fran's. She remembers the house was bright, her Aunt was happy, and a pan of brownies seemed to always be cooling on the stove top. Then after sixth grade, her parents moved, taking Lara with them. School, then College and being an adult took over....and it's been 16 years since she saw her beloved Aunt Fran. When her former BFF from grade school contacts her about a local businessman, Theo Barnes, threatening her aunt, Lara travels back to Whisker Jog, NH. Her aunt is in weak health and Lara is not going to let her be threatened by anybody. Lara isn't in town very long before she finds Barnes' dead body. Suddenly both her and Aunt Fran are being questioned and fingerprinted by the police. The case heats up when another body is found. Is it a suicide? Or another murder?

That's all I'm going to say about the plot. No spoilers from lil ol' me. :)

Escape Claws is the first book in the new Cat Lady Mysteries series. The story is definitely a great start to a new series! I thoroughly enjoyed it! The characters are small town quirky, but realistic. I liked the relationship between Lara and her Aunt. Even after 16 years apart, family is family. :) There is a little touch of supernatural to the story as well. Just a dab.....and it added a nice element to the tale. The mystery moved a bit slowly....but not too slow. Developments in the case were wrapped in character development since this is a beginning to a series. So, I didn't get impatient....I enjoyed the character's relationships and backgrounds as much as the mystery portion of the plot.

I will definitely be reading more of this series! Luckily I won't have too long to wait. The next book will be out in June 2018! :)

Linda Reilly also writes the Deep Fried Mystery series. For more information on the author and her books check out her website: http://www.lindasreilly.com/

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

I enjoyed reading this fantastic book by Linda Reilly.
Lara is a down to earth character who the reader will definitely connect with. Aunt Fran is a delightful addition to the series and she adds a definite spark to thi first in a new series.

Returning home to Whisper Jog, New Hampshire, Lara is convincing herself that it is only a temporary stay, helping to sort out her Aunt Fran;s health issues and to tame the control of all her adorable cats.

Naturally, this would not be a cozy mystery if murder was not involved and when Lara finds herself wrapped in a scary situation, she relies on her childhood friend, her beloved cat Blue, to help her out, To bad only Lara can see the cat.

Animal lovers and cozy mystery lovers alike will be thrilled with this new addition to the cozy mystery genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with an ARC of Escape Claws.
Mystery fans can grab their copy on December 26th, when Escape Claws releases.

How could I not pick up a cat lady mystery? After sixteen years, Lara Caphart has returned to visit her aunt Fran and is alarmed by what she finds. The older woman is struggling to care for herself and her eleven cats...and after a builder who was trying to pressure Fran into selling her property is found dead, she's also a murder suspect. I really enjoyed this one. The author handles the relationship between Lara and Fran delicately and I can't wait to see how things develop in the next book in the series.

Escape Claws is the first in the Cat Lady Mystery series set in the small town of Whisker Jog, New Hampshire and featuring watercolor artist, Lara Caphart and her Aunt Fran Clarkson. It's been 16 years since Lara left Whisker Jog with her parents but when her childhood friend Sherry Bowker calls to tell her that her aunt is having knee problems and that the townsfolk have given her the moniker of crazy cat lady due to her collection of 11 cats, Lara makes the trip from Boston to check in on Fran.

Intending to only spend a few days to catch up with Aunt Fran, Lara quickly learns that her aunt is being bullied by local businessman Theo Barnes. Theo is trying to get Fran to sell her property so that he can put up a new development. On an early morning walk around her aunt's property Lara stumbles over Theo's dead body and when the murder weapon turns out to be Fran's hoe, she decides to stay and help find the real killer.

A great plotline and a touching cast of both humans and animals. Several subplots surround the actual murder mystery including why Lara and Fran have had no communication for 16 years and the mystery surrounding Lara's childhood pet, Ragdoll cat Blue.

I received an advanced copy of Escape Claws from NetGalley via Lyrical Press, a division of Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.

Lara Caphart used to be extremely close to her Aunt Fran when she was growing up in Whisker Jog, New Hampshire but then her parents decided to move away. Over the last sixteen years Lara hadn’t been in contact with her aunt but she had kept in touch with one of her childhood friends from the small town that notifies her that her aunt really could use her help.

Lara decides that a visit to Whisker Jog is in order and that she needs to spend a few days helping out her aging aunt. After arriving Lara finds that Aunt Fran now has eleven cats she’s caring for and the local bully, Theo Barnes, pressuring her to sell her land. Lara jumps in helping with the cleaning and care of the cats but before a plan could be made to deal with Theo he turns up nearby murdered so Lara begins to ask around to see who may have killed him.

Escape Claws by Linda Reilly is the first book in the new cozy Cat Lady Mysteries series. While I thought this was a solid and likable start to the series, one that cat lovers will definitely enjoy, I did find a few things in it I questioned leaving me to rate this opener at 3.5 stars.

The main character in the story along with her aunt were both likable enough but I found some actions to be contradictory along the way. Finances were mentioned with both characters but just as an example Lara has a rental car for her extended stay, not sure where she would find the money for such an expense along with other things. But with that said there was a touching emotional side for the animal lovers to put so much into their care and sacrifice for them too.

There were other things along the way that just seemed to not connect very well too but the mystery was a pretty good one for a cozy read. I did also kind of question the inclusion of the ragdoll cat as it gave the story a paranormal type of vibe but that also felt a bit off in this type of book. I’d still be interested in checking back in with the characters in book two though to see where the story headed next.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Light cozy mystery filled with cute and lovable felines for your reading pleasure. The two main characters, artist Lara Caphart and her Aunt Fran, the crazy cat lady, will steal a place in your heart with the care and love they show to the rescue cats. Lara’s Aunt has 11 cats, and painful, bad knees that need surgery placing her in critical need for assistance taking care of herself and the kitties. Aunt Fran is also being harassed by a local bully, Theo Barnes, to sell part of her property to him so he can build some luxury condos. It’s not surprising when his body is found on Fran’s property casting suspicion on Fran, and ensuing a search for a demented killer.

My favorite scenes of the story are the ones with interaction with the different cats, and those are plentiful throughout the book. I also loved the paranormal twist surrounding Lara’s beautiful Ragdoll Cat, Blue. ❤️

A purrfect cozy mystery to curl up with and relax.

I voluntarily read a digital ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

Friday night I finished Escape Claws, Linda Reilly's first in the new A Cat Lady Mystery Series and it was so good! I very much enjoyed this start to what I hope will be a series with lots of books to come. I found that I was not only able to relate as a cat lover but as a cozy mystery lover as well. The mysteries are good in this the minor mystery pulls at your heartstrings for sure, the major mystery and murderer I did not figure out until the reveal and the teaser about the Aunt and niece relationship history makes you want to read further! I am very excited for other cozy lovers and cat lovers to pick this book up December 26th and see what I am talking about.

Lara Caphart pays a surprise visit to her Aunt Fran after childhood friend Sherry Bowker called to let her know her aunt was not doing well. It seems Aunt Fran is depressed, withdrawing from friends and activities in the community of Whisker Jog. Not to mention she now has 11 cats living with her and she's in desperate need of knee surgery, on both knees. Lara decides to stay and help her aunt get her house clean and life a bit better organized. Then she finds her aunt is being harassed to sell part of her land to a local developer, Theo Barnes. Unfortunately, Lara then finds Theo Barnes' dead body on her second day in town and she decides to stay until his killer is caught.

Hopefully, since this is labeled "A Cat Lady Mystery", this is the beginning of a new cozy series. The characters are comfortable and dialogue realistic. The cats are lovingly profiled. The mystery is well plotted with enough twists to keep the pace steady and interesting. Overall, this is a good, solid cozy that readers will find is an excellent adventure, one that bodes well for Linda Reilly's next chapter in The Cat Lady Mysteries.

ESCAPE CLAWS, the first book in the brand new Cat Lady Mystery series by Linda Reilly is a charming visit to Whisker Jog, New Hampshire and is chock-full of memorable characters, human and feline alike! I loved that the very beginning starts with a list of the feline cast with their adorable names and characteristics. The protagonist, Lara Caphart, is an admirable woman with a generous, thoughtful personality. After showing up to help her invalid aunt care for the eleven cats she has taken in, Lara finds her aunt is being harassed by the town’s wealthy bully, Theo Barnes. When Lara is led to Theo’s murdered body by Blue, the Ragdoll cat from her childhood, she realizes she needs to stay in town and protect her aunt. There is a subplot mystery woven around the murder mystery of why Lara had become estranged from her beloved aunt after being so close to her as a young child. The author explores familial relationships and how they can go awry.

There is also an ongoing mystery of just who Blue, the Ragdoll cat is and where he came from, especially since Lara’s aunt claims she never had a Ragdoll cat. The murder mystery has plenty of suspects and the author provides enough clues to keep you guessing and turning pages. The reveal was a surprise that I didn’t see coming! I greatly admired that Ms. Reilly brings to light the plight of unwanted cats and the lack of facilities to humanely care for them. She provides a heartwarming conclusion to the story that will make you want to come back and read the next story in this series just as soon as it’s available.

This first-in-series starts out a bit somber, with Lara visiting her Aunt Fran for the first time in 16 years. With her aunt's bad knees and clowder of cats, Lara is concerned for Aunt Fran's well-being, both physically and emotionally. When someone who shares a history with Aunt Fran is killed, Lara feels compelled to stay with her aunt until the murderer is caught. By the end of the book, the general mood has been lifted, and I'm eager for a second book about Lara and Aunt Fran. There are some great supporting characters, too: Sherry, Lara's childhood friend; Daisy, Sherry's mother; Dora, former actress and Fran's friend; Jerry Whitley, police chief; and Gideon, lawyer and childhood friend of Lara. I had a hard time putting this book down, with the whodunit, the cats, and Lara & Aunt Fran's reconnection. I didn't guess the culprit until he/she was revealed, but the reveal was easy to understand and made sense. I'm so glad I got an ARC of this book, and am happy to give my honest review. Can't wait for the second book in the series!

I would love to have these people as friends. Caring realistic characters and plot. Clean enjoyable reading.
I look forward to the next installment in their story

Linda Reilly is a new author to me, and I truly enjoyed her writing style. This is the first book in a new series, so this is a great way to get to know the characters and town setting.

Linda sets up a typical mystery and story setting which any cozy mystery reader should be able to enjoy. I found a few surprises before the end of the book, and I had no clue who the murder was so, Linda set up a great mystery that kept me guessing the whole time at least. I enjoyed the additional mystery of the ghost cat and hope to find out more in future books as to where the ragdoll came from and why she is there.

Linda and her aunt are great, likable characters and the town setting and its characters are very simple to get to know and enjoy reading.

I am looking forward to reading more about Lara, her aunt, and the others in future books.

Absolutely loved this book. Characters were a little deeper and more developed than your average cozy. Great storyline kept me guessing till the end.
Excellent read.

What a neat debut cozy book! Lara, a struggling watercolor artist, trying to survive in Boston, hears from an old childhood friend with not so good news. Lara's Aunt Fran whom she hasn't seen in sixteen years is having some serious health and survival issues in the small town where Lara was reared. Guilt ridden, Lara returns to the town and aunt she once loved so much to see what was wrong and how she could help. Alarmed to discover the lovely home and the vibriant, loving relative of her childhood had both deteriorated terribly. Lara immediately jumps in to try and help rectify their relationship and the situation when she quickly learns things are worse than imagined. A murder occurs on her aunt's property, and both Lara and Aunt Fran become persons of interest. Mystery, murder, family dynamics, old family and friends, new beginnings, felines galore, and some help from, "the other side", this book is loaded with entertainment. Can't wait for the next in series. Thanks, NetGalley and publisher for an advanced copy of what has he makings of a really good new series. Feline lovers are going to be enthralled.

Alright, you see my reviews regularly. You know I wax poetical about many cozy mysteries, but this one was my favorite for the whole year! Yep, I went there, I made that commitment. I started reading cozies because of Lilian Jackson Braun, and it was this nostalgia that keeps me in the genre. Give me craft, tea, clothing, baking mysteries any time of the week and I'll probably love them but CAT mysteries are my absolute love and I can't find words for this one.

By the end I was basically growling with frustration because I desperately wanted everything to work out with Lara and Aunt Fran and I wanted my happy ending. At the same time I want more of these books and I have to wait until JUNE(!) next year! You can't give me Blue, Munster and the rest and then make me wait :(

A good cozy just takes you straight to the small town feel and never lets you go. A good cozy gives you mundane things like prepping dinner or getting groceries and makes you wish you were there experiencing it too. A good cozy gives you nosy neighbors, a strong love interest and an even stronger main character with a thirst for justice and a nose for crime. Truly great cozies give you everything; this one has everything.

So I've tried to explain my feelings for this book in this review, and hopefully I can convey a smidge of how good it is. If you love cozies, then this new series should definitely make it on your to-read list! Five stars, of course!

I loved it! What a great feeling to pick up a random book and find a new favorite book series to follow! The characters and the atmosphere and especially the cats are wonderful. I smiled every time Lara had to carefully move around a cat so as not to disturb it :) For me this is the perfect cozy mystery.

A new author for me and the first book in a new cat story. It was a slow beginning. There a number of excellent cats books being published this year and this another one. There is a hint of paranormal as Lara Caphart sees Blue, a ragtail cat that none else sees. Blue is a spirit of a car that Lara had had a child.
Lara decided to visit an aunt who needs some help. Aunt Fran has 11 cats of various ages and most are recused cats. The twin bully is found dead near Aunt Fran's property. His death is ruled suspicious and to made matters worse, the weapon, how belongs to Aunt Fran. The usual plot is used to set up the story and series about 1/2 through the plot changed and became interesting. Lara must decide rather stay and help her Aunt or return to her life in Boston. What will Lara decide? I recommend this book and looking forward to the next book.

Disclosure: I received a free copy from Lyrical Underground through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions expressed are my own.

Lara returns to her hometown and her aunt after a sixteen year interval. She loves her aunt who raised her but she was living in Boston and loved her life there, too. Now her aunt is having knee problems and is referred to as the local cat lady. A friend of Lara's calls and says she should come home and see what can be done to help the aunt.

Lyrical Underground and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It will be published December 26th, so watch for it. It's a good read.

I have a soft spot for cats so they normally will draw me into a story. The cat she sees at her aunts is the one she had as a child. It would be too old to survive but she still sees it. Then she finds out her aunt can't see it. Lara has a ghostly friend to help her through this mystery.

Blue leads her across the property where she finds a dead body. He's the man who planned to evict every business downtown to redevelop the area. He even wanted part of her aunt's land and she said no. Now he's dead there...

There are more suspects than there is population in the town! Only one person mourns him, his niece. He was nice to her. So how do you figure out who the killer is?

I enjoyed the cats, watched Lara try to decide where she should live, and had no idea who the killer was until the end. I liked this cozy mystery and will read more in the series.

'Escape Claws', the first by Linda Reilly in her Cat Lady Mystery series had me engaged from the very beginning. Lara and her Aunt Fran are likeable characters, and the reuniting of family and friends was a lovely theme. The mystery was expert, and had me guessing entirely wrong as to which suspect was guilty of two murders. I was delighted to read that the next book in the series is already in the works and will be out next year. I am looking forward to getting to know more about the people of Whisker Jog, New Hampshire.