Book 13 in this long-running, terrific series by Dean James. Featuring of course, our two beloved characters, Charlie Harris and his cat Diesel. The book starts with a surprise: Charlie leans that he actually inherited his grandfather's house, not Martin Hale, the long time tenant. The plot thickens when a skeleton is discovered in the house. and Martin Hale's grandson is found dead on the property.. Highly recommend. This is a series you hope will go on forever!

An enjoyable quick read with engaging characters, family secrets and interesting plot twists that keep you guessing.

Another great mystery from Miranda James, with plenty of book and cat related goodies mixed into the main plot.

Another fun cozy. I haven't read one before with a man protagonist, so that was new. Likeable characters and a good mystery that wraps up at the very end, though I wish the author would have wrapped up what happened with Alissa.

Another great Charlie and Diesel mystery. This one has more than one red herring and some Interesting plot twists. I’m eagerly looking forward to the next one.

Charlie has always believed that his grandfather had sold his house to his longtime tenant, Martin Hale. So when Martin dies, Charlie is surprised to discover the house was not left to Martin but instead belongs to Charlie. As he and Diesel check out the house he remembers fondly from his childhood, he is pleasantly surprised that it is in better condition than expected. That is, until they find a literal skeleton in a closet.

While the sheriff’s department investigates the mysterious remains, Charlie digs deeper into the past for clues to the identity of the bones and why they are there. But the cold case heats up quickly when Martin’s grandson is found dead on the farm.

As Charlie delves into his own family history, he encounters many people who might have been motivated to take a life. But Charlie and Diesel know that things are not always what they seem, and that secrets seemingly lost to time have a way of finding their way back to haunt the present.

this is book 14 in the cat in the Stacks series and Diesel and Charlie Harris are traveling to his late grandfather's house to settle the estate. The first thing they find in the house is a human skull in the attic. This is a good cozy with lots of action and catch up with some of the regular characters. You can read this as a stand alone but I've read almost all these books and they are all a little different. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Charlie and his Maine Coon cat, Diesel, are exploring the farmhouse Charlie inherited. He thought his grandfather sold the house many years ago but finds out the property was leased to Martin Hale for his lifetime only. Upon Martin’s death, which was a couple of months ago, the farm reverts to Charlie.

As Charlie and Diesel explore the attic, there’s a thump. Charlie finds Diesel has poked around and discovered a human skull. When the police arrive and investigate, they find the rest of the bones in an old wardrobe. The skeleton looks to be old but will have to be examined by experts to know more.

There are rumors of women who disappeared years ago. As is usual with small town gossip, there are two versions—she ran off with another man or her husband killed her. Now Charlie wonders, do the bones belong to one of the missing women?

With Helen Louise out of town, Charlie is on his own to discover more. Usually discouraged by his son and daughter, this time his attorney son, Sean, encourages him to research the family history. At least with an old murder, Charlie can’t get in any trouble, right? Don’t be too sure.

As always, Diesel is the charmer of the cast of characters. His new brother, Ramses, an orange kitten, isn’t quite a year old yet and wants nothing more than to be with Diesel and do everything he does—unless there’s a chance of food being offered elsewhere. I missed Helen Louise, but readers will learn more about Stewart and Haskell, Charlie’s immediate family, and his family’s history.

This is book fourteen of the enjoyable series. Charlie and Helen Louise make a great couple. It’s a pleasure to see romance between people who are older than thirty. Charlie doesn’t put himself in dangerous situations, at least not after that one time. Charlie didn’t know much of his family history, so readers will enjoy learning more as he researches at the historical society.

Book fifteen, Hiss Me Deadly, will be available in March 2022. I’m looking forward to it.

Diesel the Maine coon cat and his master have discovered a skeleton in a house that belonged to a relative but was leased to a farmer. On the track of the unknown individual and the family heritage attached to the house a relative of the man the house was leased to turns up. What is the family heritage with this? Whodunit.? Heritage research clarifies some genealogical connections. As usual the best characters are the cats. Read and enjoy.

This book is the fourteenth in the series.
This was a fast-paced read for me, a smooth read that kept me engaged through out it.
I must admit my favorite character was the majestic Main Coon cat. He's a big boy that commands everyone's attention.
We are met with surprising twists and turns throughout the book, from an unexpected inheritance to a shocking find the cat makes in a closet which gets the whole ball of yarn rolling.
I have to say this rates up there as one of my favorite cozy mysteries!
#WhattheCatDraggedIn #NetGalley.

Pub Date: 31 Aug 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

A 36-pound Maine coon cat and its inquisitive owner unearth deadly family in “What the Cat Dragged In,” the latest novel by Miranda James. It is the 14th installment in the New York Times best-selling author’s “Cat in the Stacks” series.
Miranda James is the pseudonym of Dean James, a seventh-generation Mississippian who returned to his home state after 30 years in Texas, according to his website (catinthstacks.com). Whether writing under a pen name or his own, James has fans eager for mystery and suspense with down-home heart and humor. They look forward to his entertaining novels free of gory violence or explicit sex scenes.
In the latest book, Charlie Harris still works as a librarian at a small college in fictional Athena, Miss. The widower is passionate about his family and friends, justice for all and an arrogant cat named Diesel. The cat goes everywhere with Charlie, including a farmhouse recently inherited from Charlie’s long-gone grandfather. Ownership has been passed down after longtime tenant Martin Hales dies and our favorite sleuth is the last standing relative.
The Athena mystery lover and his cat soon get caught up in their latest adventure when Charlie discovers a skeleton minus hands and feet in the attic. It’s a real “skeleton in the closet” situation, one that prompts Charlie to dig into his family’s past. Were his pleasant childhood memories real or were they a carefully crafted ruse?
While Charlie ponders about the past, the body of Hales’ grandson is found beneath a tree on the property. Why was the young man there? Who killed him and why? Charlie quickly falls back into his crime-solving ways despite promising his fiancé, family and law to stay clear of crimes. As anyone in the South knows, when it comes to family, all bets are off!
When Hales’ granddaughter Alissa travels from California to Athena, Charlie, ever a gentleman, opens his home to her. As they look through recently discovered photo albums and search out new branches of the family tree, the pair realizes there’s still much to learn about the farm and those who called it home.
Who is the body in the closet? Why does an alleged moonshiner want the property? And why did Charlie’s granddad let Hales remain at the farm? So many questions!
James keeps readers entertained with an easy-flowing dialogue and well-developed characters. Readers can identify with the southern cast and settings. As befitting a well-educated librarian, Charlie has a way with words and literary references. Recurring characters and developing relationships between humans and pets bring home the small-town feel of neighbors and family dinners. Diesel is front and center as always, complete with trills, warbles, and furry arrogance.
And although this novel is part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone with easy-to-follow throwbacks to earlier stories. The series began with “Murder Past Due” in 2010, and a new novel has been released each year since then.

Toss a cozy mystery in a stack of 10 books in my favorite mystery/thriller genre, and almost always I'll shove it to the bottom of the pile. But once in a while a series comes along that's just too good to put on the back burner. Maybe it's because there's a cat involved (make that a CAT - Diesel is a Maine Coon, after all), plus a middle-age-plus, sensible and intelligent owner, Charlie Harris, who I know would be a friend if he were to turn up in my real life. This book, the 14th "Cat in the Stacks" entry, is enjoyable, entertaining and one I didn't want to put down (no edge-of-seat nail-biter, mind you - simply a pleasure to read).

Set in the small town of Athena, Mississippi, Charlie is retired but a regular volunteer in the library of the local college. He shares his comfy and rather large home with a gay couple (one a police officer), Diesel and a new, normal-sized rambunctious kitty named Ramses. He's got a housekeeper, Azalea Berry, the mother of the local police chief, who keeps him (and his tenants) well fed, a son Sean who's a local attorney, a daughter Laura who teaches at the aforementioned college and a fiancee who, in this installment, is away at a professional conference. About 15 miles outside of town is a large farm that Charlie thinks his grandfather sold to his longtime tenant, Martin Hale.

And herein lies the plot: Martin dies, and Charlie learns, much to his surprise, that his grandfather never sold the farm, but rather leased it to Martin for the duration of Martin's life. An even bigger surprise comes when Charlie learns that the farm, house and all, now belong to him. Alas, the non-sale comes as an even bigger surprise to Martin Hale's grandson Marty, who shows up in town expecting to take over the property. When he learns the truth, he's not a happy camper.

For Charlie, the surprises keep coming. When he and Diesel visit the house he hasn't visited since his childhood, he pokes around to check out its condition. When they get to the attic, Diesel plays the role of curious cat to the hilt - finding a pile of human bones. Suddenly, the police are involved, but identification of the remains, and how, when and why they got to the attic, prove problematic - in part because there are at least three known possibilities. Meantime, another, more serious problem arises when Marty's dead body is found on a remote section of the farm. This time, despite his discovery under a fallen tree, there's no doubt about the how; bullet holes are a clear indication that he didn't die of natural causes. As the investigation progresses, Charlie learns intriguing things about his family he didn't know and meets several interesting people. Problem is, one of them most likely is a killer who just might do it again.

But who's the intended victim? I'll never tell, nor will I reveal anything else in the hope that you'll read this one for yourself. You won't be sorry - it's a refreshing change from the typical ditzy heroines that grace the pages of most cozies (did I mention that I usually relegate them to the bottom of my to-read stack)? Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review it. Delightful!

Dollycas’s Thoughts

In this latest Cats in the Stacks Mystery Charlie gets a big surprise. He inherits the family farmhouse outside of town. He had always thought his grandfather had sold the property but instead he gave the tenant Martin Hale, a lifelong lease. When Mr. Hale passed away the property reverted back to the Harris family, Charlie. His son Sean, a lawyer, is helping him wade through all the paperwork and necessary actions. Not having been in the house in years Charlie is anxious to take a tour of the place with Diesel by his side. The place will need a little work but is in better shape than he expected. While checking out the attic, Diesel makes a scary discovery . . . a human skeleton in an old wardrobe. This puts any plans for the place on hold.

Charlie reports Diesel’s find to the sheriff’s office who calls in a specialist to try to identify the skeleton. Charlie realizes he doesn’t know or remember much about his family history so he takes the opportunity to investigate his family tree. He may even be able to identify the remains before the sheriff.

A huge storm moves through the area leaving downed trees at the family homestead and a body is found under a downed limb. It is quickly identified to be Hale’s grandson who thought he would be inheriting the property. When the limb is removed evidence shows the man was killed before the storm and it wasn’t any accident. The investigation into the skeleton turns into a current murder investigation and Charlie uncovers many reasons for the death and many other secrets as well.

I loved this story. Charlie’s deep dive into his family’s history drew my interest. I have a niece that has been researching our family history, something I have wanted to do for years but haven’t been able to do. I realized too late that I should have sat down with my mother who had vast knowledge of our family on both her and my father’s sides and his was very complicated. She would always know how everyone fit together and had wonderful stories that I should have listened to more carefully. When she passed away much of that knowledge passed away with her, knowledge I would have loved to pass on to my children and grandchildren. So you see, I was very excited to see Charlie take on this project. Keeping track of a family’s history is so important.

The mysteries Charlie was entangled in, the murder, and the skeleton were just a jumping-off point. There was another case the Athena Sheriff’s Office had been trying to solve that was really unknown to Charlie that he was able to solve as part of a terrifying incident at the end of the story. It was totally off his radar as he struggled with decisions about his family homestead and the deaths that had occurred.

I really enjoyed the author’s description of the Harris Family Homestead. I know the layout of Charlie’s current home, Helen Louise’s Bistro, (she is on a girls getaway with her friends during this story), the college, his office, and the layout of the small town of Athena quite well after the 13 previous books in this series. She gives good concise details of this new to us property and I was able to follow along through each room and even into the neighboring woods.

Ms. James plotted such an excellent story with intrigue, secrets, drama, and action while allowing us to catch up on the regular daily news with Charlie, his family, his tenants, Melba, Kanesha, Azalea, plus Ramses and Diesel too. All of these characters are charming in their own ways and while I know there is going to be a stellar mystery or two in each book it is those characters that bring me back for each new installment of this wonderful series.

What the Cat Dragged In is now my favorite book in this series. It has everything I look for in a cozy mystery and more.

You will find What the Cat Dragged In on my Best Reads of 2021 list because in my opinion it deserves more than 5 stars and receives my Paradise Rating.

Look What the Cat Dragged In is a thoroughly enjoyable cozy ministry. This was my first adventure with The Cat in the Stacks series and will definitely not be my last.

Charlie Harris has just gotten some very surprising news. A house and land believed to be long gone from the family has just surprisingly come back to them. With the ownership of the land reverting back to Charlie it also opens a big mystery along his family lines. The past and the present collide to unravel The mysteries along the family line.


I really enjoyed getting to know Charlie Harris and his two furry and lovable companions, Diesel and Ramses. I really enjoyed how Charlie tried to stay out of the mystery but yet kept himself within it. I love the complex genealogical history that flows through the story allowing the reader to have that much more interest in what was going on. The mysteries piled up but the research and a few hidden family secrets help pave the way to finding the answer. I love the family connections and the strong friendships that have obviously been well developed through this series. I love that jumping in at book 14 I was able to navigate my way easily through the story and know what was going on. Author Miranda James has a unique talent for writing I thoroughly enjoyable cozy mystery.

I just love The Cat in the Stacks series and look forward to the new titles. They are a nice break from the "grittier" mysteries and thrillers, and also from the typical cozy mystery as well. "What the Cat Dragged In" was another great addition to the series.

I have long been a fan of the Charlie and Diesel cozy mysteries. This one did not disappoint. The addition of a genealogical twist made it extra appealing. I am hoping we find out in the future what Charlie does with the property and who will live at the house.

Charlie Harris has gotten some surprising news – he’s just inherited his grandfather’s house. He thought the home had left the family decades ago, but it turns out it was just under a life lease, and that tenant has just died. Charlie’s grandparents died when he was young, but he still has some fond memories of time spent out there. When he and Diesel are out there exploring the house, Diesel discovers a skeleton in the attic. It is clear that the body was dug up and placed there. Suddenly, Charlie is left wondering what this skeleton says about his family’s past. He can’t help but dig more, especially when a modern body also turns up on the property he’s just inherited. What will he find?

Because I love Charlie, this mystery from Charlie’s family’s past is intriguing. I was pulled in early. Ultimately, I did feel the ending was a bit abrupt and a few details of the story should have been worked into the plot better, but I did enjoy it. Over the last few books, I’ve noticed the insertion of small moments that come across more as lectures than anything else, and that trend continued here. I almost always agree with Charlie, but they bother me because they feel forced into the story. These really are nitpicks, and I enjoyed the book overall, mainly because of the characters. All our favorite two and four legged characters are back, and it is great spending time with them as always. Fans will feel like reading this book is a warm hug.

Charlie Harris and Diesel—Ramses too—are back and they have quite a conundrum. Charlie learns that he has inherited his paternal grandfather’s farmhouse and land. He is inspecting the attic with Diesel when he hears a thud and sees a skull. Diesel has discovered a skeleton in a wardrobe with dirt clinging to it. Charlie can imagine what Kanesha Berry will say. While the deputies do their work, a storm hits the area downing trees. Deputies find Martin Hale’s grandson, the man who had leased the farmhouse, dead under one of those trees. Unfortunately, the tree is not what killed the man. Charlie has his work cut out for him with this curious case. What the Cat Dragged In by Miranda James is the 14th A Cat in the Stacks Mystery. It can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series. Personally, I have loved reading this charming series from the beginning. What the Cat Dragged In is well-written with developed characters. Charlie Harris is a great character. He is friendly, smart, caring, and a good family man. He is rarely seen without his sidekick, Diesel (a Maine Coon cat). I just love Diesel who acts like a person. He has a darling personality and I love his chirps. Ramses, of course, is a busy kitten. He is getting bigger and more rambunctious. All of the other characters that we love are back as well such as Sean, Laura, Azalea, Stewart, Haskell, Miss An’gel, and, of course, Little Charlie. The mystery was complex and unique. I like that there is a cold case and a current case. There investigation into the skeleton is more interesting than the present day one. Charlie must delve into the past to unravel this one. We get to learn more about the Harris family. The modern murder I found a cinch to solve. There were some fun aspects to this case, and I just loved the reveal. I enjoy every visit with Charlie and Diesel, and this was no exception. Great characters, a fun whodunit, Southern charm, and humor in one engaging cozy mystery. I am eager to read Hiss Me Deadly next spring. What the Cat Dragged In is an engaging tale with a chirping cat, a surprising skeleton, an unanticipated inheritance, a thundering storm, a mystery murder, and historical revelations.

I kind of feel like this book was written for me. I really enjoy this series. I love Charlie and Diesel and all the side characters and then you throw in the inherited house that Charlie was unaware of AND the deep dive into family history and I was in bookish heaven. The book starts out with a bit of a bang with Charlie and Diesel arriving at his grandfather's home that he thought had been sold decades before. Within minutes Diesel has discovered a dead body and the mystery gets rolling.

There's a lot to clear up and figure out with just who is the skeleton in the house and just who killed the dead body found in the yard. I flew through this book loving the addition of new characters and following Charlie as he learned more about his family that he never really felt very connected to. As well I loved getting a little more in-depth look at Stewart and Haskell who have always been likable side characters but I've never really felt like I knew much about them.

If you are not already invested in this series then this might not be a good place to start - especially if family history mysteries are not your bookish catnip. This isn't the most action oriented mystery and there's very little actual feeling of danger for most of the book. This is more of a character building story but I found it an absolute delight. And once again I'm finding myself wanting to find a Maine Coon just like Diesel!

This series is one of my favorites. The mystery kept me guessing and I liked the family history portion as well.
I do wonder how Helen Louise & Charlie will work out where they will live when they get married. I love all of the characters and they move forward in their lives as the series progressed.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.