Another fine installation in this long running series. If you love cats, libraries, and cozy mysteries, then you need to be reading this series. I love how Charlie's family has grown closer and larger over the course of the series, and in this book as well. Diesel, the curious cat, finds a skull in the attic of a house Charlie has just inherited. This leads to a hunt for who the victim is, who killed the main suspect, and Charlie's family heritage.

3.75 stars

The latest installment of this pleasant cozy series featuring librarian Charlie Harris and his affable Maine Coon cat Diesel is entertaining. Charlie has unexpectedly inherited his grandfather's house, which the family thought had been sold decades ago. But when Charlie goes out to inspect the property, they find an actual skeleton. Who is it? How long has it been there? How did they die? There are a lot of questions and Charlie has to dip into family history to find the answers.

Charlie unearths some scandalous details about his family from the past. And when the family of the last tenant appears, things get more tense -- they thought they were inheriting the property.

The mystery is nicely done and the usual cast of well-drawn supporting characters is always worthwhile. This familiar and well-mannered series is a fun one to follow for cozy fans. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

Getting to read a new Cat in the Stacks mystery is like having ice cream instead of the veggies! Visiting Charlie, Diesel, and Ramses is as satisfying as going to an old friend’s home. Yes, it is one of my favorite series! Charlie is one of the kindest men in cozy mysteries. Between him, his Maine Coon cat, Diesel, and help from friends who are lifelong residents of Athena, Mississippi, there are few mysteries they cannot solve. I enjoyed seeing Ramses, the rambunctious orange tabby kitten again! I also enjoy looking up words I am unfamiliar with.

Charlie, a middle-aged widower, inherited the home he lives in from his Aunt Dottie. He had worked long enough in Houston to have a nice pension, so he returned home to Athena to live. He and Diesel are very well known around town, as one rarely sees Charlie without Diesel. Diesel loves car rides, walks, and going anywhere his human does, including to his part-time job at the college.

Sean, Charlie’s son and attorney, told Charlie that he inherited his grandparents’ home, which he thought was sold long ago. He was young when they passed, so he was unaware that his grandfather leased the home and farmland, which had been in the family since pre-Civil War years, to a man who used to work for him. Martin Hale rented it for the grand sum of $50 a month and paying the property taxes. In turn, Martin leased most of the farmland to two nearby farmers. Per the terms of the will, the property reverts to the possession of his grandparents’ heir when Hale passes, so Charlie is now the owner of a vast property that several people are interested in.

Mr. Hale died at his family’s place in California, and his grandson, under the impression he owned the property, came to sell it. When Charlie learned it was his, he and Diesel went to see it. Diesel went exploring and found a skull outside of a wardrobe in the attic. Charlie went to look at it, and in the wardrobe, found a pile of bones. Real, human bones and a real, human skull.

In the meantime, Martin’s grandson Marty is telling people that Charlie is trying to steal the property from him and has been in touch with a real estate developer. Before Charlie could meet Marty, he was found murdered at the edge of the property. Charlie has helped solve several murders since returning to Athena, but Kanesha, the chief deputy, always makes it clear she doesn’t require his help. This is now Charlie’s property, and he is curious about who the bones belong to and who put them in the attic, so it is hard to let the sheriff’s office take charge of it.

My favorite characters, of course, are Charlie and Diesel. There is always something new and fun to learn about them. Each person is very well-defined and for the newcomer to the series, and there is sufficient information for every reader to be familiar with everyone. The author knows cats very well, as evidenced by the unique purr-sonalities of Diesel and Ramses, especially traits typical to Diesel’s breed. I appreciate the cat care and/ or feeding facts that might be added in.

The mystery is complex and difficult to solve. One of Charlie’s concerns is making sure that his grandfather’s name is kept clear from any accusations of being associated with the set of bones. There were three potential victims, wives who disappeared after Hale began to lease the property, which multiply the suspects. I am very impressed with how the author planned and executed this meaty mystery and was unable to solve it, had not even anticipated some of the surprises at the end! I highly recommend this mystery and series; for cat- and book-loving readers, this is a fabulous find!

Charlie and Diesel never disappoint!. A surprise inheritance and a spooky attic complete with a wardrobe of human remains is just the sort of mystery these two won't rest until they solve. This one has to rate as one of my favorite "Cat in the Stacks" mysteries.

There are bones in this story, literally, and Charlie and his cat Diesel are determined to find out who they belonged to. The newest addition to the “Cat in the Stacks Mystery” series, What the Cat Dragged In has our favorite cat and his delightful owner digging into the past and coming up with some skeletons in more than one closet.

Charlie is one of those characters that make us all wish we had a dad or grandfather that was half as entertaining; add his excellent cat companion, and it’s a combination made in cozy lover heaven. Other characters such as Charlie’s son Sean and daughter, as well as his fiance and co-workers, make this series one of the most thrilling being written today. There may not be much physical activity, but make no bones about it, these books are never short of hair-raising suspense that keeps readers riveted to their seats.

Charlie inherits hi sold family home unexpectedly, after having thought it had been sold many years ago. He and his cat, Diesel, go to inspect the old place. Diesel stumbles onto some old bones in a wardrobe in the attic. The skeleton looks old and as if they had been there a long time, but no one seems to know how they got there or who put them in the attic. The police investigation has just started when a fresh body is found on the property. After a lot of hard work, time-consuming research, and a bit of luck, the bones are identified. But it takes a little longer to catch a killer.

What the Cat Dragged In is everything readers have come to expect from this series and more. We get introduced to a batch of suspects that are original and believable and a few motives that harbor on the fantastical and yet strangely realistic. In addition, there are a couple of unexpected twists that will delight readers. Charlie and Diesel accidentally encounter the killer and the motive and almost find themselves up to their eyeballs in cat doo doo. Old bones are one thing, but Charlie doesn’t want to add an all-new set to the family history. With help from an unexpected source, and a new family member, Charlie and Diesel are saved, the killer caught, and an incredible ending is obtained.

At the end of the day, this book is a wonderful fast read with engaging characters, family hopes and dreams, and friendships built to last. A cat, two actually, keep things light, and Charlie puts the intelligence in the who-done-it. You can’t go wrong on a story when you have such strong characters with storylines, cats, old mysterious bones, and a few mishaps that make readers smile as they turn each page. I am thrilled to recommend this book along with the entire series to readers of all genres.

Am always happy to read a new Diesel story. Diesel is such a loving and caring cat. Needs some grammatical corrections.

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 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 remains, Charlie digs deeper into the past for clues to the identity of the bones and why they are there, but then hen Martin’s grandson is found dead on the farm. As Charlie digs deeper into his family, he finds surprises that he did not expect.

I love this series and was delighted when I discovered I could get the newest installment via NetGalley, so thank you to NetGalley and the publisher. Miranda James is one of my favority cozy mystery authors, and I always love to catch up on Charlie, Diesel the Maine Coon cat, Azalia, Kanesha, and Charlie's family. They all continue to grow and develop, and now I look forward to the next one and hope it does not take long!

I love this series and this one seems to be one of my favorites. No lag in the story, lots of familiar and new characters. I hope the series continues.

What the Cat Dragged In is Miranda James’ fourteenth Cat in the Stacks mystery. After thirteen books in a series, some authors just seem to phone it in. However, this one just might be the best yet in the series.

When Sean Harris told his father, Charlie, that he’d inherited his grandfather’s farm, Charlie didn’t believe him. He always thought his grandfather sold the home place because Charlie’s father didn’t want to be a farmer. But, Charlie’s grandfather had given a life-lease to Martin Hale, and once Hale died, the property all reverted to Charlie.

It’s been over four decades since Charlie had been on the property, so he and his Maine Coon cat, Diesel, take a ride out to the farm. While exploring the attic, Diesel finds a skull, and Charlie finds bones in an old wardrobe. He hopes they have nothing to do with his grandfather, but he calls the sheriff’s department. Kanesha Berry, chief deputy of the Athena County Sheriff’s Dept., takes an interest, but it might be an old skeleton. She is more concerned when a body is found on the property after a storm.

Because Kanesha doesn’t want the curious Charlie involved in the investigation, he finds another way to satisfy his curiosity. He knows nothing about his family history or his grandfather’s connection to Martin Hale. Charlie digs into a book that includes a little about his family, talks to the woman who compiled that history, and checks out the Harris family history at the local historical society. His research provides him with some surprising connections.

All of the regular characters appear in What the Cat Dragged In, so readers will be satisfied. There was something appealing, though, about Charlie looking for family history now that he himself is a grandfather who has descendants he can pass those stories to. While Charlie always has some reason to stick his nose into investigations, his role as patriarch of the Harris family provides him with reasons to search for answers.

Anyone who has followed this series from the beginning will remember Charlie’s early appearance, a somewhat lonely man accompanied by Diesel. It’s satisfying to see him surrounded by family and created family, part of a group that appreciates him. What the Cat Dragged In, with the links to family and local history, just might be the most enjoyable mystery in the series.

Charlie Harris, who's constant companion is a very large Maine Coon cat named Diesel, finds that he has inherited a farm with house from his grandfather. As he delves into the history of the property with the help of his son, a lawyer, and some friends, he finds that the person who had been living in the house after Charlie's grandfather's death had told his family that the property belonged to him, not the Harris family. A murdered man was found on the property after a storm and Charlie wants to help solve the mystery. This installment in the Cat in the Stacks cozy mystery series was fast paced and entertaining. It continued the series very well and was fun to read.

Princess Fuzzypants here: I am often asked what are some of my favourite cat mysteries and this series is high on the list. I fell in love with Diesel from his first chirp. I, as a Maine Coon myself, know how very special we are and clearly the characters in the book and the readers agree wholeheartedly with me.

In the latest outing, Charlie discovers he has inherited his grandfather’s farm, a property he thought had left the family when the old fellow died. The man who had lived there since that time had a life lease and it reverted to Charlie upon his death. But it is anything be an easy changeover. The tenant had convinced his family he owned the place so when his grandson shows up to take possession, he is sorely disappointed. There are some deep dark secrets surrounding the property and the various people with connections to the farm but they pale in comparison to the skeleton that Diesel discovers in the attic.

The question of who this person might have been becomes less urgent when the grandson is found murdered in the woods on the farm. There are a ton of questions that Charlie wants answered and it becomes clear that he is going to have to do some digging on his own to find the answers. When he does there are unexpected connections, some that delight and some that trouble Charlie. And through it all, as always, Diesel is there to offer support and love. Did I mention he is a pawsome guy.?

One of the things, other than Diesel, that makes the series so special is the family relationships both Charlie’s immediate and extended family. So many of the people in their small community are closely entwined with each other and Charlie is about to find there is another degree of connection he never imagined. Seeing things evolve is very satisfying. I always look forward to each new outing and I will be looking forward to the ones yet to come.

Five purrs and two paws up. Purr, trill, coo, chirp, warble, chirrup.

On an exploratory visit to his newly inherited farmhouse Diesel, Charlie's Maine Coon cat, drags a human skull from an old wardrobe. Upon further investigation, Charlie discovers the rest of the skeleton.
Never one to shrink from mystery, Charlie is determined to find the identity of the bones. The case hits close to home since the house belonged to his long- dead grandfather!
Lots of questions need answers and Charlie assumes his librarian role in solving the case. Family secrets are revealed in this 14th Cat In The Stacks mystery.
Series readers will welcome all the usual characters and some new ones.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to spend time with my favorite cat and his humans.

Charlie Harris and Diesel are a very interesting mix of old and new when it comes to the world of mystery. Charlie is reminiscent of the classic mystery novel detectives, genteel, a bit unassuming, with impeccable manners and connections with the best of the upper crust. Not wanting to get his hands dirty, Charlie's investigations are always mostly at a distance, with him feeding info to the police as needed. Diesel brings Charlie out of 20th century England into the cozy realm by being... a cat.

While I do enjoy these books and have been reading the series since there were only a few in print, I sometimes find them somewhat dull. There's usually not a lot going on, we hear a lot of details about what Charlie is drinking and eating. We also get to hear about what food Charlie is sharing with Diesel, Ramses, and Dante. In this book there was very little investigation, very few clues were gathered and in the end Charlie just happened to be at the right place at the right time to figure out what was happening (and even then it was kind of a leap to get from what he saw to the solving of the crimes).

Overall I enjoy the series and will continue to read them. I appreciate how very cozy these books are, how sweet everyone in them is, they're ideal for escaping from reality.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

I really enjoy this series! The main character, Charlie, is a little too particular about his cats (the kitten can't stay home alone, so he has to drop him off at someone's house to watch him...?), but it has gotten better in the later books. The mystery was good and it directly involved Charlie this time, rather than him just finding a dead body. Personally, I read these more for the characters' lives, than for the mysteries. They are a lot of fun and a great escape!

Another fun entry into the series. This time Charlie and Diesel spend time in a farm house Charlie recently inherited. I liked getting to know more about Charlie’s extended family and Athena history.