Murder Faux Paw

A Nick and Nora Mystery

By: TC LoTempio

Beyond the Page Publishing

Publish Date 22 February 2022

Cooking, Food & Wine, Mystery & Thriller

#MurderFauxPaw#NetGalley

100 Book ReviewsProfessional Reader

I would like to thank both NetGalley and Beyond The Page Publishing for allowing the opportunity to read and review this book.

Good Reads Synopsis:

When a local PI’s untimely death is ruled a suicide by the police, budding sleuth Nora Charles has no intention of letting sleeping dogs lie—or sleeping cats, for that matter. Certain it was a case of foul play, Nora rouses her trusty sidekick Nick and launches an investigation of her own. Then a second PI is murdered, and Nora knows the two men were on to something—and that she’s on to something too.

Following the enigmatic clues left by her late predecessors, Nora soon uncovers a plot that involves a local politician, missing campaign funds, and what could be a bogus real estate deal. But when hints of treason surface, what started as small-time thievery soon balloons into a matter of national security. With the uncanny Nick sniffing out—and spelling out—leads, Nora follows a trail that will take her to the heart of a shadowy conspiracy, and into a trap set by a conniving culprit that will have her wishing she had Nick’s nine lives . . .

Book Review:

I gave this cozy mystery 4 stars. This is the fifth book in the series.

What I like about this book is Nick the cat. He is such a smart cat and friendly. His personality is just right. Nora is a great owner of this orphan cat. She treats him like part of her family. Even though is the fifth book you can pretty much follow along with the lives of the characters in the book.

This book is about a suicide of a PI. Several people who know this man don’t believe he took his own life and so they go and investigate his suicide. One other is killed but it is deemed an accident since he was hit by a car.

Nora knew the second person who died and goes investigating on her own with the help of Nick. She has many people who help her along the way. When the clues all come together she goes the final step and finds herself in a little trouble.

This is a fast moving book and I had a blast reading it.

This was a fantastic read. A first for me by this author. I was not at all disappointed. Any time you have an animal and a mystery together, well, let's just say that I am all in. Nora is a wonderful character. Her and Nick make a great team together. I cannot believe how smart Nick the cat is! I loved how talented Nora is. What a life she has lived! I want to be her when I grow up.

The mystery was very easy to follow along with and I could feel Nora's frustration at trying to solve this. It kept seeming like she was repeatedly hitting walls, but she never gave up. We need more people like her in society. Determined and unshakable. I think we would get a lot more cold cases solved with people like her. She is independent but also not afraid of asking for help. Not conceited or prideful. I really enjoyed how empathetic she is to others and how she always tries to give everyone a fair shake. I would most definitely be friends with her.

I loved her sandwich shop. It reads really comfy, and you can feel the warmth in every word. I love the name too. How charming! I am really interested in how this love triangle is going to play out. I cannot wait to read the next book and find out what happens!

Love, love, loved this book. I highly recommend.

Thank you to Net Galley, the author, and the publishers for the ability to read this wonderful book. All opinions are honest and are my own.

This is my first time reading one of this author's books and it won't be my last. Great edge of your seat story that keeps you interested from start to finish. Nora Charles along with her cat Nick are investigating the supposed suicide of a private eye that may be connected to national security. Nick is a special cat in that he uses Scrabble tiles to spell out clues for Nora.

First off, I loved the black and white tuxedo cat, Nick! No, he doesn’t talk English. No, he doesn’t talk with other cats, or dogs for that matter. But he communicates to his “person” Nora just fine. Through his little bag of scrabble tiles, he sometimes chooses a set of letters that Nora puts together as an amazing clue. With his various me-ows he lets her know to do this, or definitely to NOT do that. His paws up and paws pointing or paws snatching strips of paper under furniture or appliances also send her in the right direction. He even acts as back up when she gets in pretty bad trouble. I want a cat like him. A certainly magical cat, indeed.

But… oh, yes, the mystery. It’s a hum-dinger, beginning at an unsolved murder (Nora believes), a missing man, and an old gent who just happens to be a substitute teacher for Nora’s evening PI class. Then there’s Ruby in the yellow convertible, a man in black that keeps appearing at odd times, a wicked fashionista who works for a polititian and does secret side-work. And of course there are the two hunky, handsome guys – cop and FBI – that Nora can’t decide which she wants. Oh, and she runs a successful sandwich shop.

There’s a lot on Nora’s literal and figurative plate, but she (with Nick’s help) manages to sift out the bad guys, and find the missing files and secret objects without getting killed (It was close sometimes!). Besides Nick, I enjoyed the mystery that was impossible to figure out before our smart and tough protagonist nailed it. A nice solid four stars.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Someone is killing private investigators and with the way Nora Charles snooping into the cases she may be next! Can Nick spell out the clues to keep her safe?

In this fifth installment, Nora is taking a class to get her PI license and through her substitute instructor, she learns that a local PI’s death has been ruled a suicide but he believes the man was murdered. Then the substitute instructor is killed right near her sandwich shop. Of course, Nora jumps right in when she can’t get Samms and Daniel to listen to her at all. When the police co make an arrest she knows they have no clue to what is really going on so she and Nick will have to solve the mystery for them. But she may take things on her own a step too far . . .

Ms. Lo Tempio’s re-imagination of Dashiell Hammett’s characters is priceless. These stories feature handsome tuxedo cool cat Nick and his person, Nora Charles. Nora keeps finding dead bodies and Nick uses Scrabble tiles to spell out clues to help her catch the killers.

The author has created some truly clever characters for this series holding on to just enough thread to honor Hammett’s. Their relationship is grand and Nick always steals the show. Former investigative reporter Nora has the chops to be a wonderful amateur sleuth and future private investigator but Nick catches things she misses, sometimes literally, and spells out just what she needs to know. She has close relationships with the local police and an FBI boyfriend so she should know to report to them before rushing into what can be scary scenes but she doesn’t and she fails to learn from her past experiences. I really have a problem with that. I did think her goose was cooked this time.

Readers are treated to a nice mystery with plenty of twists and turns and an exciting ending. I liked that the case was bigger than it seemed at first with national security on the table. The entire story was delightfully plotted handling the current mystery, questioning some things from the past, and looking forward to the future for Nora and Nick.

Murder Faux Paws is a captivating cozy with a fascinating cat and a diverse cast surrounding him. I am excited for this series to continue and for Nora to learn just a teeny tiny bit of restraint. Oh who am I kidding, she is never going to change and she is going to scare the heck out of us again and again. And I will keep coming back for more. 🙂

Every time I read a book in this series I feel the need to watch The Thin Man again. I may have to dig out my copy.

Your favorite Scrabble-playing cat is back! Nick, Nora Charles's tuxedo cat, once again nudges Nora in the right direction with his uncanny ability to push out Scrabble tiles that actually make words. In Murder Faux Paws, Nora gets involved in yet another murder when a PI is murdered while sniffing out clues about another PIs death.

I really enjoy the characters in the Nick and Nora Mystery Series. Nora is a former investigative reporter, so she's right in her element when it comes to finding clues. Of course, being the cat lady that I am, I love Nick. His antics will make you smile, and maybe wish your cat could play Scrabble with you. The regular side characters all play at least a small part in the book, and they are just as well written as the main characters.

Of course, Nora is still up in the air when it comes to romance, but will she make a decision? I love the little banter that goes on between Nora and one particular character...read it to see who!

The mystery is very baffling. How could a suspected embezzling lead to a matter of national security?! Will Nora have better luck solving the mystery than the prior two who attempted to find the truth but ended up dead?

If you love cozy mystery books with PIs, FBIs, sisters, friends, love interests... you get the picture! I think all cozy mystery lovers will be delighted with this entertaining book. Don't worry if you haven't read the prior books. It's very easy to catch up and to figure out the relationship dynamics. I loved solving the mystery along with Nora and Nick.

Murder Faux Paws  has all the best elements a cozy mystery should have: strong, well-written characters, a pet, a mystery that takes you down several rabbit holes, and more. This is a mystery to add to your to be read piles. You'll love it!

MURDER FAUX PAWS is the fifth book in the Nick and Nora Mysteries by T.C. LoTempio and while I haven’t read any previous books in the series (simply because of too many books on my TBR and not enough time), I’m anxious to start at the beginning and catch up! That said, Murder Faux Paws can easily be read as a standalone and not once did I feel lost by not knowing the complete backstories of the characters. I enjoyed that the protagonist, Nora Charles, is not your usual hapless amateur sleuth stumbling about until they accidentally solve a crime. Instead, she’s a former investigative reporter for the Chicago Tribune and she uses the skills she developed on the job to ferret out clues. In addition to running her family’s sandwich shop, Hot Bread, she’s taking classes to get her private investigator’s license. She not only helps the police but also helps her FBI boyfriend solve cases. However, she frequently takes several risks to find answers that the average amateur wouldn’t and sometimes puts her life in danger. Assisting Nora in her quest for justice—and stealing every scene he’s in—is her very large Tuxedo cat, Nick. Nick isn’t your typical feline. He’s clever and points out clues Nora might have overlooked. On top of that, he likes to play with Scrabble tiles and often leaves messages for Nora to decipher. There’s a whiff of paranormal surrounding Nick which only adds to his mysterious appeal.

The plot was complex enough to keep my attention and turning pages late into the night, and the colorful characters added to the overall enjoyment of the book. The mystery surrounding who could have murdered two private investigators and who might have stolen a device that was of national security importance held a lot of suspense. I greatly enjoyed the way clues were doled out, even utilizing some quotes from Shakespearean literature. With a thread of mystery running through (which I suspect arcs through the previous four books) about the disappearance of Nick’s former owner, P.I. Nick Atkins, I was more than intrigued to learn more. The author’s suspenseful and startling reveal had me on the edge of my seat as I turned pages faster and faster, and with the final conclusion, the clues fell into place and the murders were solved. With a hint at changes in store for Nora, I for one, can’t wait to find out what happens next!

Running her family’s sandwich shop, Hot Bread, Nora creates all sorts of delectable sandwiches to make the reader salivate. Fortunately for the reader, T.C. LoTempio adds a few recipes at the back of the book.

I always love my visits with Nick and Nora Charles. This book was no exception. The sleuthing team is out to prove that a local PI did not kill himself and, instead, was murdered. When another PI is killed, they know something is going on, but they can’t figure out what it is and the police aren't listening to them.

Nick is Nora’s adopted tuxedo cat with a knack for finding the clues to solve murders. He uses his trusty Scrabble board to do it. Nora is willing to accept any help she can get. Together they find that this is a bigger case than they expected.

For the record, Nick is not a talking cat. He does appear to have some mystical powers but we aren’t really sure of that. Sometimes he appears to be a typical cat, other times definitely not typical.

Between running her cafe and trying to find killers, Nora is dealing with romance issues and a sister who decides to move in with her. She has quite a bit on her plate, but she vows not to let it stop her.

This is a fun adventure for Nick and Nora, although dangerous too. They are determined to solve the mysteries. I love these characters. Nick is just as important to the story as Nora.

I didn’t figure out whodunit until about halfway through the book, but even then I wasn’t 100% sure. It’s a fast-moving storyline with quite a few possibilities.

There is a bit of a continuing thread as far as the characters go, but the mystery storyline stands alone. I do recommend reading from book #1 so you can learn all about this detective duo and what makes them tick.

T.C. LoTempio has become a "must read" author for me.





FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I always enjoy hanging out with Nora and her Tuxi cat, Nick. They make a great detecting duo. Nora may be the owner of a sandwich shop called Hot Bread but, deep down inside she is a PI. With the help of Nick, she solves crimes. and now has the chance to take classes taught by a licensed PI. Not long into the class another PI, Claymore Jarvis comes in to act as a substitute instructor. Nora soon learns from him that he is looking into the death of a fellow PI, a death the police are calling suicide. Would Nora be able to give him a hand in his investigation? Before she knows it, Jarvis becomes the victim of a hit and run. Is there a killer out there targeting PIs? Not to worry, Nora and her sidekick, Nick are on the case.
This is one of my favorite cozy series and not just because I have a big soft spot for tuxi cats. Nora is a great character with friends and family who all care for each other. She has a love life and runs the family business and she was a journalist. That fact makes her a very good investigator. Each mystery can be read as a stand alone and each is very well constructed, full of twists, turns and a red herring or two. My TBR list always has a spot saved for this detecting duo.
My thanks to the publisher Beyond the Page and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

The recent suspicious deaths of two well-known PIs have set Nora’s investigative nerves tingling, and together with her partner Nick, they set about seeking the truth. Together Nora and her cool cat were unstoppable when seeking justice, but too many almost fatal circumstances prove to me she needs to get a gun license now.

Murder Faux Paws by T C LoTempio. The hero of the story is Nora Charles, who with the help of her cat, Nick, is a crime solver. She really runs a sandwich shop and writes for a newspaper, but her avocation is investigating. To that end she has been taking a class and takes the exam next week, if she can manage to stay alive. Her instructor is out for a couple of weeks and the substitute is a PI called Claymore Jarvis. He likes her and her powers of observation and tells her she may be helping him sooner than she thinks. He is investigating the "suicide" of Whip Jennings, another investigator who recently lost his life. When Nora goes back to the classroom to retrieve something she left, she hears him arguing with a young woman, Ruby Scott, if she's not mistaken. Ruby had worked with Whip and knew something, she was sure of it. Sadly Jarvis got hit by a car and killed.

Nora's boyfriend is Daniel Corleone, an FBI agent, and their friend is Lee Samms, a police detective who is soon to join Daniel at the FBI. She has other good friends, too, many of them private investigators, so she has plenty of help. She also has a newly arrived sister, Lacey, who is on break from her boyfriend, and decided to visit. She has friends and employees. She has a good life, but she loves to find information she didn't have. She has some small pieces of evidence, but they make no sense until Ruby remembers the package she never got. Whip had called her and told her to look for it. Nora finds the super at Ruby's building has had it all this time. She breaks the case loose and she and Ollie, another of her PI friends, set off to solve the mystery. This was a good book. The mystery was good and these people were all beyond good. LoTempio has done a marvelous job of building the cast. It is a fun play an Agatha's Christie's Nick and Nora series and this cat is beyond brilliant. Read it. I think you'll like it.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Murder Faux Paws by Beyond the Page, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #beyondthepage #tclotempio #murderfauxpaws

Nora and her cat, Nick, are back in the fifth installment of T.C. LoTempio's A Nick and Nora Mysteries.
While attending a private investigator class, Nora is approached after class by the substitute teacher, PI Claymore Jarvis concerning a case he's working on.

Jarvis tells Nora about fellow PI, Whip Jennings, whose death is being written off as a suicide by the local police and even her boyfriend, Daniel a FB! agent, but Jarvis is thinking murder. Jarvis states Jennings was working on a big story at the time of his death. When Jarvis shows up at her restaurant, Hot Bread, he states he has proof and is on his way to get the final piece of the puzzle. Unfortunately before he can get that final piece of the puzzle, Jarvis turns up a victim of a hit and run accident near Nora's restuarant. Now, with the help of her highly intelligent cat, Nora investigates to see exactly what Jennings was working on that got both him and Jarvis killed.

While I enjoyed all of the books so far, I really liked this one. It kept me entertained and wanting to know more. I love the characters and the mystery surrounding the two deaths. I recommend it to anyone liking cozy mysteries.

Please note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley.com. All opinions expressed are my own.

Nora Charles and her trusty side-kick Nick, a highly intelligent tuxedo cat, are back and ready to jump back into the PI world. After successfully solving cases for the police in the past, Nora was gifted a PI course to learn the ins and outs of the profession. Though she is comfortable with her job as owner of Hot Bread, she doesn’t feel she can turn down such a generous gift. After one of the classes, she is approached by the guest teacher to help solve a case. He believes that one of his fellow PIs was murdered, even though the death was ruled a suicide by the police. With her keen observational skills, he believes Nora may be able to help him discover the truth. The question soon becomes, can Nora juggle her job, her romantic life, and a new case all at the same time?

Nora and Nick turned out to be a very fun team to follow as their case develops. Nick’s ability to spell out words with scrabble tiles added such a fun, unexpected element. Having never read any of the other books in the series, I loved that Nick ended up being a character in and of himself, rather than just a house cat. One of the things that I appreciated most about Nora was that she knew how best to utilize her talents. She was confident in her own abilities and surrounded herself with people she trusted. Her relationship with her sister felt very real and it was interesting to watch it begin to change in nature.

The atmosphere of the novel was a great balance of Noir vibes mixed with the modern age. Following Nora from location to location allowed for the timeline to feel realistic. The novel was well paced and allowed for moments of character development, even in the midst of a complex case. I absolutely loved Ollie, and any time that he and Nora were working together. Whenever they worked together, it helped the timeline also feel more cohesive.

My only issue with the novel was the sheer number of characters. Now, I am coming into this series in the middle, so I expected to be a bit behind on the characters' back stories, but I had a hard time even keeping track of who was who. The mystery itself was complex and I think that added to some of my problems. Such a complex case called for a bigger cast of characters. By the time the book ended, I was still questioning who a few of the characters were. The dialog also felt very forced a few times, but that was balanced by nice scene transitions.

I would have enjoyed having more focus on the mystery and less focus on Nora’s love life. It was probably the nature of this particular book, but I did not feel much chemistry between Nora and either of the men that were interested in her. She was such a strong character, that it felt strange to see her having such a hard time choosing between Daniel and Samms.

I enjoyed the book and would consider continuing with the series, even if it is simply to see more of Nick. I also have a great deal of curiosity about the what Nora’s life is going to look like after that ending!

3.5/5

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

Murder Faux Paws is the 5th book in the Nick and Nora Mystery series by T. C. LoTempio. In this book, I was pleased to meet up with Nick again, a handsome tuxedo cat with an ability for solving crimes and his owner, Nora Charles, who is a freelance journalist and runs a sandwich shop called Hot Bread.

The mystery here is, in the seaside town of Cruz, California, who's murdering private investigators? Nora is taking a PI course and a temporary instructor enlists her help in solving a murder of another PI that the police believe was suicide.

A compelling plot, drama aplenty, a great bunch of characters, and oodles of mayhem all added to the mix, resulting in a fantastic read that kept me on my toes. T. C. LoTempio's easy, clever and humorous writing style was a good fit for me and impressed me again. Trying to unravel the mystery alongside Nick and Nora was lots of fun and I welcomed the comfortable pace. I loved that Nick was so savvy in sussing out clues and presenting them in ways for Nora to follow. Although book 5 in the series, it can be enjoyed as a stand-alone and I didn't feel disadvantaged not having read all of the previous instalments; I jumped into the series at book 4 with Hiss H for Homicide. I would like to read the first books I've missed in this series as I thoroughly enjoyed Murder Faux Paws and I’m game to see what shenanigans Nick and Nora get into next. Very highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Beyond the Page Publishing via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

Nora certainly leads an interesting life. I have to say I really love Nick. I thought the storyline was very interesting. Not something you read about every day. The cast of characters are an interesting bunch. They were a good group to hang out with. I never got bored just waiting to see what was going to happen next. I would love to hang out at The Poker Face and Hot Bread. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

I love the original Nick and Nora Charles books by Dashiell Hammett - this version is great too with Nick's role being filled by a charming and sneaky smart Tuxedo cat.

Nora Charles is taking a PI course so she can write articles for the online magazine Noir. Her substitute instructor turns out to be a PI with an interesting case that could lead to matters of national security. He ropes Nora into looking into the case, only he winds up dead himself. When a friend of Nora's gets framed for the crime, she steps in to free an innocent woman. But at what cost?

These books are great if you're a fan of cozies and old detective novels. LoTiempo pays homage to the greats while putting her own creative and elaborate spin on the genre. I have enjoyed all the books I have read by her and was delighted to see the preview for the next book in the series. Bravo!

Nora Charles, former Chicago reporter and amateur sleuth, owns Hot Bread Sandwich Shop in Cruz. Nick Charles, her tuxedo cat, spells out clues using Scrabble tiles. Together they solve crimes.

In this fifth series entry, Nick and Nora pursue the killer of two P.I.s, both supposedly working on a big case, one involving national security. But, of course, local law enforcement regards Nick and Nora as interference with their legitimate investigations.

T. C. LoTempio’s two characters, Nick and Nora, are engaging and imaginative. The interplay between the two keeps the suspense moving and the reader curious about what the two will do next. The author shares a little more background about Nick in each book, and the curiosity about his origins is growing.

This is the fifth book in the series that gives a nod to the characters created by Dashiell Hammett for his book “The Thin Man” that was later made into movies, radio, and TV series. In this case, Nora is the owner of a coffee shop/bakery and she also helps solve murders in her spare time. Nick is an overweight tuxedo cat who uses Scrabble tiles to spell out clues for Nora. Together they make a great team, even though the local cops don’t appreciate her nosing in—at least, not until she solves the problem.

In this one, Nora is taking a PI course and the teacher (a temporary substitute) enlists her help in solving a murder of another PI that the police think was a suicide. When her teacher also ends up dead, she knows it was no accident. But nobody is willing to listen to her except Ollie, another PI and a friend. With the help of Nick and Ollie, Nora is not only able to prove that the first death was not a suicide, but that the perp is committing high treason. She, unfortunately, gets caught, but, thanks to Nick, manages to escape (barely) and everything turns out right. (Come on, it’s a cozy mystery, so of course she gets saved in the end.)

Recommendation: I love these stories. If you enjoy cozy mysteries with just a touch of the paranormal (you cannot tell me that Nick is a normal cat), and more, pick this series up. Though you don’t have to have read them all in order to know what’s going on, it does help with the background. So get them all!

Disclaimer: Thanks to Netgalley for providing this ARC. Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nick&Nora is one of my favorite cozy series and I was more than happy to read a new mystery featuring this great investigators.
Nick is one of my fav cozy cats and Nora is a clever woman.
The mystery is solid and the story is fast paced.
It would have been a five star but
- Love triangle, I hate them and I hope it will be solved soon
- I can't stand Lacey, i find her a spoiled brat
- Nora seems to have a death wish at time
That said it's a highly entertaining and compelling story
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Murder Faux Paw is #5 in the Nick and Nora Mystery series. This is the first T. C. LoTempio novel that I have read. I really did not know what to expect, but once the book really began to develop more fully, I found it easy to get into this novel. I quickly grasped that Murder Faux Paws is a contemporary rift on the Nick and Nora Charles novels/films. I am unsure who Nick Atkins is--perhaps because I have not read the earlier novels? I would have liked more detail about this Nick, since he seems to have been an inspiration for Nora. The current Nick is a 20 pound cat, who acts as a second detective, helping Nora and protecting her from danger. As a new reader to this series, I expect I will need to go back and read the earlier novels to fully grasp some of the background, but generally this novel, although part of a series, can stand alone.
Although these characters are not the kind to stick with the reader, as is true of some novels, this novels is still a nice escapist read. I thank the author and publisher, Beyond the Page Publishing, for allowing me to read this novel and review it. And thank you to NetGalley for connecting me with another author and novels, who are new to me.