I have loved the books I have read so far in the Urban Tails Pet Shop series. The characters are well developed and the relationships are entertaining. The mystery aspect of this book had you guessing until the end. There were multiple suspects and lots of clues that have you thinking you know the guilty person. The cats are a hoot and I love Purrday and Princess Fuzzypants. I love seeing Shell work to solve the mystery. I can’t wait to return to Fox Hollow and spend time with this wonderful group of characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Beyond the Page for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

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The following review was published on Kings River Life:

Cats, Carats, and Killers is book four in T.C. LoTempio’s Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries and the perfect read for cozy mystery lovers who enjoy stories that include some wonderfully smart and cuddly feline companions.

Urban Tails Pet Shop owner Shell McMillan is helping with a fundraiser for the Fox Hollow animal shelter. Shell’s mother, Clarissa, designed the antiques appraisal fundraiser, and crowds are flocking to the event to have their old keepsakes and collectibles evaluated.

The event, however, seems to also attract some shady characters, including former resident Pete Martin, as well as a mysterious couple who is determined to get their hands on an old wooden jewelry box. Shell manages to secure the jewelry box, but realizes there is more to the story when Pete is found murdered. Could the murder be tied to the box with its secret compartments? And why is the FBI in town investigating a long-ago unsolved diamond heist? Shell dives into this mystery with both feet, especially when her friend Gus is arrested for the murder.

This is such an entertaining and puzzling mystery–the perfect combination of all the elements I love in a cozy mystery: small town setting, determined amateur sleuth with a detective boyfriend, unique side characters, and cats with delightful personalities (and names! You have to love cats with the names Purrday, Kahlua, and Princess Fuzzypants).

I was glued to this mystery, following Shell’s journey, and while I had solved part of the mystery, I did not see that ending coming and it had me sitting straight up to read. Shell’s sleuthing partnership with Gary adds so much fun to the story, and Shell’s mother is quite the character. No spoilers, but Shell’s mother has an idea for another fundraiser at the end of the book and this reader is hoping it is featured in book five!

I haven't read any of the other books in this series, but I was able to enjoy this book nonetheless. A fun cozy mystery with lots of adorable animals. What more could you want?

As far as cosy crime books goes this was good. Lots going on, lots of twists and turns and a fast read because of it. Just perfect for a summer afternoon or on holiday.

The part that really irritated me though was the cats. It's clear the author needed dog behaviours (pointing to things, leading their owner to dead bodies, and following their owner about town) but wanted to include cats for some reason. This, for me spoiled the story. Don't get me wrong I have had cats all my life, from moggies to Siamese and to Bengals (both indoor and outdoor cats) so am a cat person but none of the behaviour she writes about it typical of one cat, let alone four in one town, It was just weird.

But ignore the cats and it's a fun cosy read.

This is the fourth in the Urban Tails Pet Shop Mystery series. Set in Fox Hollow, Connecticut, The animal shelter is having a version of “Antique Road Show” as a fund raiser. We now have four cat helping Shell, Purrday, Kahlua, Princess Fuzzypants and, Cleopawtra.

I felt it started off slowly. Shell finds herself right in the middle of a cold case and a new murder. The twists and turns lead us to who committed the cold case robbery and whether the cases are related. Shell and Gary lead us through the mysteries.

I look forward to the next issue. I received a copy of this book days after publication from Netgalley. I am not required to leave a positive review.

jewelry-heist, verbal-humor, relationships, small-town, small-business, situational-humor, cats, cozy-mystery, pets, local-law-enforcement, local-gossip, amateur-sleuth, Connecticut, family, family-dynamics, murder-investigation, antiques, animal-shelter, fundraiser*****

Yippee! Another fun cozy from Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries!
Shell had escaped Hollywood thanks to an elderly relative's bequest of a beloved pet shop in small town Connecticut. But unfortunately, she didn't escape her self-absorbed mother who can't imagine her daughter WANTING to leave Hollywood after a decent career in television. Shell has had a hand in solving a murder before and has an interest in the local Homicide Detective.
Much of the set-up for this installment is in the publisher's blurb, but that doesn't tell you how much fun it is to read. I love the way real clues are hidden amongst the red herrings and a diabolical plot twist or two.
I requested and received a free EARC copy from Beyond the Page Publishing via NetGalley. Thank you!
#UrbanTailsPet ShopMysteriesBk4 #CatsCaratsandKillers #NetGalley #DiamondHeist

This entry in the series further develops Shell McMillan's characters and the character of her lovable cats. Shell is in the midst of a fundraiser for the local shelter. A man is murdered and a friend of hers is accused. She knows he didn't do it. One of the items for the fundraiser is an antique wooden jewelry box that may hold the answers to the murders and to a robbery from years past. Clever writing with bits of humor makes this a pleasant cozy. Thanks to Net Galley for the arc.

This was a great idea for a mystery novel, it had everything that I was looking for from the description. The characters were what I was hoping for and enjoyed going on this mystery element overall. It uses the pet element perfectly and glad it was so well done. T. C. LoTempio writes a strong story and left me wanting to read more. It uses the elements of the previous three books and enjoyed how strong this fourth entry was.

CATS, CARATS, AND KILLERS by T. C. LoTempio
The Fourth Urban Tails Pet Shop Mystery

Shell McMillan, owner of the Urban Tails Pet Shop and former star of Spy Anyone, is proud to be a sponsor of Appraise for Strays, a fundraiser for the local animal shelter. While several unique items have come in, a lot of interest is being shown in a little wooden box, too much interest. One such interested person is Pete Martin, a bad penny who's returned to town. When he winds up dead, diner owner Gus Morton becomes the prime suspect. Could the box and the murder be tied to an old jewelry heist? With the FBI in town investigating and a hot shot journalist insinuating himself in the investigation Shell will do what she can to prove Gus is innocent with help from friends, including the special felines, Purrday and Princess Fuzzypants.

An unsolved robbery with missing diamonds, an unassuming wooden box, and murder combine in the delightful fourth Urban Tails Pet Shop Mystery.

A jewel heist combined with an antiques appraisal? Yes, please. It's a great combination. The possibility of discovering treasure is always a thrill, one of the reason those antique appraisal shows are so compelling. Could that godawful painting from Aunt Hatty be an actual Picasso? Or that vase you got at the charity shop. Could it be worth more than the $2.00 you spent?

Readers are introduced to the original crime which is then skillfully woven through the new mystery, that of the wooden box and the murder. Important information and clues are clearly laid out providing several “ah ha” moments as pieces click into place. Then there's the penultimate action scene with a major twist!

I enjoy the camaraderie of the friends, particularly Shell and Gary and the quiet romance between Shell and Josh. I like that Gary is the voice of reason and that Shell shares everything with the police and FBI, well, almost everything…at least until she goes off to confirm one last thing, which was almost her undoing. Fortunately, help wasn’t far away. The characters are well developed with their own strengths and foibles, but as wonderful as the humans are, for me it’s the cats who steal the show. Purraday makes certain that clues are found and messages get across. Princess Fuzzypants goes above and beyond in this story and proves she’s not just a pretty face. And Kahlua looks on, above it all.

CATS, CARATS, AND KILLERS is a finely crafted mystery that will have you dreaming of diamonds and perhaps looking around at your own possible treasures.

Cats, Carats, & Killers is the fourth installment in the popular Urban Tales Pet Shop Mystery series by T.C. LoTempio. Shell McMillan is the owner of the Urban Tales Pet Shop and is involved in a fundraiser where residents can bring their old items in and get them appraised. The fundraise is a huge success, but one item an old jewelry box that has been appraised and is found to be worth less than $50, generates enough interest by a previous resident of the town, Pete Martin, who may have been involved in a jewelry store heist a decade or so before. Shell then catches a couple trying to steal that same jewelry box. When Shell’s cats are playing a game of chase and knock the jewelry box off a shelf and it breaks, she finds it contains a diamond from that old heist, and then discovers Pete Martin murdered. Now Shell, who is an amateur sleuth, investigates because a man she is sure isn’t guilty is the prime suspect.

LoTempio’s delightful series is especially fun for cat lovers, because her cats (including one named Princess Fuzzypants) are involved in many of the fun scenarios that move the storyline along. She also does an excellent job of developing the characters, which are actually quite believable. Shell is a likeable protagonist, and readers will also enjoy the sub-characters who are introduced in this novel.

All told, there is enough information in this novel to read it as a standalone book, but it is one that will inspire readers to pick up the previous novels in the series.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

Dollycas's Thoughts

Shell McMillan owns the Urban Tails Pet Shop so it makes sense for her to co-sponsor a fundraiser for the local animal shelter organized by her mother, Clarissa, no less, now a partner at Seconhand Sue's. Clarissa has convinced Gerard Antoine, the host of a local antiques appraisal show and huge animal lover and supporter of no-kill shelters to come to Fox Hollow to appraise people's "treasures" at their Appraise for Strays event. An old jewelry box draws quite a bit of attention. It has even brought former Fox Hollow resident Pete Martin back to town which wasn't a smart move because he was later murdered.

Shell soon learns about a diamond robbery that happened in town several years ago. The thieves were never caught and the diamonds were never found. With all the interest in the old jewelry box, Shell thinks there has to be a connection. But why kill Pete Martin? To find a killer and hopefully the gems she has to look into the old case which could put her right in the killer's sights. If she finds all those carats it could be curtains for her and her cats are going to need new caregivers.

____

We are back in Fox Hollow, Connecticut with Shell and her lovable cats, Purrday, Kahlua, and Princess Fuzzypants. They have a new friend, Cleopawtra. After some of the cat's hijinks, Shell finds herself right in the middle of a cold case and a new murder. Shell has turned out to be a talented amateur sleuth even though her homicide detective boyfriend, Josh Bloodgood wishes she would leave the investigations to him. Ms. LoTempio does a marvelous job capturing the cats' personalities and their humans' lives.

The mystery was a tangled one with puzzling clues to figure out and follow. I was happy to follow along as Shell and Gary worked through the clues. They did as much research and snooping as necessary and had some feline assistance, but Shell is alone when the last clue falls into place and I must say WOW! What a showdown!

Cats, Carats, and Killers was a fun read! Wonderful characters and an intriguing mystery kept me marvelously entertained. I figured out part of the mystery before Shell, but that didn't stop me from enjoying the story one bit. It was a Perfect Escape!

I can't wait for the next book because Shell's mother already has a new idea at the end of this story and I know Ms. LoTempio will take that idea and run with it delightfully for her readers to enjoy.

First book of the series that I have read and I really enjoyed it. Former actress now a small town pet shop owner finds herself investigating a murder with a possible connection to a long ago robbery. Wonderful characters and a story that doesn't lag.

There may be honor among thieves, but a long-ago diamond heist might hold the secret to a man’s murder . . .Pet shop owner Shell McMillan is thrilled to see everyone in Fox Hollow flocking to the local animal shelter’s fundraiser, where they can get their old keepsakes and collectibles appraised and maybe even sell them for a tidy sum. But the event has drawn some shady characters as well, including Pete Martin, who seems determined to get his hands on a beat-up old jewelry box at any cost. Then Martin is found murdered, and Shell has to go from fundraising to finding a killer.It doesn’t take long for Shell to figure out that the jewelry box was concealing diamonds from a long-ago heist, and that Martin wasn’t the only one trying to get his hands on the stash. But to figure out who wanted him dead, she’ll have to uncover who was behind the original heist and who knows where the rest of the gems are hidden. It’s as dangerous a case as Shell has ever faced, and if she’s not careful, her search for the missing stones will leave her stone-cold dead. (GoodReads synopsis)

I took a point off because this has one of the many cliche stereotypes that I can’t stand. The protagonist puts herself in danger. The unfortunate thing is that everything could have been solved way sooner if she had used common sense. That said, I pretty much figured out who most of the characters were and their roles. The killer’s background was a surprise but not who it was.

I continue to read this series because I love what the author does with the main character’s career as well as her relationships. It’s such a loving atmosphere and I would love to see an appraisal fundraiser for the animal shelters in real life. The cat characters all make me smile because I have 2 with similar personalities traits. And yes, cats do talk back. While I love how close the human characters are, I wish that there was more to the main character and her love interest. Honestly, that felt like a passing comment, an “oh by the way, we’re dating. Back to the mystery.”

Overall, I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars.

Shell McMillan owns the local pet shop, Urban Tails and is more than happy to help out at the local animal shelter’s fundraiser, Appraise for Strays. The citizens of Fox Hollow, Connecticut will have the opportunity to bring things from home and get them appraised. When an old jewelry box is brought in, it attracts more attention than anything else. Strangers start offering big bucks for it and one of those potential buyers is found dead. Shell is on the case to find out what is so valuable about a box that wasn’t appraised very high at all.

Shell finds herself in the middle of a cold case and present-day murder investigation. Her boyfriend, Josh Bloodgood, advises her to stay out of it. After all, he’s a homicide detective and knows just what kind of danger Shell could be in if she continues her snooping. We all know Shell is not going to stop until she solves the case.

Shell and her kitty companions, once again, find themselves in the thick of things. Shell is determined to get to the bottom of things while her kitties are determined to protect her. I always enjoy this series. Of course, being a cat lover, the cats always touch my heart. They are as important to the story as any of the humans.

The author does an excellent job of creating an intriguing story with fascinating characters. Although the mystery is wrapped up in each book, it’s so much more fun to start this series from the beginning. It gives the reader a chance to get to know the characters (and kitties, too!)

I’ve been a big fan of this series (and the author) from day one. This one is filled with charm, mystery and it left me smiling. I’m looking forward to more exciting mystery stories from this author.








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 enjoyed the mystery. I also liked the characters and the setting

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

Part of a series. Cute cats. Main character runs a pet shop. This book revolves around a jewelry store robbery. Good cozy mystery. Great characters primary and secondary

Cats, Carats and Killers is a well written and entertaining cozy mystery. I definitely recommend this book. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.

Cats, Carats and Killers is book #4 in the Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries series by T. C. LoTempio.

This is the first book I’ve read in this series, but I’ve read the author’s other series and wanted to give this a try. I’m glad I did! I like Shell and that the book started with a fundraiser for the animal shelter. It was interesting to see if the much wanted jewelry box,murder, and cold case were related. I loved how the cats helped. I definitely plan to catch up on this series.

Thank you to the author, Beyond the Page Publishing, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

I have read multiple different series by TC LoTempio, including the three previous Urban Tails mysteries and she certainly does not disappoint! Shell is one of my favorite protagonists. While a cold case jewelry heist may be an older trope, LoTempio's take on the mystery grabs the reader and pulls them right into the story. I very much hope there will be more in this series. I cannot wait for the next one.

My thanks to Netgalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for this ARC.

I loved all the cats in this story. I loved that this is a very fast paced cozy mystery. I loved Shell, her friends and her cats. I enjoyed all the twists and turns as Shell solves this mystery. I received a copy of this book from the publisher for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.