This is book eight of the series. Christmas, cozy, and exotic cats, what more could you possibly need. This holiday season Cat Cafe Mystery has all the great cozy feels that one has come to expect from Cate Conte. This is a festive and feline centered mystery that makes me want to find a cat cafe. A great cast of characters and plenty of suspects to keep you turning the pages while at the same time wondering why the city council has a contract with a guy who doesn't seem very handy. Enjoyable as always and I can't wait to read the next one.

In this cozy holiday mystery, Maddie James and her feline sidekick JJ navigate a sleigh-full of drama, from festive cat strife to untangling Christmas lights of another kind—murder. This made sense when I wrote it. With cute cats, small-town secrets, and a murder to solve, it's purr-fectly engaging.

This novel was the first I read in the Cat Cafe mystery series, but I see I was missing out! In this offering, Maddie, Cat Cafe owner, gets involved in several situations. Although she has sworn off involvement in community activities, Maddie gets embroiled in preparations for the local Christmas programming since the plans are falling apart. When the Christmas lighting contest goes off the rails, and a murder occurs that implicates her friend, Maddie also becomes involved with the investigation.

I wondered how Maddie and friends could take so much time to attend to all these activities and events and still manage the Cat Cafe! There are several subplots and intrigues in this novel. Cat lovers will no doubt appreciate the kitties (there is a subplot involving fancy cat breeds too).

Readers of cozy mysteries set in small towns with interesting characters, and especially with cute animals, will enjoy this addition to the genre. I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Shock and Paw by Cate Conte is a delightful cozy mystery that cat lovers will adore! With a charming setting in a cat café and a gripping storyline, it’s the perfect mix of intrigue and warmth. The characters are endearing, and the plot keeps you hooked from start to finish. (I received an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own.) A purr-fectly enjoyable read!

A very entertaining and enjoyable cozy series featuring fleshed out characters, plenty of cats, and solid mysteries.
This is a good addition, i had fun and it kept me guessing.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I used to look forward to each new installment in this series, but the latest release was a bit dull in my opinion.

Another good book in the series! I actually really liked the mystery in this book. I found that there were two parts to it and that held my attention even better. I also found this book easier than the last if you haven’t read the previous ones. It was easier to follow along with. Overall good cozy!

Enjoyed this one very much, another great cozy mystery from author Cate Conte. Never disappoints, highly recommend

I have been provided with a review copy of Shock and Paw from NetGalley for an impartial review. Ahhhhh this was just such a great read. I just didn't want this book to end and I was sad to turn the last page. I'm so excited to see what's next from this author.

Maddie James is determined to enjoy the Christmas season on Daybreak Island. But her neighbors have other ideas. Afte her grandfather is shocked while fixing his holiday light display, a neighbor faces a bigger threat that involves electricity and her holiday lights. One of Maddie's beloved cats is stolen, too. Maddie must work to clear her best friend's name and find her furry friend while organizing the town's annual holiday celebrations. But at every turn, she faces challenges from the police, secretive strangers and neighbors with something to hide.
I can picture Daybreak Island thanks to the author's vivid word choices. And I want to visit the cat cafe!
This book is also clever and witty. I smiled and laughed out loud several times.
Some of the details seem far-fetched. Like the island seems small but then characters, places and events almost come out of the woodwork and make the island feel very large.
I like the ending. It includes a few unexpected twists. I would definitely read more books in this series!

Maddie and JJ are surprised at the level of intensity for the annual Christmas light display competition. True, this year there is a cash prize but that does not explain the cut-throat rivalries. Despite her intention not to become involved in the town’s celebration, Maddie gets pulled in to save the day at the last minute. But when her best friend’ Becky’s boss is murdered, Maddie is tempted to drop everything to make sure she is not arrested.

As it turns out, the competition is only one possible reason for murder. There are some shady dealings going on including the illegal breeding and theft of exotic cats and the possible sale of the newspaper for which Becky works. Was one of those three things the motive for murder and if so, who is the killer. The story is filled with all sorts of twists and turns and some very adorable cats. While the shelter itself takes a back seat, the rescue of some poor felines is front and centre.

As usual this was an entertaining read that I thoroughly enjoyed. Five purrs and two paws up.

Shock and Paw by Cate Conte is the eighth book in the Cat Cafe Mystery series set on Daybreak Island off the coast of New England.

It follows Maddie and her friends and family as they run JJ’s House of Purrs cat café and prepare for the Christmas festival. Grandpa Leo is decorating for the christmas light contest that he's won many times before, but this year there's a new substantial cash prize. The stakes have been raised as it will be the highlight of the festival. The participants are worked up and the town has even highered a handyman to help. Unofrtunatly he doesn't seem to be very handy and things start going wrong all over town. Then one of the participants ends up killed in a string of lights and Maddie is pulled into the investigation when one of her best friends is a suspect.
Was this person murdered because of the festival? Were they targeted because of their job? Or is there something more going on?
There had been the theft of a very expensive and rare designer cat on the island a few months back and since then advertisements for fancy cats have appeared on the island. Maddie investigates whether there's an illegal breeding ring happening and if it has to do with the tragic death.

Lots of red herrings to keep you guessing! A charming setting and lovable characters, plus adorable cats. This sis a series I return to again and again! A perfect cozy for the holiday season.

Shock and Paw is the eighth in A cat Cafe Mystery, a cozy mystery series set on Daybreak Island off the coast of New England. It is just two weeks until Christmas and Maggie, part owner of a cat cafe, is determined not to volunteer for any activities but, rather, just to enjoy them. However, a series of disturbing events - a flyer advertising exotic and very expensive cats for sale on the island despite all the cats at the shelter who need homes, the kidnapping of a cat she had found behind a dumpster, her granddad’s fall of a ladder after being zapped by the lights installed by a new electrician, the possibility of the local paper being sold, and, finally, the murder of the woman who owns the paper - all of which makes Maddie change her mind about her involvement, especially when it becomes clear her best friend, Becky, a journalist at the newspaper, becomes the main suspect in the murder.

Shock and Paw is a charming, enjoyable cozy mystery. The pace is somewhat slow but the characters make up for this as they are an interesting, quirky, and mostly likeable bunch. Eventually, all of the various strings in the tale are pulled together satisfactorily with a couple of fun twists that kept me guessing right to the end. If you like cozies and cats, this one is definitely for you.

Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

This series is pure catnip for cozy readers. In this eighth release a Christmas time theme is fun and atmospheric for the reader. Our lovable cat cafe owner Maddie is happily decorating for the holiday and giving tours to tourists. She is enjoying her time with her boyfriend and looking forward to a quiet Christmas when a murder occurs. Maddie is on the case with her talent for finding clues, running her cat cafe and showing up for her best friend who may be the prime suspect. She is also investigating who is selling purebread cats and advertising with flyers left at her shop and around the village.
I loved this next in series and look forward to the next release. The author knows cats and the lovable JJ the cat features strongly in this series. .The cat cafe description is so realistic we readers would love to visit. Well done to the author.

“Shock and Paw” is the charmingly done eighth book in Cate Conte’s Cat Café cozy mystery series. This one takes place at Christmas and it’s a lot of fun to read as Cat Café owner Maddie James gets pulled into helping run Daybreak Island’s holiday festivities even though she vowed she wouldn’t. I loved reading about the various events that were taking place on the island. Also fun to read about is the cat café and the various cats there, as well as Maddie’s family and friends. Mixed in with the holiday cheer are a couple of mysteries – one involving a mysterious cat breeder and a murder mystery (the murder mystery happens fairly late in the book but still adds much to the book). Both mysteries are well done (if a little sad) with plenty of twists and turns and surprises. I kind of figure out who the killer was but I was still sad to discover that I was right. All in all an enjoyable mystery.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

Shock And Paw
A Cat Cafe Mystery, Book 8
Cate Conte
5 Stars

Synopsis:

The eighth installment in a charming cozy mystery series set on an island off the New England coast and featuring the cat cafe owner Maddie and her cat JJ.

Beware the cats of Christmas past…

It’s the holiday season on Daybreak Island, and Maddie James is looking forward to stepping out of the limelight, watching the island’s Christmas decoration competition from afar, spending time with her boyfriend and family, running tours for visitors as part of the festivities and spreading holiday cheer through cute cats in jingle bell collars.

But trouble hits close to home when word gets out that Donna Carey, the publisher of the island’s only daily newspaper where Maddie’s best friend Becky is editor, may be selling the business. Becky is a diehard journalist and to her, selling the only newspaper on the island is a fate worse than death. She publicly opposes the potential sale, wreaking havoc on her relationship with her big boss.

Maddie is sympathetic, but she has her own problems - like getting pulled into a role on the Christmas event committee despite her best efforts to stay far removed, and solving the case of a mysterious cat breeder trying to sell expensive designer cats as holiday gifts on the island. But then Donna winds up dead—electrocuted by her own Christmas decorations—and it appears to be more than an accident. To make matters worse, Becky becomes suspect number one. Maddie is thrown into another murder investigation in order to save her best friend from a Christmas behind bars. (Amazon)

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. Maddie has a lot going on in her life: running the cat cafe, spending time with her boyfriend and running some tours for visitors. But when someone is killed, she will once again have to figure out who the killer is. This time her best friend, Becky, is accused of the crime but Maddie knows she is innocent.

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. The writing style flows smoothly and it defines the characters very clearly by their actions and words. The mystery is well plotted and there were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I was glad to spend some time with Maddie and her friends to see what they have been up to.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

It's nearly Christmas in Daybreak Harbor Island and tempers are flying as are the Christmas decorations for this year's contest. Grandpa Leo takes a winger shock while messing with his lights, Animal control officer Katrina Denning is up in arms over a poster advertising designer cats!! And Donna Carey thinking of selling the local paper!! What no way. But when Donna ends up a victim of an electrical shock things take a wild turn. What has one event got to do with the others? Is the new town hired electrician behind all the craziness? Did he dislike Donna enough to put her out of commission? Will Maddie James be able to figure out what is going on? Or will she become the next " electric eel"?

After the initial pages, I found myself not connecting with the story or characters, so I decided to pass on this book. Did not finish

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

Shock and Paw invites us back to JJ’s House of Purrs cat café on Daybreak Island. Christmas is less than two weeks away. Maddie and Grandpa Leo are partners in the café, along with Ethan, her long-time business partner. The mascot is JJ, the one-of-a-kind orange tabby who adopted Maddie shortly after she moved back from the west coast.

The cat café continues to grow, due in part to news articles that lead people from the mainland to adopt or visit its residents. Most of the cats are from Katrina, Maddie’s friend and the local Animal Control Officer.

Daybreak Harbor, their community on the island, begins its annual Christmas festivities this weekend that will bring many tourists. Grandpa Leo is participating in the Christmas light decoration contest, as he does every year. He has won numerous times, and has a more complex plan this year. There is a substantial cash prize this year, so there are many more contestants.

Maddie’s plans for Christmas are simple. Most holidays, she helps her mom’s committees so this one is only for time with her family, her boyfriend, Lucas, and friends. Caring for and adopting out cats and kittens is always a certainty.

Katrina brought Maddie a cat that had been in the shelter and was terrified, especially of barking dogs. She also brought in a flyer that was hanging outside, advertising unique cats that combine at least two breeds for an ultra-fancy cat appearance. Breeders of these kinds of cast often charge tens of thousands of dollars, many of which have been abused. Maddie named the cat Frederick and put him inside the house. Sam, one of Maddie’s sisters, and Katrina made a plan to meet the fancy cat/ kitten seller.

Grandpa Leo was injured from falling off his ladder after being shocked by a string of lights. Frederick was stolen, the thief leaving a threatening note for them to stop looking into the special cats.

A beloved community member was then murdered. Maddie’s best friend, Becky, works at the family-owned island newspaper. Donna was the big boss and the owner of the paper, carrying on the work begun by her ancestors. Becky, as the managing editor, has her dream job. Becky and Maddie accidentally overheard that Donna received an offer for the paper. Devastated, Becky tried to change her mind but Donna has plans for a new, special venture, Cat’s Meow, a media company about cats. Donna had been investigating a critical situation related to cats, but couldn’t yet reveal it. She wanted Becky’s skills in her new company, but Becky, not realizing the depth or importance of the work, didn’t want to stop being a serious journalist.

Donna was lying dead in her yard when Becky stopped by her house. The police saw Becky as the prime suspect because of her “strong motive”. In the handful of days before the Christmas festival opening night, Maddie’s simple holiday included solving Donna’s murder, helping with unassigned festival needs, and finding the stolen cat.

The author has crafted a great set of townspeople, many of whom are delightful. I appreciate and enjoy Maddie’s family, friends, and her volunteers at the café. One of my favorite descriptions is “…pretty much everyone on the island was quirky in their own way. It was part of the charm.” We get to see some of the quirks and accept them as part of each person’s makeup.

The author has outdone herself with this novel! No matter how I put the clues together, all I found were red herrings. I didn’t realize that people in the business of the news often get threats from those who disagree with them on an issue or an article! I was completely surprised at the bad guy, as it was someone I had not even considered. Regarding the rest of the challenges, such as finding Frederick and infiltrating the sale of special cat breeds, each was resolved in a satisfactory manner. I highly recommend this newest novel in the series!

Shock and Paw is book #8 in the Cat Cafe Mystery series by Cate Conte.

This was a nice escape from the summer heat and humidity. It’s Christmas time on Daybreak Island. Maddie is doing her best to find home for the rescue kitties and enjoy the season but when there is a murder and a cat-napping, she is pushed into investigation mode. This is a fun, relaxing read. I recommend this book and series.

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