#cateconte

[darlenefblog]

Shock and Paw - Cat Cafe Mystery #8

by Cate Conte

Publisher: ‎ St. Martin's Paperbacks 

Publication date: August 20, 2024

Print length: 320 pages

2 out of 5 star rating.

Thank you to NetGalley, Cate Conte, and St. Martin's Paperbacks for providing this advance readers copy of the book. Below is my honest review.

When you don't have a dead body until the 50% mark then it's not much of a mystery. Taking that long to set up the big event was tedious and not enjoyable. I had to stop myself from skipping around at first but later I did just that. I had lost interest and didn't care who-done-it. There wasn't much of the cafe or cats; JJ was an afterthought. In the first few chapters there were instances of repeating information a couple of times, it was like listening to an elderly relative tell the same story every family reunion. Maddie spent a lot of time going from one place to another and then to another, with nothing getting finished, it's exhausting. The Christmas events were a mess and I found it hard to believe that that many people could have done so little work. I didn't see the twist coming, all the people involved hadn't had much interaction. I will say that death by Christmas lights was an interesting way to kill off Donna.

[thetarotman]

"The Tell Tail Heart," by Cate Conte

[binches-incorporated]

Day three of being sick! 🤒 . I’m finally able to drink some coffee, but it turns out my brain can’t process spooky books right now so I’ve reverted to my comfort reads: cozy mysteries. I’m hoping to feel better by tomorrow because I don’t have time for this shit! 🤧💩☕️ . . . #bookishbitchblog #books #reading #sicklife #cozymystery #bookworm #purrdershewrote #cateconte #pumpkinpickingwithmurder #auraleewallace #mysteries #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #coffee #autumnharvest #candles #bedrest https://www.instagram.com/p/BoxbatGnnTQ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1bilvsebf7m2q

[mariaeugeniagamarraportafolio]

Hace 5 años, en abril, viví el mejor mes de mi vida mochileando en Europa... Han sido (hasta ahora) los mejores 30 días de mi vida... Conocí sitios increíbles, me reencontré con personas súper importantes, y lo más importante de todo, aprendí muchísimas cosas sobre mi misma... Es cierto lo que dicen: hay que hacer un viaje solo, al menos una vez en la vida... Hoy recuerdo las increíbles 6 ciudades que conocí, y a mis increíbles anfitriones... Los extraño y los recuerdo mucho! @cateconte @rafaelrequenam @jorge6365 @joseluisangeli @crismontoyac https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw3PArJnqoa0ujFVDIf9AItTDvlQklZTL2PmLQ0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=vap9z0xlyo2f

[dollycas]

#FlashbackFriday featuring The Tell Tail Heart: A Cat Cafe Mystery by Cate Conte #Review #Giveaway

On Flashback Fridays I will share with you the books I was not able to review when they were first released that have been screaming at me from my To-Be-Read bookshelf.

The Tell Tail Heart: A Cat Cafe Mystery Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series Setting - Island off Massachusetts Minotaur Books (June 25, 2019) Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1250072085 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250072085 Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07J4SZ293

Welcome back to the charming New England coast, where Maddie James’s cat café is at risk of becoming a crime scene for the purrfect murder. . . Maddie is hoping to have some downtime during Daybreak Island’s off-season to tackle her to-do list. Her grandfather’s house-turned-cat-café is under construction and she’s also scoping out places to open a juice bar on the island. On top of that, her relationship with adorable dog groomer Lucas has taken a pawsitive turn. But easy is getting harder every day for Maddie, especially when a big-name writer who’s on the island working on a new project winds up floating in the canal. This, on the exact same day an eccentric woman shows up at the cafe claiming Maddie’s cat, JJ, is hers. As the investigation into the dead writer picks up, Maddie realizes that even the neighbors she’s known all her life might be keeping secrets that go deep into the heart of this small seaside town. Meanwhile, a killer remains at-large...and on the prowl. Dollycas's Thoughts A dead author, a crazy lady, and a big storm really throws Maddie James's life off kilter. The person who she now knows is a famous author had been coming into the cat café for days working quietly with a cat on his lap. Then a strange woman comes in, has weird eye contact with him, and then proceeds to tell Maddie that her cat JJ, the face of JJ's House of Purrs, belongs to her. So she has lost one of the few paying customers she has during the off-season, she has to protect JJ from being stolen, she has to run the café while the renovation continues, and the Nor’easter coming could shut down the ferry and wreak havoc on the island. Oh, yes there is also a murderer on the loose. Maddie's sister Val is busy too planning a huge Thanksgiving celebration for an island legend who also ropes her in an investigation of their own. They even get Maddie involved.  Both investigations may be connected which could make things on Daybreak Island very interesting. I am so happy to return to this series. It is really character driven with Maddie, her former police chief grandfather, sister Val, and Ethan, Maddie's business partner, and now Val's boyfriend. They all usually work together like a well-oiled machine for the most part. Maddie inherited her grandfather's zest for investigations but this time he is keeping her out of the loop. This adds a whole different dynamic to the story. I felt for Maddie because of the strain created by her grandfather holding back and keeping secrets. Maddie's boyfriend Lucas was away for most of this story too which made the strain even harder. I really enjoy that a character mentioned in previous books took a bigger role in this story. We were able to learn much more about him and his past and how he fits into life on the island. The mysteries were all tangled together along with just a bit of real-life happenings. The book flowed nicely with several twists and red herrings. I knew early on who I wanted the guilty party to be but it took time for all the clues to fall into place to make my wishes a reality. It was fun to follow along with Maddie but I missed the closeness of working with her grandfather. She has a vivid imagination and theories that don't pan out but when the clues start to come together and facts are revealed Maddie's stubborn streak reared its ugly head which sets up a very dramatic ending that could have gone so wrong, but I liked it :-) . You would think Daybreak Harbor would be quiet in the winter with hardly any tourists or businesses open but Cate Conte proved that wrong. She whipped up quite a mystery and through in a Nor'easter to top it off. The Tell Tail Heart was an entertaining read with a very satisfying ending until you reach the final sentence. Yes, a cliffhanger. That just means I need to read A Whisker of a Doubt soon.

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent About the Author Cate Conte writes the Cat Cafe Mysteries and the Full Moon Mysteries. As Liz Mugavero, she writes the Pawsitively Organic Mysteries, the first of which was an Agatha Award nominee for Best First Novel. She lives in Connecticut with her rescue pals.

Coming August 22, 2023

Also by Cate Conte

Written as Liz Mugavero

I am giving away 1 Kindle Copy of The Tell Tail Heart The contest is open to anyone over 18 years old. Duplicate entries will be deleted. Void where prohibited. You do not have to be a follower to enter but I hope you will find something you like here and become a follower. Followers Will Receive 2 Bonus Entries For Each Way They Follow. Plus 2 Bonus Entries For Following My Facebook Fan Page. Add this book to your WANT TO READ shelf on GoodReads for 3 Bonus Entries. Pin this giveaway to Pinterest for 3 Bonus Entries. If you share the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook or anywhere you will receive 5 Bonus Entries For Each Link. The  Contest Will End June 28, 2023, at 11:59 PM CST The Winner Will Be Chosen By Random.org The Winner Will Be Notified By Email and Will Be Posted Here In The Sidebar. Read the full article

[thetarotman]

"Cat About Town," by Cate Conte

[binches-incorporated]

Life has been so busy, I went on a trip to the “big city” (big by Alaska standards, anyway) and haven’t had time to be on social media. I’m finally back home and back to the ‘gram! While I was in the city I made sure to hit up @barnesandnoble and get some new books! 🖤📚🗺 . . . #bookishbitchblog #books #travel #barnesandnoble #bookhaul #fiction #cozymystery #nonfiction #truecrime #bookworm #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #thekilljar #jreubenappelman #thebodykeepsthescore #besselvanderkolk #thesparrow #marydoriarussell #reading #thesecrethistoryofwitches #louisamorgan #purrdershewrote #cateconte https://www.instagram.com/p/BonLq8THrSK/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=7ctov4x2yfne