The Great Catsby

Finished July 1

The Great Catsby by B.K. Baxter

This light and humorous mystery is the first in a series called Nola Tail, featuring librarian Jade Hastings and her cat roommate Sir Chonksworth the Bold (Chonks). They've moved from Baltimore to Beulah, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans, after Jade inherited a house from her Uncle Mike. The house is a large Victorian home, and while Jade has thought about selling it, she loves the details, especially the library, and plans on gradually repairing it and restoring it. 

Jade has been able to get a part-time job at the local library, and is starting up a book club, reading the classics. At her first meeting, she hands out The Great Gatsby, and they have an initial discussion. Most of those that came are genuinely interested in reading, but Tabby, the new young wife of one of the town's wealthiest men, Vince Means, is there because her husband urged her to. 

When Tabby is found dead the following morning, the police focus on Stanley (Taz), the young man working at the grocery store. Even though there is evidence that points to him, Jade is sure that the gentle and kind man couldn't have done the crime and she is determined to find the truth. As she and Chonks dig into the town's social dynamics and history, Jade finds new friends like Charlotte, the vet, and Ethan, a handyman. She also finds herself the newest target of the killer. 

A fun read, with viewpoints from both Jade and Chonks. It is Chonks that really figures things out and is the hero of the book, but he forgives his roommate and the other humans for not having the senses and intellect to figure it out.  

I like the way the authors bring the book from the book club into the plot in an interesting way and, of course, any book with a librarian and cat and the centre is a plus for me.