Death by a Whisker: A Cat Rescue Mystery

Sydney McCall runs the local Deer Park animal shelter alongside her sister, Kat. The upcoming fundraiser will help them promote their newest kitties thanks to shopping celebrity Ulla Townsend, who has agreed to give a percentage of proceeds to the shelter. Except Ulla has secrets and a past of misdeeds that she highlights in her newest book. When she’s found dead before the fundraiser is over, Sydney suspects foul play, but her detective boyfriend and his new partner have warned her off the case. As the evidence builds up it all points back to her friend, so Sydney turns to her roommate, Leila, and her cat, Toby, to dig into the past. Can she prove her friend’s innocence before it’s too late?

A dazzling charmer, Death by a Whisker has the humor and quirkiness typically found in cozies with a fun feline twist. Sydney is an amateur sleuth with a natural knack for solving mysteries and has a lighthearted personality. She often turns to her cat, Toby, for advice, which has humorous results and gives Sydney a playful attitude. Toby is full of personality and steals every scene he’s in with his feisty spunk and fierce loyalty. The mystery is primarily what drives the plot, but T.C. LoTempio blends in several characters, so there’s a real sense of community. Through Sydney you get to know the characters and want to be in this warm little community. It doesn’t veer far from comical and never feels like Sydney is in true danger. With so many suspects, the real culprit keeps you guessing until the end. LoTempio has a sharp wit and a spunky attitude, which shines through in Sydney, as well as a lighthearted humor. Death by a Whisker is the second book in LoTempio’s Cat Rescue Mystery series.