The Pawful Truth

May 20, 2019
James’s entertaining 11th Cats in the Stacks mystery (after 2018’s Six Cats a Slayin’) finds Athena, Miss., librarian Charlie Harris auditing a history course taught by movie-star-handsome professor Carey Warriner at the local college. After the first class, Dr. Warriner calls Charlie over and proposes he take the course for credit. As Charlie is leaving the room, another student, 30-ish Dixie Belle Compton, pushes past him and approaches Dr. Warriner. “What the hell are you doing in my class?” he hears the professor exclaim. The next day, Dixie stops by Charlie’s office to suggest that they, both being “mature” students, become study partners. He rebuffs her, but not before confirming that she and Dr. Warriner have a fraught relationship. When Dixie takes a fatal fall a few days later, Charlie turns amateur sleuth with Dr. Warriner, the prime suspect. Plenty of dishy gossip helps propel this tale of love and deceit. This entry reinforces James’s place in the front rank of cozy authors. Agent: Nancy Yost, Nancy Yost Literary.

Narrator Erin Bennett energetically depicts Athena, Mississippi, a small town filled with endearing and eccentric residents, including librarian Charlie Harris. It's also a place with murders aplenty. Harris decides to indulge his interest in medieval history by auditing a class taught by the charismatic and handsome Carey Warriner. While at school, Harris overhears a heated argument between student Dixie Bell Compton and Warriner, and shortly afterward, Dixie is found dead. Bennett's descriptions of the quaint setting and the luscious food prepared by feisty housekeeper Azalea Berry are atmospheric, and most congenial are the appearances by felines Diesel and Ramses. Bennett's most convincing creation is strong-willed police officer Kanesha Berry, who is alarmed yet impressed when Harris puts himself in danger. S.G.B. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine