A CAT-ASTROPHIC NEIGHBORHOOD by Maryann Shanesy

Fiction, Cozy Mystery (235 pages)

3***

Blurb: Tarsey Quinston, her husband Steve, and their newly adopted cat move to the upscale community of Bluffington Hills, where the neighborhood isn’t as idyllic as they hoped. As the couple settles into their new home and meets their quirky neighbors, they encounter the angry property manager who patrols the neighborhood on a Segway, handing out trash can violations and disrupting the neighborhood yard sale. Tarsey quickly realizes that mystery overshadows the picturesque community. Tarsey finds out that the town seamstress died under suspicious circumstances, and her cat bore a striking resemblance to the one Tarsey has just taken in.Could this be the same cat that belonged to the seamstress, and what really happened to her? As the layers of perfection are peeled away and drama within the Homeowners Association causes uproar between the residents, the property manager and Tarsey’s cat suddenly go missing. Now desperate to find her beloved pet, Tarsey must solve the mystery of what happened to all three of them before there is a CATastrophic situation!

Thoughts: This was a cute cozy mystery that had interesting characters placed in a gated community. There’s a strange woman who rides around on a Segway yelling at everyone and fining them for the smallest infraction of the rules. And feuding neighbors—one who plays steel drums and the other who plays opera—loudly—to drown out the drums. Tarsey and Steve aren’t sure moving to this neighborhood was a good choice. But the best part is the cat who finds them and leads them to the killer.

The only problem I had with the story was the over abundance of fluff and repetition. There was one 3-page section that could have been summed up in one sentence. There’s actually quite a few places like this. But overall, this was a cute story with a satisfying ending.

Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”