The gist: Café owner Maddie gets a tall order for a kitty‑themed birthday bash on a tight turnaround. What rich people want, rich people get, am I right? Anyway, the rich lady in question is none other than Olivia McAllister—Maddie’s mother’s childhood BFF, who vanished inexplicably when her family blew out of town after the aunt went missing. That cold‑case mystery is about to be reopened once Maddie and JJ (her ginger kitty sidekick) get on the case! And she’d better get to the bottom of it quickly, because her mother lands in hot water when Olivia ends up dead. Yikes.

What I liked: As always, I loved being swept away to the cozy seaside island. The focal point of the mystery, Mermaid Cottage, is the purrrrrrfect setting for a Halloween‑themed story—with a ghostly kitty and a hidden room to boot.

What irked me: I like my sleuths scrappy and resourceful, but Maddie seems a little too well-connected, with her family of big shots and a lead detective practically in her pocket. I’d also love more scenes in the cat café, which is the main reason I read this series. More kitties, please!

Thoughts on the mystery: I love a good cold‑case mystery, so this is one of my favorite installments thus far. There were plenty of suspects to keep me puzzled, including Olivia’s enigmatic daughter, a sketchy environmentalist charlatan, a quirky local historian, and an odd girl who’s trying to copyCAT Maddie’s business. Sorry—I couldn’t help myself.

Overall: This is a solid whodunnit that kept me guessing until the end. It’s a quick, fun beach read for those of us who need an escape from the reality of our falling democracy.

Thank you, Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the free ARC!