Sleight of Paw: 08/14/21

Sleight of Paw by Sofie Kelly is the second of the Magical Cats mystery series. Agatha Shepherd, a former teacher, is killed in a hit and run. Librarian Kathleen Paulson finds her and decides she has to be the one to solve her murder.

Initially it looks like a case of driving while blackout drunk but Kath stubbornly wants to believe that something else happened. Her investigation is a slow burn, done over the course of many conversations and lots of coffee.

Ultimately the mystery reveals itself to be a complex shell game. Instead of three shells and misdirection, there are five trucks. Frankly I'm surprised the commonality of certain vehicles hasn't come up in more mysteries I've read.

The series is set in Mayville Heights, Minnesota which gives wiggle room to appeal to American and Canadian mystery lovers, much in the same way that so many others are set in "west New York" aka Ontario. Here the joint appeal is hockey, with Kath having experience playing field hockey.

The third book is Copycat Killing (2012).

Five stars

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