What the Cat Dragged In

Starred review from June 28, 2021
In James’s excellent 14th Cat in the Stacks mystery (after 2020’s Cat Me If You Can), librarian Charlie Harris is surprised to find himself the owner of his grandfather Robert Harris’s farmhouse in Athena, Miss. Robert died in a nursing home over 40 years earlier, and Charlie believed the property was sold shortly before his death. Charlie’s son, Sean, who’s also his lawyer, reveals Robert only leased the home to Martin Hale for the duration of Hale’s own life. With Hale having just died, ownership reverts to Charlie, a shock as well to Hale’s grandson, also named Martin, who expected to inherit it. After Charlie visits the farmhouse, his cat, Diesel, finds a human skull and bones in the attic. Meanwhile, the body of grandson Martin turns up on the property, and the timing of the murder leads Charlie to suspect a connection to the remains in the attic. The solution’s both fair and satisfying, and Charlie is a plausible investigator and the supporting cast realistic. This entry reinforces James’s place in the top rank of cozy authors. Agent: Nancy Yost, Nancy Yost Literary.

Starred review from July 9, 2021

Librarian and archivist Charlie Harris is shocked to learn that he has inherited his grandfather's farm in the fictional Mississippi town of Athena. He thought the place had been sold years ago, but it turns out his grandfather only gave a lifetime lease to a tenant and left the farm to his heir, Charlie. It has been over 40 years since he last visited the farm, so Charlie takes his Maine Coon cat, Diesel, on a ride to see the property. When they explore the attic, Diesel finds a skull, and Charlie finds more bones. The sheriff's department, when Charlie calls them to the farm, are more interested in the body they find under a tree that had come down in a recent storm. Frustrated when he's not included in the sheriff's investigation, Charlie turns to researching his family's history and genealogy, looking for connections to the skeleton or his grandfather's deceased tenant. As the Harris family patriarch, Charlie keeps his relatives informed of the secrets he uncovers. The farmhouse has one more secret to reveal, in an unexplored room that endangers Charlie, who could become the farm's next skeleton. VERDICT The 14th "Cat in the Stacks" mystery (after Cat Me If You Can), with its family stories, descriptions of meals, and two cats, might be the most satisfying in the series for regular readers.--Lesa Holstine, Evansville Vanderburgh P.L., IN

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