A crime gone unsolved for five years . . .
The life of Lulu Lewis, a retired police detective, took an unforgettable turn when Conrad first introduced himself to her. Unforgettable because:
a) Conrad is a special cat.
b) Special because he told her so.
Yes, that’s right, he can talk.
(For obvious reasons, this ability remains a closely guarded secret while they live together on her canal boat, The Lark.)
Visiting an old friend in Manchester, the pair stumble across a chilling news report about a trail of bodies found across the city that echo a string of cold case murders from Lulu’s past in London.
Joining forces with the local police, the pair must use every ounce of their intuition in order to find a connection between the seemingly random killings – and track down a ruthless murderer . . .
What did I think?
I didn't realise that this was the third book in a series when I picked it up but it can totally be read as a standalone because I loved it. I am so pleased that I have found this fabulous cosy mystery series and I plan to read the first two books as I'm missing Conrad and Lulu already.
Lulu might have retired from the police force but she still has a copper's nose and Conrad has a cat's nose for sniffing out criminals too. I absolutely loved the special relationship between Lulu and Conrad and how Conrad travels around on Lulu's shoulders. Conrad is definitely more of a companion than a cat and it feels completely natural for Lulu to have two-way conversations with him.
I really liked the waterway setting that might suggest a gentle pacing but the cosy mystery plotline is so multi-stranded and compelling that I couldn't put the book down, reading it in half the time I expected. It is even bringing a smile to my face now, especially thinking about part of the story when Lulu and Conrad are hot on the tail of a thief.
Completely original and incredibly compelling, The Cat Who Cracked a Cold Case is the cosiest of cosy mysteries. It entertained and delighted me, in addition to warming my heart and leaving a smile on my face. L T Shearer has gained a new fan; I can't wait to read more about Lulu and Conrad. A highly recommended read.
I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
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About the author:
L T Shearer has had a lifelong love of canal boats and calico cats, and both are combined in The Cat Who Caught a Killer, a one-of-a-kind debut crime novel. The story continues with The Cat Who Solved Three Murders and The Cat Who Cracked a Cold Case.
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Thanks for the blog tour support x
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