Paw and Order

Sheila is grieving the death of her husband Fred. She honors his memory by moving to Paradise Cove, to the home where they'd planned to live out their golden years. Unbeknownst to Sheila, her cat Whiskers is mourning the loss of his crime-solving partner. Fred was a detective, and he and Whiskers had worked out a code so that Whiskers could help solve cases. And his crime-solving skills are put to the test not long after they move to Paradise Cove. There's a murder in the town (the first ever), and Sheila is the prime suspect.

This is a charming read! I'm not quite Sheila's age, but I'm old enough that I can understand how hard it might be for her to start over after decades married to her husband. She's a relatable and very likable main character, and I wanted to see her build a happy life in Paradise Cove, even if Fred wasn't there with her.

And Detective Whiskers! I'm a cat person, and he has utterly won my heart. He's smart and persistent and willing to do whatever it takes to clear Sheila's name. People can't understand him (even Sheila doesn't know the code that Fred and Whiskers shared), but he can communicate with other animals in the neighborhood. Having the story unfold through the animals' eyes makes for an engaging read.

If you love a good cozy mystery and cats, you'll want to read Paw and Order. Five paws up from me!