Mayville Heights Library is in an uproar, as preparations for an upcoming art exhibit have even librarian Kathleen Paulson in a tizzy. The curator, Margo Walsh, keeps demanding changes without including Kathleen in the process and it seems Kathleen can't go a moment without a new issue arising. Unfortunately, someone has their sights set on the centerpiece of the art exhibit and now Kathleen finds herself in the middle of an investigation involving both a murder and a theft. Can Kathleen and her two cats, Owen and Hercules, uncover the culprit?

FAUX PAW is the seventh book in the Magical Cats Mystery series. The murder mystery itself stands alone, but there are a plethora of characters and the various relationships can be a bit overwhelming if you are new to the series. The magical abilities of Kathleen's cats are only briefly explained and I feel I might have better appreciated their involvement if I'd read the earlier books.

I wanted to like the magical cats in FAUX PAW better than I did. Again, I'm new to the series so perhaps readers more familiar with the series will have a better understanding of the magical abilities of Owen and Hercules. For a new reader, however, the magical abilities appeared to be quite understated and subtle, and I'm not sure how the whole disappearing ability plays a role as it definitely wasn't integral to the plot of FAUX PAW.

FAUX PAW is a delightfully whimsical cozy mystery cat lovers are sure to love. I love Kathleen's conversations with Owen and Hercules, particularly when they provide her useful suggestions with an indication of their paws. If you love cats and are looking for a cozy mystery that is slightly magical and quirky, then look no further than FAUX PAW.

Book Summary

Magical cats Owen and Hercules from A Midwinter’s Tail are back and ready to help librarian Kathleen Paulson pounce on a killer art thief…

Normally, the arrival of an art exhibition at the Mayville Heights library would be cause for celebration. But thanks to the overbearing curator and high-tech security system that comes with it, Kathleen’s life has been completely disrupted. Even Owen and Hercules have been affected, since their favorite human doesn’t seem to have a spare moment to make their favorite fish crackers or listen to Barry Manilow.

But when Kathleen stops by the library late one night and finds the curator sprawled on the floor—and the exhibition’s most valuable sketch missing—it’s suddenly time to canvass a crime scene. Now Kathleen, her detective boyfriend Marcus, and her clever cats have to sniff out a murderous thief, before anyone else has a brush with death…