Coming to Mayville Heights to be the head librarian, and supervise the renovations to the library building, was the first spontaneous thing I‘d done in my life. I love my mom and dad and my younger brother and sister, Ethan and Sara, but all four of them are very dramatic people. Mom and Dad are actors. My mother once picked me up from school dressed as Lady Macbeth. My father re-enacted the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet on the fire escape. In January. (Yes, in tights and a doublet.)
And things had fallen apart with Andrew, handsome, charming Andrew. I thought we were going to spend the rest of our lives together. Then we had a fight and he went on a two-week fishing trip with his buddies and came back married to a waitress from a fifties dinner. The fact that there was a lot of alcohol involved didn’t really change what had happened.
I guess what I did was run away from my life in Boston. Now, I can’t imagine not being in Mayville Heights. The library is busier than many library systems twice our size. I get to do a little of everything from answering questions to ordering new books. Our Reading Buddies program is being copied all over the state. Abigail’s podcasts about children’s books—her specialty—are being downloaded by parents across the country. And best of all, our borrowing numbers are up. People are reading more.
I spend my days surrounded by books. I can go on safari, travel back in time, or explore Mars without ever leaving the building. For me, there’s something a little bit magical about books. Abigail is an expert on books for young people. Susan can tell you anything you want to know about science fiction. Mary’s area of expertise is craft and cookbooks. I know a little about a lot of things.
Seeing the kinds of things people read, and what music they like to listen to, gives me insight into who they really are as people. All those years of hanging out with actors, watching them use subterfuge to turn into someone else, has helped me be able to separate fact from fiction, reality from artifice. Detective Marcus Gordon says I deal in feelings while he deals with facts. I wonder what he’d say if he knew I don’t just rely on my own intuition when I’m trying to solve a mystery, I also rely on my cats’ instincts.
Owen and Hercules aren’t your typical house cats. I found them out at Wisteria Hill, the old Henderson estate, when they were just kittens. Sometimes I think it was them who found me. Owen is a gray tabby with a thing for catnip chickens. Hercules is a tuxedo cat that shares my love for Barry Manilow’s music. They both seem to have a nose for sniffing out clues. That’s not the only special “ability” the boys have. Let’s just say there’s something magical about Owen and Hercules. In fact, I think there’s something a little magical about Mayville Heights, too.
** Thanks to the Sofie, I have one (1) copy of COPYCAT KILLING to give away. Contest open to residents of the US and Canada only. Contest ends May 2. Leave a valid-email address with your comment. Book will be shipped directly from the author. **
Meet the author
Sofie Kelly is the pseudonym of award-winning young adult writer, Darlene Ryan. As Sofie, she writes the New York Times bestselling Magical Cats mysteries. The next book in the series, COPYCAT KILLING will be available May 1st. Visit Sofie at www.sofiekelly.com
Books are available at retail and online booksellers.
This looks to be a fun series and I’m looking forward to reading it.
mary-fairchild@sbcglobal.net
I would love to win a copy of this book. Thank you for the chance.
griperang at embarqmail dot com
I enjoy this series and love the cats…walking through walls or turning invisible…what a novel idea! Can’t wait for their next adventure. kuzlin(at)aol(dot)com.
This sounds like a great series! I would love to start reading it! Thank you for the giveaway!
mittens0831 at aol dot com
This is a real fun series and love Owen and Hercules.
nlb1050(at)yahoo(dot)com
This sounds like a magically wonderful series!
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com
This is a new series to me. I would love to get into it. I agree – there is something magical about books!
I love that the cats help solve the mystery and that the main character is a librarian. Would really enjoy reading this one.
CarolNWong(at)aol(at)aol(dot)com
A crime-solving, cat-loving librarian. Just the sort of companion one would want at the beach this summer. Please enter my name in the draw for the chance to win a copy.
carlscott(at)prodigy(dot)net(dot)mx
Thanks!
One of my favorite places is the library and mysteries that involve librarians are the best. I haven’t read this series yet but I intend to. I’ve added it to my book list and looking forward to meeting Kathleen. Thanks for the intro and the chance to win!
jrobinson12 (at) austin (dot) rr (dot) com
Hello Everyone! Thank you for the warm welcome and thanks to Dru for inviting me to visit.
Hey I like the story so far little sad but I hope I WIN! 🙂
Cozies, libraries, and cats—the perfect combination. Thanks for the giveaway.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Cozies, libraries, and cats—the perfect combination.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Saounds like a Great book.
Love books! Love cats! Thanks for the chance to win a book! (will a cat come with it??)
Pauley.beth@gmail.com
would love to win this next book in the series!!!! thank you for the giveaway!!!
cyn209 at juno dot com
This book “had me” at the words “head librarian.” It just sounded better and better from there. Count me in! Thanks.
judydee22002 at yahoo dot com
I love cat mysteries and I have a bunch of cats. Sounds like a good book but why is it that in so many series the main characters are coming out of a bad relationship with someone who done ’em wrong? I guess I’d like them to be in a good relationship, but then again I like things to be happy.
spookycat72(at)gmail(dot)com
I popped by for the blurb about Victoria’s book and read this and thought, I must enter, this sounds like a great book! I have two cats myself and love cozy mysteries, and yes, I will admit to liking Barry Manilow music as well (I am giving my age away here!). Please enter me in the contest at scrapgirl1467 at yahoo dot com. Thanks SO much!
Maureen
contest is closed.