The Black Cat Knocks on Wood by Kay Finch is the second book in the “Bad Luck Cat” mystery series. Publisher: Penguin Random House, July 2016

The author of Black Cat Crossing is back as mystery novelist Sabrina Tate and her cat Hitchcock find themselves roped into another dangerous murder case. . .

Sabrina finds it difficult to work on her latest suspense novel when her Aunt Rowe’s antics keep tying up her thoughts. This time Rowe and her fun-loving friends have decided to compete in the upcoming Texas Hill Country Senior Pro Rodeo. The problem is these women have little to no experience with lassos, bulls, or even horseback riding.

Before Sabrina can keep the stubborn seniors from mounting their steeds, she’s sidetracked by a bigger problem. An uppity local business owner is found dead in an accident—right after a black cat was seen in her office. While the townsfolk think the bad luck cat has struck again, Sabrina suspects there might be something more murderous afoot. With a twisted killer on the loose, she’ll have to round up clues quickly before she or her aunt are steered straight into the path of danger. . .

This fast-paced and well-crafted drama immediately grabbed my attention and I could not put this book down until it was all said and done. What a great the job the author did in presenting this mystery that was set-up perfectly to keep me enjoying all that was happening in Lavender, Texas, especially the antics of Hitchcock. I liked that every time I thought I had a handle on the killer, the author changed direction with some surprising twists that enriched the telling of this tale. With a great cast of characters, engaging dialogue and a comfortable feel, this was a terrific read and I look forward to the next book in the delightfully charming series.