cover image Murder of the Cat’s Meow: 
A Scumble River Mystery

Murder of the Cat’s Meow: A Scumble River Mystery

Denise Swanson. NAL/Obsidian, $7.99 mass market (272p) ISBN 978-0-451-23781-1

Murder threatens to disrupt the wedding of school psychologist Skye Denison and her police chief fiancé, Wally Boyd, in Swanson’s well-crafted 15th mystery set in Scumble River, Ill. (after 2011’s Murder of a Creped Suzette). Skye’s previous boyfriend’s colorful mom, Bunny Reid, plans to rake in extra money by hosting a combination cat show and cat fanciers’ speed-dating event at her bowling alley, but Skye’s discovery of the strangled corpse of the abrasive show judge in the bowling alley’s basement puts a damper on the proceedings. Meanwhile, Skye wants to exorcise the pesky spirit of her home’s former owner, but she’s distracted by her reporter friend, Spike Yamaguchi, who’s in town investigating rumors of government corruption—and Wally’s appointing her as his backup security for a storage unit auction that ends in unexpected conflict. From normal to nutty, the folks of Scumble River will tickle the fancy of cozy fans. Agent: Laura Blake Peterson, Curtis Brown. (Sept.)