Meow

The kitschy fun of the first urban fantasy in the Catnip Assassins series from MacKinnon (Stolen by Them) more than makes up for any flaws in the plotting. In an alternate present-day British city teeming with shape-shifters, but without cars, computers, or guns, the sinister Pack works to put all shape-shifters under its control, whether or not they join willingly. When a mysterious stranger offers to remove the collar that keeps fierce jaguar-shifter Kat enslaved to the Pack, she eagerly accepts despite ambiguous strings attached. Kat uses her newfound freedom to launch Meow, a business specializing in contract killing. When a man hires Meow to find his brother’s killer, Kat initially protests that the case is outside of her wheelhouse, but a blank check and permission to kill the murderer when she finds him persuade her to take the job. As more bodies turn up, Kat and her spy network comprising the city’s stray cats discover that the murderer is targeting shifters. The procedural plot is somewhat muddled, but provides a welcome excuse to visit a promising, expansive new universe. This delightful paranormal mystery is perfect for fans of Nalini Singh. (Self-published)