So, you say you love cats… And even more, you love your cozy mysteries with cats… Not just a cat purring at your side while you read your cozies… But a cat (or maybe two or three!) in your cozy mysteries. Then, here is a list of books that might just interest you, the cozy-cat lover…
Avery Aames writes the Cheese Shop Mystery Series, which has a Ragdoll cat (Rags)…
Lydia Adamson writes the Alice Nestleton Mystery series. Alice is not only an actress, but also a cat sitter. When not acting, she is sleuthing. Adamson also writes a veterinarian/sleuth series (Dr. Nightingale.)
Garrison Allen writes the Big Mike Mystery Series…
Marian Babson seems to have a way of entwining cats into almost all of her books! She is definitely a cat lover!
Lorna Barrett (aka L. L. Bartlett) writes the Booktown Mystery Series which has Miss Marple, as in a cat, not a Christie heroine.
With her series named Reigning Cats and Dogs, how could you wonder if Cynthia Baxter has cats in her cozies? Her main character, Jessica Popper, is a veterinarian who truly loves cats (and dogs!)
An author who I absolutely knew I had to include is Lillian Jackson Braun. She writes the Cat Who*** Mysteries, or, as others call them, the Jim Qwilleran Mysteries. There are over thirty books (in the series) which have been written since the 1960s. Jim Qwilleran is a journalist, and Koko and Yum Yum are his beloved cats, who help him to solve mysteries.
When I first started thinking about doing this blog entry about cozies with the cat theme, there were a few authors who simply leapt to mind. Amongst them was Rita Mae Brown, with her Mrs. Murphy Mysteries. Mrs. Murphy and Pewter are two cats in this cozy "tail" and Tucker is a corgi. The three of them "help" the humans solve crimes.
Edie Claire writes the Leigh Koslow Mystery Series. While Leigh is not a veterinarian, her father is. Every once in a while Leigh works as a tech at her dad's office. Also, the second book features a zoo vet and setting.
Susan Conant, widely known for her dog lover series, has a first in her Cat Lover's Mystery series! That's a great addition for the cat fanciers out there.
Krista Davis writes the Domestic Diva Mystery Series, which features Mochie – and owner Sophie Winston.
What list of Cat Cozies would be complete without Carole Nelson Douglas? Douglas writes the Midnight Louie Mysteries, some of which include "his human" Temple Barr. But, Midnight Louie also has some novels without Temple! Carole Nelson Douglas also has a book: White House Pet Detectives: Tales of Crime and Mystery at the White House from a Pet's Eye View.
Yasmine Galeron (aka India Ink) includes cats in some of her Chintz 'n China Mysteries.
Rebecca M. Hale is a patent lawyer who writes the Cats and Curios Mystery Series. This series features a main character/sleuth who is the owner of an antique shop and also an accountant. She has two pets… cats!
Carolyn Hart's Death on Demand has a cat both at home (Dorothy L), as well as in the bookstore (Agatha).
While attending law school, Gabriella Herkert became aware of a case which involved a woman whose will benefited her cat. (Hmmmm…) The cat became the recipient of a fortune and Herkert (years later) used this case as the basis of her first Animal Instinct Mystery Series novel…
Suzette A. Hill writes the Reverend Oughterard Mystery Series. Bouncer (his dog) and Maurice (his cat) enjoy the British village life, even with all of the mysteries to solve…
Miranda James (aka Dean James, Honor Hartman, & Jimmie Ruth Evans) writes the Cat in the Stacks Mystery Series which features a librarian and her very well-behaved cat, Diesel…
Linda O. Johnston writes the Pet Rescue Mystery Series which features an animal advocate who runs a pet rescue agency…
Sofie Kelly writes the Magical Cats Mystery Series which features two magical cats and their librarian human…
Laura Levine pens the Jaine Austen Mystery Series which features Jaine and Prozac, her cat…
A site reader just reminded me about Valerie S. Malmont's Tori Miracle Mystery Series…
Evan Marshall writes the Jane Stuart & Winky Mystery Series…
Gilbert Morris writes the Jacques & Cleo, Cat Detective Mystery Series which features Jacques and Cleo, and their human care-taker (they don't consider her their "owner"!) … and is set in Alabama.
Shirley Rousseau Murphy's Joe Grey cat mystery series…. Just another example of a mystery series with a cat theme!
Allison Cesario Paton: Mrs. Bundle Mystery Series… This senior citizen/sleuth loves her cat, Cracker…
Clea Simon writes the Theda Krakow Mystery Series which features Musetta, Theda's (and Clea's real life!) cat… Simon also pens the Dulcie Schwartz Mystery Series…
Fran Stewart writes the Biscuit McKee and Marmalade Mystery Series…
Leann Sweeney writes the Cats in Trouble Mystery Series…
And, last but not least… Karen Ann Wilson writes the Samantha Holt Mystery series, which features Samantha, a veterinary technician.
Martin H. Greenberg is the editor of several mystery anthologies featuring cats:
Cat Crimes
Cat Crimes 2
Cat Crimes 3
Cat Crimes through Times
Cat Crimes takes a Vacation
Cat Crimes for the Holidays
Black Cats and Broken Mirrors
Danger in D. C. : Cat Crimes in the Nation's Capital
Murder Most Feline: Cunning Tales of Cats and Crimes
A Treasury of Cat Mysteries
Feline and Famous: Cat Crimes Goes Hollywood
Crafty Cat Crimes: 100 Tiny Cat Tale Mysteries
Miscellaneous Cats Caught in Cozies and Other Mysteries:
Kittens, Cats and Crimes Anthology, edited by Ed Gorman
Feline Felonies: 43 Cat Crime Stories from the World's Best Mystery Writers, edited by Abigail Browning
Mystery Cat Tales of Felonies and Felines Patricia Highsmith et al Ruth Rendell
Mystery Cats..Lillian Jackson Braun, and others
More Mystery Cats… Lillian Jackson Braun, and others
Mystery Cats 3: More Feline Felonies… Lillian Jackson Braun, and other
Not a Mystery, but Sure Does Look Interesting for Cat Lovers:
Do Cats Always Land on Their Feet?: 101 of the Most Perplexing Questions Answered about Feline Unfathomables, Medical Mysteries and Befuddling Behaviors by Marty Becker & Gina Spadafori.
♦To access more Cozy Mysteries by Theme click on this link.♦
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Please don’t forget Shirley Rousseau Murphy’s Joe Grey Mystery series when it comes to cat cozies.
Joyce,
I’m so glad you reminded me of Shirley Rousseau Murphy’s Joe Grey Mystery series. I haven’t read any of the Joe Grey books yet, but just added Murphy to my authors’ list (I believe) last month…
Garrison Allen has a cozy mystery series that features Mycroft,"Big Mike", a 25 pound Abyssinian cat who loves to eat lima beans and who helps to solve mysteries with his person, Penelope Warren.
Thanks, Reba, for telling us about Garrison Allen’s cozy mystery series. I had to look up an "Abyssinian" cat… For those of you (like me) who don’t know the breed… they look like the cats depicted in the Egyptian art from long ago…
I’ve not read them yet, but Evan Marshall has a series called Jane Stuart and Winky. Winky is a cat.
Alicia,
Thanks for letting me know about Evan Marshall. Another author to add to the cat mystery page.
Thanks, again!
Does anyone know why Lilian Jackson Braun’s new book “The Cat Who Smelled Smoke” has not been published? It was due out in April 2008. Barnes and Noble has no record of it.Thank you.
Please don’t forget Linda Stewart’s Sam the Cat Mystery series when it comes to cat cozies.
Thanks, Konnie, for the recommendation!
Leann Sweeney’s new Cats in Trouble series comes out in 1909. The first book is The Cat, the Quilt and the Corpse.
Thank you so much, Konnie, for letting us know about Leann Sweeney’s new Cats in Trouble Mystery Series. It looks like The Cat, the Quilt and the Corpse is coming out in May 2009.
Don’t forget the Tori Miracle Series when it comes to cat cozies. She’s a novelist who has two cats.
You’re right, Konnie! I just added Valerie S. Malmont to the list. Thanks for reminding me…
Don’t forget Jeffrey Miller’s Questing Cat series when it comes to cat cozies.
Thanks, Konnie, for the recommendation. I see that his latest books is Murder’s Out of Tune and his latest is Murder on the Rebound.
Thanks, again……..
Doug Allyn has a series about a veterinarian with a one eyed cat. The first book is called All Creatures Dark and Dangerous and the second book is called The Burning of Rachel Hayes.
Thanks for telling us about Allyn’s series…
Amelia Peabody mysteries by Elizabeth Peters…(The character Amelia, an Egyptologist, owns several large overbearing cats that often figure in the books.
Clea Simon has a new feline mystery series called Dulcie Schwartz,. The first book is called Shades of Grey.
Thanks, Konnie, for reminding me to add the Dulcie Schwartz Mystery Series to the above entry.
I just discovered your site. All I have to say is THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. Finally one spot for me to check in on my favorite authors and to find new ones. You have my undying gratitude. I plan on being back over and over again.
This is my first visit to this website…WoW…I love it. My favorites are the Joe Grey series, the Sneaky Pie Brown series and Lillian Jackson Braun…believe I have read all of those and many others on the list. I will be visiting this site again and again…Thanks so much!
Welcome to the site, Pat!
Let me see, I sense that you are a cat lover! You listed three of the most popular cat mystery series as your favorites. You have a lot of company here!
Need more of Joe Grey – more, more, more!!
Thank you Konnie for the Tips!
The Booktown mysteries by Lorna Barrett feature a much loved kitty named Miss Marple.
Thanks, Alicia, I just added Lorna Barrett to the Cozy Mystery Cat Theme…
Thank you introducing me to new cat mystery writers.
I will have to read and add them to my collection of cat books.
Pauline, there are certainly a lot of cat mystery authors out there to pick from… I hope you are able to find a few who you really enjoy!
I love that I found this website! My son is blind but loves Cozy Mysteries with Cats. However, he cannot see to read, we usually get CDs. Does anyone know of an author who fits this criteria?
Bee, here is a post about books on tape. I’m not sure if I am answering your question, but if I’m not, let us know.
Be sure to read Martha’s comment from Feb. 9, 2011.
I see the last post was awhile ago but I just discovered this web page, & thank you for it!
A series I enjoy is written by Blaize Clement. (adventures of a pet sitter in the Florida Keys)
Tamara, I have Blaize Clement listed in the Pet Store and Pet Sitting theme. I know she has a lot of faithful fans.
Hi. I don’t know if you know about Blaize Clement. Her main character Dixie Hemingway is a pet sitter. In the course of her pet sitting duties she usually stumbles upon a crime, which she then helps to solve. She has a cat herself, but the cat does not help her solve the crimes.
Thank you, Karen. I have Blaize Clement under the Pet Store and Pet Sitting theme.
I might have missed it ~ but there is a cute cat featured in Joanne Fluke’s books. I think the cats name is Moshie?
~Melissa =)
Please add the new “A Magical Cats Mystery” series bySofie Kelly .
Many greetings from Vienna from a new fan of your site!!
I just added Sofie Kelly to the Kittens, Cats, and Cozies cat theme mysteries list, Martina.
Does anyone know of a book about a fellow who is magically turned into a cat? I believe it’s contemporary in time. The book would have been published more than 9 years ago.
Anyone with a hint, please let me know! Thanks!
And I will try out the Sofie Kelly books!
Michelle, I will post your question about a man who turns into a cat in a future entry…
Just found a new author, Ali Brandon, whose book series, Black Cat Bookshop Mystery, comes out in December this year. Her Black cat is named Hamlet. She might be a good author for this site.
Thanks, Marlene, for telling us about Ali Brandon.
Rita Mae Brown & Sneaky Pie Brown a Mrs. Murphy mystery series is even better than The Cat Who books which I love and miss Lillian Jackson Braun, she was amazing.
That’s quite a Rita Mae Brown endorsement, Lisa!
Just to keep your list of cat cozies going I’m adding a couple new authors I didn’t see on the list.
Caroline Burnes 20 books published with a cat named Familiar
Yasmine Galenorn she has occasional cat mysteries also.
Enjoy this site. Thanks
Thank you, Linda, for telling us about Caroline Burnes! (And, I’ll go add Yasmine Galenorn to the list of Cat theme mystery authors.)
I cannot believe I just looked at this post. Yes, I do love cats! But I figured since I knew all the Authors who write about cats, I was good and wouldn’t find anything new. But I see you also include Authors who add cats as main characters like Lorna Barrett and Miss Marple in the Book Town Mysteries.
I have not started my Cheese Shop Mysteries yet, I was not aware she had a cat included but I was happy to see it here; so I guess I did learn something new.
I would like to add my most favorite Author and my most favorite series: Krista Davis has a cat in her Domestic Diva Series, Mochie, who is based on one of her own actual cats. Mochie has been quite important in some of her plots. She also has a dog named Daisey.
And of course, Carolyn Hart has the beloved Book Store Cat Agatha and the ever present House Cat Dorothy L in her Annie Darling, Death on Demand Series.
But I could go on and on. Amazing how many cozy mysteries have cats and dogs. Especially cats, it just seems cats, female sleuths and mysteries make a little formula of their own. But this formula I don’t mind and as Cat Mom I like to see others who appreciate them. And it is funny when you find so many Cozy Mysteries Authors who themselves own cats.
Margaret, I’m glad you finally found the Cat Mystery Theme!
When I first put up the page (in 2007) I wasn’t aware there were (are) so many authors who write mystery series which feature cats.
I’ll go add Krista Davis (and Mochie!) to the list, as well as Agatha and Dorothy L From Carolyn Hart’s Death on Demand Mystery Series.
I love the Midnight Louie books by Carole Nelson Douglas – so glad she’s on the list. I’m a big Damon Runyon fan, so Midnight Louie’s style really appeals to me.
How about Cat Mysteries on Kindle? I see a new set called the Fancy Cat Mysteries that are Kindle only – set on an Island off the coast of Maine. How cozy can you get?
Thank you, Mary, for telling us about Joann Fantina’s Fancy Cat Mysteries on the Kindle. Here is the list of books:
Fancy That
Fancy’s Silo
Fancy’s Church
Fancy’s War
I see that they are currently FREE to borrow for Amazon Prime members, and for non Prime members each of them currently sell for $2.25.
You all know that Lillian Jackson Braun died several years ago when she was in her 90s. I read somewhere that she left some plot outlines which her publisher had someone else write the books. Unfortunately, they have probably run out of her notes by now.
That’s interesting, Cherri. In my opinion, when an author passes away who has as many fans as Lilian Jackson Braun has, I don’t think another author is ever quite able to continue the series. But, again, this is just my opinion.
Danna, I agree with you. I think if a Publishing House has a ghost writer take over for a much loved author who passes away, it is an insult to the readers. I have seen when actual manuscripts have been found and released, but outlines are different. I think a real fan could tell the difference in the tone of the writing.
I always wondered about NANCY DREW, since there were so many different ghost writters, if fans noticed a difference in the writting. Although I was fan as a girl, I only read the books written during my teenage years, so I couldn’t compare with those written in other decades. But some people follow the series for decades. Could an editor do that good of a job and keep the tone the same?
In my opinion just let Lillian Jackson Braun rest in peace.
Margaret, this reminds me about the new Robert B. Parker mysteries that are either out already or due to be out soon:
Michael Brandman has written Robert B. Parker’s Killing the Blues (Jesse Stone mystery)
and
Ace Atkins will be releasing Robert B. Parker’s Lullaby (Spenser mystery)
I wonder how Parker’s fans feel about authors taking over the series he created…
J D Crayne has a series of cosies set in a small town in California. Some of them – the Lucky Pierre ones include the cat belonging to a young couple who run a bed and breakfast place.
Thank you, Pauline, for telling us about J. D. Crayne’s Lucky Pierre Mystery Series.
I am absolutely in LOVE with Prozac (Laura Levine). He is so funny!
Thank you, B, for reminding me to add Laura Levine’s Jaine Austen Mystery Series!