Cats have had a long tradition of showing up in mystery novels. Cats seem mysterious and self-contained. Unlike dogs who become a part of our family, cats stand above and judge. They seem a perfect addition to a mystery. There has been a long line of famous authors with cats as major players in their novels including: Shirley Rousseau Murphy, Lilian Jackson Braun, Rita Mae Brown, Cate Conte, T.C. LoTempio, Leann Sweeney, and Claire Donally.

Reading right now:

The Cat in the Stacks series by Miranda James revolves around Librarian Charlie Harris and his Maine coon cat Diesel. In his eleventh book in the series called “The Pawful Truth,” the duo goes back to college only to have a fellow student end up dead.

On hold right now:

Sofie Kelly’s Magical Cats series is about a librarian in Minnesota who adopts or is adopted by two stray cats. She quickly discovers that they can magically help her solve crimes. In the eleventh novel “A Night’s Tail,” Librarian Kathleen Paulson finds herself helping her brother who is a suspect in the death of a businessman interested in investing in the town.

In Laurie Cass’s Bookmobile Cat mystery series, librarian Minnie Hamilton and her tabby friend Eddie drive a bookmobile around the county and, not only find readers, but crimes to solve as well. In her seventh novel “Booking the Crook,” one of Minnie’s favorite patrons doesn’t show up to pick up her books and Minnie finds her dead in her driveway. Now its time for Minnie and Eddie to solve the mystery.

Kathi Daley has written many mysteries and now she has a new series called the “Cat in the Attic” series. The first book is called “The Curse of Hollister House” and revolves around Calliope Rose Collins returning to her childhood home to find her old friend Officer Cass Wylander wrapped up in a murder investigation. Calliope, Cass, and Alastair the cat work to solve the murder.

Other Mysterious Things:

Coming out in January 2020 is Sofie Ryan’s sixth book in the Second Chance Cat mystery series “No Escape Claws.” Many mystery authors are still writing cat themed mysteries including Clea Simon, Rita Mae Brown, Shirley Rousseau Murphy, and Dixie Lyle so if you love cats, you might just love these mysteries.