A Purrfect Alibi by Leighann Dobbs

A Purrfect Alibi by Leighann Dobbs
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 219

Publisher - Bookouture

Source - Review copy

Blurb from Goodreads

Fortune tellers and mediums have descended on the Oyster Cove Guesthouse, determined to solve the mystery of local seafarer Jedediah Biddeford’s murder 300 years ago... especially if it leads them to the treasure he buried on the guesthouse grounds. New owner Josie Waters has suddenly got bigger problems than burning the breakfasts: she’s up to her elbows in tarot cards and tea leaves…

When one of the mediums is found dead with an ominous note nearby, everything points to Jedediah’s ghost being the culprit. Suddenly, Josie finds that the fate of her guesthouse depends on not one murder but two, and she’s not going to rely on a crystal ball for answers. Despite the fact that cookbooks and candlesticks keep mysteriously falling off tables, Josie is sure there’s no such thing as ghosts. But guesthouse cats Nero and Marlowe know better…

Aided by her mom and eccentric family friend Millie, Josie sets out to prove the identity of the killer without summoning any spirits. Luckily Nero and Marlowe know the truth about ghosts, ghouls and things that go bump in the night and they are on the case! Can they make Josie realize she is scratching up the wrong tree before the killer strikes again?



My Review

I came to this series with book two, I still need to read the first one but this picks up from pretty much where book two left off. I would advise reading book two as so many characters from that book are in this one and totally relevant to just about everything in this book.


We are back at the Oyster Cove Guesthouse, after the body of Jedediah Biddeford’s was uncovered (he went missing 300 years ago) a bunch of mediums and psychics have descended to solve the murder or more likely, find clues of his hidden treasure. Tensions are high, Josie Waters - the new owner of Oyster Cove is glad of the business but just wants to get by with no murders, mayhem or trouble.

When one of the group is murdered Josie finds the police and press and her place, business is under threat and she is in fear of her loan being pulled. Her resident cats Nero and Marlowe are at the ready to help the clueless humans as well as a ghost this time!

I do love this wee series, the cats get some chapters too where they discuss the ongoing investigation, the police one and their own. Whilst this may be off putting for some I absolutely love it, I love animals and these two and their wee pals trying to help the clueless humans - whats not to love.

These books remind me of murder she wrote, a fair few suspects along the way, some personal aspects and there isn't gore or anything. Just a bit of crime with some attitudey cats and lets not forget Josie's mum and her pal who do a bit of amateur investigating of their own.

This wee book has everything, murder, secrets, lies, a ghost, investigating cats, meddling relatives, psychics and ever searching for Jedediah's treasure (from the previous book). 4/5 for me this time, this is absolutely a series I will be following and hope it runs for years.

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A Whisker in the Dark by Leighann Dobbs

Today is my turn on the blog tour for A Whisker in the Dark by author Leighann Dobbs, for my stop I have my review.



About the author



USA Today bestselling author, Leighann Dobbs, discovered her passion for writing after a twenty year career as a software engineer. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband Bruce, their trusty Chihuahua mix Mojo and beautiful rescue cat, Kitty. Her book “Dead Wrong” won the “Best Mystery Romance” award at the 2014 Indie Romance Convention. Her book “Ghostly Paws” was the 2015 Chanticleer Mystery & Mayhem First Place category winner in the Animal Mystery category.

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A Whisker In The Dark by Leighann Dobbs
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 233

Publisher - Bookouture

Source - Review copy

Blurb from Goodreads

Discovering the 300-year-old skeleton of shipping tycoon Jedediah Biddeford in the ballroom wall is a big old hassle for Josie Waters, owner of the Oyster Cove Guesthouse. Especially when Biddeford’s descendants turn up, certain that a family legend about treasure buried nearby must be true.

Josie is too busy dreaming up the perfect cake for the Oyster Cove’s 250th anniversary celebration to worry about the Biddeford family – plus half the town – digging up her yard... until one of her guests is murdered in the guesthouse garden.

With worries that her guesthouse will get a reputation for being the kind of place you only leave in a body bag, Josie must put her detective skills to work to find the killer. Lucky for her, Nero and Marlowe and their gang of cat sleuths are also on the case.

From the old wharf, to the town common, to the guesthouse itself with its many nooks and crannies, the cats are sure to sniff out the killer… but can they help Josie stop the person behind the mysterious murder before they strike again?

A fantastic page-turner from a bestselling author, purrfeect for fans of Agatha Christie, Adele Abbott, cat lovers and everyone in between!

Readers absolutely love the Oyster Cove Guesthouse series!


My Review

So this is book two of the Oyster Cove Guesthouse series, I have never read this author before but I don't feel I missed out by starting here. Josie Waters owns the guesthouse and is still finding her feet getting into the routine, cooking (without ruining the food) and a bit of a revamp going on. During which a skeleton is uncovered, this isn't the first time a body has been found in the guesthouse but this one is a few hundred years old and may be a relation to her current guests. Add to that there is a rumour of treasure bringing everyone and their shovels to Josie's yard to dig.

So the chapters alternate between Josie and her cats, Nero and Marlowe, the cats love a good investigation but how do they communicate with the silly humans? The cats speak to each other and do their own thing whilst Josie tries to keep on top of the challenges presented by running a guest house, looking after visitors, small town rumours, personal life and of course a murder mystery.

I loved the cat chapters, it won't be for everyone but I have read a few books with animals being characters and their point of views. They bring a bit of furry humour and sass which as a cat lover totally appeals to me. With them investigating along with the humans it was reminiscence of my Scoobie Doo days and the gang investigating only the humans in this don't realise the cats are awesome and helping.

There is a lot of family issues, friendships, police investigation, red herrings and I loved the overall feel of it was like watching a Murder She Wrote. You think one thing then something changes so you think you have it figured then something else makes you re evaluate. I love when a book does that and I think I am now a fan of cozy mysteries, sure this is the first one I have read.

I will absolutely be checking out the other books by this author and hope little paws are in them all, it is very cute but doesn't take away from the murder/investigation parts of the story, in fact for me it added to it. 4/5 for me this time, first dance with Dobbs but it won't be my last!

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