Ghostly Paws (Mystic Notch Cozy Mystery Series) Paperback – March 13, 2014

I was a fan of Lilian Jackson Braun's "Cat Who..." series when I was younger. My Mom and I shared the books. Mom has passed on, and reading this series has made me feel a connection to her because I think she would have enjoyed them as much as Braun's cat mysteries. Tea, quaint town, cats, mysteries - what's not to like? The additional paranormal aspect adds an interesting twist to the genre.

When I bought this I bought the audio too from audible. Decent book the climax could use a little better explanation but the audio was good nice character voices and not grating w some of the voices but great modulation between different characters!!!

From my Goodreads account: Ghostly Paws (Mystic Notch Cozy Mystery #1)by Leighann DobbsI was attracted to this book by the promise of a little magic, a little mystery, a little romance and some awesome cat participation. And it delivered in spades.I've long been a fan of "cat" mystery series. First, I was devoted to the Lilian Jackson Braun "Cat Who" series which Braun wrote until her death a few years back. Then there was a series by Lydia Adamson, which seemingly petered out several years ago, but which I see is now being re-issued in paperback. Those led me to Midnight Louie (Carol Nelson Douglas) and the gang at the Crystal Ritz, and to Joe and Dulcie and Kit of the Joe Grey mysteries (Shirley Rousseau Murphy), Mrs Murphy, et al (Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown), and, most recently, to the Magical Cat mysteries (Sofie Kelly), the Black Cat Bookshop mysteries (Ali Brandon), and the Cat in the Stacks mysteries (Amanda James). Some, like Braun, Brandon, James and Adamson's series, featured your regular everyday cat. Others featured animals that could communicate with each other, but not with humans -- like the Brown and Kelly series. Midnight Louie communicates with humans only as one of the narrators of his stories; in the novels he cannot communicate with humans and is seen by them as just a regular cat. However, Murphy takes the communicating cat to a new level in her books about cats of an ancient race who can speak and think and reason just like humans, although they must be very careful which humans with which to share these talents. Dobbs marries almost all of these traits into her Mystic Notch cats, who come from an ancient race and, if the human is properly attuned to them, the cats can communicate not just with each other, but with their humans.Mystic Notch, the heroine, Wilhelmina Chance's hometown, has more going on than your typical New Hampshire village. A popular resort area, it also is home to some very interesting humans and cats. While this first book in the series deals more with introducing the characters who will populate this series, those introductions were laced with just the right touches of intrigue, magic, romance, and the supernatural.In this first book, Willa has recently returned to Mystic Notch after living for several years in the South. Her marriage has collapsed and she is still recovering from an auto accident which left her with a damaged leg and an occasional limp, and also a new ability -- she can see and speak with ghosts. Her Grandmother passed away, leaving Willa her house and bookstore in Mystic Notch. Willa returns and is re-kindling relationships with friends and family, such as her lifelong friend, Pepper, and her sister, Augustus (who also just happens to be Mystic Notch's sheriff). There are, of course, the two ghosts -- Franklin Pierce (yes, the former POTUS) and Robert Frost (yes, THAT Robert Frost) who are permanent residents of her bookstore. The mystery surrounds the suspicious death of Lavinia, the local Librarian. Willa discovers her body at the bottom of the library's staircase early one morning. Of course, Lavinia's ghost wants Willa, who worked in the south as a crime reporter of some repute, to find her killer.Also featured is Pandora, Willa's cat, also inherited from her Grandmother, who is one of several cats in the area who seem to be able to communicate with humans, when said humans have the right abilities.Dobbs does a good job of delivering a straight up mystery that also combines a satisfying helping of fantasy, a big dollop of action, and a promise of romance to come. And yes, I went straight to Amazon and purchased the second book in the series.This was a quick fun read. I started it about 11 pm on a Sunday night, read for about an hour and a half, and then finished it in about an hour and a half the following morning.

Totally loved it and can't wait to read another.

A mystery to solve, unimagined magic to discover, a midlife romance to confuse you.

Synopsis:Middle age can be murder ...At least that’s how it seems to former crime journalist, Wilhelmina Chance, whose near-fatal accident has given her a strange side effect ... she sees ghosts.After a messy divorce sends her fleeing back to her hometown of Mystic Notch, nestled in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Willa finds herself haunted by the tenacious ghost of the town librarian who insists Willa solve her murder.Luckily, she has lots of help, including a quirky cast of small-town characters, the cat she’s inherited from her grandmother, and her best friend, Pepper, who claims her herbal teas can work magic.But just when Willa thinks she’s discovered who the killer is, she finds out that things are not what they seem in Mystic Notch, and the case takes a strange turn that has Willa adding even some of her long-time friends to her suspect list.Can Willa find the real killer in time to keep the magical balance in Mystic Notch on the side of good, or will evil prevail? (Goodreads)Review:The characters are well developed and well rounded. Willa is someone who is not afraid of hard work. Although she is older than most protagonists in cozy mysteries, much of the time she did not act like she was older. She really did not appear to have much experience with men. And although she was a crime journalist at one time in her career, she did not quickly pick up on clues. She did not even think to look for the murder weapon. She just did not seem that realistic to me. I liked her but I really did not believe her.I enjoyed the paranormal aspects to this book. I really like ghost cozy and this one was pretty good. I just wish that there were more interactions between Willa and Lavinia, the ghost that has asked Willa for help. I did enjoy all of the mystical cats and how they worked together to help Willa solve the mystery.The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and I through much of the book, I felt like I was right there, watching the activity going on around me. I enjoyed the enchanting setting of Mystic Notch and would love to go and visit sometime. The mystery was carried on well throughout the book and I did not figure out the killer until it was revealed at the end.I would recommend this book to those readers who enjoy paranormal cozies. If you like mystical cats and a mystical setting, then give this book a try. I will definitely read the other books in the series.

I love stories about cats and magic and how they mix. This is a surprise in a good way throughout.

I loved Wilhelmina Chance, whose near-fatal accident has given her the opportunity to see ghosts, her cat Pandora and the odd assortment of cats and characters who make up the town of Mystic Notch nestled in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Willa has inheirted a book store from her gran and two ghosts.Her sister Augusta the towns no nonsence sheriff objects to Willa's amateur investigations but her former job as an investigative journalist usually see's her in the thick of trouble, especially as the ghosts of murder victims go to her for help.I've read most of these and enjoyed everyone, I hope there will be more.

Love cats, love ghosts, love mysteries - what more can you want. Add a touch of a possible budding romance and a well written story idea with interesting characters , and you've a successful read. Will certainly be downloading the next adventure - need to know how Willa and Striker progress and follow Pandora and her feral furry sleuths. Well worth reading.

Liked the quirky characters, ghosts and cats. All combined to make this cosy mystery a good read.The hint of a romance kindling was a nice add to the story. Not read this author before but would read again.

Willa notices the library lights on as she goes to her book store and the door being open does not bode well. She and her cat investigate and find the librarian dead at the bottom of the steps. Was it an accident?

Just finished the book. Interesting twists in the plot to make you think who had done what and why. Liked the cats, and their involvement in the story line made quite a different read. I do like cozy mysteries as you can sit and chill while reading them. Ideal for a summers day with a cuppa in the garden! But I reckon would be just as good cuddled up by a fire in winter. I will certainly read more by this author.