Nine Lives and Alibis

In Conte’s seventh “Cat Café Mystery” (following Gone but Not Furgotten), Maddie James plans a Halloween festival for Daybreak Harbour to rival the events in neighboring Salem, MA. When the event’s headliner, a psychic medium, is pushed over the cliffs near the (possibly haunted) inn where he’s staying, and his black cat goes missing, Maddie and her family must solve the case to get the festival back on track. True to form, this cozy mystery is a fun, engaging read with lots of twists and false flags. Although the cast is sizable, Conte is comfortable with her characters, and readers won’t get confused as she takes time to introduce the important players and gives each one a unique voice. Cat lovers won’t be disappointed: Maddie’s orange tabby JJ is featured heavily and gets to travel around the island with her to help unravel the mystery.