Monday, May 4, 2015

Book Review & Giveaway: Hiss and Tell by Claire Donally


In this Sunny & Shadow Mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of Last Licks, a fat-cat wedding is making waves in Kittery Harbor, Maine.

Political heiress Priscilla Kingsbury is about to marry Carson de Kruk, son of business mogul Augustus de Kruk, at the Kingsburys’ waterfront compound. For reporter Sunny Coolidge, an assignment from the Harbor Courier to cover the event is like catnip.

But when Sunny photographs men pulling the body of a dead woman out of the water, the Kingsburys’ private security isn’t happy. They claim the woman’s death was an accident, but the story seems fishy. Now, with a little help from her police officer boyfriend and her cunning cat Shadow, Sunny is determined to get the scoop on a killer.


In this 4th book in the Sunny & Shadow mystery series, Sunny gets a chance to return to her reporter days when she's embedded on a waterfront compound during preparations for a high society wedding. Of course a body turns up and Sunny is thrown right into the midst of chaos. Before it's over a second shocking murder occurs and we're left with the equivalent of a "locked room" mystery on a peninsula cut off from the mainland by a checkpoint and guards.

This has been one of my favorite cat cozy series from the very beginning, and a completely under-rated one at that, but I have to say that I was slightly disappointed in this one. What I love about this series is the relationship between Shadow, Sunny, and Sunny's father Mike who she has returned home to care for following a bad heart attack. Too much of the action in this book took Sunny away from her little family unit, with Mike practically an afterthought, and while Shadow makes his way onto the compound, he and Sunny are apart for much of the book. I still highly recommend the mystery, which had me guessing until the very end, I just hope the next book finds Sunny back home with her family.

The cover art is a hysterical scene straight out of the book, where Shadow helps himself to some hors-d'oeuvre while in the presence of a silly old ailurophobe. Another priceless scene comes following the killer's capture...you won't believe what Shadow does to him/her!!! That Shadow is a cat after my own heart :)

Giveaway: Leave a comment by noon eastern on Friday, May 8th for your chance to win a copy of Hiss and Tell. (US entries only please, and don't forget your email address!)

32 comments:

Jeanetta said...

I haven't read any books by Claire Donally, but I will need to do so. Hiss and Tell sounds like a great book. Thank you for the review and giveaway.
myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com

Teresa Kander said...

I love this series, and can't wait to read this one. Sunny and Shadow are so much fun!

Marsha said...

This looks like a great series I need to start. LOVE the cover! Thanks for the giveaway.
MarshaMysteryreader@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

Love the title; thanks for the chance tow in :)
jslbrown2009 at aol dot com

Hannah and Lucy said...

We hadn't heard of Claire Donally until today and Mum will take a look for her books for us (and her!!).
Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx

katsrus said...

Cute book title and cover. New author to me.
Sue B
katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com

skkorman said...

I love cozy mysteries, especially those in which cats play a significant role—thanks for the chance to win a copy of this book!

skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net

Unknown said...

I love this series and have been looking forward to this book. Thank you for this purrrrrfect contest:)

Unknown said...

But familiar with this series but would love to get a start. Love books with cats and dogs in important roles.

CBarton said...

Love cat mysteries and the scene depicted on the cover, yeah, I can so see my cats doing that!

Two French Bulldogs said...

Sounds like a good book lady
Lily & Edward

NoraA said...

Since I love cats but am deathly allergic to them I make up for it by reading cat-centric cozies. LOL I'd love to add this book to my menagerie.

NoraAdrienne (at) gmail (dot) com

petite said...

What a delightful cat mystery. Thanks. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

traveler said...

Love this cute cozy. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Rita Wray said...

Sounds like a great read.

Unknown said...

This is a new series to me and I would enjoy reading it. Thanks for the opportunity of winning a copy of it. robeader53@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Thanks, Melissa! Count me in! I've been looking forward to Hiss and Tell and love the cover! patucker54 (at aol dot com)

Unknown said...

Not having read the others, I can read this one without the expectation of Mike's activity. Then I can read the rest and enjoy it all!
libbydodd at comcast dot net

templarlady said...

sounds like a great read, hadnt heard of these but they sound like something I will enjoy.thank you for the opportunity to win. jcook22@yahoo.com

Kjelle Bus aka Charlie Rascal said...

LOVE the cover <3

pilch92 said...

This sounds like another great series- good work Truffles :)

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

I'm so addicted to cozy mysteries. How can I resist a title like Hiss and Tell. LOL And the covers are always so whimsical and colorful, just like this one. I'd be thrilled to win!
laurathomas61@att.net

Lola The Rescued Cat said...

Mommy loves your book reviews. She says her kindle wish list is getting long!
Love,
Lola and Lexy

Unknown said...

Sounds like a great book. Makes mes wish mes lived 300 yards further south...
Don't forgets to stops by and enters the Finish the Sentnece Game!
Kisses
Nellie

Kaye Killgore said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kaye Killgore said...

I would like to read this book.

kaye dot killgore at comcast dot net

Barbara T. said...

If I win I will name cat that decided to live here as of yesterday Sunny. Bobbipad@gmail.com

Candace knight said...

This book sounds great.
Moonbay7399@gmail.com

bookwomen said...

I have been enjoying this series too. Happy to see a new one.

gibsonbk at hiwaay dot net

Sue said...

I love the title!! Thanks for the contest.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Mama Cat said...

Truffles, I could never throw you over for Shadow! I have read one of the previous stories in the series, and would sure like to read this one! I haven't had as much experience with Mike and Sunny together, or Shadow and Sunny, but it sounds like a definite harder time for all. Thank you for the review and the chance to win! jeaniedannheim (at) ymail (dot) com