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snickies's review against another edition
2.0
I took this book out of the library because there's a cat on the cover and also it takes place in a library. It was ok. The characters weren't that great although the cat was pretty entertaining.
marlynb's review against another edition
4.0
Semi-retired librarian Charlie Harris is surprised and thrilled when his daughter Laura comes home from Los Angeles to take a temporary teaching gig at Athena College. He's not so thrilled when he meets the college's new writer-in-residence (and Laura's ex-boyfriend), the egotistical and rude Connor Lawton.
Charlie can't understand why Laura is still friendly with Connor; Lawton is as rude to her as he is to everyone else, but he must (grudgingly) admit that Laura is an adult and can make her own decisions. He really can't fathom why on earth the deranged Damitra Vane,who follows Connor around like a groupie, is threatening his daughter.
When Laura calls him from Connor's, stunned by finding the writer's body in the living room, Charlie finds himself wondering why the man hadn't been killed sooner. But Laura is genuinely upset, and he focuses on comforting her and, along with his lawyer son Sean, making sure she's not a suspect.
And almost always at Charlie's side is his friend and companion Diesel. Charlie usually has the huge Maine coon cat with him on a leash, and talks to him as though he's human. Diesel goes to work with Charlie and sits under his desk or on the window sill, growls at dubious characters, and even grabs suspicious items out of the mail.
Charlie himself, though not yet 60, is a charming Southern gentleman who does not suffer bad manners or rudeness quietly. Connor Lawton-types call him stodgy or old-fashioned, but he possesses a quick mind that organizes facts and details methodically, a useful trait for both a librarian and an amateur sleuth.
*FTC Full Disclosure: Many thanks to the publisher, who sent me a copy of the book for review purposes.
Charlie can't understand why Laura is still friendly with Connor; Lawton is as rude to her as he is to everyone else, but he must (grudgingly) admit that Laura is an adult and can make her own decisions. He really can't fathom why on earth the deranged Damitra Vane,who follows Connor around like a groupie, is threatening his daughter.
When Laura calls him from Connor's, stunned by finding the writer's body in the living room, Charlie finds himself wondering why the man hadn't been killed sooner. But Laura is genuinely upset, and he focuses on comforting her and, along with his lawyer son Sean, making sure she's not a suspect.
And almost always at Charlie's side is his friend and companion Diesel. Charlie usually has the huge Maine coon cat with him on a leash, and talks to him as though he's human. Diesel goes to work with Charlie and sits under his desk or on the window sill, growls at dubious characters, and even grabs suspicious items out of the mail.
Charlie himself, though not yet 60, is a charming Southern gentleman who does not suffer bad manners or rudeness quietly. Connor Lawton-types call him stodgy or old-fashioned, but he possesses a quick mind that organizes facts and details methodically, a useful trait for both a librarian and an amateur sleuth.
*FTC Full Disclosure: Many thanks to the publisher, who sent me a copy of the book for review purposes.
literary__escapism's review against another edition
5.0
Charlie and Diesel are my favorite amateur male sleuth and cat combo. Charlie is a librarian and Diesel is his Maine Coon cat. Diesel with his chitters and warbles is my favorite fictional cat. He's as much part of the story as the murderer and victim.
In this third book in the series, Charlie's daughter, Laura, is back in Athena to teach at the university. Laura's friend, the obnoxious Connor Lawton, is in town to direct and write a play. However with his obnoxious and rude manners it seems that someone else has a plan for Connor, a deadly one!
Libraries, books, plays and cats! I simply loved File M for Murder. It kept me glued to every single page. Right up until the last page I was glued to my seat trying to figure out what would happen next and how all the pieces clicked together.
With quotes about books and the infamous Hercules Poirot, File M for Murder is definitely among my best cozies of the year! I love this series and I can't wait until the fourth book is released.
In this third book in the series, Charlie's daughter, Laura, is back in Athena to teach at the university. Laura's friend, the obnoxious Connor Lawton, is in town to direct and write a play. However with his obnoxious and rude manners it seems that someone else has a plan for Connor, a deadly one!
Libraries, books, plays and cats! I simply loved File M for Murder. It kept me glued to every single page. Right up until the last page I was glued to my seat trying to figure out what would happen next and how all the pieces clicked together.
With quotes about books and the infamous Hercules Poirot, File M for Murder is definitely among my best cozies of the year! I love this series and I can't wait until the fourth book is released.
shavawnellsbury's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
git_r_read's review against another edition
5.0
A highly enjoyable series that I have not read in any kind of order and it's not made a big difference to me. The premise is nifty, characters are really well done as is the setting and the story.
Main character is a librarian who owns [or is owned] by a Maine Coon cat named Diesel. Charlie Harris is older, he has two grown kids, he shares his house with a couple of boarders, has a job at the college library, everything is Southern - flavored which is nifty.
Characters so well written that I want to smack them around they are so detestable and others I want to be friends with.
Charlie gets drawn into the investigation naturally since it's his family that's threatened.
I always look forward to each book in the series, no matter what order I find myself reading them. I do have two more on the table next to my recliner and I might just start in on one immediately after posting this review.
I can definitely recommend this book, author and series.
Main character is a librarian who owns [or is owned] by a Maine Coon cat named Diesel. Charlie Harris is older, he has two grown kids, he shares his house with a couple of boarders, has a job at the college library, everything is Southern - flavored which is nifty.
Characters so well written that I want to smack them around they are so detestable and others I want to be friends with.
Charlie gets drawn into the investigation naturally since it's his family that's threatened.
I always look forward to each book in the series, no matter what order I find myself reading them. I do have two more on the table next to my recliner and I might just start in on one immediately after posting this review.
I can definitely recommend this book, author and series.
jtrump91's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
emintobooks's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
crystenaq's review against another edition
4.0
Great read. This is shaping up to be a reliably good cozy series. I understand why so many recommend it. I do enjoy that as an amateur sleuth our main character's findings supplement the local police work as opposed to him putting together and solving the whole case and handing it over to the police. The police detective Kaneesha is held up to be competent and I like that. The secondary characters are entertaining and Diesel is quite the cat. Looking forward to the next one!
shaekin's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't like some of the characters in this book as much as the ones previous, but it was still a decent murder mystery.