Former Dallas resident Darla Pettistone has recently moved from Texas to New York City to take over her deceased great-aunt’s bookstore. As in many Cozies, this business was inherited with a collection of eccentric employees and residents, including live-in security Jake, a retired female cop, Professor James St. James (and the name there really says it all), nervous middle aged college student Lizzie, and mean-tempered, surprisingly intelligent black cat Hamlet. Darla’s been setting in well for about six months when the story begins, but the store is always on the verge of falling out of the black and into debt, so she’s definitely looking forward to an upcoming book signing with a big-name supernatural romance writer, Valerie Baylor, with a mixture of trepidation and hope.
Well, it doesn’t take much to guess that Valerie Baylor’s visit will end in disaster rather than financial success, as the author dies unexpectedly during the signing. The death is quickly ruled a probable accident – she had apparently stepped into traffic while taking a brief smoke break.
Still, there were an awful lot of very good suspects, considering it was supposedly an accident. Valerie’s own employees seemed to dislike her, there was a lone protester who claimed Valerie had stolen her story, and a band of religious fundamentalists believing that her works were evil had sent a semi-threatening letter to Darla. Even one of Darla’s own employees felt insulted when Valerie failed to recognize her from a class that the two had attended together years before. So, when Hamlet turns up unexpected evidence that there might have been more to the case than first seemed evident, Darla feels obliged to investigate herself.
In many ways, Double Booked for Death feels like a classic example of a modern Cozy. With its cast of quirky characters and a sleuth just entering early middle age set out to put an unfulfilling career and an unreliable spouse behind her, Darla’s cozy little independent bookshop is certainly setting worthy of its quirky characters. The addition of a hunky detective and a semi-magical cat help finish the picture. Still, there are enough unusual elements present that the formula doesn’t quite enter into cliche territory yet remains comfortable and familiar. Taking place in New York City helps make the mystery feel a bit more metropolitan than many Cozies, and the fact that Darla has already been in place for long enough to establish herself means that the cast only needs to be introduced to the reader, not the sleuth, while still being fundamentally an outsider in a relatively insular community.
The book is also very well written, so the act of actually reading it is very easy – an unsurprising fact, considering Brandon has a degree in journalism. If I did have to express a complaint, however small, it is that at over 300 pages, it could be a slight bit “tighter” – and even that is apparently at least a bit addressed in the sequels, as each is about 30-40 pages shorter than Double Booked for Death.
Ali Brandon also wrote the Leonardo da Vinci Mystery Series as Diane A. S. Stuckart, so if you’re a fan of Ali Brandon, be sure to check it out as well!
PS: Unfortunately I’ve heard that this series has likely ended after six books, but the good news is that several new series by Ali Brandon/Diane A. S. Stuckart may be coming out soon, possibly under the name Anna Gerard. For more information on, check out the news articles I posted in August and September!
To see others of the most popular and recommended Cozy Mystery series, click here.
joQ says
I’m fond of a cozy series that establishes a “village” in a large city like New York. Cabot Cove Syndrome isn’t an issue, because it’s much easier to believe someone might stumble across body after body in a major metropolitan area, however village-like the immediate surroundings of our intrepid hero(in)es might be.
I’ve not tried this one yet, so thanks for the introduction!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
joQ, I definitely agree that big metropolitan areas have a lot of untapped potential in the Cozy Mystery genre.
Pat Cray-Hollis says
I do not understand why ending a very good series. I love this series from the first book. I am behind in my reading and I have not read the last booking this series but I do not understand why ending it.
Kimberley says
I loved this series and was very disappointed that it was dropped. Despite that, there are six wonderful works that I would encourage new readers to check out!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Kimberley, I definitely agree, it’s worth a look despite being officially finished! And it’s good news that there should still be plenty coming out from the author, eventually, under one name or another.
Bek says
I’m going to really miss this series with its cantankerous kitty, Hamlet. My own Hekitty (named for, and pronounced like, the Greek goddess, Hekate) is VERY like him!
I’ll be keeping an eye out for new series, under either name!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Bek, I hope that they live up to the legacy of her previous series!
Martha G. says
Oh no!!! I love the Black Cat Series ☹
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Martha, sorry to let you know the bad news then!
Katariina says
This was one of my favorites too☹️
Robert Alvarez says
Danna, thanks for reviewing Ali Brandon’s “Black Cat Bookshop Mystery Series.”
Although I live in New Jersey, I AM no stranger to NYC, and it just so happens I go to the Borough of Brooklyn once or twice a month.
Between being a bibliophile, a crazycatguy, and #crazyforcozymysteries, as opposed to cuckoo for cocoa puffs, buying this series was a no-brainer.
I have yet to start reading it, as there are other books I AM currently reading, but I AM even more excited to begin reading this particular Cozy Mystery Series.
My Cozy Mystery tastes are primarily of the Witchy and Psychic variety, although I have ventured into the Ghost-themed ones, too. Actually, that was one of the reasons I subscribed to your blog, as it helped me find other titles and series.
I must say, I prefer to buy my books in a bookstore, although I have ordered online when necessary, and I thoroughly enjoy going to my home away from home, the Barnes & Noble Booksellers located in Union Square in the Borough of Manhattan, NYC.
When I do go to this particular home away from home, I consistently see all the books in the books in Ms. Brandon’s “Black Cat Bookshop Mystery Series.” Its popularity remains a good and real thing.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Robert, I’m glad to hear that I’ve been able to help you find new authors and series to your own particular taste! Black Cat Bookshop Mystery Series is definitely a good one, though I wouldn’t necessarily call it overly “Witchy or Psychic”.
Robert Alvarez says
I agree with you about the “Black Cat Bookshop Mystery Series” by Ali Brandon not being overly Witchy or Psychic.
However, I also love exploring different kinds of Cozy Mystery Series, and it is totally OK for me to read a Cozy Mystery Series that is neither Witchy nor Psychic.
Besides, I happen to love bookstores (especially independent booksellers) and I love cats, especially black cats (I have one black cat, from an animal shelter, and two rescued strays, a Calico and a Tabby, respectively). So there you go (smile)!
Bek says
If you haven’t run across Delia James’ “Witch’s Cat” series yet, it’s right up your alley! There are three, thus far, and I’ve so enjoyed them!
Robert Alvarez says
Bek, you are so good!
Actually, I have the first two: “A Familiar Tail,” and “By Familiar Means.” I still need to purchase the third in the series, “Familiar Motives.”
Right now, I AM currently reading four different Cozy Mysteries, but would like to finish at least one of them first before I go to the next ones. I AM almost completely with “Crime and Poetry,” the first in the “Magical Bookshop Mystery” Series, by Amanda Flower.
I AM also reading “Corpse in the Crystal Ball,” second in the “Fortune Teller Mystery” Series by Kari Lee Townsend; “Curiosity Thrilled the Cat,” first in the “Magical Cats” Mystery”Series, by Sofie Kelly and “Spell Booked,’ first in the “Retired Witches Mystery” Series, by (the late and great) Joyce and Jim Lavene. Yes, I think that is it, for Cozy Mysteries.
Tonya K. says
I REALLY, REALLY miss the Black Cat Bookshop Mystery Series. Is there any possibility, Ali Brandon may pick the series back up and write more books in the future? That would be WONDERFUL!!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Tonya, I really don’t know, but unfortunately it doesn’t seem very likely. My understanding is that the series was ended by the publisher.
Ellen Leichtman says
The Black Cat series was cancelled by the publisher, along with other cozies. The author wanted to continue the series. She explains this on her website. Go to Dianestuckart.com, then click on the Mysteries tab, and Black Cat. Then scroll down a little way. She explains what happened. A lot of us are bummed out.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Ellen, it’s always a disappointment when a favorite series gets cancelled.
Lacey Sheridan says
I was saddened to discover the series was finished. As a native New Yorker, the setting and characters resonated for me. I may try another series by this author, but I’m leery of getting abruptly cut off again.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Lacey, it’s always a shame when a beloved series is cut short.
Ellen says
The author didn’t stop writing the series; the publisher cancelled this and several other mystery series. Because of contracts, Brandon couldn’t move the series to another publisher. You can find this information on her web page.
sassykat68 says
I read and enjoyed all the books in the series, and I am disappointed the author cannot continue this series under a different name. I want to know what will happen with Darla and the detective!
thetarotman says
I just read your comment, and I knew that the author, Ali Brandon, also known as, among others, Diane A. S. Stuckart, had written something about that on her Website.
Since I AM long overdue to go to bed, I AM going to include the link so you can read it:
https://www.dianestuckart.com/black-cat
Scroll down a little bit for all the info, although there is not much, as the answer to the question is very straightforward.
Sue s says
I really enjoyed the black cat bookshop mystery series very much. I feel bad it ended. I have several black cats that act like Hamlet.
thetarotman says
The fact that I AM going to Brooklyn, NY tomorrow evening to watch a Shakespearean production (“Comedy of Errors,” not “Hamlet”) is a clear and evident reminder for me to begin reading the “Black Cat Mysteries,” by Ali Brandon (also known as, among others, Diane A. S. Stuckart).
I cannot believe I forgot that the bookstore’s “owner” is a black cat named Hamlet!!