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Favorite Cats in Cozy Mysteries

Recently I was updating one of my favorite theme pages, the cat themed Cozy Mysteries (here is the link to that theme: Cat Theme Mysteries: Kittens, Cats, and Cozies), and it got me thinking about some of my favorite feline characters in Cozy Mysteries. (Thank you, Susan*, for recently bringing a few of the important Cozy Mystery cat characters I had missed to my attention!)

I’m particularly fond of Sophie, Betsy Devonshire’s cat from the Needlecraft Mystery Series, written by Monica Ferris. Sophie’s a fat, loveable, lazy cat, living with her owner above their yarn store. When Betsy’s needlework group comes over for their scheduled lunches, Sophie is continuously finding little tidbits to gobble down that one (or more!) of the needlecrafters dropped (possibly on purpose!) >>> even though Betsy seems to almost always have Sophie on a diet.

Do you have a favorite cat character from a Cozy Mystery series?  Please be sure to tell us about him/her AND a brief description of what makes him/her so lovable in the comments below.

P.S. I had not planned on making a list, but since your comments have reminded me of some terrific Cat Characters in Cozies, here’s a list of your favorite Cats in Cozy Mystery Series:

Susan Wittig Albert: China Bayles mysteries: Khat (previously known as ‘Pudding’)

Susan Whiting Albert: Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter Mystery Series

Marian Babson: cat mysteries

Lorna Barrett: Booktown mysteries: Miss Marple

Ali Brandon: Black Cat Bookshop mysteries: Hamlet

Lilian Jackson Braun: The Cat Who ***** mysteries: Yum Yum & Koko

Rita Mae Brown: Mrs. Murphy mysteries: Mrs. Murphy & Pewter

Janet Cantrell (aka Kaye George): Fat Cat Mystery Series: Chase

Laurie Cass: Bookmobile Cat Mystery Series: Eddie

Cleo Coyle: Coffeehouse mysteries: Java

Claire Donally: Sunny and Shadow Mystery Series: Maine

Carole Nelson Douglas: Minight Louie mysteries: Midnight Louie

Monica Ferris: Needlecraft mysteries: Sophie

Joanne Fluke: Hannah Swensen mysteries: Moishe

Karen Anne Golden: The Cats That … Mystery Series: Scout, Iris, Lilac, Abbey, and Abra

Sally Goldenbaum: Seaside Knitters mysteries: Purl

Kerry Greenwood: Corinna Chapman mysteries: Lucifer, Horatio, & the Mouse Police

Kerry Greenwood: Phryne Fisher: Ember

Rebecca M. Hale: Cats and Curios mysteries: Rupert & Isabella

Carolyn (G.) Hart: Death on Demand: Agatha & Dorothy L

Simon Hawke: fantasy mysteries: Catseye Gomez

Miranda James: Cat in the Stack mysteries: Diesel

Sofie Kelly: Magical Cats mysteries: Owen & Hercules

Laura Levine: Jaine Austen mysteries: Prozac

Richard & Frances Lockridge: Mr. & Mrs. North Mystery Series (Pete is their cat.)

T.C. LoTempio: Nick and Nora Mystery Series: Nick

Blanche Day Manos: Darcy & Flora mysteries: Jethro

Shirley Rousseau Murphy: Joe Grey mysteries: Joe Grey, Dulcie, & Kit

Linda Palmer: Daytime mysteries: Magic

Sofie Ryan: Second Chance Cat mysteries: Elvis

Dell Shannon: Luis Mendoza mysteries: his cats, especially El Señor

Clea Simon: Pru Marlowe Pet Noir mysteries: Wallis

Karen Rose Smith: Caprice DeLuca mysteries: Sophia

Fran Stewart: Biscuit McKee & Marmalade Mystery Series: Marmalade

Leann Sweeney: Cats in Trouble mysteries: Syrah, Merlot, & Chablis

(I have also included the cats that were recommended on my Facebook page.)

♦To access more Cozy Mysteries by Theme click on this link.♦

Comments

  1. Danna, Strangely enough that you should mention cat mysteries. I am re-reading Dell Shannon’s mysteries about Luis Mendoza and I had forgotten his cats.Her descriptions of them were great particularly “El Señor” who is so like Mendoza.I am not a cat person but I do not mind reading about them. My husband loves cats so I fight a battle about having one. I tolerated our dogs but when the last one went to the great Kennel in the sky. I said no more pets. Now we have visiting “grand pets”.

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    • You are missing out on one of the GREAT JOYS in life! Animals need us to care for them and in return they offer smiles and laughter you will remember for years to come.

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  2. Hands down my favorite series was “The Cat who…………”, by Lilian Jackson Braun. 2 intuitive Siamese who help their curmudgeon owner solve all kinds of murders. I miss them a lot.

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  3. Love the Lillian Jackson Braun series the best. The cats are so clever–and so spoiled. I would never spoil my cats….

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  4. Hi Danna two cats that I like are Owen and Hercules from Sofie Kelly’s books also I thought it was real sad when the cat in Monica’s first book got injured after the murder and ran away for awhile but she got back and has a nice life now.

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  6. Presently, I’m reading Karen Rose Smith A Caprice DeLuca Mystery series. Caprice has a cat name Sophie and a dog named Lady.

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  7. Although I love Koko and Yum Yum, my two current favorite
    cats (from an orange cat mom times two) are Laura Levine’s Prozac
    and Joanne Fluke’s Moishe – orange kitties with personalities plus!

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  8. You’re most welcome to my comments, Danna! Lol!

    I’m actually just reading Susan Wittig Albert’s ‘China Bayles’ books, and I’ve discovered another cat character that we’ve missed.
    Khat (Previously known as ‘Pudding’…!), the Siamese that adopts China in the first book ‘Thyme of Death’. I’ve added a comment over on the cat page, and I do like him, I must admit. He’s a decided puss, and reminds me of a half-siamese that (briefly) adopted me! Lol! (She knew what ‘she’ wanted, too, and didn’t hesitate to make it clear, but unfortunately I couldn’t keep her.)

    I think my favourite cat characters would have to include Catseye Gomez from the fantasy mystery by Simon Hawke, “The 9 Lives of Catseye Gomez”. An intelligent and wise-cracking, genetically engineered, cat; who can not only talk, and read – he adores Raymond Chandler, Mickey Spillane, et al – but he solves murders as well.

    Along with Midnight Louie from Carole Nelson Douglas’ series. Another classic ‘hard-boiled’ detective in a feline skin.

    I love these type of books myself, – Hammet, Chandler, etc. – along with the cozies, so to me it’s probably the combination of my two favourite types of mystery which makes these irresistible!

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  9. This is a fabulous website! Thank you so much for creating and continuing it. I have been reading mysteries for 40 years and they are still my favorite genre—the cosy ones of course.

    I checked your author list to get a list of books—but you don’t have this author. He is Andrew Garve, a British author who wrote from the 1950’s to the 70’s. I just read an old paperback Home to Roost and it was excellent. I suggest you read one of his books and see if you like them.

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  11. Oops! Somehow I managed to forget another favourite cat!
    Lucifer, an energetic ginger kitten in Kerry Greenwood’s ‘Corinna Chapman’ series. Lucifer, (after trialling several owners), lives with the gardener Trudi.
    In one morning, he nearly drowns after jumping into the washing up, then picks the lock on his cat cage and tips a 10kg bag of flour on himself… and that’s just for starters!
    He later goes swimming in the fishpond, fights with the small dog downstairs, gets himself filthy dumpster diving (Fortunately he’s on a leash for easy retrieval) and semi-successfully catches a pigeon which is bigger than he is… I could go on, but I think people get the idea! Lol!
    A true character, in every sense of the word!

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  13. I love Miss Marple in Lorna Barrett’s Booktown series, Elvis in Sofie Ryan’s Second Chance Cat Mysteries, and finally Frothy and Java in Cleo Coyle’s Coffeehouse mystery series.

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  14. I really enjoy Joe Grey, Dulcie and Kit from the Joe Grey Mystery series by Shirley Rousseau Murphy. The cats talk to each other and to select trustworthy people. They help solve mysteries by making anonymous phone calls to the chief of police. The premise of talking cats sounds a little hokey but when you get into the story they become very distinct personalities and she does a good job of making it seem believable.
    Unfortunately the author hasn’t written any new books in this series recently. She’s started a new series (also involving cats) which I haven’t been inclined to read. Hopefully she will write some additional Joe Grey books.

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  15. I forgot about Pru Marlowe’s cat Wallis who “talks” to her mistress telepathically in Clea Simon’s Pru Marlowe Pet Noir Mystery series. The protagonist in this series is able to communicate with certain animals by telepathy and feelings. She uses information gained in this way to solve murders. This series is pretty interesting and there is a new book coming out next month.

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  18. I think you forgot a very a popular series “Cats in Trouble” mysteries by Leanne Sweeney. Very enjoyable! One of my favorites. The cats are named after wine. They are smart and funny. Mysteries are always good.

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  19. You haven’t read anything until you’ve read about the cats in Martha Grimes’ recent Richard Jury mysteries. They do amazing things. The dog is also a hero.

    Modestly, I suggest the kitties in my Death in the Memorial Garden. They are Stella and Luna. You can find them on Amazon and on this site under Church Mysteries.

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  21. Mango Bob in the Mango Bob Adventures by Bill Myers. These are directed at young adults but I have really enjoyed them. I was afraid the author wasn’t going to continue the series after just three books but was very pleasantly surprised to find a new book in series came out last month!

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  25. I started my cozy cat mysteries like so many others with the CAT WHO …by Lilian Jackson Braun but then I found Fran Stewart and her Biscuit McKee & Marmalde Mystery series. Totally enjoyable reading and the kind you hate to put down. She’s my ‘go to cat author’ now! Most enjoyable books!

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  26. Don’t forget Corinna Chapman’s own cat, Horatio, and the 2 alley cats called the Mouse Police that Corinna feeds. And Phryne Fisher has Ember.

    Akif Pirincci wrote 2 books about a cat sleuth called Francis – ‘Felidae’ and ‘ Felidae on the Road’. I enjoyed them. Don’t know if they are still available.

    Linda Palmer’s Daytime Mystery series has a black cat belonging to Morgan Tyler, the main character. Can’t remember the cat’s name , though. However the picture of the cat on the book’s cover attracted me to it as it reminded me of my dear cat Sooty.

    Finally, I’ve just read a book by Linda Palmer

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  28. does anyone remember a series with two cats Had I and But Known? I remember reading the books many years ago but can only remember the cat’s names.

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  29. My 91 year old Mother rereads her Lilian Jackson Braun books over and over. She loves the style of these books! Can you please tell me which of the cat cozy authors is close to this style? (I.e.: an older author with a similar descriptive style and use of language? I tried the Rita Mae Brown books, but it wasn’t her cup of tea. The Murder She Wrote books are a good series, but no cats!

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  30. I have been enjoying the Sunny and Shadow series by Claire Donally. The first in the series is The Big Kitty.

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  31. Janet Cantrell’s book Fat Cat At Large is an interesting read. Chase and the cat, Quincy team up to solve the mystery

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  32. Susan Whiting Albert also has the Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter.

    There’s the Nick and Nora mysteries by T. C. LoTempio. It’s about a woman investigator named Nora Charles who adopts a cat who gets named… wait for it… Nick!

    One of my all time favorites are the Mr. and Mrs. North books by Richard and Frances Lockridge.

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  33. First post in a while, but Clea Simon’s “Witch Cats of Cambridge” series is now available, at least the first book is! I have it on my desk, about 4 down in my “to read” pile.

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  34. This is one of the most amazing sites I have been on! I can’t even begin to guess how many hour you spent creating it! I rarely post a comment on anything other than Facebook, but I just had to let you know how great I think this site is and say……….Thank you very, very much!!!

    Reply

  35. Cyril! I loved that cat in Martha Grimes series.
    I am going to have to find that series. I believe the name of the Sargent was Wiggins and he was a hypochondriac. He was hysterical.

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  36. My favorite cat is Sir Edgar Allen Kipling, the magical talking cat hero in the Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus series by Lydia Sherrer. I have devoured the first seven books in the series and eagerly await the eighth volume, as yet unpublished.
    I’m not sure the books would be classified as mysteries, but they fit the “Cozy” theme and certainly involve a lot of mystery. They deal with the adventures and misadventures of a wizard librarian, her witch friend, (boyfriend, though it takes her a while to figure it out), and the lovable, snarky magical cat, Kip. There are also two novellas just about Sir Kipling, Cat Magic, and Cat Mischief.

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