Kathleen is a bit different from some other Cozy Mystery sleuths in small towns, namely she isn’t a local coming home to take over some type of family business. Instead she is a relative “city slicker” herself, having grown up travelling from city to city with her parents, both of whom are professional actors. (If you lived in her setting, you may know her father best as singing raisin in that one catchy cereal commercial or some similar role of questionable dignity).
When Curiosity Thrilled the Cat starts, Kathleen has been in the small town of Mayville Heights, Minnesota for a very short time, but she’s already started to learn a surprising amount about many of the town’s residents from her job, temporary head librarian. (Apparently you can learn a lot about people from the sort of books they read >>> I wonder what that says about us Cozy lovers!)
When another “city slicker” turns up dead, the unsurprisingly disagreeable celebrity director of the Mayville Music Festival, Kathleen’s two newly adopted feline friends (tabby Owen and tuxedo Hercules) seem surprisingly intent on her getting to the bottom of the case. This proves especially difficult for Kathleen to ignore, as she quickly learns that Owen and Hercules have some very paranormal abilities over which Kathleen has absolutely no control. Catnip-addicted Owen is able to make himself invisible while Barry Manilow-loving Hercules is able to walk right through walls. All of this means Kathleen is going to not only solve the mysteries, but also contend with these paranormal felines! And, of course, there’s the town’s handsome detective who will join them in their sleuthing. (Actually, the detective isn’t that crazy about getting Kathleen’s help…)
The solid writing by Sofie Kelly makes the Magical Cats Mystery Series one of the most interesting of the “paranormal” type Cozy Mystery series available. Oh, and before I forget, Sofie Kelley also writes the Second Chance Cat Mystery Series as Sofie Ryan.
P.S. As always, if you are interested in reading some of the other entries about highly recommended Cozy Mystery series, you can find them at the Most Recommended Cozy Mystery Series page on my site.
Ceelee Sunshine says
I discovered this series last year and love it! Another series I discovered last year was Cat In The Stacks. It is different because there is a guy sleuth and it was neat to have a cozy mystery from the male perspective.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Ceelee Sunshine, have you tried Ellery Adams‘ Supper Club Mystery Series? It also has a main sleuth who is a man. I agree that every once in a while it’s nice to follow a male sleuth…
Jeanette k. says
John J. Lamb The Teddy Bear series has a make sleuth
Sharon says
I love this series. Any time a good book with cats is a great book written.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Sharon, hmmmm…. Let me guess >>> It sounds like you might just be a ? fancier! (But you’re right about this being a good series!)
Carolyn says
I hope you’ve read The Cat Who (fill in the blank in order of writing)… series!
Janice says
I rarely read series that have paranormal themes but make an exception for this one. The Magical Cats is my favorite out of all the many, many series that I read.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Janice, I don’t usually care for paranormal either, but there are a few exceptions >>> of which this is one!
Kimberley says
One of my favorite series and yes, I’m a cat person! We have 5!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Kimberley, now that’s a whole kit and caboodle of cats! 😉
stellans says
I like this series as well, both because it involves cats and because of the good writing. I found myself giggling at the cats’ antics because my own cats sometimes made me wonder if they too could make themselves invisible at will or walk through walls. Plus, the storyline was interesting and the characters well-drawn. Definitely worth reading…and even re-reading.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Stellans, I usually don’t even try paranormal series, but for some reason I tried this one. And, I’m glad I did!
MJ says
Well……………I’m NOT a cat person and I generally don’t like paranormal mysteries. BUT, I do like both of her series. That speaks volumes to her creative writing abilities. The dialogue is terrific (EVEN between the protagonist and her cats). The characters are enjoyable and interesting. I usually recommend her books on the recommendation list.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
MJ, whenever I find myself enjoying one of the rare paranormal Cozies I read, I wonder if I should give more paranormal series a try. If I didn’t have so many authors on my favorite authors list I would probably try a whole lot more of them, but I just don’t make them a priority to try…
Earlene says
I love Sofie Kelly and the Magical Cat Mystery Series !! I have them all and waiting for next one !!!!!!!!!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Earlene, I’d say that qualifies you as a Magical Cat/Sofie Kelly/Sofie Ryan/Darlene Ryan fan!
Earlene says
Very true !!!!!!!!
Margaret StashEmpress says
I’m not much of a cat fancier, so haven’t picked up these series yet — but it does sound good — will have to give this a try.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Margaret StashEmpress, I don’t think you have to be a cat fancier to enjoy this series. (Full Disclosure: I had a cat before we got Sprite, our dog!)
Marja says
For me much of the fun of the series is Sofie Kelly’s excellent observations of cat behaviors! As a cat person for 30+ years, I’m tickled by how accurately she sees them and how humorous cats’ actions can be in certain contexts =^..^=
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Marja, I’m guessing she has had a few cats. (When I read Spencer Quinn’s Chet and Bernie mysteries I absolutely know he has dogs in his life!)
Sheila in CT says
An enjoyable series. I am also looking forward to the next in the series.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Sheila in CT, I wonder if the Second Chance Cat series is as good…
Susy says
Absolutely!
Eileen Cohen says
Yes, even better. You will LOVE Sara, her cat Elvis, and the “Angels,” a group of senior citizens with spunk, smarts and so much personality and they solve murders. I cannot speak highly enough of this series. I read every book and wish there were more.
Abigail Rizzo says
It’s good, but the original series is better in my opinion.
Parker Brown-Nesbit says
I love them both equally and have reread each of the series several times.
Cindy says
My top favorite series! I love the personalities that she gives to each cat and how she carries on with them.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Cindy, they certainly have minds of their own, which gives them lots of personality, even though at times they sort of exasperate Kathleen.
Kathleen says
I also am not a big paranormal fan but I like this series. It is well written and keeps me interested throughout the story. Waiting for the next one in the series.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Kathleen, I was glad I tried the series since I ended up liking it so much. A lot of the time I just pass on paranormal Cozies.
Helga says
I too am a fan of Ms. Kelly/Ryan. I just finished said book last night for the second time since it was first released! I’ve kept up with her two series and can’t hardly wait for the next ones to be published! The magical Cats Mystery Series is probably one of my most favorite cozy in paranormal! Thank you BTW FOR YOUR BLOG! I try not to miss even one.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Helga, from reading you comment, it looks like you enjoy both of her series. I haven’t tried the Second Chance Cat series yet, but I’m getting the feeling that I probably should!
Dee says
I know most of these comments were written awhile ago but just wanted to share with the many cat lovers and male sleuth lovers that one of my most favorite series was The Cat Who series. Others might want to take a look at it.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Dee, that certainly is another great long-running cat-centric Cozy series – and a definite favorite for a lot of site visitors too! I might try to revisit it one of these days…
shirley sego says
Love all your Cozy Cat Mysteries with special attention to those who are magical and disappear at will.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Shirley, I certainly agree!
HielandLady says
I discovered these while browsing in our library’s stacks (an *excellent way to discover books, by the way). Being a cat lover and a library science major as an undergrad, I thought I’d give them a try. Lovelovelove them! She’s a great writer, and her observations on both her cats and people are very spot on.
She’s become one of my “Authors Not to Miss”. I also enjoy her other series.
Rachel G says
I’ve only read 2 of these books an instantly feel in love with them. I’m hoping to find them all soon.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Rachel, good luck! It’s definitely a very special series.
Debbie Marron says
I started reading the books last year because the title (Curiosity Thrilled the Cat) interested me. I loved the book and intend to read ALL the books in this series. I just finished “The Copycat Killings” and will continue on.
Yes,
I am a cat person, and I love how she interacts with the cats. I did not know this was a paranormal series when I started out; however that does not make a difference to me.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Debbie, I’m glad to hear from another fellow fan of this series!
Bobbi G says
Love these and also love Delia James mysteries: A Witch’s Cat series. I do like paranormal mysteries.
For really fun and off-the-wall books (which I love ❤️) read Dixie Lyle’s Whiskey, Tango, & Foxtrot series. Foxtrot, human female, is the personal assistant to a very wealthy woman and is put in charge of the pet cemetery on her employer’s estate. Not by the owner but by the owl who ‘runs’ the place. She is actually the owl’s assistant as well. Whiskey and Tango are two dogs; one of which is a ghost that everyone can see though they don’t know he’s a ghost.
Yes, she can talk to the animal ghosts in the cemetery. No, not all of them are very friendly.
There is always a murder involved. And other shenanigans.
Great fun! 😹
Abby R says
This was my very first cozy mystery series, and it got me hooked on the genre. I have never loved another series quite as much. The cats and the characters were so lovable. The novelty has worn off a little bit, but I still purchase every new one that comes out. I tried other series with cats (and dogs), but nothing has touched this one, in my opinion—even her other series. The closest I have come is Ellie Alexander though. I have read everything she has ever published. All good.