A Purrfect Date

Cat Yoga Mystery #2

By Alex Erickson

ISBN 9781496747389

Author’s website: alexericksonbooks.com

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

Synopsis:

Up-and-comer Ashley Branson usually aims to keep both feet placed firmly on the ground—unless she’s instructing a class at her trendy cat yoga studio. But she soon finds herself caught in a downward spiral when a stretch beyond her comfort zone leads to murder . . .

Ashley Branson is sure of one thing after experiencing a disastrous blind date—she would much rather enjoy the single life and hang out with playful felines at her studio, A Purrfect Pose, than ever compromise her inner peace like that again. When the mysterious guy makes a late arrival then has the nerve to dine and dash, it’s embarrassing. But when he winds up dead in his apartment that same night? Ash suddenly finds herself thrust into a twisted murder investigation and questioning if she might be shaping up to be the suspect . . . or the next victim.

Ash races to claw through a web of lies, hidden identities, and love lives even more complicated than her own to uncover the truth. Adding to the chaos, she believes her shifty neighbor—covered in unexplained injuries and rumored to harbor a crush on her—could be connected to the crime. Now, with more leads than she needs, Ash must take a deep breath, pull on her big-girl leggings, and move faster than the cunning killer who wants to put her in corpse pose for good . . . (from Goodreads)

Review:

Four paws and a tail up for this second in Alex Erickson’s new series! This is even better than the first, which I enjoyed tremendously. The concept of using kittens or cats to enhance yoga sessions sounds excellent if they help students relax. The mystery is complex, with just the right amount of humor interjected through the serious business of a murder investigation.

Ash broke away from her family’s business and split with her former fiancé to take control of her life, goals, and success. Even having her new business down the street does not deter Cecilia Branson from putting her daughter on eggshell-walking alert. Ash and Drew, her former fiancé and the only man she had dated since they met in middle school, have remained good friends, despite the screeching from his current, rabidly jealous girlfriend.

Ash is building her business with regular students and many memberships. She is content to go home after work to Luna, her cat, or go out with her friends or her sister Alexi. Dating has not been a priority for Ash, but Sierra set her up with a blind date, Grady. Sierra had met him at Snoots, the very popular local pub where she works.

Ash didn’t want to see Grady, as there is no Purrfect Date, but finally met him at the Market Inn, a nice local restaurant. And waited. And waited. One of her yoga students, George, and his cousin Edward were at a nearby table. After a couple drinks, Edward demanded to know the name of her very late date. He began to make a scene just before a young man came to her table. Edward said some unkind things to Grady, and George took Edward and left.

Ash and Grady enjoyed their dinner and conversation, until Grady excused himself to the facilities . . . and never returned. She had no choice but to pay the bill. Ash was done with dating. When she returned to her apartment, two of her neighbors who had been trying to get Ash together with her next-door neighbor, Leon, discussed it with her again. Yes, Leon was handsome. No, she was done with dating.

The next morning, Grady was found dead in his apartment. The police contacted her because her name was written in his calendar. They now consider her a person of interest. A few days later, she saw Grady leave Snoots, very much alive, ran after him, but he wouldn’t talk to her.

She then noticed a man who shows up wherever she is, even coming into her studio until she asked his name. When talking with her sister, a man with the same description seems to be following her, as well as Hunter, their brother.

The author’s writing style and the characters were engaging, rendering the book difficult to put down. The plot was excellent, with clues, twists, and turns that continued to change what I thought were established facts.

I enjoyed most of the characters, with Ash being my favorite. J Allen, owner of the doggy spa next to A Purrfect Pose, is more annoying than most neighbors. Relationships with her family vary with each person, especially her mom. I like Drew and how they get along so well as friends. Kiersten, the head of the animal shelter, is becoming a favorite, as is Sierra, Ash’s bestie. All of the cats are a delight, especially Ash’s cat, Luna, and Herman, Sierra’s giant, fluffy cat.

There are laugh out loud scenes, others angry or panicked, yet Ash continue to face each day. Sierra and Ash’s friends, Bri, Aaron and Henna help sort through clues while Ash and Sierra do the footwork.

One at a time, challenges are faced and dispensed with, but the killer is elusive. Against Chief Higgins’ order, Ash continues to seek who the killer was, but she does share the clues she finds. I was stunned when the killer was revealed, and who her date really was! The ending was satisfactory, with no loose ends remaining. I highly recommend this cozy mystery, especially in its unique setting.