As the co-owner of the "Bar None" dessert bakery and café in Minneapolis, peace loving Charity "Chase" Oliver loves her commute to work... all she has to do is walk downstairs, through a back door, and she is in her delicious smelling workplace. Her co-owner and good friend is the grandmotherly, yet very spry, Anna Larson who excels at baking up new and even more delicious creations. Anna's granddaughter, Julie, a new lawyer in the district attorney's office, is much closer to Chase in age. They are truly long time best friends forever.

They also all love Quincy, Chase's adorably pudgy food- loving cat with a penchant for tasty treats. Quincy has just been put on a restricted calorie diet and this sweet-toothed butterscotch tabby is definitely not impressed with his human for this starvation deprivation, neither is Anna who can't resist giving small samples to Quincy when he is down in the bakery with its wonderful aromas.

Quincy is also a renowned escape artist, prone to taking advantage of every door left open by a careless delivery person and is off in a flash to hunt in the neighbourhood, especially now with too little in his fat tummy. As Quincy follows the illusive and tantalizing trail of warm meatloaf, Chase, who too often is on the chase for her feline friend, quickly searches everywhere for her beloved tabby and picks up the same trail. Finding Quincy, she also discovers a stabbed body on the floor. Now, she stands accused of killing him... How can she prove her innocence when her fingerprints are left behind?

FAT CAT AT LARGE is the first book in a new Fat Cat Mystery series by Janet Cantrell, the pen name for Kaye George, known for her short stories and other mystery series. Cosy mystery fans will definitely relish getting their paws on a new series that sometimes provides a cat's eye view and tummy needs on the situation. Suspense builds nicely as Chase has to figure out how to clear her name, deal with catty and fighting waitresses as well as missing cash and other goodies. When Chase starts doubting who is her friend, she knows she is in trouble. Who can be trusted?

Janet Candrell is very skillful in her storyline development and, even if you are not sidetracked by the deliciously described desserts (almost food porn), you may still not guess the whodoneit. I certainly was sidetracked. FAT CAT AT LARGE also reads well as a stand-alone story, but as not all the strings are nicely tied up, fans who like series will enjoy knowing there is more to come. There is also a nice little bud of a romantic rivalry for Chase's heart... who will win it?

I must admit I enjoyed reading Quincy's viewpoint on things and missed them near the end of the book. I sure hope there are lots more in the rest of the series. Candrell has introduced lots of credibly described and diverse human characters and I particularly like the interactions between Chase and Anna as their age differences and different approaches to life provides interesting perspectives. Julie is a great addition in this trio of friends as with her legal background, Candrell can nicely slide in some well researched legal opinions and facts into the mysterious circumstances in FAT CAT AT LARGE that add to the story.

With a murder to solve as well as dealing with other unfortunate events, and some stress reducing desserts so lovingly described you can almost taste them, FAT CAT AT LARGE may be just what the vet ordered you to read. Fortunately for cats and their human staff, there are recipes for dessert bars and healthy cat patties in the back of the book. FAT CAT AT LARGE is a PURR-fect treat for feline and cosy mystery fans alike!

Book Summary

When she’s not dreaming up irresistible dessert bars for her Minneapolis treatery, Bar None, Charity “Chase” Oliver is running after her cat, Quincy—a tubby tabby with a gift for sniffing out edibles. But what happens when this cat burglar leads Chase to the scene of a real crime?

The jig is up for Chase’s adorable plus-size cat, Quincy. His new vet says “diet”—that means no more cherry cheesecake bars. From now on he gets low-calorie kibble only. But one taste of the stuff is all it takes to drive him in search of better things. Quincy’s escape is the last thing Chase needs after the nasty run-in she has with underhanded business rival Gabe Naughtly.

Chase tracks Quincy down in a neighbor’s kitchen, where he’s devouring a meatloaf, unaware of the much more serious crime he’s stumbled upon. Gabe’s corpse is lying on the kitchen floor, and when Chase is discovered at the murder scene, she becomes suspect number one. Now, with a little help from her friends—both human and feline—she’ll have to catch the real killer or wind up behind bars that aren’t so sweet.

Includes recipes for people and cats!