As the title suggests, it’s easy to get hooked on the two sleuthing felines featured in Sofie Kelly’s Magical Cats Mysteries. Owen and Hercules may be two of the friskiest characters appearing in the cozy mystery world.

Owen, who becomes invisible when he wants, and Hercules, who walks through solid objects like doors, live with Kathleen Paulson, the Mayville Heights Free Public Library librarian. In the series 13^th installment, HOOKED ON A FELINE, police find Mike Bishop, an endodontist and well-liked resident, mysteriously dead in his home. Kathleen’s boyfriend and police detective Marcus Gordon speculates the death of Mike’s aunt Leitha a few months earlier may be connected, then uncovers the fact that her death is also a homicide.

Both Leitha and Mike are branches of the Finnamore family tree is the connection between the two: Leitha fiercely proud of her heritage, and Mike is seriously researching the family history with Kathleen’s help. Kathleen comes across some of Mike’s notes suggesting his tracking of genetic traits through the family line.

When Owen and Hercules begin leading Kathleen to clues on the computer (Yes, those tricky cats manage to manipulate the keypad), she discovers Mike had a secret she needs to uncover. Then, from another source, Kathleen learns that, just before her death, Leitha terminated a deal with Everett over an old building he wanted to buy and restore. Police and amateurs expend lots of legwork investigating, while red herrings and misdirection waste time and effort. The outcome and motive are unexpected.

Ms. Kelly develops an intriguing mystery and spins an enchanting story about how Owen and Hercules can instinctively nudge Kathleen in the right direction. Even more engaging are Ms. Kelly’s descriptions of the interaction between Kathleen and her two feline sleuths. As Hercules so often replies, “Merow!” HOOKED ON A FELINE is strongly recommended for a delightful and entertaining read.

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