Title:	Fat Cat Takes the Cake
	Author:	Janet Cantrell
	Published:	April 5, 2016, Berkley
	No. of Pages:	304
	Cover Price:	$7.99 Paperback, $7.99 Kindle

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Do you have a cat? If so, you’ll appreciate the antics of Chase Oliver’s fat cat, Quincy, who somehow finds a way to stir up trouble wherever he happens to be. Fat Cat Takes the Cake is the third in the Fat Cat Mystery Series by Janet Cantrell. Chase Oliver is the owner of a dessert shop. She and her best friend, Julie attend a high school reunion sponsored by one of their classmates, to help his political campaign; they know he is a seasoned (therefore corrupt and self-serving) politician, but feel obligated to attend. Chase and Julie try to avoid some of their former classmates, and the next day Quincy, who has escaped from his new harness while walking in the park, finds the body of Ron North who has died under suspicious circumstances. Julie is the main suspect, since it was her scarf that was used to strangle the victim, and Chase finds it necessary to find the real murderer so that Julie doesn’t have to serve time for a murder Chase is sure she didn’t commit.

As with most cozy mysteries, Fat Cat Takes the Cake is light, humorous, and fast-moving. The writing is excellent, and there is no sex, language, or graphic violence. The story takes place in a section of Minneapolis, where it seems everybody knows everybody, and several of the people Chase knows could be viable suspects. Cantrell does an excellent job in making her characters seem real – like people most of us are acquainted with, and that adds to the charm of this mystery.

Of course there are surprises, as well as twists and turns. The book is fun, and is recommended for all ages of cozy lovers. This is definitely a book for cat lovers (my own fat cat, Lydia, acts a lot like Quincy), and readers will be able to relate to Quincy. The fact that it is a fast read is very nice, since it can be read in a few hours – on the beach, in an airplane, or just curled up in a comfy chair – and the plot isn’t at all complicated so interruptions won’t matter. Personally, I plan to pick up the two previous books in the series and also follow what comes next.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this novel.

This book may be purchased at Amazon:
Fat Cat Takes the Cake (A Fat Cat Mystery)