Buy a Whisker

Written by Sofie Ryan

Narrated by Marguerite Gavin

Things have been quiet in the coastal town of North Harbor, Maine, since Sarah Grayson and her rescue cat, Elvis, solved their first murder. Sarah is happy running Second Chance, the shop where she sells lovingly refurbished and repurposed items. But then she gets dragged into a controversy over developing the waterfront. Most of the residents-including Sarah-are for it, but there is one holdout-baker Lily Carter.

So when Lily is found murdered in her bakery, it looks like somebody wanted to remove the only obstacle to the development. But Sarah soon discovers that nothing is as simple as it seems. Now, with the help of her cat's uncanny ability to detect a lie, Sarah is narrowing down the suspects. But can she collar the culprit before the ruthless killer pounces again?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Jan 26, 2016
• ISBN: 9781515970811

Reviews for Buy a Whisker

[carolee888 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Buy A Whisker by Sofie Ryan, is great, I am enjoying the main character’s family and all the tips for rehabilitating furniture that people bring in from dumpsters! I used to watch p ickers on TV to find things that can be rescued and the main character. Sophie Grayson has a business, Second Chance, that buys from pickers and she and her employees fix them up to sell. I enjoyed reading about what she did with the furniture. Her friends are all great characters so I got interested in them before I did in the mystery. As the book proceeds, more suspects appear and I ended up staying up late at night to find out who was the murderer.Rose is my favorite character, a senior with no fear and plenty of determination. Elvis the black cat has the unusual ability to be a lie detector when Sophie interviews the suspects. Sophie seems to be more of a dog person instead cat person but Elvis really helps her solve mysteries.

[bookconcierge · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Digital audio read by Marguerite GavinBook two in the Second Chance Cat Mystery series, featuring Sarah Grayson, proprietor of Second Chance, a consignment shop in North Harbor, Maine, and her rescue cat, Elvis. Sarah gets involved in a controversy over developing the waterfront. Sarah, along with most of the residents, are in favor, but one notable holdout is baker Lily Carter. So, when Lily is found murders in her bakery, fingers are pointed as those who were in favor of the development. Once again Sarah is helped in her sleuthing for her band of friends who’ve dubbed themselves “Charlie’s Angels.” This colorful crew of senior sleuths are tenacious and inventive. And, though I’m not a cat person, I love Elvis and his ability to recognize a lie. It’s a pretty typical cozy mystery. There are enough suspects and red herrings to keep the reader engaged and guessing, and an interesting regular cast of colorful, quirky characters. Marguerite Gavin does a fine job of reading the audio version. She sets a good pace and has clear diction.

[jenn88-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

North Harbor, Maine, has been quiet since Sarah Grayson and her rescue cat, Elvis, solved a murder that cleared their friend's name. Sarah is happy giving items a second chance at her store Second Chance. But now there's controversy over developing the waterfront which the residents are all for - except for baker Lily Carter. So when Lily is found murdered in her bakery, everyone thinks it's over the development. But Sarah isn't so sure, and it's up to her and Elvis to find the motive and the murderer.

A fun follow-up to the first book, The Whole Cat and Caboodle. Once again we have great characters (I love Elvis!), and a great setting. I love the Second Chance shop and I love that the characters actually still do work there even though they want to solve the murder. The mystery was good. Some things were convenient but I suppose that's how it goes sometimes. I'm looking forward to book #3!

[murderbydeath · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

'm going through a cozy-mystery burnout, which shouldn't be surprising given the number of them I've read. I go to pick one up off the shelf and the whole plot flashes before my eyes in all its cliched, trope-ridden glory and I put it back on the shelf with a sigh. It's a large part of the reading slump that's been slowly creeping up on me. I won't say Buy a Whisker defied all expectations and restored my faith, but I picked it because the first book was a little less trope-laden than most and clever with its characters and plotting. I wasn't blown away, but I wasn't disappointed either. I really like the characters and the lack of vigilante investigating: in the first book the 4 older women decide to do it right and become P.I.'s. The MC doesn't go around interrogating anyone either. I really enjoy reading about how she salvages things and rehabs or repurposes them for her shop and I love her self-sufficiency. The main plot was well done but its motivation a little far-fetched. The twist at the end was a total surprise. I'll likely be paring down my mystery series list in the coming months, but this series has so far proven to be a keeper. If I enjoy it when I'm burned out, I expect to love it when I'm back in the reading groove.

[fernemysteryreader · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Sofie Ryan is one of the pseudonyms used by Darlene Ryan, author of non-fiction and young adult (YA) books. She writes the "Magical Cats Mysteries" using the pseudonym Sofie Kelly.Sarah Grayson is the proprietor of Second Chance, a repurpose shop in the oceanfront town of North Harbor, Maine. After solving Arthur Fenety's murder in the spring (the mystery of Book 1 in the series) Charlotte, Liz, and Rose, friends of Sarah's grandmother opened their own detective agency called "Charlotte's Angels, Discreet Investigations." As many were introduced to the original "Charlie's Angels" television series in 1976 with Jaclyn Smith, Farah Fawcett, and Kate Jackson, I love that "Charlotte's Angels" are dynamic senior citizens. They also receive computer help from Rose's boyfriend, Alfred Petersen (often called Mr. P).I don't know who I loved more as the series began, Elvis, or the "angels" as they reminded me of the wonderful fairy godmothers to Cinderella. Each has been a dear friend to Sarah's grandmother but has also brought a special quality to Sarah's life interactions too and I'm so happy that they continue to play a very active role in the series. I was hoping this would be so and not a one disappoints.It's delightful to think of the diversity of ages working together in the "Second Chance" shop and with the youngest and one of the oldest in charge of window displays the creativity is drawing tourists and residents into the shop. A Valentine's Day display definitely has a unique twist to delight all ages. From the descriptions of the window displays and also of the refurbished items I know I'd love to stop in myself.I have again lowered my star rating due to copy editing errors but they are minor compared to the 1st novel in the series

[maydacat_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sarah has plenty to do to keep herself busy. Finding and repurposing items to sell in her shop keeps her and her small staff hopping. Unfortunately, she gets involved in the redevelopment of the waterfront, and when the lone holdout not in favor of selling to the developer is found dead, Sarah feels she needs to ferret out the killer. It’s rather a tangled trail to the murderer and a sad one, and Sarah puts herself in jeopardy in trying to find the clues to the killer. Cozy readers are sure to enjoy this story and others in this delightful and well-written series.

[jenniferrobb · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

My mom got the this book and the first one in the series free from a book exchange at her library. I liked both, though I thought Sarah relies a bit too much on her cat's lie detecting abilities in this one than I'd like (but it's a part of the series that will probably remain).There's one holdout to a big development project in the town--until she's found dead. Of course, one of the group becomes a suspect in the murder (even if it's not for long) meaning that Charlotte's Angels ride again to try to solve the murder.

[bgknighton · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A likable cast. Nice touch with the cat, not overdone. Fun, cozy.

[lisaksbookreviews · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Author Sofie Ryan has penned a purrfect second book in the Second Chance Cat series. Sarah Grayson, her cat Elvis, and all the wonderful supporting characters from THE WHOLE CAT AND CABOODLE are still a delight. I really enjoyed the many creative rehab projects carried out by Sarah and the others. And Elvis the cat is a lot of fun to read! I became so absorbed in this story, trying first to figure who was tormenting baker Lily Carter with awful pranks/warnings, to trying to decide, who among a list of many suspects who ends up killing her. I was very surprised when the reveal finally came and I learned things were much more complex than I could have ever guessed.Ms. Ryan has written a mystery with as many twists and turns as a cat weaving around your ankles. A real winner for mystery fans, as well as for cat lovers. Readers will agree, BUY A WHISKER is the cat’s meow!