A cat detective? Yes, seriously, Trouble to the rescue.
Familiar Trouble by Carolyn Haines is a great mystery filled with troubled characters, a southern setting and this adorably smart black cat. We have three points of view in the story. The charming couple and Trouble, the newest black cat detective.
Tammy Lynn
Our female lead is Tammy Lynn. She owns the local bookstore, which works out great as she is very well read. Tammy Lynn also seems to have this innate ability to be in the wrong place at the right time. She also doesn’t want to leave her hometown of Wetumpka, Alabama.
Things that I like about Tammy Lynn: she takes outstanding care of Trouble, her taste in books, and the way that she is part of her community. The one thing that would be considered a bad trait is her independence as she would go places and not tell anyone where she was going.
Aiden Waters
Our male lead is Aiden Waters, former FBI agent and currently a local deputy sheriff. Aiden lost his wife and isn’t ready to try the whole dating thing again. Although, he is interested in Tammy Lynn. Aiden however, is obsessed with the Silk Stocking Killer, and until he can put this man away, he won’t involve anyone else.
What I liked about Aiden: his need to help people, the way he takes care of Tammy Lynn, and his ability to follow orders but also to make snap decisions without checking with the sheriff. My dislikes for Aiden are insignificant little things, like him blaming himself for his wife’s death, that he wasn’t honest with the sheriff immediately after they found the second body.
Trouble
The only thing to say about Trouble is he is spectacular. I love his wit and the way he speaks like Sherlock Holmes, the Benedict Cumberbatch version, and his dry sense of humor. The fact that he protects Tammy Lynn from harm whenever possible is fantastic.
He steals the story at times. If Tammy Lynn could understand him, she might not have been in such danger. Oh, and Trouble's food choices are perfect for a picky feline.
Random things that I liked about the story
- The setting of Wetumpka, Alabama and the history that we learn of the area
- The way the townspeople took care of each other
- The Silk Stocking Killer’s story and part of the mystery
- Tammy Lynn’s friend Amelia Weatherford
- Everyone’s love of books and the thriving independent book store
- Trouble helping others in his feline way
- The touch of romance
5 Stars for Familiar Trouble by Carolyn Haines
My rating for Familiar Trouble by Carolyn Haines is five stars. The mystery was superb, add in the romance and Trouble, and this takes this book over the top. If you haven’t read this book and you love mysteries, with a love story, then this book is for you. I highly recommend it.
This story is a stunning start to what I hope will be a fabulous series. I can’t wait to read the next installment Trouble in Dixie by Rebecca Barrett.
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This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove