It does't sound good that my favourite character in this series is Fred the Funky Chicken, but it's true. The other characters are all likeable in the best cozy-mystery way, but my heart goes out to Fred the Funky Chicken every time.**

I'm not going to pretend that this book isn't everything a modern cozy is; the magical cats pretty much give the game away. But Kelly does't over-play that magical hand and doesn't try to hide the deux ex machina-like effect this has on her ability to plot her mysteries. She also creates likeable, believable, characters that enjoy a reasonable amount of realistic conflict; some of which is resolved and some of it isn't.

The murder plot was decent-ish. I was side-eyeing the murderer for awhile but there weren't any puzzle pieces to play with, just one big whopper of a clue that solved the whole thing for everybody at once. Or at least, for the reader and the MC; everyone else would need more proof, of course, thus allowing our MC to stumble into mortal peril. A reader comes to understand this is the nature of cozies though, and at least this peril was believable. Sort of. (How did the murder find them??)

So Paws and Effect is everything you'd expect a contemporary cozy to be anymore, but better than most of the rest; a bit more solid and well written. A fun, fluffy bit of fiction for lazy afternoons. ( )

This is one of my favorite books in the series so far because by putting Marcus in jeopardy it made the whole plot line more exciting, more so then Kathleen as the heroine of the series you always know that she will be back for the next book, her boyfriend could disappear at any time however.

I'm really looking forward to reading the latest novel in the series but I have a series novella to read first. ( )

Librarian Kathleen Paulson and her two magical felines, Hercules and Owen, return in Paws and Effect, the 8th Magical Cats Mystery.

Kathleen meets three of her boyfriend Marcus' old college buddies. They are environmentalists and in town to stop a proposed development just outside Mayville Heights. When one of them turns up dead, evidence initially points to Marcus as the killer. Kathleen knows he didn't kill his friend, but she has to investigate to prove it. Who killed Dani and why is the murderer trying to frame Marcus?

I enjoy this series! Kathleen is an excellent main character. She is independent, witty and intelligent. Hercules and Owen are cats of distinction, each with a bit of magic. Owen can become invisible and Hercules can walk through solid walls. Kathleen is a very capable amateur sleuth, putting her research and people skills to good use. With a little help from her two feline sidekicks, she always manages to solve the case.

Paws and Effect is an enjoyable read. The mystery moves along at a steady pace, with plenty of suspects and plot twists. The ending was exciting and believable. All in all, another great visit with one of my favorite fictional librarians!

Sofie Kelly is a pseudonym for YA author Darlene Ryan. She also writes under the name Sofie Ryan (Second Chance Cat Mystery series -- another favorite of mine!)The next book in the Magical Cat series, A Tale of Two Kitties, comes out in September 2017. I can't wait to read their next adventure! For more information on the author, check out her website: http://www.sofiekelly.com/ ( )

Just what I needed this week. A page-turning mystery that didn't scare me totally, and included magical cats!(though in truth I would have liked more of the divine Owen and Hercules). This is the first Sofie Kelly book I have read, and it's obvious that I've missed a few good yarns in the series. I'll certainly be keeping an eye out for them for those times when I need a good book! ( )

Kathleen is looking forward to getting to know some of Marcus’s old friends when their unexpected visit turns into a reunion of sorts. But when one friend comes up dead and the police are looking at Marcus as a suspect, Kathleen and her magical cats are right in the thick of things. Someone is framing Marcus for the murder, and the two women closet to Marcus – his girlfriend and his partner – are determined to prove his innocence. But it doesn’t take long for things to go from bad to worse, and a little magic is certainly needed. If this book has any weak point, it is the small amount of time that the cats are featured. ( )