April Online Book Club Kissed: A Cat Miranda Mystery by CJ Shane
Mystery, Romance, and Art all in one place.
Cat Miranda moves home to help her dying brother and take over daily management of their Bisbee, Arizona art gallery. From the beginning, we see her warm, caring nature and selfless mindset.
We also meet her surprise houseguest, Miles Trevelyan from the UK, an Oxford history professor, who has pre-paid for a room to conduct research on his next book.
When a dead body is found in Cat’s art gallery, the search begins for a killer with a mysterious connection to a large painting entitled “Kissed.” Cat is challenged to go beyond her comfort zone to solve the puzzle.
She and Miles team up to help the local police investigate anyone with ties to the victim and the painting. A sweet romance ensues amid the mystery. Shane skillfully intertwines the romance and the mystery so that neither completely takes over the story.
The author’s extensive knowledge of the Borderlands culture and history, and the art world were woven seamlessly into the story, making the uniqueness of the place shine through. Cat’s family is both Mexican and Arizonan so readers are immersed in the benefits of being raised in both cultures and languages. I liked the Spanish phrases sprinkled throughout the book as well.
I look forward to finding out more about the art gallery and Cat’s circle of friends and neighbors. The Cat Miranda series is off to a solid start.
You can buy Kissed: A Cat Miranda Mystery on Amazon, Barnes & Nobles, Kobo, and your favorite local bookseller.
Kelly Brakenhoff is an author of eleven books and an ASL interpreter. She divides her writing energy between two series: cozy mysteries set on a college campus and picture books featuring Duke the Deaf Dog. The mother of four young adults and a hunting dog, and grandma to a growing brood of perfectly behaved grandkids, Kelly and her husband call Nebraska home.