Not a Creature Was Purring by Krista Davis

"Not a Creature Was Purring" by Krista Davis is an excellent addition to the Paws & Claws Mystery series! As always, the characters are well-drawn and believable; this is especially evident in this book due to the number of new characters/guests at the inn. Had they not all been incredibly distinctive, it could have been tricky keeping everyone straight. The reader is treated to a more in-depth characterization of Aunt Birdie; I'd love to see a future storyline include a side-plot involving Holly helping her aunt write her autobiography. It would be fascinating to learn more of Birdie's back story. The murder itself was well-plotted and well-placed, with plenty of red herrings to keep the reader guessing. Once the culprit was revealed, everything made perfect sense based on what the reader (and chief sleuth Holly) had learned throughout the book. Although I very much enjoyed the mystery storyline, I would have loved this book even without it. As other reviewers have mentioned, I wish Wagtail was a real place. I'd love to visit, stay at the inn, meet all the regular characters, and enjoy everything the town has to offer. "Not a Creature Was Purring" made this feeling even stronger as it details all the wonderful local holiday traditions. I would have been perfectly happy just visiting this delightful pet-friendly place again and spending time with old friends. Five out of five chunks of Gruyere!