Loved the talking cat, but there was quite a few things I jus didn't get on with. Lulu as a character I just didn't like, eg she misses getting Cat called. The plot had high expectations for me but it fell flat, the writing was simple and straightforward and nothing seemed to be woven together. Very easy to read but jus didn't do it for me.

When her mother-in-law, Emily, a resident of a nearby care home, dies in suspicious circumstances, things begin to take an unusual turn, not least with the appearance of Conrad, who will accompany Lulu every step of the way as she investigates murder most foul. A delightful cosy mystery with a wonderfully crafted cast of eccentric and colourful characters, an engaging, entertaining storyline, and a welcoming ambiance. When her mother-in-law Emily, a resident of a local care home, dies under suspicious circumstances, things take a strange turn - not least with the appearance of Conrad, who will be with Lulu every step of the way as she investigates murder most foul. a delightful cosy mystery with a beautifully crafted cast of eccentric and colourful characters, an engaging and entertaining storyline, and a warm ambiance. Lulu is a canal boat resident and retired police superintendent. Having recently lost her husband, she spends her time visiting Emily, her mother-in-law, who lives in a nursing home.
She meets Conrad, a calico cat, one day and can't believe her ears when he starts talking to her! He joins her to visit Emily, but both Lulu and Conrad are taken aback by Emily's untimely death. Lulu is suspicious, and Conrad claims that despite her dementia, she has a healthy aura. Lulu suspects something is wrong and uses her police contacts to launch an investigation, with Conrad's assistance, of course.

I just loved Conrad the talking cat who really is the star of this gentle murder mystery story.
Lulu is a retired police superintendent who lives on a canal boat. Grieving the recent loss of her husband she spends her time visiting Emily, her mother in law who lives in a care home.
One day she meets Conrad, a calico cat, and when he starts talking to her she cannot believe her ears! He comes with her to visit Emily but both Lulu and Conrad are then surprised by Emily’s sudden death. Lulu is suspicious and Conrad says that she had a healthy aura despite her dementia. Lulu has a feeling that something is not right and uses her police contacts to start an investigation with Conrad’s help of course.
There wasn’t a great surprise at the culprit in this story but it was a gentle and pleasant read. As well as being a murder mystery it was also the story of someone picking up the pieces after losing everything she holds dear. The healing power of animals is personified in Conrad and his appearance at Lulu’s side just when she needs him the most adds a magical aspect to the story.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable murder mystery which made me laugh too and as I said earlier the cat was a great character.. I will definitely be looking out for more Conrad mysteries should they appear.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc.

A very easy to read, cosy crime with an adorable talking calico cat called Conrad.
Lulu, the main character, is a former police officer and is very confused when her mother-in-law dies suddenly overnight.
Lulu is already grieving her husband’s death which was an accident…or was it?

A Delight…
A gentle, unassuming retirement on a canal boat is exactly what former police detective Lulu Lewis is looking forward to. After all, she’s still mourning the devastating loss of her husband and her boat, The Lark, represents the peace and tranquillity that she desperately needs, When her mother in law Emily, a resident at a local care home, dies in suspicious circumstances things begin to take a bizarre turn - not least by the appearance of Conrad, who will be with Lulu every step of the way as she investigates murder most foul. A delightful cosy mystery with a wonderfully crafted cast of eccentric and colourful characters, an engaging and entertaining storyline and a warm ambiance.

The Cat Who Caught a Killer by LT Shearer

Lulu is recently widowed, her husband Simon having been killed three months previously in a hit and run. When Simon, the Calico cat walks into her life she has no idea that not only is he one day going to save her life, but he is going to help her to solve two murders, and he can talk.

Lulu is a retired police detective but, as she discovers when her elderly wealthy and much-loved mother-in-law Emily dies suddenly, it’s a role she will never emotionally leave.
This story has many twists and turns. We discover that despite the fact it seems Lulu is about to become a lonely cat lady (especially if her sister-in-law Maria is to be believed), she has a great many friends and lives a vibrant life.

We also learn a lot about Emily, including her deadly allergy to sesame seeds - but how could they have been the cause of her death when the nursing home she’s living in is so careful? - her secret family recipes, and the love she had for her family.

Conrad is, for the most part, a character who meows, especially when in the company of people other than Lulu. As a feline, he is observant and shares these observations with Lulu, but he is also a soothing presence and a supportive listener.

This book has everything from a poisoning and false identities to a murder plot (or two) and an actual Interpol investigation. Though we never leave London we get to visit sunny Spain via video call, and the London that Lulu enjoys is very different to the hustle and bustle that most tourists see when they visit the city.

The calm nature of our central characters, namely Lulu and Conrad, gives the book an almost afternoon tea feel. It’s very much the type of cosy crime that I enjoy. I would like to read more about Conrad the unusual Calico (as they are more likely to be female cats than male with that particular colouring) and his insightful human companion, Lulu Lewis.

A light and easy to read cosy mystery for that holiday beach read or cold night by the fire. The crime itself was pretty predictable but I found the development of the relationship between the cat and ex-detective nice and amusing.

A mediocre and highly predictable crime story about a retired female detective who misses Margeret Thatcher and being cat-called and her ex-partner who misses the times when you could be a bit racist (not <i>very</i> racist you see, because he's A Good Guy, but he thinks some slight racism should be OK).

Oh and a talking cat. At least the cat is not racist. Sadly, that couldn't save the book.

A quick and easy cosy read that I read in one sitting. Well written with an engaging storyline and well developed characters. A really enjoyable read.

This was a lovely easy to read cosy crime book with an interesting storyline. Seeing the relationship grow between Lulu and Conrad was delightful, we could all use a Conrad in our lives!

I found the story flowed nicely with enough interesting characters to give many options as to who did what, each with their own motives. The final reveal did tie a very nice bow around the whole story making everything better in one go!

I enjoyed reading this book and will be looking for more by this author in future

I thoroughly enjoyed this light hearted and funny/sad story when sitting in the garden during a very hot day, luckily I was sitting in the shade because it was read from start to finish. A great example of how to write an easy read story without sacrificing good writing. I did think it would be a challenge as I am a cat, not hater, nasty word, but extreme disliker and although this has not changed my opinion of cats as pets it did not spoil my experience of reading this story. I feel that this particular animal was just a manifestation of a guardian angel, right down to the sitting on the shoulder thing.
Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity of a nice easy read in exchange for an honest review.

Three months after the death of her husband, Conrad the calico cat walks into the life of Lulu Lewis. Her mother-in-law then dies in suspicious circumstances. Lulu is an ex-detective; every good detective needs a partner. Conrad could be just that.

The Cat who Caught a Killer is a cosy murder mystery set in Maida Vale, London. This was right up my street for several reasons. I love a good cosy mystery and this couldn't be much cosier. Set mainly on a canal boat, with the rest of the action taking place in about 2 square miles of London, this has a very local feeling to it. The places she goes are very familiar to Lulu, which adds to the feeling. With all good cosy mysteries, the stakes are generally low. There is one set piece that highers the tempo but generally it's fairly low key. Again, just what I look for in any cosy setting. Another reason is Conrad. I'm a big cat lover and pounced on this title as soon as I saw it. Conrad did not let me down.

I can't say that the solution to the mystery was a complete surprise, as it was fairly widely signposted along the way. But it didn't matter to me. The story was lovely enough, with other interesting points such as the relationship between Lulu and Conrad, to make up for it. Any one interested in cosy murder mysteries will enjoy this read.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you

I enjoyed this book and the story. It was very emotional and I keep looking at my own cat whilst reading it. Such a good murder mystery book

This was a cute read so ideal for summer but I do feel it could have been edited as there was a lot of repetition, and a little too much telling rather than showing.

The talking cat was cute, although I'm not 100% sure why this was used other than perhaps to give Lulu someone to talk her ideas through..

All in all it was a fun book.

An interesting twist on a cosy murder mystery, but it didn’t work for me. I wasn’t expecting the cat to actually talk!

I enjoyed this book and the story. It was emotional and I love cats.
Some parts are a little repetitive, in terms of mentioning certain idiosyncrasies often. That said, a good mystery.

3.5 stars rounded up

This makes for a very cute holiday read. The story pulls you in easily and it's not too foreseeable while at the same time not being so complicated as to require a lot of attention to detail. If you're looking for a light, feel-good read, this hits the spot. The only thing that I wasn't quite sure about were some characters'. views on political correctness (e.g. regarding respectful behaviour on the internet, several mentions along the line of "of course you can't say that anymore these days") and the COVID pandemic - and I got the feeling the author was maybe trying to bring their own views on these topics across, maybe ridicule them a bit. Those remarks left a bit of a bitter aftertaste for me, but overall didn't distract from the book. I would still recommend this to anyone looking for some brain candy.

A cat, a narrowboat and cobbled streets, this is quite a gentle and funny book with Conrad being one cool calico cat who knows how to read Lulu's mind (not really, he's more like a Sherlock Holmes) and give her some comfort when having a hard time.

I can't help but hope for a sequel. And will you believe I already recommended it to a friend?

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.

The Cat Who Caught a Killer by L T Shearer is a great cozy mystery that combines some of my favorite subjects: cozy mysteries and cats!

This was just such a unique book. I loved the concept of giving Conrad a voice for Lulu. It was cute, catchy, and gave a nice spin on the traditional furry friend cozy mystery.

If you like cozy mysteries with animal sidekicks, or partners, than please give this one a try.

4/5 stars

Thank you NG and Macmillan for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 10/27/22.