Beyond the Gravy

Thanks to Netgalley and Farrago for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was familiar with the No. 2 Detective Agency series and had been recommended it before receiving this book but his was my first experience meeting the characters. It took a little while to adjust my thinking to characters with paws but also cardigans but once I did this was a quirky little mystery which I found myself enjoying so much that i read it in one sittingl! The characters are charming, for the most part (Lavender Stamp, I'm looking at you!) and I found it easy to keep up with them, despite not having read the prior books. There are puns, eccentrically named characters and plenty of twists and turns throughout, some of which I'm not certain were needed to further the plot but they were fun additions, and made me read on. I'll definitely be delving into the previous books of this series, although Beyond the Gravy works perfectly well as a stand alone.

I think this is a must read if are a cat lover and want to a funny and engaging book.
It's the second I read in this series and it was an entertaining and engaging read.
It may take a bit to get used to the idea of cats that drives a motorcycle or travel but after a bit you stop thinking it's strange and are hooked.
I love how the author wrote a lovely mystery mixing feline traits and human behaviour with a lot of humour.
The setting and the quirky cast of characters are perfect for a cozy mystery set in UK and the name of the cats are amazing.
The mystery is very good and enjoyable.
I look forward to reading other books in this series.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Farrago and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Just suspend your disbelief and allow Mandy Morton to take you into a different world. One where cats dress and act as if they are human. One where felines have a detective agency. One where the psychic cat in the village, Irene Peggledrip, asks for help dealing with an influx of rowdy spirits who all claim to be murderers. If you can do so, you'll enjoy a imaginative and inventive mystery. Morton's naming of characters equals J.K. Rowling's from our protagonists, Hettie Bagshot and Tilly Jenkins to Lavender Stamp, the postmistress. Not for everyone, but if you can expand your mind, you will find yourself charmed and enjoy this book.

Hettie Bagshot and her partner Tilly have endured a long winter and are looking for a nice change in the weather and a new case to fill their coffers, when Tilly wins a contest that involves a cash prize and the promise of the duo traveling to Agatha Cripsy's Devon home for tea.

But before that can happen, they are approached by psychic Irene Peggledrip, who has been having visits from a group of murdering spirits, intent on bringing chaos to her home. Hettie and Tilly are present for a round of, among other things, indoor snowstorms and a lovely Victoria sponge thrown against the bookshelves, to Tilly's dismay, only a part of the hijinks these restless spirits produce.

Meanwhile, Molly Bloom's new cafe' becomes the town's new gathering spot, with great food at hand, always a treat for hungry felines. But what message does congealed gravy hold for Irene's complicated future? And will that Devon trip materialize? A seance held at the cafe only complicates things but makes one thing clear: Hettie and Tilly must find the culprit still roaming so that these spirits can rest.

With the return of familiar characters such as Poppa and Buster, this world of cats offers a respite from the ills of todays world, wrapped up in a darn good mystery as the duo's investigation advances, while it seems at time that the mystifying puzzle won't be solved, even if Tilly is wearing her best cardigan.

Morton treats her mystery seriously in a parellel universe filled with only felines who have the same worries, problems and issues as humans. Her research and history will surprise readers new to the series, so if this is your first experience, go back to the beginning and read the entire series.

Packed with charm, and with Morton's trademark wit, these are characters who will warm your heart while the mystery is being solved——just what the world needs now. Highly recommended.

Beyond the Gravy
by Mandy Morton
Published: May 16, 2019 by Farrago
Genre/Category: Humor, Mystery & Thrillers,
Read For: NetGalley Review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4 stars

Book synopsis from Amazon: Psychic cat Irene Peggledrip is being visited by a band of malevolent spirits who all claim to be murderers. Not only is their message disturbing, but they cause chaos with indoor snowstorms, flying books and the untimely demise of a delicious Victoria sponge. Irene calls in Hettie and Tilly of the No. 2 Feline Detective Agency to help, but they’re not sure how far their skills reach into the spirit realm.
Meanwhile, Lavender Stamp, the town’s bad-tempered postmistress cat, has some good news to deliver to Tilly: she has won a competition to take afternoon tea with renowned mystery writer Agatha Crispy at her Devon home, Furaway House.
Will Hettie and Tilly finally lay the ghosts to rest? Can Molly Bloom’s new café survive the seance? And will the moving claw give up its secrets before the gravy congeals? Find out in this latest adventure of our favorite feline sleuths.

Review: There is just not much to say about this book. How could you not love cats and a cozy mystery?
Beyond the Gravy is a delightful mystery based around a world of cats that act as humans. This is such a unique premise, and once you get past the cuteness of all the kitties, there is actually an interesting mystery to be solved. This is a very fast paced, quick and fun mystery that will keep your attention and make you smile, and you can probably knock this one off in one sitting. Make sure you take note of the author’s creative style with simple things like the characters names, which makes this book stand out even more. Beyond the Gravy is Book 7 of the #2 Feline Detective Agency Series, but can be read as a stand-alone. Trust me, if you read this one, you will want to go back and start at the beginning of the series and read them all. I simply adored this book, and I know that if you are into the cozy mystery scene, this is one for you to not miss.

Thank you to NetGalley and Farrago for the copy of this book and the opportunity to review this book for my honest and unbiased opinion.

What a refreshing read. I feel full enough after all of the tea, pies and baked goods to say that it was enjoyable. This is a fantastical tale where you can easily forget you are reading about cats with human qualities. I really enjoyed the foodie aspects being tied into the narrative so often.

This novel was very well paced. I learned a great deal about the characters along the way. Their personality types mirrored those of humans and were equally well fleshed out.

Since the cats live in a world that is seemingly lawless it made perfect sense that a detective agency would be needed. Despite the two main charcters, Hettie and Tilly, being polar opposites their strengths and weaknesses combine to make a great duo. Tilly couldn’t have been sweeter and Hettie couldn’t have been grumpier. Both are intelligent and observant and when they link wits they uncovered enough to solve the riddle.

The fact that they were working on a case for a psychic was interesting to say the least. I would say that it would be hard to wrap their paws around ghosts that even the psychic that hired them cannot handle. I enjoyed the way the truth unfolded, although I think that Hettie had more than a little bit of luck on her side, and ultimately I did not come near to guessing the whodunit in this fantastic work.

The other characters all had such definitive personalities it made me want to read more about them in the other books in this series. Where else can you hear tales of a drunken, angry cat who runs the post office? Or kitties that are sky high off of catnip?

Our favorite feline sleuths, Hettie and Tilly are back in their latest and most unusual adventure yet - Beyond the Gravy.  Ghosts are usually beyond the purview of the No. 2 Feline Detective Agency, but after Irene Peggledrip’s pleading and a demonstration from the ghosts involved, the duo reluctantly agree to take the case.  The ghosts believe they are murderers, but who they are and who the victim was is in question.

A vital clue comes from the venerable Miss Crispy who recognizes elements of her play The Mousetrap.


Needless to say, over the course of their investigation Hettie, Tilly and Co., make new friends, have plenty of unusual , off the wall adventures and eat plenty of scrumptious food.  Like all books in this adorable cozy series, there is much to bring a smile to a reader’s face. From the merry to the macabre, Beyond the Gravy is a veritable feast.


5 / 5


I received a copy of Beyond the Gravy from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.


— Crittermom

Princess Fuzzypants here: Hetty and Tillie return to solve mysteries as the No 2 Feline Detective Agency.. If you are a fan of kitty detectives and also a fan of those wonderful old British tales such as Beatrix Potter and The Wind in the Willow, this could be an enchanting find. The author creates a cats only world that closely mimics the villages of so many cozies set in Britain. The cast of characters are all cats who lead productive lives. They run shops and they write books and they ride motorcycles and wear leathers. And they run detective agencies. While the characters exist in this parallel universe they are still, when all is said and done, cats. It is quite a trick to pull off.
In this second outing, that is precisely what the author does. Hetty and Tillie are asked to help a local psychic deal with some decidedly unsettled ghosts who are haunting her home. They cannot pass over until a mystery surrounding their deaths is solved. But first the two detectives must discover who they are and what happened to them. It all coincides with a contest Tillie wins where she is invited to take tea with her favourite famous novelist.
During the adventure to the tea, the ladies find some missing pieces that help them uncover the secrets that will free the ghosts. It is a lovely little book with charming characters that would be fine for younger readers or adults. I know I enjoyed visiting. I think you might too.
Five purrs and two paws up.

What more can a cat lover ask for! A cozy mystery involving cats as detectives! it doesn't end here! The whole town is full of cats. The famous mystery writer is called Agatha Crispy! And some of her masterpieces include Deat Cat's Folly, Three Blind Mice and many more! Tilly and Hettie were absolutely adorable! The mystery was superb! Did I not mention that the story is a laughter riot?!! Highly recommended!

Cat Mysteries . . . Who Knew?

I was looking at books to choose to review at a book review site that I sometimes use, and I was in a mood for mysteries. I mostly read romance, but I do love a good cozy mystery now and then. So I just grab anything that looked like a cozy mystery. I didn't realize that this particular one had cats as the detectives and a psychic cat! I knew that such a thing as cat cozy mysteries existed but had never read one out in the wild. I found the cat aspect to be quite silly but more charming than I would have imagined. It was definitely an unusual and interesting read than I would have imagined. The main detective cats had such personalities. And there was actually a mystery, too! An enjoyable read.

The Play within the Play

Ms Morton puts her feline detectives into some interesting situations, in this case involving psychic manifestations. The book title is a clever pun which is sort of revealed (well, at least *I* had an "aHA!" moment about 1/3 of the way in)--okay, I guess that is a pun of its own but since the book is replete with them, be prepared! In addition there are tons of clever wordplays when it comes to the naming of cats. I've only read one other of the series and although there are probably lots of cross references to earlier cases, this tale (sorry, it's catching!) stands well on its own. Keywords: thespians, motorcyclists, cooks. Have fun!

The No. 2 Feline Detective Agency #7


Cats--cozy mystery--ghosts!! Sheer delight. If you don't love cats, then enjoy the Mystery, the Spooky aspects, and the lovely anthropomorphic examples of Felines displaying all-too-human foibles.


Delightfully humorous and a fun, entertaining, read.