Mrs. Murphy, Harry's smart aleck tiger cat, knows it is time to undertake another investigation. She certainly knows better than to count on the humans to figure things out (they never do unless she helps lead the way). Along with her cohorts, a brave corgi named Tee Tucker and the vain but loyal cat Pewter, Mrs. Murphy does her best to point Harry and the police to clues that will get them started in the right direction.

The murder of a local man involved in an unscrupulous land deal heightens the feeling of imminent danger, and before everything is over, the trio of animals will be forced to take direct action to save a friend.

Even readers who do not normally enjoy "cute" talking animals will likely be charmed by Mrs. Murphy, Pewter, and Tee Tucker, and their many four-footed friends. They are not overly sweet and they feel authentic. Mrs. Murphy's sassy remarks (and her close call with a bobcat!), Tee Tucker's complaints and her bravery, Pewter's obsession with getting revenge on an upstart blue jay ... these are the best parts of the book.

Of course, this means that the animals steal the show. The human characters are not nearly as interesting, or as much fun. Cat on the Scent is quietly enjoyable, but the truly memorable scenes are those with the animals. I like the town of Crozet, I like Harry and her friends, but having read the entire series, I'm more than ready for some growth, some change. For the last few books the characters have remained static. If Harry and the other humans were as real and as interesting as Mrs. Murphy, this would be more than a pleasant cozy.

--Jeri Wright