Book Review: Nine Lives And Alibis by Cate Conte

The charmingly enigmatic Cate Conte is the pseudonym of author Liz Mugavero. A former reporter (and the granddaughter of a real-life detective), she wrote the Pawsitively Organic Mysteries, the first of which, Kneading to Die, was nominated for an Agatha Award. As Conte, she now pens both the Full Moon and Cat Café Mysteries; the latter series’ seventh entry, Nine Lives and Alibis, was recently published and melds autumnal ambiance with the cozy stylings of cats, confections, and crime.

As October 31st draws near, business owner and amateur sleuth Maddie James (JJ’s House of Purrs) finds herself on the planning committee for Daybreak Island’s Haunted Halloween Festival. More elaborately conceived this year to compete with nearby Salem, the multi-day event will not only feature family friendly activities such as a pet parade and pumpkin carving contest but an extended visit from famed psychic Balfour Dempsey. And while securing his participation in the festivities is a major coup for the town, hotel proprietor Jacob Blair has reservations about the optics of Balfour’s presence. After all, the Inn at Lighthouse Point enjoys a stellar reputation—despite a haunted history that includes ghostly sightings and two decades-old unsolved mysteries.  

But popular opinion prevails, and Balfour—son of islander Alice Dempsey—soon arrives in town, accompanied by an entourage that includes a handful of assistants, his beloved black cat, Balfour Jr., and maybe even a stalker. Ensconced in the Inn’s long-shuttered top floor, Balfour soon begins having insights into the cold cases—the murder of a visiting businessman found dead in an elevator shaft and the subsequent disappearance of one of the hotel’s young maids. Maddie’s best friend, ambitious reporter Becky Walsh, is determined to leverage her access to Balfour into solving the crimes for a Gazette exclusive. Unfortunately, it’s Balfour’s untimely demise that becomes front-page news when he’s found at the bottom of a cliff.

Having discovered the body, and feeling a sense of responsibility to Balfour’s heartbroken mother, Maddie—who came to respect the medium despite their brief acquaintanceship—is obliged to look into the circumstances of his death. She’s predisposed to sleuthing, after all; her grandfather is the former chief of police and recent widower Leo James. Potential motives and suspects abound, and Maddie calls on Leo, Becky, and her newly live-in boyfriend, Lucas, to help sort out past and present events, which seem to converge in suggestive ways. Can they catch a killer and salvage what remains of the festival or will Halloween go bust? Note: loyal readers will delight in the appearance of endearingly eccentric crystal shop owner Violet Mooney, the bewitching protagonist of the author’s Full Moon Mysteries.

Cate Conte proves to be the cat’s meow with Nine Lives and Alibis. Not only are the trifecta of mysteries both intriguing and intricately woven, but she renders Maddie—whose healthy skepticism is tempered with admirable open-mindedness—a particularly appealing heroine who endeavors to balance business and detecting with family and romance. This spirited, spooky tale is the purrfect way to usher in fall. So grab yourself a pumpkin spice latte (or your preferred seasonal beverage) and indulge in a seriously good yarn…