It’s been too long since we had one of Miranda James’ Cat in the Stacks mysteries, so fans of Charlie Harris and Diesel, the Maine Coon cat will be happy to welcome them back. In Hiss Me Deadly, thanks to friend and co-worker Melba Gilley, Charlie finds himself examining the past when they were both students in high school in Athena, Mississippi.

Melba remembers Wilfred “Wil” Threadgill with fondness. He went by Fred when they were in high school, and Melba still has a crush on him. He’s getting an honorary degree at the local college. Wil left town forty years earlier. He’s now a musician in California, and has been nominated for an Oscar and Golden Globe for film scores. He’ll conduct clinics at the music department at Athena College. Now, before the opening reception, Wil lets Melba know he’d like to meet Charlie and the famous local celebrity, Diesel. He loves cats, but he really wants to pick Charlie’s brain about his cases, and Wil’s suspicions.

When Wil left town abruptly, some of his high school bandmates were angry. That night, everyone in the reception gets to see how angry a drunk John Earl Whitaker is when he storms the stage before Wil’s band is to perform. Then, Whitaker is electrocuted when he touches the mike where Wil was to perform. Charlie has questions. Was Wil the intended target, or did someone know a drunken John Earl would grab the mike?

As attacks pile up, some aimed at Wil’s current bandmates, and one at former ones, Charlie can’t let go of his suspicion that Wil might know more than he’s telling. But, the last thing Charlie wants to do is upset Melba who still seems to have a crush on the musician.

I’ve read all fifteen books in the Cat in the Stacks series. I didn’t have the same suspicions Charlie did, and my thoughts went in an entirely different direction. I was closer to the correct solution than he was.

Fans of the series will be happy to have Charlie and Diesel back. There’s a great deal of action for both of them. I’m sure readers will also be happy to read the new bits about Charlie’s growing family as his son and daughter continue to adjust to their married lives. Hiss Me Deadly should satisfy fans.

Hiss Me Deadly by Miranda James. Berkley, 2023. ISBN 9780593199497 (hardcover), 320p.

FTC Full Disclosure – I received a galley through NetGalley so I could review the book for a journal.