An Incantation of Cats by Clea Simon

An Incantation of Cats (Witch Cats of Cambridge #2) by Clea Simon

Release: January 14th, 2020
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Polis Books
Source: Suzyapproved Book Tours
Find it at Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N

The new novel in Clea Simon’s spellbinding Witch Cats of Cambridge series! When two new clients seek Becca’s professional services, the fledgling witch detective is overjoyed. Finally, she can use her skills to help her magical community. But as the young witch finds the new cases intertwining, things grow more complicated. Becca’s three cats – the ones with the real power – can smell something wrong with these clients. But not even Clara, the calico, knows what to do when a man ends up dead and a powerful and poisonous root appears – and disappears – in the case.

To make matters worse, Clara and her littermates are feuding – and she can’t tell them about an unsettling interaction she’s had with one of the client’s sisters. Is it possible that some humans may have the same powers as the magical felines? What does that mean for Clara’s beloved Becca – and for the potent poison that has already taken one person’s life? In this second Witch Cats of Cambridge mystery, Clara and her sisters must learn to work together if they are to save the person they all love.

About the Author:

Before turning to a life of crime (fiction), Clea Simon was a journalist. Starting as a rock critic, she ended up writing about books and other arts. A native of New York, she came to Massachusetts to attend Harvard University, from which she graduated with high honors, and never left.

The author of three nonfiction books and seven mysteries, she lives with her husband, the writer Jon S. Garelick, and their cat, Musetta. She is the author of the Witch Cats of Cambridge mysteries from Polis Books: A Spell of Murder, An Incantation of Cats, and A Cat on the Case.

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An Incantation of Cats Review:

“An Incantation of Cats” is a lovely continuation to the “Witch Cats of Cambridge” series that was better than its predecessor in some ways.

The highlight for me in his book was Becca and Clara. I thought the author matured both of them so well from the first book. I saw Becca as solid and confident in the tale, where she takes charge of the case and doesn’t give up. She also comforts Maddy in some scenes when it was the other way around earlier. Similarly, I loved the relationship between Clara, Laurel, and Harriet. The three of them look for each other, and I enjoyed how the author added more layers and emotions to the two, not making Clara the spotlight. Maddy is excellent, and I adored how she got herself involved in the investigations. Similarly, Gaia and Elizabeth were two characters who I found fascinating. The author did a fantastic job with the character’s emotions, and I thought I was more connected to them.

However, I felt some aspects were missing in the story. For one thing, I wanted to see characters like Nathan from the first book, which surprisingly did not happen. Moreover, I wanted more background on the ancestry plot that the author builds up in the first book, but there was not much progress as I would have liked. Also, since there were only a small set of characters, the suspect turned out to be someone I expected, so it was not as surprising as in the first book.

Nevertheless, ” An Incantation of Cats” is an entertaining continuation of the series, and I cannot wait to read the next book!