A Familiar Tail

By Delia James

Book Overview

Magic and meows meet in the first enchanting Witch's Cat mystery Unlucky-in-love artist Annabelle Britton decides that a visit to the seaside town of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is the perfect way to get over her problems. But when she stumbles upon a smoky gray cat named Alastair, and follows him into a charming cottage, Annabelle finds herself in a whole spellbook full of trouble. Suddenly saddled with a witch's wand and a furry familiar, Annabelle soon meets a friendly group of women who use their spells, charms, and potions to keep the people of Portsmouth safe. But despite their gifts, the witches can't prevent every wicked deed in town.... Soon, the mystery surrounding Alistair's former owner, who died under unusual circumstances, grows when another local turns up dead. Armed with magic, friends, and the charmed cat who adopted her more than the other way around, Annabelle sets out to paw through the evidence and uncover a killer.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451476573
• ISBN13: 9780451476579
• Release Date: February 2016
• Publisher: Berkley Books
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

A Familiar Tail is like lo-fi music for the eyes

I had never heard of the "cozy mystery" genre until picking up this book. I was skeptical, worried that the writing might be lax or too juvenile, but the synopsis mentioning witchcraft, magical familiars, book stores, & cozy New England towns got me. It is 105 degrees in Arkansas right now, and I thought this might help break the summer swelter monotony. Plus it seemed like a quick and fun little read. I ended up being pleasantly surprised. Yes, it's a quick read & a bit fluffy, but it is also enthralling, well written, and definitely a cozy up kind of book that left me wanting to read the rest of the books in the series. It's like reading the book equivalent of a nostalgic lo fi record playing with a fireplace crackling in the background. I definitely recommend it.