Oh how I adore this Cozy mystery featuring an all cat cast. Engaging cases that are unique and very puzzling. Great characters that I love to listen about on audiobook. But sadly this is the last on available. Not sure if there is going to be more in the series, really hope so.26 s Marianne3,735 264

The Ice Maid’s Tail is the eighth novel in the No. 2 Feline Detective Agency series by British author, Mandy Morton. During the fiercest cold snap in some time, Hettie Bagshot and her friends at the No. 2 Feline Detective Agency are called on by Fluff at Wither-Fork Hall to track down three missing kittens. Fluff has allowed a couple of missionaries, fresh from Africa, to set up an orphanage in the Folly on her estate.

During a break in the blizzard, Hettie, Tilly, Bruiser and Poppa set off through the village on their motorcycle outfit, Miss Scarlet, delivering much needed food parcels from the Butter Sisters Bakery on the way, to discover the circumstances of the disappearance of the three missing little ones. What follows is a cosy mystery involving stolen kittens, a strict religious sect, tales of a murderous nanny, a gypsy, a riddling witch, a benevolent aristocrat, arson, tail docking and a heroic rescue or two.

It all sounds your typical cosy mystery set in an English village, except that it’s apparently an alternate-reality English village populated by cats. There's actually nothing feline about these characters: they're basically furry, cat shaped humans with claws, paws, whiskers and tails. They behave exactly humans and don't display any of the behavioural traits that might endear them to cat lovers, nor do they use their feline attributes to help solve their case. At no time does any of them purr. Or wash. The point of them being cats is difficult to fathom.

An attempt is made at humour with character names and some nominative determinism: Lavender Stamp, the postmistress, Turner Page the Librarian, Shroud & Thistle Undertakers; and altered titles of literary works: Agatha Crispy’s Miss Marble; and there is a nod to The Handmaid’s Tale in the title and plot, while the series title clearly parodies a far superior series, The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. It’s not enough to redeem it from a low rating from a first-time reader, although fans of the series might think so.

The characters take every opportunity to eat, which might a feline attribute, and there are consequently many descriptions of meals. While there is a fairly good story there, the whole uncat-cats thing is so distracting that it all has a bizarre feel to it. The eighth book in this series has nothing to entice the reader to explore earlier instalments. It’s not entirely charmless, just weird!
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Duckworth Books.
16 s Helen464 12

The Ice Maid’s Tail is the latest in the No. 2 Feline Detective Agency series. This is #8, a wonderful achievement.

Hettie Bagshot and Tilly Jenkins are our private detectives of record. Never mind that they’re cats. You know that if you’ve read the other books in the series, and you should have, of course (well, the cover, the title and the book description are all clues of a sort, but who’s counting?). Otherwise, they walk, they talk and they solve mysteries humans do, and they’ve got a doozy on their paws here.

It’s a dire winter in their little village, and everybody’s hunkered down, trying to survive as best they can. A lot of the local folk have been put up at Wither-Fork Hall, a large baronial mansion. Word comes that some orphaned kittens are missing, kittens that have been kept in the Folly on the mansion grounds. Now, Tilly senses things, and the Folly at the manse doesn’t feel “right” to her. Boy, is she right about this. The kittens may have run away rather than be exposed any longer to the strict religious training of the orphanage’s leaders. If they have, they’ve probably frozen to death. It’s a gruesome beginning.

We find out where the title of the book comes from – a horror story told to impressionable young kittens, the stuff of young feline nightmares, as the resident gypsy cat relates. I don’t make this stuff up, folks. Our author, Mandy Morton does, and a good thing, too. It’s fun, and entertaining, and as much in keeping with the tenor of the series as the other books.

There’s a mysterious fire to contend with. Are the little kits really dead? The house has its secrets; what’s behind it all? Readers will find out, along with Hettie and Tilly, in the caves ‘neath Wither-Fork Hall. Evil and cruelty come in many forms, feline as well as human; and feline justice is final, and without remorse.

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for a copy of this book, in exchange for this review.12 s Rekha Rao963 47

Oh my meow! What an amazing and absolutely entertaining cozy mystery featuring cats as detectives! Hettie and Tilly, along with Bruiser and Poppa make quite a detective team. Adorable characters (the whole story is about cats living in a cat-town, how cool is that!)
The story also features a fairy 'tail' - The Ice Maid's Tail - my, my, this surely bought shivers down my spine. A fairy tale that is filled with horrendous details - brr!
Mandy Morton is a brilliant author. I am in awe of her storytelling. It goes without saying that she's a true cat lover.
I highly recommend The Ice Maid's Tail and all the other books in this series. No 2 Feline Detective Agency series is a delight for cat lovers me. Can't wait to see what's next in store for our darling feline detectives, Hettie and Tilly. 3 s Gerardine Betancourt 324 58

This is my first time reading this series. The Iced Maid Tails it's the 8 novel in the No. 2 feline detective agency. Hettie and her feline friends are trying to uncover the mystery of 3 missing kitties Camay, Comfort and Windolene.
It was a good book in my opinion but I was surprised many times of how disturbing some parts of the story were. Also I must add that these cats did not stop eating in this story. It was a bit repetitive how much they talked, eat and described different kind of foods.
3 stars for me.
thanks to Netgalley and Duckworth books for providing me with an Arc.2 s The Cozy Review557 39

On Sale February 20, 2020

From Duckworth Books comes the newest addition to the unique cat cozy series, “The No. 2 Feline Detective Agency” from Mandy Morton, The Ice Maid's Tail.

This cat cozy is genuinely unique. I love the idea of cats talking, shopping, going out to restaurants and so forth. I also love that Hettie and Tilly are investigators. Known for their curiosity, cats are natural for this type of role. The two primary cats, as well as the rest of the cast, are marvelously human with fears, quirks and everything we would typically associate with people. I am overjoyed that the author made the characters quirky, intelligent, loving and compassionate.

The bad “guys” would be a nightmare to find if they were human and would have been almost impossible to prosecute. But cats, they still have limitations of what they can do or where they can go, particularly during a blizzard. The culprits are caught and pay a stiff price for their crimes. As with any animal-based book, and especially in a cat cozy, readers will delight at the characters' antics, attitudes and lives.

The fact that it wasn’t necessary to have any humans involved to give readers a sense of family or community was delightful. In the end, this cat cozy delivers on entertainment and mystery. The plot is original, the characters are purrfect, the setting remarkably descriptive without getting bogged down in the mundane. I am happy to recommend The Ice Maid's Tail. And now I’m going back to read all the other books in this series!
2 s solitaryfossil420 25

Cute cute cute! A witty tale about cats and tails. It seems British cats enjoy their teas as much as their human counterparts. I enjoyed this fun, silly mystery-romp, and laughed a lot. Recommended for those who enjoy cozy mysteries, cats on a mission, and a very British outlook. Delightful. I'll return to this series whenever I need some cheering up.cozy-mystery fantasy humor ...more2 s Manon194 6

"You should let yourself thaw out gradually. Just pretend you're a fish finger or a chicken drumstick."

I thoroughly enjoyed myself. More than I was expecting. I don't usually read thrillers (too scary to read when it's dark out..) but this was great. Everyone being a cat definitely helped I think. That didn't take anything away from the story.
Next to all the characters being cats, food was also important in this book. They ate something in almost every chapter.. and I'm here for it.
on-my-shelf1 Annarella13.1k 146

This series is becoming a favorite and I started this ARC as soon as I downloaded it.
I also ended it as fast as I could.
It's a great mix of cozy mystery, humour and gothic story. The plot is well crafted and keeps you hooked till the last page, the mystery is complex and well thought, the cast of characters as lovely as usual.
I love this world of cat and the names of the cats are a strike of genius.
I can't wait to read the next instalment.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Farrago and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.cozy-mystery fantasy netgalley ...more1 Cobwebby Reading Reindeer 5,423 309

The No. 2 Feline Detective Agency #8.
THE ICE MAID'S TALE is the first I have read of this delightful "all cat" series. What could be more entertaining than anthropomorphized felines, with all the recognizable human attitudes, foibles, and failings? Well, even better is a sequence of tremendous Winter storms plus a set of puzzling mysteries! This Series ought to delight cat lovers and Cozy Mystery aficionados a. 2020_a-z_h-a 2020_cats 2020_dog ...more1 Jan5,467 78

What a cute story! Populated entirely by cats, the mystery is about the disappearances of kittens from an orphanage amidst other problems created by a nasty blizzard. Lots of laughs! Fascinating characters who truly are.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Duckworth Books/Farrago via NetGalley. cats cozy-mystery detective ...more1 VivienneAuthor 2 books110

A delightful cosy featuring anthropomorphic cats

My thanks to Duckworth Books/Farrago for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Ice Maid’s Tail’ by Mandy Morton in exchange for an honest review. It was published on 20 February and I subsequently decided to purchase its ebook and audiobook editions.

This is the 8th in her No2 Feline Detective Agency series featuring anthropomorphic cats that live human- lives. I was intrigued by the cover with the cats dressed in very recognisable red and white Handmaids’ outfits.

During a severe blizzard Hettie Bagshot and her sidekick, Tilly Jenkins, are keeping close to their fireside. Yet they spring into action when they are called in to investigate the disappearance of a number of kittens from the kitten orphanage set up by Fluff Wither-Fork, their aristocratic friend.

Running the orphanage for Fluff are Anthea and Preston Munch, two missionaries recently returned from Africa. (Hetty delightfully refers to them as “a pair of born-again crisp packets” and cites their surname as proof that the term is appropriate.)

Then there is the ‘Ice Maid’s Tail’, a local legend associated with Wither-Fork woods, featuring a powerful Ice Queen. The relevance of the legend is that “on cold winter nights, when the snow is thick on the ground, they do say that the Ice Queen haunts the woods and snatches kittens to turn them into Ice Maids, docking their tails and imprisoning them in the Halls of Glass, never to see the sun again.” Of course, the very down-to-earth Hetty considers it “utter tosh”. Yet is it?

Then there is the old witch cat, Bombazine Bright, who also lives in Wither-Fork woods guarding the Magic Tree. News of her existence excites Tilly and has Hettie holding her head in her paws.

While I tend to prefer cats to be cats rather than wearing clothes, eating human food (seemingly continuously), and travelling about on motorbikes, I was rather won over by the quirky charm of Hettie, Tillie and their friends.

Mandy Morton applies the tropes of the cosy mystery sub genre to her feline detectives with a knowing tip of the hat. Hettie’s analysis of the Miss Marble mysteries by Agatha Crispy had me in stitches.

So yes, I was delighted as this proved to be a great deal of whimsical fun. I now plan to read/listen to the entire series.

Highly recommended for lovers of cats and cosy mysteries. ElaineAuthor 2 books9

Title: The Ice Maid's Tail



Author: Mandy Morton



Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Cats, Series, Fantasy.



Plot: Blizzard after freezing blizzard buries the tiny feline town in feet of cold frozen snow. Food becomes scarce in some households and a deep chill settles into the bones of the furry residents. Hettie Bagshot and Tilly Jenkins eventually emerge from their tiny home to scout out the neighbors and perform several rescue attempts for snowed-in friends. When they are out delivering food with Bruiser and Poppa, they get word from their friend Fluff that kittens have gone missing in the snow,



Knowing the odds of finding the poor frozen kittens alive are slim, Hettie and Tilly get down to business immediately and make the acquiescence of the snowed in residents of the Wither-Fork Woods estate - including the odd couple fostering orphan kittens. Have the kittens simply run away or is something more sinister afoot?



s/Diss: This book caught my eye because it appeared to be a mystery where everything is normal except for the teeny tiny fact that everyone is a cat and, to my delight, this is true! All of the characters are cats and they act civilized humanoid cats, complete with wearing clothes, talking and living in big houses. I loved it!! The mystery itself was very interesting and certainly unique. This is the 8th book in the series and I haven't read any of the other books but it stood up very nicely on its own. I look forward to more adventures with Hettie and Tilly!



Rating: PG-15 and up, mainly for content (hints of witchcraft, ghosts, bloody deaths, etc. but nothing graphic)



Date Reviewed: January 22nd, 2020



I received a copy of this book courtesy of Netgalley for my honest opinion. I wasn't required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in the above review are my own. Helen 44

I flipping love this series! I love everything about these books, the concept, the characters the plots, everything and this latest instalment is no exception. A tad darker than normal but still a great story. I love all the characters (yes, even you Lavender Stamp) but have to be honest and stay I have a very soft spot for Tilly, she is just an adorable little thing! Anyhoo, back to the book. This one again has a mystery centred around Wither-Forks Hall where an orphanage has been opened in the grounds thanks to Fluff Wither-Forks generosity and involves kittens going missing (or have they run away?) during one of the coldest winters where the town is snowbound. I won’t give any spoilers except to say …. OH MY GOSH! BRUISER!!! I now have some more grey hairs thanks to you!!

If you haven’t read any of the previous instalments, don’t worry, this one is just as easily read as a stand-alone (I got hooked on the series when I spotted The Death of Downton Tabby a few years ago).

If I could give it 10 stars I would!
Stephanie DaggAuthor 75 books52

I adore this series! As an owner of livestock and birds ranging from alpacas to zebra finches, with such things as llamas, turkeys, goats and many more in-between, I’m not usually one for anthropomorphic literature at all, being far too matter-of-fact about animals, but these cats are just too cool.
the earlier books in this series, we have a feline version of a cosy mystery. Whilst the various characters reflect largely human characteristics, there are subtle, clever feline nuances that creep through. Any cat owner will recognise them! So the use of cats as ‘people’ is not just a gimmick in this author’s hands. Or do I mean paws…
There’s humour, tension, suspense, menace, charm, courage – all the emotions and attributes we expect and love to find in our cosy mysteries. The plot is well constructed and interesting, and the author has a lively, witty, eminently readable style.
Wonderfully enjoyable escapism ?
Marieke Scheers95 2

A nice cozy-crime, with cats in the leading parts. Human-cats living in a town with a bakery, a post office, a second hand store etc. It’s really funny to read about cats living human lives.
A Ice maid’s tail is a great story about a blizzard with ice and snow, three missing kittens, a strange orphanage, ice- tunnels and caves, a gipsy-witch, lots of food, and a book written by a killing nanny with a horrifying story of a Ice queen.
A hard job for the No2 Feline Detective Agency to solve this case, but the will. It’s nice to read, has some real tension in it and it’s also emotional in the end. An eighth part in a serie, but it’s no problem to read without previous episodes.
It’s really a nice book to read.
Carol KeenAuthor 6 books121

This book is so cute! It's just purrfect in many ways. The characters have such cute and punny or funny names. I enjoyed every page of this novel. It's a series, but I haven't read the others. This book stands on its own though. These cats are just my style. They are cats who are mirroring humans. If you want a fun mystery read, with lots of laughs and purrfect cuteness, this is it.

My copy came from Net Galley. This review is my own, left of my own choice. Thoughts and opinions in this review are my own. animals cats cozy-mysteries ...more Charlotte Pawson649 3

Hettie and Tilly are the No 2 Feline Detective Agency. The twist been this story is written from the point of view of Cats. It’s a clever concept that works and you find yourself just enjoying a really good cozy mystery with missing kittens a snowed in village and a ancient prophecy looking it’s come back to haunt everyone. I think it’s just the read for a cold cozy afternoon.
I was given an ARC of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.comedy mystery netgalley ...more Annie2

Fabulous feline escapism

I love this series, they have kept me laughing through the corona virus lockdown and I feel I know Hettie and Tilly very well. The stories are beautifully written and, even though the characters are cats, they are not childish tales. I found the reference to Kirsty Alsopp as Crispy Alslopp hilarious. I love Mandys sense of humour so I hope these books keep on coming. Excellent escapism. Tasha526

A little darker then Mandy Morton's normal writing but well done. Cosy mystery meets Handmaiden Tale in this case of missing kittens,a couple running orphanage that may seem to good to be true. The timing for my reading this tale could not have been better as my city was going the coldest days of winter so far this year.cozy-mystery Miki Jacobs1,178 8

Catastic

I loved this book with it's nod to The Handmaids tale. Hettie and Tilly are laying low due to the severe snowstorms when they’re asked to investigate the disappearance of three kittens from the orphanage. As usual its not straightforward and things take a sinister turn.

All the usual characters and quite a few new ones. Enjoy! Alan955

Rating 3.5

Another very good slice of mystery and whimsy set on the world of cats.
Each chapter has to be read twice really, once for the story and again for the comic names.
This series keeps getting better in my opinion and the actual mystery element has been improving.

A definite recommendation. Tracy Smyth1,681 3

This has probably been my favourite book in the series. Loved the story Richard Farley74 7

A further great cosy mystery of the feline kind. Always enjoyable Lynn Hill822 19

What a purrrfectly lovely story! I had a blast reading this book. The cats with their biscuits and tea. You have made them seem so human . I can’t wait to read the next ventures of the feline fellows! Thank you for such a great book! Atiqah108 2

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