No one likes Alexis Hightower, so when the cat show judge turns up dead, with a cat toy stuffed in her mouth, just about everyone at the cat show slash speed dating weekend had motive. Scumble River's school psychologist Skye Denison just happens to find the body, and soon finds herself helping her police chief fiancé, Wally Boyd, work his way through the suspect list.

MURDER OF THE CAT'S MEOW is the 15th book in the Scumble River series, but it's the first I've read. Author Denise Swanson weaves in enough background that I was never lost as continuing characters, like Skye's former students Frannie and Justin, are re-introduced.

The murder set-up is pretty complex, and without giving too much away, most of Skye and Wally's time is spent eliminating suspects and following dead-ends. They kind of stumble on the real motive and the killer near the end.

Skye, Wally, and the other regulars are likeable, well-drawn people, and the other characters have quirky personalities but don't seem one-dimensional. MURDER OF THE CAT'S MEOW is an entertaining cozy mystery, light enough to sleep easy at night, and puzzling enough to keep you interested.