Charlie Harris and his cat Diesel are about fed up with the new head of the library. Oscar Reilly acts like he's on a mission to make enemies. That creates a long list of suspects when Oscar turns up dead. When Charlie moves into the office, to fill in temporarily, he finds something that could make him the killer's next target.

NO CATS ALLOWED is a fantastic small-town cozy mystery. Author Miranda James's takes her time introducing all the characters and laying out the situation. Her precise writing makes it easy to visualize the quiet Athena College campus and Charlie's old family home. When Oscar Reilly is murdered in the library, we already know why half a dozen people might want him dead.

Coming from a long line of southerners myself, I especially appreciate the uniquely southern touches James weaves into the story, from the foods served for dinner to the way the native characters talk. Each book is a real taste of the region.

I also appreciate that the tone and language is such I feel comfortable recommending NO CATS ALLOWED and James's other Cat in the Stacks novels to anyone who loves a good mystery, from my old-fashioned mom to young adult readers.