kerrilee

I Saw Mommy Killing Santa Claws by Amity Allen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


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I completed the ebook I Saw Mommy Killing Santa Claws by Amity Allen. The main character is Shelby Nelson, struggling interior designer.

As Shelby struggles to launch her design business, she can’t afford to turn down any customers, not even nasty Heather Redstone, president of the HOA and notorious mean girl. Shelby and her assistant, Luis, arrive at Heather’s house to decorate it for the holidays. Their job would be easier if Heather’s kitten, Mousse, didn’t keep getting into everything. Exasperated, Shelby shuts the kitten in a bathroom, but when Heather finds out she has a tantrum and throws them out. Shelby returns the next day to make amends, only to find Heather dead on her kitchen floor. Now she’s a suspect in the murder, and she seems to have inherited Mousse. Other neighbors are avoiding Shelby, and she’s desperate to clear her name and salvage the reputation of her fledgling business. Her BFF, Ginger, is a big help, and even the local gossip, Mabel, provides some pertinent information. It seemed everyone in the neighborhood had a motive to want Heather dead. It’s up to Shelby to figure out which of them did the deed.

The story was enjoyable enough, but some things didn’t set well. For one thing, the title had nothing to do with the story. Shelby kept carting Mousse everywhere with her, whereupon the kitten panicked and fled several times. I mean...maybe leave her safely at home? What really irked me is that the lead detective, Detective Cross, seemed on the verge of arresting Shelby for the murder. Based on what? Shelby argued with Heather and found her body. That was it. Otherwise, characters were portrayed well enough, and the plot moved ahead in a sensible fashion.

Favorite lines:
♦ “When a cat chooses you, you can’t argue.”
♦ Luckily for me, the attention span of a kitten did not allow for lengthy grudges.
♦ I’d always thought the gossip and cliques would die out in high school, but some people had nothing better to do, even as adults.
♦ Mabel looked at me like I’d just asked her if she’d ever noticed the sky is polka-dotted on Tuesdays.

This deserves 3.5 stars. Since it’s the holiday season I’ll be generous and give it four.