Book Review: Murder Undeniable by Anita Waller

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

MURDER UNDENIABLE (Kat and Mouse Mysteries #1) by Anita Waller is the first book in a contemporary cozy mystery trilogy. This author has written three main characters that are as intelligent and realistic as they are entertaining. The start was a little slow, but it was setting up a crime in the past witnessed by a group of friends which ties into the current murders. The suspense and mystery builds after this scene though at a rapid pace.

Katerina Rowe is a Deacon at her church in the village of Eyam. She is happily married and very satisfied with her life. They have just celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary.

As Kat and Leon are exciting into the alley behind his pharmacy, they discover a man shot to death and a woman barely hanging on to life after being shot in the shoulder and kicked in the head. The woman, Beth, called Mouse, by her family was the dead man’s escort for the night. Kat does not understand why, but she is drawn to Mouse and wants to protect her.

At the hospital Kat meets Beth’s nan, Doris and the three woman form a bond. When Beth’s flat is burned down, Kat takes her and her nan in as the peril escalates and more people are murdered. These three will use their skills to dig into the murders and hopefully find the killer before he succeeds in killing Beth.

I love Kat, Beth and Doris. They are unique characters that each have their own talents to bring to the group. I am very glad I will get to revisit them. The setting of the “plague village” of Eyam was interesting to learn about and is perfect for a cozy setting. I was glad that Ms. Waller made the police investigators as intelligent as the cozy sleuths. They were not stupid or inept caricatures. The ending was only a partial surprise, but it was very satisfying.

I am looking forward to reading the remainder of this Kat and Mouse trilogy.