Homer the blind cat, beloved for almost two decades since the publication of Homer's Odyssey, is back with this first in a cozy mystery series featuring Homer and his feline cohorts Scarlett and Vashti and their human companion Rachel Baum, owner of the Title Waves bookstore in Coacoochee, a small town just up the road from South Beach, Florida. When some of Coacoochee’s citizens turn up dead, Rachel begins investigating, unaware that Homer and his friends are already on the job. I’ve read a number of mysteries over the years featuring cats who solve or help solve mysteries. Most are fun to read, although some are a bit too cutesy for my taste. Gwen’s masterful plotting, combined with her trademark descriptive writing style infused with humor, make You Only Live Nine Lives a unique contribution to the genre. Set in 1998, populated with an immensely likeable cast of characters, both human and feline, including a tortie named Samkhat who lives in the alley behind Title Wave Books, with the backdrop of a charming small coastal town, this book will keep you turning the pages. But what really sets this book apart from others in this genre is Gwen’s writing style. “Rachel watched palm trees bend and sway against the gunmetal sky, their fronds thrashing like the tails of angry cats” is just one example of how she uses words to paint pictures and set the scene. Beautiful writing, a well thought out plot, and cats – what more do you need in a book? This is a thoroughly enjoyable and fun read, and a lovely escape from reality to a simpler time. I had a hard time putting this book down, and I hope it will only be the first of many in a delightful series.

I have read all of Gwen Cooper’s books on Homer, her blind cat, and her novel Love Saves the Day, but this mystery novel was a gripping page turner because of the hilarious antics and feline conversations among Homer, Vashti, and Scarlett. This is the story of Rachel Baum, who opens up a bookstore with cafe nook.who lives upstairs, and has a dear young friend who dies in front of her bookstore. The death is ruled “natural causes.” Then shortly after another person dies that is ruled a “heart attack” yet things start smelling fishy to Rachel and she starts her own investigation. What Rachel does not know is that she has three creative feline sleuths helping her-her own cats - Homer, Vashti, and Scarlett. I found their “cat conversations” on what they overheard and what they suspect puts them into the most unusual and amusing situations. I compare these three to Homer as Sherlock Holmes, and Vashti and Scarlett, the two assistant Dr Watson. I was smitten by this first who-done-it by Gwen Cooper that I started re-reading her book. I do hope Ms Cooper makes this book into a mystery series. Even if you are not a cat-person, you will fall in love with Homer, Vashti, and Scarlett. A must-read!

Rachel is running Tidal Wave, a book store with chairs to sit and read and coffee and tea for those who want it. Her aunt owns the building and the shop and now retired, she has given the running of the shop to Rachel. Dorothea's son was removed from running it since he was not doing anything at all while at work. Rachel has set up a book signing with a famous chef who has written a book. The event is a smashing success. The next morning her friend Daisy has been discovered dead at her front door. Rachel has rescued 3 cats who seem to keep track of the happenings at the shop. Poor Homer is blind, but his other senses are totally amazing. They are indoor cats, but have friends,a dog owned by a police officer and outside behind the shop in the form of a one eyed stray and an annoying bird. They know something is not right, that there are secrets that some humans have. Will they be able to find who killed Daisy and why? They have a way to get thru to Rachel, but I will say no one is paranormal. They are smart felines and this book is a page turner to see them get to work with the benefit of the feline intuition. Always knew cats are smart and Gwen Cooper's felines in this book are exactly that, Smart!

Homer is back and more lovable than ever! Readers who met Homer and his sisters Scarlett and Vashti in previous books will love seeing a whole new side to their personalities. It's so much fun to "hear" the cat crew talking together, solving problems and plotting their next moves. I love this book, it is so much fun to read. It's a great story with characters you can relate to, and cats you are 100% rooting for. Many of us have read other books where cats help solve mysteries ("The Cat Who" and so on). This book follows in that fun tradition, but stands on its own two (or should I say four?) legs. I really enjoyed how Homer and his compatriots are front and center in prominent and believable roles in this story. The intriguing plot along with Gwen's witty and humorous writing style make "You Only Live Nine Lives" an exceptional contribution to the mystery-solving cats genre. I am hoping this will evolve into a whole series of "Homer Whodunit" mysteries. Many thanks to you Gwen!

You Only Live Nine Times is such a fun book! I typically stick to paranormal cozies bc I like the talking animals, but this one is special....it is a regular world mystery but the animals can talk to each other, so we hear from them and it is so fun! I love Homer and his vain sisters....they are the stars of the book. This is Gwen Cooper's first mystery and it is really good....red-herrings and twists....it is very well written and I didn't figure out whoduneit till the end. The setting and characters are great and I very much enjoyed it. I can't wait till the next one comes out! (And if you haven't read Gwen's other books about the real Homer, I highly recommend those too!)

What a fun book to read! I absolutely loved the characters -- can't wait to read more about them -- and the colorful south Florida town of Coacoochee. I so want to visit the Title Wave bookstore and have coffee with Rachel! The best part of the book was hearing the thoughts of the cats we met in Homer's Odyssey and have grown to love. Gwen got their voices exactly right and their personalities really shine through, especially that of our favorite grumpy girl, Scarlett. The ending of the book, involving Scarlett and a bottle of Wesson oil, is truly laugh-out-loud funny. I can't wait for the next book and look forward to many, many more!

Rachel's friend dies, and it's ruled natural causes - but she was so young! When another person dies from a heart attack, it seems too curious not to look into it. What Rachel doesn't know is that she has three mini-sleuths helping out - her cats: Homer, Vashti, and Scarlett. This is my first book by this author, and I really enjoyed it. I love how the cats help out behind the scenes, and there are some really laugh-out-loud moments in the book. I hope there will be more in this series. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Having read all of Gwen's previous books on Homer and his various pals, I was very much looking forward to this new take on the clan. I was not disappointed! This is a clever divergent that keeps the gang together but heads off in a new and fun direction with a great murder mystery. Very well written and a great read even if you are not a cat person! Gwen is a very accomplished writer and a lover of all things even tangentially cats, and it shows in this book in spectacular fashion! I'm very much looking forward to the next installments!

You Only Live Nine Times is Book 1 in a Homer Whodunit by Gwen Coopet. I thought that it was interesting that the 3 cats are from a different series. Rachel is their new human. I really liked that the author told the background of each cat. The beautiful people are dropping dead. While Rachel is good at following the clues, her cats are always a step ahead. I can't wait to read more in this series. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.

This is a delightful read. The author has a gift for description; even if you’re not a cat person you’ll be drawn into the characters as they sniff out the murderer. Discerning readers will await more work by this engaging writer with the further adventures of Scarlet, Vashti, and especially Homer, himself drawn from the author’s own blind cat. I’ve tried to add a picture here but it doesn’t attach. Our tuxedo Mikey approves this message.

The animal detectives set this story apart from other mysteries.  Our feline friends, a dog with a heart of gold and even an annoying bird investigate a murder to find a killer before the killer strikes again. Bonus stars for the Scarlett's part in the final scene with the killer. I also would like to visit Title Wave Books. I can visualize the bookstore in my mind.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I loved this cozy mystery! Rachel's three cats, Homer, Vashti, and Scarlett, were so cute! I loved reading from their POVs. They had me laughing several times! The overall mystery was really good! I didn't realize who the murderer was until the reveal. I love when I'm surprised!

Gwen Cooper will delight her fans (and make new ones) with her first mystery book. Everything that I loved about Homer in Homer’s Odyssey is captured in his fictional character. The book has plenty of twists, so, as someone who loves a good mystery, it was a great read - but it’s better than other mysteries, because I get to spend time with Homer again!

Charming mash up of murder mystery from both human and animal points of view. There were enough plot twists it wasn’t immediately clearly evident who did what or why but the real stars of the book are the animals, their personalities and how they coordinate and interact with each other. Looking forward to the next book in the series!!

Homer the Wonder Cat is back in action!!! Along with Scarlett and Vashti, they can't be stopped!! I've looked forward to this book for awhile, and can't wait til the second edition. Thanks, Gwen, for bringing this to fruition for all the Homer fans. If you haven't already, please buy this book! You won't be disappointed.