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!

There was no surprise that just picking this book up you can’t put it down! Gwen writes her books with lots of detail. And her stories flow effortlessly. Great story and great characters. This book is a must have. Cannot wait for the next Homer whodunit!

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.

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!!

Absolutely loved this book! It is one of the few books that I wanted to read because it was so well written, but didn't want to read it because I didn't want it to end. I love the way Homer,Scarlett and Vashti came to life and you could really see within their minds I can't wait for book 2

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.

If you like cozy mysteries, especially those with animals, you will love this book. It kept me on the edge of seat and made me want to keep reading long into the night. Kick your shoes off and put your feet up, you're going to love this book.