This post contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
T. C. LoTempio returns to the blog with a fun character interview celebrating the release of A Blue Ribbon Murder (Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries), featuring the ever-charming Purrday.
Purrday steps into the spotlight in this playful Q&A, sharing life as a mystery-solving cat with a very full nap schedule.
Readers who have visited Salty Inspirations before may also remember past visits and stories from these beloved series, including When Sleuthing Spells Trouble, A Dish Best Served Dead, and Murder on the Books.
Some questions we just had to ask Purrday
Whats the best part or being a cat?
Everything! I have the best life – a warm bed, plenty of food, a human who cares about my welfare – and, of course, my Lady Love, Princess Fuzzypants. Who could ask for more?
Describe a typical day in your life?
Let’s see – get up, eat, take a nap – eat some more, play with the Princess, take a nap – oh, and help Shell solve a mystery!
How do you get along with your fellow cats?
I am a very agreeable cat and pride myself on getting along well with both animals and humans. I get along smashingly with the Princess – we are something of an item – Kahlua is a much harder nut to crack. She is a lofty Siamese, after all! But I think she’s coming around.
What do you think of your human, Shell McMillan?
Well aside from her taking a few unnecessary risks in her mystery solving, I think she’s one of the more intelligent humans I’ve met.
What do you think of Gary?
Think he and Shell would ever get together? – Gary’s a fine fellow – and an excellent cook. I do love when he makes seafood, he always manages to slip me a spare shrimp! Will he and Shell ever get together? Well, first they have to realize that they do have feelings for each other. With humans, who can say how long that might take?
What’ the favorite part of your day?
Breakfast, lunch and dinner, meow!
What’s been your favorite adventure so far?
I’d have to say this latest – the Blue Ribbon Murder. Getting to play detective and strut my stuff at a pet show was the ultimate end!
We’ve heard this is your last adventure. Is there anything you want to say to your fans?
Just thanks for your support through six books. I prefer not to say goodbye, but rather, au revior- until we meet again. After all, you never know! (winks good eye)
A Blue Ribbon Murder (Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries) by T. C. LoTempioAbout A Blue Ribbon Murder
A Blue Ribbon Murder (Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Setting – Connecticut
Publisher : Beyond the Page
Publication date : March 31, 2026
Print length : 260 pages
Paperback
ISBN-13: 9781966322467
Digital
ISBN-13 : 978-1966322443
ASIN : B0GPT7LN4H
When the organizer of a major cat competition is murdered and the grand prize is stolen, Shell McMillan will have to claw through the clues to catch a killer . . .
The Kitty Club Cat Show has come to Fox Hollow, and everyone from casual cat lovers to competitive breeders has shown up for the contest. Pet shop owner Shell McMillan has two cats entered, and like everyone else she has her eye on the grand prize, a vibrant red leash with a solid gold cat-head figurine attached. As the judging begins, cat owners clash and the fur flies, until a power outage throws the whole arena into darkness. But when the lights come back up, the event’s organizer is found dead and the grand prize is missing.
Shell knows the obvious suspect is the victim’s stepson, who’s up to his neck in gambling debts and would kill to get his hands on his inheritance. But there are plenty of disgruntled competitors to consider too, including some who had an old score to settle with the victim. Every clue is catnip for Shell, especially as she puzzles out whether the thief and the murderer are the same person. Either way, with two crimes to solve and a killer on the loose, she’ll have to tread carefully so that her dreams of Best in Show don’t end with Rest in Peace . . .
About T. C. LoTempio
While Toni Lotempio does not commit – or solve – murders in real life, she has no trouble doing it on paper. Her lifelong love of mysteries began early on when she was introduced to her first Nancy Drew mystery at age 10 – The Secret in the Old Attic. She and her cat pen the Nick and Nora mystery series originally from Berkley Prime Crime and now with Beyond the Page Publishing. They also write the Pet Shop Series and the Tiffany Austin Food Blogger series and brand new Cozy Bookshop Mysteries!
You can cat-ch up with them at ROCCO’s blog, www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com or her website, www.tclotempio.netAuthor Links
Purchase Links
Tour Participants
- April 6 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
- April 6 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
- April 7 – Sarandipity’s – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
- April 7 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – SPOTLIGHT
- April 8 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT
- April 9 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW
- April 9 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
- April 10 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
- April 11 – Reading Is My SuperPower – AUTHOR GUEST POST
- April 11 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
- April 12 – Deal Sharing Aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
- April 13 – Angel’s Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT
- April 14 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
- April 15 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
- April 15 – Because I said so – adventures in parenting – REVIEW
- April 16 – Salty Inspirations – CHARACTER GUEST POST
- April 17 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
- April 18 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
- April 19 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW
Excerpt
Gary and I looked at each other. “Seems to me Clements truly regrets designing that prize,” I said. I tapped a finger against my cheek. “He seemed a bit resentful, didn’t he, at having to share the spotlight with that twenty-five grand.”
“That he did,” said Gary. “Isobel probably promised his artwork would be the only prize, and then had to renege. Can’t blame her though. It would be hard to turn down a donation like that, especially if it were specifically donated to be used for the grand prize.”
I tapped at my chin. “Isobel mentioned something about an incident at Manchester. I wonder what that was about.”
“I have no idea, but we can look into it later. Right now we have an appointment to keep,” said Gary as he pushed open the office door.
We stepped inside and stopped still as we realized the office was deserted. “Isobel—Ms. Lanford,” I called out. I shot Gary a puzzled look. “Where did she go? She was here, we both heard her.”
A door off to the side opened and Mavis hurried in. She started upon seeing Gary and me standing there. “Ms. McMillan—and Gary Presser!” Her eyes lit up as they rested on Gary. “What are you doing here?”
“Ms. Lanford invited us to come here to meet Brenda Barton,” I said. “She mentioned that you were picking her up at the airport.”
“I was supposed to,” said Mavis. “But when I was halfway there, I got a call that Ms. Barton’s flight was delayed indefinitely. Engine trouble. I texted Ms. Lanford and then came straight back here.”
I frowned. “Odd that Ms. Lanford didn’t call us and tell us not to come,” I said.
Mavis shrugged. “She’s been dashing around here like a whirligig. She probably hasn’t even seen my text yet,” she said. She glanced around the office. “As a matter of fact, I’m sure that was her I saw hightailing it down the back hallway just a few minutes ago. She looked like she was in quite a hurry. No doubt another fire to put out.”
Mavis turned away from us and walked over to the desk. She bent to rummage through one of the drawers, and I took that opportunity to catch Gary’s eye and motion toward the door.
“Well,” I said, “please tell Ms. Lanford we did come here and to please get in touch with us if Ms. Barton does make it to the show.”
Mavis shifted through a pile of papers. “I’ll pass your message along,” she replied without looking up.
“Thank you,” I said and then Gary and I made our exit. Once we were outside the office door, I frowned. “That was weird,” I said.
“To say the least,” agreed Gary. “If we hadn’t stopped to speak with Clements, we’d surely have seen her. She certainly disappeared fast, though.”
“Well, she has been running around a lot,” I said. “Not to mention the difficulties with her son.”
A group of women came over to us, and one of the women pointed at Gary. “You have that beautiful cat in the household pet trials,” she said. “Princess Something, right?”
“Princess Fuzzypants, yes,” said Gary.
“She’s simply beautiful,” another woman gushed. “We all hope she wins, even though we heard some of the other owners grumbling about her.” She wagged a finger playfully at Gary. “You and your cat have caused quite a stir, young man.”
We spent a few minutes with the women, which consisted mainly of Gary extolling the princess’s many virtues. When they finally moved off he grinned at me. “Too bad the winner can’t be decided with an audience vote. The princess would surely win.”
“I think she’s got a good shot at it anyway,” I said. We turned the corner and I stopped. “Well, look where we are. I didn’t realize it was this close to the office.”
We were in front of the small room off to the side of the main arena where the grand prize was secreted. Suddenly I grabbed Gary’s arm. “Look over there,” I said. “I think the door is open.”
Gary squinted in that direction. “I think you’re right. That probably means they’re getting ready to bring the prize out to the main arena.” He glanced at his watch. “That’s probably right. The festivities begin promptly at five, right? And it’s four fifteen.”
I glanced around. “Yes, but if that were the case there would be workmen around, don’t you think? At the very least, Isobel should be here to supervise.”
“Maybe she’s delayed on account of that ‘fire to put out.’” He put air quotes around the words. “But you’re right. It is odd.” He touched my arm. “Come on. I think we should check it out.”
I didn’t have to be asked twice. We walked over to the door. It was open a sliver, and I gave it a tentative push. It swung open, and we stepped inside. I heard a faint click as the door swung shut, and then we both stopped to regard the tableaux before us.
The table looked the same as it had when we’d seen it earlier, only now the yellow covering had been removed. On top of a wooden tower sat a bust on which was displayed a silver filigree collar. Dangling from the collar was a good-sized charm in the shape of a cat’s paw. The paw had tiny twinkling diamonds in each of the toes, and the center of the paw was comprised of a large sparkling blue stone—a sapphire.
But the collar and charm wasn’t what held my attention. It was Isobel Lanford, lying in a crumpled heap just below the table, her eyes bulging, her hand reaching out in supplication, a red leash dangling from her twisted neck. In the overhead light I thought I saw something twinkle on the side of Isobel’s neck. Curious, I started to move in for a closer look.
And that’s when all the lights went out.
Have you signed up to be a Tour Host? Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today! Want to Book a Tour? Click Here
Thank you to T. C. LoTempio for stopping by Salty Inspirations and sharing Purrday’s fun character interview from A Blue Ribbon Murder (Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries).
If you enjoyed today’s feature, be sure to add the book to your TBR and take a look around the blog for more cozy mystery guest posts, interviews, and bookish fun.
Happy reading!
As always, thanks for stopping by for some Salty Inspirations! —Michelle❤️
