Classified as Murder

Charlie Harris, a part-time librarian in Athena, Mississippi, agrees to help elderly book collector James Delacorte catalog his rare book collection. Delacorte believes someone in his family is stealing his valuable books and wants Charlie's expertise to document his holdings. Charlie, along with his Maine Coon cat Diesel, begins the cataloging project but soon finds himself investigating a death. The case becomes more complex as family dynamics and hidden motives emerge within the Delacorte household. Working alongside Deputy Chief Kanesha Berry, Charlie must balance his library duties with amateur sleuthing as he navigates through layers of family secrets and rivalries. His observations and connections in the small town prove useful as he pieces together clues about both the missing books and the death. The novel explores themes of family inheritance, the value of books beyond their monetary worth, and how collections can represent power and control in relationships. Through its small-town Southern setting, it examines how the past continues to influence present-day actions and choices.

Readers rate this cozy mystery 4.0/5 on Goodreads (7,800+ ratings) and 4.4/5 on Amazon (300+ ratings). Readers praise: - The evolving relationship between Charlie and Diesel the cat - Details about rare book collecting and library operations - The slower, character-focused pace compared to typical mysteries - Multiple overlapping mysteries that maintain interest Common criticisms: - Too much focus on mundane details like meals and daily routines - Some find the pacing too slow, especially in the middle sections - Supporting characters need more development - The ending feels rushed compared to the methodical buildup "The cat doesn't solve crimes or talk - thank goodness. He just acts like a real cat would," notes one Goodreads reviewer. Another Amazon reviewer states: "The rare book details are fascinating but sometimes overshadow the actual mystery." LibraryThing users (250+ ratings) give it 3.9/5, with several mentioning they prefer this second book to the first in the series.

The Cat Who Could Read Backwards by Lilian Jackson Braun A newspaper reporter and his Siamese cat solve murders in a small town while exploring the connection between art galleries and crime.

Real Murders by Charlaine Harris A librarian who belongs to a true crime discussion group must investigate when members start dying in ways that mirror historical murders.

Death in the Stacks by Jenn McKinlay A head library director becomes entangled in murder when her nemesis is found dead among the books during a fundraising event.

The Christie Curse by Victoria Abbott A book collector searches for a lost Agatha Christie manuscript while investigating the death of her employer's previous researcher.

The Cracked Spine by Paige Shelton An American bookstore employee moves to Scotland and becomes involved in solving the theft of a rare manuscript and subsequent murder at an antiquarian book shop.

🔍 "Miranda James" is actually a pen name for Dean James, who holds a Ph.D. in Medieval History and previously worked as a medical librarian. 📚 The book is part of the "Cat in the Stacks" mystery series, featuring a male librarian protagonist - a relatively uncommon choice in cozy mysteries, which typically feature female leads. 🐱 Charlie Harris's Maine Coon cat Diesel, a key character in the series, is named after author Dean James's own beloved Maine Coon who passed away. 📖 The rare book collecting theme in "Classified as Murder" draws from the author's real-life experience working with special collections in academic libraries. 🏆 The "Cat in the Stacks" series has consistently appeared on the New York Times Bestseller list, with several entries reaching the top 10 in mass-market fiction.