Magical Cats Mystery Books in Order
Part ofSofie Kelly Books in OrderFind the Magical Cats Mystery books by Sofie Kelly in order, with Kathleen Paulson summaries, series background, and an easy guide to where to start.
Last updated: June 7, 2026
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Publication Order
17 books
Curiosity Thrilled the Cat
by Sofie Kelly
2011
Kathleen moves to Mayville Heights and takes in strays Owen and Hercules. When murder hits the summer music festival and she becomes a suspect, she discovers her new cats are magical, and very useful investigators.
Sleight of Paw
by Sofie Kelly
2011
Kathleen is still getting used to magical cats Owen and Hercules when elderly Agatha Shepherd is found dead near her favorite cafe. To uncover the truth, she will need invisibility, wall-walking, and a lot of careful snooping.
Copycat Killing
by Sofie Kelly
2012
After flooding threatens the local artists' co-op, Kathleen helps move artwork to safety, then finds mask maker Jaeger Merrill dead downstairs. As secrets about the victim pile up, Kathleen and her cats hunt a killer hiding in plain sight.
Cat Trick
by Sofie Kelly
2013
Mayville Heights hopes a tourism deal will put the town on the map, until loudmouthed Mike Glazer turns up dead on the boardwalk. Kathleen, Owen, and Hercules dig into old grudges and fresh motives to catch the killer.
Final Catcall
by Sofie Kelly
2013
A theatre festival brings plenty of drama to Mayville Heights, and not just in Kathleen's personal life. When director Hugh Davis is found shot, blackmail, fraud, and a crowded suspect list pull Kathleen and her magical cats into the case.
A Midwinter's Tail
by Sofie Kelly
2014
While organizing a holiday fundraiser for the library's Reading Buddies program, Kathleen is blindsided when a guest dies at the gala. With winter closing in and everyone hiding connections to the victim, she and her cats have to work fast.
Faux Paw
by Sofie Kelly
2015
An art exhibition turns Kathleen's library upside down with tight security and an impossible curator. Then the curator is found dead and a valuable sketch is missing, sending Kathleen, Marcus, Owen, and Hercules after a killer with expensive taste.
No More Pussyfooting Around
by Sofie Ryan
2016
Kathleen's friend Maggie thinks someone at the artists' co-op is stealing small but troubling items, and she does not want the police involved. Kathleen and her two magical cats take on the quiet little mystery before suspicion tears friendships apart.
Paws and Effect
by Sofie Kelly
2016
Kathleen is happy to meet three old friends of Marcus Gordon, until one of them is murdered and the evidence points straight at Marcus. To clear him, Kathleen and her cats must untangle old loyalties, secrets, and a very personal frame-up.
A Tale of Two Kitties
by Sofie Kelly
2017
The return of the Janes brothers revives a scandal Mayville Heights never forgot. When Leo Janes is killed and Kathleen's friend Simon is blamed, Kathleen, Owen, and Hercules dig into decades-old history to prove the wrong man is not taking the fall.
The Cats Came Back
by Sofie Kelly
2018
A music festival fills Mayville Heights with visitors, performers, and trouble. When Kathleen and her cats find a dead woman by the river, a striking resemblance between the victim and a cabaret singer points to a puzzle of identity and motive.
A Night's Tail
by Sofie Kelly
2019
Kathleen's brother Ethan comes to town with his band, but the visit sours when one musician is tied to a dead businessman. To help her family and find the truth, Kathleen turns to Owen and Hercules for another round of feline sleuthing.
A Case of Cat and Mouse
by Sofie Kelly
2020
A rebooted baking show brings cameras, catering, and chaos to Mayville Heights, with Kathleen advising on local history. When a judge is found dead, Kathleen and her magical cats have to sort real clues from reality TV noise.
Hooked on a Feline
by Sofie Kelly
2021
After a local music festival concert, a band member turns up dead and Kathleen suspects it was no simple robbery. As she traces the victim's family history, she begins to wonder whether an older death is tied to the new murder.
Whiskers and Lies
by Sofie Kelly
2022
Kathleen is helping plan a library Halloween event when baker Georgia Tepper is threatened by her former mother-in-law. After the woman is found dead and Georgia is implicated, Kathleen, Owen, and Hercules step in to save a friend.
Paws to Remember
by Sofie Kelly
2023
A repair job at the artists' co-op uncovers a body hidden inside the walls, and Marcus suspects it may belong to a woman who vanished decades ago. Kathleen and her cats are pulled into a cold case that suddenly feels very alive.
Furever After
by Sofie Kelly
2024
Kathleen is juggling library work and wedding plans when she finds a dead man in the library during an attempted art theft. With Owen and Hercules on the case, she has to untangle murder, stolen paintings, and danger closing in fast.
Series background & context
The Magical Cats Mystery books begin when librarian Kathleen Paulson settles in Mayville Heights, Minnesota and winds up with two stray cats, Owen and Hercules. That would be enough change for most people. Then she discovers the cats are not ordinary strays, and that murder has a habit of landing far too close to home.
Those cats really are magical.
They first shadow Kathleen home from mysterious Wisteria Manor, and before long their gifts become part of the series' charm. Owen can turn invisible. Hercules can walk through walls. Neither one is above pushing Kathleen toward a clue, demanding snacks, or acting as if they are the ones truly running the household. Their powers give the books a playful edge, but the mysteries still work the old-fashioned way, with interviews, local gossip, careful digging, and Kathleen doing the hard work of putting pieces together.
Mayville Heights matters just as much as the cats. The town is full of library events, art shows, music festivals, theater productions, bakery drama, old family grudges, and the kind of local politics that can turn personal fast. Because the setting is so community-based, the stakes usually feel close and human. A victim is often someone's friend, ex, relative, coworker, or neighbor, which keeps the books emotional without making them grim.
Across the series, Kathleen builds a real life there. Her friendships deepen. Her relationship with Detective Marcus Gordon grows from wary attraction into something steadier. Recurring characters come back often enough that the town starts to feel lived in, and reading in order lets you enjoy those connections building book by book, starting with Curiosity Thrilled the Cat. Each novel has its own case, but the larger pleasure comes from watching Kathleen, Marcus, Owen, and Hercules become a team.
This is cozy mystery comfort with paw prints on it.
The tone stays warm, curious, and lightly funny, even when the crimes are serious. Readers can expect clever setups, plenty of suspects, a touch of magic, and two memorable feline partners who have strong opinions about sardine crackers, Barry Manilow, and when a human investigation is moving too slowly. If you like mysteries that balance small-town charm, library life, and a continuing cast, this series makes it very easy to settle in for the long haul.
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