Witch's Cat Mystery (Sarah Zettel) Books in Order

Sarah Zettel writes the Witch's Cat Mystery books as Delia James. The series starts when artist Annabelle Britton leaves behind a bad breakup and heads to Portsmouth, New Hampshire for what she thinks will be a temporary reset.

Then she meets Alistair.

Alistair is a smoky gray cat with strong opinions and a direct connection to Anna's family past. He leads her to an unexpected inheritance, a cottage, and the discovery that magic has been part of her life all along. When Alistair's former owner dies under suspicious circumstances, Anna has to learn the rules of her new world while trying to make sense of a very human crime.

Anna is a grounded heroine. She has work to do, a life to rebuild, and plenty of understandable hesitation about suddenly being expected to use witchcraft. Her art matters in the series, as does the slow process of making friends and becoming part of a town. She is not a trained detective, but she is curious, observant, and willing to keep asking questions after most people would rather leave a strange situation alone.

The town gives the mysteries their character. Portsmouth has old buildings, coastal weather, local history, and the kind of close community where someone always remembers what happened years ago. In By Familiar Means, a painting job at a coffeehouse exposes Anna to eerie activity, hidden tunnels, and murder. Familiar Motives begins with a veterinarian's death and the disappearance of a famous cat, then pushes Anna and Alistair toward another set of secrets.

Magic helps, but it does not solve everything.

The paranormal elements include spells, covens, charms, familiar bonds, and inherited knowledge. Still, the core of each book is a cozy mystery about motives, secrets, and the practical work of finding out who had reason to harm someone. Alistair may spot danger first, but Anna has to decide what to do about it.

The trilogy is best read from A Familiar Tail onward, because Anna's powers, her home, and her ties to the town build over time. It is a warm series with enough spooky atmosphere to keep the cases interesting, and enough cat attitude to make sure no one gets too comfortable.