HomeComing * Michael Craft * Mister Puss #3

When a high-profile Hollywood film shoot arrives to transform an idyllic Wisconsin town, a real-life murder on the town commons halts production, forcing an architect-turned-sleuth and his exceptionally perceptive Abyssinian cat to unmask the killer.

The Story: Written by prominent mystery author and Lambda Literary Award finalist Michael Craft, this celebrated 2020 series installment is a charming, puzzle-filled novel in the beloved Mister Puss mystery franchise. The narrative steps cleanly away from the graphic violence and heavy procedural mechanics of gritty urban thrillers. Instead, Craft creates a, atmospheric cozy mystery that masterfully pairs small-town architecture, Midwestern regional charm, and complex personal relationships, demonstrating that unmasking a clever killer requires sharp observation, human intuition, and an animal's keen sense of hidden tension.

The plot centers on Dumont, Wisconsin, where local actor Thad Manning has returned from Hollywood to direct a major film production, one that happens to feature a highly coveted role for a cat. The community's festive routine is instantly shattered when a shocking murder takes place on the town commons during a crucial test scene. Brody Norris, a sophisticated architect who is actively juggling the design of a new home with his husband Marson Miles, unintentionally finds himself drawn into an independent tracking loop to assist Sheriff Thomas Simms. Working quietly by Brody's side is Mister Puss, his striking, unusually intelligent Abyssinian cat whose subtle behavioral cues and unique focus point toward the critical evidence the local authorities overlook.

Rather than letting the investigation descend into frantic panic, the narrative maintains a comforting, elegant pace. Craft balances the intellectual whodunit with rich descriptions of architectural design and a warm, inclusive cast of characters, teaching readers that the secrets we try to bury in our past will eventually find a way back home. Published as an essential premium trade edition by QuestOver Press, this witty, sophisticated page-turner keeps the suspense at a comforting boil until its final, satisfying denouement.

Perfect For: Devotees of traditional amateur detective puzzles, classic feline-centric whodunits, and charming LGBTQ+ mystery series; readers following Brody and Mister Puss's ongoing alphabetical and geographical investigative journey; and book collectors securing a clean volume of a highly regarded independent mystery series.

Published 2020 by Questover Press.

Cozy Mysteries / Traditional Whodunits / Amateur Sleuth Sagas / LGBTQ+ Crime Fiction / Feline Companion Mysteries