R.P. Lauer Reviews: Conspiracy of Cats by B.C. Harris

The following is primarily a backup of the review I left on Amazon for the book, Conspiracy of Cats by B.C. Harris.

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Blurb from the author:



I was fortunate enough to get an Advanced Review Copy for the debut novel by author B.C. Harris. Conspiracy of Cats is a paranormal mystery, and to be honest, the less I say about the story/plot, the better for you; some rides are just better, without question, when going in as unspoiled as possible. And unfortunately, this somewhat ties my hands as there is plenty to talk about, but most would reveal details that should be experienced for yourself.

So let me see if I can break this all down in a way that does not spoil anything.

There is a great cast of characters, all of which get their back stories and personalities fleshed out, and it's really easy to root for them (the ones you should root for of course lol). Roughly the first third of the novel goes back and forth through time, covering a variety of events, either by taking you there directly, or experiencing the moment in a dream or flashback.

This can be very tricky to pull off well, and many attempts fail, but Harris does a wonderful job here! These transitions were smooth, and I always knew exactly where I was and how I got there. Never did I feel lost or confused, outside of the expected trickle of information that is doled out purposely in a specific path to get you from point A to B to C in order to provide an entertaining ride.

There is plenty of tragedy in the backstories, but one in particular was heartbreaking. The main character, Jos, lost her parents in an exceptionally awful way.

Details are rich in their presentation, to the point where I could thoroughly visualize locations and environments. Harris describes parts of Africa, for example, in such a way that make me really want to experience it for myself, were it not for the incredible heat that will ensure I can probably never actually make that trip; I cannot handle the heat.

The story itself explores aspects of the paranormal, from ghosts to magic, and there is a mystery to uncover, but I'd rather not give anything away. Through plot points, characters, descriptions, and events, I laughed, I cried, I held my breath, I cheered, and I spat venom (hopefully you will too when that part comes).

One fascinating aspect to connecting with other authors through their work on a global scale is the regional differences to language. There were a few times I was forced to web search words or phrases that lack the needed meaning in my own region. Jos' tragic backstory, for example: if you are in the USA, and the word 'skip' simply means either a hop or passing over something, you may want to search out 'define skip great britain' ahead of time. Or, spoiler warning, it's basically a dumpster.

That section made so much more sense once I knew that.

Overall, this was a truly fantastic read, and I am beyond grateful to have experienced this story! B.C. Harris provides a solid debut, and I cannot wait to see what comes next for this author!

Please check out BC Harris on her Amazon Page, Publisher's Site, or Twitter