• A Familiar Tail

  • Witch’s Cat Mystery Series, Book 1
  • By: Delia James
  • Narrated by: Elise Arsenault
  • Length: 11 hrs and 15 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (402 ratings)

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A Familiar Tail  By  cover art

A Familiar Tail

By: Delia James
Narrated by: Elise Arsenault
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Publisher's summary

Unlucky-in-love artist Annabelle Britton decides that a visit to the seaside town of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is the perfect way to get over her problems. But when she stumbles upon a smoky gray cat named Alastair, and follows him into a charming cottage, Annabelle finds herself in a whole spellbook full of trouble. Suddenly saddled with a witch's wand and a furry familiar, Annabelle soon meets a friendly group of women who use their spells, charms, and potions to keep the people of Portsmouth safe. But despite their gifts, the witches can't prevent every wicked deed in town.

Soon, the mystery surrounding Alistair's former owner, who died under unusual circumstances, grows when another local turns up dead. Armed with magic, friends, and the charmed cat who adopted her more than the other way around, Annabelle sets out to paw through the evidence and uncover a killer.

©2016 Penguin Random House LLC (P)2017 Tantor

Critic reviews

"A special brew of magic, murder, mayhem...and one extraordinary cat." (Laurie Cass, best-selling author)

What listeners say about A Familiar Tail

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Story
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great Story

Super story, well narrated and fun to listen to. Engrossing and holds your attention. Great. an hardly wait to start next in series.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great!

Really good book! Storyline was terrific. I couldn’t stop listening because I wanted to find out what was going to happen. The narrator would’ve been 5 stars if she wouldn’t have kept saying words like “impor-dant” for important and “cur-dan” for curtain. (Her T’s were always D’s at the end of a word.) This was throughout the whole book and it was distracting to me.
Can’t wait to start the next book in the series!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Pretty Good

This an enjoyable cozy mystery with well developed characters and plot. Delia James created a believable world with realistic situations. The only thing I didn't like was that the story was drawn out and too long. Other than that I enjoyed the story and recommend it to others.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great beginning to a new series

If you could sum up A Familiar Tail in three words, what would they be?

Great character development

Who was your favorite character and why?

Alastair. Love a very active and informative 'Familiar'

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes which is difficult when I have so many things that have to get done. Thank goodness it is the audio version so I can take it with me...LOL I shop with an earplug in my ear.

Any additional comments?

I look forward to the next installment and hope it will come out in audio format soon.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

realistic and...relatable

My go to is fantasy and rarely is pop culture referenced which made it all the more.. inviting. Also not far fetched. cute modern tail. as cute as a book involving a mysterias murder..

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it

This was a fun and easy listening book for my commute to and from work... Loved the story line.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great book

I really enjoyed this book. It has it all murder, mystery and mayhem. The narrator did a really good job performing this story.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A funny tale of mystery

I enjoyed the story of how witches can be good. While a cat remained star.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Love it!

My friend gave me this book when I ran out of stuff to read on a trip and of course I had to get the audiobook for it. Loved this book. It was so good getting the other two. Hope she does more in the series. Awesome cozy mystery.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Sweet Mystery

I loved this audiobook! How super sweet! The characters were likable, Alistair the cat was adorable, and the mystery kept me totally engaged! The narrator was pretty good, too! On to the second book in this series...🐺😉

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