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A Cat in the Stacks Mystery — by Miranda James
Cat in the Stacks Series in Order: 17 books
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Murder Past Due
Book - 1
Everyone in Athena, Mississippi, knows Charlie Harris, the good-natured librarian with a rescued Maine coon cat named Diesel that he walks on a leash. Charlie's returned to his hometown to immerse himself in books, but soon enough he's entangled in a...
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Classified As Murder
Book - 2
Everyone in Athena, Mississippi, knows Charlie's Harris, the good-natured librarian with a rescued Maine coon cat named Diesel that he walks on a leash. Charlie's returned to his hometown to immerse himself in books, but finds danger lurking right ar...
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File M for Murder
Book - 3
Everyone in Athena, Mississippi, knows Charlie Harris, the good-natured librarian with a rescued Maine coon cat named Diesel that he walks on a leash. Charlie's returned to his hometown to immerse himself in books, but his daughter's unexpected visit...
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Out of Circulation
Book - 4
Everyone in Athena, Mississippi, knows Charlie Harris, the librarian with a rescued Maine coon cat named Diesel. He's returned to his hometown to immerse himself in books, but when a feud erupts between the town's richest ladies, the writing on the w...
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The Silence of the Library
Book - 5
Everyone in Athena, Mississippi, knows Charlie Harris, the librarian with a rescued Maine coon cat named Diesel. He's returned to his hometown to immerse himself in books, but a celebrated author's visit draws an unruly swarm of fanatic mystery buffs...
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Arsenic and Old Books
Book - 6
In Athena, Mississippi, librarian Charlie Harris is known for his good nature -- and for his Maine coon cat Diesel that he walks on a leash. Charlie returned to his hometown to immerse himself in books, but taking the plunge into a recent acquisition...
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No Cats Allowed
Book - 7
In the latest mystery in the New York Times bestselling Cat in the Stacks series, librarian Charlie Harris and his Maine Coon cat Diesel must clear a friend when the evidence is stacked against her... Springtime in Mississippi is abloom with beau...
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Twelve Angry Librarians
Book - 8
The New York Times bestselling author of No Cats Allowed and Arsenic and Old Books is back with more Southern charm and beguiling mystery as Charlie and Diesel must find a killer in a room full of librarians... Light-hearted librarian Charlie Har...
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Claws for Concern
Book - 9
Charlie Harris and his Maine Coon cat, Diesel, are embroiled in a new mystery when a cold case suddenly heats up in the latest installment of the New York Times bestselling series. Charlie Harris is busy enjoying his new grandson when a mysterious...
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Six Cats a Slayin'
Book - 10
Charlie Harris and his Maine Coon cat, Diesel, are busy decking the halls for the holidays when an unexpected delivery and a shocking murder conspire to shake up the season in this all new installment of the New York Times bestselling series. Dece...
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The Pawful Truth
Book - 11
When Charlie Harris decides to go back to school, he and his Maine Coon cat, Diesel, find themselves entangled in a deadly lovers quarrel on campus in the latest installment of the New York Times bestselling series. In addition to his library dut...
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Careless Whiskers
Book - 12
When librarian Charlie Harris' daughter is falsely accused of murder, he and his faithful feline Diesel must leap forward to crack the case in this all-new installment in the New York Times bestselling series. Charlie Harris has sworn off in...
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Cat Me If You Can
Book - 13
Charlie Harris and his feline companion Diesel take a bookish vacation but discover that murder never takes a holiday, in this all-new installment of the New York Times bestselling series. Charlie and Diesel along with Charlie's fiancée, Hel...
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What the Cat Dragged In
Book - 14
Librarian Charlie Harris and his faithful feline companion, Diesel, have inherited Charlie's grandfather's house, along with a deadly legacy: a decades-old crime scene, in this all-new mystery in the New York Times bestselling Cat in the Stacks serie...
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Hiss Me Deadly
Book - 15
Charlie and Diesel must catch a killer before he strikes another deadly note in this latest installment of the New York Times bestselling Cat in the Stacks Mysteries.Charlie Harris remembers Wilfred "Wil" Threadgill as one of the outsiders during ...
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Requiem for a Mouse
Book - 16
Librarian Charlie Harris and his ever-intuitive feline friend Diesel must catch a killer in a deadly game of cat and mouse where no one is who they seem to be...At last, Charlie and Helen Louise's wedding is only a month away. They're busy preparing ...
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Something Whiskered
Book - 17
A dead baron, an Irish castle, and an unexpected ghost . . . Charlie Harris, Helen Louise Brady, and their feline friend Diesel find themselves hot on the trail of a conniving killer in this delightful Cat in the Stacks Mystery from New York Times be...
Series Premise
Charlie Harris is a quiet, kind-hearted, middle-aged man who prefers books and routine to excitement, but he has a knack for stumbling across dead bodies and getting involved in murder investigations. As an archivist at Athena College’s library and a long-time resident of Athena, Mississippi, Charlie has access to historical records, gossip networks, and the trust of many locals, making him an ideal amateur sleuth. Each book features a new murder or suspicious death in the small college town, often linked to rare books, family secrets, academic rivalries, historical artifacts, or personal grudges. Charlie investigates unofficially, usually because the victim was someone he knew, the crime occurred near the library or his boarding house, or the police (particularly Chief Deputy Kanesha Berry) reluctantly accept his help due to his persistence and insight. Diesel, the large Maine Coon cat, accompanies Charlie almost everywhere (on a leash or in his carrier), providing comic relief, comfort, and sometimes key observations (knocking things over to reveal clues, staring at suspects, or reacting to danger). The mysteries are classic cozy whodunits—cleverly plotted with red herrings, multiple suspects, and satisfying reveals—while the overarching story follows Charlie’s personal life: raising his grandson, managing his boarding house, navigating friendships, and occasionally finding romance.
Cat in the Stacks Series Characters
Charlie Harris: The protagonist—a widowed, middle-aged librarian and archivist at Athena College. Intelligent, kind, observant, and quietly determined. He solves mysteries through research, attention to detail, and community connections. He is devoted to his family, his cat, and his town.
- Diesel: Charlie’s enormous Maine Coon cat—intelligent, affectionate, and unusually people-oriented. He accompanies Charlie almost everywhere (on a leash or in his carrier), provides comic relief, and occasionally “helps†by knocking things over or staring at suspects. Diesel is a fan favorite and a major reason for the series’ popularity.
- Supporting/recurring:
- Sean Harris: Charlie’s adult son (early books), later his grandson Johnny becomes more central.
- Azalea: Charlie’s housekeeper—sharp-tongued, loyal, and a source of Southern wisdom and humor.
- Chief Deputy Kanesha Berry: Tough, competent law enforcement officer who initially resents Charlie’s interference but grows to respect him.
- Friends and neighbors: Various residents of Athena—gossipy locals, college faculty, students, and suspects—who add small-town flavor.
Setting of the Cat in the Stacks Series
The primary setting is Athena, Mississippi, a fictional small college town in the Deep South, inspired by real Mississippi locales. Athena is charming, historic, and close-knit, with antebellum homes, tree-lined streets, a town square, churches, a public library, and Athena College (a small liberal arts institution) as its centerpiece. Charlie lives in a large, historic family home that he has converted into a boarding house for college students, filled with books, antiques, and the warmth of Southern hospitality.
The setting is vividly Southern: humid summers, mild winters, magnolia trees, porch swings, sweet tea, church suppers, garden clubs, and community events. The college library (where Charlie works as an archivist) is a key location—stacks of rare books, quiet reading rooms, and archives that often hold clues. The surrounding countryside—farms, woods, rivers—provides occasional backdrops for crimes or escapes. The era is contemporary (2010s–2020s), with modern touches (cell phones, internet research, social media) alongside timeless small-town traditions. The atmosphere is intimate and cozy—everyone knows everyone’s business, amplifying gossip and stakes when secrets surface.
Tone & Themes of the Cat in the Stacks Series
The tone is warm, gentle, and quintessentially cozy—light suspense with humor, heart, and a strong sense of community. Murders are discovered discreetly and handled tastefully; violence is minimal and off-page, with the focus on clever deduction, character interactions, and the satisfaction of justice served. Charlie’s narration is calm, reflective, and often amused by small-town quirks or Diesel’s antics. Humor is gentle and situational—Diesel’s oversized personality, Charlie’s dry observations, eccentric locals, and the absurdity of some suspects. Emotional moments (grief, family bonds, worry for loved ones) are tender and realistic but never overwhelming. The series is optimistic and reassuring: evil is outsmarted, good prevails, and a good book, a loyal cat, and a circle of friends restore balance. It’s uplifting escapism—perfect for readers who enjoy cozy mysteries with Southern charm, a lovable cat, and the comfort of a small-town world where intelligence and kindness win the day.
Miranda James’s Cat in the Stacks Mystery series is a warm, charming, and enduring cozy saga that delivers 15+ engaging whodunits filled with clever puzzles, Southern hospitality, and the irresistible presence of Diesel the Maine Coon cat. Through Charlie Harris’s quiet determination and his loyal feline companion, the books celebrate intelligence, community, and the joy of uncovering truth amid small-town secrets and college-town life in Athena, Mississippi. With gentle humor, vivid settings, relatable characters, and satisfying resolutions, the series offers comforting, binge-worthy escapism—perfect for cozy mystery fans who love libraries, cats, and the satisfaction of a well-solved case. As Charlie and Diesel continue strolling through Athena and stumbling into mysteries, the books remain a delightful tribute to friendship, curiosity, and the simple pleasure of a good book—and a good cat—by your side.
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