Chapter 28
Chip
The autumn moon is doing that thing where it makes everything look like magic sparkling across our park as closing time rolls around.
Yeah, our park.
I’m still wrapping my enormous, gloriously orange head around that. One hundred acres of popcorn, mystery, and prime nap real estate. It’s like we stumbled into a cozy movie—if cozy movies had more murder and better snacks.
Fish and I are perched outside what used to be the manager’s office, which now has a fancy OWNER sign that makes my whiskers twitch with pride. I stretch, yawn, and soak in the moonlight like a mob boss surveying his empire.
Can you believe this, Fish? We hit the feline jackpot.
She doesn’t even blink. Just straightens her already straight spine and flicks a paw like royalty waving off the paparazzi. Obviously. Look at us. We were born to rule. This just makes it official. Although I was made to rule an empire. You were made to rule the refrigerator.
And yet, she still eats her food like a raccoon in a trash bin, but I won’t say a word.
I’m just saying, we have thrones now, I go on. Actual thrones. And fans. And themed snacks with our faces on them.
She eyes me. We also had a murder in the funhouse, remember? And a killer who flung popcorn at us.
Fair. But still—kind of exciting, right? I mean, we stopped the killer! You sat on the suspect’s chest while I supervised from a safe and heroic distance.
We fall into a companionable silence, which is only broken when Josie walks out of the office. She’s got that post-crime-solving spring in her step, the kind that says, I just took down a corrupt politician and still managed to look cute doing it.
She’s definitely happier, I say.
She has us, Fish replies like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. Of course, she’s happier. We fixed her.
“You sure did,” she says, reaching down and scooping us both up and dropping a kiss to each of our furry little foreheads.
I purr. Do you think Detective Drake will be hanging around more? I mean, he gives me bacon. That man is boyfriend material.
Oh, he’s not going anywhere, Fish says. Did you see the way he kissed her? That man is ready to move in, set up a cat treat auto-delivery, and pick out matching Halloween costumes.
Josie belts out a laugh and it fills the night sky before saying goodnight to the security guard as we head into the parking lot.
Ready to rule the kingdom tomorrow? I ask.
Always, Fish mewls. And maybe, just maybe, we’ll get lucky and no one will die for a whole twenty-four hours.
I snort. Doubt it. Trouble follows us like cat hair on black leggings.
We pause and glance around the moonlit park, the scent of caramel and wood smoke in the air, and I have to admit, I’ve never been happier.
Murder, mayhem, funnel cake, and family. What more could a cat want?
Okay. More bacon. But we’ll work on that.
I can’t wait to see what kind of trouble finds us next.
Because let’s be real, in a place like this, with our track record, there’s definitely going to be more trouble. And probably more murders. But hey, at least we’ll face it together, with full bellies and the best napping spots in Maine.
And did I mention snacks?
And probably murder.
Thank you for reading Fish & Chip’s first Cozy Mystery! Pick up—> Fish & Chip: Nine Lives, One Dead Body and head back to Huckleberry Hollow NOW!
A gaggle of bakers descends on Huckleberry Hollow Wonderland… and someone’s recipe calls for revenge. It's cookbooks and killers galore!
These talking cats solve crimes!
Fish and Chip—cat BFFs furever!
Solving murders with nine lives and zero patience.
Because justice should be served—with a side of fries
A Note from the author: Meet my sweet cats! (Yes, the real Fish and Chip are on the COVER!) We can't wait for you to join us on our mew adventure! I adopted Fish and Chip from the local shelter when they were just furry little kittens and I just love them to bits. I hope you will too!
From New York Times, USA TODAY, & Wall Street Journal bestseller Addison Moore!
Cosmopolitan Magazine calls Addison’s books, "...easy, frothy fun!" Humor with a side of homicide. Includes RECIPE!
You’d think hosting a fall baking symposium would be all cinnamon swirls and Instagrammable pies. But no—someone just had to go and die in a coffin cake.
After ditching my cheating ex-husband and accidentally becoming the proud owner of Huckleberry Hollow Wonderland (long story involving cats, murder, and a dollar bill), I figured I’d finally hit my stride.
The rides are mostly functional, my feline mascots Fish and Chip are Instagram famous, and Detective Dexter Drake has been making my heart do loop-de-loops that put our roller coaster to shame.
This week I’m rolling out the red carpet—well, the pumpkin-spice welcome mats—for the Sweet Season Spooky Symposium, a weeklong baking event run by viral grandmas turned baking tyrants, Sugar & Sass.
In exchange, they’re helping me launch our Fright & Frost Halloween merch line.
Ghost-shaped mugs, glow-in-the-dark hoodies, skeleton spatulas—you name it, it’s got a price tag and probably glitter.
But when one half of Sugar & Sass turns up dead—face-first in a black velvet coffin cake—I’ve got a dead diva, a killer on the loose, and a snarky socialite trying to get me arrested. And did I mention the murder weapon came from our exclusive merch table?
Plot twist of the century? The prime suspect is Detective Dexter Drake’s ice-queen mother, who already thinks I’m about as classy as a gas station hot dog.
Now she might be a murderer, which really complicates my winning over the future in-laws strategy.
Nothing says family dinner awkwardness like discussing alibis over appetizers.
Okay, fine so the hot detective and I are still in the shallow end of the relationship dating pool but a girl can dream.
Nevertheless, his mother isn’t my biggest fan.
With a suspiciously flirty baker, a steaming pile of secrets, and a whole lot of frosting flying, I’ll need to figure out who’s behind the murder before someone ices me next.
And have I mentioned that I can read the minds of animals? Yeah, that too.
Fish: Let’s be honest—Josie’s not cracking a single case without us. We’re the brains. She’s just the opposable thumbs and the panic attacks.
Chip: And the snack dispenser. Don’t forget snacks. Speaking of which—this murder? It happens in a cake! A Coffin Cake, Fish! This is the best crime scene since the tuna truck crash of 2022.
Fish: I say we arrest the one with the pearls. She insulted Josie’s outfit and had the nerve to question my pedigree. I practically have royal blood, thank you.
Chip: I second that motion. Also, can we keep a slice of that coffin cake? Y’know, for...forensic reasons. Very official. Very nibble-y.
Fish: Your version of handling evidence involves crumbs, drool, and deeply questionable hygiene. Try not to contaminate the entire crime scene this time.
Thank you for reading Fish & Chip’s first Cozy Mystery! Pick up—> Fish & Chip: Nine Lives, One Dead Body and head back to Huckleberry Hollow NOW!