Cats in the Belfry — Mary Lu Warstler

Laura Kenzel, recently widowed, follows her dream of becoming a pastor. Although she is only in her mid-forties, still atractive with auburn hair, brown eyes, and slim body, she is not interested in pursuing relationships. She works hard, graduates from seminary and strikes out to her first appointment in a small town United Methodist Church. She is so excited that reports of strange noises in the church belfry don't faze her. When she arrives and is almost kidnapped, however, she begins to have second thoughts. The morning after her near abduction, she finds a dead man in her garage which throws her in close contact with Homicide Detective Steve Morgan. His twinking blue eyes do strange things to her emotions. A ten-year-old redhaired truant, steals her heart and helps her rescue Rascal and Mischief, two Maine Coon cats from the church belfry. Laura has a special relationship with God and chides him for her unusual reception at her first church. Seminary didn't teach her to deal with murder and intrigue. Larua is not a detective, nor does she want to be one, but she is helpful in solving the mysteries in the small town or Cottonville.