A Calculated Murder
A charming cosy murder mystery (Una McMurray Mysteries Book 2)
Published on 28. August 2025
Book
Hardback
368 pages
978-1-4087-1936-7 (ISBN)
Description
'Not many books make me laugh out loud but this one absolutely did!' - Amazon reviewer ?????
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Una McMurray is puzzled. Surely, statistically, the international cat show scene shouldn't be this... lethal?
Keen to make her mark in her new job in pet insurance, Una's first task is to calculate whether cat ownership extends human lifespan. Tragically, that's not the case for prizewinning cat owner Jeff Bridgely - a most improbable accident has ended his dreams of triumphing at the upcoming International Cat Show.
When a second competitor dies in mysterious circumstances, the maths just doesn't add up. Una vows to resolve this suspicious data discrepancy and impress her new project team, especially condescending Tim and ambitious trainee Patti.
After borrowing Pedro the cat and brushing up on her feline facts, Una dives deep undercover in the cutthroat world of cat shows. Competition is fierce, but what Pedro lacks in pedigree, he makes up for in character. Although as Pedro's odds of winning shorten, so do Una's chances of survival...
Armed with razor-sharp logic, analytical expertise and a scruffy moggy sidekick, can actuary Una catch the cat show killer before she becomes the latest fatal statistic?
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Readers love the Una McMurray Mysteries series!
'Laugh out loud funny with great characters . . .a warm and entertaining story. I really loved it' - Amazon reviewer ?????
'Any book with death in the title that can make me laugh is worth picking up!' - Amazon reviewer ?????
'A great addition to the cosy crime collection, it's funny and smart and has an original and interesting detective in Una' - Amazon reviewer ?????
'Three actuaries walk into a cat show in Balham . . . high-stakes hilarity ensues. Amongst fictional detectives, Una McMurray is a gem. Her voice combines wit, warmth and satire. This is such a fun read' - Robert Holtom, author of A Queer Case
'Clever and very funny' - Ian Moore, author of Death and Croissants
'Eleanor Oliphant meets The Thursday Murder Club' - Jessica Irena Smith, author of The Night of the Crash
'Deliciously fun mystery that gest serious about the body count, with clues that really do add up! Loved following Una seeing the risks at every turn - and having to overcome them if she's to save those she loves. #TeamPedro - Sarah Yarwood-Lovett, author of the Dr Nell Ward Mysteries series
'Witty and fun' - Woman's Own
'Terrifically funny and endearing' - Belfast Telegraph
'Impressive... full of unusual ideas and amusing relationships' - Morning Star
----------
Una McMurray is puzzled. Surely, statistically, the international cat show scene shouldn't be this... lethal?
Keen to make her mark in her new job in pet insurance, Una's first task is to calculate whether cat ownership extends human lifespan. Tragically, that's not the case for prizewinning cat owner Jeff Bridgely - a most improbable accident has ended his dreams of triumphing at the upcoming International Cat Show.
When a second competitor dies in mysterious circumstances, the maths just doesn't add up. Una vows to resolve this suspicious data discrepancy and impress her new project team, especially condescending Tim and ambitious trainee Patti.
After borrowing Pedro the cat and brushing up on her feline facts, Una dives deep undercover in the cutthroat world of cat shows. Competition is fierce, but what Pedro lacks in pedigree, he makes up for in character. Although as Pedro's odds of winning shorten, so do Una's chances of survival...
Armed with razor-sharp logic, analytical expertise and a scruffy moggy sidekick, can actuary Una catch the cat show killer before she becomes the latest fatal statistic?
----------
Readers love the Una McMurray Mysteries series!
'Laugh out loud funny with great characters . . .a warm and entertaining story. I really loved it' - Amazon reviewer ?????
'Any book with death in the title that can make me laugh is worth picking up!' - Amazon reviewer ?????
'A great addition to the cosy crime collection, it's funny and smart and has an original and interesting detective in Una' - Amazon reviewer ?????
'Three actuaries walk into a cat show in Balham . . . high-stakes hilarity ensues. Amongst fictional detectives, Una McMurray is a gem. Her voice combines wit, warmth and satire. This is such a fun read' - Robert Holtom, author of A Queer Case
'Clever and very funny' - Ian Moore, author of Death and Croissants
'Eleanor Oliphant meets The Thursday Murder Club' - Jessica Irena Smith, author of The Night of the Crash
'Deliciously fun mystery that gest serious about the body count, with clues that really do add up! Loved following Una seeing the risks at every turn - and having to overcome them if she's to save those she loves. #TeamPedro - Sarah Yarwood-Lovett, author of the Dr Nell Ward Mysteries series
'Witty and fun' - Woman's Own
'Terrifically funny and endearing' - Belfast Telegraph
'Impressive... full of unusual ideas and amusing relationships' - Morning Star
Reviews / Votes
Clever and very funny -- Ian Moore, author of Death and Croissants Sharp, witty and joyous... I fell in love with Una and her risk averseness, and the cast of wonderful characters. I can't wait to read about what they get up to next! -- Jessica Irena Smith A terrifically funny, endearing read -- Belfast Telegraph Deliciously fun mystery that gets serious about the body count, with clues that really do add up! Loved following Una seeing risks at every turn - and having to overcome them if she's to save those she loves. #TeamPedro -- Sarah Yarwood-Lovett, author of the Dr Nell Ward Mysteries seriesMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Little, Brown Book Group
Product notice
Trade binding
Dimensions
Height: 236 mm
Width: 154 mm
Thickness: 30 mm
Weight
567 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4087-1936-7 (9781408719367)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Jo Cunningham grew up in Birkenhead and at age eight, as part of a school team, she became Wirral Road Safety Quiz champion after an exciting buzzer round about box junctions. Having peaked, she left the North and has worked for many years in various IT jobs to pay the bills while she got to grips with writing comedy novels. She is now back up North where she always looks left and right before crossing roads.