When a famous medium is murdered on the eve of a town's Halloween festival, Maddie James must unravel a web of secrets to find the killer. The annual Halloween festivities in Daybreak Harbor are thrown into chaos when Balfour Dempsey, a renowned psychic, is found dead and his black cat vanishes. Maddie James, involved in the town's planning, finds herself investigating a murder that mirrors a Halloween movie, complicated by her family's own entanglements with the victim and his mysterious past. She must navigate the town's secrets, including a busybody's hidden agenda, her best friend's quest to solve old mysteries, and a stalker's demands, all while a murder investigation unfolds around her.

As the seventh book in a beloved cozy mystery series, 'Nine Lives and Alibis' is expected to deliver the familiar charm and intricate plotting that fans have come to expect from Cate Conte. The premise, blending a small-town Halloween setting with a murder mystery and a touch of the supernatural, suggests a narrative rich in atmosphere and character-driven suspense. Readers likely anticipate a satisfying puzzle with a cast of quirky characters and, of course, feline companionship. The series' established popularity indicates a strong reader base eager for the next installment, which typically offers a blend of lightheartedness and genuine intrigue.