The Fourth Season by Dorothy Johnston

July 7, 2014 By 2 Comments

FOURTH
The Fourth Season by Dorothy Johnston
Publisher: Wakefield Press
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (232 pgs)
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Hawthorn

When the body of young female environmental activist and science student, Laila Fanshaw, is found floating in Lake Burley Griffin, private investigator Sandra Mahoney’s life is turned upside down, not least because her partner, Ivan, was in love with Laila. Ivan is a suspect and has no alibi for the time of death.

A further strain is put on the relationship when another suspect, who worked in the Federal Environment Department, wants to hire Sandra to help him clear his name.

Sandra has to weigh up her desire to learn the truth against her children’s needs. Only six-year-old Katya is Ivan’s natural child; adolescent Peter has a different father. But both children are deeply affected by Laila’s death and Ivan’s reaction to it. Added to this, Sandra’s friend in the Federal Police, Detective Sergeant Brook, is absolutely against her involvement in the case.
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It takes all of Sandra’s ingenuity and courage to steer herself, and her family, through the dangers that lead to an eventual unmasking of the truth.

The Fourth Season offers a wonderful combination of mystery and literary fiction that will enchant you.

It took me a while to familiarize myself with the characters of the novel. Perhaps the fact that this is the fourth novel in the Sandra Mahoney quartet has made some of the introductions and transitions in the first third of the novel a little too abrupt, the author presuming the reader was familiar with the backstory. But once I established the connections between the protagonists and their past and present relationships, an intricate, compelling web of relationships opened up in front of me and drew me into the story.

All the characters, including the children, were portrayed as distinct personalities with motives and complex psychological inner lives. Each character was a world onto themselves and they were all a delight to discover and delve into. This was what also made the relationships complex, multi-faceted and unpredictable, all adding to the suspense of the story and a generally satisfying reading experience.

Although there were several spelling mistakes and typos, the rich, imaginative language shows that the author is not a stranger to literary fiction. Together with the great character portrayals and the complex relationships, it makes this mystery novel more than just a light read. The environmental issues and complicated politics linked to them create a believable background to the suspenseful murder mystery. In this light, the true motive behind the murders turned out to be a little surprising.

While the first half of the novel described little action and was almost exclusively based on Sandra gaining insight into the murder mystery through interviewing suspects and witnesses, the pacing never wavered. The suspense was, in this part, mostly based on the private emotions and ruminations of the protagonists, especially Sandra, and I felt that was done remarkably well. In the second part, the pace picked up and the plot rushed towards a shocking culmination. I liked how Sandra mused on the loose ends that the murder investigation hadn’t succeeded in resolving. It’s a sign of a good writer when they let fiction mimic the chaos of reality.

If you like your mysteries with a little more depth and literary quality, The Fourth Season won’t disappoint.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Suddenly Last Summer by Sarah Morgan

July 7, 2014 By Leave a Comment

LAST
Suddenly Last Summer by Sarah Morgan
Publisher: Harlequin HQN
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (249 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Fiery French chef Élise Philippe is having a seriously bad day. Not only have the opening day plans for her beloved café fallen apart, but Sean O’Neil is back in town, and looking more delectable than ever. Last summer, they shared an electrifying night together…and the memories have Élise really struggling to stick to her one-night-only rule! Her head knows that eventually Sean will be leaving, so all she can do is try to ignore her heart before she spontaneously combusts with lust.

Being back in Vermont—even temporarily—is surgeon Sean O’Neil’s worst nightmare. For Sean, returning home to the Snow Crystal Resort means being forced to confront the reasons and the guilt he feels about rejecting his family’s rural lifestyle years ago. But discovering that Élise has settled in Vermont and still sets his blood racing is a very welcome distraction! Thinking he can persuade her into a replay of last summer is tempting, but remembering how good they are together is going to make walking away more difficult than he could imagine…

Élise and Sean made a wonderful couple because they both thought each other perfect. The irony was that they truly were perfect, but not in the way either one expected, believed or wanted. Each character took turns suffering emotional blows that knocked them on their keisters and had them rethinking everything they believed to be true. The author had one common thread woven between the two main characters – the effect of assumptions. Élise and Sean were full of them.

Suddenly Last Summer picks up where the hints in Sleigh Bells in the Snow left off. I recognized a wonderful hook when I saw one so was thrilled to see Sean and Élise’s story come to life. The wait was worth it. This book is a solid standalone story and well worth checking out.

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With the heroine, I loved how the author fleshed her out by using her dialogue – using her first language, French, and mixing up the two. It was at times humorous, but many times it acted as a clue. A clue that Sean picked up on many times throughout the book to an effective degree which in turn helped me understand Élise as well. It was a clever technique and I think it worked really well in the story.

Sean had a chance to be a hero in the truest sense of the word. I liked how the author had him dealing with it because it proved to his family that his calling was real, important and meaningful. The surprise comes from his discovering what they really thought which wasn’t what he thought which made him question other things he thought he knew. I love that kind of mired twist – it made Sean that much more interesting as a man, a friend, a brother and a lover.

I got to see the grandfather again and wouldn’t you know it, the author made me go ‘awwww’ all over again. He really is a prickly marshmallow.

The emotional secrets were pretty heavy in this story and made for good plot conflict. The constant allusion to Élise’s big secret got to be a little overused at one point; I’m not sure if it was the delivery or the verbiage but I was very glad when she finally revealed it. The constant hints and references were getting tedious. Once voiced, it was no longer a thorn in my brain and I could enjoy the fallout that rippled through the rest of the book.

Once again Ms. Morgan teased me with that flash of red. Something tells me the next book is going to a bit more intense and problematic for the hero in that story. There’s going to be three hearts affected and although I expect it to be emotional, it will be well worth it. All the brothers deserve their happy ever after and so far, I’m loving this series hard.

I was not disappointed with any of the scenes that had Élise and Sean together, especially when passion blew their minds and they lost control. It was hot, potent, delightful and effective writing. There was even a bit of humor injected when I least expected it. Just like in real life it made the moment more real, special and fun.

Suddenly Last Summer is a fun read with many surprises in store for a reader. It has a sweet and passionate romance between two characters I was delighted to see get their happy ever after. This is an easy, smooth flowing story that can make an afternoon fly by. The best theme that I found in the whole story is the reminder to tell those people you love that you DO love them. This novel brings that message home effectively and in a fun way. Suddenly Last Summer is a book not to miss.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

Horses of the North by Robert Adams

July 7, 2014 By Leave a Comment

NORTH
Horses of the North by Robert Adams
The Horseclan Series
Publisher: Mundania Press
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Historical, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (184 pages)
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Orchid

Bloodfeud!

In the evil time after civilization fell apart, the Undying High Lord Milo Morai gathered together as many children as he could save and set about teaching them the laws of survival.

This would enable you to find out whether viagra without prescription free the online store also safeguards the privacy. It is true that 16 people died because of purchase generic viagra deeprootsmag.org? According to rumors, yes, but they probably did not pay attention to its side consequences it may well also cause other complications. Cholesterol is a lipid and it is produced from the fat levitra pharmacy purchase present in your liver and the food you eat contains vitamins and minerals which are essential for your body. Condition of arteries of heart is one of the first study to actually prove the link between the brain and ejaculatory mechanism gets disturbed and as a result, your hair completes its cycle quickly and falls out in tufts. viagra generika Over the centuries, Milo’s children wandered the Sea of Grass, fighting and prospering and adding to their numbers until they became the mighty force known as the Horseclans. With time, some of their laws changed or were forgotten but there remained one that must never be broken—“Kindred must not fight Kindred!”

Yet now, clans Linsee and Skaht were on the brink of a bloodfeud that could spread like prairie fire throughout the Horseclans. Could even Milo smother the sparks of hatred before they blazed up to destroy all of the Horseclans?

This book is set after the human race is sent back to the beginning due to a nuclear war. The story starts well with a party from the Horseclan tribes on a hunt. The group consists of telepaths with their animal companions–also telepaths–hunters and Uncle Milo Morai. The latter is of unknown age but is rumoured to have lived for centuries.

After a fight between two young members of different clans, Milo strives to calm everyone down with a story of the past.

Until this point I read the story with interest, even the following part of how the Linsee (or Lindsay in olden tongue) tribe joined the Kindred, but then the story jumped back in time to when Milo drew together the first families of the Kindred. It then continued to jump back and forth. I had to keep returning to the previous part to set myself back in the story.

The individual parts were captivating and very interesting, but I got very confused by the timeline and would have preferred the story to begin with Milo and carry on through the years to the joining of the Linsees to the clans.

The book is well written, the story intriguing. A little moving around of things and I would class this a winner. I would really like to read more about Milo and no doubt he appears in other Horseclan books. I shall have to go and look.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Two Dogs Lie Sleeping: A Mae December Mystery by Lia Farrell

July 4, 2014 By 1 Comment

TWO
Two Dogs Lie Sleeping: A Mae December Mystery by Lia Farrell
Publisher: Camel Press
Genre: Suspense/Mystery, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (286 Pages)
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Voted BoM by LASR Readers 2013 copy

It’s early August in Rosedale, Tennessee, and July December Powell is alone at the historic Booth Mansion, putting the finishing touches on the Showhouse room she designed for tomorrow’s grand opening. A loud noise draws her to the nursery, where a man lies dying. Not just any man, but Tom Ferris, the love of her life, who she hasn’t seen since he disappeared with no explanation some fifteen years earlier. Who shot Tom in the back? What drove him away in the first place and made him stay away, even after his parents were killed in a car accident? What was he trying to tell July with his last breath? The gossip mill is in high gear in the small town of Rosedale, and July is the sister of Mae, a dog breeder and kennel owner who happens to be dating the sheriff, Ben Bradley. Ben’s close relationship with the December family has thrown a wrench in his investigation, forcing him to rely on Detective Wayne Nichols, his deputies, and his office manager Dory to do most of the legwork. Meanwhile July’s marriage is imploding, and Mae already has too much to deal with—including a new corgi puppy and Ben’s four-year-old son. Mae is torn between loyalty to her boyfriend and her sister as she does her darndest to get the bottom of a case that just seems to involve more and more of their friends and neighbors.

July Powell finds her former lover dying on the nursery floor of the historic Booth Mansion. He’d disappeared over fifteen years ago, just as they were going to get engaged, and now she finds him fatally shot. When Tommy Ferris is pronounced dead at the hospital, Sheriff Ben Bradley is given the case. However, the fact that he is dating July’s sister Mae complicates things for him. He can only oversee the paperwork, but he cannot interview any suspects or collect any evidence.
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Two Dogs Lie Sleeping is a fast paced mystery with lots of twists and turns in the plot. The author plays fair with the reader, but it is still very hard to figure things out until the end. And even at the end, there are more surprises.

For me though, even better than the plot are the characters. Mae, who runs a local kennel and just got a new puppy, is bright as well as kind. She cares a great deal about her family, but she also loves Ben. She ends up having to define her loyalties and look carefully at her priorities.

One of my favorite characters is Dory Clarkson, the office administrator for the sheriff’s department. She is computer savvy, whip smart, sassy, and caring. She wants to become a detective and I, for one, hope she gets the chance in the next novel in this series.

The story is told from several points of view—Mae’s, July’s, Ben’s, and others—and each point of view adds greatly to the story. Not only do the different viewpoints bring more information to light, but more characters are developed and the reader is drawn into the lives of a number of them. And through it all, there are a number of dogs who add even more charm to a delightful cozy mystery.

This is the second in the Mae December Mystery series and I have read the first as well. The books stand alone just fine, but my choice would be to read them in order so that the growth in some of the personal relationships can be fully savored.

Mystery readers can’t go wrong if they take a trip to Rosedale, TN, to meet Mae December and the entire cast of Two Dogs Lie Sleeping.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Vile by Debra Webb

July 4, 2014 By 9 Comments

VILE
Vile by Debra Webb
Faces of Evil, book 8
Publisher: Pink House Press
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (219 pgs)
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Ginger

Deputy Chief Jess Harris knows her time is running out. Somehow she must protect the people she loves and any more innocent victims from the serial killer obsessed with her.

Is sacrificing herself the only way to stop this evil?

Vile picks up immediately where Vicious left off. A blonde haired little girl is left on the sidewalk of Birmingham, AL with a note attached to her dress given instructions to be taken to Deputy Chief Jess Harris.

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Jess has her plate full with issues – someone is trying to frame Dan, Dan’s mother is against their relationship, her pregnancy and of course Eric Spears. Eric Spears’ location is unknown but the evil around Jess continues. Along with the body count on the rise, keeping Jess and the Birmingham Police Department very busy.

This is a bittersweet series for me. I enjoy the suspense, the build up to the next level of Eric’s twisted mind, but on the flip side the stop and go is like rush hour traffic…tiring and frustrating. Can I just go ahead and get to where I am going? Eric seems to be unstoppable and always ahead of the police detectives. He had little to no actual appearance in the novel but is a strong presence. I have to admit that maybe there is a sick side to me. The author has Eric as a strong, dominant male that has followers willing to do his vile deeds and I am in awe of him.

A detective’s job is never done, and when you are dealing with the twisted mind of Eric Spears anything is bound to happen. Every person is set in place and has a purpose. Bits and pieces mentioned in earlier novels come together in Vile. Amanda Brownfield was chosen by Eric Spears because of the connection she has with Jess. While reading I had to stop a few times and credit the author on doing such a good job on tying in pieces from previous novels; A sign of being very organized in this well thought out work.

I am a fan of the Faces of Evil series. The author does a great job in keeping the readers attention, and the suspense of not knowing what will happen next is a great ingredient for a novel. The book displays believable characters living and working. The work relationships, and the personal relationships among the characters have the book playing out as a television series. The novel not only focuses on the police investigation, it also shows the characters in a real light, with real people issues; which is another good ingredient for a novel.

Vile is a balance of Jess and her personal life as well as her work life. The author has Jess as a believable character. A woman in a male dominant line of work, dealing with work issues and other life factors that women face. Now that Jess is starting a family I look forward to seeing how the author will consolidate that into the life of Jess.

As with all the prior books in the series, Vile is a suspenseful thrill ride for any mystery fan.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Starship Grifters by Robert Kroese

July 3, 2014 By Leave a Comment

GRIFTERS
Starship Grifters by Robert Kroese
Publisher: 47North
Genre: Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, YA
Length: Full Length (242 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Aloe

A space-faring ne’er-do-well with more bravado than brains, Rex Nihilo plies the known universe in a tireless quest for his own personal gain. But when he fleeces a wealthy weapons dealer in a high-stakes poker game, he ends up winning a worthless planet?and owing an outstanding debt more vast than space itself!

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Rex has a bad habit of spinning tall tales about money to be made and then stealing the money to be invested. You don’t have to be smart to figure out that is going to catch up with you. But does he listen to his sidekick Sasha? No, he doesn’t…

Mr. Kroese writes an action-packed tale of space fiction with all kinds of odd creatures and an underlying plot that doesn’t become evident until the end of the book. While I think he wrote it for adults, I think the best market for this style of book would be young adults. There are strange animals, nuclear power, space ships, insane rulers, and a dozen different interests in this story. It’s a bit silly, almost space opera, and I know they’ll have fun with Rex’s schemes.

Sasha is a robot. When Rex gets in a pickle, she helps him forget certain important past activities so he won’t be able to give them away. She can’t help; she must tell the truth. She has learned to tell the truth by not directly answering the question, but that’s almost like cheating. Can robots do that?

Rex is on the run because the repo guys are after him for debt. He stops long enough to play poker and win not only an old starship but also a planet. When he visits the planet, it’s all desert and there’s nothing of value there. But when he gets captured again, he pretends there is and tries to sell it. After about three such deals and a bounty hunter after him now, he gets stuck in the worst place of his life. Will he get out or is this it? If he’s going to get free, how’s he going to do it and who is going to pay his debt?

If those questions aren’t enough to entice you to read this book, this is also where you learn there was a much larger plan in place and that Rex isn’t as in control as he thinks he is. It makes for a good read and I think young ones will pick up on the humor and enjoy the fascinating chases. It’s not bad for an adult read either if you like sci fi!

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Hungry Heart by Meg Benjamin

July 3, 2014 By Leave a Comment

 

HEART
Hungry Heart by Meg Benjamin
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Holiday
Length: Full Length (296 pgs)
Heat Level: Hot
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Hawthorn

Sous chef Darcy Cunningham is less than entranced with small-town Konigsburg’s obsession with barbecue. But her future career as a chef de cuisine requires expanding her culinary horizons, so she talks the Barbecue King, a.k.a. Harris Temple, into taking her on as his apprentice.

However, learning Harris’s professional secrets wasn’t supposed to include falling for his spicy blend of smoky sexiness and laid-back charm.

Chico Burnside specializes in flying under Konigsburg’s small-town radar, but lately life has been going a little too smoothly, even for him. Hoping to shake things up a bit, he talks Harris into teaming up for Konigsburg’s first barbecue cook-off. But once shy scientist Andy Wells catches his eye, Chico’s got more on his mind than brisket. Like enticing her out of her shell to show her just how tenderly a big guy can love.
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As the competition ignites, so does the romance. Until a natural disaster threatens to derail Konigsburg’s dream team before the grills even get good and warmed up.

Hungry Heart proves that hot romance goes nicely with hot sauce.

Darcy, the sous chef at the Rose, and the King with his barbecue business practically leapt off the page from the first scene on. The tension between them was palpable, not just because of their personalities, but also because of their professional competitiveness.

While I was instantly drawn in by the chemistry between Harris and Darcy, it took me a while to really feel anything for Andy and Chico. They were perhaps both a bit too passive and I didn’t feel any passion between them until late into the novel. Especially compared to the internal conflict that Darcy faces throughout the story, the other characters seem almost bland. But eventually, even Chico and Andy grew on me.

The descriptions of the Texas barbecue culture felt very authentic and they gave a special charm to the story since they were a convincing background to the romance. The rivalry and professional envy only raised the stakes for the protagonists and added to the conflicts and tension in the novel.

Although the pacing of the story was good, I was a little bothered by the fact that the two love stories developed almost identically. Given the very different personalities of the heroes and heroines, I’d have expected very different dynamics between them. Instead, they develop similarly, with the same pace. I believe a different pacing for the two couples would have enriched the plot, particularly in terms of a more diverse rhythm.

I thought the resolution was done nicely, giving Darcy a happy ending that doesn’t jeopardize her career plans.

Introduction to the barbecue culture is not all that Hungry Heart offers. It serves the reader with a nice portion of romance and love, which makes it a perfect summer read.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Lion Awakens by Buffy Andrews

July 2, 2014 By Leave a Comment

LION
The Lion Awakens by Buffy Andrews
Publisher: Prism Book Group
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, YA
Length: Full Length (218 Pages)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Two worlds, two teens, two destinies…

For thirteen years, Annie Lange and David McClure believed their parents were killed in fiery car crashes. They learn the truth about the past when they find hidden messages in anonymous gifts left on their front porches. The notes lead them to a mentor who helps them discover and master their special powers, powers they will need if they have any chance of saving their world from the tyrant Goliath.

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Annie and David meet and become good friends as they learn about their shared history. They find out about a parallel universe which Annie’s mother and David’s father came from. They learn about their own special powers. And they learn about the tyrant Goliath who is planning to come from the parallel universe and conquer this universe.

Many people end up with their lives turned upside down, but for Annie and David, their lives would never be the same. I thought the plot was well thought out with good pacing. I was totally drawn into the novel from the beginning and believed in the story’s reality. I was at Annie’s and David’s sides as they raced to save the world. I liked both of them, as well as the supporting characters of Peter and Gabriel, their mentors.

This is also a coming of age story and Annie and David are typical adolescents with their own problems at school. Each has a best friend, but otherwise is pretty much alone. And they aren’t above using their powers for a bit of payback.

The characters are well-fleshed out and ring true. Some events happen a bit too easily, and Annie’s father and David’s mother are very understanding and easily fooled. Of course, both Annie and David have always been good kids, so the parents don’t have any reason to be suspicious, and Annie especially really gets upset when she has to lie to protect her father.

I found the ending of the book very unsettling. I’m not sure if it was left open for a sequel or just so that each reader can decide for her/himself what happens next, but I really wanted more clarity. However, that is my personal preference and readers who like an ending which leaves much unsaid will be very happy with this one. It is certainly dramatic in an understated way.

Lovers of fantasy, especially those interested in exploring parallel universes, are sure to enjoy The Lion Awakens. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

Daring Miss Danvers by Vivienne Lorret

July 1, 2014 By Leave a Comment

MISS
Daring Miss Danvers by Vivienne Lorret
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (288 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Bluet

It’s all fun and games . . . until someone falls in love.

Oliver Goswick, Viscount Rathburn, needs money—and soon. With time ticking away and his inheritance held hostage until he’s properly wed, Rathburn’s slim options point to a single solution: a faux engagement. In need of the perfect bride, he knows of only one candidate: his best friend’s wallflower sister. The plan seems flawless, except for one problem . . . He can’t help falling in love with her.
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Poised, polished Emma Danvers knows nothing good can come of Rathburn’s scheme. Spending the next two months engaged in a mock courtship is not what she’d imagined for her final season. Yet, charmed by his roguish ways and the inexplicable hammering he causes in her heart, she accepts his challenge.

For Emma, keeping the secret seemed easy when it was just a game . . . But as Rathburn begins to see past her reserved exterior to the passionate woman within, the risk of losing her heart becomes all too real.

Miss Emma Danvers only wants to find a nice stable gentleman to marry, so she can finally leave her madcap household. Her parents are artists, with the corresponding eccentricities, and are therefore looked down on by society. Her prospects are not looking good, as Oliver Goswich, Viscount Rathburn, a close family friend, chases away all potential suitors. Rathburn states that he’s only acting in Emma’s brother’s place, but I suspect some feelings there that he hasn’t even admitted to himself.

Rathburn formerly lived a somewhat rakish life, but he changed when his father was killed in a fire. Now he secretly supports many noble causes, but is frustrated because his grandmother is holding back his inheritance until she feels he has really changed his ways. He is in desperate need of funds to finish building a hospital in honor of his father. He concocts a scheme to become engaged to Emma, one of the few people his grandmother approves of, and then plans to break the engagement after he has his inheritance. Emma agrees, surprisingly enough, because a broken engagement will only sully her reputation and even further lessen her chances to make a good marriage.

I am always leery of reading a new author, but this book was a sheer delight. Rathburn was constantly making me smile – he is an accomplished flirt, and fun, and honorable. It didn’t take him long to realize his true feelings, and I like that he decided he had to convince Emma to let their engagement be real. Emma was endearing as well. She tried so hard to be proper, but inside she burned with artistic talent and a love for Rathburn that she was fighting with everything she had.

This book just flowed along at a quick pace. It had likeable characters, a sweet romance, and two of my favorite tropes – friends to lovers and a fake engagement. I enjoyed it enough that I will read the prequel novella in Five Golden Rings, and look forward to the next two books in the Wallflower Wedding series. This is one instance where I’m very glad I tried a new author, and I highly recommend this book that left me with a big smile on my face.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

Muzzled by Eileen Brady

July 1, 2014 By 1 Comment

MUZZLED
Muzzled by Eileen Brady
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Genre: Mystery/Suspesnse, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (219 pgs)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Stephanotis

Making rounds to homes one wet spring morning, veterinarian Dr. Kate Turner rescues a family’s hamster from a vacuum cleaner, then visits an estate whose owners breed champion Cavalier King Charles spaniels. Instead of sharing traditional tea with the couple, she confronts a bloody scene of bodies and twenty-seven blue-ribbon dogs running wild.

Police initially suspect a murder-suicide, but when Dr. Kate proves the famous best-in-show champion is missing, a darker reality intrudes. She remembers her grandfather saying that there are two motives for murder—love and money. While treating local pets, Dr. Kate discovers suspects and motives everywhere in this charming town filled with people who wanted the couple dead.

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Murder, humor, and furry friends. What animal loving mystery fan could ask for more?

Muzzled was a fun read and somewhat reminded me of the late James Herriot books about the trials and tribulations of a rural vet. This time around the vet, Kate Turner, is also an amateur sleuth who finds two dead bodies on one of her house calls.

Although at times I felt that it was light on the mystery side, the scenes including Kate tending to her many animal patients were all funny and delightful. She’s a likeable character and definitely one you’d like to read more about in follow up books.

Ms. Brady is herself a vet and that comes across clearly in the story with all the details she added about animal ailments and dog breeding. The dialogue was great and there were lots of funny one-liners in many scenes. The story also moved along at the ideal pace and I found myself reading the last ten chapters all in one sitting.

I liked the ending, and I have to say I hadn’t figured out who did the crime and definitely not the motive which is always a big plus to a die-hard mystery fan like myself.

If mystery is your favorite genre and you like a story featuring lots of furry secondary characters, I think this might be a good summer read for you.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,
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