I'm not a vet but have friends who work in that field and imagine they'd be happy to vouch for the "life of a vet" scenes depicted. I'm sure they'd just as rather have no experience with murder, however. Dr. Kate is dealing with a lot as the book opens. It's almost New Year's Eve and her long distance boyfriend is feeling just as emotionally distant as he is in reality. Than she finds a body in a parking lot after a presentation by a professional home organizer. To add to the dark clouds seemingly surrounding her, a body falls from the rafters at a New Year's Eve bash. Luke, the boyfriend did make it there for that but, as a former cop, his professional mode kicks in and she rides home with a friend. All is not lost, however, as she met a charmingly handsome man at the bash, Colin. Hmm, new romance?
I found myself liking Kate a great deal. Her friends and co-workers at the vet clinic are fun, smart, and seemingly in touch with all the gossip, good and bad, in the community. They even know how to talk humans down when near passing out, such as the sight of blood leaves one client. Handy skill for a cozy mystery, I'd say. Nor does Kate show the usual tendency of other series mysteries to go looking for trouble. Rather nice to see a smart amateur sleuth who doesn't deliberately or stupidly but themselves in harm's way. It just finds her.
Did I mention the dogs? Kate's King Charles spaniel, Buddy, welcomes not just one but two fellow canines in this installment, the badly injured pit they dub Mr. Pitt, dumped at the clinic, and Desi, the attack trained dog she "borrows", not to mention temporary visitor, cranky, usually nasty to deal with Little Man, a chihuahua described as having the heart of a lion but the body of a mouse. How can you not love them all?
As for the murder, who killed professional organizer Sookie? Her husband sounds like a likely suspect. Seemingly desperate for money, he showed violent tendencies in public. Was unlucky Lucky somehow involved? He did seem to have a way of stumbling into trouble. Or, maybe Posey? Will her book be a best seller? What about Rainbow? She gives airheads a bad name but seems intellectually brilliant, at least? Could the dazzling movie star living on the hillside have played a role? Will Kate's love life improve? Will they find Mr. Pitt's humans?
Why....oh, never mind. Enough teasers. Read the book. If you like dogs and interesting mysteries with a multi-layered plot, you'll enjoy this one.
Thanks #NetGalley and #PoisonedPenPress for introducing me to Dr. Kate, a vet all animal lovers can love.
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