Furballs and Fatalities: A Talking Dog Cozy Mystery, by Carly Winter

 

Publication Feb. 8, 2024

Like dogs? You're going to love Daisy, the talking dog. Her sheer joy is adorable, as are her childlike pouts. Gina struggles to keep her ability to talk with her dog a secret but it's becoming increasingly difficult. Maybe more so since she's spending so much time hanging out with Deputy Trevor Hutchinson. Daisy's sense of humor seems to mean she likes to trick Gina into responding to her when he's around. There also seems to be a romance bubbling just under the surface, so I'm looking forward to the next installment. One thing I particularly like, of course, is Gina's focus on rescue. Unfortunately, Daisy doesn't always get along with the temporary guests in her house, frequently giving Gina a major guilt trip. The good news is, a happy solution is always found by book's end. 

In any case, on to the mystery/murder investigation. Who killed Molly, wife of the local hardware store owner? Gina is astonished to learn that Erika, the initial suspect because she was recently fired by Molly, won't talk to anyone at the police station but her. Why? Maybe equally concerning, why is Erika involved with such a control freak boyfriend? Could he have killed Molly to protect Erika? How will Trevor and Gina sort out the romantic entanglements? Was the husband simply clearing the way to marrying the new girlfriend by killing off his wife? Will Gina find herself in danger? Oh, bet you can guess the answer to that one. And, what does Trevor know about Gina's mother that she refuses to let him share with her? 

Okay, enough teasers? You'll like the quirky characters and humor of the story, much of it provided by Daisy. Annabelle can always be depended on, too, for a wild scheme to catch a killer or, for that matter, simply get revenge. She's a fun carry-over from the previous series this one is based on. The story is fast paced, with ample twists and red herrings, not to mention viable suspects. Give it a read. It's a quick, easy read that, quite frankly, I found hard to put down once I started reading.Thanks #BookSirens and author #CarlyWinter for allowing me this early peek at what's going on with Gina, Daisy, and Trevor. Looking forward to my next visit.