Book 4, 2024
A Good Dog's Guide to Murder by Krista Davis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I finished A Good Dog's Guide to Murder by Krista Davis last night. It's the 8th book in her "Paws and Claws" mystery series, featuring inn owner Holly Miller.
As Thanksgiving draws near, visitors are flocking to Wagtail for the gingerbread competition featuring cat and dog houses. The competition is being held at the brand new convention center, which sits on ground donated to the town by Orly Biffle. The only stipulation from the gift was that the majestic oak tree near the lake must never be cut down. However, when the tree drops two large limbs, Holly's grandmother--the mayor of Wagtail--insists the tree come down before anyone is hurt. Cutting the tree reveals a corpse inside of it. Now Officer Dave has a cold case to solve. The investigation heats up when one of the visitors dies of poisoning, and it appears the poison had been meant for Holly. Rather than be afraid, Holly is even more determined to discover the identity of the original victim and who may have had a reason to kill him.
The cold case aspect was certainly a departure from most cozy mysteries, and I enjoyed it; it was refreshing. It was fun to learn more about the history of Wagtail, reconnect with old characters, and meet new ones, including Holly's mother. The book wasn't entirely devoted to the investigation. Holly was also busy running the inn, getting ready for the holidays, and spending time with friends and family.
Favorite lines:
♦ "Fur on the floor is but a small price to pay for the love they give us."
♦ Being in possession of Harry Potter indicated a fun person, didn't it?
♦ I didn't feel one bit guilty when I spread mayonnaise on my bread. Right now I needed comfort food. I was stress-mayoing. Was that even a thing? It was now!
Excellent story, fun and twisty. Five stars.