Customer Reviews

Anteater of Death: A Zoo Mystery

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Buy or borrow this book. Do not steal this book....that would make Lucy mad and apparently that's one thing you never want to do....go head to head or toe to talon with an enraged anteater.

I have long been a fan of the author's other series but was blown away by this book. Lucy and her keeper Teddy are fresh and wonderful, the zoo and the marina and the castle are superb locations. I thought I pegged the killer early (and I turned out to be right) but that didn't take away from the sheer joy of the book. There is a nice cast of slightly 'different' supporting characters but the craziness is well contained and only adds to the joy...(if you are a reader of the Meg Langslow books by Donna Andrews, the crazy supporting cast is very similar.) And there's a nice love story and a hunky ex boyfriend now the sheriff and an on-the lam father and an entire zoo full of friends...both animal and human.

Buy this book borrow this book, read this book and love this book!

Zookeeper Teddy Bentley is caught between worlds. The divorced daughter of a money-hungry forever-dieting society vixen, she prefers living on her rickety houseboat to cohabiting with Caro (whom she's not allowed to call "Mother") in the unspeakably expensive neighborhood of their swanky California coastal home. Having been burned too many times--most recently by a cheating ex-husband--Teddy prefers the company of her animal charges at the privately owned Gunn Zoo, as well as her own misfit pets (DJ Bonz the three-legged dog, and Miss Priss the one-eyed cat).

Webb has crafted an intricate mystery that goes beyond the usual whodunnit to touch on social stratification (a wealthy snob is trying to have liveaboarders at the marina evicted because their boats aren't upscale enough), social climbing and the problems of "old money," and the difficulty of learning to trust when everyone around you seems greedy, conniving, and/or homicidal.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Anteater of Death, and was (pleasantly) surprised to find that the book has two sources of suspense: not only the murders that Teddy sets out to investigate, but also the behavior of zoo animals. You spectate tensely and jaw-clenchingly as a gentle giraffe gives birth (Will the baby survive the six-foot drop?), as a child falls into the bear pit, as a mated pair of wolves have a bloody lovers' quarrel, and even as Teddy herself has a shaky encounter with one of her beloved animals.

I love a mystery that makes you think, and The Anteater of Death makes you speculate on the similarities and differences between humans and zoo animals, as we watch the worst-behaved of the animals mirror the interactions of the venal humans around them, and the best-behaved of the animals relentlessly put human beings to shame. An added bonus is the sleaziest, creepiest, most disgustingly sexist villain I've read in a while, who provides suitable fodder for the reader's bile as well as some terrific comic moments. Here's hoping Teddy will be back for more.

A trip to the zoo can include many things. One of them is usually not a dead body. When one of them does turn up at Gunn Landing Zoo, it's up to zookeeper Theodora Bentley to find out who, or what, in the complex political stew of the nearby town might be responsible. Was it the rage of an unsafe animal at the zoo, or a conniving local human? Bentley is a likable character, and although the story does have a few brief lags, most of the book is brisk and clever. For those who enjoy science and the zoo, and I'm one of them, the plot provides an even more enriching atmosphere than most thrillers. This is a real treat for mystery fans.

What animal lover could resist picking up a mystery novel titled, "Anteater of Death"? This novel is a very charming introduction to a new series. Volunteering at an Arizona zoo, Ms. Webb is knowledgeable about the inner workings. It is interesting to see revealed the hidden background of a zoo; in this case, privately owned Gunn Zoo which is open to the public. The author pours in a wealth of information regarding animal behavior which is fascinating for animal lovers, and, particularly, the reader learns a lot about the featured mammal, a giant anteater from Belize. I was charmed by the opening chapter, which is from the point of view of the anteater, and was pleasantly surprised by the last chapter, which also wraps it all up from the anteater's point of view once again. Both chapters were very believable and fun to read.

The new sleuth introduced in this series is Teddy Bentley, who lives frugally on a houseboat with her pets because she refuses to touch the dirty money left to her by her criminal father. Her mother is a wealthy socialite; Teddy works at the Gunn Zoo out of love for animals and principle, wanting to take care of herself without leaning on the family. When Lucy, the pregnant anteater, is accused of murder, Teddy fights the zoo owners and administration to absolve Lucy of the crime and discover the true killer. She also deals with the politics of harbor living, absolving a coworker of false accusations, and the travails of a past romance when the sheriff investigating the homicide is an ex-boyfriend. Teddy is feisty, principled, loyal, and caring, which makes her a character worth rooting for. I do take a 1/2 star off because the villain "spills the beans," tying the plot up at the end, rather than letting the main character bring out the final details through her investigation, but it's a great start to what looks like a fun new series--particularly for animal lovers. I've heard at a conference what the next novel "murder" will be, and it sounds really fun. I am looking forward to picking up the next book in this series when it comes out.

This novel is humorous and light-hearted, very different from her Lena Jones series.Desert Cut: A Lena Jones Mystery (Lena Jones Mysteries (Paperback)) There is also no graphic sex or really bad language.

Having lived in San Diego for many years -- a city known for its fabulous Zoo -- I was drawn to this book because of its title. It proved an enjoyable read, with its fast pace, clear writing and empathetic main character.

The Anteater was framed - but if giant anteater Lucy didn't kill the man in her zoo enclosure, who did? A suspicious zookeeper must locate the real murderer before Lucy is sent away - but further happenings at the zoo send Teddy on a labyrinth of investigation into underlying motives and murder in this unusual mystery, perfect for mystery libraries seeking something different and deserving of ongoing recommendation.

I loved this book-and Lucy the Anteater was my favorite character. Written with a great deal of humor, this book is full of eccentric characters, an engaging heroine, a bit of romance and a murder mystery. The mystery part doesn't take long to figure out, but the book's worth lies in Ms. Webb's ability to capture the reader's attention. And yes, Lucy and her passion for bananas is the best part. I can't wait for the sequel.

This was a credible murder mystery that was just lighthearted enough (can murder be light hearted?) to be a fun read as well. I reccomend you get it for yourself and all your mystery loving friends and family. You will try to solve it yourself, delight in the revengeful humor, cheer on the zookeeper hero, hope for the anteater, get to know the characters in a small coastal town, and be satisfied with the ending. Lastly, you will want more and hope that the author is hard at work with the next in this new series. I can't wait for more.

When one of your favorite mystery authors makes a departure from their regular series, do you follow along? Do you worry about the new characters, and whether you'll be just as happy with the new series? I've been disappointed at times. I've read every one of Robert B. Parker's Spenser books, but I don't care about his characters, Jesse Stone or Sunny Randall.

Betty Webb is well-known for her Lena Jones series, and, naturally, since they're set here in Arizona, they are particularly popular here. These are somewhat dark books. Betty herself says that the first one, <em>Desert Noir</em>, sets the tone. So, when she started a new series, a slightly lighter one set in a zoo, readers might have worried a little. There's no need to worry. The Anteater of Death is a stunning debut for the Zoo Mysteries featuring Teddy Bentley.

Was Lucy, the anteater, framed? Theodora "Teddy" Bentley was the zookeeper who found a body in the anteater's enclosure at the private Gunn Zoo in California. She worried about her beloved anteater's fate, until she learned Lucy didn't kill the wealthy victim, the husband of one of the Gunn family members. However, she was even more sure that a fellow zookeeper wasn't the killer when Zorah was arrested for the murder. With the sheriff convinced he arrested the killer, Teddy realizes she's the only one who cares enough to find a murderer who is threatening her beloved zoo.

The odds are stacked against Teddy. The sheriff is her old boyfriend, Joe Rejas. She and Joe were separated when her socialite mother sent her to boarding school in high school. They both married others, but now they're back in Gunn Landing. She has to fight her attraction to Joe, not only to find a killer, but to protect her zany mother and her scoundrel of a father, a likable con man. She also has to contend with the large, extended Gunn family, and the complications of the Gunn Family Trust, a trust that supports the zoo, but could also doom it.

Webb's new mystery is a remarkable book, combining fascinating facts of animal and zoo life with a complicated plot. There's an interesting cast of characters, all with unique traits that animate them. Teddy and her family have a complex relationship that can be amusing, and, for Teddy, frustrating at times. Teddy, and her love of the zoo animals, bring this book to life. Webb's knowledge of zoos and animals shine through in a story that wouldn't be nearly as interesting without the animals.

Betty Webb's fans won't be disappointed. She continues to educate readers, this time about zoos and animals. Fans of her Lena Jones series shouldn't hesitate to pick up this mystery. The Anteater of Death is an outstanding traditional mystery. It should bring new readers to Webb's challenging books.

The protagonist is interesting, as is the zoo setting, and the exotic animals are fascinating. I'm not a fan of many cozy mystery series, but I'm definitely hooked on this one! I'm actually reading the next one right now.

Author of Call of the Jaguar, Wild, and On Shaky Ground