Customer Reviews

Murder Had a Little Lamb: A Reigning Cats & Dogs Mystery (Reigning Cats & Dogs Mysteries)

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With the miserable weather we've been having, this was the perfect book to have with a fire and a cup of hot tea. I love this series and look forward to the next installment. The characters come to life in a funny and imperfect way...like us. And to have an author with the love and treatment of animals that I do makes it the perfect cozy book for me!
Patti Fisher
[...]

Veterinarian Dr. Jessica Popper runs a mobile clinic Reigning Cats and Dogs that does house calls; saving the animals from having to go to an office. Commitment phobic Jessica has been engaged to Nick Burby for ages when she suddenly decides on a big wedding. After months of putting up with her future mother-in-law's demands, Nick and Jess are about to exchange vows when a scream from one of the catering servers halts the festivities.

Inside the reception hall is the body of cousin Nathanial Stibbins who is the black sheep on the groom's side. Nick's mom invited Nathanial as she thought that was the right thing to do. She demands that Jessica find her nephew's killer starting at the Worth School on Long Island. Jessica obtains a summer job there teaching students how to properly care for their pets while also subtly questioning staff and faculty about Nathanial. She learns he made plenty of enemies in his climb to the top; any of them would want him dead. Ignoring letters warning her to abort her investigation, Jessica finds evidence that points towards one suspect, but she has doubts as what was complex and convoluted abruptly became too simple and linear.

Putting aside the unlikely mother-in-law scenario, readers who adore cute animals in their mysteries will appreciate Murder Had a Little Lamb. This amateur sleuth is well constructed with many suspects possessing strong motives that lead the audience to understand how vicious and backstabbing Nathanial must have been as even his betrayed friend and his lover loathed him. The romantic subplot enhances the whodunit bringing warm depth to the intrepid heroine as part of an overall fun thriller.

Harriet Klausner

Jessica Popper and longtime finance' Nick Burby are literally at the alter when there is a scream and the body of the "Black Sheep" cousin Nathaniel is found by a catering employee. Nick's mother demands that Jessie find the murderer and make all this humiliation go away. It isn't helpful that no one has actually seen cousin Nathaniel for years, and the only address anyone has is the exclusive private school where he was an art instructor. Jessie manages to get a volunteer position at the school for summer term teaching a class on taking care of your pets. As a mobile Vet, Jessie drives all over the island making house calls, so going to the school to teach doesn't disrupt her routine too much. However, as the suspect list grows, Jessie finds herself in danger not only physically but emotionally when she and Nick have problems. Jessie has to move fast to save her own life and her relationship with Nick. I really enjoyed this book.