Customer Reviews

Never Say Sty: A Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter Mystery (Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter Mysteries)

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I had a hard time getting through this one. Her previous titles were pretty good, and I expected more of the same. Instead, I got car reviews (really? from a Beemer to an Escape??) and instant attraction to a guy she didn't like or trust, and of course the attraction was instant on his part as well. Even though they disagree on some pretty important issues, he's rich and good looking so I guess that's all it takes. Also, why change the basic nature of returning characters? Why did Ned suddenly become hot headed and irrational when in previous books he was level headed and low key? I just didn't like this one. I couldn't concentrate on the mystery because of all the character annoyances. I may be done with this series.

I really enjoyed the first Kendra Ballantyne mysteries: interesting character with an interesting past, cute pet and I really liked her relationship with Jeff.

The first problem was that the focus of Kendra's occupation changed after the first few books. I loved the pet-sitter part--but that took a back seat to being a lawyer. Then came Double Dog Dare which was terrible. I guess that Ms. Johnston wanted to change so she got rid of Jeff--VERY clumsily. In NEVER SAY STY, there is the foolish mystery of whom Darryl is dating (do we really care?) and the loooooong explanations about how the reality show is run. I don't care. I want a good mystery (which this isn't) with interesting characters (which Ms. Johnson has gotten rid of) and a snappy pace. This book is bogged down in detail.

After being disappointed in her last two books, I'll try to get the books at the library. They aren't work the money.

I was enjoying this book more than the last few in the series, until I got near the end and it was the same old thing -- just before she gets to the solution, suddenly the reader is cut out of the whole process with a bunch of vague hints such as "I called the person I needed and asked them to do the favor I wanted." So basically the reader is there, working along with Kendra to figure out the clues, until the case is almost solved...and then suddenly the reader is no longer privy to any information and has to sit there scratching their head about what's going on until the solution is laid out (usually something Kendra came up with out of the clear blue sky).

Add this to the fact that the murderer's identity was completely unbelievable and the fact that there isn't a police officer alive who would've gone along with Kendra's off-the-page scenario, particularly without any proof, and the whole thing felt like a big waste of time.

Finally, as I've mentioned in other reviews of this author's work, if she's going to portray her main character as a pet-sitter, she needs to do a better job of it. It's bad enough that Kendra can't leave her house without her dog by her side or ensconced at a pricey day-care, and gets angry at people who invite her to dinner or other places that don't allow pets, but the fact that she brings her tiny dog along on her pet-sitting rounds, particularly to visit big strange dogs on their own turf, is totally unrealistic and irresponsible, and really takes away from the series' credibility.

Never say Sty is a fun little title. So are the others in this Kendra Ballentyne, Pet-Sitter Mystery series by Linda O. Johnston--Sit, Stay, Slay; Fine-Feathered Death; Nothing to Fear but Ferrets, to name but a few. And the book has a very fun cover--sweet little puppy jumping through a hoop, except that on closer observation that puppy's a piglet.

This isn't the first book in the series, but the author does a good job of telling just enough to make the background make sense. Kendra works for law firm Yurick & Associates in her everyday life, but enjoys a second career as a pet-sitter, combining clever animal psychology with excellent people skills to earn an extra penny or two and keep the wolf from the several people's doors. She's also embarking on a third career promoting a new TV reality show where animals train and perform, and get voted off by audience and judges of course.

The show is financed by intriguing millionaire Dante DeFrancisco, who apparently likes Kendra for more than just her animal skills. And it's judged by the usual trio of suspects, one of whom seems set to make a few too many enemies.

The combination of human and animal mysteries makes for a fun read and keeps the pages turning, even if Kendra does seem to fall too easily under the spell of Dante's charms. The author's timing, pushing each mystery a little way forwards then spinning back to another, is excellent, and whatever I thought I'd guessed as I read, there was always more to seek.

A very well-constructed tale, with pot-bellied pigs (yes, and dogs); I certainly enjoyed this and I'll be looking out for more.

As if Kendra's life wasn't full enough, now she's helping start a reality TV show about pets. She meets Dante DeFrancisco, the man financing the show, and there is an instantaneous attraction. When one of the judges is killed, the show's future is in jeopardy. I, personally, was sad that she was not with Jeff in this book, but I soon grew to like Dante. I like Kendra a lot in this series. She is smart and practical but yet can be spontaneous when the need arises. I have enjoyed every book in this series and look forward to more. I highly recommend this book and series.

I really like this pet sitting series. It is a nice break from the hard core mysteries I usually read.
Good plot, well developed characters.

She is both a Los Angeles attorney and a pet-sitter, who solved a client's litigation problem by helping to create the pet reality show Animal Auditions. It is a Survivor type show using animals who are eliminated each week until the last one standing wins a great prize. At a meeting she met tall, dark and handsome Dante De Francisco who owns the chain Hot Pets. Kendra Ballantine is attracted to him and him to her although neither welcomes the feelings.

The first animals to be judged are pot-bellied pigs, who have a sense of smell, which is a key component of the competition. One of the judges mean tempered Sebastian Czykovski who is nasty towards the pigs and their owners. When he is murdered, the detective in charge Howard Wherlon leads the investigation as the usual sleuth has a conflict of interest being a contestant. Ned and his sister Nia are the prime suspects so Ned asks Kendra to help him find the real killer. She, her former lover, his assistant and Dante create an ingenious plan to smoke out the culprit.

Putting aside the fact a professional asks an amateur for help in a murder case, Linda O. Johnson's latest Pet-Sitter mystery is a refreshing (the normal in this series- see DOUBLE DOG DARE) fascinating whodunit. Still reeling from her break up with PI Jeff Hubbard, Kendra is hesitant to begin a relationship with an also reluctant Dante, who has a secret past that does not exist on record before his military duty. As is typical in this engaging series, the animals steal the show; this time the scenes with the pot-bellied pigs are hilarious as are those with the canines. Fans will enjoy the latest pet sitter caper.

Harriet Klausner