Customer Reviews

Sit, Stay, Slay (Kendra Ballantyne, Petsitter Mysteries, No. 1)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

When we meet Kendra Ballentyne, she's watching her over-the-top tenants move into her beloved Los Angeles home. A few pages later, we learn why: she's a disgraced lawyer with a suspended license, forced to resign her old firm, forced into bankruptcy by her legal fees.

Visiting her friend Darryl, operator of an upscale boarding and training kennel, Kendra soon begins a new career as an upscale pet-sitter. Through a fortuitous alliance with a private detective, she unravels the clues that led to her own misfortunes and learns who was responsible for the dead bodies that she finds along the way.

This book belongs to the new sub-genre of mysteries featuring female lawyers who were disillusioned or disgraced. Frankly, some of their career distress seems misguided. Law is one of the most flexible careers. Some law school graduates never get licensed but find satisfying careers as teachers, legal researchers, business owners, corporate executives, and a whole lot more. Still, to be fair, many lawyers are unaware of their career options and our heroine loved certain aspects of litigation that are not to be found in other lines of work.

I gave the book five stars because it accomplishes what's promised in a paperback mystery with a female heroine: high-quality fast-paced writing with likeable (though not deeply drawn) characters. The book could be a textbook for writing a mystery. When we think, "Things can't get worse," they do. When the heroine begins to relax, a body or other disaster appears to complicate her life. And there's a nice romantic subplot.

Unlike most cozy mysteries, Sit, Stay, Slay boldly incorporates a hard-nosed value system that has been criticized by other reviewers. Some readers will question the heroine's decision to declare bankruptcy, thus relieving herself of her debts. Others will be disturbed by the solution, which raises questions of right, wrong and court-appointed justice.

It is important to remember that all literature - including murder mysteries - presents some value system, such as values related to marriage and child rearing. Researchers have found that mystery readers tend to identify with upper middle to upper class values of consumption; if you don't believe me, read the way Robert Parker's hero, Spenser, describes homes, food, clothing and furniture of his clients.

I was more disturbed when the heroine allows dogs on the couch (they need to know who's pack leader) and apparently hasn't spayed her dog. Those are *my* values!

And although the author herself is a lawyer, I wondered whether a disgraced lawyer would have such open access to her former firm. I also wondered about the source of her debts. Wouldn't the firm have bought out her partnership? Would her legal bills really be stratospheric for a non-criminal proceeding? Maybe...but I'd have liked some details spelled out.

Regardless, I liked Kendra and hope we see her again. Wisely the author has opened the way toward future alliances that will be rewarding for Kendra and entertaining for us.

I enjoyed this book, though I skipped a big chunk of it and didn't miss a thing. Hence the three stars. I can enjoy a book without liking the protagonist. As I did here.

Lexie the spaniel's much more likable than Kendra. But then, Kendra was, until her fall from grace, a successful hard-working civil litigator. Sure, charisma never hurts a litigator's career. But they do *not* tend to be lovable philosopher-philanthropists. More like competitive, hyperactive, aggressive, pragmatic, self-centered jerks who cut you off in traffic and revel in snatching the last decent parking space while talking on their bluetooth headsets.

It's easy to believe that Kendra could make some money pet-sitting in affluent LA - people there are away from their homes for long hours just because of their daily commute, not just when they leave town.

I found it less believable that Kendra would have such easy and continued access to her former high-powered law firm and its personnel - or why she'd want to anyway, since the place was a complete nest of vipers.

I will probably read the next book in the series to see how - or if - Kendra develops as a human being.

It seems like most mystery series today have to have a "hook" to draw the reader in. In this debut, Linda O. Johnston has offered up a rather entertaining hook with a lawyer who's forced to earn a living as a pet-sitter after having her license suspended. We meet Kendra Ballentyne as the people she's rented her house out to are moving in (a reality-show "star" who trying to extend her fifteen minutes and her boyfriend), a moment which pretty much exemplifies how much her life has changed.

This isn't a "cute" mystery; there's more than a touch of Raymond Chandler's mean streets here, and Kendra's not completely straight and narrow. She's a woman caught up in change, who's had her self-image cracked and is trying to figure out how to put the pieces back together. When a pet-sitting client and friend is found dead, her immediate reaction is to get involved not so much to seek the man's killers or find justice, but to keep herself from being eyed too closely as a suspect.

It's an intriguing start to a new series, with a main character who shows a great deal of potential for growth, something that can help keep the character fresh even as the bodies pile up around her.

Not the best, not the worst. I do get tired
of the beautiful heroine who just happens
to meet the handsome detective who falls
for her and just happens to provide all the
help she needs to solve the crime.

The writing on the dogs was the best part
and the author seems to really like dogs.

I think the problem here is that the book has
a checklist feel of including everything that you
expect in a cozy: the plucky heroine, dogs, trying
to start a new life, the best friend who is
a character.

I got the feeling the next book would also find
a way to have recipes in it.

Kendra's character has its flaws, but has real strengths as well. She's determined, and I appreciated that while she took some chances, she wasn't the type of amateur P.I. that takes silly chances or gets overly swept up in romance. Animal lovers will get a real kick out of all the animals that were part of the story.

Kendra Ballantyne was a first rate litigator until she was accused of giving a strategy memo to opposing counsel's client. When the client got the memo, she went berserk and killed the CEO of the corporation she was suing. Although Kendra insisted she never sent that memo, she was forced to resign from the firm, her law license was suspended for three months and she filed for bankruptcy.

Darryl Nestler, her friend of Doggy Indulgence Day Resort where Kendra used to bring her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, convinces her to dog sit for sexy Jeff Hubbard's Akita. She accepts because she is renting out her mansion and doesn't want to see others living there. Gradually, Darryl gives her more assignments taking care of the pets of the rich and famous; she is reasonably content until she walks into a client's home and finds him dead, the murder weapon next to him. The lead detective believes Kendra is a viable suspect and that conviction is strengthened when she walks in on another murdered client. Jeff, a private detective and security expert, wants to help her but she's determined to find out who is out to get her although she may get killed in the process.

SIT, STRAY, SLAY is a very funny and exciting mystery. Although Linda O. Johnston has written many novels, this is her best tale worthy of an award nomination because it entertains yet shows the audience what happens when an innocent person's life spins out of control and how that person copes with the changes forced upon her. The romance in this novel adds spice to a very clever crime thriller.

Harriet Klausner

This is the first book in a new series. Kendra Ballantyne cannot practice law. She was accused of providing a strategy memo to opposing counsel's client. The client then killed the CEO of the corporation she was suing. Kendra insists that she in innocent, but she was forced to resign from her law firm and her law license was suspended for three months. She had to file for bankruptcy. Luckily she was able to hold onto the old family home. Not that she can afford to live in it. She is living in the cottage in back. She's rented out the house.

Her friend Darryl Nestler who runs Doggy Indulgence Day Resort talks her into dog sitting for Jeff Hubbard's Akita. She accepts because she is allowed to live in his house while he's gone. That way she won't have to see her mansion being lived in by others. Slowly she accepts additional pet sitting jobs, not always of dogs. She is able to juggle the many schedules and still have time with her dogs as well. Doesn't hurt that Jeff is sexy and easy on the eyes when he is in town. All is going well until she finds one of her clients murdered in his home when she arrives to take care of his dog.

Unfortunately the detective believes Kendra is guilty of the murder. Before she can prove that she didn't do that, she walks in on another dead client, also murdered.

Jeff, a private detective and security expert, gives her advice on proving her innocence. When he is in town, he tries to help her. Kendra is determined to find the killer, but will she survive?

This is a fun, quick cozy to read. I loved it. Kendra is a great character. She takes on pet sitting with gusto and yet some fear. She is open to new experiences. Once she starts investigating, she finds she has a knack for it, along with a little help from Jeff.

I can't wait for the next book. I highly recommend this book!

Kendra Ballantyne, is in a lot of trouble. She's had to resign from her law firm is on suspension and cannot practice for several months, had to declare bankruptcy and even had to rent out her home to a former reality TV star.

Now she has to get a job. Fortunately, her friend Darryl, owner of a pet spa offers her services as a pet sitter. Taking care of a few pets seems easy enough, until one of her clients, who was also a former client of hers at the law firm winds up dead.

The police seem to suspect her and it only gets worse when another of her clients winds up dead.

Does any of this have to do with the scandal that ended her law career? Kendra has to find out before she winds up behind bars.

Highlights:

Jeff Hubbard the security expert who is one of Kendra's clients.

Darryl, owner of Doggy Indulgence Day Resort:

Both of these characters are more intersting than Kendra, maybe the author should have made one of them female and the lead character.

Lowlights:

Kendra. It's hard to be enthusiastic about a series when you don't like the heroine. She seems to spend more time wondering when she can get into bed with Jeff (which she does after knowing him for about 3 hours), than about the fact that two people who were her friends wound up dead.

You know you're in trouble when the story behind why Kendra was suspended would have made a better book than this story.

I actually agreed with the killer about a lawsuit that Kendra was involved with. Although killing the lawyer isn't the right way to handle anything.

Kendra is really dumb about how she investigates the crime, which seems to be her deciding someone is the killer and then meeting with them to accuse them of the crime. She does this several times. And is determined that someone has to be the killer just because she doesn't like them.

I will definitely not be purchasing the 2nd installment of this series.

Kendra Ballantyne just lost her job as a litigation lawyer and almost lost her house in the bankruptcy that followed. Forced to rent her home to a wanna be actress, she's desperate for work. When a friend suggests pet sitting, Kendra jumps at the idea and soon finds she enjoys it. Things are looking up until she arrives at one house of find her client has returned early and been murdered.

The police are quick to suspect her. After all, the victim had been a client back when she was practicing law. Feeling the heat, Kendra begins pocking around to find the killer herself. Will the help of an attractive PI be enough to help her solve the case?

This book sounded like fun, so I thought I'd give it a try. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to my hopes. While Kendra has been through a lot, she comes across as whiney. Even though she's willing to work hard to over come the obstacles, her "poor me" attitude was hard to over come. The plot was fairly slow as well. Often, I got board waiting for the next clue. I'm not a big dog lover, but that would have made a difference. It's obvious that the author loves dogs, and some of the canine characters are fun and bring life to the book.

Dog lovers looking for a new cozy series will enjoy this book. Others will be best entertained by looking elsewhere.

This novel was just plain fun! It showed a fiesty protagonist who didn't let adversity stand in her way of her life, but changes her life to deal with it. Also, it has dogs in it, and it is a mystery. Do you know how rare that is. This is just the type the of book that helps a reader get through the winter!