Last But Not Leashed: A Veterinarian Cozy Mystery
(Dr. Kate Vet Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – New York
Poisoned Pen Press (September 6, 2022)
Mass Market Paperback : 432 pages
ISBN-10 : 1728249341
ISBN-13 : 978-1728249346
Kindle ASIN : B09PZG2YZK
In the second installment of this animal-themed cozy series, Dr. Kate Turner has one New Year’s resolution: Stop finding corpses…
All Dr. Kate Turner wants to do is get her life in order before ringing in the new year, but with bodies turning up left and right, she’ll have to trust her own instincts—and those of her beloved animals—to stop a killer in their tracks.
As the only veterinarian at Oak Falls Animal Hospital, Dr. Kate’s life is complicated. She’s swamped with hospital patients and house calls, a long-distance relationship with law student Luke Gianetti (that is less than perfect), and a handsome, flirtatious artist who sets his sights on her as his new muse.
When the body of Sookie Overmann is found outside the community center after her organization seminar, the entire town is hunting for answers. All of Kate’s hopes of quietly ringing in the new year are lost and when the body of Sookie’s assistant falls with the confetti at midnight, she has no choice but to sniff out the killer.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Veterinarian Kate Turner is still filling in for another vet and has become quite comfortable at the job. She has become friends with Cindy, the office manager, and Mari the vet assistant, so when they invited her along to the community center for an organization seminar she agrees to tag along. But as she is leaving the event she finds the seminar instructor Sookie Overmann dead in the bushes. Then on New Year’s Eve, another person falls to her death at a community party. The death was ruled a suicide but Kate knows the deaths have to be connected. Sookie wasn’t a nice person but who hated her enough to want her dead? Her husband? A client? and how does a Circle K cashier fit into the picture? Kate is determined to find out but her amateur sleuthing puts a target on her back. so much so that she temporarily welcomes one of Mari’s Rottweilers, Desi who had Schutzhund training into her home.
Kate Turner is a great protagonist who had some tragedy in her past. She is getting very comfortable in Oak Falls but trying to keep up a long-term relationship with her boyfriend is tough. I was happy to see that the office relationship between Kate, Mari, and Cindy has evolved into true friendships. It is also good when a friend has an in with the chief of police. Cindy happens to be his sister-in-law and she can get all kinds of information from him when needed. I do wish I would have read the previous series featuring Kate. I do feel I got to know her better with this story but I still want more details.
While all the human characters are well crafted, it is the canine characters that steal the show, Kate rescued Buddy, a King Charles spaniel, he is not much of a watchdog, but he sure sniffed out the injured dog someone left by the dumpster. Mr. Pitt, named by Mari, was badly injured, clearly a victim of a dog fight. It just broke my heart that people could treat an animal so horribly. Little Man, a grumpy usually costumed Chihuahua who ended up staying with Kate while his owner goes on a trip. And then there was Desi, a Rottweiler that belongs to Mari but moved in to protect Kate until the killer is caught. I love the way the author gives them each a unique personality. They also play a key role in the story and that always makes me smile.
The mystery was very well-plotted. Kate’s inquisitive nature has her digging into the crimes. She gets some help from a woman with a unique talent in hopes of moving the investigation ahead. Cindy keeps pushing Kate and does her best to get her info from her brother-in-law. I thought I was on track and hooked my leash to the right suspect but I was only half right. I love the ending, it was exciting and a very satisfying end to this book.
Last but not Leashed
I have added the books to Ms. Brady’s other series to my wish list because I really want to learn about Kate from the beginning.
Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent
Eileen Brady is a veterinarian and author. A wife and mother of two daughters, she often has to chase her six cats and two dogs away from her laptop keyboard. She currently resides in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Also by Eileen Brady
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Cute cover. Sounds like a good book.
Thanks for the chance!