Veterinarian Jessica Popper (no jokes please!) has her hands full with her mobile practice, but she makes time for some sleuthing on the side when her best friend, fellow veterinarian Suzanne Fox, is accused of murder.

When Suzanne's ex's fiancée is murdered, Suzanne becomes the prime suspect after neighbors give police a description matching her. Although Suzanne denies any involvement, she's not completely up front with the police, leading them to believe they have their killer. Jess begins her own investigation, which takes her into the heart of Long Island wine country. In addition to working on her investigation, Jess must deal with live-in boyfriend Nick in her space, hosting an alliterative talk show about pets and a dummy that turns up in the oddest places. Suspects are plenty and varied, and Jess will need more than a little luck to discover the killer before that killer turns his sights on her!

This latest installment in Ms. Baxter's Reigning Cats & Dogs mysteries is my favorite! It's a neatly crafted mystery, dropping clever clues throughout and giving the reader some fun spooks. Jessica Popper is an entertaining amateur sleuth, supported by a cast of fun, familiar two- and four-legged characters.