Holly Miller returns in another Paws & Claws Mystery. She runs a charming hotel in Wagtail, Virginia, a pet-friendly town. THE WAGTAIL MURDER CLUB is a small group of locals who discuss current local events. Driving home one day, Holly notices a black Labrador abandoned on the town outskirts and promptly collects the friendly dog. She turns him over to a rescue centre but offers to keep him until he can be rehomed.
Meanwhile, at Sugar Maple Inn, Holly’s ex-boyfriend Ben Hathaway who is a lawyer, arrives from Washington and expects to stay free in Holly’s family rooms. For some reason, she allows this. Ben is with other members of a legal firm who intend to open an office in Wagtail. Ben dramatically asks Holly to become engaged to him, in front of the partners. I would have said I was honoured and would consider the offer, but Holly seems to be a pushover for peer pressure. Here’s the thing. She is currently dating a gentleman called Holmes Richardson and doesn’t even like Ben anymore. Many readers will be upset with Holly.
The town’s inhabitants now include Cooper Adams, a man recently released from prison who was convicted of a youthful murder charge. He denies the crime. During a lunar eclipse, one of the visiting lawyers attending the hilltop hike falls off a cliff and murder is suspected. Can this be a coincidence? The Wagtail Murder Club, composed of Holly, her mom Nell Goodwin, her grandmother Oma Miller, and Mr. Huckle, the Inn’s butler, meet to deliberate.
Enjoyably, the restaurants not only allow pets but cater to them. I did find the cuteness a little overboard, especially with a bakery called Pupcake turning out cupcakes for people, with dog faces on the icing. How would you know they were for people when everywhere sells treats made for dogs? I also found it hard to keep track of the pet names, such as Trixie, Twinkletoes, and Squishy, all of which could be cats or dogs. Nobody’s dogs fight and no dogs chase cats, which attend outdoor events. Cars are banned from the centre so only golf carts are allowed, which makes the roads a lot safer. Wagtail is an interesting location and author Krista Davis has also put a good deal of thought into planning out the murders in this book. THE WAGTAIL MURDER CLUB gets involved with not only present-day crimes but past ones, as the members try to unravel a chain of deadly incidents. Fans of the cosy mystery series will have great fun.
Holly Miller gets much more than she bargained for when she rescues an adorable stray pup by the side of the road in this all-new Paws & Claws Mystery from New York Times bestselling author Krista Davis.
Holly Miller is on her way home to Wagtail, Virginia when she spots something in the grass not far from her car. It turns out to be an adorable black Labrador in a cage with a note attached to his collar. My name is Squishy. I am a very good boy. Please take good care of me. Holly takes Squishy home to the Sugar Maple Inn, which she owns with her grandmother, who also happens to be the mayor of Wagtail. They decide to foster Squishy at the Inn. Days later, Holly is surprised to see her ex-boyfriend Ben checking in with a group of his attorney colleagues who all seem to think that he and Holly are still an item!
Aided by Squishy, Holly’s rascally dog and cat find one of Ben’s fellow attorneys who has died from a non-accidental fall. Is the fiend a resident of Wagtail or a visitor? Holly bands together with her mom, grandmother, and beloved elderly Inn butler, Mr. Huckle, to uncover the killer and the truth about Squishy. Because nothing brings a town together like murder.
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