To Catch a Treat

Adorable cover!

Happy Friday the Thirteenth!  May you have good luck on this day (we all need it).  I always dread these days.  I am clumsy enough on a day without 13 in it.  How about you?  Are you superstitious? Events that happened on May 13 in history are . . . In 1880 Thomas Edison in Menlo Park, New Jersey performs the first test of his electric railway.  Three children in report the first apparition of our Lady Lady of Fatima in Fatima, Portugal in 1917.  The first commercial FM radio station in the United States is launched in Bloomfield,Connecticut in 1939.  In 1958 the trademark Velcro is registered (wonderful stuff)!

To Catch a Treat by Linda O. Johnston is the second book in A Barkery and Biscuits Mystery series.  Carrie Kennersley owns the Bakery and Biscuits bake shop in Knobcone Heights, California. One side caters to humans and the other to four legged creatures (what a neat idea).  Her brother, Neal has invited her to participate in one of his hikes (he gives hikes of the area) in order to meet his new love interest, Janelle Blaystone.  Janelle is upset over the loss of her black Labrador, GO (for Goliath).   This is not the first dog napping. There have been a rash of them lately.  Janelle is from Los Angeles and is visiting the area (does not bode well for Neal’s romance) with her friend, Delma Corning.  Carrie feels bad for Janelle and decides to help her.  She takes her to Billi Matlock’s Mountaintop Rescue Animal Shelter and introduce her to their latest guest (a friendly black Labrador who was left in the alley behind the shelter).  The rescue dog turns out to be Janelle’s dog, Go.  Janelle is so excited at getting her baby returned to her. Go was chipped, but it was unable to be read with the scanner (odd).  Janelle confronts Ada Arnist and accuses her of stealing her dog.  Unfortunately, Ada soon turns up dead with (guess who) Janelle as the lead suspect.  Carrie does some sleuthing to find the real killer and, hopefully, the dog nappers. 

To Cath a Treat was kind of blah.  The beginning is very slow and this reader was not drawn into the story.  I was also not taken with the main character.  I think Carrie has some major issues and needs some help.  Carrie believes all men are attracted and interested in her (it is in her head).  The one man who does like her, she keeps pushing away (he should run while he has the chance).  The book talked more about the animals, than about the murder.  The dog napping seemed to take precedence of the murder (the only people concerned with Ada’s death seem to be her parents).  We get many details on the scenery while hiking, dog descriptions, the bakery, people, etc.  There are a lot of people and animals.  It is hard to keep them all straight (so focus on the main ones).  The mystery was fairly easy to solve, but there was a little twist (most people will probably not see it coming).  The writer just did not bring this novel to life for me.  Some books you read and good novels you live.  I give To Catch a Treat 3 out of 5 stars.  This is the second book in the series, but I believe it can be read without having enjoyed the first book (though it may help to keep all the characters straight).  Will I read the next book in the series? Unfortunately, no. This was just not the right book for me.  One thing I did like was the cover of To Catch a Treat.  It is just adorable.

The first book in A Barkery and Biscuits Mystery series is Bite the Biscuit. I received a complimentary copy of To Catch a Treat from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review of the novel.

I am off to make soup for my mother.  She is a little under the weather today (she has to go to the doctor next week and she does not want to go).  She reminds me of a child trying to get out of school!  She frequently cancels appointments (it is very frustrating).  Have a wonderful and enjoyable evening.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader