Tailing Trouble by Laura Scott

Tailing Trouble

Book Summary

Wisconsin veterinarian Ally Winter must solve a well-heeled young woman's a-paw-ling murder in USA Today bestselling author Laura Scott's second Furry Friends mystery.

Thirty-something veterinarian Ally Winter has found a new "leash" on life since she moved back to her hometown of Willow Bluff, Wisconsin. But when she takes Domino, the black standard poodle she's boarding for the weekend, for a sunny September stroll along the shore of Lake Michigan, the diminutive dog dashes off, only to return with a single, polka-dotted, high-heeled shoe. Retracing Domino's paw prints back to a weeping willow tree, they find the other shoe. It's still on the foot of 20-year-old Pricilla Green--lying dead beneath the willow, with a silk scarf knotted tightly around her neck.

Willow Bluff's finest--and handsomest--detective, Noah Jorgenson, is soon on the tail of the killer. But he has another worry on his mind when Ally's grandfather, a lifelong true-crime buff, starts to suspect that the recent burglary of a local big-box store may have some connection to Pricilla's murder. Noah cautions Ally to keep Gramps well away from the homicide investigation, but the old dog is drawn to danger like a puppy is to a squeaky ball.

The fur flies as Ally, Noah, Gramps, and Domino race the clock to fetch the felon. It will take all of their canine canniness to comb out the twists and curls in this wild and woolly case. And if they fail, they won't live to go walkies again. 

My Thoughts

Dr. Ally Winter, a veterinarian in Willow Bluff, Wisconsin, is walking Domino, a dog who is boarding with her, on the beach.  The dog manages to escape Ally and soon returns with a shoe that she recognizes.  Ally investigates and finds Pricilla Green dead under a willow.  Ally’s grandfather loves true crime, and he cannot wait to sink his teeth into the case.  Detective Noah Jorgenson, though, does not want Ally or Gramps’s help and warns them to keep their prying noses out of his case.  Gramps has no intention of being sidelined.  He believes that a rash of recent robberies ties in with Pricilla’s death.  Ally and Gramps work to unravel the clues and rope a killer.  The murderer does not wish to be caught and sets out to eliminate the snoopy sleuths.  Can Ally and Gramps catch the conniving killer, or will they end up the next victims?  

Tailing Trouble by Laura Scott is the second book in A Furry Friends Mysteries.  Tailing Trouble can be read as a standalone if you have not read Dogged by Death.  The story has likeable characters especially Gramps.  He is a hoot.  I like the premise of a veterinarian who investigates crimes with her grandfather.  However, I felt the story was bogged down with the day-to-day details of Ally’s life.  Her visits to Legacy House to visit Gramps, partaking of the meals at Legacy House (or not because she does not want to gain too much weight), walking the dogs, taking Gramps to library, etc.  I understand that she needs to walk the dogs, but the readers do not need to know each and every time that she does it.  It becomes tedious after a while.  Ally manages to get a patient or two. Ally is treating a cat and it scratches her.  This makes Ally look like a bad vet.  A good vet knows how to hold a cat properly to avoid getting scratched or bitten (at least the ones I have gone to know how to hold a cat properly).  She has two dogs fighting in the clinic which results in her losing a client shows us again that she is not the best vet.  I wish the author had showed Ally in a more professional light.  She does manage to take her boarder dog, Domino in hand.  I did find the interactions between Noah and Ally to be awkward and their dialogue stilted.  The mystery was interesting. I wish there had been more investigation and less wild speculation (Gramps).  I tired of Noah telling Ally and Gramps to stay out of the investigation.  I like how everything tied together in the end, though, the ending was rushed.  I am curious as to how Ally can keep her practice going with so few patients.  She tells us often that she does not have patients (very true) and cannot afford a receptionist or assistant.  I am curious how she can pay the bills with the one to two patients a week.  Of course, if Ally’s business were not slow, she would not have time to take Gramps to lunch, the library, visit Legacy House, and solve crimes.   This series still needs work (a few tweaks).  Tailing Trouble is a lighthearted tale with a playful poodle, a rash of robberies, a dashing detective, an eager elder, flavorful feasts, and a curious killing.

Tailing Trouble publishes Tuesday, January 11 and it is available from Amazon*.  The first novel in A Furry Friends Mystery series is Dogged by Death.  You can follow Laura Scott on Amazon so you can receive updates when she releases a new book.  Thank you for stopping by today.  Tomorrow I am featuring Crimes and Cover by Amanda Flower.  It is the fifth A Magical Bookshop Mystery.  I hope that you have a joyful day.  Take care, stay safe, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader =

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

Book

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Series

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Dogged by Death by Laura Scott

 Dogged by Death

Book Summary

In Laura Scott's Furry Friends series debut, veterinarian Ally Winter must collar the killer of a shifty lawyer. Does the dead man's dog know who committed the arf-ul crime?

Ally Winter is going through a ruff patch. The thirty-something veterinarian lost her fiancé, her clinic, and her savings in rapid succession. So when Ally's grandfather undergoes hip replacement surgery, she moves back to Willow Bluff, Wisconsin, to care for him. She arrives home, tail between her legs, only to find sleazy lawyer Marty Shawlin murdered in his home office. And the only witness was Marty's faithful boxer, Roxy.

Quick as a greyhound, Noah Jorgensen is on the case. The good news is, he's the best detective around. The bad news, at least the way Ally sees it, is that Noah is still just as fetching as he was back in high school. He also just happens to have witnessed every embarrassing incident that befell accident-prone Ally--including the fire-ant attack that set tongues wagging and won her the unshakable nickname Hot Pants.

Meanwhile, true-crime aficionado Gramps fancies himself a sleuth, and he is doggedly determined to sniff out the culprit himself...with Ally's reluctant help, of course. Ally has no choice but to team up with Noah--and the irrepressible Roxy--to solve the case while keeping Gramps on a short leash.

Ally had better learn some new tricks, lickety-split. Because if she can't bring the killer to heel, she won't just be playing dead.

My Thoughts

Dogged by Death by Laura Scott has Ally Winter moving to Willow Bluff, Wisconsin to be near her grandfather, Oscar after some big upheavals in her life.  Ally buys out a local veterinary practice and settles into her new life.  Ally is hired by Marty Shawlin to walk his dog, Roxy.  She arrives the first day to find Roxy barking frantically and Marty dead on the floor.  Detective Noah Jorgensen, Ally’s old high school crush, is on the case.  Gramps, a true crime junkie, is eager to do some investigating of his own with help from Ally, of course (he has trouble getting around since his hip replacement surgery).  The killer is not playing games and tries to deter Ally.   Gramps is even more determined to find the guilty party.  

Dogged by Death is the debut of A Furry Friends Mystery series.  I enjoyed this entertaining new cozy mystery.  I laughed often while reading it.  Ally Winter is a solid protagonist and I just love Gramps.  He is a hoot.  Roxy, Marty Shawlin’s dog, is smart and such a sweetie.  The secondary characters are a great addition.  The Willow Bluff Widows who live with Gramps at Willow Bluff Legacy House, an assisted living facility, nicely round out the cast along with Noah Jorgensen.  I am glad the author took the time to establish the characters (characters can make or break a series). The mystery was fun to follow thanks to Gramps and Ally.  I did feel that we really do not get to know the suspects.  I understand why they are suspects, but the emotions were lacking.  Readers should have no problem solving the whodunit before the reveal.  There is repetition of case details and I wish the whodunit had been more of a challenge.  I love how Ally and Gramps would “share” their information with Noah.  Noah was always finding them in compromising situations.  He has a facial twitch that was getting out of control by the end of the investigation (he found Gramps to be a challenge).  Dogged by Death moved along at a quick pace with good dialogue and plenty of humor.  I am looking forward to Tailing Trouble when it comes out next year.  Dogged by Death is a tail wager with a septuagenarian sleuth, a benevolent veterinarian, willing widows, a bright boxer, an enduring detective, and a cruel killer.

Dogged by Death is available from Amazon*.  The next A Furry Friends Mystery is Tailing Trouble which publishes January 11, 2022.  You can find Laura Scott's other novels here.  Thank you for stopping by today.  Tomorrow I am sharing my thoughts on A Spell for Trouble by Esme Addison.  It is the first An Enchanted Bay Mystery.  I hope that you have a gleeful day.  Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

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