Murder Most Finicky

Happy Old Rock Day (I really did not make this up).  You can appreciate old rocks and fossils on this day.  Let us think of a unique "old rock" to admire.  What about granite (marble)!  Other beautiful rocks are quartz (the gemstone) (I may be stretching it a wee bit, but lets go with it).  Many beautiful and natural stones used in jewelry are rocks.  Agate is another lovely one!  Do you like my take on Old Rock Day (I like jewelry made with natural stones)?  What are some old rocks that you admire?

Murder Most Finicky by Liz Mugavero is the fourth book in A Pawsitively Organic Mystery series.  Stan Connor has been invited to Newport, Rhode Island by Sheldon Allyn (a celebrity pastry chef).  Sheldon is to be Stan’s new partner in her pet patisserie (that she is going to open in Frog Ledge, Connecticut).  Stan makes food and treats for animals (mostly dogs and cats).  Her business is called Pawsitively Organic.  Sheldon has invited out all the chefs he has invested in (time and money) for the weekend (Stan believes it to be a relaxing and enjoyable time).  Stan’s Maine Coon Cat Nutty was also included in the invitation.  Stan arrives at the parking lot where she was told to leave her car and is blindfolded by Joaquin Leroy, Sheldon’s assistant.  The final destination is to be a secret for all the invitees.  After a bumpy and long ride they arrive at the beautiful mansion (Stan discovers once the blindfold is removed).  However, this weekend is going to be anything but relaxing. 

Instead of getting to enjoy a relaxing weekend, they are told they are going to have to cook a five course meal for a presentation to people from The Food Channel (which seems to only benefit Sheldon).  Unfortunately, things go awry when Stan finds the body of Pierre LaPorte.  Everyone has to vacate the mansion and go to a local hotel (a very nice hotel).  Then Kyle McLeod (a vegan chef) disappears.  What is going on (and then a replacement chef, Vaughn Dawes does not show up).  Stan sets out to find the killer of Pierre as well locate the missing Kyle McLeod (and make sure Vaughn Dawes is okay).  Something fishy is going on and it is not Stan’s cat treats!

I have loved the previous books in A Pawsitively Organic Mystery series, but Murder Most Finicky was not as good as the others (I liked it).  I think it was because we are missing the townspeople.  The people of Frog Ledge, Connecticut help make the book (they are fun and quirky).  Some of the people from the town were included, but I thought something was missing.   I found the suspect pool to be too small which made for an extremely obvious killer.  The writer, though, does provide good clues for the reader to follow.  There are some funny moments in the book (which made me laugh) and there are some great recipes at the end of the book (I will be trying the animal recipes for my pets).   I was left with one question at the end of the book.  What happened with Caitlyn?  Caitlyn Connor Fitzgerald is Stan’s sister, and she had a little issue (and needed Stan’s assistance).  I want to know what happened between Caitlyn and her husband, Michael.   I give Murder Most Finicky 4 out of 5 stars.  I liked the book, but I did not love it.  It was just missing a little something (and needed a better mystery). 

The other books in A Pawsitively Organic Mystery series are Kneading to Die, A Biscuit, A Casket, and The Icing on the Corpse.  I received a complimentary copy of Murder Most Finicky from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am currently reading The Girls She Left Behind by Sarah Graves. I hope all of you are having a great first week of 2016!  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader