The Dog Across the Lake by Krista Davis

 The Dog Across the Lake

Book Summary

Holly and Trixie meet a strange new dog in Wagtail that leads them right into murder. 

Holly Miller is looking forward to finally taking a few days to relax. Enjoying an early morning on her terrace, she spots an unfamiliar reddish-gold pooch across the lake. She’s intrigued, but never expects to find the very same dog smiling at her in bed when she wakes up the next morning! Trixie and Twinkletoes appear to accept this cute stranger, but Holly doesn’t know to whom he belongs.

Oma thinks the dog looks familiar, and it turns out the wayward pooch belongs to Holly’s cousin Josh. Holly knew her cousin well as a child, but she hasn’t seen him in over a decade. He’s camping with his girlfriend across the lake. Holly returns the cute dog to Josh’s campsite twice, but the second time, Josh and his girlfriend are nowhere to be found. Instead, a guest 

My Thoughts

The Dog Across the Lake by Krista Davis takes us back to Wagtail, Virginia where the town is getting ready to celebrate Oma’s (Liesel Miller who is the mayor of Wagtail) birthday.  I look forward to my visits to Wagtail each year.  It is a charming town where cats and dogs are welcome along with their owners (of course).  The story contains good writing along with developed characters.  Holly Miller, the protagonist, has grown over the course of the series.  It is easy to see that Wagtail is where she belongs, and that Holly is meant to run the Sugar Maple Inn.  It is obvious how much Holly loves the inn.  All the regular characters are back along with a couple of visitors.  Holly’s father, cousin, and aunt are in town for Oma’s birthday dinner.  Trixie and Twinkletoes are as wonderful as ever and they have a new friend.  I appreciate that the author includes a cast of characters especially since the cast has grown with the series.  

The mystery has Holly fretting about her cousin, Josh.  Josh’s mother is worried (a regular nervous Nelly) and wants Holly to unravel the thorny puzzle.  Holly asks questions, observes people, looks for clues, and just “happens” to overhear conversations.  There are clues for the readers that will help them identify the guilty party.  I pinpointed the killer quite a while before Holly.  There is a secondary mystery that Holly solves as well.  While The Dog Across the Lake is the ninth A Paws and Claws Mystery, it can be read as a standalone.  It will take a new reader a beat to get the characters straight but that is where the cast of characters comes in handy.   I enjoyed the humor sprinkled throughout the story.  Friendship, family, and a love of animals if prevalent throughout.  I was sorry when my visit to Wagtail came to an end.  The Dog Across the Lake is a delightful tale with a roving Radar, a victim in a tent, a questionable girlfriend, a birthday bash, a mournful howl, a laid-up officer, and visiting siblings.  

The Dog Across the Lake is available from Amazon*.  You can find the other A Paws & Claws Mysteries here.  Kris Davis has The Diva Goes Overboard coming out May 21.  It is the 17th A Domestic Diva Mystery.  Thank you for stopping by today.  Also out today is  The Amish Quilter's Unlikely Match by Jennifer Beckstrand.  It is the latest book in The Amish Quiltmaker series.  The Son's Secret by Daryl Wood Gerber is another new release along with Upside Down by Danielle Steel.  As you can tell, I have been cutting back on my blog.  My fibromyalgia has been acting up, so my doctors have added some new medications.  Unfortunately, the new meds make me tired. Until I adjust, I have to cut back a little.  I appreciate your understanding. I hope that you have a peaceful day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

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