The Wagtail Murder Club by Krista Davis

 The Wagtail Murder Club

Book Summary

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.

My Thoughts

I enjoy my visits to Wagtail each year.  I wish Wagtail was a real town because my cat and I would love to live there. I found The Wagtail Murder Club by Krista Davis to be easy to read. There is a great core group of characters in the series that includes Holly, Oma, and Mr. Huckle.  Of course, we cannot forget Trixie and Twinkletoes.  Squishy was a delightful addition.  I was unhappy, though, to see Ben return to town.  I wish Holly would take a firmer stance with him (it would serve her better in the long run).  Ben, naturally, wishes to utilize Holly’s guest room.  I have a feeling that the freeloader does not pay for one thing at the Sugar Maple Inn during his stay.  I was unhappy with how a certain scene played out between Holly and Ben.  I can understand not wanting to embarrass someone, but I do not feel that Holly took Holmes feelings into account. 

I liked that there was more than one whodunit to solve (I love solving mysteries).  There is the present day mystery and one from the past where the wrong person may have been convicted.  I knew who committed each crime, but I did not know the why on one until later in the book.  The story had a sweet ending that will delight fans of the series.  The Wagtail Murder Club is the tenth book in A Paws & Claws Mysteries.  While it can be read as a standalone, a new reader may be a little lost in the beginning (the background details needed are soon provided). The Wagtail Murder Club is a dogtastic tale with cuddly creatures, a former boyfriend problem, convict moving into town, multiple murders, a sweet Squishy, offended feelings, and a joyful family. 

The Wagtail Murder Club is available from Amazon as well as other major retailers.  You can find the other novels in A Paws & Claws Mysteries here.   Check out Krista Davis's other books here.   Thank you for joining me today.  I hope that I have helped you find a new book and/or series to read.  On February 6, I am featuring A Protector for Her Baby by April Arrington.  I am still working on estimates for the various repairs that need to be completed to the house thanks to Hurricane Milton.  One estimate for a new air conditioner is outrageous.  It is almost the same as a new carport (plus a roof to the porch and storage shed).  I am going to get a second and third estimate (I am not a leprachaun with a pot of gold hidden away).  I hope that you have a charmed day.  Take care 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.