by Cynthia Chow

Details at the end of this review on how to enter to win a copy of Catwalk, along with a link to purchase the book where a portion goes to help support KRL.

When an Indiana developer, the reprehensible bigshot Charles Rasmussen, is murdered on the Dog Dayz agility competition trail, the question isn’t who had a reason to kill him. Truly, it would be amazing to find someone who hadn’t had a confrontation with the abhorrent blusterer. There are ample motives for putting the detestable man out of everyone’s misery. He was abusive to his poor but wealthy wife Louise, put a local store owner out of business after she refused to sell to him and he bought the wetlands area in order to bulldoze it into a shopping center. One of his last acts was to threaten to kill a feral cat’s litter and then assault and have the cat’s rescuer arrested when she trespassed on his property.

Lucky for animal photographer Janet MacPhail, she didn’t realize until after his that Rasmussen had also removed his father-in-law from the retirement residence where he was engaging in a romantic relationship with Janet’s Alzheimer-inflicted mother. Add a lawsuit against both Janet and the cat rescuer for vandalism and trespass and Janet didn’t need any additional motives to put her in the suspect list.

No one is mourning the loss of Rasmussen but this means everyone Janet cares about is a suspect. Even police ally, Homer “Hutch” Hutchinson, is off the case due to his own confrontation with the man.

As a mature woman, Janet is unsure of how to classify her relationship with dog lover and anthropology professor Tom Saunders. Boyfriend seems too childish and paramour too pretentious. Just because she’s not a kid doesn’t mean that Janet’s not prone to acts of immaturity though, as her demon side continues to battle with her best intentions whether in regards road rage or if she can commit to a relationship with Tom.

In the third Animals in Focus Mystery the author continues to celebrate animals and those who love them with a sharp sense of humor. She isn’t above literal potty humor, as a scene depicting the sledding power of malamutes over a portable chemical bathroom is guaranteed to illicit giggles. Janet’s relationship with her mother is touching and heartbreaking as the older woman slips in and out of the present. The connection between animals and their human companions is always rewarding. Wit, chapters that end on suspenseful moments, and a unique plot make this animal-themed mystery a delight.

Check out a review of the previous book in this series and a fun guest post by Sheila.

To enter to win a copy of Catwalk, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “Catwalk,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen November 22, 2014. U.S. residents only. If entering via email please include your mailing address, and if via comment please include your email address.

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Click on this link to purchase this book & a portion goes to help support KRL!

Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).