by Maryann Shanesy

When my husband and I lost our wonderful rescue dog to an incurable heart tumor, I vowed to never get another dog. But, after a year, the house and our hearts felt empty and we started to discuss adding another dog. Finding ourselves at the county rescue we encountered a beautiful Lab mix. My husband was sure she would be snapped up and didn’t think we had a chance. But, oh the excitement, when we moved up on the list and finally got the call that she was available. I was filled with euphoria as I rushed to get her. She was found by the Naval Hospital in Bethesda and knew basic commands such as sit. She appeared to be well cared for. How had she ended up in such a busy urban area? Had she traveled far? What was her story? I’ll never know. The shelter couldn’t find any information. She quickly became part of our family and we named her Shelley.

Such is the mystery of the rescue pet. They can’t tell us their stories, we can only know the facts surrounding their background but sometimes there’s nothing definitive. I am so fascinated by this theme. A CATastrophic Neighborhood is the first book in my Pet Momma Cozy Mystery Series. It is the story of an amateur sleuth and her mysterious rescue cat. I was inspired to write my book because I started thinking about what happens if an animal can use their sixth sense to help an owner find out the answer to a mystery. Our wonderful pets help us every day by being good company, and they can be amazingly smart. When Shelley needs something, she will stand in front of my coffee table and tap it with her paw. If she determines I’m not responding quickly enough for her, she will put her head on the table. I can’t say no to her, I am co-dogpendant! In my story, the cat has a finely tuned sixth sense and gives the main character hints of what needs her attention.

I did name a persistent reporter in the story Shelley just like my dog but rest assured they have nothing in common!

And I love the theme of whether animals find their owners or do their owners find them. In my book, you’ll wonder if the cat found the main character or did events lead the cat to find the main character.

Another thing about the cat in the story is that she often is by the main character’s side while she’s gardening. There is no greater joy than putting plants in my yard while my pet keeps me company.

Maryann Shanesy

In my book, the main character Tarsey Quinston, her husband Steve, and their newly adopted cat Silver move to the upscale community of Bluffington Hills, where the neighborhood isn’t as idyllic as they hoped. As the couple settles into their new home and meets their quirky neighbors, they encounter the angry property manager who patrols the neighborhood on a Segway, handing out trash can violations and disrupting the neighborhood yard sale. Tarsey quickly realizes that mystery overshadows the picturesque community. Tarsey finds out that the town seamstress died under suspicious circumstances, and her cat bore a striking resemblance to the one Tarsey has just taken in. Could this be the same cat that belonged to the seamstress, and what happened to her? As the layers of perfection are peeled away and drama within the Homeowners Association causes uproar between the residents, the property manager and Tarsey’s cat suddenly go missing. Now desperate to find her beloved pet, Tarsey must solve the mystery of what happened to all three of them before there is a CATastrophic situation!

Thanks for reading.

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Maryann Shanesy is a native of Maryland who has always enjoyed writing. A lifelong lover of mysteries and anything gardening, she is a pet momma to a rescue dog and cat that brighten her life. She and her husband have two wonderful daughters and live in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. She hopes you will enjoy her first cozy mystery.

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