by Cynthia Chow
Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of When Bunnies Go Bad, along with a link to purchase the book where a portion goes to help support KRL & an indie bookstore, and a link to purchase it from Amazon.
Beauville, Massachusetts, is having one of its worst March winters in history, and all of the residents are suffering from cabin fever. The outburst by an angry restaurant customer still manages to stand out though, especially when his obnoxious demands reduce his ski bunny companion to near-tears. The bigger surprise is that when a body is found, it’s that of the belligerent diner Teddy Rhinecrest, and the arrested culprit is his meek girlfriend, Cheryl Ginger.
Animal behaviorist and pet-sitter Pru Marlowe is skilled at interpreting animal behavior and motivations, but humans prove to be far more confusing and complicated. Perhaps her comfort with her charges derives from her unique ability not only to sense what animals are thinking and feeling, but to hear the thoughts of her own feline companion, Wallis. No one knows better than Pru how even the mildest of prey can be turned vicious when threatened, but she questions whether the skittish Cheryl was the one with the most reasons for wanting Teddy dead.
The unnerving reappearance of Gregor Benazi, a lethal and very dapper criminal magnate with whom Pru has a tentative détente, further complicates this case of a mistress done wrong. As much as he would prefer it, Pru’s almost-boyfriend Detective Jim Creighton knows better than to order Pru to stay uninvolved. Fate and Pru’s dedication to her non-human clients compels her into using her inexplicable and unasked for skills to untangle an increasingly tangled web of criminal activities and deception.
Much of the enjoyment of this fifth in the Pru Marlowe Pet Noir series stems from Pru attempting to apply her animal behaviorist skills upon humans. The results may be mixed, but they are always fun. Pru continues to be annoyed by the gossip-mongering person of Bichon Frisé “Bitsy” (he prefers to be called Growler); the creepy minder of a ferret has an equally repellent cousin; and the wild animals Pru encounters prove to be the most sane and least neurotic of all. Pru fled the city and the confined spaces that seemed to amplify the voices in her head, and it is in small, economically struggling Beauville that she is learning to adjust by modeling her behavior on the non-humans she admires. Pru’s wry voice, sharp intelligence, and empathy for animals guarantee that this elaborately plotted mystery will entertain with its good humor and compellingly quirky characters.
To enter to win a copy of When Bunnies Go Bad, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “bunnies,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen April 2, 2016. U.S. residents only. If entering via email please include your mailing address, and if via comment please include your email address.
You can use this link to purchase this book & a portion goes to help support KRL & indie bookstore Mysterious Galaxy:
Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section.
One of my favorite authors, looks great and thanks for the chance 🙂
jslbrown2009 at aol dot com
Wow, I’m honored! Thank you.
I love the variety of themes in ‘cozy mystery’ books. This theme is new to me, but has peeked my interest. First, I love it when ‘Karma’ bites belligerent people, and this books seems to have that. I also am an animal lover, and a behaviorist is a different perspective. Super! Thanks, Clea Simon, for a great series! Thanks, KRL, for the opportunity!
I love her books. Thanks for a chance to win a copy. elainehroberson@gmail.com
Such a cute cover! I’d love to read it! Thanks for the chance! lindaherold999@gmail.com
I haven’t read anything by Clea Simon yet and this looks like a good book to start with, definitely adding to my TBR list.
diannekc8(at)gmail(dot) com
Love contests
Love Mysteries & this looks like another book I would love, Thanks for this amazing chance.
Interesting but ….. how realistic?!?!
Great review! Another series and author to add to my TBR list.
I have lived with a house broken male rabbit. And when he was upset, he could truly “Go Bad.” I loved him but he ate electrical cords…..may have given him super powers….not sure.
Sounds like a great book! Thanks for the chance!
angelhwk68@yahoo.com
New author to me. Book sounds great!!
jawdance@yahoo.com
A new author to me. The series sounds interesting. servedogmo@yahoo.com
What a great cover especially at this time we live in a rural area and the baby bunnies are just coming out of the wooded areas. We throw sticks and things so they can make their houses just love them. Our chihuahuas get their exercise also as a few of the bunnies hang around the house and wait for them and they chase the bunnies of course the bunnies always win that is what we want. We have never had a close encounter and the bunnies love to play! This is a new author for me so I am excited to read.
Love the title. Have to add Clea Simon to my to be read pile.
What a great title! Would love to give it a try!
How could I not want to read this book? Thanks for the review and the giveaway!
This title is hysterical and I love the cover. It sounds so good. Thanks for the contest.
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
Thanks so much to everyone for your interest! I’m sorry we only have one to give away. For what it’s worth, if the winner or anyone else ends up reading my new cozy (and 20th mystery!), it would REALLY help if you would share your thoughts – even a one-line review! – on review sites (Amazon, Goodreads, etc.). Sometimes, I think, readers don’t know how much these help the author! Thank you for your interest and for letting me sound off on this – and happy reading! – Clea http://www.cleasimon.com
Wow, I have not yet read one of Clea Simon’s books, and this one sounds great! I didn’t know bunnies went bad…but love the idea of being a pet sitter.
We have a winner!