Aloha to Annie Knox and PAWS FOR MURDER (Pet Boutique No. 1) - Book Review

Izzy McHale wants her new Trendy Tails Pet Boutique in Merryville, Minnesota, to be the height of canine couture and feline fashions. But at the store’s opening, it turns out it’s a human who’s dressed to kill…

Izzy’s own beloved pets are dressed to the nines for the grand opening of Trendy Tails. Feisty feline Jinx is large and in charge, and happy mutt Packer is lapping up the attention. Izzy and her best friend Rena have their hands full meeting Merryville’s menagerie and serving tasty pupcakes and kitty canapes from their “barkery.” The last thing they need is the town’s local activist, Sherry Harper, scaring off customers and getting tongues wagging by picketing the event.

The two manage to stop Sherry’s protest in its tracks, but the trouble for Trendy Tails is just beginning. Sherry is found murdered in back of the shop, and Rena is immediately named as the lead suspect. Now Izzy and her furry friends have a new pet project—collaring a killer.

Cats are connoisseurs of comfort. - James Herriot

I recently traveled to Tampa, Florida, for family business.   Since I could not pack a cat for comfort, I grabbed Annie Knox's PAWS FOR MURDER instead.  I finished the book on the two and half hour flight - a milestone for me since I am a slow reader.  PAWS FOR MURDER kept my interest, even through the turbulence (which makes me nervous).

PAWS FOR MURDER kicks off a new cozy mystery series featuring first time business owner Izzy McHale as she launches a pet boutique, relying her seamstress skills and her best friend who bakes pet treats.  Trendy Tails Pet Boutique is her opportunity to emerge from the shadows of a long term relationship that ended suddenly - a one side partnership in which she put her dreams on hold to support her fiance.  He repaid Izzy's loyalty by leaving for a high paying doctor's job in New York with another woman.  Izzy is optimistic in capturing the tourist trade in her hometown of Merryville while reconnecting with childhood friends.  Her optimism is briefly shattered when a local activist is murdered behind her shop during its grand opening.

PAWS FOR MURDER cooks up the same recipe for cozy mysteries - small town charm, humorous quirky characters, a few red herrings, and an unexpected murderer among the townsfolk.  The pets, including Packer the dog and Jinx the cat, added to the mayhem.  What kept me reading was Izzy's efforts to rebuild her life and reestablish relationships which she allowed to go to the wayside while she pandered to her feckless fiance.  I also learned about Minnesota - I felt I was transported to the fictional town near the headwaters of the Mississippi River.   

Izzy used the word "hoosegow" several times.  I was not familiar with the term but assumed it was a slang word for jail. The day after I arrived in Tampa, "hoosegow" was a clue on Jeopardy!   Hoosegow is a corruption of the Spanish word juzgado, a panel of judges.  Luckily, Izzy kept her best friend (and business partner) out of the hoosegow by uncovering the murderer.

I found PAWS FOR MURDER in a box of books I bought from my church's yard sale. 

Recommended read for fans of cozy mysteries, pet characters, and small towns.

Lucky is giving away a book choice from his convention stash to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1. Leave a comment about Jeopardy!- what would be your best and worst categories?  My best category - history.  My worst - opera.

For those readers unfamiliar with Jeopardy!, it is a popular quiz show at this link.

2. Comments are open through Saturday, January 23, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3. I'll post the winner on Sunday, January 24.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Learn more about Annie and her books at annieknoxauthor.com.

More books in the series ...

More from Authors Doing Good - Inigo Montoya, Mrs. Dogood, and Eileen Dreyer

My family is a fan of the Maryland Renaissance Festival - my teens especially enjoy Fight School. From their website (link):

Here we come... walking down the street... we get the funniest looks from... everyone we meet. Hey Hey We're the Fight School!

The quirky quartet demonstrates famous sword fights, including "the one from a movie we can't identify due to copyright infringement". Yet the audience knows it is The Princess Bride with Inigo Montoya vs. Westley (link).

Inigo Montoya offers up the best quote to combat the ongoing Catfish controversy, "You keep using that word, I do not think it means what you think it means."  To recap, a YA author accused a reviewer of "catfishing" for using a pseudo name on social media.  Catfishing typically refers to online dating ... but if the YA author wants to use it in this manner, then let us look to the original catfisher, Mrs. Dogood. She portrayed herself as a middle aged widow to comment on social issues in Colonial Boston.  Mrs. Dogood was, in fact, 16 year old Benjamin Franklin.  

May 14, 1722 • Silence Dogood #4

(Mrs. Dogood shares a dream in which she visits the Temple of Learning aka Harvard University):

I reflected in my Mind on the extream Folly of those Parents, who, blind to their Childrens Dulness, and insensible of the Solidity of their Skulls, because they think their Purses can afford it, will needs send them to the Temple of Learning, where, for want of a suitable Genius, they learn little more than how to carry themselves handsomely, and enter a Room genteely, (which might as well be acquir'd at a Dancing-School,) and from whence they return, after Abundance of Trouble and Charge, as great Blockheads as ever, only more proud and self-conceited.

Benjamin Franklin, through Mrs. Dogood's letters, offers veiled criticims of Harvard University.  It is the Alma mater of the YA author who remains unapologetic for stalking the reviewer.   Mrs. Dogood says its best, "as great Blockheads as ever, only more proud and self-conceited."

I have several friends who attended Harvard - they are not blockheads.  Likewise, not all authors are blockheads.  Perhaps one of the most vivacious, entertaining, and generous is historical romance author Eileen Dreyer.   From her bio (link):

Eileen is an addicted traveler, having sung in some of the best Irish pubs in the world, and admits she sees research as a handy way to salve her insatiable curiosity. She counts film producers, police detectives and Olympic athletes as some of her sources and friends. She’s also trained in forensic nursing and death investigation, although she doesn’t see herself actively working in the field, unless this writing thing doesn’t pan out.

Eileen first published as Kathleen Korbel - gasp!  A pseudo name!  Should you meet her at a book signing, ask her how she picked this name.  Eileen won five RITAs and is the fourth author to be named to the RWA Hall of Fame.  

Eileen (left) laughs with Patricia Rice and
Cathy Maxwell at RT/11 in LA.

Eileen is now putting all her "research" to work as a Jeopardy contestant.   Make sure to watch on Thursday, October 30 - check your local listings.  Meanwhile, follow Eileen's road to Jeopardy on her Facebook page at this link.

Let's celebrate those who are not blockheads!  I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash, including several titles from Eileen.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about Jeopardy - which categories would you win money?  Lose money?

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, November 1, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, November 2.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Check out pictures from our recent visit to Harvard (during our trip to Boston) at this link and link.