I never expected to be part owner of The Sugar Maple Inn. Sure, I spent summers here with my grandmother, whom I call Oma, but I never dreamed I would be back here running the place. Initially I expected to miss life in the greater Washington, DC area. There was always something exciting going on. But Wagtail Mountain isn’t sleepy or boring. It’s the premier destination in the US for people who want to travel with their cats and dogs. Wagtail welcomes pets everywhere, even in the restaurants, which have special menus for them. The stores cater to them as well. You and your furry friend can even get massages and spa treatments together.

There are big perks to living in an inn. I have my own little kitchen, but who wouldn’t prefer blueberry pancakes or eggs Benedict downstairs with the guests? After breakfast, my Jack Russell terrier, Trixie, accompanies me on rounds through the inn. It’s usually boring, but someone has to make sure everything is in order.

This weekend, Wagtail is hosting the “There’s No Place Like Home” charity ball to collect money for WAG, Wagtail Animal Guardians. The inn is booked solid, and most of the rental houses in Wagtail are spoken for as well. Five volunteers from our satellite site in Raleigh, North Carolina are in charge of the ball. They’ve been staying at the inn, kicking up their heels and having a grand time. They’re an interesting bunch, all successful women brought together by their concern for homeless animals. In my opinion, that passion for animals makes them wonderful people, but I’m picking up on some conflicts within their group.

When I’m finished with my rounds, I’m taking our donation basket of a free week-long stay at the inn over to the ballroom for the auction.

I’ll be keeping my eyes open for a local German Shepherd named Fritz who has gone missing. His owner, a curmudgeonly retired judge, became a widower six months ago. Losing Fritz is more than he can take. And now Oma’s best friend has phoned me and asked if I could come over to speak with her and the judge. She specifically asked that I not mention our meeting to Oma. I have no idea what’s going on, but it can’t be good or she wouldn’t be keeping it a secret.

Never a dull day in Wagtail!

Big Little Spies, A Paws & Claws Mystery #7
Genre: Cozy
Release: April 2021
Purchase Link

A pet detective on the hunt for a prominent pooch is found dead, and inn owner Holly Miller has to sort through her guest list for suspects in this all new Paws & Claws mystery in the New York Times bestselling series.

The ladies of the Wagtail Animal Guardians, WAG for short, are in town for a pet adoption charity ball, and Holly is making sure to roll out the red carpet for her special guests. She and her furry best friend Trixie are busy keeping the WAG ladies happy and preparing for the ball when they learn that a retired judge has lost his prized pup.

The venerable citizen has hired a pet detective who has some personal ties to Holly’s new guests. His presence ruffles some feathers, and when the PI is found DOA not long before the ball, Holly wonders if one of the WAG ladies had a motive for murder. To make matters worse, some pet-loving guests of the ball nearly suffer the same deadly fate. Holly and Trixie will have to sniff out the clues and leash a callous killer before they strike again. . .

About the Author
You can read more about Holly, Twinkletoes, and Trixie in Big Little Spies, the seventh book in the “Paws and Claws” mystery series, published by Berkley. The first book in the series is Murder, She Barked. Krista also writes the Domestic Diva Mysteries and the Pen & Ink Mysteries. Like her characters, Krista has a soft spot for cats, dogs, and sweets. She lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with dogs, cats, and a hidden stash of chocolate.

Connect with Krista at kristadavis.com, on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.

All comments are welcomed.