Megan Luz first appeared in Paw Enforcement and one of the best ways to learn about a person is by asking questions, so let’s get to know Megan.

What is your name?
Megan Luz.

How old are you?
28 years old.

What is your profession?
Police Officer/K-9 Handler.

Do you have a significant other?
Yep.

What is his name and profession?
Seth Rutledge. Firefighter and member of the city’s bomb squad. He learned all about explosive devices while serving in the U.S. Army in Afghanistan, then later put those skills to use for the fire department.

Any children?
Not yet, but maybe someday! (I hope they’ll have Seth’s cute chin dimple.)

Do you have any sibling(s)?
Yes, I’m the oldest of five children. I have three younger brothers and one younger sister. Our house was quite boisterous!

Do your parents live near you?
They’re about five miles away, still living in the house where I grew up. It’s close enough that we can easily get together, but far enough to give me space.

Who is your best friend?
My best friend is Brigit, the furry shepherd mix who serves as my K-9 partner. My best human friend is Frankie Kerrigan, a firefighter with spiky blue hair who is also my roommate and the best player on her roller derby team.

Cats, dogs or other pets?
My K-9 is my partner when we’re on duty, but my pet when we’re off the clock. I love Brigit to pieces, even though she chews my shoes, sheds like crazy, and hogs the bed. It’s easy to forgive her when she turns those big brown eyes on me.

What town do you live in?
Fort Worth, Texas, also known as Cowtown because it was a major stop on the cattle trails back in the day. Fort Worth maintains its western heritage, while embracing the arts. Fort Worth is home to great museums, the touristy stockyards area, a beautiful botanic garden, and TCU – go Horned Frogs!

House or building complex? Own or Rent?
I started out in a tiny studio apartment, but once I was partnered with Brigit I knew I’d need to find a bigger place. I met my new roommate Frankie when she was out roller skating and nearly collided with my cruiser. Turned out she and her live-in boyfriend had just split, so she was looking for a new roommate. We rent a two-bedroom house with a yard where Brigit can play, dig, and chase squirrels. Frankie’s calico cat, Zoe, shares the space with us.

What is your favorite spot in your house?
Lounging on the couch with Brigit as my pillow.

Favorite meal? Favorite dessert?
I love pasta with lots of garlic and olive oil, and raspberry sorbet with fresh fruit for dessert.

Favorite hobby?
Reading, of course! I also enjoy playing with Brigit. She’s a whiz at catching balls and Frisbees, and can do all sorts of tricks.

Favorite color?
Green, like Seth’s eyes.

Favorite author?
David Sedaris. He’s funny, but also very open and real, showing us the best and worst of humanity. That’s exactly what police work does, too.

Favorite vacation spot?
The Texas coast. Brigit loves playing in the surf and chasing crabs.

Favorite sports team?
The Fort Worth Whoop-Ass. It’s the roller derby team my roommate Frankie plays for.

Movies or Broadway?
Broadway. There’s nothing like the thrill of live theater!

Are you a morning or a night person?
Depends on which shift I just worked. Cops don’t work regular hours, which can really throw my biorhythms for a loop!

Amateur sleuth or professional?
Professional, though as a beat cop the detailed investigation work isn’t technically my duty. But I aspire to become a detective someday, and two detectives in my station have become my mentors and often bring me into the cases to help.

Whom do you work with when sleuthing?
Brigit is always with me, and her superior sense of smell has proved invaluable in many of the cases. I work under Detectives Audrey Jackson and Hector Bustamente. Both are no-nonsense mentors with great investigative skills. They’ve taught me a lot, and they value my input.

In a few sentences, what is a typical day in your life like?
A typical day begins with Brigit and I setting out on patrol in our specially equipped cruiser. It has an enclosed platform in the rear for Brigit rather than a backseat. We issue a few traffic tickets, arrest people for petty crimes, and keep an eye out for anything dangerous or illegal going on in our beat. When a major crime occurs, we chase down suspects or search for them if they’ve hidden, and we maintain order at crime scenes. Afterward, the detectives often draw us into the cases to assist.

You can read more about Megan in Paw of the Jungle, the eighth book in the “Paw Enforcement” cozy mystery series, released November 26, 2019.

Police officer Megan Luz and her K-9 partner in crime, Brigit, are on all fours as they try to solve their latest Lone Star mystery.

AT THE ZOO
The weather is beautiful, work is slow, and her canine colleague could use a walk. What better day for Megan to take Brigit to the Fort Worth Zoo, where they can let loose and witness the law and order of nature unfold? But what begins as a fun field trip turns serious when a pair of rare hyacinth macaws named Fabiana and Fernando goes missing. Is the new custodian, a gentle soul who happens to be an ex-convict, to blame? Or is something far more sinister afoot?

AND ON THE HUNT
The birds are worth thousands of dollars, and the list of people on the premises who might have stolen them is long. Soon other animals start disappearing. . .and Megan and Brigit have their hands and paws full of suspects. But when a rare black rhino is taken from the zoo, presumably for its black-market-friendly horn, time is of the essence. Can Megan and Brigit find out who’s behind the mystery—before they too become prey?

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About the author
Diane Kelly loves writing books with feisty female lead characters. Diane is the author of the Death & Taxes, Paw Enforcement, and House Flipper mystery series. Find Diane online at dianekelly.com, on Facebook, on Twitter at @DianeKellyBooks, and on Instagram at @DianeKellyBooks.

All comments are welcomed.