Dogged by Death by Laura Scott
Series Name: Furry Friends Mystery #1
Genre: Cozy
Release: July 13, 2021
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In Laura Scott’s Furry Friends series debut, veterinarian Ally Winter must collar the killer of a shifty lawyer. Does the dead man’s dog know who committed the arf-ul crime?

Ally Winter is going through a ruff patch. The thirty-something veterinarian lost her fiancé, her clinic, and her savings in rapid succession. So when Ally’s grandfather undergoes hip replacement surgery, she moves back to Willow Bluff, Wisconsin, to care for him. She arrives home, tail between her legs, only to find sleazy lawyer Marty Shawlin murdered in his home office. And the only witness was Marty’s faithful boxer, Roxy.

Quick as a greyhound, Noah Jorgensen is on the case. The good news is, he’s the best detective around. The bad news, at least the way Ally sees it, is that Noah is still just as fetching as he was back in high school. He also just happens to have witnessed every embarrassing incident that befell accident-prone Ally–including the fire-ant attack that set tongues wagging and won her the unshakable nickname Hot Pants.

Meanwhile, true-crime aficionado Gramps fancies himself a sleuth, and he is doggedly determined to sniff out the culprit himself. . .with Ally’s reluctant help, of course. Ally has no choice but to team up with Noah–and the irrepressible Roxy–to solve the case while keeping Gramps on a short leash.

Ally had better learn some new tricks, lickety-split. Because if she can’t bring the killer to heel, she won’t just be playing dead.

Dru’s Short Musing:
This was a well-written and fast-paced read that had me completely immersed in all facets of this delightfully charming debut series. The author did a fine job in staging this mystery with plenty of suspects and enough clues that helped solidify the identity of the killer. With visually descriptive narrative, the dialogue was engaging with a touch of humor, and the veterinary office was a perfect backdrop for this whodunit. This multi-generational cast of characters had pivotal roles that enhanced how well this story was being told. I enjoyed the relationship Ally has with her grandfather as well as her interactions with the other residents of Willow Bluff. Overall, this was a wonderfully crafted tale and I look forward to more adventures with Ally and her friends.

FTC Full Disclosure – I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.