Dru’s Short Musing:
What do you do when the house you inherited has a dead body under the floorboard? If you are Arial Kingston, you look for clues under the guise of meeting your new neighbors.
This was a well-written whodunit with crisp writing and a comfortable tone. The mystery was nicely executed with a duo subplot that kept me immersed in all that was happening on the page. With an eclectic cast of characters that included spunky Aria, a wayward young man, a doctor, a detective, her next-door neighbor and others (including Monty the dog) added to the dynamics of this story being told, all who played a pivotal role in this easy-going drama.
The author did a great job in presenting the tale with visually descriptive narrative and engaging dialogue that moved the story forward. There were a few twists and turns that kept me in the game and when I thought I had a handle on what was going on, the author changed the directions and then that strategically placed twist when the killer’s identity was revealed, wow, that I did not see coming. Good job, good job.
Overall, a pleasant appealing start to this new series from Sandra Balzo.
Series Name: A Dog-Sitting Mystery Book 1
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: October 7, 2025
Format: Print, Digital
Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Book Synopsis:
Introducing Arial Kingston—dog-sitter, amateur sleuth, and owner of a guest house with a body under the floorboards.
Lucky dog-sitter Arial Mayes Kingston has inherited property in Monterey, California. But the novelty of being a first-time homeowner is short-lived due to a noxious termite fumigation in the guest house and the discovery of a body under the floorboards.
Foul play seems most likely, but who was the victim? And why would the killer stash the body under the guest house? Determined to put her observational skills to good use—and with her first doggie client, the adorable Monty, by her side—Arial must overcome neighborly tensions, unravel mysterious disappearances, and mop up canine misdemeanors as she attempts to sniff out a killer!
FTC Full Disclosure – I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.