To Fetch a Scoundrel is the second book in the “Mutt” cozy mystery series, released March 2, 2020.

The mystery-solving mutts are back! To Fetch a Scoundrel, the second in the Mutt Mysteries collection, features four tail-wagging novellas. Each story puts pups’ noses to the ground, as scandals are unleashed and killers are collared. Once you’ve finished reading these tall “tails”, you’ll no longer wonder “Who let the dogs out?” You’ll just be glad somebody did!

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Teresa Inge
Hello. I’m Catt Ramsey, owner of the Woof-Pack dog walkers in Virginia Beach. I left my cheating husband and corporate event planning job two years ago to start my dog walking service above my sister’s cottage. Although my sister Em and I don’t always see eye-to-eye on most things, when it comes to cheating husbands, life changes, and especially murder, we have each other’s back. And speaking of murder, there’s been plenty of that to go around in The Loft Building where most of my wealthy clients live, just two blocks from my cottage.

Each morning, my dog walkers and I check the Woof-Pack dog walking schedule to begin the daily ritual of walking my clients’ dogs. Since the schedule is live, we update it with new walking slots throughout the day to keep us on track. But lately, finding dead bodies while walking the dogs seems to occur more often, than not. Especially when it’s one of my clients and I’m the last to see them alive. That’s where my sister Em comes into the picture wearing her investigative hat to help clear my name. Her boyfriend Jonathan Ray provides his technology skills, and my handsome handyman Beau, well . . . he’s just handsome. Oh, and I can’t forget my two sidekicks Cagney and Lacey, two Yorkshire Terriers who are always by my side to protect me and help solve the murders.

Teresa Inge’s Biography

Teresa Inge grew up reading Nancy Drew mysteries. Combining her love of reading mysteries and writing professional articles led to writing short fiction and novellas. She is president of the Sisters in Crime, Mystery by the Sea, Southeastern Virginia chapter, a Guppies Steering Committee member, and a board of director with the Chesapeake Humane Society.

Teresa is the author of the Virginia is for Mysteries series, 50 Shades of Cabernet, and Coastal Crimes. Her dog-themed novellas appear in the Mutt Mysteries series To Fetch a Thief, To Fetch a Scoundrel and the upcoming To Fetch a Villain featuring Catt Ramsey, dog walker extraordinaire.

Teresa has worked in the financial industry for over thirty years providing administrative support to busy executives, workgroups and has been an event planner for over twenty-five years. Learn more at teresainge.com.

Jayne Ormerod
Time to Party!

Good Morning. My name is Pilar Pruitt and I am the President, CEO, CFO, Admin Assistant, Head Buyer, Human Resource Manager, Bookkeeper, and every other role down to and including Janitor in the corporate structure of Pruitt’s Party Planning.

My typical day involves noodling up unusual twists on been-there-done-that party themes and then spending hours shopping online for party supplies. Then there is the party set up, party oversight, and clean up on the days I host an event. A good week has me throwing three parties a week. If I throw at least one a week, I’m a happy planner. I work 15/7 (that’s 15 hours a day, 7 days a week . . . a girl does need some down time, after all), but I love what I do. More importantly, I love not having to answer to anyone but myself.

My party planning business has hosted birthday parties, graduation parties, bridal showers, wedding receptions, divorce celebrations, (once only two months after I’d thrown their wedding reception), baby showers, memorial services, retirement celebrations, bon voyage bashes, and even a Wine, Woman, and Song party (the details of which are known only to those who participated, and all have been sworn to secrecy.) I really thought I had seen it all.

But never in my life had a heard of, let alone hosted, a Puppy Shower. Yes, one of the bigwigs in the dog agility circuit was getting a new puppy—pedigreed, of course—and he wanted me to throw a shower for her. Complete with police escort from the time they drive across the county line until they arrive at the dog park where the party will be held. Fifty yappy canines, and seventy-five hard-partying people are invited. Money no object, but time is of the essence. The party will happen on Friday. Oh, what’s a party planner to do?

And if the karma gods didn’t think I was stressed enough, a crime wave hits our tight-knit neighborhood, sending one neighbor to jail for crimes unknown and another dead for reasons unfathomable. And I, along with my canine sidekick Natti (short for Natural Light, as in the beer. . .he was named by a fraternity boy, what more can I say?) are determined to find the killer and throw the best puppy shower Brookville, NC has ever seen! But not necessarily in that order!

Party on, friends!

Jayne Ormerod’s Biography

Jayne Ormerod grew up in a small Ohio town and attended a small-town Ohio college. Upon earning her accountancy degree, she became a CIA (that’s not a sexy spy thing, but a Certified Internal Auditor). She married a naval officer, and off they sailed to see the world. After nineteen moves, they, along with their two rescue dogs Tiller and Scout, settled in a cottage by the Chesapeake Bay. Jayne writes cozy mysteries about small towns with beach settings. Learn more at jayneormerod.com.

Heather Weidner
Hi, I’m Cassidy Green, and I’m the owner of the Amelia Speedway in rural Virginia. I left my full-time job in marketing to run the track when my father passed away. Lately, keeping the venue solvent has been a full-time job and then some. I live in a house on the property with my Director of Security, Oliver. He’s a Rottweiler, but don’t let his size fool you, he’s really a big teddy bear when he’s not on duty. My Uncle Henry lives in a farmhouse at the back of the track, and he takes care of the drivers and the officiating. He’s also very particular about the landscaping, so he’s in charge of the mowing, too. And there’s a lot of upkeep on our fifteen-acre facility, with its viewing stands, outbuildings, garage, and press box.

Oliver and I start our days early. Our season runs from spring through mid-fall, and we have a variety of races for all age groups on Fridays. My job is to come up with giveaways, contests, and meet and greets that keep guests coming back. It’s an interesting place to live and work. A lot of drivers started their careers on little tracks like mine.

When I’m not working on our marketing or our social media sites, I’m checking inventories, ensuring we have enough part-time concession workers, and keeping everything on schedule. I’ve also got an eye on the weather on race day to make sure everything is safe for the teams and guests.

Oliver goes to work with me every day, and he has a puffy bed in the office where he can supervise all the comings and goings. We take walks around the track, and he’s a favorite among the regulars. He’s great with kids, and his presences is good for settling fights or irate clients.

I learned quickly that this was not a nine-to-five job. During racing season, I’m at work almost every waking hour, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Oliver and I get to meet so many interesting people and hang out at the racetrack every weekend.

Heather Weidner’s Biography

Heather Weidner writes the Delanie Fitzgerald mystery series set in Virginia (Secret Lives and Private Eyes, The Tulip Shirt Murders, and Glitter, Glam, and Contraband). Her short stories appear in the Virginia is for Mysteries series, 50 Shades of Cabernet, and Deadly Southern Charm. Her dog-themed novellas appear in The Mutt Mysteries series (To Fetch a Thief and To Fetch a Scoundrel).

She is a member of Sisters in Crime – Central Virginia, Guppies, International Thriller Writers, and James River Writers.

Originally from Virginia Beach, Heather has been a mystery fan since Scooby-Doo and Nancy Drew. She lives in Central Virginia with her husband and a pair of Jack Russell terriers.

Through the years, she has been a cop’s kid, technical writer, editor, college professor, software tester, and IT manager. Learn more at heatherweidner.com.

Rosemary Shomaker
Cheers. I’m Len Hayes, co-owner of The Beacon restaurant and pub. My wife Joyce and I own and run this sea themed establishment with able assistance from Marsha, Chef Joey Hall, our other staff, and our twenty-seven inch resin dog mascot named Clarion.

I met Joyce in another town in another state. Ten years ago after working in and managing other restaurants mostly west of the Mississippi, we headed to the Delmarva area of the East Coast, moved to my wife’s hometown, and bought our own restaurant.

The sea theme was my wife idea, and she’s the genius behind The Beacon’s popular ocean décor and menu. Me? I’m more of the friendly bartender type, ready to share a joke with or lend an understanding ear to our patrons. The business end? Yeah, I do that, too, along with Joyce, but some of my buddies manipulated me into questionable dealings.

Our day begins early with family time at home before we get to The Beacon around ten o’clock in the morning to prepare for eleven o’clock opening. Lunch is our food rush due to nearby businesses and three office parks. We get a breather after two o’clock, although our afternoon regulars attend in those quiet hours for a late lunch or to imbibe. From five o’clock to nine o’clock we have steady customer traffic including both diners and drinkers. Regulars populate The Beacon from about eight o’clock until our eleven o’clock closing.

My best friend recently died of cancer, and I’ll admit I’m grieving. The sight of Cloud, his canine companion, can bring tears to my eyes. I’ve been distracted, and that’s resulted in my keeping a secret from Joyce. My friend’s funeral home visitation coincided that of a local bigwig, and Joyce’s reaction to this celebrity’s death makes me wonder at secrets she may harbor. Our various hidden actions and peccadillos, and those of others, erupt at the funeral home, and one of our bar regulars, my frenemy Perry, is killed. Damning evidence points to Joyce.

Dogs come to the rescue by protecting and alerting humans and by guarding critical clues. After this adventure, I think Joyce and I will add a dog to our family and to our everyday routine.

Rosemary Shomaker’s Biography

Rosemary Shomaker writes about the unexpected in everyday life. She’s the woman you don’t notice in the grocery store or at church but whom you do notice at estate sales and wandering vacant lots. In all these places she’s collecting story ideas. Rosemary writes mystery, women’s fiction, and paranormal short stories. Stay tuned as she takes her first steps toward longer fiction. Visit Rosemary on Instagram.

All comments are welcomed.