As I looked over my calendar for today, I smiled. I was living my dream life as Dr. Kara Clay, Veterinarian. I opened my animal clinic in Crystal Stream, my charming hometown in Central Florida, just over two years ago. It’s been quite a ride and full of surprises, including learning some shocking secrets about the people here. I found humans much harder to understand than my animal clients.
Even though we were taught in school to take a detached clinical approach to our patients, that did not work for me. I snuggled with the kittens and puppies and hugged my furry and feathery clients. I felt a deep connection to so many of them. One of my favorites, Digger, an accident-prone Golden Retriever, easily read my deepest thoughts, my soul, with his chocolate brown eyes.
Crystal Stream was rich in nature too, including a population of manatees that enjoyed our clear and warm spring waters in the Bay of Springs. I found manatees totally mesmerizing to watch as they lived their best life here. While a few dozen manatees called Crystal Stream home year-round, the winter population could grow to over 800 manatees. I loved volunteering as a guide at the manatee refuge and acting as a guardian to these delightful creatures.
Today, our local canine cop Rex will be visiting for his annual checkup and vaccines. He was a spectacular animal. A German Shepherd, he had an unusual white coat which created an ethereal, almost ghostly, look. Some days it seemed to glow. He has helped so many people in this town, finding lost kids and chasing down bad guys. It was an honor to contribute to his care and training.
Well, it’s time to straighten my scrubs, tie my Converse sneakers, grab my stethoscope, and head to Exam Room 1. Animal adventures await.
MANATEE INSANITY
Series: Crystal Stream Mystery, Book 1
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: July 2026
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase link
When Dr. Kara Clay finds a volunteer dead behind her floundering animal clinic, she must expose a web of lies and stop a manipulative killer before the bank forces her to close the doors forever.
Dr. Kara Clay loves animals. She runs a small veterinary clinic and Kibbles, her pet boutique, in a quaint bayside town on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Kara holds one big secret: she is barely keeping both afloat. When a manatee refuge volunteer is found dead behind her clinic during First Friday, her quiet life implodes.
The victim’s modest bungalow hides a pail full of cash and a tangle of knots that reach from raucous Las Vegas into Crystal Stream’s gentler neighborhoods. Kara starts asking questions and as suspects multiply, she must decide how far she’ll go to save her clinic and the community she loves.
Navigating the dangers from gambling rings, personal betrayal, and small-town secrets, can Kara solve the crime before her clinic and her own life are extinguished?
Perfect for fans of animal-forward cozy mysteries with an edge.
Meet the author
Shari Bruin is the author of Manatee Insanity, her debut novel and the first book in the Crystal Stream Mysteries Series. A Hoosier transplanted to Central Florida, Shari is an avid reader. When not immersed in everything bookish, she enjoys searching for secret treasure, traveling near and far, and tending to her butterfly garden. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Guppy Chapter. Visit ShariBruin.com or Facebook (Shari Bruin, Writer) for more information.