Death by Chocolate Lab

Title: Death by Chocolate Lab

Author: Bethany Blake [Website][Facebook][Twitter]

Publisher: Kensington Books

Series: Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery, Bk 1

ISBN: 9781496707383

Obtained: NetGalley

Why this book?:

I was drawn first to the title, then to the description, and the cover is cute too.

Comments:

Daphne Templeton has a deep love for animals and a pretty laissez faire attitude about life.  She lives (mostly rent free) with her sister, has a beat down van on its last legs with painted side panels advertising her business (kinda - painting vehicles isn't her friend's forte), and a junky phone that isn't always charged or functioning.  She also has a doctorate in philosophy and a vegetarian lifestyle.  Her vet sister has placed a cap on how many dogs/animals she can have in the house at a time, and she's only allowed to keep one - her basset hound, Socrates.

I find animal cozy mysteries enjoyable to start with, though they can sometimes get a little "preachy" - this one didn't feel preachy at all.  I was also strangely envious of how Daphne could be strapped for cash and yet calm and not stressed.  She's obviously intelligent and yet doesn't feel pressured to "succeed" even when her mother and sister both fuss at her.  And then there was the humor which kept me going strong, reading into the night and not reading my book discussion book when I ought to have been.

With all that, the mystery didn't even matter as much, but fortunately, I found that interesting too.  Daphne's sister's ex has been murdered, and while he was basically not well liked by anyone, her sister is the prime suspect.  So Daphne pokes around, causing trouble and showing that she can be determined when she wants.

Some people don't like romance in their mysteries.  I do, as long as it doesn't overtake the rest of the story, so I found the interaction between Daphne and Detective Jonathan Black interesting and fun.

Anyway, I look forward to reading the next book in the series, Dial Meow for Murder... I've already requested my library purchase both books.