Review

Lauren Vancouver, manager of the HotRescues animal shelter, hasn’t heard from her former mentor Mamie Spelling in almost seven years. Then, out of the blue, Lauren receives a hysterical phone call from Mamie who tells Lauren someone is threatening her, but then abruptly hangs up. Lauren decides to pay a visit to Mamie’s Beach Pet Rescue to make sure she is okay and is shocked at Mamie’s haggard appearance and what she finds inside Mamie’s home. It seems Mamie has become a pet hoarder and her home is filled with hundreds of cats and dogs - all filthy and malnourished. When the person who has been threatening Mamie is found shot, Mamie finds she herself facing charges of pet hoarding and murder!

While this book is a mystery and is about the murder of pet shelter network CEO Bethany Urber, the book is centered on the topic of animal hoarding. While animal hoarding is a serious offence, I like the way the author addresses the issue by having Lauren show conflicting feelings about Mamie’s hoarding. While she hates the conditions in which Mamie was keeping the animals, she can’t help but pity the obviously disturbed woman.

It is clear the author loves animals and is very knowledgeable about animal rescue efforts. The many details about running an animal shelter are included throughout the book and are an integral part of the story. This book is the second Pet Rescue mystery and I have the same complaint with this book as with the prior Beaglemania. Lauren manages a large shelter, and she oversees every aspect of its management. In addition to all the paperwork, budgeting, PR, and security of the shelter, she personally interviews every applicant that wants to adopt an animal, as well as makes several home visits, announced and unannounced, before and after the pet adoptions. I don’t know how she has time to do her job, run her household, have a romantic relationship with Matt Kingston of LA Animal Services, and still find time to investigate crimes!

With the exception of her micromanaging, Lauren is a likeable character. She has a good relationship with her college-age son and daughter who make a brief appearance in the book. She is a good manager to her employees and volunteers and deals with a situation in which animals are being anonymously dropped off at her shelter with understanding and compassion. She is also a good friend to Mamie and gets involved in the murder investigation to protect Mamie even though she is appalled at the way Mamie was neglecting the animals under her care.

Lauren’s friendship with vet and host of cable TV animal health show Dr. Carlie Stellan is interesting, although we don’t really get to know Carlie. Lauren and Matt’s romance has potential, and while Lauren says she isn’t ready for a relationship, she seems to spend a lot of time with the handsome animal services captain.

Unfortunately, the mystery itself isn’t as interesting as the parts of the book dealing with the animal shelter. Lauren talks to a lot of different shelter owners in trying to find out who killed the domineering Bethany. Part of the reason so many people disliked Bethany was the way she forced people to join her network of pet shelters, but I was never clear as to why Bethany takes such extreme measures to get new members. Lauren eventually solves the mystery after an unbelievable scene in which she escapes from the murderer.

While the mystery and depth of most of the supporting characters is lacking, animal lovers will enjoy the many details about animal shelters and enjoy meeting some of HotRescues furry residents. If you enjoy Cynthia Baxter’s Reigning Cats and Dogs mysteries, then you may want to give The More the Terrier a try.

Reviewed by Christine