The spirited sequel to the New York Times bestseller, Murder, She Barked
Wagtail, Virginia, the top pet-friendly getaway in the United States, is gearing up for a howling good Halloween—until a spooky murder shakes the town to its core . . .
Holly Miller doesn’t believe in spirits, but the Sugar Maple Inn is filled with guests who do. The TV series in development, Apparition Apprehenders, has descended on Wagtail’s annual Halloween festivities to investigate supernatural local legends, and Holly has her hands full showing the ghost hunters a scary-fun time.
But the frights turn real when Holly’s Jack Russell, Trixie, and kitten, Twinkletoes, find a young woman drowned in the Wagtail Springs Hotel’s bathhouse—the spot of the town’s most infamous haunting. The crime scene is eerily similar to the creepy legend, convincing Holly that the death wasn’t just accidental. Now she’ll have to race to catch a flesh-and-blood killer—before someone else in town gives up the ghost . . .
For fans of: Annie Knox
It’s official: Holly Miller now lives with and works for her grandmother at The Sugar Maple Inn in the pet-friendly resort town of Wagtail, Virginia. Her grandmother could definitely use the assistance – Wagtail’s gearing up for its annual Howloween festival and the inn’s full of ghost hunters looking to film a TV show – but when strange events start plaguing the Sugar Maple and a woman turns up dead, Holly can’t help but turn her attentions from hospitality to hauntings and homicide. That thing about cats and curiosity doesn’t apply to their owners – right?
The Ghost and Mrs. Mewer is the second of Krista Davis’ Paws and Claws Mysteries, and it’s a beautifully written, cleverly crafted mystery sure to please pet-lovers and fair-play-mystery fans, alike. The swift pace, engaging narration, and strong sense of place make it very easy to lose yourself in The Ghost and Mrs. Mewer. In Wagtail, Davis has created a town any ailurophile or philocynic would give their right arm to visit (let alone call home); The Sugar Maple Inn is such a warm, welcoming space that even a fictional stay feels a bit like a vacation; and Holly consumes so much amazing (and amazingly well described!) food over the course of the tale that I’m fairly certain I gained five pounds just reading about it.
Holly’s a winsome heroine, and Davis does a marvelous job bringing both her and her supporting cast to life. The book’s setup is intriguing; the central puzzle is rife with feints, twists, and clever red herrings; and there are so many viable suspects that you’ll be still be trying to figure out whodunit come the final chapter. While I wouldn’t go so far as to call this book a ghost story, the Apparition Apprehenders storyline adds a nice paranormal air to Davis’ tale. There’s a surprising amount of action given the cozy trappings, and the ending will thrill and satisfy in equal measure.
If you’re a fan of Annie Knox’s Pet Boutique Mysteries, Krista Davis’ Domestic Diva Mysteries, or you’re just looking for a fun new traditional mystery series to add to your shelves, do yourself a favor and check out The Ghost and Mrs. Mewer.
Reviewed by Kat
