Book 102, 2024

Pooches, Pumpkins, and Poison by Carolyn Ridder Aspenson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Tuesday night I finished reading Pooches, Pumpkins, and Poison by Carolyn Ridder Aspenson. It's the first book in her "Pooch Party" cozy mystery series. The main character is Missy Kingston, adoption manager at the local animal shelter.

Missy is looking forward to the local Halloween festival, where she plans to have one of her pooch parties--an event that allows people to meet and interact with available dogs. While the festival is still in the initial planning and setting up stage, Missy comes across the dead body of the woman who was organizing the event. When the woman's estranged husband is arrested, one of Missy's friends tells her he doesn't think the husband is guilty. Missy starts asking some questions, only to have her own brush with death. Rather than be cowed, Missy digs in further, determined to find out who committed murder and has it out for her.

Interesting story. I liked Missy as a character. She's tough and resilient but also soft hearted to the dogs in her care. Most of the narrative was consumed with Missy's sleuthing; I would have liked to see her doing other things.

Favorite lines:
♦ I might have had a few more pet peeves than I cared to admit.
♦ Those people that say they don't like gossip? I've never seen any of them walk away when someone's telling them some.

Entertaining and worth a read. Four stars.

( Trope Test )