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Woot! I never set out to read a hundred books this year, but I'm quite proud of my accomplishment, in any case.

I just finished reading Hiss and Tell, which is part of author Claire Donally's "Sunny and Shadow" mystery series.

With a local, high-society wedding looming, Sunny is asked to brush off her journalist and photography skills and go to a scheduled press conference to take pictures. Later, the owner of the local paper asks her to come with him to investigate some lights on the cliffs where the family's compound resides. Sunny ends up taking photos of security removing the body of a woman from the water. The bride-to-be wants to know what happened to her friend, and she asks Sunny to join the family at their compound as an embedded journalist. Sunny jumps at the chance, not knowing how distraught her leaving makes her cat, Shadow. After Sunny returns home to fetch more clothing, Shadow takes the opportunity to hitch a ride back to the compound with her.

In the meantime, an old, journalistic flame of Sunny's is in town, and he tries to convince her to help him look into an old legend of a blackmailer known as the Taxman. Sunny dismisses Randall's speculation as urban legend, but as she spends time with a family of politicians, she begins to realize that blackmail could well be a motive for murder.

The story moved along at a good pace. I figured out who dunnit early, but the author threw out enough red herrings to make my conviction waver at points. Shadow caused no end of hilarious trouble while on the loose at the compound, and Sunny's growing relationship with Will was enjoyable to read about.

Favorite lines:
♦ "We might see some seals over on Appledore Island." / "Which was not named after the guy who taught Harry Potter..."
♦ Apparently the furniture gets harder use here in boy-land...
♦ "No demon speeders rushing to get last-minute bargains will avoid the long arm of the law."

Fun, exciting story! Five stars:

*****

Last night, I finished reading my current book Cat Nap by Claire Donally. This is the second installment in her "Sunny and Shadow" mystery series.

When Sunny accompanies her friend as Jane goes to confront her ex-husband, Jane finds Martin dead in the office of his veterinary practice. With Jane at the top of the list of suspects, Sunny begins looking into the matter. She uncovers a string of affairs, a deal with eastern European mobsters, and clients who had a beef with the good vet.

In the meantime, Sunny's cat Shadow has darted out of the house in the middle of winter, and Sunny is anxious to find him.

The story was interesting, if predictable. I figured out whodunnit within the first half of the book. Still, some things caught me by surprise, and overall, it was a good read. Giving this one three out of four:

♦♦♦