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Ruff McPaw Mysteries #5

Demolition Daredevil: A Cozy Animal Mystery

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An innocent façade, a furry survivor, a dangerous adversary…

Angela and Ruff are on the prowl again, this time mixed up in a complicated series of crimes. When Susan Karp’s fatal car accident raises suspicions of foul play, Angela and Chief Helbar join forces to uncover the truth.

As the investigation unfolds, a startling explosion rocks ProFarm, a seemingly innocent pesticide company on the outskirts of town. Angela's intuition kicks in when she discovers a connection between the explosion and Dennis, Susan's late husband and former ProFarm employee. Determined to unveil the link between these unsettling events, Angela and Ruff embark on a thrilling pursuit of justice.

Navigating through a labyrinth of perplexing leads and contradictory clues, Angela and Ruff's path takes an unexpected turn when they rescue a feeble gerbil from the wreckage. Little do they know, this furry encounter will shed light on a nefarious plot lurking within the secretive walls of ProFarm's laboratories…

"This series continues to blend murder, mystery, and animal rights, and Parrott’s particular charm turns Demolition Daredevil into a delightful treat that’s sure to please."--5 Stars, Reader's Favorite

Demolition Daredevil is the fifth book in the Ruff McPaw Mysteries series. If you adore intriguing cozy mysteries with beautiful small towns and a really adorable dog, then you won’t want to miss out on Angela and Ruff's fun and unforgettable cases.

156 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 29, 2023

115 people are currently reading
41 people want to read

About the author

Max Parrott

36 books117 followers
MAX PARROTT is a cozy mystery author who lives with his beloved golden retriever... who just so happens to be named Luffy. Even though Luffy doesn't help Max solve crimes, he does help him stay amused.

The inseparable duo often enjoy big long walks down the canal where Max reminisces about Luffy's one shot at fame - a close second in Musical Chairs for dogs one wintry Christmas Eve.

Find out more at:

www.maxparrott.com

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5 stars
152 (68%)
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56 (25%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
Profile Image for Tari.
3,820 reviews105 followers
August 8, 2023
This wasn’t just an awesome mystery with an exciting showdown, but I loved how the Atkinson family was growing closer with Caroline’s visit and Will being back in town. Angie and David are the cutest couple and how ironic about where they ended up sharing a first kiss lol. I hadn’t suspected that perp at all but the showdown was great and getting a confession witnessed was always a good thing. Can’t wait to borrow the next once I free up another KU slot!
Profile Image for Ev.
94 reviews13 followers
July 25, 2023
This is the 5th book in the Ruff McPaw series, but my first read. I was impressed with the plot being very well and tightly woven. The character of Angela working with the police chief to help solve the crimes was more realistic than many of the cozies I have read. Speaking of the characters, all are described very well and people I could relate to and want as friends. Angela's family relations are well portrayed and give credence to her character. As a dog lover, Ruff has to be one of my favorite animal characters ever. I believe if you like Kathi Daley's Zoe Donavan series, you'll enjoy Ruff, too. I recommend this one completely!

***I received this as an ARC to read and review if I wanted to so. This is my own review and freely given***
Profile Image for Christie.
1,297 reviews12 followers
July 11, 2023
I love this series, and Demolition Daredevil is a great addition to it. Angela, and of course, her sidekick Ruff, must figure out if the fatal car accident was an accident or if someone caused the accident. I love how Angie works together with the local police and her family to solve the case. I also love how she deals with her mom's dementia with such a positive attitude. Can't wait for the next book.
274 reviews4 followers
July 3, 2023
Demolition Daredevil is the next installment of the Ruff McPaw Mystery Series. Love this series. Ruff is a dog who likes helping his human friend Angela solve mysteries. He has a nose for this kind of work, being able to pick out clues that the others miss. In this adventure, Susan Karp is killed in a car accident that is soon declared a murder. Turns out Susan had hired Angela’s sister Caroline to bring a lawsuit against the company. Quickly connections are made to her deceased husband’s employer. But how to prove these connections.
Family dynamics are also on the mend as Caroline starts to understand the importance of family, Angela and David start to get closer, and brother Will starts to date. It is nice to see the family together and start to mend.
A+ for this book, and I am looking forward to the next one. Thanks to BookSirens for the ARC of this book.
1,664 reviews23 followers
June 29, 2023
has it all
I just love this series: even the book covers are hilarious as is the interaction between Angela and her dog Ruff, the plot is gripping as always and the twists and turns keep you hooked until the surprising end.
I received this book as a review copy.
Profile Image for Ruth McDaniel.
308 reviews5 followers
June 19, 2023
In this latest addition to the Angela and Ruff stories, this time, Angela finds herself, along with the police, investigating what they aren't even sure is a crime.
There is an auto accident that certainly may actually be just an accident....but is it?
Then there's an explosion in a building where pesticides are formulated and made. Was this also an accident? Or wasn't it? It's quite difficult to prove any wrong doing, but Angela and Chief Helbar feel certain that nefarious things are afoot. And then there's the gerbil....will this little critter end up being the proof that they need to solve the mystery of two deaths?
Once again, Max Parrott writes an engaging and fun mystery.
I received an ARC of this book and am leaving my review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Delphia  Von Heeder .
1,847 reviews58 followers
June 20, 2023
Demolition Daredevil is book 5 in the Ruff McPaw Mysteries by Max Parrott. I really enjoyed book 5. Angie and David are dating and I got a look at Angie's sister, Caroline who is a personal injury attorney. The author writes enjoyable characters especially Ruff, and a good mystery. I am looking forward to seeing what Angie and Ruff get into next. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
93 reviews
June 18, 2023
Angela and Ruff have to solve a series of crimes this tine around. As usual they get some help from friends and family. A great continuation of their story and nice to see some progress for them on non crime fronts. Really enjoyed it.
1,246 reviews11 followers
June 12, 2023
Book 5 in the delightful Ruff McPaw mystery series, and another fun and twisty book to read! In this one Angie is happy to have her big city lawyer sister, Caroline, in town, and even happier to have her help on her and the Chief’s latest case. It turns out that the wrongful death case that brought Caroline to town is connected to a local pesticide company, ProFarm, where there was recently an explosion. Lots of twists and some false clues gives the Chief, Angela and Ruff a run for their money. I love all of Max Parrot’s books, as the characters, including pets, are so warmly presented and likable! I am on his ARC team and write this review voluntarily.
937 reviews
December 19, 2023
Angela, a Private investigator, along with her collie, Ruff, are assisting the police chief in a new murder case when an explosion at a local business occurs. Several coincidences link these two occurrences together. I enjoy this cozy series as the main character Angela works alongside the police and isn't just running around taking unrealistic risks. I enjoy Angela's family relationships and love her kidness toward animals. The mysteries are written well, several suspects and always with a few twists.
I received a free copy of this book via BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
480 reviews5 followers
December 14, 2023
I don't know how the author did it but what was created was a very complex mystery. There were more twists and turns than a roller coaster has. The characters were so well portrayed that you could imagine what they looked like, even Ruff. This is an excellent series and if your not reading it already, your missing some incredible stories.

I volunteered my honest review as I received an ARC copy of this book.
Profile Image for June Price.
Author 6 books83 followers
November 24, 2023
What could a gerbil have to do with two deaths and an explosion?

This series continues to grow on me as I play catch up on reading. In this installment, Angela and Ruff are caught up in the investigation of one troubling death and find themselves investigating two deaths, not to mention the seemingly unrelated explosion of a local pesticide company. The only survivor of the explosion is a gerbil but, well, it can't talk. Angela is determined not only to help solve the weird string of coincidences occurring but save the little critter's life. She's also dealing with the slow moving relationship with Dave, a visit from her lawyer sister, her own farm critters' care, as well as her mother's dementia. You know, just a typical day in a PI's life, right?

I won't detail the plot except to say that although it starts with a fatal car wreck, there are just too many coincidences for Angela and the local Police Chief to ignore. It is definitely a nice break to see the police giving Angela respect, too, not always being the case in cozy mysteries. It all ties together in the end, however, as Angela, Police Chief Helbar, and her family all work toward justice being done. And, Speaking of family, as one who has dealt with dementia in a family member, I felt the pain Angela's family felt given her mother's increasing memory lapses but admire the author for including this aspect as part of the series' threads.

Bottom line, while the mystery was top-notch with twists and turns and red herrings, it was the characters that kept me reading. Angela's entire family sounds like they could be described as a warm hug, while new boyfriend Dave sounds like a winner, too. Their relationship is slow moving, yes, but one is reminded that at times slow and steady is the perfect pace. Even the suspects are fleshed out as we learn a bit about their backgrounds. And, no, I didn't figure it out until near the end. As for Ruff the dog, I adored Ruff who pouts like a child at being left home alone, his personality shining through. All in all, a fun, satisfying read with characters I like and am already looking forward to visiting again. Thanks #BookSirens for allowing me to get better acquainted with Angela and Ruff. Looking forward to spending more time with her family and friends.
679 reviews16 followers
June 29, 2023
Angela gets a call from Chief Helbar asking her to meet him at the scene of an accident where a car went off the road and crashed into a tree. The accident looks suspicious due to numerous holes in the tires, as if intentionally punctured and nails are found on the road where the car veered off. Susan was looking to file a lawsuit against a company named ProFarm following the death of her husband, Dennis Karp, a few months earlier. Susan's lawsuit was also responsible for Angela's sister, Caroline, returning to Hummings Hollow. Caroline is a lawyer from D.C. who is in town to represent Susan in the lawsuit. With Susan dead, Angela convinces Caroline to stick around for a while. A few days later there is an explosion at the ProFarm facility that damages the Animal Testing facility. As Angela and Chief Helbar are speaking with the Robert Paltry, the site manager, who claims that the explosion was caused by somebody from ASPCA, since a bracelet with those letters was found in the room. As they prepare to leave, Angela looks around for Ruff and sees him across the room under a counter. Ruff has found a small gerbil and he is still alive, but seems to have some trouble breathing. Angela takes the gerbil to a local vet for diagnosis and hopefully save its life.

Was Susan's death an accident or murder? Who was responsible for the explosion at ProFarm? Was Dennis' death really accidental? Can Angela, Ruff, and Caroline unravel the mystery?

Max Parrott has another complex mystery with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader engaged clear to the end. He has wonderful characters and realistic situations that add depth to the story. I am definitely looking forward to reading more books in this fantastic series!
Profile Image for JoAnne.
3,193 reviews32 followers
September 30, 2023
DEMOLITION DAREDEVIL is a cute title for the latest book in the RUFF MCPAW MYSTERIES series. Angela and Ruff are once again involved in helping solve crimes as a PI who assists the local police. There are multiple crimes that don't seem related on the surface but of course once the police are involved they start connecting the dots with Angela's help.

I liked the relationship between Angela and her family members and friends and with her schoolteacher boyfriend, David. The addition of Caroline, Angela's sister who's home for a visit along with working a case, added another layer to the story. We get to see their family interactions and how they are there for one another.

Of course with the many crimes being committed in their small town there is a layer of fear of what's really going on at the pesticide factory after the explosion. There are plenty of clues to be gathered and suspects to work through but are other crimes connected to the plant and the explosion? Angela and Ruff are always at the forefront and I like how she and the police work through all the clues systematically and talk their findings through. Of course, in the end the criminal is identified but I hadn't guessed whodunnit since there were enough red herrings throughout. The crimes were solved and there was a satisfying conclusion. There were also some advancements on the family and friends stage which were nice to see. The cover is once again spot on with Ruff front and center. I look forward to reading more in this series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Rosalind.
Author 30 books239 followers
April 15, 2024
A cozy mystery for animal lovers.

“Demolition Daredivil” by Max Parrott is the first book I’ve read from the “Ruff McPaw Mysteries” and the 5th book in the series. Even though I read the book out of order, there was enough, but not too much, background information so that I was able to jump easily into the story. In her role as the small town’s new PI, Angela gets busy fast when a woman dies in a mysterious accident. As she works with Chief Helbar to unravel this “accident,” another strange “accident” comes to her notice. Are they related? What about the even more mysterious explosion at the pesticide company? Luckily, she has her collie Ruff to help. This mystery is spot on for animal lovers, as Angela rescues an injured lab gerbil from the exploded company’s testing room. Will the gerbil make it? Does the gerbil have an important clue? There is much to love about this mystery. I enjoyed the dynamics of Angela’s family, which helped me to know the characters. There’s the charming small town vibe, Angela’s farm animals, her budding relationship with shy David, and, of course, Ruff. The mystery also is well-crafted and kept me guessing. “Demolition Daredivil” is an enjoyable read that has everything a cozy reader craves.
Profile Image for Merry Chapman.
2,712 reviews28 followers
July 1, 2023
This is a fun, page turning mystery with two really great character in Angela and Ruff and of course Chief Helbar. It all begins when the chief calls Angela, who's a PI to meet him at a car accident that looks very suspicious. The victim is the woman, Susan, who is suing the company, ProFarm who she blames for the death of her husband. So, this is murder especially when they find holes in the tires and nails on the road. Coincidentally, Angela's sister, Caroline, a DC attorney comes to town because she was representing the dead woman in the lawsuit against ProFarm. With her client dead, Caroline agrees to stay a bit and help Angela and the Chief with the case. Add to that we have an explosion in the ProFarm lab and Ruff finds a poor hamster in the building that may just have a clue as to what is going on! This is a wonderful roller coaster ride we are on trying to put the puzzle pieces together, but with all the twists and turns we are finally led to a wonderful surprise ending! We are also treated to a little romance. And you can't help but love Ruff who is right on the case! I received and ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here ar strictly my own.
Profile Image for Tina Lincoln.
512 reviews6 followers
June 28, 2023
Science Over-Load!
Another Spactacular story about Angela and Ruff! There is an explosion at ProFarm, a pesticide company, and as usual, Ruff has a nose in helping to find clues, and another injured animal. This time it is a little gerbal who is having a hard time breathing. So, off to the vets with the gerbal to see if it can be helped, while finding a part of a medical bracelet that is wrapped around the gerbal.
The great news in this episode, is that Caroline, Angela's sister, comes in from D.C. for a visit while she is going to meet a client, she is an attorney.
And then there is David... Angela has been going with him for awhile now, and still waiting for her first kiss from him, he is SO shy! I absolutely love the kindness, care, and time that they are taking, not rushing in to anything in their relationship!
Thank you, Max Parrott for yet another Great Story!
I received an advance copy of this book, and this is my honest review.
Profile Image for Irene.
383 reviews
July 29, 2023
Angela and Ruff are at it again, solving crimes and bringing in the bad guys. This time they get an assist from Angela’s sister Caroline. We’d heard about her in previous books but hadn’t met her yet.
I liked the new character addition. We get to see another side of Angela and her family is complete now. I like Angela’s interactions with her family. They’re a heartwarming part of her story. I also like David although his shyness was starting to irritate me a bit. He finally got past that though.
There are always a lot of animals mentioned in this series, which I love.
This addition to the series was a fun, easy read with just enough intrigue, danger and romance to keep things interesting. Now excuse me while I go look for book 6.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Adpa.
533 reviews2 followers
June 25, 2023
Although this is the 5th book in this series, it can be read as a standalone book.
Angela and her dog Ruff McPaw are once again requested to assist Police Chief Helbar in solving another case. The Chief is not hesitant to ask for help from a private investigator and her dog as he now knows from experience that with cooperation, the guilty party always get caught.
I find this series very enjoyable and satisfying. There are enough twists in the story that it is hard to determine which person is the guilty party until the end of the tale.
I received an advance copy of this book, and this review is my honest opinion. Can't wait to read more!
Profile Image for Shelly Joyce .
1,534 reviews12 followers
June 19, 2023
Demolition Daredevil is the fifth installment of the Ruff McPaw Mysteries series written by Max Parrott. I really enjoyed reading this book and the entire series in a whole. It is always a fun and cozy storyline with lots of animals. This story has lots of twists and some false clues that gives the Chief, Angela and Ruff a run for their money. I love all of Max Parrot’s books, as the awesome characters, including the lovable pets, are so warmly portrayed and likable! I received an advanced reader copy from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
415 reviews6 followers
June 19, 2023
Another cute - but not "cutesie" - mystery with Angie, Ruff and David in starring roles. Starting out with a women who died when her car went into a ravine, the seeming accident seems to have more facets than at first glance. Ruff finds a clue, a connection to a former accident is revealed, all leaving you to keep the pages turning until the guilty party is discovered. Warm characters, fun to read but also well done!- I received a review copy and freely leave this honest review.
1,080 reviews4 followers
June 22, 2023
This is the fifth book in this series, ad I have enjoyed all of them. A lady was killed when her car ran off the road. Police Chief Helbar thought it was an accident until Ruff and Angela discovered something that made it appear it might not have been an accident. Then there was an explosion in the lab at ProFarm. Another crime to investigate. They definitely have their hands full.

I received a free ARC, and this is my honest opinion.
1,593 reviews4 followers
October 1, 2023
Lucky solves the case

Finally! Angela finally gets her kiss! Was nice to see the family all together. Ruff didn't solve the case but he did find Lucky who helped. Another case solved and Angela gets another win.
Profile Image for Mary Baker.
633 reviews2 followers
November 17, 2023
Best book in the series yet

This book kept me up, I couldn't put it down. The author gets better with every book. The story line flowed and kept me engrossed. Looking forward to reading the next one.
691 reviews
November 25, 2023
Chief Helbar asks Angela to help him. There’s been a car accident but he’s not sure it was. Angela and Ruff do what they do best. Another great read in a wonderful series. I can only recommend it.
I received an advance review copy for free and I’m leaving a voluntary and honest review.
81 reviews1 follower
December 2, 2024
Snuggle Mysteries

These books are relief from stress. Likeable characters with believable problems, but nothing too dark or depressing. Some romance, but it isn't central to the story. No bedroom scenes.
Profile Image for Sarah.
125 reviews6 followers
December 1, 2025
This series never fails to make me smile. From Angela’s awkwardness around David to the relationship she has with her family. This was a good one, yet sadder/darker than from what I’ve come to expect from this series.

Overall I loved it, and will be continuing on for more Angela and Ruff!
Profile Image for Maureen.
649 reviews16 followers
September 5, 2023
I just love Ruff and Angela! Their teamwork (*without* a talking dog) is really amazing and fun to read. This is such a great mystery, too!
743 reviews1 follower
February 15, 2025
Demolition Daredevil

Great story and David finally kissed her. I hope 🤞 these characters are going to continue in the next story.
Profile Image for Millie.
140 reviews1 follower
March 11, 2026
This was a tough one!

Twists and turns - it really had everyone working overtime! Angela and David are closer than ever! Can't wait for the next book!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews