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Paws & Claws Mystery #10
The Wagtail Murder Club
Holly Miller gets much more than she bargained for when she rescues an adorable stray by the side of the road in this all-new Paws & Claws Mystery from New York Times bestselling author Krista Davis.
Holly Miller is on her way home from a visit with the mayor of Wagtail, Virginia who also happens to be her grandma, when she spots something hiding out in the grass not far from her car. It turns out to be an adorable black Labrador in a cage with a note attached to his collar, dubbing him Squishy and asking the finder to care for him. Holly takes Squishy home to the Sugar Maple Inn and soon finds the lovely hotel in chaos and another surprise waiting for her. Holly’s ex-boyfriend Ben is set to check-in with a group of his attorney colleagues who all seem to think he and Holly are still an item.
When one of Ben’s fellow attorneys dies in a fall, it could be chalked up to an unfortunate accident but when a second lawyer is murdered, Holly wonders if it could all be tied to Squishy’s mysterious appearance in Wagtail. Along with her beloved furry friends Trixie and Twinkletoes, Holly has to put the pieces together to find the killer before the fiend causes another fatality.
Holly Miller is on her way home from a visit with the mayor of Wagtail, Virginia who also happens to be her grandma, when she spots something hiding out in the grass not far from her car. It turns out to be an adorable black Labrador in a cage with a note attached to his collar, dubbing him Squishy and asking the finder to care for him. Holly takes Squishy home to the Sugar Maple Inn and soon finds the lovely hotel in chaos and another surprise waiting for her. Holly’s ex-boyfriend Ben is set to check-in with a group of his attorney colleagues who all seem to think he and Holly are still an item.
When one of Ben’s fellow attorneys dies in a fall, it could be chalked up to an unfortunate accident but when a second lawyer is murdered, Holly wonders if it could all be tied to Squishy’s mysterious appearance in Wagtail. Along with her beloved furry friends Trixie and Twinkletoes, Holly has to put the pieces together to find the killer before the fiend causes another fatality.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 4, 2025
161 people are currently reading
454 people want to read
About the author
Krista Davis
36 books3,255 followersKrista Davis lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia where she writes mysteries. She lived in Northern Virginia for many years and resided for a time in Old Town Alexandria where her Domestic Diva Mysteries take place.
Krista also writes the Paws and Claws Mysteries, which debuted with MURDER, SHE BARKED. Her Pen & Ink Mysteries featured covers that can be colored! Read the book and have fun coloring the cover.
WEBSITE: https://www.kristadavis.com
NEWSLETTER: https://bit.ly/3Wi0jcR
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/KristaDavisAu...
INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/kristadavisauthor
Krista also writes the Paws and Claws Mysteries, which debuted with MURDER, SHE BARKED. Her Pen & Ink Mysteries featured covers that can be colored! Read the book and have fun coloring the cover.
WEBSITE: https://www.kristadavis.com
NEWSLETTER: https://bit.ly/3Wi0jcR
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/KristaDavisAu...
INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/kristadavisauthor
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 117 reviews
February 5, 2025
This is a series I usually enjoy so much. I love the premise, the Inn, the town that loves animals so much, and Holly and crew. In this episode, Ben, Holly's ex-boyfriend, is back with a group of lawyers he works for to decide if they want to establish a law office in Wagtail. Very unfortunately, there are a couple of cringe worthy events in this book, both put in motion by our MC, that really ruined this book for me. I will not tell you what they are as one, I don't want to write spoilers, and two, maybe they won't bother others as much as they bother me. Since the first one occurs fairly early in the book and plays a part in everything that happens after, it was just impossible for me to ignore. The murder does draw you in. As usual, the writing is good, the animals are wonderful, and the mystery is multi layered, I just couldn't enjoy the book as I normally do. So sad.
February 3, 2025
The Wagtail Murder Club by Krista Davis is the 10th installment of the A Paws and Claws Mystery. I recommend that you do read the backstory but if this is where you start it shouldn't take much for you to be up to speed. Basically Holly Miller moved to town after her life imploded and now is dating Holmes and runs the Sugar Maple Inn with her grandmother. Additionally, Holly has solved multiple murders as she is an amateur sleuth.
In this book, Holly's ex-boyfriend who once proposed via text nicknamed "The Ben" comes to town along with the majority of his law firm. I already knew I was going to have a lot of feelings about this book because "The Ben" brings out so much rage in my body, it is truly incredible. Holly assumes her boyfriend Holmes is fine with her ex crashing at her place and lets him just stay there. Someone is murdered during their visit and the local police asks her to integrate into the group. Y'all somehow she ends up engaged to "The Ben" to not embarrass him.
I got so mad that I put this book away for four months because I was in such a rage that I couldn't even read this book. I have one question for Holly and that is: what was that? Because honestly, what even was that?! After four months I came back to the book and it actually was really good. The motive was super interesting, the villain was so well crafted, the story was really compelling. It would have been a 5 star book if Holly hadn't pmo. I'm serious, I had a really good time once things got sorted but I am still mad about her accepting a random proposal so I gave it 3 stars.
I would highly recommend this book because it was actually really good. I have enjoyed this series a lot so I would really recommend reading the whole thing. I just wish that Holly wasn't such a pushover that she felt obligated to say yes to her smarmy ex. Other than that the book is actually really great!
Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley, and Krista Davis for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
In this book, Holly's ex-boyfriend who once proposed via text nicknamed "The Ben" comes to town along with the majority of his law firm. I already knew I was going to have a lot of feelings about this book because "The Ben" brings out so much rage in my body, it is truly incredible. Holly assumes her boyfriend Holmes is fine with her ex crashing at her place and lets him just stay there. Someone is murdered during their visit and the local police asks her to integrate into the group. Y'all somehow she ends up engaged to "The Ben" to not embarrass him.
I got so mad that I put this book away for four months because I was in such a rage that I couldn't even read this book. I have one question for Holly and that is: what was that? Because honestly, what even was that?! After four months I came back to the book and it actually was really good. The motive was super interesting, the villain was so well crafted, the story was really compelling. It would have been a 5 star book if Holly hadn't pmo. I'm serious, I had a really good time once things got sorted but I am still mad about her accepting a random proposal so I gave it 3 stars.
I would highly recommend this book because it was actually really good. I have enjoyed this series a lot so I would really recommend reading the whole thing. I just wish that Holly wasn't such a pushover that she felt obligated to say yes to her smarmy ex. Other than that the book is actually really great!
Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley, and Krista Davis for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
March 27, 2025
A great installment to the Paws & Claws series. My favorite series because it’s set in a town where everything allows pets! 🩷 The characters are wonderful! Great murder mystery! I highly recommend!
February 22, 2025
This had so much potential only to be bogged down by Holly being a complete and utter idiot.
Also, the nonsense re: police procedures 😤.
I’ve read that this is the final book in the series and I’m gutted it ended like this%
Also, the nonsense re: police procedures 😤.
I’ve read that this is the final book in the series and I’m gutted it ended like this%
March 31, 2025
Wagtail residents are up in arms because convicted murderer Cooper Adams has recently been released from prison and has decided to make Wagtail his home. Oma insists on giving Cooper the benefit of the doubt and letting him live his life without incident unless there's probable cause for arresting the man again. Holly is happy to help her grandmother run errands for the inn without Trixie and Twinkletoes riding shotgun, much to the pets' dismay! Holly brings them home a surprise though. On her way home she discovered a Labrador puppy in his crate by the side of the road. A note attached to his collar declares his name is Squishy and he's a good boy. Trixie and Oma's Golden Retriever are happy to have a new playmate while Holly fosters Squishy for the shelter. They come to love Squishy and hope he stays but Squishy may have other ideas. Holly is in for a shock when her ex, Ben and his law firm show up unexpectedly. Ben takes it for granted he's going to stay in Holly's guest suite and announces the firm is considering a Wagtail office and he really wants the position. It slowly dawns on Holly that Ben's colleagues think they're still an item. What would Ben do to get the Wagtail job? He has competition from Dinah, a young finance whiz and Kelly, wife of senior partner Percy, would love to bring her kids and dog to live in Wagtail. Squishy seems drawn to Ella, the wife of senior partner Wendell Walters. Squishy provides Ella with comfort after a car accident left her with a concussion and stitches. Ella claims she can't have a dog right now but is there a way she can adopt Squishy? On the night of a lunar eclipse, everyone heads up to the mountain for a viewing party. As the party winds down, Trixie's mournful howl announced a dead body in Wagtail once again! Trixie has discovered Dinah at the foot of a cliff and when Holly climbs down to examine the young woman, Dinah is definitely dead. Officer Dave believes the murderer must be someone from within the law firm but as lawyers, they know not to talk. Dave asks Holly, her mom and Oma to "infiltrate" the group and see what kind of gossip they can pick up that may help Dave with his case. Holly doesn't want to spend that much time with Ben but she agrees to help, little dreaming what she's getting herself into. Can she get OUT? Oma and Holly's Mom stake out the house where Cooper is staying, just in case. As Holly finds herself getting sucked deeper into this group she doesn't care for and Trixie's nose turns up another dead body, Holly is determined to find out more about Cooper and the original murder along with anything she can find on Dinah and the lawyers.
It sure was great to be back in Wagtail! I just love this town and want to move there. I do draw the line at pets in restaurants though, as much as I love animals, I don't want fur in my food, thanks. I love this fantasy world where the pets don't shed and restaurants prepare gourmet meals for dogs and cats and all the shops have animal themed names. The recipes included in the back must have been developed before bird flu and the egg crisis. I love dogs but I don't think it's necessary to bake them treats using precious eggs. Dogs just love my peanut butter treats without eggs. I loved the cameo by Sophie Winston from the Domestic Diva series The Diva Runs Out of Thyme. Of course Sophie and Holly know each other! That makes perfect sense. Mystery-wise this wasn't Krista's best. I figured out half of it pretty early on. There are some surprising twists and motives I didn't see coming but I was not at all surprised by the identity of the murderer. I don't really care because I love Wagtail so much and was happy to be invited back for another visit.
Holly is a little bit of a doormat, not as bad as her friend Sophie though. It makes a lot of sense that Holly can't tell Ben to buzz off when Sophie can't tell Natasha to get lost. Holly has the advantage on the murder front because she has Trixie and Sophie's dog is just along for walks and sometimes sensing things. Holly loves her family, especially Oma and is pretty easy going. She has a great relationship with Holmes, or so she thinks, and is friendly with her ex. I admire Holly's maturity when dealing with her parental drama and how she's willing to get to know her mom better. Holly miscalculates the risks of doing anything in a small town. She was blindsided but could have handled it better. Holmes is a great guy. He's protective of his family and their land. When confronted with a pushy, rude lawyer who wants to buy their property, Holmes refuses. His parents refuse and the lawyer threatens. Holmes is a good son and worries about his dad's health. Holmes is a great guy who even gets along with Holly's ex, Ben. However, how well does he really know Holly? I think he overreacts to her shocker without giving her a chance to explain or the benefit of the doubt. He relies on gossip instead of first hand evidence. I'm not sure he's worth it if he won't even behave like an adult and talk.
Trixie is the best! She's so smart and talented. Her howl alerts her mom and Officer Dave to dead bodies. Isn't she great? Trixie and her kitty pal Twinkletoes are a dynamic duo. They get into mischief together and express their feelings loudly, in union. They make their feelings known in no uncertain terms and humans are too dumb to listen. Newcomer, Squishy, is just SO cute! He's sweet, goofy and just a puppy. He provides comfort where needed but isn't yet trained to do anything specific. Squishy seems drawn to Ella. He knows she needs him and is happy to help. Who would abandon such a sweet boy? What happened to his family? The lady at the shelter is way too strict and lacks empathy. I understand wanting to do what's best for the animals but she doesn't handle any of it well at all. If I were Holly, I would have adopted Squishy myself right away and THEN I would be in charge of where he goes next if his family isn't found or if he stays and what happens if...
Ben is awful. He's selfish and clueless about anyone else's wants and needs. He's hurt because his friends in Washington are married with children and don't have time for him anymore. It's not fun. In Wagtail there's always something going on and Holly lets him walk all over her. He can stay at the inn free of charge even though he doesn't like animals, he's too cheap to pay for alternative lodging. He seems incapable of making new friends and doesn't even know how. Professionally he also doesn't consider that his colleagues may have better reasons to want to move to Wagtail. Is Ben a murderer? No I don't think so. He's too chicken and soft-hearted. He would push someone off a cliff and then run for help or show some emotion. Plus he would never go off the beaten path. Ben is not a nature person.
The lawyers vary in personality and likability factor. I don't really love any of them. Of them all, Percy Calhoun, the senior partner, is the nicest. He adores his wife Kelly but he's protective of the firm and I wonder how far he would go to save the firm's good name? Kelly is spoiled, whimsical and loves to gossip. She's friendly and kind and her Dachshund, Taffy, is adorable. Taffy really benefits from this visit and Kelly's shopping obsession. The kids are home being spoiled by their grandparents. They sound like monsters and could use some time away from the family. Dinah Bonetti also seemed nice. She was tough, no nonsense and had her own unique sense of style. I get the impression she was meeting someone on the mountain top and that person may have been the last to see her alive. She was so smart and capable with numbers but I guess she wasn't so great with judging people. Bizzy Bloom is OK but she's also tough and judgmental. Her son, Logan Verlice, works at Tequila Mockingbird and Bizzy is always on his case about getting a "real" job. Boy do I know that one! It takes Holly to mediate. Bizzy is also protective of the firm and she seems married to her job. How far would she go to protect their good name? I think she could be a murderer. I don't fully trust her. Simon LeFavre is in the middle of the pack in terms of likability. An older widowed cat dad, his children are grown and he's still working hard. He adores his cat and is a lovely cat dad. He's perceptive and not above a little light threats or maybe even blackmail. He wants this Wagtail job and how far will he go to get it?
I loathe Wendell Walters. He's a bigshot and wants everyone to know it. He's the super wealthy type who has to control everything and everyone. Every aspect of his appearance, his home, his life reflects on his status. If one thing is not up to his expectations, watch out. This man is evil! I suspect he's abusive to his wife, Ella. He doesn't speak nicely to her or treat her the way Percy treats Kelly. Percy and Kelly are also affectionate and speak fondly of one another and their kids. Wendell doesn't speak of Ella except in the general sense. She was just in a terrible car accident and only released from the hospital the day the lawyers checked into the inn. Wendell expects Ella to come stay with him the minute she gets out of the hospital. I suspect her car "accident" may not have been an accident and there may not have been a car involved. Maybe a fist? I hoped he would end up dead because Ella is lovely. She came from humble beginnings and is a country girl at heart. Though she says she's afraid of big, black dogs, she's taken with Squishy. Sweet Squishy seems to love Ella and is happy to provide her with comfort. They're a perfect match but she's cagey about why she claims she can't adopt him. Holly suspects Ella might be mourning a beloved pup she had previously but it becomes clear her horrible abusive husband doesn't like dogs. He seems to warm up to Squishy though. A late plot twist made me doubt all I felt about Ella. Is she genuine or a really good actress?
Cooper Adams doesn't appear in the story until late. He's mentioned a lot, spied on and bits and pieces of the story come out as Holly asks questions. His situation doesn't sound like murder, maybe manslaughter and maybe not even. I suspect he didn't do what he was accused of but was too drunk at the time to realize it. He has done his time and deserves to live his life in peace exactly as he wants. Harold Harvey wants revenge for the death of his son Jeff, the young man Cooper was accused of pushing over a cliff. Harold is furious Cooper is out of jail and returned to Wagtail. Harold wants Cooper in jail for good. It seems Mr. Harvey is still in the anger phase of grief and can't see reason. When we learn about his son's character, I suspect the father has no idea what his son was actually like or since his son is dead, he's built up this image of his son in his mind and can't let go of that image. I feel sad for him but he's so angry, it's impossible to like him. I wonder if he would kill someone just to frame Cooper to make sure Cooper ends up in jail for good?
Nell Goodwin, Holly's mom, is young and beautiful. She's a little vain and suspectable to flirtation but knows when to flirt without meaning. Nell is a people person who enjoys working at the inn's desk. She also gets along famously with her ex-mother-in-law. Oma is a dear but shouldn't be encouraging Nell to spy on her neighbor or fear him without just cause. OMA is the one who said to give Cooper the benefit of the doubt. The two ladies team up again, socially, to play a mean trick on someone without Holly's consent. They're very funny together but I think they should have let Holly handle it. She's an adult. Shelley Dixon, inn employee, sure loves to gossip and talk. She truly loves Officer Dave and hopes for a happily ever after from him. It may have to wait for he has his hands full with murder. This time Officer Dave reaches conclusions without much to go on and he seems a little less fair-minded than in previous books. He also puts Holly in an uncomfortable position she should not have been in. It's not just her but her actions affect other people and Dave should have considered that.
Thank you Penguin for printing this in hardcover so library users can read it and enjoy it. I hope there's more tales from Wagtail to come!
TW:
It sure was great to be back in Wagtail! I just love this town and want to move there. I do draw the line at pets in restaurants though, as much as I love animals, I don't want fur in my food, thanks. I love this fantasy world where the pets don't shed and restaurants prepare gourmet meals for dogs and cats and all the shops have animal themed names. The recipes included in the back must have been developed before bird flu and the egg crisis. I love dogs but I don't think it's necessary to bake them treats using precious eggs. Dogs just love my peanut butter treats without eggs. I loved the cameo by Sophie Winston from the Domestic Diva series The Diva Runs Out of Thyme. Of course Sophie and Holly know each other! That makes perfect sense. Mystery-wise this wasn't Krista's best. I figured out half of it pretty early on. There are some surprising twists and motives I didn't see coming but I was not at all surprised by the identity of the murderer. I don't really care because I love Wagtail so much and was happy to be invited back for another visit.
Holly is a little bit of a doormat, not as bad as her friend Sophie though. It makes a lot of sense that Holly can't tell Ben to buzz off when Sophie can't tell Natasha to get lost. Holly has the advantage on the murder front because she has Trixie and Sophie's dog is just along for walks and sometimes sensing things. Holly loves her family, especially Oma and is pretty easy going. She has a great relationship with Holmes, or so she thinks, and is friendly with her ex. I admire Holly's maturity when dealing with her parental drama and how she's willing to get to know her mom better. Holly miscalculates the risks of doing anything in a small town. She was blindsided but could have handled it better. Holmes is a great guy. He's protective of his family and their land. When confronted with a pushy, rude lawyer who wants to buy their property, Holmes refuses. His parents refuse and the lawyer threatens. Holmes is a good son and worries about his dad's health. Holmes is a great guy who even gets along with Holly's ex, Ben. However, how well does he really know Holly? I think he overreacts to her shocker without giving her a chance to explain or the benefit of the doubt. He relies on gossip instead of first hand evidence. I'm not sure he's worth it if he won't even behave like an adult and talk.
Trixie is the best! She's so smart and talented. Her howl alerts her mom and Officer Dave to dead bodies. Isn't she great? Trixie and her kitty pal Twinkletoes are a dynamic duo. They get into mischief together and express their feelings loudly, in union. They make their feelings known in no uncertain terms and humans are too dumb to listen. Newcomer, Squishy, is just SO cute! He's sweet, goofy and just a puppy. He provides comfort where needed but isn't yet trained to do anything specific. Squishy seems drawn to Ella. He knows she needs him and is happy to help. Who would abandon such a sweet boy? What happened to his family? The lady at the shelter is way too strict and lacks empathy. I understand wanting to do what's best for the animals but she doesn't handle any of it well at all. If I were Holly, I would have adopted Squishy myself right away and THEN I would be in charge of where he goes next if his family isn't found or if he stays and what happens if...
Ben is awful. He's selfish and clueless about anyone else's wants and needs. He's hurt because his friends in Washington are married with children and don't have time for him anymore. It's not fun. In Wagtail there's always something going on and Holly lets him walk all over her. He can stay at the inn free of charge even though he doesn't like animals, he's too cheap to pay for alternative lodging. He seems incapable of making new friends and doesn't even know how. Professionally he also doesn't consider that his colleagues may have better reasons to want to move to Wagtail. Is Ben a murderer? No I don't think so. He's too chicken and soft-hearted. He would push someone off a cliff and then run for help or show some emotion. Plus he would never go off the beaten path. Ben is not a nature person.
The lawyers vary in personality and likability factor. I don't really love any of them. Of them all, Percy Calhoun, the senior partner, is the nicest. He adores his wife Kelly but he's protective of the firm and I wonder how far he would go to save the firm's good name? Kelly is spoiled, whimsical and loves to gossip. She's friendly and kind and her Dachshund, Taffy, is adorable. Taffy really benefits from this visit and Kelly's shopping obsession. The kids are home being spoiled by their grandparents. They sound like monsters and could use some time away from the family. Dinah Bonetti also seemed nice. She was tough, no nonsense and had her own unique sense of style. I get the impression she was meeting someone on the mountain top and that person may have been the last to see her alive. She was so smart and capable with numbers but I guess she wasn't so great with judging people. Bizzy Bloom is OK but she's also tough and judgmental. Her son, Logan Verlice, works at Tequila Mockingbird and Bizzy is always on his case about getting a "real" job. Boy do I know that one! It takes Holly to mediate. Bizzy is also protective of the firm and she seems married to her job. How far would she go to protect their good name? I think she could be a murderer. I don't fully trust her. Simon LeFavre is in the middle of the pack in terms of likability. An older widowed cat dad, his children are grown and he's still working hard. He adores his cat and is a lovely cat dad. He's perceptive and not above a little light threats or maybe even blackmail. He wants this Wagtail job and how far will he go to get it?
I loathe Wendell Walters. He's a bigshot and wants everyone to know it. He's the super wealthy type who has to control everything and everyone. Every aspect of his appearance, his home, his life reflects on his status. If one thing is not up to his expectations, watch out. This man is evil! I suspect he's abusive to his wife, Ella. He doesn't speak nicely to her or treat her the way Percy treats Kelly. Percy and Kelly are also affectionate and speak fondly of one another and their kids. Wendell doesn't speak of Ella except in the general sense. She was just in a terrible car accident and only released from the hospital the day the lawyers checked into the inn. Wendell expects Ella to come stay with him the minute she gets out of the hospital. I suspect her car "accident" may not have been an accident and there may not have been a car involved. Maybe a fist? I hoped he would end up dead because Ella is lovely. She came from humble beginnings and is a country girl at heart. Though she says she's afraid of big, black dogs, she's taken with Squishy. Sweet Squishy seems to love Ella and is happy to provide her with comfort. They're a perfect match but she's cagey about why she claims she can't adopt him. Holly suspects Ella might be mourning a beloved pup she had previously but it becomes clear her horrible abusive husband doesn't like dogs. He seems to warm up to Squishy though. A late plot twist made me doubt all I felt about Ella. Is she genuine or a really good actress?
Cooper Adams doesn't appear in the story until late. He's mentioned a lot, spied on and bits and pieces of the story come out as Holly asks questions. His situation doesn't sound like murder, maybe manslaughter and maybe not even. I suspect he didn't do what he was accused of but was too drunk at the time to realize it. He has done his time and deserves to live his life in peace exactly as he wants. Harold Harvey wants revenge for the death of his son Jeff, the young man Cooper was accused of pushing over a cliff. Harold is furious Cooper is out of jail and returned to Wagtail. Harold wants Cooper in jail for good. It seems Mr. Harvey is still in the anger phase of grief and can't see reason. When we learn about his son's character, I suspect the father has no idea what his son was actually like or since his son is dead, he's built up this image of his son in his mind and can't let go of that image. I feel sad for him but he's so angry, it's impossible to like him. I wonder if he would kill someone just to frame Cooper to make sure Cooper ends up in jail for good?
Nell Goodwin, Holly's mom, is young and beautiful. She's a little vain and suspectable to flirtation but knows when to flirt without meaning. Nell is a people person who enjoys working at the inn's desk. She also gets along famously with her ex-mother-in-law. Oma is a dear but shouldn't be encouraging Nell to spy on her neighbor or fear him without just cause. OMA is the one who said to give Cooper the benefit of the doubt. The two ladies team up again, socially, to play a mean trick on someone without Holly's consent. They're very funny together but I think they should have let Holly handle it. She's an adult. Shelley Dixon, inn employee, sure loves to gossip and talk. She truly loves Officer Dave and hopes for a happily ever after from him. It may have to wait for he has his hands full with murder. This time Officer Dave reaches conclusions without much to go on and he seems a little less fair-minded than in previous books. He also puts Holly in an uncomfortable position she should not have been in. It's not just her but her actions affect other people and Dave should have considered that.
Thank you Penguin for printing this in hardcover so library users can read it and enjoy it. I hope there's more tales from Wagtail to come!
TW:
February 8, 2025
Thank you Berkley for the gifted copy.
Great writing and great intro to cozy mystery!
I think I need to go back and read the others to fully understand what is going on within this series. I don’t think you need to read the others, but I think it’d help the story make sense and get to know the main characters a lot more.
I do really enjoy the animals, especially their names! I think it would be so cool to have some little detective animals 😂
Great writing and great intro to cozy mystery!
I think I need to go back and read the others to fully understand what is going on within this series. I don’t think you need to read the others, but I think it’d help the story make sense and get to know the main characters a lot more.
I do really enjoy the animals, especially their names! I think it would be so cool to have some little detective animals 😂
February 8, 2025
Dollycas’s Thoughts
The Sugar Maple Inn gets a new canine visitor when Holly Miller finds a beautiful black Labrador in a cage abandoned on the side of the road. He even came with a note – My name is Squishy. I am a very good boy. Please take good care of me. Holly alerts the local shelter and agrees to foster the lovable pup and he makes himself right at home with the other pets at the inn.
The inn starts to fill up with guests in town for a legal education seminar. One of the lawyers is Holly’s ex Ben Hathaway who assumes he can stay again in Holly’s private guest room. She also notices the rest of the group doesn’t know about the EX part of their relationship.
Add to the mix a man recently released from prison where he was incarcerated for murdering a local man and now has decided to make Wagtail his home. And a moonlight hike up the mountain to view the lunar eclipse. The town expected hundreds of visitors. One thing they didn’t expect was one of the attorneys staying at the inn would fall to her death during the event. A fall that was not an accident. A fall in the same place where another murder occured several years earlier.
It’s time to bring the Wagtail Murder Club together. Holly, her mom, her grandmother, and Mr. Huckle, the Inn’s butler, all gather in the private kitchen to discuss the current mysteries at hand – the murder – and the sweet Labrador who appears to have an important story of his own.
Ms. Davis has created such wonderful characters for this series. They are generous, kind with huge hearts, and adorable pets. I am always thrilled to catch up with them. But this time I wanted to jump right into the pages when Holly made a gigantic error in judgment. I wanted to rewind the situation to prevent her from doing something I knew would hurt someone badly. Humans make errors in real life so it is a given that characters in books will make errors but this one was something major that I wasn’t sure how the author was going to fix. I need to buy myself a T-shirt that says “emotionally attached to fictional characters” because I was really angry at Holly and almost put the book down. But I knew I had to trust the author because she would and did bring Holly back where she belonged. It is a true testament to Ms. Davis’s creativity and writing that her readers become truly invested in her characters. These are some of my favorite cozy characters for good reason.
The mystery was complicated with several suspects spanning all the subplots to make isolating a murderer a difficult task. The Wagtail Murder Club came up with many theories and assigned each other different tasks to try to ferret through the clues. There were some shady things going on with the lawyers but there was a lot more to their stories. Holly did a lot of running around and she surprisingly found a crucial piece of evidence that started to put things into perspective. I did pin down one small part of the mystery early but then was up in the air about everything else. The author plotted out a complex story tying an old murder to a new one that kept me captivated until all the pieces of the puzzle fell into place.
I truly wish Wagtail was a real place. I would love to treat my Australian Cattle Dog – Daisy and my husband to a vacation there. We would enjoy the restaurants and all the special events but my dream vacation would be joining The Wagtail Murder Club to help them solve a murder. I am sure Daisy would become fast friends with Trixie and Gingersnap and help in any way she could. I can easily picture us in Holly’s golf cart headed out to follow a suspect or a clue.
The Wagtail Murder Club was a Perfect Escape. The fantastic characters evoked real emotions that tugged at my heart. The story was well-plotted and written with a fabulous ending that made me so happy. My only complaint is that my visit to Wagtail ended much too soon. I try to slow down to enjoy each moment but the pages just fly when I get all caught up in one of these stories.
While each book in this series can be read on its own you are cheating yourself if you don’t get to know these characters and the super pet-friendly town of Wagtail, Virginia from the start.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Krista Davis, Berkley, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
The Sugar Maple Inn gets a new canine visitor when Holly Miller finds a beautiful black Labrador in a cage abandoned on the side of the road. He even came with a note – My name is Squishy. I am a very good boy. Please take good care of me. Holly alerts the local shelter and agrees to foster the lovable pup and he makes himself right at home with the other pets at the inn.
The inn starts to fill up with guests in town for a legal education seminar. One of the lawyers is Holly’s ex Ben Hathaway who assumes he can stay again in Holly’s private guest room. She also notices the rest of the group doesn’t know about the EX part of their relationship.
Add to the mix a man recently released from prison where he was incarcerated for murdering a local man and now has decided to make Wagtail his home. And a moonlight hike up the mountain to view the lunar eclipse. The town expected hundreds of visitors. One thing they didn’t expect was one of the attorneys staying at the inn would fall to her death during the event. A fall that was not an accident. A fall in the same place where another murder occured several years earlier.
It’s time to bring the Wagtail Murder Club together. Holly, her mom, her grandmother, and Mr. Huckle, the Inn’s butler, all gather in the private kitchen to discuss the current mysteries at hand – the murder – and the sweet Labrador who appears to have an important story of his own.
Ms. Davis has created such wonderful characters for this series. They are generous, kind with huge hearts, and adorable pets. I am always thrilled to catch up with them. But this time I wanted to jump right into the pages when Holly made a gigantic error in judgment. I wanted to rewind the situation to prevent her from doing something I knew would hurt someone badly. Humans make errors in real life so it is a given that characters in books will make errors but this one was something major that I wasn’t sure how the author was going to fix. I need to buy myself a T-shirt that says “emotionally attached to fictional characters” because I was really angry at Holly and almost put the book down. But I knew I had to trust the author because she would and did bring Holly back where she belonged. It is a true testament to Ms. Davis’s creativity and writing that her readers become truly invested in her characters. These are some of my favorite cozy characters for good reason.
The mystery was complicated with several suspects spanning all the subplots to make isolating a murderer a difficult task. The Wagtail Murder Club came up with many theories and assigned each other different tasks to try to ferret through the clues. There were some shady things going on with the lawyers but there was a lot more to their stories. Holly did a lot of running around and she surprisingly found a crucial piece of evidence that started to put things into perspective. I did pin down one small part of the mystery early but then was up in the air about everything else. The author plotted out a complex story tying an old murder to a new one that kept me captivated until all the pieces of the puzzle fell into place.
I truly wish Wagtail was a real place. I would love to treat my Australian Cattle Dog – Daisy and my husband to a vacation there. We would enjoy the restaurants and all the special events but my dream vacation would be joining The Wagtail Murder Club to help them solve a murder. I am sure Daisy would become fast friends with Trixie and Gingersnap and help in any way she could. I can easily picture us in Holly’s golf cart headed out to follow a suspect or a clue.
The Wagtail Murder Club was a Perfect Escape. The fantastic characters evoked real emotions that tugged at my heart. The story was well-plotted and written with a fabulous ending that made me so happy. My only complaint is that my visit to Wagtail ended much too soon. I try to slow down to enjoy each moment but the pages just fly when I get all caught up in one of these stories.
While each book in this series can be read on its own you are cheating yourself if you don’t get to know these characters and the super pet-friendly town of Wagtail, Virginia from the start.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Krista Davis, Berkley, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
August 17, 2024
~Murder-Mystery, Plot-Twists, Secrets, Small-Town, and more!~
The Wagtail Murder Club by Krista Davis follows Holly Miller and her new foster dog, Squishy. When Holly returns home to the Sugar Maple Inn, which she owns with her grandmother, she discovers her ex-boyfriend, Ben, is checking in unannounced. Holly discovers Ben's attorney colleagues, who are also staying in the inn, are under the impression Ben and her are still together. When one of them ends up dead, it could be chalked up to an accident until yet another murder occurs. Will Holly be able to discover what's happening before more tragedy happens?
4| This book was quite a cozy and enjoyable read. The town of Wagtail is beautifully described, allowing me to understand how it operates. The townspeople had a lot of personality that really came through. Holly's character is intelligent and determined, which is always a joy to see in any FMC. Her actions were frustrating at times, yet still understandable. This is the first book I've read in the series, and I definitely felt I was missing some context in certain parts. While I eventually picked up on certain aspects, my experience would have been enhanced with a tad more explanation. The murder mystery aspect was great and had me guessing who it was til the end. I would have preferred a few more clues just to give me a chance to guess the culprit. I loved seeing Holly’s relationship with her mom and grandmother. It was very endearing. One relationship I wish I saw more of was Holly and Holmes. The whole thing fell a little flat for me. More scenes and mention of him would have made more sense. His character and their relationship weren’t mentioned or shown enough to make the ending plausible. I assume it would make more sense if I had read the previous books, but it just seemed odd in this book alone.
I loved the description of Holly's day-to-day responsibilities at the Inn. It helped me imagine her life outside of the bizarre circumstances at play. While fun at first, the description of the dog's meals got to be a little much. I loved learning about the town of Wagtail and how devoted everyone is to their animals. One part of the book that wasn't my favorite was the number of characters. While it added depth, it was too many names and information about each individual character at once that it got overwhelming. I felt confused about who was who at times. Because there were so many characters, some of them got lost. Either they were mentioned constantly chapter after chapter or barely brought up. By the time they were mentioned again, I had completely forgotten who they were, causing me to go back and check. This is partly because all the characters were new to me, not just a select few who were new to this particular book.
Overall, this was a quick and cozy read. It was captivating and hard to put down. The recipes at the end are adorable and an excellent touch for the end of the book. I loved the role the animals played in the story. The town of Wagtail is adorable, and I definitely plan to read future and past books in this series.
The expected publication date is February 4, 2025.
*I received this book through Berkley via NetGalley as an eARC reader. This will not in any way affect my thoughts or opinions on the book*
The Wagtail Murder Club by Krista Davis follows Holly Miller and her new foster dog, Squishy. When Holly returns home to the Sugar Maple Inn, which she owns with her grandmother, she discovers her ex-boyfriend, Ben, is checking in unannounced. Holly discovers Ben's attorney colleagues, who are also staying in the inn, are under the impression Ben and her are still together. When one of them ends up dead, it could be chalked up to an accident until yet another murder occurs. Will Holly be able to discover what's happening before more tragedy happens?
4| This book was quite a cozy and enjoyable read. The town of Wagtail is beautifully described, allowing me to understand how it operates. The townspeople had a lot of personality that really came through. Holly's character is intelligent and determined, which is always a joy to see in any FMC. Her actions were frustrating at times, yet still understandable. This is the first book I've read in the series, and I definitely felt I was missing some context in certain parts. While I eventually picked up on certain aspects, my experience would have been enhanced with a tad more explanation. The murder mystery aspect was great and had me guessing who it was til the end. I would have preferred a few more clues just to give me a chance to guess the culprit. I loved seeing Holly’s relationship with her mom and grandmother. It was very endearing. One relationship I wish I saw more of was Holly and Holmes. The whole thing fell a little flat for me. More scenes and mention of him would have made more sense. His character and their relationship weren’t mentioned or shown enough to make the ending plausible. I assume it would make more sense if I had read the previous books, but it just seemed odd in this book alone.
I loved the description of Holly's day-to-day responsibilities at the Inn. It helped me imagine her life outside of the bizarre circumstances at play. While fun at first, the description of the dog's meals got to be a little much. I loved learning about the town of Wagtail and how devoted everyone is to their animals. One part of the book that wasn't my favorite was the number of characters. While it added depth, it was too many names and information about each individual character at once that it got overwhelming. I felt confused about who was who at times. Because there were so many characters, some of them got lost. Either they were mentioned constantly chapter after chapter or barely brought up. By the time they were mentioned again, I had completely forgotten who they were, causing me to go back and check. This is partly because all the characters were new to me, not just a select few who were new to this particular book.
Overall, this was a quick and cozy read. It was captivating and hard to put down. The recipes at the end are adorable and an excellent touch for the end of the book. I loved the role the animals played in the story. The town of Wagtail is adorable, and I definitely plan to read future and past books in this series.
The expected publication date is February 4, 2025.
*I received this book through Berkley via NetGalley as an eARC reader. This will not in any way affect my thoughts or opinions on the book*
February 16, 2025
3.5 rounded up.....I'm really tired of how Holly excuses Ben's behavior. I'm ready for this subplot to die it, almost ruined the story for me.
January 23, 2025
Wow - this book was amazing! There were so many jaw-dropping moments for me throughout the story!
Holly's mom has stayed in Wagtail, a recently released convicted murderer has settled in town, the Ben and his lawyer firm at at the inn to discuss new business opportunities, plus multiple murders tied with a murder from the past, a new dog to love, a new murder club to join, a few engagements to be had - this one was so good!
I wish Wagtail was a real place and I could live there - this town is so enchanting and the characters are so incredible, you can't help but love (most) of them.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Holly's mom has stayed in Wagtail, a recently released convicted murderer has settled in town, the Ben and his lawyer firm at at the inn to discuss new business opportunities, plus multiple murders tied with a murder from the past, a new dog to love, a new murder club to join, a few engagements to be had - this one was so good!
I wish Wagtail was a real place and I could live there - this town is so enchanting and the characters are so incredible, you can't help but love (most) of them.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 4, 2024
Thank you NetGalley, Krista Davis, and publishers for gifting me of copy of The Wagtail Murder Club in return for my honest opinion.
5 stars out of 5
Ben is back in Wagtail and he has brought a whole bunch of trouble with him. Between two murders and him proposing Holly is in for some excitement, and not in a good way. Throw in a convicted murder moving to town and things are about to get interesting. Will Holly be able to solve the murders before someone else losses their life.
I’ve loved all of the books in the Paws and Claws series so far and this one did not disappoint. There’s always some twists and turns that keep you guessing throughout the whole book. Each book is unique to itself, bringing in new characters and different story lines.
What I loved
-The community aspect of the series has always been great, and this book didn’t disappoint.
- It kept me guessing throughout the whole book, I loved all the twists and turns.
- Squishy was such a nice breath of fresh air, it was a new dog brought into the bunch and added an interesting twist to the story time.
What I didn’t like
-Some aspects of the book were rushed, I wanted more at some aspects.
-ugh I’m over Ben, so over his pushiness and obliviousness.
-Holly accepting Ben’s proposal… why would you do that, you are with Holmes so why would you accept it.
5 stars out of 5
Ben is back in Wagtail and he has brought a whole bunch of trouble with him. Between two murders and him proposing Holly is in for some excitement, and not in a good way. Throw in a convicted murder moving to town and things are about to get interesting. Will Holly be able to solve the murders before someone else losses their life.
I’ve loved all of the books in the Paws and Claws series so far and this one did not disappoint. There’s always some twists and turns that keep you guessing throughout the whole book. Each book is unique to itself, bringing in new characters and different story lines.
What I loved
-The community aspect of the series has always been great, and this book didn’t disappoint.
- It kept me guessing throughout the whole book, I loved all the twists and turns.
- Squishy was such a nice breath of fresh air, it was a new dog brought into the bunch and added an interesting twist to the story time.
What I didn’t like
-Some aspects of the book were rushed, I wanted more at some aspects.
-ugh I’m over Ben, so over his pushiness and obliviousness.
-Holly accepting Ben’s proposal… why would you do that, you are with Holmes so why would you accept it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 4, 2025
This is my least favorite book in this series. I don’t understand why “TheBen” is still an issue, why he just shows up and they agree to let him stay in Holly’s guest room and why she accepts his sham proposal and hurts Holmes. The mystery itself was okay but otherwise it was not good. If this is not the last in the series, I certainly hope we are done with the character of “The Ben”.
2 stars just for the animals and the delightful imaginary town of Wagtail.
2 stars just for the animals and the delightful imaginary town of Wagtail.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 13, 2025
"The Wagtail Murder Club (Paws & Claws Mystery #10)" by Krista Davis finally has Holly realizing that her ex fiancé may be more than just an annoyance. Yet she still pretty much lets him walk all over her, almost to the detriment of her current relationship. She sure is lucky Holmes loves her as much as he does. Her grandmother is frequently pointing out to her in that she's pushing her lucky when it comes to Ben being around. Hopefully he'll be less of an active character in future books now.
For the mystery, Ben's law group is visiting Wagtail for a conference and to determine if they want to set up a law office in Wagtail. Ben wants the position that may be opening up so he proposes to Holly. Holly, not wanting to embarrass Ben, says yes without thinking fully what that's going to do to her actual boyfriend. Then one of the law partners is found at the bottom of a cliff. Everything points to one of Ben's co-workers and Holly just has to help. I do have to say I was totally focused on the wrong person as the culprit.
Kuindle edition note: the copy I had from kindle has several places where word order got all mixed up. An example is that instead of "you are going" it has "you going are."
For the mystery, Ben's law group is visiting Wagtail for a conference and to determine if they want to set up a law office in Wagtail. Ben wants the position that may be opening up so he proposes to Holly. Holly, not wanting to embarrass Ben, says yes without thinking fully what that's going to do to her actual boyfriend. Then one of the law partners is found at the bottom of a cliff. Everything points to one of Ben's co-workers and Holly just has to help. I do have to say I was totally focused on the wrong person as the culprit.
Kuindle edition note: the copy I had from kindle has several places where word order got all mixed up. An example is that instead of "you are going" it has "you going are."
July 22, 2025
This was a great book 5/5 stars ⭐️ I was on the edge with some parts in the book and I thought was going to be going down hill from there on but it got better and better I really hope that Krista Davis writes more book in this series this is my favorite series and I can see much more great book coming from this series I hope 🤞
March 21, 2025
Good story. Interesting twist at the end. I also like the recipes.
May 9, 2025
This was the epitome of small town romance/mystery. It was a cute story, had fun characters, an idyllic small town, and a murder. It was a very quick read that lacked a lot of depth. However, it was fun and interesting.
I think this book just lacked emotion. When they find a dead body (non-spoiler), they just act so nonchalant -- which perfectly sums up how most of the emotion is in this book.
Overall, it is a good read, but not a great read.
I think this book just lacked emotion. When they find a dead body (non-spoiler), they just act so nonchalant -- which perfectly sums up how most of the emotion is in this book.
Overall, it is a good read, but not a great read.
January 16, 2025
2.8/5
As someone who is new to the cozy mystery genre, I thought that this was a fun way to introduce a new series to my reading lists. I didn't realize that this book was part of such a large series, and didn't have too much trouble jumping into the book when reading.
I'm always a fan of a small town vibe and this definitely gave that! Reading the descriptions of Holly's day to day activities at the inn gave it such a cozy vibe that made me want to curl up with a blanket and some tea. I did think that there were a little too many characters for a book thats supposed to be a cozy read, but this might have been just because I hadn't read the previous books in the series. I also found Holly's decisions questionable at times, which made me enjoy the story a bit less.
I think I would give the other books a try, it's a fun book to read if you're in a bit of a slump or want something quick and cozy!
As someone who is new to the cozy mystery genre, I thought that this was a fun way to introduce a new series to my reading lists. I didn't realize that this book was part of such a large series, and didn't have too much trouble jumping into the book when reading.
I'm always a fan of a small town vibe and this definitely gave that! Reading the descriptions of Holly's day to day activities at the inn gave it such a cozy vibe that made me want to curl up with a blanket and some tea. I did think that there were a little too many characters for a book thats supposed to be a cozy read, but this might have been just because I hadn't read the previous books in the series. I also found Holly's decisions questionable at times, which made me enjoy the story a bit less.
I think I would give the other books a try, it's a fun book to read if you're in a bit of a slump or want something quick and cozy!
Read
June 6, 2025I’m not sure how to rate this book yet. I never want to hear about The Ben again.
March 12, 2025
I've decided that since the author hates her MC enough to continue to not give her a spine and even less sense, I also don't have to care about this MC and this series. I'm dropping it even if it doesn't turn out to be the last in this series.
February 20, 2025
This book was really good! The tenth in the Paws and Claws Mystery series by Krista Davis, this book was well written and well paced, entertaining and incredibly hard to put down. But afraid I have the same complaint most everyone else has - the fact that Holly just allows "The Ben" to steamroll her every time he comes around is just bullcrap. I thought she'd grown a backbone after she came to Wagtail, winning Holmes back and was enjoying her life. Holly and Holmes' inability to communicate will be their downfall if they don't get any better than what they displayed in this book! Still worth the time to read.
May 25, 2025
I love these characters, I love all of Krista’s books, but I just can’t keep listening to these extremely intelligent, strong, mature, female main characters be such push overs and people pleasers. This is a wonderful book, but I think I have to be done as I have lost all hope for growth going forward.
This is fully my opinion, and believe that even if I give a two star everyone who loves a cozy mystery should try this series AND book.
This is fully my opinion, and believe that even if I give a two star everyone who loves a cozy mystery should try this series AND book.
February 8, 2025
Loved this book!
I absolutely loved this latest book in this fun cozy mystery series.
Holly and her family and friends really kept me guessing throughout the story.
Meeting Squishy was so much fun, he sounds like a great dog.
This is such a fun series, I love everything about it and I'm always excited when a new book is released.
I absolutely loved this latest book in this fun cozy mystery series.
Holly and her family and friends really kept me guessing throughout the story.
Meeting Squishy was so much fun, he sounds like a great dog.
This is such a fun series, I love everything about it and I'm always excited when a new book is released.
February 6, 2025
THE WAGTAIL MURDER CLUB is the tenth book in the Paws & Claws Mysteries by Krista Davis. First off, the setting of the Sugar Maple Inn in Wagtail, Virginia is absolutely charming and I wish it were a real place! Between the town, protagonist Holly Miller and her family, and her menagerie of pets, you couldn’t ask for a better place to while a few hours away, immersed in this book. Adding to the adorableness, is a new rescue dog, Squishy, who moves in and steals each scene he inhabits. I’ll have to admit he tugged at my heartstrings more than a few times. The author has an admirable way with descriptions, bringing each of the characters and the setting to life. Holly’s relationship with her grandmother and her mother is delightful, and I enjoyed how they interact and work together. The only discord in the story is the arrival of Ben, Holly’s ex-boyfriend. I won’t spoil the plot with details, but I hope this is the last we see of him and his sense of entitlement and condescending ways.
With Ben and his new attorney colleagues in town to discuss opening a satellite office, there’s some drama going on. Plus, folk in Wagtail are up in arms about a released convict moving to town, and living across the street from Holly’s mother. When one of the visiting attorneys plunges to her death, it soon becomes apparent that it was anything but accidental and is similar to the death of a young woman numerous years before. Could there be a connection between the two murders? Holly, with the assistance of her darling dogs, her grandmother, and mother, starts investigating. There are many suspects to sift through, with misdirection around every corner. I always love a good whodunit that features a long-ago crime that is somehow related to the current day crime. Ms. Davis does an admirable job tying the two together into a cohesive story. It’s always a pleasure visiting Wagtail and I can’t wait to make a return visit with the next book in the series!
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
With Ben and his new attorney colleagues in town to discuss opening a satellite office, there’s some drama going on. Plus, folk in Wagtail are up in arms about a released convict moving to town, and living across the street from Holly’s mother. When one of the visiting attorneys plunges to her death, it soon becomes apparent that it was anything but accidental and is similar to the death of a young woman numerous years before. Could there be a connection between the two murders? Holly, with the assistance of her darling dogs, her grandmother, and mother, starts investigating. There are many suspects to sift through, with misdirection around every corner. I always love a good whodunit that features a long-ago crime that is somehow related to the current day crime. Ms. Davis does an admirable job tying the two together into a cohesive story. It’s always a pleasure visiting Wagtail and I can’t wait to make a return visit with the next book in the series!
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 27, 2025
I enjoyed the complexity of this one, dealing with 2 present-day murders plus one in the past. I like when a character (or group) talk about all the possible scenarios/killers that could account for what's happened--essentially doing the same thing I'm doing in my mind. The main reason I gave it inly 4 stars was because of the stupidity of Holly not thinking of running to the bathroom to call Holmes & tell him right away about her "engagement". She could've even used that tactic to buy more time to figure out how to reply to the surprise proposal. I was a little annoyed at her forgetting to call the shelter lady about Squishy's owner. But I love the name "Squishy"! 🥰 When Squishy's owner was talking to the shelter lady, I thought the latter was being one of those people who only have compassion & sympathy for animals & have none for people, but she came around; maybe this person's story will change that. Squishy's owner wants to help abused women, & homeless animals; maybe it will occur to her to do what the organization Red Rover is trying to do: create shelters where abused women can bring their pets with them when they flee the abuse. I was surprised that Ella's car accident was left as just an accident, & it was never revealed where the tracker was. Oh also kinda stupid that Holly didn't think to TEXT Dave when he wasn't answering his phone; I know I was thinking "maybe he's somewhere where he needs to have his ringer turned off, & not be talking." I actually loved the nonchalant way the "engagement" ended, tho, I thought it was funny.
Good reader on the audiobook. Very clear enunciation. Generally good character differentiation except sometimes I wasn't sure if it was Holly or her mother who was speaking. But then the author clarified that.
I look forward to more of this series!
Good reader on the audiobook. Very clear enunciation. Generally good character differentiation except sometimes I wasn't sure if it was Holly or her mother who was speaking. But then the author clarified that.
I look forward to more of this series!
January 10, 2025
"The Wagtail Murder Club" is a cozy mystery. It's the 10th book in a series. You don't need to read the previous books to understand this story, and this book didn't spoil the previous ones. But I lost all respect for Holly in this book. The author decided to have a crisis between her and Holmes, whom she supposedly loves. Ben showed up unexpectedly and proposed marriage to Holly in public in front of his business colleagues even though she'd made it clear she's not interested in him. A thousand ways to handle that, but she choose 'I can't embarrass Ben; I'll say yes and break the engagement later' like that'd do anything but delay the embarrassment. She didn't think once about Holmes' feelings, and she didn't try very hard to tell him what she intended to do before he heard the news of her engagement to Ben from someone else.
At the beginning, I quickly identified whodunit. I'm going, "Oh! What a horrible person!" though this was based off of subtle clues rather than outright meanness. By halfway through, I'd figured out whodunit for the old murder (though why came out later). Then there's another murder, and I easily figured that one out. Only Oma thought things out logically. Holly would think a clue could mean this or that or that. Or she'd recognize a clue indicated this but then conclude the exact opposite a moment later. At the very end, suddenly the lightbulb went on for her.
The pets were charming, as usual. I never did understand why a law firm wanted to open an office in Wagtail and why Ben, of all people, wanted so badly to move there. There was no sex or bad language.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
At the beginning, I quickly identified whodunit. I'm going, "Oh! What a horrible person!" though this was based off of subtle clues rather than outright meanness. By halfway through, I'd figured out whodunit for the old murder (though why came out later). Then there's another murder, and I easily figured that one out. Only Oma thought things out logically. Holly would think a clue could mean this or that or that. Or she'd recognize a clue indicated this but then conclude the exact opposite a moment later. At the very end, suddenly the lightbulb went on for her.
The pets were charming, as usual. I never did understand why a law firm wanted to open an office in Wagtail and why Ben, of all people, wanted so badly to move there. There was no sex or bad language.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
February 9, 2025
OMG! Holly made such a bone headed decision a critical moment of this book that I kept adding notes to my Kindle highlights shouting at her about how stupid and heartless she was being! If I'd been reading a paper edition, I think I would have thrown it against the wall. Had she handled it the way the Holly I've come to know would have handled it, I would have given the book 5 stars. If you haven't read the book, please don't read the spoiler. I just had to vent. At the point it happened, I was ready to DNF and give the book one star, but of course I had to keep reading because of Squishy! Almost everything got wrapped up at the end of the book. I hope the new human and dog citizens of Wagtail remain as continuing characters. I hope the series continues. I love spending time in Wagtail!
February 4, 2025
I enjoy my visits to Wagtail each year. I wish Wagtail was a real town because my cat and I would love to live there. I found The Wagtail Murder Club by Krista Davis to be easy to read. There is a great core group of characters in the series that includes Holly, Oma, and Mr. Huckle. Of course, we cannot forget Trixie and Twinkletoes. Squishy was a delightful addition. I was unhappy, though, to see Ben return to town. I wish Holly would take a firmer stance with him (it would serve her better in the long run). Ben, naturally, wishes to utilize Holly’s guest room. I have a feeling that the freeloader does not pay for one thing at the Sugar Maple Inn during his stay. I was unhappy with how a certain scene played out between Holly and Ben. I can understand not wanting to embarrass someone, but I do not feel that Holly took Holmes feelings into account. I liked that there was more than one whodunit to solve (I love solving mysteries). There is the present day mystery and one from the past where the wrong person may have been convicted. I knew who committed each crime, but I did not know the why on one until later in the book. The story had a sweet ending that will delight fans of the series. The Wagtail Murder Club is the tenth book in A Paws & Claws Mysteries. While it can be read as a standalone, a new reader may be a little lost in the beginning (the background details needed are soon provided). The Wagtail Murder Club is a dogtastic tale with cuddly creatures, a former boyfriend problem, convict moving into town, multiple murders, a sweet Squishy, offended feelings, and a joyful family.
February 4, 2025
I always enjoy the well-crafted and utterly charming cozy mysteries that Krista Davis writes, and this one did not disappoint!
This book, along with the entire series, features all the elements I love in a cozy mystery: a picturesque small-town setting, adorable animals, intriguing mysteries, and a likable sleuth. Holly helps run an inn in a very pet-friendly town that welcomes animals everywhere. The town comes to life through vivid descriptions and excellent world-building. If this place were real, I’d be packing my bags!
Holly is surrounded by a supporting cast of warm, welcoming characters. The animals are the true scene-stealers, though! While I haven't read every book in the series, the camaraderie and sense of community among the core group are endearing. I particularly enjoy Holly’s relationships with her family, especially her mother and grandmother, who often assist her with investigations. Holly is kind and tends to be fairly sensible. However, in this installment, she allows her ex, Ben, to pressure her into making some questionable decisions that could impact her relationship with her boyfriend, Holmes.
The mystery was intriguing and fast-paced, with several twists along the way. I found the resolution interesting once all the pieces came together. As always, the descriptions of food are fabulous, and there are recipes included at the end. This book was such a fun and escapist way to spend an afternoon.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing for the free book!
February 11, 2025
My first Davis book was from the coloring series two years ago and Ive been playing catch-up ever since. I had the pleasure of requesting this one from NetGalley and in exchange for my honest and thoughtful review I was approved to read it there.
First off I wish Wagtail was real, no cars on the road only golf carts. Furbabies are allowed or there are accommodations made for them throughout Wagtail. My favorite thing about the town is meals can be adapted for the furbabies who wouldn’t want to live there.
In this 10th book of the series Ben, Holly's ex-boyfriend, is in Wagtail with a group of lawyers he works for to decide if they want to establish a law office and Ben sees opportunity that is until folks begin dropping like flies and it’s up to the Murder club and one sniffing hound to support the police to catch this murderer.
A cute story and even though it’s my 1st in the Claws and Paws series I had no issue following the back story. Characters were well written and very easily could’ve been me or you. There was a scene in the book that annoyed me so much I almost put the book down. Well I did put it down but picked it up the next day. Here it is, from what I surmise Holly is a strong mind smart woman but when she said yes to a proposal just because she didn’t want to hurt feelings that to me was silly and out of character for her. I picked the book back up because aren’t we all out of character at times?
Wonderful story and a great group of characters if you enjoy cozies than take a ride to Wagtail you won’t be disappointed
First off I wish Wagtail was real, no cars on the road only golf carts. Furbabies are allowed or there are accommodations made for them throughout Wagtail. My favorite thing about the town is meals can be adapted for the furbabies who wouldn’t want to live there.
In this 10th book of the series Ben, Holly's ex-boyfriend, is in Wagtail with a group of lawyers he works for to decide if they want to establish a law office and Ben sees opportunity that is until folks begin dropping like flies and it’s up to the Murder club and one sniffing hound to support the police to catch this murderer.
A cute story and even though it’s my 1st in the Claws and Paws series I had no issue following the back story. Characters were well written and very easily could’ve been me or you. There was a scene in the book that annoyed me so much I almost put the book down. Well I did put it down but picked it up the next day. Here it is, from what I surmise Holly is a strong mind smart woman but when she said yes to a proposal just because she didn’t want to hurt feelings that to me was silly and out of character for her. I picked the book back up because aren’t we all out of character at times?
Wonderful story and a great group of characters if you enjoy cozies than take a ride to Wagtail you won’t be disappointed
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