Trespass and Tortoise: an Animal Cozy Mystery

Dusty Paws Mysteries #5

by Verena DeLuca

Mystery • Animals • RomanceIn the serene town of Raton, Natalie Davis and Sheriff Jake Dwyer are back on the case when a beloved community member, Mr. Smith, is found murdered in his own backyard. As they untangle the threads of this perplexing crime, they stumble upon an unexpected discovery—a lonely tortoise named Tony, in need of a new home.

Amidst the urgency of solving the murder, Natalie and Jake embark on a heartwarming journey to find the perfect place for Tony to thrive. But with tensions running high and secrets lurking in the shadows, their investigation takes unexpected twists and turns.

As they follow the clues, Natalie and Jake find themselves drawn deeper into a web of deceit and betrayal. With time ticking away, they must race against the clock to uncover the truth about Mr. Smith's death and ensure Tony's safety.

Can they solve the case in time?

"Trespass and Tortoise" is a captivating tale of mystery and compassion, where love for animals intertwines with the pursuit of justice. Join Natalie and Jake on a gripping adventure where every revelation brings them closer to the heart of the truth.

Don't miss out on this thrilling installment in the Dusty Paws series, where courage and determination prevail against all odds.

Includes a recipe for Chicken and Catnip Bites—cat approved.

Genres: Cozy Mystery

244 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 10, 2024

About the author

Verena DeLuca is a pen name for the life partner duo Sabetha Danes & NAK Baldron. When we’re not homeschooling our artistic daughter, we spend our afternoons arguing the finer details of books. Failing that, we can be found walking the many nature trails around our home.

Marble Falls is an actual tourist destination an hour west of Austin, Texas, that we’re proud to call home. While Aconite Cafe isn’t an actual coffee shop, it is the name of our publishing company. We love coffee nearly as much as Hailey, though we’ve been known to break the cardinal rule and drink tea.

Azure is based on our cat James, who’s just as snarky.

Reviews

[Teri Ruscak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Verena DeLuca

Trespass and Tortoise: an Animal Cozy Mystery (Dusty Paws Mysteries Book 5).

Natalie

This book has many twists and turns! An enjoyable read.

I received an advance review copy for free (Booksirens), and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 5 in one of my favorite cozy mystery series. I do recommend reading in order as some of the characters have really evolved over the course of the series.
In this installment we have Natalie’s bff getting married before we dive into murder. Natalie, Jake and Mike sift through a mountain of clues to solves this mystery. They have several suspects and I didn’t guess which one it was. They all had reason to want the man dead.
I love how the author weaves the mystery in and around other parts of the story. We’ve got 2 other romances going plus the running of Dusty Paws. There’s a lot going on. I would actually like to see more animal involvement.
I received this book as a free ARC and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Small towns are a hotbed for gossip and rumors, and this one was no different. But some secrets of the town were held closely with the hope they'd never see the light of day. With perseverance and many helpful hands, the crime was solved, but I was unsatisfied with some aspects. How do you absolve someone for their crimes because of gender and/or diagnosis???? The author gave them a pass for their financial crimes which was a major disappointment to me. Murder solved and prosecuted, but what about the rest??? I voluntarily read a free copy of this book provided by book sirens and am giving an honest opinion.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by Verena DeLuca. She has another hit on her hands.
Natalie Davis owner of Dusty Paws Adoption and boarding and her animal sanctuary at her home and her boyfriend Sheriff Jake Dwyer
while out on an ATV ride come across a dead body. It is a person that they really respect
and really upsets them both. They set out to find the person responsible. They have several different people that they suspect. this was a very difficult case for them. Keeps you guessing to the very end.

I received an advance review copy, ARC, for freye, and I am leaving an honest opinion and voluntary review

[Marietta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great story!! I love how Jake, Natalie and Mike work so well together when it comes to crimes. There are always lot of twist and turns as well to keep everyone interest in the story line and help you figure out who the murder will be. Jake and Natalie seem to be able to uncover most of the problem but they do use everyone in town to help with what they may know. Mike has come along way since the start of this series and I love the fact that he is doing so well but I think it time for him to find a love interest for hjimself.
I will be recommend this book to all my friends as well.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

We start with a lovely picturesque wedding and venue but shortly are shocked to see a rather graphic murder scene. Soon there's more than one suspect and a wide range of motives for the deed. Plenty of deceit, manipulation, and sinister subterfuge. It's an excellent mystery that will keep the reader busy trying to piece it all together before reaching the unpredictable ending! Bit heavy on the romance so it'll be interesting to see how this sleuthing couple of Jake and Natalie fare ten years into the series which I'm looking forward to reading! And yes , the tortoise does have its place in the end! Recommended!

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a truly complicated and intriguing cozy mystery murder. The usual array of characters are back in the fifth book in this series and there are more characters as vibrant as they are they have brought more depth and intrigue through their coveted pasts and though these characters will have you captivated from the beginning it's the plot full of secrets, betrayals, lies, hidden agendas and murder that will have you turning intriguing page after exciting page not letting you go until you've reached its unexpected and climatic conclusion. Acquire "Trespass and Tortoise" today for hours of captivating and enjoyable entertainment. Book five in the Dusty Paws Mysteries. Kat

[Alice Hazelbaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 5 in the Dusty Paws series. The story begins with Jake and Natalie witnessing her sister Kathryn’s wedding at the ranch in the beautiful pavilion designed and built by master craftsmen Victor Santiago. Later, out on Jake’s ATV, they notice vultures circling and go check it out to find Victor, dead and obviously brutally murdered! They vow to find the killer, which sets them on the trail of a very tangled web of relationships and lies! A fascinating and twisted tale which will definitely keep your interest. I received an advance copy of this book and write this review voluntarily.

[Sherri Englett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. When Natalie and Jake found Victor dead, they try to find evidence of who killed him. With an ex wife about to lose alimony, and ex lover that was hiding a secret, and a business rival that had a bad temper. It's it jealousy or something else that got Victor killed? Will Jake and Natalie's relationship become more serious? I would recommend this book and the rest of the series. If you want a book full of suspense and easy reading, this is the book.

[Delphia Von Heeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trespass and Tortoise is book 5 in the Dusty Paws Mystery by Verena DeLuca. It is a time of joy at the Harper Ranch. Kathryn and Paul are getting married. Jake and Natalie were not supposed to find the body of Victor at the ranch… but they did! Natalie and Jake make a great sleuthing couple especially since Jake is a Sheriff. One thing I really like about the series is the love of animals and how they are part of the murder scene. I find this book and series to be a great way to relax and escape into a who done it book. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting storyline but for some reason it just didn't all come together for me, like her other books have. I really like the characters and there are lots of ins and outs that throw you but it just didn't click. Maybe it was me, so if you like this series, please go ahead and read this book. I may even go back and read it again later. If I do, I'll make another review. I've liked the other books in this series, so I will continue to read any new books coming out.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sandy T · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining cozy murder mystery, one in a series. When Natalie and Jake find Victor dead, they work together to find the culprit. After talking and interviewing several suspects they need to find the motive, jealous, greed, revenge or anger, are all in the mix. There is not much action in this book, more dialog, searching out motives and weeding out the secrets among the truth.
I received a free copy of this book via BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Deborah Ortega · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this had a lot of twists and turns and some conflicts that were hidden. While celebrating a friends wedding Natalie and Jake a Police Officer go for a ride on a ATV in the desert of New Mexico. They find a body of someone they know who was a woodworker. Natalie and Jake are on the case and at the scene a tortoise is seen walking away. Superstition and folk lore have stories about the Tortoise. This book was a lot of fun I recommend it.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raton is charming, peaceful small town. Everyone is shocked when a beloved carpenter is found murdered. Natalie steps away from her animal rescue to hel Sheriff Jake investigate. With all the secrets and deceit they uncover, will they ever be able to find the killer? Be prepared for more twists and turns than a pretzel! Even though this is a cozy mystery, the love for animals shines through! Natalie’s pet fainting goat is my favorite! If you are an animal lover, don’t miss this one!

[Trina Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this story. It was causal and entertaining moments. I was on the edge of my seat and I couldn’t even imagine put it down. It was a quick read and it was about how she wanted to save them of being extinct in the desert. I definitely recommend this book and you won’t be disappointed.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Trina Jones

[Rebecca Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful book in this series by author Verena DeLuca.
I love reading about Natalie, Jake, their friends and all the animals.
I highly recommend reading this awesome series of books. I loved reading each and every one...

[Martine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Natalie and Jake find a dead man. And that's the start of a new investigation.this story is just as good as the other four. Murder, good characters, twists, ... love it. I recommend this series.
I received a review copy for free and I’m leaving a voluntary and honest review.

[Dianne Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tortoise tales.

A summer solstice party leads to a death that no one can comprehend. The death of a beautiful, lovely young lady who was treasured by all makes no sense. A story worth reading.

I read this book as apart of an advanced reader team and am voluntarily writing this review.

[Victoria Hopkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are getting to know these characters really well, love how they just work so well together, the mysteries are very emotional and you feel so involved with the story that I need to know what happens and whodunit.

[Richard Cowart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Natalie and Jake attended Kathryn and Zachary's wedding and the next day on a walk they found a dead body of a local artisan. The case has many subplots making it difficult to unravel and it raises many personality clashes. Great story with intrigue and romance mixed in

[stephanie huntington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting and entertaining

[Phthon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another intriguing mystery for Natalie and Jake to solve. Sadly, this one is just as senseless as the previous ones. This was fun to read and had many suspects. I enjoyed it!

[Valeri Sullivan (vsulvn29) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Muddled

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book five of the series. We find Natalie and Sheriff Jake teaming up to solve another murder while trying to find the perfect home for a tortoise. Good cozy.

[J Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many suspects!

A joyous celebration is spoiled for Natalie and Jake when they find a body in the woods. The victim is a respected member of their community and the crime was violent. The investigation reveals increasing layers of secrets and suspects. They will not stop searching until the killer is found.

The plot is a whirlpool of possibilities that kept drawing me in deeper as I read. expanded role in the investigation added depth to the storyline. I enjoy the scenes at the rescue and the ranch with the animals. I received a free copy but my review is honest and voluntary