What do you think?
Rate this book
A Mythical Pet Sitting Mystery #4
A Mythical Case of Homicide
This year’s festival season will be perilous.
Zombie cactus season has officially begun in Axia, and Deandra is not having a good time. The town is preparing for a festival to honor the versatile plant, and it’s giving Dee—a recovering barista—Pumpkin Spice Latte–season flashbacks.
Most shop owners in Axia are taking part in the cactus-themed festivities, and Quinn and Rularo Greenwood are no exception. Their shop, InkCraft, is known for its alchemical inks that add magic-powered animation to business cards, signs, and even tattoos. Since the couple will be busy with the festival all weekend, they’ve opted to leave their salica at home, where the high-strung, magic-touched ferret will be more comfortable. They’ve hired a very reluctant Dee to aid in his care.
Though the ferret often uses the depths of Rularo’s beard as a security blanket, he accepts Dee’s calming presence as a passable, if weak, replacement. But, when a customer of Rularo’s drops dead at the festival because of a poison-laced tattoo, Peril is riddled with guilt, sure he could have saved his family’s business from being shut down had he been with Rularo at the time of the crime.
Peril won’t rest until he uncovers who actually committed the homicide, so Dee, Wendy, Cruz, and Havoc team up to solve another mystery. They must ferret out the culprit before the town’s horde of cactus-crazed tourists leave Axia at end of the festival, leaving InkCraft in shambles … and taking their secrets with them.
Zombie cactus season has officially begun in Axia, and Deandra is not having a good time. The town is preparing for a festival to honor the versatile plant, and it’s giving Dee—a recovering barista—Pumpkin Spice Latte–season flashbacks.
Most shop owners in Axia are taking part in the cactus-themed festivities, and Quinn and Rularo Greenwood are no exception. Their shop, InkCraft, is known for its alchemical inks that add magic-powered animation to business cards, signs, and even tattoos. Since the couple will be busy with the festival all weekend, they’ve opted to leave their salica at home, where the high-strung, magic-touched ferret will be more comfortable. They’ve hired a very reluctant Dee to aid in his care.
Though the ferret often uses the depths of Rularo’s beard as a security blanket, he accepts Dee’s calming presence as a passable, if weak, replacement. But, when a customer of Rularo’s drops dead at the festival because of a poison-laced tattoo, Peril is riddled with guilt, sure he could have saved his family’s business from being shut down had he been with Rularo at the time of the crime.
Peril won’t rest until he uncovers who actually committed the homicide, so Dee, Wendy, Cruz, and Havoc team up to solve another mystery. They must ferret out the culprit before the town’s horde of cactus-crazed tourists leave Axia at end of the festival, leaving InkCraft in shambles … and taking their secrets with them.
348 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 10, 2026
About the author
Melissa Erin Jackson
28 books547 followersMelissa is a professional pet sitter and an author of paranormal mysteries. There are two books out in her Riley Thomas mystery series--The Forgotten Child and Shuttered Secrets. Her Witch of Edgehill cozy paranormal mystery series is complete at five books. The first two books in her urban fantasy series, The Charm Collector, are out now. Unholy Magic and A Mythical Case of Arson are up next! She owns too many pets and lives in Northern California with her equally pet-obsessed boyfriend. For information about her books, you can join her newsletter at melissajacksonbooks.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 18, 2026
I really like this series and bought this one shortly after release and started reading it not much later. It was so much fun to follow Deandra again in this book. She has a new pet sitting job for a talking ferret and there are some mischievous magical phasing kittens at the pet store she's trying to help find a new home. And the zombie cactus festival was such a fun theme and setting for this book. I had a great time reading this one. It was such a fun read and I really love this series.
The zombie cactus festival was so fun and I liked how most of the book is set around and during the festival. I liked reading about all the zombie cactus goodies and the festival made for such a fun setting and theme. The artwork included in the book is a nice touch and I really like how each chapter starts with a piece of artwork. I also liked the new mythical pets introduced in this one. The talking ferret Peril was a great character and it was interesting having Deandra being able to talk with him and the way they teamed up to figure out the mystery as Peril's parents are suspects in the case. The magical kittens were great fun too, I liked seeing Deandra and Havoc interact with them and the scenes involving them were so fun. I liked how things panned out with finding them new homes too.
The mystery in this one was a solid one. I liked how Deandra got involved and how she teamed up with Peril. I thought it was great to see how essential Peril was in figuring things out and doing some of the online research. I liked seeing how Deandra handled things and also went about things smartly. I enjoyed seeing her team up with her boyfriend Cruz later in the book and how they handled things together. The mystery had a few good twists and the conclusion and wrap up was well done.
There's just something so fun about this series. I really like the characters. Deandra is an amazing main character and I like reading about her. I like how real she feels and her passion for animals is great. I also like her romance with Cruz, these two are just so fun and sweet together and their interactions always make me happy as they are just so fun to read about. The side characters and all the mythical pets are all great too and are fun to read about. They all have so much personality and are so well written. This book also has some more to learn about the mythical world and some of the mythical creatures and magic. I also keep noticing how real the dialogue feels in this book.
To summarize: I had a great time reading this one. The zombie cactus festival that takes place was such a fun theme and setting for this book and I enjoyed reading about the festival and all the zombie cactus goodies that were sold. I liked reading more about Deandra and the new mythical creatures she encounters in this one. Peril the talking ferret was a great addition to this book and I enjoyed reading about him and it was great how he was essential in figuring some things out about the mystery. The phasing kittens were fun too and I liked the scenes involving them and seeing them find new homes. The mystery was a solid one with Deandra handling things in a smart way and I liked how she figured things out. There are some well done twists along the way too. The characters and side characters in this book are all great and I really like reading about them. Deandra feels real and relatable and I like her passion for animals. I really like her romance with Cruz, these two are so sweet and fun to read about. I had a great time reading this one and look forward to the next book!
The zombie cactus festival was so fun and I liked how most of the book is set around and during the festival. I liked reading about all the zombie cactus goodies and the festival made for such a fun setting and theme. The artwork included in the book is a nice touch and I really like how each chapter starts with a piece of artwork. I also liked the new mythical pets introduced in this one. The talking ferret Peril was a great character and it was interesting having Deandra being able to talk with him and the way they teamed up to figure out the mystery as Peril's parents are suspects in the case. The magical kittens were great fun too, I liked seeing Deandra and Havoc interact with them and the scenes involving them were so fun. I liked how things panned out with finding them new homes too.
The mystery in this one was a solid one. I liked how Deandra got involved and how she teamed up with Peril. I thought it was great to see how essential Peril was in figuring things out and doing some of the online research. I liked seeing how Deandra handled things and also went about things smartly. I enjoyed seeing her team up with her boyfriend Cruz later in the book and how they handled things together. The mystery had a few good twists and the conclusion and wrap up was well done.
There's just something so fun about this series. I really like the characters. Deandra is an amazing main character and I like reading about her. I like how real she feels and her passion for animals is great. I also like her romance with Cruz, these two are just so fun and sweet together and their interactions always make me happy as they are just so fun to read about. The side characters and all the mythical pets are all great too and are fun to read about. They all have so much personality and are so well written. This book also has some more to learn about the mythical world and some of the mythical creatures and magic. I also keep noticing how real the dialogue feels in this book.
To summarize: I had a great time reading this one. The zombie cactus festival that takes place was such a fun theme and setting for this book and I enjoyed reading about the festival and all the zombie cactus goodies that were sold. I liked reading more about Deandra and the new mythical creatures she encounters in this one. Peril the talking ferret was a great addition to this book and I enjoyed reading about him and it was great how he was essential in figuring some things out about the mystery. The phasing kittens were fun too and I liked the scenes involving them and seeing them find new homes. The mystery was a solid one with Deandra handling things in a smart way and I liked how she figured things out. There are some well done twists along the way too. The characters and side characters in this book are all great and I really like reading about them. Deandra feels real and relatable and I like her passion for animals. I really like her romance with Cruz, these two are so sweet and fun to read about. I had a great time reading this one and look forward to the next book!
March 12, 2026
I’d forgotten how much I adored this world and its characters until I started this latest in the series. Deandra is back with all the other fun characters, and this time it’s craziness at the zombie cactus festival. I love it when I learn a new fact, and yes, zombie cacti are a thing! LOL! I loved how Dee, Peril, and all the rest solved this latest conundrum, and I’m hoping we get to see more of Peril in future books; I just found him so delightful. This is a fun, well-written, and captivating addition to the series. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
March 25, 2026
The annual Zombie Cactus Flower Festival brings both crowds of tourists and some troublemaking activitists to the magical hub of Axia. Dee finds herself helping out with both Heather’s Magical Elixirs and the Mythic Pet Kitchen along with her regular pet sitting duties. She also takes a last minute assignment as a companion for Peril, a sapient ferret like animal, while his adopted humans, Ru and Quinn, run their booth. The festival also draws the militant Association of Sapient Animals, intent on disrupting the event and discrediting many of the vendors. When a client is poisoned in Ru’s booth, Peril is determined to clear his father’s name and enlists Dee and her dire-wolf glamoured dragon’s help. But the deeper they look into the events, they discover that there may be a much sinister element in play.
Melissa Erin Jackson’s Mythical Pet Sitting series continues in another outstanding book. Her world building is phenomenal with the sheer breadth of her creativity in fae and magic touched flora and fauna of the hub system as well as the background of the Glitch that created them in the first place. With every new book we get introduced to more wondrous creatures. The philosophical questions of sentience, sapience, safety and autonomy are nicely explored. Dee’s dragon, Havoc is utterly charming, as are the phase-shifting Vibrissa cats. But it’s Peril, a brilliant salica with PTSD, that really shines this time around. I loved his relationship with his parents, Quinn and Ru, and his acceptance of Dee. His intelligence shines throughout as he uses his puzzle solving skills to unravel the mystery. There are also plenty of laugh out loud moments with his lack of boundaries, fear of Dr. Cruz’s reading his mind, and creative texting. I just love oh developed his character was and how the experience helped bring him out of his shell. The mystery is tightly plotted and keeps you guessing. Despite the magical elements, the characters continue to feel real, relatable, and grounded.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Melissa Erin Jackson’s Mythical Pet Sitting series continues in another outstanding book. Her world building is phenomenal with the sheer breadth of her creativity in fae and magic touched flora and fauna of the hub system as well as the background of the Glitch that created them in the first place. With every new book we get introduced to more wondrous creatures. The philosophical questions of sentience, sapience, safety and autonomy are nicely explored. Dee’s dragon, Havoc is utterly charming, as are the phase-shifting Vibrissa cats. But it’s Peril, a brilliant salica with PTSD, that really shines this time around. I loved his relationship with his parents, Quinn and Ru, and his acceptance of Dee. His intelligence shines throughout as he uses his puzzle solving skills to unravel the mystery. There are also plenty of laugh out loud moments with his lack of boundaries, fear of Dr. Cruz’s reading his mind, and creative texting. I just love oh developed his character was and how the experience helped bring him out of his shell. The mystery is tightly plotted and keeps you guessing. Despite the magical elements, the characters continue to feel real, relatable, and grounded.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 10, 2026
Well this was certainly different but I loved it. Who knew a zombie cactus festival could be so much fun or that zombie cactus were actually a thing, in case you were wondering they are, I only know because I looked it up. As whacky as that sounds, it made the perfect setting for this author to let her imagine go and to have fun with it. The result was I loved what she came up with. I think it was the characters and especially the animals that had me enjoying the story so much. I am glad that the alien kittens all found there new homes and my home wasn't one of them, despite how cute they sounded. The idea of the ferret texting also had me chuckling. The author then backed up the delightful characters with a good mystery, that had multiple levels to keep it interesting, as not only was Deandra trying to solve a murder but also stop a wanted fugitive. I loved how the mystery played out and the ending had me eagerly awaiting the next book, as things are going to get interesting.
This is the first Zombie cactus festival that Deandra will be attending after moving to town. She's not really sure what to expect but with her pet setting duties, she expects to be busy. What she doesn't expect is the protests by the ASA group, that is disrupting the festival or the dead body. A shifter is poisoned while having a tattoo applied by Deandra client. With the death comes a lot of questions, like was the victim the intended target or was someone after the tattooist. And was the protest a distraction or an opportunity? When her client is taken in for questioning, his worried and very talkative pet talks Deandra into investigating for him. They quickly learn that it is much more than a simple murder and if the one behind it isn't stopped it could be deadly for everybody.
I was given this free review copy book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
This is the first Zombie cactus festival that Deandra will be attending after moving to town. She's not really sure what to expect but with her pet setting duties, she expects to be busy. What she doesn't expect is the protests by the ASA group, that is disrupting the festival or the dead body. A shifter is poisoned while having a tattoo applied by Deandra client. With the death comes a lot of questions, like was the victim the intended target or was someone after the tattooist. And was the protest a distraction or an opportunity? When her client is taken in for questioning, his worried and very talkative pet talks Deandra into investigating for him. They quickly learn that it is much more than a simple murder and if the one behind it isn't stopped it could be deadly for everybody.
I was given this free review copy book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
March 20, 2026
Deandra has moved to Axia and somehow has adopted a dragon. She's met a new guy and has been dodging her grandmother hoping to get to know him better before he gets the gramma interrogation.
Then it's the 27th annual zombie cactus festival!!! For Deandra she starts having flashbacks to her barista days and pumpkin spice. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!
She gets roped into helping friends get ready for the festival. Then she agrees to help at the festival to find homes for the pets. Theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen she agrees to "babysit" a couple's pet salica/ferret and sentient, Peril.
As she gets involved with helping she learns more and more about the town and magical creatures and beings who are just as nutty as humans. She learns of a group of mystical beings who are trying to get all sentient creatures released. Theeeeeeeeeeeeen a customer of the tattoo artists is poisoned with an ink. And that is how Deandra and Peril the ferret start their investigating.
I absolutely loved this story....zombie cactus, zombie madness, mystical creatures and murder. What's not to like and love!!!??.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Then it's the 27th annual zombie cactus festival!!! For Deandra she starts having flashbacks to her barista days and pumpkin spice. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!
She gets roped into helping friends get ready for the festival. Then she agrees to help at the festival to find homes for the pets. Theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen she agrees to "babysit" a couple's pet salica/ferret and sentient, Peril.
As she gets involved with helping she learns more and more about the town and magical creatures and beings who are just as nutty as humans. She learns of a group of mystical beings who are trying to get all sentient creatures released. Theeeeeeeeeeeeen a customer of the tattoo artists is poisoned with an ink. And that is how Deandra and Peril the ferret start their investigating.
I absolutely loved this story....zombie cactus, zombie madness, mystical creatures and murder. What's not to like and love!!!??.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 10, 2026
This was so much fun to read. I swear this is just Dee's life in Axia now. All the weirdness of Axia - and that's saying a lot - finds that invisible sign on her head that says "come right here." And while avoiding it at all costs, Dee just finds a way to get the job done.
Also, this one had what I think will go down as my two favorites as the animals go. First, and I knew he would be...PERIL!! With all the cerebral ferret snootiness he could muster with Dee, turned into a little dude she and Wendy could totally hang with. I need more of him, for sure.
Second, little miss kitty cat thang! Oh, she was just too much with her magical self once she was on the loose. Theodore felt her wrath...lol! Ruth had me laughing with her.
Axia turned out all it had for this one with the festival, so nothing was off the table.
Loved it!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Also, this one had what I think will go down as my two favorites as the animals go. First, and I knew he would be...PERIL!! With all the cerebral ferret snootiness he could muster with Dee, turned into a little dude she and Wendy could totally hang with. I need more of him, for sure.
Second, little miss kitty cat thang! Oh, she was just too much with her magical self once she was on the loose. Theodore felt her wrath...lol! Ruth had me laughing with her.
Axia turned out all it had for this one with the festival, so nothing was off the table.
Loved it!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 24, 2026
Melissa Erin Jackson’s A Mythical Case of Homicide is a charming cozy mystery with a magical twist. Following a clever pet sitter who’s suddenly responsible for a menagerie of mythical creatures, the story is full of humor, mischief, and a touch of suspense. From mischievous pixies to mysterious familiars, every case is delightfully unpredictable, and Jackson’s playful writing keeps the pages turning.
The protagonist’s wit and resourcefulness shine as she untangles each magical mishap, making this a story that’s as heartwarming as it is fun. Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries who love a little enchantment with their suspense, this book blends pets, magic, and mystery in an utterly delightful mix. It’s whimsical, clever, and impossible to put down.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The protagonist’s wit and resourcefulness shine as she untangles each magical mishap, making this a story that’s as heartwarming as it is fun. Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries who love a little enchantment with their suspense, this book blends pets, magic, and mystery in an utterly delightful mix. It’s whimsical, clever, and impossible to put down.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 25, 2026
Book 4 of thw A Mythical Pet Sitting Mystery series. While it can be read as a standalone for maximum enjoyment read the books in series order.
'This year’s festival season will be perilous.'
The characters drove the storyline and they were so very appealing and likeable and quirky and mysterious. Plot was intriguing and exciting and well paced. World building was solidly drawn and impressive. All in all a great addition to the series. Enjoyed immensely and highly recommend.
Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
'This year’s festival season will be perilous.'
The characters drove the storyline and they were so very appealing and likeable and quirky and mysterious. Plot was intriguing and exciting and well paced. World building was solidly drawn and impressive. All in all a great addition to the series. Enjoyed immensely and highly recommend.
Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 27, 2026
loved it !! love this series !! love Dee ... this is her latest story on pet sitting... a fun fast paced murder mystery during the zombie cactus season festival... Peril the ferret needs a sitter and it's Dee.. his owners Quinn and Rularo thinks it's better that he stays home.. less stress.. and all that... until, the dead body.. poisoned with ink from Rularo and Quinn's shop.. a tampered ink for a tattoo... now, it's up to Dee and Peril to find the poisoner.. they have three days.. let's go !!! so good !!!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 11, 2026
The mundane world has no idea what it is missing. Dee volunteers to help find some magical pets their forever home at a local festival. Little does she know the festival is the backdrop to some sinister plans. With the help of her friends and a hilarious, magical ferret (who I hope is present in subsequent books in the series), Dee investigates and tries to thwart the evil plot. This was hard to put down and left me wanting to adopt a magical pet of my own! An excellent paranormal mystery series. It can be read as a standalone.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The fourth book in the series can be read as a stand-alone, but it's so much better reading them in order. Dee's pet sitting business and her relationship with Cruz develops throughout the series.
I ABSOLUTELY LOVED all the new magical pets!!!!! Especially the cute little kittens!!!! Be still my heart, I want one of these magical kittens!
This book is my favorite in the series so far.
I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I ABSOLUTELY LOVED all the new magical pets!!!!! Especially the cute little kittens!!!! Be still my heart, I want one of these magical kittens!
This book is my favorite in the series so far.
I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 16, 2026
This is another great addition to the series. In this installment, Peril takes center stage as the main animal character and he is incredibly fun to follow. The story is filled with likeable characters and paranormal elements that keep things exciting. I found it hard to put the book down and couldn’t stop turning the pages. Now I can hardly wait for the next book in the series to be published.
I received an advance review copy via Booksprout and I'm leaving a voluntary and honest review.
I received an advance review copy via Booksprout and I'm leaving a voluntary and honest review.
April 5, 2026
A festival for the zombie cactus flower - so weird! Of course, Dee is in the middle of everything again, this time sitting a crazy ferret. The imagination that wrote this series is comparable to Stephen King's imagination for horror - just incredible. I hope to see many more books in this series with all the different animals involved, it could go on forever and ever!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 16, 2026
This is unique and fun.
I love this series and author. Cozy mysteries tend to be a lot alike. Not this one. Everything about it is original, its characters are fantastic and the stories are really fun. The animals are great and I laugh until I cry at least a couple times in every book.
This is a 100% winner for mystery, paranormal and fantasy fans.
I love this series and author. Cozy mysteries tend to be a lot alike. Not this one. Everything about it is original, its characters are fantastic and the stories are really fun. The animals are great and I laugh until I cry at least a couple times in every book.
This is a 100% winner for mystery, paranormal and fantasy fans.
March 29, 2026
I absolutely love this series. First off, what's not to like about a baby dragon? As this series progresses, the new characters bring, not just new situations, but we're starting to see our main character grow and mature as she faces them. All the while keeping her main priority as protecting her baby dragon and keeping him out of harms way. Love, Love, LOVE it!!!
March 24, 2026
What an amazing book! As I already knew it would be, because I love LOVE this series. And it was so original, too, which is hard to accomplish with so many books out there. A fun read with heart and humor, mystery and magic. The best thing though? The magical animals! Adore!!!
March 26, 2026
Deandre is back with a new mystery to solve. I loved the humour and the fun cast of characters, especially all the cute pets.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 15, 2026
4.25/5
April 8, 2026
another great addition to this cozy series that you will what to see what is going to happen next. worth checking out.
April 2, 2026
One thing I love about cozy mysteries is that they will be entertaining from page 1. Loved reading Dee's adventure with the ferret. But then you add in the very surprising death and the whodoneit adventure soon after had me sucked into this story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews