Groomed for Murder’s Izzy McHale is back, and her pet boutique, Trendy Tails, is raking in the green. But someone else in town is seeing red.…
The Midwestern Cat Fanciers’ Organization is bringing its annual weeklong retreat to Merryville, Minnesota. While that’s perfect for Izzy’s business, it unleashes headaches for everyone else. The event has lots of workshops on the care and breeding of cats, and it culminates in a cat show with a fabulous prize—a platinum collar dangle worth some big bucks.
Cattiness, of course, ensues. But the claws really come out after the prize disappears, and the wealthy director, Phillip Denford, is done in with a pair of grooming shears. Now Izzy and her furry friends, Packer and Jinx, can’t waste time pussyfooting around. They have to solve this case before a killer pounces again.
Annie Knox doesn’t commit–or solve–murders in her real life, but her passion for animals is 100% true. She’s also a devotee of 80s music, Asian horror films, and reality TV. While Annie is a native Buckeye and has called a half dozen states “home,” she and her husband now live in a crumbling historic house just a stone’s throw from the courthouse square in a north Texas town.
If you are a cat fancier are going to love Collared for Murder and speaking of Cat fanciers The Cat Fanciers' Organization is in Merryville, Minnesota for the silver anniversary, they are holding a annual cat show at a local hotel. Izzy McHale owns Trendy Tails a upscale pet boutique where she designs and makes clothes for pets. Her friend, Rena runs the barkery where she bakes treats for pets. Trendy Tails is a vendor at the show where they will feature their wares. There is a precious prize to be won of a custom made platinum collar dangle for the pampered feline that wins that happens to be worth alot of money that was stolen.
When Phillip Denford comes into Trendy Tails to report to Izzy that he is himself recreating her custom designs for mass production and is selling them Izzy sees red and fears it's the end of her beloved Trendy Tails. He is rich and has created a cat themed empire so at the cat show when Phillip is found murdered by Izzy's lovable pooch,Packer Phillp has grooming shears jabbed into his neck and a enormous amount of blood around him Izzy finds herself as a suspect but Izzy is innocent. When there's another murder of a vendor that was part of the Cat Show. Izzy can't help but suspect that the theft and the murders are somehow connected. Izzy along with her animal brood must follow the scent of a thief and a killer.
As a pet lover this is a favorite series of mine and if you are a pet lover it will be a favorite of yours too and even if you don't like animals but who could not love animals? You will still love this mystery. Collared for Murder is my favorite of this series so far. I loved the cat show theme. With a touch of romance, Collared for Murder was has endearing characters and lovable pets. This was a not to be put down until you finish kind of mystery. Fast paced, action filled never a dull moment. It has cuteness, with a touch of sweetness. You will not be able to resist the four legged friends and Izzy's romantic pursuits. I love animals, being a owner of three cats myself I can't help but love a series featuring cats,I'm clawing at the bit for the next book in this charming series.
FTC Disclosure: Thank you to the publisher for providing me a copy of this book for review.This did not influence my thoughts in any way. All the opinions of the book and review are my own.
Collared For Murder is the third book in the A Pet Boutique Mystery series.
The Midwestern Cat Fanciers' Organization is bringing the cat show to Merryville, MN. Izzy McHale and Rena Hamilton, partners in Trendy Tails, will be having a booth at the show to market the pet clothes made by Izzy and the pet treats made by Rena.
On the first day of the show, Izzy becomes aware that there is a power struggle going on behind the scenes of the show. Pamela Rawlings, who is overseeing the show and Marigold Aames seem to be in a contest as to who might be the most important organizer of the show.
Early on the second day of the show, as Izzie is busy getting items together to take to Trendy Tails booth, Philip Denford president of M-CFO, stops by Trendy Tails and informs her that his company has been buying her clothing items and is very impressed with them, so much so, that he has out-sourced them to China. He will then be offering them at a much lower price and a price that she would be able to match. A couple hours later at the show, the electricity suddenly goes out and in a few minutes when power is restored Philips' body is found under one the tables and the extremely valuable collar that was going to be the grand prize is missing.
Then when Pris, owner of Prissy's Pretty Pets, drops her handbag and the collar falls out. Suspicion immediately falls onto Pris. Pris is far from being Izzy's friend, but still Izzy is sure that Pris is not a murderer and begins to do a little of her own sleuthing to find the murderer.
Most all the characters from previous books are back once again to help or provide support for Izzy. It looks good that there might be a little romance blossoming between Izzy and Jack, her favorite cop. Also, Rena has an important announcement, as do Ingrid and Harvey. Will be watching for the next book in this fun series to see what happens next in Merryville.
Five stars and then some! I love this series, and I loved this book! I was so happy to receive an early copy from the author. We are back in Merryville Minnesota with Izzy and Rena. They are set up at the cat show for the week to sell the goods from their shop, Trendy Tails. When Aunt Dolly and Jack bring Izzys dog Packer to the show, all heck breaks loose! Packer leads Izzy to a dead body shoved under one of the tables, and poor Izzy soon becomes a suspect. So her and the gang set out to solve the mystery, And it is so much fun! They find out it all leads back to a pretty cat collar, which is the grand prize for the cat show, and worth tons of money. Will Izzy clear her name? Does the cat show go on? What is going on with Izzy and her boyfriend Jack? Well, you must read to find out. I will say by the end of the book I was laughing and crying, and jumping up and down all at the same time. Do not miss this one!!!
4-1/2 Stars. You're in for a treat as you read the latest story in A Pet Boutique Mystery series. Izzy & Rena co-own Trendy Tails, in Merryville, Minnesota. Izzy handmakes canine couture, feline fashions, and custom orders; while Rena bakes delicious pet goodies. It's the Midwestern Cat Fancier's annual weeklong retreat---their 25th Anniversary show---and the grand prize is a bejeweled, platinum collar dangle for the winning kitty. The egotistical director of the show, Phillip Denford, is widely disliked for his despicable personal and business reputation. When Packer, Izzy's dog, sniffs out his stiff corpse, Izzy begins the litter box shuffle to sieve out the many ruthless suspects who could have pricked off Phillip. While I figured out the killer's identity early on; I savored all the sneaky moves Author, Annie Knox, threw in to the suspects competition, in order to understand the motive.
Filled with fun moments when one pet or another gets loose at the cat show; a merry chase ensues for all until Jack, Izzy's police boyfriend, can leash the killer. Izzy and Jack deepen their trust in each other; cute pets find new homes; and friendships are tested. Indulge yourself in this entertaining story!!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own personal opinion and not influenced by anyone else.
This is a 3.5 read for me, but I'm going to give it 3 stars instead of 4, just because of all the romance in the book. I'm not a big fan of romance, its fine to have some but this whole book was based around the love triangle between Izzy, Jack, and Sean. I'm glad Izzy has picked her man and now we can move on from it. The mystery was so so, and in my opinion, the killer was will spotted at the beginning of the book. The pets, Packer and Jinx, didn't really play any role in this story, which was disappointing for me.
I'm going to continue with the series. I like the characters, their a joy to spend a few days reading about their lives. I just hope, the next book is more centered around the mystery and Izzy's pets.
Author Annie Knox does not disappoint with her latest book in the Pet Boutique Mystery series. It was a pure pleasure to read. The first books were nothing short of brilliant. And this third installment, COLLARED FOR MURDER is pawitively purrfect! I was hooked on this book like a cat with a catnip toy.
The characters in this series are wonderful. I’ve enjoyed them since the beginning of the series. But in this newest book they really come to life and jump right off the page! The humor Ms. Knox brings with phrases like “a few walleye short of a fish fry”, the reader should be warned not to be drinking or eating while reading this for fear of doing a spit take. I laughed until I had tears in my eyes!
It was a little way into the story before the discovery of the body. That’s something I like very much. I enjoy getting involved in a book before all heck breaks loose. Never fear though, there is not one dull moment to be found in this book. But once that body is found, the action ramps up another notch and it’s a hang-on-for-dear-life ride from that point on.
With writing talent like she displayed in this book, author Annie Knox is going to be on the scene for a long time to come.
I can tell you with certainty, if you love a great mystery, fun & quirky characters, and pets of all kinds, this series is the one for you!
Another enjoyable visit with Izzy, Rena and the gang in Merryville, Minnesota.
The Midwestern Cat Fanciers Organization has chosen Merryville for the annual week-long retreat. Izzy and her competitor/friend(?) Pris each have booths and are somewhat working together to benefit both of their businesses.
Things are looking good until Izzy's business is threatened by Phillip Denford who wants to basically rip off Izzy's designs. She's already shaken by that when a body is found at the show and the VERY expensive custom-designed collar dangle comes up missing.
Phillip wasn't the nicest person so of course there are plenty of people who wanted him dead or at least out of their lives. Izzy's boyfriend Jack is on the case and has no shortage of suspects to investigate.
Packer and Jinx are along for the ride and yes, Ghandi makes an appearance...or two...or three.
I really enjoy this series and look forward to the next book!
The Midwestern Cat Fanciers' Organization is bringing its annual weeklong retreat to Merryville, Minnesota. There are lots of workshops about the care and breeding of cats and culminates in a cat show with a fabulous prize--a very expensive platinum collar dangle. The wealthy director, Phillip Denford, is killed with a pair of grooming shears. Izzy McHale and her furry friends, Packer and Jinx, try to solve this case before a killer pounces again. This is an enjoyable and interesting cozy mystery with a good story.
Wish the author had written more mysteries in this series. I like trying to solve the murder before the end. This one I pretty much had pegged (after a few stray ideas). Really enjoy books with pets (especially cats). One of mine would have been banned from cat shows too, as we had a disagreement. Heck, he wouldn't have made it to the show or at least wouldn't have been let out of this carrier, as I even got hissed at this morning. Looks like a baby panther but is a complete scaredy cat and acts out every chance he has! But we love our fur babies no matter what!
Enjoyed the three books but wondering if the author forgot about a certain dog Daisy May who appeared in second book and went home with a family, but no mention of her in third book. Instead the child in the family involves himself with the heroines dog, and there is mention of getting him a dog. Poor forgotten Daisy May!
This is a cute book, and I want to read the next one. The storyline is a tad predictable, and the “the killer just tells all the minute the are asked” is a little unrealistic but its still a cute read.
Izzy and her best friend Rena are the proprietors of Trendy Tails, a pet boutique in Merryville, Minnesota. They are thrilled when the Midwestern Cat Fanciers’ Organization (M-CFO) comes to town for their twenty-fifth anniversary competition and retreat. However, Izzy soon learns that the world of cats is not all fluff and catnip when M-CFO’s president, Phillip Denford, reveals his intentions to copy Izzy’s pet clothing designs. Such a theft of intellectual property could put the boutique out of business and ruin everything Izzy has worked so hard to achieve. Her worries are put on the back burner when she discovers Phillip’s body in the exhibition hall, and the grand prize collar dangle, which is worth a great deal of money, is stolen. The dangle is found in Pris Olsen’s possession, and she happens to be Izzy’s business competition, a nemesis of sorts, and the mayor’s wife. Izzy finds it hard to believe that Pris would steal anything or have a reason to kill Phillip so, with the help of her friends and policeman boyfriend Jack, she sets out to find out the perpetrator.
The Pet Boutique mysteries have become one of my favorite cozy series. Collared for Murder is a delightful mix of humor, murder, romance, and pets. Izzy and her friends and family are charming in their small town quirkiness. They are well developed and continue to grow with each additional book. The multi book story arc is just as important as each murder mystery, but I do think that Collared for Murder can be read without having read the prior two installments (although I encourage you to pick them up). Phillip comes across as sufficiently sleazy and worthy of his fate. The pool of suspects is relatively small and includes his wife, son, personal assistant, and the event coordinator. Each has secrets he/she wishes not to expose and their motivations include infidelity, greed, revenge, and love. Throughout the book, I vacillated over the identity of the murderer and thief, and, though I did guess whodunit before the end, there were still some surprises in the reveal. My only quibble is that some minor plot threads were not sufficiently resolved or explained to my satisfaction.
I look forward to many more adventures with Izzy and confidently recommend Collared for Murder to animal lovers and those who enjoy a flawed and somewhat flakey, yet endearing, protagonist and her entourage.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for a review copy*
First off, people who dress their poor pets in cutesy outfits annoy the crap out of me, so I really have no idea why I am even bothering with this series, I picked up the first book thinking it was a pet supply store that had outifts, not pet coutre, FFS. Books one and two weren't terrible, although I truly hate the love triangle trope that keeps showing up in cozy mystersies lately. Give it a rest already.
That said, I'm having a tough time getting into this book. It's starting off sooo slow. And the characters are starting to annoy me. Izzy is kind of blah (Ask me, Dizzy Izzy fits her to a T), the victim frankly deserved what he got, so I don't really give a damn who killed him, Dolly is getting on my last nerve (bringing a dog to a cat show, really?).
There are inconsistencies that are making me cringe. Three books in, and the author's lost track of the whole plot and timeline? What's going to happen when the author gets even farther in?? Let's see, Ama took in Daniel's dog at the end of book 2, and yet suddenly in book 3 Ama's kid is calling Packer "his" and Ama is saying she'll get him a dog when he can pick up the poop himself. What? And wasn't Pris' husband supposed to be building the conference center that the cat show was to be held in? You know, instead of the condos he started building? Argh.
And can we get rid of the damned guinea pig? Ghandi isn't really moving the story along, he's just become an annoying little rodent!
I think this may end up on my unfinished shelf. Life is too short to waste on inane characters and pet clothes...
Well. I was pretty much done with this series anyway, but it still makes me sad that Random House/Penguin are dropping this and so many other cozy series.
Merryville is an interesting place to live. Just ask Izzy McHale. Right now the town is hosting the Midwestern Cat Fanciers. The town is full of cats and murder. Now Izzy is a suspect and she's determined to find the culprit. Will she be successful? Izzy is a smart and sassy lady. She's determined to find who did the deed. With the help of her family and friends, she will do just that. Her boyfriend, Jack, is the detective on the case. He wants her to let the police do their job, but Izzy doesn't always do as she's asked. Jack cares for her and wants her to be safe. Who wouldn't want this handsome and loving man in their life. Izzy cares for him. She's just not sure if it's love. Izzy is tenacious as she questions potential suspects. There are plenty of people who didn't like the victim. He was a smart businessman who was completely ruthless. Collared For Murder is a well-told mystery with careful plotting. It kept me guessing until the very end. The story was fast-paced and exciting. I liked the quaint, friendly town where there were caring people, love and family. The romance between Izzy and Jack was sweet. I enjoyed watching their friendship turn into love. This was a very satisfying story that kept me reading. I loved the characters, the animals and the mystery. This was a perfect summer time treat.
I am always pleased to be given a book to review and discover that I am up to date on the series. Collared For Murder is the 3rd book in Annie's Pet Boutique mysteries. Izzy and her good friend Rena are owners of Trendy Tails an upscale pet shop. Izzy and Rena are displaying a booth at the Cat Show that is happening in Merryville, Mn. Rena makes dog and cat treats that have become very popular. Izzy will have on hand some of the couture clothes that she makes for pet parents to clothe their little darlings in. Who would ever believe that a cat show would result in a murder. Of course Izzy and the gang, including Izzy's pets Packer ans Jinx, switch their minds from cat show to murder investigators. Of course Izzy is warned by the police to stay out of it and let the police to it's job. But as we know, with Izzy, the police may as well be talking to Packer or Jinx. FTC Full Disclosure - A copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
The Pet Boutique series has become a favorite. At first I thought I would not enjoy the pet clothing aspect, but I do love pets, and the boutique is well played throughout the book. Collared for Murder is a fun read full of murder, pets, humor and romance. The characters are well formed and continue to grow. There have been some hints toward a love triangle, but I hope this installment is truly its resolution. The mystery was plausible and the suspects all interesting and viable. There were, however, some minor plot points that I do not think were resolved (MILD SPOILER HERE - like one of suspects stomach ailment that was really another condition. Why include it at all if it is not pertinent to the story?). Overall, this was a delightful read that I recommend without reservation, especially to readers who enjoy an emphasis on pets.
This author wrote another series as Wendy Lyn Watson, that I absolutely loved! This series while okay, doesn't compare to the that one. The characters don't see to come alive for me with these books. The stories are okay, they just don't make me want to turn the pages as fast as I can to see what happens next. Good enough, but not great.
I kept thinking as I started this book that I had already read it. I knew I hadn't, but it was SO familiar. Then I realized . . . Ali Brandon's Literally Murder. Let me be clear: it is not the same plot. But the setting seemed so familiar that it took me 1/3 of the book to get clear of it.
This series continues to delight! With a cat show being the backdrop for the story, you know there will be plenty of suspects and you will be surprised at who actually turns out to be the bad guy! The cast of characters is very likeable and a little bit of romance adds a nice touch. Great cozy read for fans of this genre.
I would have given this book five stars except for a continuity error that. Irked me (a character given a dog in the last book is petless in this one). It doesn't really hurt the plot at all and I probably wouldn't have noticed if I hadn't read the two back-to-back.
That said, it's a nice cozy mystery and a good way to while away an evening.
Delightfully charming cozy. Great mix of mystery, romance, friendships, humor and pets. I have attended a few cat shows, so I thoroughly enjoyed that aspect of the book. Not a fan of dressing pets, but at least the critters on the cover were not attired. Fun page turner.
Fun read that keeps the reader intrigued and entertained. Well developed characters, great interaction and pets!! Cant go wrong when pets are a main part of the story. A wonderful cozy series.