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Zero at the Bone
Katherine Driscoll is just three weeks away from foreclosure on her home and business, even the sale of her beloved dog. She has no hope of raising the $91,000 she so desperately needs--until the father she hasn't seen for thirty years writes to her, offering her enough money to solve her problems...if she will do one thing in return.But Katherine may never learn what that is. When she arrives in Austin, she is hours too her father has died in a bizarre accident. As she sifts through the cryptic notes he left behind, she finds herself caught up in terrible family secrets--and a deadly illicit trade. The more she learns, the more determined she becomes to prove her father's death was no accident. In doing so, Katherine will make a bitter enemy--one desperate enough to kill...and perhaps, kill again.
306 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
6 people are currently reading
259 people want to read
About the author
Mary Willis Walker
10 books39 followersMary Willis Walker is the author of Zero at the Bone, which won both the Agatha and Macavity awards and was nominated for an Edgar; The Red Scream, winner of the Edgar Award; and Under the Beetle's Cellar, recipient of the Hammett Prize, the Anthony Award, and the Macavity Award. She lives in Austin, Texas, where she is now at work on her fifth novel.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
July 7, 2020
The heroine in this one is unusual as she is smart, funny and much older than generally portrayed in this type of book. As we meet Katherine her world is coming down around her ears. About the time when she is at her wits ends, she gets more bad news...her father, who she hasn't seen or heard from in years, has died. She next discovers something that will set her off on a journey destined to change her life. I really liked the writing style of this author and the fact that she takes a job in the Austin Zoo....a fellow "Zoo Enthusiast:) The story has everything that came together to make it a 5 star rating. Lots of action... a great story line with enough mystery & suspense...a little romance thrown in... and a more than satisfying ending.
July 22, 2023
FINALLY! After 2 stinkers in a row, I got a really good read. Thank you, Courtney from Live Oaks, for suggesting this "Z" read for my A, B, C Reading Challenge.
Katherine receives a letter from her father who has had no contact with her in the last 31 years. He wants her to come to Austin and promises a way out of her financial difficulties. How does he even know about that? Katherine decides to go and see what his offer is but arrives too late. Her Dad is dead and all of a sudden, she is thrown into a life and death situation. Who is killing people and who now wants her dead also? Who can she trust? Will she figure out what her dad was trying to tell her, or will she loose everything she holds dear before someone kills her?
Great page turner and good story.
Katherine receives a letter from her father who has had no contact with her in the last 31 years. He wants her to come to Austin and promises a way out of her financial difficulties. How does he even know about that? Katherine decides to go and see what his offer is but arrives too late. Her Dad is dead and all of a sudden, she is thrown into a life and death situation. Who is killing people and who now wants her dead also? Who can she trust? Will she figure out what her dad was trying to tell her, or will she loose everything she holds dear before someone kills her?
Great page turner and good story.
August 28, 2025
Pretty solid! Some things icked me out but pretty cool overall
October 22, 2024
What a surprise this one was! A great surprise! I chose this for the final read for my Alpha challenge - "Z" is tough! Sounded intriguing, and I lived in the Austin area for almost 20 years, so....
Ms. Walker must have done her homework for the research as every detail seemed covered. Taking place in the mid-1990's so there was no luxury of using tech devices or internet news. Loved Katherine the protagonist, fully dimentional and relatable. The two mysteries (yes - 2) had plenty of twists, and so interesting. Only parts I found "difficult" were the snake pit segments - lol.
If I decide to do the alpha read again next year, as this one was totally by accident, I hope I can find another "Z" read to stand up to this one.
Ms. Walker must have done her homework for the research as every detail seemed covered. Taking place in the mid-1990's so there was no luxury of using tech devices or internet news. Loved Katherine the protagonist, fully dimentional and relatable. The two mysteries (yes - 2) had plenty of twists, and so interesting. Only parts I found "difficult" were the snake pit segments - lol.
If I decide to do the alpha read again next year, as this one was totally by accident, I hope I can find another "Z" read to stand up to this one.
October 30, 2010
This is the first book by this author that I have read and have enjoyed reading it. She has 3 other books available and I have bought all 3 which must say something. Not a bad read.
Back Cover Blurb:
It's feeding time at the zoo. Who's for dinner?
Katherine Driscoll hasn't heard from her father since she was a baby - over thirty years ago. She's deeply suspicious when he writes her a letter. How does he know she is in desperate need of help? Although she's the best dog trainer in Texas, she must find $90,000 immediately or lose everything, including her beloved golden retriever, Ra.
But when she tries to take her father up on his offer, she finds that he is already dead, mauled by a tiger at the zoo where he was a keeper. Katherine resolves to investigate, drawn to uncover long-buried family secrets which appear to be entangled with events at the zoo. Grimly repressing her fear of snakes, she joins the staff of the reptile house. Only to realize that the tiger isn't the only killer around.
Back Cover Blurb:
It's feeding time at the zoo. Who's for dinner?
Katherine Driscoll hasn't heard from her father since she was a baby - over thirty years ago. She's deeply suspicious when he writes her a letter. How does he know she is in desperate need of help? Although she's the best dog trainer in Texas, she must find $90,000 immediately or lose everything, including her beloved golden retriever, Ra.
But when she tries to take her father up on his offer, she finds that he is already dead, mauled by a tiger at the zoo where he was a keeper. Katherine resolves to investigate, drawn to uncover long-buried family secrets which appear to be entangled with events at the zoo. Grimly repressing her fear of snakes, she joins the staff of the reptile house. Only to realize that the tiger isn't the only killer around.
October 22, 2008
ZERO AT THE BONE - VG
Walker, Mary Willis - standalone
Texas heroine, dog trainer, and sleuth Katherine Driscoll. The 36-year-old protagonist receives a letter from her father, whom she has not seen since she was five. The letter promises much needed financial help, but when she arrives at the zoo where he works, she discovers that he is dead. Long-kept family secrets begin to emerge when the woman takes a job at the same zoo, which is run by her deceased mother's brother and largely financed by her maternal grandmother. The mystery brings in various literary tidbits from Emily Dickinson, Shakespeare, and Coleridge's Rime of the Ancient Mariner that add depth to the book.
LOVED this book. Katharine is a great protagonist and the suspense kept me turning the pages as quickly as possible. I actually read this book after "Under the Beetle's Cellar." This lady can really write suspense.
Walker, Mary Willis - standalone
Texas heroine, dog trainer, and sleuth Katherine Driscoll. The 36-year-old protagonist receives a letter from her father, whom she has not seen since she was five. The letter promises much needed financial help, but when she arrives at the zoo where he works, she discovers that he is dead. Long-kept family secrets begin to emerge when the woman takes a job at the same zoo, which is run by her deceased mother's brother and largely financed by her maternal grandmother. The mystery brings in various literary tidbits from Emily Dickinson, Shakespeare, and Coleridge's Rime of the Ancient Mariner that add depth to the book.
LOVED this book. Katharine is a great protagonist and the suspense kept me turning the pages as quickly as possible. I actually read this book after "Under the Beetle's Cellar." This lady can really write suspense.
July 5, 2013
I thought this was a good story by a first time author for me.
Katherine owns and runs a dog training center along with boarding. She is in trouble financially since her mother's death because of doctor's bills. Her estranged father sends her a letter and asks to see her, and tells her he can solve her financial problems. She hasn't seen him in about 30 years. She is desperate enough to reach out to him. When she goes to Austin to the zoo where he has worked much of his life and finds to her horror that she is too late, her father was killed by a tiger. They think it is an accident but the evidence points to murder. Now she must find out what he had planned for her and help find his killer.
Katherine owns and runs a dog training center along with boarding. She is in trouble financially since her mother's death because of doctor's bills. Her estranged father sends her a letter and asks to see her, and tells her he can solve her financial problems. She hasn't seen him in about 30 years. She is desperate enough to reach out to him. When she goes to Austin to the zoo where he has worked much of his life and finds to her horror that she is too late, her father was killed by a tiger. They think it is an accident but the evidence points to murder. Now she must find out what he had planned for her and help find his killer.
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July 1, 2014I read this book for the monograph. It won the best first novel Agatha in 1991. This was a first time read for me; I hadn't even ever heard of Walker before this book. I think I liked it. Definitely a traditional--too much blood and danger and killing of animals. The setting was a zoo and wildlife ranches--quite clever and anticipates Barr (whom I prefer).
August 3, 2015
Agatha賞受賞作だって。
動物の不法売買と、キャサリンの昔の記憶と、キャサリンの周りで起こる殺人事件。きれいに絡まった話だった。
うーん。きれいに最後は治まるんだけど、でも違法の動物売買は何の決着もなく終わっちゃうわっけー?それを公にしないのを条件に、キャサリンは財団を引き継いで10万てにする。って何だかあまり納得できない。まぁ、キャサリンはこれからちゃんと取り締まるだろうけど。。。
で、キャサリンは、あんなに自分の牧場にいる犬たちが好きなくせに、事件が起こってから一度も帰らずジョー任せだし。。。ちょっと「あれ?」って思った。
まぁ、殺人事件の真相がキャサリンの忘れてた思い出と繋がったのに、それも公にせず、なんだか隠してばかりだよなー。それでいいのか? って思う。
でも、ハラハラ感とドキドキ感は味わえたので星3つ。
動物の不法売買と、キャサリンの昔の記憶と、キャサリンの周りで起こる殺人事件。きれいに絡まった話だった。
うーん。きれいに最後は治まるんだけど、でも違法の動物売買は何の決着もなく終わっちゃうわっけー?それを公にしないのを条件に、キャサリンは財団を引き継いで10万てにする。って何だかあまり納得できない。まぁ、キャサリンはこれからちゃんと取り締まるだろうけど。。。
で、キャサリンは、あんなに自分の牧場にいる犬たちが好きなくせに、事件が起こってから一度も帰らずジョー任せだし。。。ちょっと「あれ?」って思った。
まぁ、殺人事件の真相がキャサリンの忘れてた思い出と繋がったのに、それも公にせず、なんだか隠してばかりだよなー。それでいいのか? って思う。
でも、ハラハラ感とドキドキ感は味わえたので星3つ。
October 18, 2022
I picked this oldie up at a book sale and ended up being pleasantly surprised.
Katherine Driscoll is a top dog trainer in Texas about to lose everything when she receives a letter from her father whom she hasn't seen in 30 years. He promises he can help with her financial troubles if she can do one thing in return for him. When she arrives at the zoo where he has worked at for most of his life she finds she is too late and he has been killed by a tiger. What seems to be a terrible accident, Katherine discovers, may actually be murder. Determined to find answers Katherine takes up a job at the zoo as a snake handler but she may have taken on way more than she bargained for.
I thought this book was perfectly paced and I loved the main character Katherine. Being an animal lover myself I enjoyed the fact that she was a dog trainer and then takes a job at the zoo. Full of twists and turns, this kept me on my toes and had an original story line. Trigger warning: There are animals that are killed.
Katherine Driscoll is a top dog trainer in Texas about to lose everything when she receives a letter from her father whom she hasn't seen in 30 years. He promises he can help with her financial troubles if she can do one thing in return for him. When she arrives at the zoo where he has worked at for most of his life she finds she is too late and he has been killed by a tiger. What seems to be a terrible accident, Katherine discovers, may actually be murder. Determined to find answers Katherine takes up a job at the zoo as a snake handler but she may have taken on way more than she bargained for.
I thought this book was perfectly paced and I loved the main character Katherine. Being an animal lover myself I enjoyed the fact that she was a dog trainer and then takes a job at the zoo. Full of twists and turns, this kept me on my toes and had an original story line. Trigger warning: There are animals that are killed.
July 29, 2023
Well I need a Z title, for my annual a to z challenge and I try really HARD to find a title beginning with Z rather, than just a Z in it.
This book is set in 1991, but certain conversations has it set in 1989. SO I had to keep that in mind that technology was much less in that era.
Katherine is a woman with her own dog training business, but due to the recession she is set to lose it all in days. A letter from her estranged father, could change all that . Been thirty years without contact so she just decides to drive to see him. Upon arrival he is dead, and so many questions are being raised.
All in all a good story, Katherine does stupid female stuff, that bothers me. She just abandons her business for two weeks, but somehow it is ok. She goes off looking for evidence with no plan and no way to protect herself. In the end the mystery is solved
This book is set in 1991, but certain conversations has it set in 1989. SO I had to keep that in mind that technology was much less in that era.
Katherine is a woman with her own dog training business, but due to the recession she is set to lose it all in days. A letter from her estranged father, could change all that . Been thirty years without contact so she just decides to drive to see him. Upon arrival he is dead, and so many questions are being raised.
All in all a good story, Katherine does stupid female stuff, that bothers me. She just abandons her business for two weeks, but somehow it is ok. She goes off looking for evidence with no plan and no way to protect herself. In the end the mystery is solved
August 11, 2022
FABULOUS THRILLER & MYSTERY
This book was AMAZING!!!:-). Could NOT put it down, from the very first page to the last….SOO many twists & turns & secrets…Mary Willis Walker is SPECTACULAR!!! Need to read EVERYTHING she wrote!!!!:-)
This book was AMAZING!!!:-). Could NOT put it down, from the very first page to the last….SOO many twists & turns & secrets…Mary Willis Walker is SPECTACULAR!!! Need to read EVERYTHING she wrote!!!!:-)
September 30, 2019
Intricate story but still enjoyable
November 25, 2019
It's not horrible, but it's not well written either. I have issues with some things in this book, but it sucked me in regardless.
June 3, 2021
Read in 1997. Gripping mystery.
December 3, 2021
4.5, great book.
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September 20, 2022Interesting setting.
October 13, 2022
Dazzling, like all her (too few) books.
Why no audiobook?
Why no audiobook?
May 28, 2024
Very well done mystery. Katherine has to uncover new secrets and old. She needs to find the truth. As I approached the end I couldn't"t put it down.
December 10, 2016
This is a mystery in an interesting setting. A dog trainer in Texas hears from her estranged father. Sadly she's in need of money and this is her main motivation for going to meet him after he writes that he would like to put family differences to rest. But she arrives too late - contrary to zoo regulations in Austin Zoo, her father, the big cat handler, went to work with a tiger on his own and it appears the tiger killed him.
Between the dysfunctional but polite family she now meets, and the rigidly structured zoo where she now takes a job, the heroine has a lot of changes to face. She's convinced someone human killed her father and so are the police.
There's good detail about the work of zookeeping, between careful handling, muck-shovelling and breeding exotic animals. A weirdo is clearly on the loose after another person is found dead and the girl asking questions is in trouble. There's also the issue of the money the girl was promised - where is it? This is an interesting read, not too sweet and fluffy, with respect shown to the animals involved, especially venomous snakes.
Between the dysfunctional but polite family she now meets, and the rigidly structured zoo where she now takes a job, the heroine has a lot of changes to face. She's convinced someone human killed her father and so are the police.
There's good detail about the work of zookeeping, between careful handling, muck-shovelling and breeding exotic animals. A weirdo is clearly on the loose after another person is found dead and the girl asking questions is in trouble. There's also the issue of the money the girl was promised - where is it? This is an interesting read, not too sweet and fluffy, with respect shown to the animals involved, especially venomous snakes.
February 25, 2016
Although a decent book after several years it doesn't stay with me. I reread my notes on the book and if it weren't for them I wouldn't have remembered reading this book at all. I do remember it took me weeks to finish it. I had a hard time connecting to the character Katherine and could care less who killed her father whom she hadn't seen in over 30 years. This is definitely not a cozy as the context was a bit more graphic then that. Katherine not only finds herself in the business of uncovering the reason behind her fathers death but also the death of several other men, an illegal rare animal selling ring, and a deep dark family secret. Overall I would say the book wasn't bad but I didn't rush out and read any other books by this author either.
November 21, 2012
A nice light mystery, not too serious but well plotted and consistent. A young woman is in serious financial trouble and about to lose her home, land and business. She gets a mysterious letter from her father whom she hasn't seen since she was 5 years old; he says he can help with the finances and to please come see him. So she goes to Austin, to the zoo where he works, to look for him. Shame of it is, he was just killed at the zoo that morning. So our girl takes a job at the zoo and starts to investigate. She also meets the members of her family that she hadn't known since she was 5. So there is some family drama, some sleuthing, some action, some romance, some success - all done in a very nice way.
February 15, 2009
"Walker is terrific at goosebumps!" -- The Philadelphia Inquirer. I agree
December 10, 2009
This one was very dark.
April 2, 2012
Suspensful.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews