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Zoe Chambers Mysteries #7
Cry Wolf
Rural Pennsylvania’s Vance Township Police Chief Pete Adams is down an officer and has been dealing with extra shifts as well as a pair of bickering neighbors, one of whom owns a machete and isn’t afraid to use it. Golden Oaks Assisted Living is outside Pete’s jurisdiction, but a murder in the facility his Alzheimer’s-afflicted father calls home makes the case personal.
Paramedic and Deputy Coroner Zoe Chambers has been itching for an opportunity to take the lead in a death investigation. She gets her chance when her boss is hospitalized and not only assigns her to the Golden Oaks homicide but puts her in charge of the county coroner’s office. As if she doesn’t have enough to handle, a long-lost, over-protective, older half-brother walks into her life threatening to drive a wedge between her and the man she loves.
A second dead body leads them to realize the case may have dark ties to a distant past…and if Zoe doesn’t untangle the web of lies, Pete will be the one to pay the ultimate price.
Paramedic and Deputy Coroner Zoe Chambers has been itching for an opportunity to take the lead in a death investigation. She gets her chance when her boss is hospitalized and not only assigns her to the Golden Oaks homicide but puts her in charge of the county coroner’s office. As if she doesn’t have enough to handle, a long-lost, over-protective, older half-brother walks into her life threatening to drive a wedge between her and the man she loves.
A second dead body leads them to realize the case may have dark ties to a distant past…and if Zoe doesn’t untangle the web of lies, Pete will be the one to pay the ultimate price.
270 pages, ebook
First published September 18, 2018
140 people are currently reading
214 people want to read
About the author
Annette Dashofy
28 books502 followersAnnette Dashofy is the USA Today best-selling author of 12 novels in the multi Agatha Award nominated Zoe Chambers mystery series about a paramedic and deputy coroner in rural Pennsylvania’s tight-knit Vance Township. In addition, her standalone, Death by Equine, about a veterinarian at a second-rate thoroughbred racetrack, won the 2021 Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award. The second in her new Detective Honeywell Mystery series, Keep Your Family Close, was released in December 2023. Her upcoming What Comes Around (Zoe Chambers #13) is scheduled for release in May 2024. Annette and her husband live on ten acres of what was her grandfather’s dairy farm in southwestern Pennsylvania with their very spoiled cat, Kensi.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
November 16, 2022
When Zoe goes with her boyfriend, Pete, to visit Pete’s father in the care facility where he is living, they discover that Pete’s old training officer, John, has moved in. Pete’s happy since his father keeps insisting that something strange is going on in the place. When John is murdered a few hours later, it looks like that might be the case. Can Zoe and Pete figure out what happened?
This book started out quickly and never let up. With several sub-plots to keep us engaged, I was racing to find out what was going on, and I was left in awe when I reached the end. Zoe and Pete make a great detecting duo, and we get the story equally from their third person points of view. I do still feel like Pete is too overbearing, and I hope that softens soon. Not all of the regulars get much page time, but those who do show up are critical to the story. And the new characters are strong enough that this is really isn’t an issue. Since this isn’t one of my cozies, there is more content than in the books I typically read, so know that going in. Now, I need to make time to visit Zoe again soon.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
This book started out quickly and never let up. With several sub-plots to keep us engaged, I was racing to find out what was going on, and I was left in awe when I reached the end. Zoe and Pete make a great detecting duo, and we get the story equally from their third person points of view. I do still feel like Pete is too overbearing, and I hope that softens soon. Not all of the regulars get much page time, but those who do show up are critical to the story. And the new characters are strong enough that this is really isn’t an issue. Since this isn’t one of my cozies, there is more content than in the books I typically read, so know that going in. Now, I need to make time to visit Zoe again soon.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
November 17, 2018
Dollycas’s Thoughts
We are back at the Golden Oaks Assisted Living Center again as one of its new residents is found dead in his room. With Pete’s father living there, Zoe and Pete feel the pressure to be sure his dad is safe but it also gives them the opportunity to nose around the place. When the coroner lands in the hospital Zoe gets the green light to investigate the murder. He even puts her in charge of the whole coroner’s office. Pete, down an officer, has his hands full with a couple of neighbors fighting over mowed grass. The machete one guy was wielding gets everyone’s attention. They are both thrown for a loop when a man contacts Zoe claiming to be her brother from a relationship her father had prior to marrying her mom.
This book is just 276 pages and it is packed full with goodness. The pace is fast and it was impossible to put down.
Ms. Dashofy has created characters in this series that grab you immediately whether this is the first story you have read or the 7th. Pete and Zoe are surrounded by a strong supporting cast, each unique, and well-drawn. Zoe’s life is already full and having a possible step brother added to the mix was a great twist. Zoe lost her father at a young age so she is excited to learn about Jason Cox. But could his appearance in her life be too good to be true?
Again, the author twists some medical and social issues into a great mystery that includes a plethora of suspects and situations full of drama. Secrets, lies, and half-truths turn the story in many different directions. A second murder makes everyone take a step back and look at the case with new eyes. The realistic take on PTSD was so well done. Being a cop is hard, taking a life in order to save another is totally a life-changing moment. The strong family-like connection between Pete, Zoe and his officers have enhances the way this was handled.
I totally enjoyed this story as I have enjoyed every book in this series. Small town, fantastic characters, and a great mystery. You can’t go wrong with any book written by this author.
We are back at the Golden Oaks Assisted Living Center again as one of its new residents is found dead in his room. With Pete’s father living there, Zoe and Pete feel the pressure to be sure his dad is safe but it also gives them the opportunity to nose around the place. When the coroner lands in the hospital Zoe gets the green light to investigate the murder. He even puts her in charge of the whole coroner’s office. Pete, down an officer, has his hands full with a couple of neighbors fighting over mowed grass. The machete one guy was wielding gets everyone’s attention. They are both thrown for a loop when a man contacts Zoe claiming to be her brother from a relationship her father had prior to marrying her mom.
This book is just 276 pages and it is packed full with goodness. The pace is fast and it was impossible to put down.
Ms. Dashofy has created characters in this series that grab you immediately whether this is the first story you have read or the 7th. Pete and Zoe are surrounded by a strong supporting cast, each unique, and well-drawn. Zoe’s life is already full and having a possible step brother added to the mix was a great twist. Zoe lost her father at a young age so she is excited to learn about Jason Cox. But could his appearance in her life be too good to be true?
Again, the author twists some medical and social issues into a great mystery that includes a plethora of suspects and situations full of drama. Secrets, lies, and half-truths turn the story in many different directions. A second murder makes everyone take a step back and look at the case with new eyes. The realistic take on PTSD was so well done. Being a cop is hard, taking a life in order to save another is totally a life-changing moment. The strong family-like connection between Pete, Zoe and his officers have enhances the way this was handled.
I totally enjoyed this story as I have enjoyed every book in this series. Small town, fantastic characters, and a great mystery. You can’t go wrong with any book written by this author.
September 17, 2018
The seventh book in the Zoe Chambers series is one of the best I have read. There so many turns in this story it was hard to put down. Give yourself plenty of time to read it. Pete is dealing with an officer who had to kill a person in order to save Zoe's life and is unable to handle it. The rest of his small police force is serving two shifts and he has hired a woman officer. On a visited his father he meets his FTO who is later murdered. His office has an ongoing problem with neighbors.
Zoe has been promoted to acting corner as her boss is in the hospital. She gets a letter informing her she has an older brother. She is thrill to become acquainted with him. Pete has reservations about the brother's motives.
The author has skillfully brought varied themes into one story. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AS SERIES.
Disclosure: Many thanks to the author and Edelweiss for a review copy. The opinions expressed are my own.
Zoe has been promoted to acting corner as her boss is in the hospital. She gets a letter informing her she has an older brother. She is thrill to become acquainted with him. Pete has reservations about the brother's motives.
The author has skillfully brought varied themes into one story. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AS SERIES.
Disclosure: Many thanks to the author and Edelweiss for a review copy. The opinions expressed are my own.
August 5, 2018
This is the second Zoe Chambers mystery that I have read (beginning the series at book 6), and is just as thrilling as “Uneasy Prey”. Both can be read as standalones, but obviously, you will get a little more of the main character development if you read the whole series.
Zoe Chambers’ main job is as a paramedic, but she is also a deputy coroner. When the Coroner is hospitalised due to ill-health, Zoe ends up with two fulltime jobs, and precious little spare time to spend with her partner, police chief, Pete Adams. Pete is also run off his feet, working double shifts, as one of his officers is on psychological sick leave following a fatal shooting. Fortunately, their work cases often interconnect – and they do get to spend time together over maimed or dead bodies – even if their time as a couple is severely restricted.
Their first joint case is a machete attack on an unarmed gentleman, or that is what is reported. The machete turns out to be corn knife – still possibly deadly – but definitely not this time. Zoe’s sympathies are completely with the knife wielder, who had been trying to stop his objectionable neighbour (Professor K) from dumping potentially toxic grass clippings into his horse paddock. Zoe, as a committed horsewoman, understood how dangerous those clippings could be. Unfortunately, Pete still has to arrest Machete Man.
Professor K is universally disliked, and you quickly have him down as the most likely (and deserving) first corpse. But that honour goes to an ex-cop, who just happens to live at the same retirement home as Pete’s father. The ex-cop is another abrasive type, who – like Professor K – seems to have any number of ill-wishers. Pete’s father has long been certain that there is some-one bumping off the residents of his home, Golden Oaks, (elderly people keep leaving in body bags, never to reappear). This time it is not the Alzheimer’s talking – the murder is real.
All the cases become intertwined, suspects are considered and discounted, another body, more suspects and possible motives: money, revenge, bad timing, … A number of the elderly residents of Golden Oaks are co-opted in to help with Zoe’s investigations – showing that the old and disabled should never be underestimated.
Meanwhile, Zoe discovers that she has a step-brother, Jason, who generously donates his time and money to help fix up her dilapidated farm, to make up for the lost years. Zoe is overjoyed to finally have a sibling – and one who reminds her so much of her dead father. Pete, being a cop, is highly suspicious (jealous?), but all checks show that Jason is above board.
While the ending does not come completely out of the blue, you would be hard pressed to work it all out from the preceding story. That does not mean that the ending does not make sense – it does – in a sad way. Not all the strands are tidied up. While I might have liked a bit more closure, the presence of some loose ends does give the story a lot more realism.
Apart from the excellent murder-mystery story, and the wonderful characterisation, there are also some deep philosophical issues raised. The first is what constitutes ‘family’. Does a DNA match create a sibling bond? Do you see a family likeness in a long lost relative because it is there, or just because you want it to be? Are people whose family has been pulled apart by death, adoption, divorce etc, more likely to have a physical and psychological need for a new blood tie? Does blood actually matter? If it walks like a duck, swims like a duck …
The second issue is the role of the police force. Except in an anarchic state, there need to be rules to govern (guide) behaviour for the sake of societal cohesion. A police force is charged with upholding those rules. A policeman shooting dead an armed and dangerous man, may have saved a life, but is the value of the life saved always greater than the one lost? Who should decide? Can (should) the decision be made in split second? Can the shooter live with the guilt?
Crimes ruin lives – and many believe that the perpetrators of crimes must pay. The victims always lose – but does punishing the criminal help the victim? Putting criminals in jail shields society for a while, but does the criminal emerge reformed?, embittered?, a more accomplished criminal? A criminal released from jail has ‘paid their debt to society’, but often now faces a ruined life, forever stigmatised by their crime. What have their family done to deserve having their lives ruined as well? Does Machete Man need to be arrested, have a criminal record and be forever after suspected of every violent crime committed in his vicinity? Is possession of cannabis so heinous that the lives of not only the possessor, but of at least five other people are irreparably damaged by the arrest and jail sentence?
So, you can read this book just as a very engaging, well-constructed who-dunnit, or you can also take a moment to ponder the questions posed. No answers supplied!
I loved this book, would recommend it highly, and am very interested in reading more in this series.
I received this copy from the author and publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Zoe Chambers’ main job is as a paramedic, but she is also a deputy coroner. When the Coroner is hospitalised due to ill-health, Zoe ends up with two fulltime jobs, and precious little spare time to spend with her partner, police chief, Pete Adams. Pete is also run off his feet, working double shifts, as one of his officers is on psychological sick leave following a fatal shooting. Fortunately, their work cases often interconnect – and they do get to spend time together over maimed or dead bodies – even if their time as a couple is severely restricted.
Their first joint case is a machete attack on an unarmed gentleman, or that is what is reported. The machete turns out to be corn knife – still possibly deadly – but definitely not this time. Zoe’s sympathies are completely with the knife wielder, who had been trying to stop his objectionable neighbour (Professor K) from dumping potentially toxic grass clippings into his horse paddock. Zoe, as a committed horsewoman, understood how dangerous those clippings could be. Unfortunately, Pete still has to arrest Machete Man.
Professor K is universally disliked, and you quickly have him down as the most likely (and deserving) first corpse. But that honour goes to an ex-cop, who just happens to live at the same retirement home as Pete’s father. The ex-cop is another abrasive type, who – like Professor K – seems to have any number of ill-wishers. Pete’s father has long been certain that there is some-one bumping off the residents of his home, Golden Oaks, (elderly people keep leaving in body bags, never to reappear). This time it is not the Alzheimer’s talking – the murder is real.
All the cases become intertwined, suspects are considered and discounted, another body, more suspects and possible motives: money, revenge, bad timing, … A number of the elderly residents of Golden Oaks are co-opted in to help with Zoe’s investigations – showing that the old and disabled should never be underestimated.
Meanwhile, Zoe discovers that she has a step-brother, Jason, who generously donates his time and money to help fix up her dilapidated farm, to make up for the lost years. Zoe is overjoyed to finally have a sibling – and one who reminds her so much of her dead father. Pete, being a cop, is highly suspicious (jealous?), but all checks show that Jason is above board.
While the ending does not come completely out of the blue, you would be hard pressed to work it all out from the preceding story. That does not mean that the ending does not make sense – it does – in a sad way. Not all the strands are tidied up. While I might have liked a bit more closure, the presence of some loose ends does give the story a lot more realism.
Apart from the excellent murder-mystery story, and the wonderful characterisation, there are also some deep philosophical issues raised. The first is what constitutes ‘family’. Does a DNA match create a sibling bond? Do you see a family likeness in a long lost relative because it is there, or just because you want it to be? Are people whose family has been pulled apart by death, adoption, divorce etc, more likely to have a physical and psychological need for a new blood tie? Does blood actually matter? If it walks like a duck, swims like a duck …
The second issue is the role of the police force. Except in an anarchic state, there need to be rules to govern (guide) behaviour for the sake of societal cohesion. A police force is charged with upholding those rules. A policeman shooting dead an armed and dangerous man, may have saved a life, but is the value of the life saved always greater than the one lost? Who should decide? Can (should) the decision be made in split second? Can the shooter live with the guilt?
Crimes ruin lives – and many believe that the perpetrators of crimes must pay. The victims always lose – but does punishing the criminal help the victim? Putting criminals in jail shields society for a while, but does the criminal emerge reformed?, embittered?, a more accomplished criminal? A criminal released from jail has ‘paid their debt to society’, but often now faces a ruined life, forever stigmatised by their crime. What have their family done to deserve having their lives ruined as well? Does Machete Man need to be arrested, have a criminal record and be forever after suspected of every violent crime committed in his vicinity? Is possession of cannabis so heinous that the lives of not only the possessor, but of at least five other people are irreparably damaged by the arrest and jail sentence?
So, you can read this book just as a very engaging, well-constructed who-dunnit, or you can also take a moment to ponder the questions posed. No answers supplied!
I loved this book, would recommend it highly, and am very interested in reading more in this series.
I received this copy from the author and publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
November 7, 2021
Have not read a Zoe Chambers mystery in 2 years, I was up thru mystery #6 when I took a break. I'm glad I revisited this series with the next book in line. This has got to be one of the best "Why were they Killed?" I've read in ages. Lots of suspects, Twists & Surprises
Takes place in a small Penna farming community,main characters are Zoe working as a paramedic (and part time assistant coroner) and Pete working as the town police chief (the 2 characters having a romance since book 1)
Murders take place in a nursing home and at one of the farms! Are they related? Suspects start appearing everywhere! That's all, don't want to tell too much!
You don't have to start with book 1 (It helps to learn all the characters though), You get use to the characters in a hurry! 270 Pages, Easy read and I like that there is a lot of dialog between characters!
If you like "Who Done It and Why" then try this book out! David N.
Takes place in a small Penna farming community,main characters are Zoe working as a paramedic (and part time assistant coroner) and Pete working as the town police chief (the 2 characters having a romance since book 1)
Murders take place in a nursing home and at one of the farms! Are they related? Suspects start appearing everywhere! That's all, don't want to tell too much!
You don't have to start with book 1 (It helps to learn all the characters though), You get use to the characters in a hurry! 270 Pages, Easy read and I like that there is a lot of dialog between characters!
If you like "Who Done It and Why" then try this book out! David N.
July 25, 2018
Another winner from Annette Dashofy! Zoe Chambers is a multifaceted heroine: smart, empathetic and strong -- all needed in her job as a paramedic and deputy coroner. Visiting Pete's father at his assisted living residence, her suspicions are aroused. And this becomes her opportunity to lead the coroner's investigation into a homicide. There's already a lot on her plate, when her boss becomes ill and she has to cover for him too. Meanwhile, an unknown long-lost brother surfaces throwing her personal life in turmoil.
It kept me up reading to figure it out, and while I failed all the clues were there and the solution was fair. But really, being in rural Pennsylvania with so many interesting characters is why I love this series. HIGHLY recommended!
Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
It kept me up reading to figure it out, and while I failed all the clues were there and the solution was fair. But really, being in rural Pennsylvania with so many interesting characters is why I love this series. HIGHLY recommended!
Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 19, 2018
WILL LEAVE YOU BREATHLESS!
Annette Dashofy’s Cry Wolf (Zoe Chambers Mystery Series Book #7) will leave you breathless! This book may be read as a stand alone, but to get the full impact, the Series needs to be read in order. EMT Zoe Chambers is back and her life is more complicated than ever since she’s also having to fill in as the Deputy Coroner. Her man, Pete Adams, Chief of Police of Vance Township is busy, too, because he’s short staffed so he’s working doubles. There seems to be a rash of crime in their corner of the world. Dashofy has weaved a masterful story of neighbor vs. neighbor, secrets from the past, nursing home victims vs. murder, a woman desperately in need of the love of a family and how all these incidences are intertwined. They need to find the killer soon or Zoe or Pete may be the next victim. The ending is full of suspense and will leave you breathless! I was provided an ARC of this book by Henery Press and Edelweiss. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence. I have preordered a copy of this book for my own personal library.
Annette Dashofy’s Cry Wolf (Zoe Chambers Mystery Series Book #7) will leave you breathless! This book may be read as a stand alone, but to get the full impact, the Series needs to be read in order. EMT Zoe Chambers is back and her life is more complicated than ever since she’s also having to fill in as the Deputy Coroner. Her man, Pete Adams, Chief of Police of Vance Township is busy, too, because he’s short staffed so he’s working doubles. There seems to be a rash of crime in their corner of the world. Dashofy has weaved a masterful story of neighbor vs. neighbor, secrets from the past, nursing home victims vs. murder, a woman desperately in need of the love of a family and how all these incidences are intertwined. They need to find the killer soon or Zoe or Pete may be the next victim. The ending is full of suspense and will leave you breathless! I was provided an ARC of this book by Henery Press and Edelweiss. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence. I have preordered a copy of this book for my own personal library.
October 14, 2024
I will tell you up front, Annette is a friend. And I’m honored that she chose me to be a pre-release reader of Cry Wolf.
I’m a bit at sea here because I haven’t read Uneasy Prey, the previous book in this series. Some things that come up here cause a ‘When did that happen? Must have been in the last book.’ response. I need to get my hands on that book to find out how they came to be.
Everything one could want in a mystery is here. Pete and Zoe are both dealing with situations that hit close to home and heart. There is a touch of humor (at least in my opinion), tension throughout, some friction between Pete and Zoe, and plenty of sharp turns in the storyline and a twist or two (although I guessed one fairly early on). And to top it off, Annette tosses one final twist at the reader on the very last page.
The only slip-up I see here is someone other than Pete or Zoe saves the day at the end. It is a very realistic way to have it happen – nobody, not even superheroes, live in isolation – but readers like their protagonists to carry the day.
Bottom line: This is the best book in the series.
I’m a bit at sea here because I haven’t read Uneasy Prey, the previous book in this series. Some things that come up here cause a ‘When did that happen? Must have been in the last book.’ response. I need to get my hands on that book to find out how they came to be.
Everything one could want in a mystery is here. Pete and Zoe are both dealing with situations that hit close to home and heart. There is a touch of humor (at least in my opinion), tension throughout, some friction between Pete and Zoe, and plenty of sharp turns in the storyline and a twist or two (although I guessed one fairly early on). And to top it off, Annette tosses one final twist at the reader on the very last page.
The only slip-up I see here is someone other than Pete or Zoe saves the day at the end. It is a very realistic way to have it happen – nobody, not even superheroes, live in isolation – but readers like their protagonists to carry the day.
Bottom line: This is the best book in the series.
March 27, 2019
Adoro questa serie! Ho divorato questo libro, come gli altri: Zoe e Pete sono una delle mie coppie preferite. Stavolta ho finito la lettura col magone per la sua fine...
November 10, 2018
Cry Wolf
Zoe Chambers Mystery, Book #7
Annette Dashofy
5+ Stars
Synopsis:
Rural Pennsylvania’s Vance Township Police Chief Pete Adams is down an officer and has been dealing with extra shifts as well as a pair of bickering neighbors, one of whom owns a machete and isn’t afraid to use it.
Golden Oaks Assisted Living is outside Pete’s jurisdiction, but a murder in the facility his Alzheimer’s-afflicted father calls home makes the case personal.
Paramedic and Deputy Coroner Zoe Chambers has been itching for an opportunity to take the lead in a death investigation. She gets her chance when her boss is hospitalized and not only assigns her to the Golden Oaks homicide but puts her in charge of the county coroner’s office.
As if she doesn’t have enough to handle, a long-lost, over-protective, older half-brother walks into her life threatening to drive a wedge between her and the man she loves.
A second dead body leads them to realize the case may have dark ties to a distant past…and if Zoe doesn’t untangle the web of lies, Pete will be the one to pay the ultimate price.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
CRY WOLF by Annette Dashofy | A Henery Press Mystery. If you like one, you’ll probably like them all. (Goodreads)
Review:
This is one of my all time favorite series to read. It has everything that I look for in a cozy: engaging characters, an intriguing setting and top notch mysteries.
The characters are well developed and well rounded and they have grown so much from the first book. Zoe, Pete and Harry are some of my favorite characters ever. They seem very realistic to me and they care about each so much. They all have their problems and they are not perfect, but they work through everything and they always love each other. Harry reminds me of my dad at times so that makes it extra special. And we even get to meet Zoe’s half brother, which open up a whole other side of Zoe
The writing style flows smoothly and defines the characters very clearly by their actions and words. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book I felt like I was right there in Vance Township, watching all of the action taking place. I felt like I was riding along with the paramedics and visiting the Assisted Living facility, meeting the residents.
The mystery is well plotted and nicely paced. There were numerous clues to sift through and enough suspects to consider and the mystery was not easily solved., which is fine with me. The ending has a little bit of surprise, which we may find out more about in future books.
I would highly recommend this book, and series, to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I think you need to put this on your Must-Be-Read list!
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Henery Press, and Edelweiss, which I greatly appreciate.
Zoe Chambers Mystery, Book #7
Annette Dashofy
5+ Stars
Synopsis:
Rural Pennsylvania’s Vance Township Police Chief Pete Adams is down an officer and has been dealing with extra shifts as well as a pair of bickering neighbors, one of whom owns a machete and isn’t afraid to use it.
Golden Oaks Assisted Living is outside Pete’s jurisdiction, but a murder in the facility his Alzheimer’s-afflicted father calls home makes the case personal.
Paramedic and Deputy Coroner Zoe Chambers has been itching for an opportunity to take the lead in a death investigation. She gets her chance when her boss is hospitalized and not only assigns her to the Golden Oaks homicide but puts her in charge of the county coroner’s office.
As if she doesn’t have enough to handle, a long-lost, over-protective, older half-brother walks into her life threatening to drive a wedge between her and the man she loves.
A second dead body leads them to realize the case may have dark ties to a distant past…and if Zoe doesn’t untangle the web of lies, Pete will be the one to pay the ultimate price.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
CRY WOLF by Annette Dashofy | A Henery Press Mystery. If you like one, you’ll probably like them all. (Goodreads)
Review:
This is one of my all time favorite series to read. It has everything that I look for in a cozy: engaging characters, an intriguing setting and top notch mysteries.
The characters are well developed and well rounded and they have grown so much from the first book. Zoe, Pete and Harry are some of my favorite characters ever. They seem very realistic to me and they care about each so much. They all have their problems and they are not perfect, but they work through everything and they always love each other. Harry reminds me of my dad at times so that makes it extra special. And we even get to meet Zoe’s half brother, which open up a whole other side of Zoe
The writing style flows smoothly and defines the characters very clearly by their actions and words. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book I felt like I was right there in Vance Township, watching all of the action taking place. I felt like I was riding along with the paramedics and visiting the Assisted Living facility, meeting the residents.
The mystery is well plotted and nicely paced. There were numerous clues to sift through and enough suspects to consider and the mystery was not easily solved., which is fine with me. The ending has a little bit of surprise, which we may find out more about in future books.
I would highly recommend this book, and series, to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I think you need to put this on your Must-Be-Read list!
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Henery Press, and Edelweiss, which I greatly appreciate.
September 4, 2019
I really enjoy this series, but somehow, missed this book. When I saw that it was available in audiobook format, I requested it from the publisher and was sent a copy for review. Cry Wolf did not disappoint. It has the same smart, fast paced plot that I have come to enjoy in Annette Dashofy's writing. The story has several storylines happening simultaneously that are pulled together at the end with a very satisfying conclusion.
Zoe Chambers is an EMT and Assistant Coroner. When the Coroner ends up in the hospital, Zoe becomes acting coroner, which brings her even closer to various deaths/murders. Seth, one of Pete's officers has resigned after shooting and killing someone in the line of duty, so Pete is busier than usual. A resident at the home where Pete's father lives due to Alzheimers, is dead and possibly murdered, so an investigation ensues there and Pete is dealing with neighbours bickering over grass clippings that could make the one neighbour's horses ill. Add in Zoe finding out she has a half brother and he wants to meet, making Pete uncomfortable and this is story keeps your attention and moves quickly. The murder of the resident at the home ratchets up when he is identified as a former police officer and this is the main mystery in the story, although there is another murder later in the story.
The characters in this book are well-developed and realistic. They have normal problems with relationships, money, jobs etc. that make it easy to relate to them. The mystery has several suspects, but none that really seem to have an actual motive. With a new officer in town, she brings different skills that help with the case yet we do not get to really know her yet. There are a few twists in the story that have all the police busy trying to sort out the clues and determine who the culprit is. The twists at the end were surprising and I had not seen them coming, but it fit well adding up to a very satisfying conclusion. Another wonderful addition to this series. I recommend it to cozy mystery lovers, especially if you enjoy one with a bit more to it.
I listened to the audiobook of Cry Wolf narrated by Romy Nordlinger. She has a pleasant reading voice and performed the various characters well, giving them individual voices. She added to the enjoyment of the story with her emphasis and inflection in all the right places. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this audiobook upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
Zoe Chambers is an EMT and Assistant Coroner. When the Coroner ends up in the hospital, Zoe becomes acting coroner, which brings her even closer to various deaths/murders. Seth, one of Pete's officers has resigned after shooting and killing someone in the line of duty, so Pete is busier than usual. A resident at the home where Pete's father lives due to Alzheimers, is dead and possibly murdered, so an investigation ensues there and Pete is dealing with neighbours bickering over grass clippings that could make the one neighbour's horses ill. Add in Zoe finding out she has a half brother and he wants to meet, making Pete uncomfortable and this is story keeps your attention and moves quickly. The murder of the resident at the home ratchets up when he is identified as a former police officer and this is the main mystery in the story, although there is another murder later in the story.
The characters in this book are well-developed and realistic. They have normal problems with relationships, money, jobs etc. that make it easy to relate to them. The mystery has several suspects, but none that really seem to have an actual motive. With a new officer in town, she brings different skills that help with the case yet we do not get to really know her yet. There are a few twists in the story that have all the police busy trying to sort out the clues and determine who the culprit is. The twists at the end were surprising and I had not seen them coming, but it fit well adding up to a very satisfying conclusion. Another wonderful addition to this series. I recommend it to cozy mystery lovers, especially if you enjoy one with a bit more to it.
I listened to the audiobook of Cry Wolf narrated by Romy Nordlinger. She has a pleasant reading voice and performed the various characters well, giving them individual voices. She added to the enjoyment of the story with her emphasis and inflection in all the right places. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this audiobook upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
December 21, 2025
I really almost don't know what to say anymore. This series gets better with every addition. While I have become totally emotionally invested in Zoe, Pete, their friends, family and co-workers, and the rural Pennsylvania community of Vance Township, the mysteries and murder investigations are equally compelling! The interweaving of people and their problems in small communities definitely made everything more personal, and that is definitely the case here. Pete is dealing with the unexpected death of his former FTO in the Golden Oaks Assisted Living Center, which also happens to house his father, Zoe gets drawn in as the local coroner is hospitalized and she must handle the job of acting coronor. This is on top of the discovery that she has a long-lost brother, something her mother seemed aware of but won't discuss! With both of them running ragged, Pete is still short an officer with Seth out, and Zoe trying to cover the coronor portion and figure out her relationship with her newly aquired sibling, will they be able to figure out what is going on in the Township? You will be glad you came along on this crazy journey. #CryWolf #AZoeChambersMysyery #AnnetteDashofy #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader
September 21, 2018
I was given a digital copy of this book in return for an honest review, but I bought a copy anyway. This is one of my favorite mystery series, and I genuinely look forward to each new installment.
At this point, when I begin a Zoe and Pete book, I feel like I'm settling in with friends. I enjoy the characters, the depictions of life in a smallish town, the family drama (whether blood family or chosen family), and the negotiations through relationships growing and changing. Plus there's always a crime that is solved in a satisfying and pretty realistic way.
Along with the good stories, the characters have to get through life things we can all relate to - aging parents, children in trouble, community altercations, even bad weather.
I don't want to share too much of the plot so as not to give anything away, but we get to see Zoe find out that temporarily taking on the coroner duties full-time is not easy, Pete deals with more goings on at his Dad's nursing home where he encounters an old police comrade, and the two of them negotiate their relationship with each other and other family, both good and bad.
I highly recommend this book and this series. I'm already looking forward to the next one.
At this point, when I begin a Zoe and Pete book, I feel like I'm settling in with friends. I enjoy the characters, the depictions of life in a smallish town, the family drama (whether blood family or chosen family), and the negotiations through relationships growing and changing. Plus there's always a crime that is solved in a satisfying and pretty realistic way.
Along with the good stories, the characters have to get through life things we can all relate to - aging parents, children in trouble, community altercations, even bad weather.
I don't want to share too much of the plot so as not to give anything away, but we get to see Zoe find out that temporarily taking on the coroner duties full-time is not easy, Pete deals with more goings on at his Dad's nursing home where he encounters an old police comrade, and the two of them negotiate their relationship with each other and other family, both good and bad.
I highly recommend this book and this series. I'm already looking forward to the next one.
June 28, 2018
This was my first introduction to Zoe, Pete, and the various a sundry characters and I absolutely loved it! I now have to go back and read the first six. I immediately understood and related to Zoe and all of her relationships, professional and personal, read naturally and real, which is quite a feat seven books in without having the benefit of the previous installments.
That said, what really kept me turning the pages well passed my bedtime was an absolutely intriguing plot! I was honestly surprised by the reveal and kept trying to figure it out up until the end. And because I don't believe in spoilers, I won't give any hints but this long-time mystery fan was all but shocked. The pacing is perfect and I loved going back and forth from Zoe and Pete's respective points of view.
I'm actually counting myself lucky that I can go back and start from the beginning instead of waiting for book 8!
That said, what really kept me turning the pages well passed my bedtime was an absolutely intriguing plot! I was honestly surprised by the reveal and kept trying to figure it out up until the end. And because I don't believe in spoilers, I won't give any hints but this long-time mystery fan was all but shocked. The pacing is perfect and I loved going back and forth from Zoe and Pete's respective points of view.
I'm actually counting myself lucky that I can go back and start from the beginning instead of waiting for book 8!
September 18, 2018
Another excellent Zoe Chambers Mystery. For best enjoyment of Cry Wolf I recommend starting the series with Book 1 - Circle of Influence. You'll be glad you did!
In her desperate hope of "family" Zoe rushes in to believe she has an older half-brother, Jason Cox.
Harry Adams, Pete's Dad, is insistent that people in his assisted living facility are being murdered. When newest resident, John Kinney, is murdered Zoe & Pete scramble to protect Harry.
Zoe steps in as acting coroner when Franklin is hospitalized for a week.
Revenge, feuding neighbors, the emotional impact of police work, all play a part in plot twists and character development.
I loved learning about the care and feeding of horses.
I can hardly wait for book #8!
I volunteered to read an ARC through Edelweiss from Henery Press.
In her desperate hope of "family" Zoe rushes in to believe she has an older half-brother, Jason Cox.
Harry Adams, Pete's Dad, is insistent that people in his assisted living facility are being murdered. When newest resident, John Kinney, is murdered Zoe & Pete scramble to protect Harry.
Zoe steps in as acting coroner when Franklin is hospitalized for a week.
Revenge, feuding neighbors, the emotional impact of police work, all play a part in plot twists and character development.
I loved learning about the care and feeding of horses.
I can hardly wait for book #8!
I volunteered to read an ARC through Edelweiss from Henery Press.
March 18, 2019
Police Chief Pete Adams is working extra shifts while one of his officers is recovering from the trauma of shooting a suspect. There is a murder of his old Training Officer in the Nursing home where his father is a resident.
Meanwhile, Paramedic and Deputy Coroner Zoe Chambers is pulled into the same investigation after the Coroner is hospitalized.
Meanwhile a man claiming to be Zoe's long lost brother appears, stretching everything even further. Another body is found - is it related or not?
This is a nice, complex mystery which is very satisfying
Meanwhile, Paramedic and Deputy Coroner Zoe Chambers is pulled into the same investigation after the Coroner is hospitalized.
Meanwhile a man claiming to be Zoe's long lost brother appears, stretching everything even further. Another body is found - is it related or not?
This is a nice, complex mystery which is very satisfying
February 12, 2023
This kind of pushed the limits of credulity. Zoe’s supposed brother shows up and puts a lot of money into fixing up the dump of a house her mother gave her. It turns out he wants to kill Pete for sending him to prison and he is using Zoe to get to him. Bonus points that the other cop who sent him away is in the same home as Pete’s dad, so he gets to kill him too! Glad to see Seth back in action, but I kind of wonder about that too. So now Zoe has a barn that had a man murdered in, and a house fixed up by a man who damn near killed Pete. Doesn’t sound like a set up for a happy hole to me! And that last minute revelation- yes, there really is a half brother out there. Will see what the next book brings.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2024
Ughh Zoe has the worst luck
September 18, 2018
Zoe and Pete are up to their eyeballs in problems. Between the two of them they find themselves overworked, overspent and at odds with each other. Pete is dealing with a man down in the police department and putting in a lot of overtime, both on the job and with the officer who is down, while Zoe finds herself as the acting coroner when her boss takes ill. Between the extra cases of squabbling neighbors, a murder at the assisted living center where Pete's dad is living and Zoe's never heard of older half brother coming to visit, things are hopping. I loved the book and enjoyed learning more of Pete's past and Zoe's family dynamics. Watching the way Pete and Zoe navigate old secrets, family and the stresses of their jobs reinforces the conviction that they are good together and good for one another. I found myself laughing out loud at times and shedding a tear or two at others. And that's what made this such a good book--enticing my interest, engaging my curiosity, and leaving me sighing when I turn the last page.
September 17, 2018
Zoe Chambers, paramedic and deputy coroner, has been working overtime in Vance Township. Her boyfriend, Police Chief Pete Adams, has been doing the same since he's down one officer, a young man who had to take a life not long ago and has been having trouble dealing with the aftermath; even though in doing so he saved Zoe from certain death. But when the coroner becomes ill, Zoe is temporarily promoted into the job, giving her even more responsibility.
When Zoe and Pete are visiting his father at Golden Oaks Assisted Living, Pete sees a retired officer he once knew, John Kinney, and they begin to catch up on old times. But when the man is discovered dead shortly after their meeting, at first it's considered a terrible accident. But after Zoe finds out the truth - that he was smothered - it becomes an entirely different ballgame.
To add to this, they get a call about a man using a machete to attack another man. When they arrive, they find that the machete-wielding man was merely protecting his horses - the self-named professor had been throwing mown grass over the fence and the horses, if they ingest it, could become ill or die. The professor either doesn't understand or doesn't want to, but they diffuse the situation as best they can. Pete also discovers that the professor's wife is none other than Kinney's sister.
But then comes the biggest surprise of all - Zoe receives a cryptic message from a man named Jason Cox, and when she returns the call she learns she has an older half-brother she never knew about. While Pete is suspicious, he does a background check - without Zoe's knowledge - but can find nothing incriminating in the man's past. And after meeting Jason, Zoe is convinced he's the real deal. But when Pete meets him, there's quite a bit of friction, almost like Jason is baiting him. Pete doesn't like him, but won't disillusion Zoe.
But it still rankles when Jason decides to help out Zoe in more ways than one, it begins to cause unspoken problems between Zoe and Pete. Then there's another murder, and Pete, who isn't conducting the investigation at the nursing home because it's out of his jurisdiction (that's left to county detective Wayne Baronick) begins to wonder what the two murders have in common. Just as he's getting closer to finding the truth, it becomes apparent that there's more at stake than finding Kinney's killer. In fact, it could be his own life...
This is the seventh book in the Zoe Chambers mystery, and I am delighted to say that while other series are losing their momentum by this time, Ms. Dashofy has somehow managed to keep this one feeling as fresh as the first. There is no loss in characterization and no loss in keeping her readers engaged in the story.
Zoe and Pete are barely settling into their new life together - Zoe has agreed to live with Pete but still has issues she needs to move past in order to embrace their future together when a brother she never knew she had steps into the scene. While it seems wonderful for her; she's never had a real family since her father died when she was eight and her relationship with her mother is strained at best, it's an entire different story for Pete. While Jason doesn't come out and say he dislikes Pete to his face, it's apparent this is true, yet Zoe is completely oblivious of this fact, her newfound happiness masking everything else.
Zoe also has two murders to deal with, one where she's working with Detective Baronick, much to Pete's displeasure, and one where it's in Pete's jurisdiction, Pete also has to deal with the fact that his deputy Seth is dealing with heavy guilt and he needs help, even if he doesn't want to admit it. Baronick suggests his sister Abby who's unhappy in her current department and Pete's willing to give her a chance, even if it's only as part-time.
As you can tell, there are a lot of things happening that somehow manage to slowly connect together, much like a puzzle where you've never seen the picture but must still figure out a way to put the pieces together. Twists and turns abound with everything culminating in a suspenseful encounter that keeps you riveted to the tale right through the last pages. This book is indeed a worthy addition to the series and I look forward to the next. Highly recommended.
When Zoe and Pete are visiting his father at Golden Oaks Assisted Living, Pete sees a retired officer he once knew, John Kinney, and they begin to catch up on old times. But when the man is discovered dead shortly after their meeting, at first it's considered a terrible accident. But after Zoe finds out the truth - that he was smothered - it becomes an entirely different ballgame.
To add to this, they get a call about a man using a machete to attack another man. When they arrive, they find that the machete-wielding man was merely protecting his horses - the self-named professor had been throwing mown grass over the fence and the horses, if they ingest it, could become ill or die. The professor either doesn't understand or doesn't want to, but they diffuse the situation as best they can. Pete also discovers that the professor's wife is none other than Kinney's sister.
But then comes the biggest surprise of all - Zoe receives a cryptic message from a man named Jason Cox, and when she returns the call she learns she has an older half-brother she never knew about. While Pete is suspicious, he does a background check - without Zoe's knowledge - but can find nothing incriminating in the man's past. And after meeting Jason, Zoe is convinced he's the real deal. But when Pete meets him, there's quite a bit of friction, almost like Jason is baiting him. Pete doesn't like him, but won't disillusion Zoe.
But it still rankles when Jason decides to help out Zoe in more ways than one, it begins to cause unspoken problems between Zoe and Pete. Then there's another murder, and Pete, who isn't conducting the investigation at the nursing home because it's out of his jurisdiction (that's left to county detective Wayne Baronick) begins to wonder what the two murders have in common. Just as he's getting closer to finding the truth, it becomes apparent that there's more at stake than finding Kinney's killer. In fact, it could be his own life...
This is the seventh book in the Zoe Chambers mystery, and I am delighted to say that while other series are losing their momentum by this time, Ms. Dashofy has somehow managed to keep this one feeling as fresh as the first. There is no loss in characterization and no loss in keeping her readers engaged in the story.
Zoe and Pete are barely settling into their new life together - Zoe has agreed to live with Pete but still has issues she needs to move past in order to embrace their future together when a brother she never knew she had steps into the scene. While it seems wonderful for her; she's never had a real family since her father died when she was eight and her relationship with her mother is strained at best, it's an entire different story for Pete. While Jason doesn't come out and say he dislikes Pete to his face, it's apparent this is true, yet Zoe is completely oblivious of this fact, her newfound happiness masking everything else.
Zoe also has two murders to deal with, one where she's working with Detective Baronick, much to Pete's displeasure, and one where it's in Pete's jurisdiction, Pete also has to deal with the fact that his deputy Seth is dealing with heavy guilt and he needs help, even if he doesn't want to admit it. Baronick suggests his sister Abby who's unhappy in her current department and Pete's willing to give her a chance, even if it's only as part-time.
As you can tell, there are a lot of things happening that somehow manage to slowly connect together, much like a puzzle where you've never seen the picture but must still figure out a way to put the pieces together. Twists and turns abound with everything culminating in a suspenseful encounter that keeps you riveted to the tale right through the last pages. This book is indeed a worthy addition to the series and I look forward to the next. Highly recommended.
August 7, 2018
Cry Wolf is the seventh book in Annette Dashofy’s Zoe Chambers Mysteries series. The storyline is well plotted, the characters are well developed and complex, and there are lots of twists and turns to keep the reader engaged. There’s a lot going on in this fast-paced book and it was hard to put it down. This book contains a good mix of complex mystery, family, friendship, and soul searching. Cry Wolf is a great read; however, it’s a little edgier and contains more adult language than most cozy mysteries.
Zoe Chambers is a paramedic and a deputy coroner for Monongahela County, Pennsylvania; her boyfriend, Pete Adams, is Vance Township Police Chief. While visiting Pete’s father, Harry, who has Alzheimer’s, at Golden Oaks, an assisted living facility, Harry tells him, not for the first time, that he thinks a resident has been murdered. A new resident turns out to be Pete’s first Field Training Officer, John Kinney, and he asks John to look into his dad’s claim. That same day, Zoe makes a second trip to Golden Oaks, this time in her capacity as a deputy coroner where she learns the deceased is John Kinney and the cause of death is suffocation. When Franklin Marshall, Zoe’s boss, is hospitalized, he puts her in charge of the County Coroner’s Office, including the Golden Oaks homicide. A second murder takes place and a suspect arrested, but he tells the authorities something that makes them go back and reevaluate all the evidence.
Pete is understaffed and covering one of his officer’s shifts while he’s on leave. Seth Metzger was involved in a fatal shooting and even though he saved Zoe’s life, he’s struggling with the fact that he killed someone and is second guessing his decision to become a police officer.
Jason Cox contacts Zoe and tells her he’s her half-brother and they arrange to have lunch. Jason had never met their father and asked all sorts of questions about him and if she had any photographs of him that he could look at. Zoe had wonderful memories of her father, but he was taken from her when she was only eight years old. All Zoe’s personal possessions, including photographs, had been destroyed in a fire, so she reluctantly contacts her estranged mother, Kimberly Chambers Jackson, to try to determine if she knew about her father’s affair and ask if she has any photographs of him.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Edelweiss/Above the Treeline and voluntarily reviewed it.
Zoe Chambers is a paramedic and a deputy coroner for Monongahela County, Pennsylvania; her boyfriend, Pete Adams, is Vance Township Police Chief. While visiting Pete’s father, Harry, who has Alzheimer’s, at Golden Oaks, an assisted living facility, Harry tells him, not for the first time, that he thinks a resident has been murdered. A new resident turns out to be Pete’s first Field Training Officer, John Kinney, and he asks John to look into his dad’s claim. That same day, Zoe makes a second trip to Golden Oaks, this time in her capacity as a deputy coroner where she learns the deceased is John Kinney and the cause of death is suffocation. When Franklin Marshall, Zoe’s boss, is hospitalized, he puts her in charge of the County Coroner’s Office, including the Golden Oaks homicide. A second murder takes place and a suspect arrested, but he tells the authorities something that makes them go back and reevaluate all the evidence.
Pete is understaffed and covering one of his officer’s shifts while he’s on leave. Seth Metzger was involved in a fatal shooting and even though he saved Zoe’s life, he’s struggling with the fact that he killed someone and is second guessing his decision to become a police officer.
Jason Cox contacts Zoe and tells her he’s her half-brother and they arrange to have lunch. Jason had never met their father and asked all sorts of questions about him and if she had any photographs of him that he could look at. Zoe had wonderful memories of her father, but he was taken from her when she was only eight years old. All Zoe’s personal possessions, including photographs, had been destroyed in a fire, so she reluctantly contacts her estranged mother, Kimberly Chambers Jackson, to try to determine if she knew about her father’s affair and ask if she has any photographs of him.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Edelweiss/Above the Treeline and voluntarily reviewed it.
September 19, 2018
Cry Wolf is the seventh book in the Zoe Chambers Mystery series by Annette Dashofy.
One of the many things I like about this series is each mystery can stand alone while still fitting seamlessly into the series.
Dashofy, a Washington County, PA native, is a USA Today best selling author and three time Agatha Award nominee. Her main character, Zoe Chambers, is a paramedic and the deputy coroner for Vance Township in rural Pennsylvania. Zoe is smart, beautiful and independent, three qualities that appeal to Pete Adams Vance Township’s chief of police, but not when that independent streak puts her in danger.
If you are familiar with the series, reading a new book is like visiting old friends because Dashofy makes Zoe and Pete likable and relatable and Vance Township could be any rural community in the Pittsburgh area. But, don’t get complacent because murder and mayhem can be lurking down any back road, and Cry Wolf is one of Dashofy’s most action packed installments.
A full moon has a way of bringing out the crazies. As paramedics, Zoe and her partner Earl are used to a little lunar lunacy, but the Vance Township police department is a man down, and the last thing Pete needs after pulling double shifts is a pair of feuding neighbors and a machete. The craziness continues when Pete receives yet another call from his dad, Harry, an Alzheimer’s patient at Golden Acres Assisted Living facility, insisting the death of a resident is murder.
Zoe and Pete visit his dad, to allay his fears and run into the newest resident at Golden Acres, John Kinney, Pete’s old training officer from the Pittsburgh PD.
When Kinney becomes the next resident to die, Pete worries his father could be in danger and launches his own investigation even though Golden Acres is outside his jurisdiction.
Zoe is put in charge of the autopsy and the coroner’s department after her boss ends up in the hospital. While juggling her new responsibilities and trying to make repairs to an old farm, a new man shows up in her life claiming to be her half brother. Anxious to make a family connection, will Zoe let her overbearing new sibling come between her and Pete?
A second murder appears to be tied to events from John Kinney’s past. Can Zoe put the pieces of this puzzle together before the killer comes after Pete?
One of the many things I like about this series is each mystery can stand alone while still fitting seamlessly into the series.
Dashofy, a Washington County, PA native, is a USA Today best selling author and three time Agatha Award nominee. Her main character, Zoe Chambers, is a paramedic and the deputy coroner for Vance Township in rural Pennsylvania. Zoe is smart, beautiful and independent, three qualities that appeal to Pete Adams Vance Township’s chief of police, but not when that independent streak puts her in danger.
If you are familiar with the series, reading a new book is like visiting old friends because Dashofy makes Zoe and Pete likable and relatable and Vance Township could be any rural community in the Pittsburgh area. But, don’t get complacent because murder and mayhem can be lurking down any back road, and Cry Wolf is one of Dashofy’s most action packed installments.
A full moon has a way of bringing out the crazies. As paramedics, Zoe and her partner Earl are used to a little lunar lunacy, but the Vance Township police department is a man down, and the last thing Pete needs after pulling double shifts is a pair of feuding neighbors and a machete. The craziness continues when Pete receives yet another call from his dad, Harry, an Alzheimer’s patient at Golden Acres Assisted Living facility, insisting the death of a resident is murder.
Zoe and Pete visit his dad, to allay his fears and run into the newest resident at Golden Acres, John Kinney, Pete’s old training officer from the Pittsburgh PD.
When Kinney becomes the next resident to die, Pete worries his father could be in danger and launches his own investigation even though Golden Acres is outside his jurisdiction.
Zoe is put in charge of the autopsy and the coroner’s department after her boss ends up in the hospital. While juggling her new responsibilities and trying to make repairs to an old farm, a new man shows up in her life claiming to be her half brother. Anxious to make a family connection, will Zoe let her overbearing new sibling come between her and Pete?
A second murder appears to be tied to events from John Kinney’s past. Can Zoe put the pieces of this puzzle together before the killer comes after Pete?
September 18, 2018
4.5 (out of 5) stars
This is the first Zoe Chambers mystery that I have read, and this series can definitely be read as standalones. There is some character threads that need to be picked up, but the author does a good job of filling in the gaps so the reader can focus on the story.
Zoe Chambers’ main job is as a paramedic, but she is also a deputy coroner. When the corner, Franklin, notifies her he is in the hospital, Zoe ends up taking on the full responsibilities as coroner. Zoe is kept busy with a homicide at the nearby nursing home where her boyfriend, and Chief of Police, Pete’s father is in residence.
On top of worrying about his father at the nursing home, Pete is working double shifts and having to deal with a domestic dispute among neighbors. Pete is called to intervene between a farmer wielding a machete against his neighbor for dumping toxic grass clippings into his horses’ pasture. Professor K is not likable, but unfortunately Pete has to arrest “Machete Man”. Anderson quickly posts bail, but Professor K continues to call Pete out to the farm, saying he feels threatened.
In addition, Zoe gets a call from someone claiming to be her step-brother. After some initial hesitation (and a quick background check by Pete), Zoe agrees to meet him for lunch. The person’s resemblance to Zoe’s late father sways Zoe and she quickly adopts Jason as the family she never had. Jason does his part in helping Zoe around her derelict farm and helps put a new roof on the barn, install plumbing in the farm house and finishes the front porch all on his own time and with his money.
All the cases become meshed together and the list of suspects expands as a result with numerous alternate motives. The ending came as a complete surprise to me… there were some early indicators, but the author wrapped up the story very well.
I also want to add, I especially enjoyed Harry’s father and love interest, Barbara at the retirement community. What spunky senior citizens!
I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it highly to others. I’ll be going back to try others in this series!
Thank you Edelweiss+ and publisher, Henery Press, for the opportunity to read this ARC.
This is the first Zoe Chambers mystery that I have read, and this series can definitely be read as standalones. There is some character threads that need to be picked up, but the author does a good job of filling in the gaps so the reader can focus on the story.
Zoe Chambers’ main job is as a paramedic, but she is also a deputy coroner. When the corner, Franklin, notifies her he is in the hospital, Zoe ends up taking on the full responsibilities as coroner. Zoe is kept busy with a homicide at the nearby nursing home where her boyfriend, and Chief of Police, Pete’s father is in residence.
On top of worrying about his father at the nursing home, Pete is working double shifts and having to deal with a domestic dispute among neighbors. Pete is called to intervene between a farmer wielding a machete against his neighbor for dumping toxic grass clippings into his horses’ pasture. Professor K is not likable, but unfortunately Pete has to arrest “Machete Man”. Anderson quickly posts bail, but Professor K continues to call Pete out to the farm, saying he feels threatened.
In addition, Zoe gets a call from someone claiming to be her step-brother. After some initial hesitation (and a quick background check by Pete), Zoe agrees to meet him for lunch. The person’s resemblance to Zoe’s late father sways Zoe and she quickly adopts Jason as the family she never had. Jason does his part in helping Zoe around her derelict farm and helps put a new roof on the barn, install plumbing in the farm house and finishes the front porch all on his own time and with his money.
All the cases become meshed together and the list of suspects expands as a result with numerous alternate motives. The ending came as a complete surprise to me… there were some early indicators, but the author wrapped up the story very well.
I also want to add, I especially enjoyed Harry’s father and love interest, Barbara at the retirement community. What spunky senior citizens!
I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it highly to others. I’ll be going back to try others in this series!
Thank you Edelweiss+ and publisher, Henery Press, for the opportunity to read this ARC.
September 19, 2018
Cry Wolf is the seventh book in Annette Dashofy’s Zoe Chambers Mysteries series. This is the second Zoe Chambers mystery that I have read (No Way Home the 5th book in this series was the first) and this book is just as thrilling as “No Way Home”. Ms. Dashofy has penned a story that is exciting and suspenseful with take your breath away moments. Both books that I’ve read can be read as standalones. Readers will recognize marked character development reading the book series in order. Zoe Chambers is as a paramedic, and a deputy coroner. Both Zoe and her significant other, police chief, Pete Adams are essentially working two fulltime jobs. Unfortunately, much of their time together is quite limited and often involves dead or severely injured individuals. Pete’s father believes that there is some-one bumping off the residents of his home, Golden Oaks, in a deadly way. The list of potential murderers and motives is long. With the insight of other Golden Oaks residents, a bizarre mix of personalities and situations make this mystery a page turner that is difficult to set down. Intrigue rules! This superbly crafted cozy mystery has interwoven a blend of ethical, medical, social and procedural issues affecting individuals worldwide. Each set of circumstance portrayed gives the reader “food for thought” given each reader is likely to encounter one or more of the situations presented. Tough topics and situations with multiple avenues for future discussion. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. For cozy mystery purist, be aware that it does contain some adult language. With that exception, I believe readers who appreciate a well written cozy mystery and/or the mystery genre will appreciate this great book.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from #Henery Press via # Edelweiss. All of the opinions expressed are my own.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from #Henery Press via # Edelweiss. All of the opinions expressed are my own.
August 12, 2018
Zoe and Pete are such a great team, and it’s good that they have many trustworthy allies, because it’s just one problem after another in Annette Dashofy’s CRY WOLF.
It begins with a knife attack on a man dumping grass clippings in a pasture despite warnings that it could cause the horses to founder and perhaps even die. (I didn’t know that. Did you? This is a most worthy bit of public education).
Things become complicated with a long-lost half-brother entering Zoe’s life, the death of Pete’s first partner/mentor in the senior living center, and Zoe filling in as acting coroner. New Officer Abby Baronick puts their duties in perspective, “We do what we must.” From there it’s a whirlwind of new and disabled officers, new responsibilities, hospitalizations, repairs on Zoe’s barn and house (will she and Pete be town mice or farm mice?), a maze of clues, and a blind “eye witness.”
Pete’s father may have been “crying wolf” in the past, but not with this death. The “professor” cried wolf calling the police because of the way his neighbor looked at him. (Pete’s saying “I realize he frightens you” and being rebuffed with “He does NOT,” reminded me of my own dealing with a complaining student, reassuring him that he had nothing to fear from the young woman seated behind him, as long as he kept his hands to himself. “I’m NOT scared of her.” Okay, then, moving on).
I loved the remembrance of Walden’s former incarnation as the drugstore where Zoe had bought CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST comics . . . friendly ghosts of past times.
I won’t spoil any surprises . . . but I couldn’t stop reading this one, and I LOVED the ending.
It begins with a knife attack on a man dumping grass clippings in a pasture despite warnings that it could cause the horses to founder and perhaps even die. (I didn’t know that. Did you? This is a most worthy bit of public education).
Things become complicated with a long-lost half-brother entering Zoe’s life, the death of Pete’s first partner/mentor in the senior living center, and Zoe filling in as acting coroner. New Officer Abby Baronick puts their duties in perspective, “We do what we must.” From there it’s a whirlwind of new and disabled officers, new responsibilities, hospitalizations, repairs on Zoe’s barn and house (will she and Pete be town mice or farm mice?), a maze of clues, and a blind “eye witness.”
Pete’s father may have been “crying wolf” in the past, but not with this death. The “professor” cried wolf calling the police because of the way his neighbor looked at him. (Pete’s saying “I realize he frightens you” and being rebuffed with “He does NOT,” reminded me of my own dealing with a complaining student, reassuring him that he had nothing to fear from the young woman seated behind him, as long as he kept his hands to himself. “I’m NOT scared of her.” Okay, then, moving on).
I loved the remembrance of Walden’s former incarnation as the drugstore where Zoe had bought CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST comics . . . friendly ghosts of past times.
I won’t spoil any surprises . . . but I couldn’t stop reading this one, and I LOVED the ending.
August 20, 2018
Cry Wolf combines the solid grit of realism with a personal warmth that make the characters and the story irresistible. From the first page, this novel pulled me into the lives of the people, most of whom I already love, and into the involved and unexpected plot. Like the earlier books, this offers not just a complex mystery but also the depth of character and relationships that despite the tears I shed, leaves me wanting the next book NOW!
When Pete Adams hears that a man has called Zoe out of the blue and announced that he is her half-brother, he is highly suspicious. After seeing that from the moment she spots the stranger this woman who generally keeps her emotions tamped down opens her heart to him and has no doubts that they are family.
Zoe is concerned when Coroner Franklin is unexpectedly hospitalized; on the other hand, she is excited that she will have an official role in the investigation of the suspicious death of Pete’s police mentor who has just moved into the assisted living facility where Henry lives. This murder leaves both Pete and Zoe concerned for his father’s safety but in moments of clarity the elder Adams refuses to leave and insists on helping with the investigation. The on-going Alzheimer’s line will touch the hearts of readers whether or that monster is part of their lives.
Amazing and complex storylines that elicit a variety of emotional responses and SUPER characters are the hallmark of Annette Dashofy’s Zoe Chambers series
Thanks to Henery Press and Edelweiss for providing me with the opportunity to preview the ARC of Cry Wolf. I can not wait to share another amazing Zoe Chambers novel with my friends.
When Pete Adams hears that a man has called Zoe out of the blue and announced that he is her half-brother, he is highly suspicious. After seeing that from the moment she spots the stranger this woman who generally keeps her emotions tamped down opens her heart to him and has no doubts that they are family.
Zoe is concerned when Coroner Franklin is unexpectedly hospitalized; on the other hand, she is excited that she will have an official role in the investigation of the suspicious death of Pete’s police mentor who has just moved into the assisted living facility where Henry lives. This murder leaves both Pete and Zoe concerned for his father’s safety but in moments of clarity the elder Adams refuses to leave and insists on helping with the investigation. The on-going Alzheimer’s line will touch the hearts of readers whether or that monster is part of their lives.
Amazing and complex storylines that elicit a variety of emotional responses and SUPER characters are the hallmark of Annette Dashofy’s Zoe Chambers series
Thanks to Henery Press and Edelweiss for providing me with the opportunity to preview the ARC of Cry Wolf. I can not wait to share another amazing Zoe Chambers novel with my friends.
September 21, 2018
Police Chief, Pete Adams, is starting to feel the strain of having to work extra shifts due to being down an officer. One of the calls he responds to is feuding neighbors and when Pete responds to another call at the same location, it's to find one of the feuding neighbors dead.
Zoe Chambers, a paramedic and deputy coroner and Pete's girlfriend leads the investigation in the coroner's office when her boss, Franklin Marshall, falls ill and sent is to the hospital.
Zoe and Pete go to Golden Oaks Nursing Home to visit Pete's father Harry, who suffers from Alzheimer's. While there, Pete find's his mentor and friend, John Kinney a new resident at Golden Oaks. Harry tells Pete and Zoe that a woman was murdered there and wants them to investigate, but they just pass this off due to past claims by Harry of murders occurring at the home. Then a body is found at Golden Oaks and it becomes personal for Pete.
In the middle of the murder investigation, Pete's extra shifts, and Zoe's increased work load at the coroner's office, Zoe get's a strange call from some one who tells he is her half-brother.
When a second body surfaces, Zoe must figure out what is going on before Pete becomes the next victim. Are the murders connected and if so, what is the common link?
This is a wonderful mystery series that you will enjoy. The writing is excellent as is the character development and well plotted. If you have never read this series, I recommend you do and if you have read them, this is another great book in the Zoe Chamber's mysteries. Please note I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Zoe Chambers, a paramedic and deputy coroner and Pete's girlfriend leads the investigation in the coroner's office when her boss, Franklin Marshall, falls ill and sent is to the hospital.
Zoe and Pete go to Golden Oaks Nursing Home to visit Pete's father Harry, who suffers from Alzheimer's. While there, Pete find's his mentor and friend, John Kinney a new resident at Golden Oaks. Harry tells Pete and Zoe that a woman was murdered there and wants them to investigate, but they just pass this off due to past claims by Harry of murders occurring at the home. Then a body is found at Golden Oaks and it becomes personal for Pete.
In the middle of the murder investigation, Pete's extra shifts, and Zoe's increased work load at the coroner's office, Zoe get's a strange call from some one who tells he is her half-brother.
When a second body surfaces, Zoe must figure out what is going on before Pete becomes the next victim. Are the murders connected and if so, what is the common link?
This is a wonderful mystery series that you will enjoy. The writing is excellent as is the character development and well plotted. If you have never read this series, I recommend you do and if you have read them, this is another great book in the Zoe Chamber's mysteries. Please note I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
September 19, 2018
Readers get to ride along briefly with Zoe Chambers as she completes her nonstop shift as a Monongahela County EMS paramedic responding to a machete attack. As interesting as that is, it only gets more so as the characters involved are soon also identified as part of murder scenarios. In Cry Wolf, Annette Dashofy continues the personal tale of Zoe and her boyfriend, Pete Adams, who is Vance Township’s Chief of Police. The network expands to include Harry, Pete’s father with Alzheimer’s and Jason Cox, Zoe’s newly discovered half-brother.
Zoe’s boss is hospitalized, and she has to take over his coroner’s duties putting her closer to the investigation of both murders. Meanwhile the folks at Golden Oaks retirement home help out with the sleuthing, and Pete tries to come to grips with this newly found family relationship of Zoe’s. Vance’s small police force is currently undermanned due to a young officer’s reluctance to serve after his first police shooting results in a death.
Cry Wolf has a complicated plot with lots of interwoven threads and action scenes and a little humor thrown in. The characters are interesting and well-developed. This is a book you won’t want to put down until its surprise ending and satisfactory conclusion.
I would like to extend my thanks to Edelweiss and to Henery Press for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Zoe’s boss is hospitalized, and she has to take over his coroner’s duties putting her closer to the investigation of both murders. Meanwhile the folks at Golden Oaks retirement home help out with the sleuthing, and Pete tries to come to grips with this newly found family relationship of Zoe’s. Vance’s small police force is currently undermanned due to a young officer’s reluctance to serve after his first police shooting results in a death.
Cry Wolf has a complicated plot with lots of interwoven threads and action scenes and a little humor thrown in. The characters are interesting and well-developed. This is a book you won’t want to put down until its surprise ending and satisfactory conclusion.
I would like to extend my thanks to Edelweiss and to Henery Press for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 14, 2020
Intriguing and enjoyable book! While visiting his father at the assisted living home, Pete and Zoe run into Pete’s former field training officer from his days of working in Pittsburgh. The man is now living in the facility as well, but doesn’t seem to be making any friends. Shortly after leaving, the man is found dead in his room in an apparent accident, which is later determined to be murder. Zoe is called in as acting coroner after Franklin ends up in the hospital. In addition to the murder, Zoe receives a call from a man who claims to be her older half-brother. She goes to meet the man, Jason Cox, and finds herself feeling attached to him and believes he really is her brother. Pete has his doubts, but can’t seem to find anything criminal in his past. Also, the husband of the sister of Pete’s training officer is causing problems with his horse farmer neighbor and eventually the man ends up murdered with the horse farmer as the prime suspect. Can Zoe and Detective Wayne Baronick catch the killer of Pete’s friend and can Pete and his officers, including new officer, Abby Baronick, sister of Wayne? Also, is Jason really Zoe’s brother? Intriguing storylines and I enjoyed also seeing how Zoe and Pete both tried to get officer Seth Metzger back on duty after he killed a woman in the line of duty. I highly recommend this series!
November 8, 2018
This can be read as a stand alone but you may appreciate the characters more if you have been introduced to them in previous books of this series and have seen their growth. You will especially get a better understanding of the relationship between Zoe and her mother.
The book begins on a full moon evening along with all the zany calls police and medical personnel receive. A good portion of the action also relates to the Golden Oaks Assisted Living facility where the police chief's father resides. Although Harry has some less than lucid moments, he is convinced that weird things are happening in his "hotel." People seem to be dying quite regularly.
This time, the person who dies is a retired cop with ties to Pete, the police chief.
There are other secrets and weird behaviors that pop up on a regular basis throughout the book. Never a dull moment. And no rest for paramedic Zoe who must cover for an ill coroner, care for her horses on a farm that really isn't, assist Pete and detective Wayne with hours of investigation and more. Out of the blue she also gets a phone call that leads her to believe she has an elder sibling she has never heard about.
Danger and emotional turbulence abound. It can not all be blamed on the full moon.
The book begins on a full moon evening along with all the zany calls police and medical personnel receive. A good portion of the action also relates to the Golden Oaks Assisted Living facility where the police chief's father resides. Although Harry has some less than lucid moments, he is convinced that weird things are happening in his "hotel." People seem to be dying quite regularly.
This time, the person who dies is a retired cop with ties to Pete, the police chief.
There are other secrets and weird behaviors that pop up on a regular basis throughout the book. Never a dull moment. And no rest for paramedic Zoe who must cover for an ill coroner, care for her horses on a farm that really isn't, assist Pete and detective Wayne with hours of investigation and more. Out of the blue she also gets a phone call that leads her to believe she has an elder sibling she has never heard about.
Danger and emotional turbulence abound. It can not all be blamed on the full moon.
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