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Gunn Zoo Mystery #6
The Panda of Death
California zookeeper Theodora Bentley is now happily married to Sheriff Joe Rejas. The Gunn Zoo is celebrating the arrival of Poonya, an adorable red panda, who forms a strong bond with Teddy. All appears fairytale blissful in the small Monterey Bay village of Gunn Landing until Teddy's mother-in-law discovers through DNA testing that Joe has sired a son he knew nothing about. Dylan Coyle, 18, arrives to meet his biological family… and then is arrested for murder. But Teddy—with her animal companions—hops onboard the case.
- GenresMysteryCozy Mystery
288 pages, Paperback
Published March 3, 2020
34 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
About the author
Betty Webb
24 books202 followersAs a journalist and literary critic for more than 20 years, Betty -- a resident of Scottsdale, Arizona, where her detective Lena Jones also lives -- has interviewed U. S. presidents, Nobel prize-winners, astronauts who’ve walked on the moon, polygamy runaways, the homeless, and the hopeless.
Now retired from journalism to write full time, she also contributes the Small Press column for Mystery Scene magazine and teaches creative writing at Phoenix College.
In her writing, Betty makes liberal use of her own varied background. She earned her way through art school by working as a folk singer but eventually gave up singing to concentrate on her art career. At various times she has picked cotton, raised chickens which laid blue eggs (Speckled Hamburgs), worked in a zoo, been a go-go dancer and horse breeder, taught Sunday School, founded a literary magazine, helped rebuild a long-abandoned 120-year-old farm house, and back-packed the Highlands of Scotland alone.
In 1982, Betty moved to Scottsdale, Arizona, where her Lena Jones novels are set, but her roots are in Hamilton, Alabama, where most of her extended family still lives. In 2000 she published The Webb Family of Alabama: Survivors of Change, which focused on the descendants of her half-Seneca, half-English great-great-grandfather, William Douglas Webb, who ran away to sea at the age of 16, then after 14 wild years, settled down to farm peacefully in Hamilton. Recent DNA testing, however, has revealed that her seafaring ancestor harbored a big secret: he might not have been a Webb after all, but the descendant of a New Jersey colonist family named Price. Betty is now working to unravel this real-life mystery: did William Douglas Price change his name to Webb. Was he on the run from the law? (As a mystery writer, she kinda hopes he was)
On her mother’s side, Betty can trace her roots back to the Barons of Riddell in medieval Scotland. The Riddells, friends and financial supporters of the poet Robert Burns, did not always enjoy the best of reputations. The opera, Lucia di Lammermore, about a young bride who decapitates her husband on their wedding night, was based upon a real life incident in the Riddell family. But the Riddells maintain that Lucy (her real name) merely scratched her bridegroom, and that he simply overreacted when he screamed out, "Murder!" Anyway, that’s the Riddells' story and they're sticking to it.
"The impact of my unusual family upon my life has been profound," Betty says. "That's why I thought it would be intriguing to create a detective who had no idea of where she came from or who her parents were. Creating the orphaned Lena Jones has helped me appreciate my own ancestral heritage - both the good and the bad." About the recent DNA testing results, she adds, "All this time the Webbs were keeping an even bigger secret than the Riddells -- and they didn’t even know they were! How could I not have become a mystery novelist."
(from http://www.bettywebb-mystery.com/bio....)
Series:
* Lena Jones Mystery
* Gunn Zoo Mystery
Now retired from journalism to write full time, she also contributes the Small Press column for Mystery Scene magazine and teaches creative writing at Phoenix College.
In her writing, Betty makes liberal use of her own varied background. She earned her way through art school by working as a folk singer but eventually gave up singing to concentrate on her art career. At various times she has picked cotton, raised chickens which laid blue eggs (Speckled Hamburgs), worked in a zoo, been a go-go dancer and horse breeder, taught Sunday School, founded a literary magazine, helped rebuild a long-abandoned 120-year-old farm house, and back-packed the Highlands of Scotland alone.
In 1982, Betty moved to Scottsdale, Arizona, where her Lena Jones novels are set, but her roots are in Hamilton, Alabama, where most of her extended family still lives. In 2000 she published The Webb Family of Alabama: Survivors of Change, which focused on the descendants of her half-Seneca, half-English great-great-grandfather, William Douglas Webb, who ran away to sea at the age of 16, then after 14 wild years, settled down to farm peacefully in Hamilton. Recent DNA testing, however, has revealed that her seafaring ancestor harbored a big secret: he might not have been a Webb after all, but the descendant of a New Jersey colonist family named Price. Betty is now working to unravel this real-life mystery: did William Douglas Price change his name to Webb. Was he on the run from the law? (As a mystery writer, she kinda hopes he was)
On her mother’s side, Betty can trace her roots back to the Barons of Riddell in medieval Scotland. The Riddells, friends and financial supporters of the poet Robert Burns, did not always enjoy the best of reputations. The opera, Lucia di Lammermore, about a young bride who decapitates her husband on their wedding night, was based upon a real life incident in the Riddell family. But the Riddells maintain that Lucy (her real name) merely scratched her bridegroom, and that he simply overreacted when he screamed out, "Murder!" Anyway, that’s the Riddells' story and they're sticking to it.
"The impact of my unusual family upon my life has been profound," Betty says. "That's why I thought it would be intriguing to create a detective who had no idea of where she came from or who her parents were. Creating the orphaned Lena Jones has helped me appreciate my own ancestral heritage - both the good and the bad." About the recent DNA testing results, she adds, "All this time the Webbs were keeping an even bigger secret than the Riddells -- and they didn’t even know they were! How could I not have become a mystery novelist."
(from http://www.bettywebb-mystery.com/bio....)
Series:
* Lena Jones Mystery
* Gunn Zoo Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
August 11, 2020
Really about a 3.8 in the series, and it IS an excellent series. Somehow I didn't particularly care for the resolution-- I felt the solution was just sort of pick someone unlikely. That may have been true of some of the others but I may have been too distracted by all the wonderful information about animals to notice. And somehow Teddy's impulsiveness bothered me more this time. That said, I always enjoy these books and adore the behind the scenes at the zoo parts. Great animal information. One of the strongest aspects is the marvelous way that Webb lets the reader see the personality of the individual animal; in this case, Poonya the red panda is highlighted. I liked most of the supporting characters as well and I like the family dynamics with Teddy, her new husband, Joe, Joe's delightful mother, and his two kids. So while I certainly recommend the series as a definite cut above the average cozy, I don't think this is the strongest entry in the series. I think it could be read as a standalone but it would probably be better if one at least one previous book. I hope there will be more to come.
September 14, 2020
I believe this is the sixth Gunn Zoo mystery, and you'll need to keep up with the family relationships. The background information on what goes on behind the scenes at zoos is very interesting--and the Hollywood and puppeteer info. The most interesting and exciting scene is the wolf enclosure rescue!
Note: In this mystery I did suspect the villain.
Note: In this mystery I did suspect the villain.
January 31, 2025
This one should probably be 3 1/2 stars rather than three. As a former zoo-keeper myself, I liked that the main character is a zoo keeper. I didn't like that the zoo she works at has so many single animals instead of breeding pairs, including the red panda of the title.
September 26, 2020
I like this zoo series and to learn about the behind the scenes at the zoo.
March 23, 2020
Hunkered down in my home doing what I enjoy most --- reading mysteries --- I just finished Betty Webb’s new book. A retired reporter for the Arizona Republic who distinguished herself covering polygamist cults in southern Utah, Webb has written a number of novels about abused women and children. In 2008, she changed course after volunteering at the Phoenix Zoo and turned to a lighter topic: zookeeping.
Inspired by her experiences, Webb has created this series featuring Theodora “Teddy” Bentley, a young woman who works as a zookeeper at the fictional Gunn Zoo in the Bay Area of California. The zoo specializes in the rescue of rare and endangered species. The overarching storyline is that Teddy, who is married to Sheriff Joe Rejas, often becomes involved when humans who may have a connection to the zoo die under suspicious circumstances.
Webb, who always is looking to broaden her research, recently learned that she has a half-brother thanks to DNA testing. Voila! A great plot line developed in THE PANDA OF DEATH, the sixth installment of this series. When Teddy’s husband discovers that he has a younger brother fathered during a high school fling, the handsome man, Dylan Coyle, turns up unexpectedly and is abruptly arrested for murder. It hits close to home for Teddy and her husband, especially when Teddy herself becomes a suspect.
The dead man, Cliff Flaherty, was a writer for “Tippy-Toe & Tinker,” a well-known local children’s show featuring animal puppets, the most popular of which is based on a newly arrived red panda, Poonya. A squabble arose between Flaherty and the puppeteers about a new storyline for the program involving the actress who operates the panda puppet. The suddenly late writer seemed to have very few friends, not the least of whom was Teddy, Poonya’s caretaker. And guess where his body was found? Next to Teddy’s houseboat. With Teddy (who, may I remind you, is the sheriff’s wife) and Dylan, the suspects pile up and the plot thickens.
There are a lot of players in THE PANDA OF DEATH, and initially I had a heck of a time keeping track of everyone. However, as the story swiftly moved forward, I became so fascinated by this righteous heroine and caught up in the tangle of improbable events that I whisked through the pages with a smile.
I noted that Webb has that gold nugget of a backlist of five Gunn Zoo mysteries, so I did what any responsible reviewer would do: I downloaded the first book (THE ANTEATER OF DEATH) to become acquainted with the hilarious characters and entangled relationships of Teddy’s family. Who is this determined young woman who is descended from among the wealthiest families of the coastal community? And why would she choose to keep her battered old converted houseboat and live with her one-legged rescue dog and one-eyed cat? I mean, what’s not to love about this character? In minutes, I had THE ANTEATER OF DEATH on my Kindle.
Now that I’m sequestered during this pandemic, I will entertain myself by exploring backlists of other favorites on my e-reader. Oh, and since my husband shares my taste in books, it’s a good thing we have two of those handy little gadgets.
I also have read LESS THAN A MOMENT by Steven F. Havill, another new author to me who writes along the lines of C. J. Box and Craig Johnson, with a huge backlist and an avid following. Another gold nugget! What a great way to spend time in seclusion --- meeting new friends while staying safe and in touch with old ones.
Reviewed by Roz Shea
Inspired by her experiences, Webb has created this series featuring Theodora “Teddy” Bentley, a young woman who works as a zookeeper at the fictional Gunn Zoo in the Bay Area of California. The zoo specializes in the rescue of rare and endangered species. The overarching storyline is that Teddy, who is married to Sheriff Joe Rejas, often becomes involved when humans who may have a connection to the zoo die under suspicious circumstances.
Webb, who always is looking to broaden her research, recently learned that she has a half-brother thanks to DNA testing. Voila! A great plot line developed in THE PANDA OF DEATH, the sixth installment of this series. When Teddy’s husband discovers that he has a younger brother fathered during a high school fling, the handsome man, Dylan Coyle, turns up unexpectedly and is abruptly arrested for murder. It hits close to home for Teddy and her husband, especially when Teddy herself becomes a suspect.
The dead man, Cliff Flaherty, was a writer for “Tippy-Toe & Tinker,” a well-known local children’s show featuring animal puppets, the most popular of which is based on a newly arrived red panda, Poonya. A squabble arose between Flaherty and the puppeteers about a new storyline for the program involving the actress who operates the panda puppet. The suddenly late writer seemed to have very few friends, not the least of whom was Teddy, Poonya’s caretaker. And guess where his body was found? Next to Teddy’s houseboat. With Teddy (who, may I remind you, is the sheriff’s wife) and Dylan, the suspects pile up and the plot thickens.
There are a lot of players in THE PANDA OF DEATH, and initially I had a heck of a time keeping track of everyone. However, as the story swiftly moved forward, I became so fascinated by this righteous heroine and caught up in the tangle of improbable events that I whisked through the pages with a smile.
I noted that Webb has that gold nugget of a backlist of five Gunn Zoo mysteries, so I did what any responsible reviewer would do: I downloaded the first book (THE ANTEATER OF DEATH) to become acquainted with the hilarious characters and entangled relationships of Teddy’s family. Who is this determined young woman who is descended from among the wealthiest families of the coastal community? And why would she choose to keep her battered old converted houseboat and live with her one-legged rescue dog and one-eyed cat? I mean, what’s not to love about this character? In minutes, I had THE ANTEATER OF DEATH on my Kindle.
Now that I’m sequestered during this pandemic, I will entertain myself by exploring backlists of other favorites on my e-reader. Oh, and since my husband shares my taste in books, it’s a good thing we have two of those handy little gadgets.
I also have read LESS THAN A MOMENT by Steven F. Havill, another new author to me who writes along the lines of C. J. Box and Craig Johnson, with a huge backlist and an avid following. Another gold nugget! What a great way to spend time in seclusion --- meeting new friends while staying safe and in touch with old ones.
Reviewed by Roz Shea
July 11, 2020
Teddy is a zookeeper married to the local sheriff. This is the second marriage for each of them and as a result she has tow step-children who live with them. Her mother-in-law is a mystery writer and lives in a cottage in back of the main house.
Then one day a young man appears who tells them that his DNA matches Joe's. It seems that Joe had a one-night stand in high school with Lauren and Joe is the result. Now there are three step-children. Unfortunately, when a local grumpy man who writes puppet shows is murdered, Dylan (the new stepson) is the number one suspect. When his mother Lauren comes to set his bail, Teddy cannot get over how beautiful she is and wonders if Joe might wish he had married her.
Another murder takes place, puppet shows are cancelled, Teddy has one mishap after another at the zoo. But all is well that ends well. It isn't until the final chapters that we understand why the book is titled "The Panda of Death."
A fun book. I had read one other in this series 5 years ago. I waited far to long to enjoy this author again. I will be looking for more of her Zoo series books.
Then one day a young man appears who tells them that his DNA matches Joe's. It seems that Joe had a one-night stand in high school with Lauren and Joe is the result. Now there are three step-children. Unfortunately, when a local grumpy man who writes puppet shows is murdered, Dylan (the new stepson) is the number one suspect. When his mother Lauren comes to set his bail, Teddy cannot get over how beautiful she is and wonders if Joe might wish he had married her.
Another murder takes place, puppet shows are cancelled, Teddy has one mishap after another at the zoo. But all is well that ends well. It isn't until the final chapters that we understand why the book is titled "The Panda of Death."
A fun book. I had read one other in this series 5 years ago. I waited far to long to enjoy this author again. I will be looking for more of her Zoo series books.
March 9, 2020
THE PANDA OF DEATH by Betty Webb is the 6th title in her Gunn Zoo Mystery series.
Our main characters are Theodora (Teddy) Bentley, zookeeper extraordinaire at the Gunn Zoo in San Sebastian, California; the Gunn Zoo itself and its many inhabitants, including Poonya, the zoo’s new red panda.
Teddy is now married to Sheriff Joe Rejas and her new ‘family life’ is center stage, as is a favorite local children’s tv program that her step-children (indeed, all of the town of San Sebastian) enjoy watching, KGNN’s ‘Tippy-Toe & Tinker’.
The characters in this series are very interesting, eclectic and enthusiastic, as is the zoo setting and its animals. There is lots of murder, funny zoo anecdotes and amateur sleuthing on the part of Teddy.
The books are interesting and fun to read; intriguing story lines are full of twists and turns and relationships; Teddy’s live-aboard boat in Gunn Landing Harbor, the MERILEE, and harbor life, itself, provides many a good setting; anecdotes about the zoo and its animals add interest and humor.
I like Betty Webb’s ‘About the Author’ section. She is a member of the National Organization of Zoo Keepers, as well as the National Federation of Press Women and the Mystery Writers of America. For more info see bettywebb-mystery.com
A very fun series to read. I heartily recommend it.
Our main characters are Theodora (Teddy) Bentley, zookeeper extraordinaire at the Gunn Zoo in San Sebastian, California; the Gunn Zoo itself and its many inhabitants, including Poonya, the zoo’s new red panda.
Teddy is now married to Sheriff Joe Rejas and her new ‘family life’ is center stage, as is a favorite local children’s tv program that her step-children (indeed, all of the town of San Sebastian) enjoy watching, KGNN’s ‘Tippy-Toe & Tinker’.
The characters in this series are very interesting, eclectic and enthusiastic, as is the zoo setting and its animals. There is lots of murder, funny zoo anecdotes and amateur sleuthing on the part of Teddy.
The books are interesting and fun to read; intriguing story lines are full of twists and turns and relationships; Teddy’s live-aboard boat in Gunn Landing Harbor, the MERILEE, and harbor life, itself, provides many a good setting; anecdotes about the zoo and its animals add interest and humor.
I like Betty Webb’s ‘About the Author’ section. She is a member of the National Organization of Zoo Keepers, as well as the National Federation of Press Women and the Mystery Writers of America. For more info see bettywebb-mystery.com
A very fun series to read. I heartily recommend it.
April 4, 2020
This is a wonderful series for the cozy lover who likes animals. This is book 6 in the Gunn Zoo Mystery series and it's a perfect addition to the series. You can read this as a stand alone but you'll want more background from the previous books. Set in Monterey Bay, Theodora is excited about new arrival Poonya, a cute Red Panda in her care. He was donated to the zoo by a woman who died. The only stipulation was he had to be cuddled every day. Theo and Joe, the sheriff are now happily married and discover he has an 18 year old son he never knew. When he visits them he is now the prime suspect in a murder. Great mystery and it's fun watching the characters grow over the years. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
April 30, 2023
This story jumps right in from the first paragraph. Did not enjoy quite as much as previous ones in this series, but it could be because it's more difficult to lose oneself in the story with all the pandemic going on around us. Still, it gave respite for a few hours.
December 28, 2020
Hace unos días vi una película en Netflix sobre una detective aficionada que contaba con la ayuda de un club de lectura. Era una bibliotecaria que terminaba siempre metiendo las narices en los asuntos de los demás. La verdad es que este tipo de personajes ha dado pie a todo un género literario que tiene sus propias reglas, son los llamados misterios suaves , una traducción un tanto libre del inglés.
El panda de la muerte es uno de esos libros. La protagonista Teddy, no es una bibliotecaria sino una persona que trabaja en el zoo del lugar, lo que da pie a que de vez en cuando se describa la vida de un zoo moderno, con curiosidades de animales y demás. Y eso incluye hacer un claro de luna retrasmitidos por la televisión. El caso es que Teddy está casada con el sheriff del lugar, su amor de juventud al que tuvo que renunciar porque su rica familia no deseaba que ella tuviera relación con el nieto de un inmigrante mejicano. Ha pasado el tiempo -y las novelas- y ahora Joe y Teddy están casados y viven con los dos hijos pequeños de él, además de con su madre, y un par de mascotas. Todo muy idílico.
A diferencia de otras novelas de este tipo Betty Webb ha escrito una historia un poco más densa, que puede ser excesiva si no has leído libros anteriores porque así no había tanta dificultad para entender todas las relaciones entre los personajes, aunque la verdad es que yo no he tenido ningún problema para meterme de lleno en la historia, eso sí, una vez que supe quién es quién.
La trama tiene dos partes, la primera es muy familiar, con un secreto que sale a la luz, muchas referencias sobre la vida de Teddy con trabajadora del zoo, y demás.
La segunda parte es más de intriga, es cuando la protagonista empieza a indagar mucho más sobre el asesinato y quién puede ser el culpable. Aquí he de confesar que no hubo ninguna sorpresa, ya me lo esperaba desde el primer capitulo pero aún así ha sido una historia interesante en su conjunto.
Lo malo del libro, si es que puede ser considerado malo, es que la parte familiar me ha gustado mucho más que la de intriga, porque a veces resulta muy densa y pesada y porque, vamos a ser sinceros, como lectora nunca he terminado de creerme que un personaje sin ninguna relación con los procedimientos de las investigaciones de asesinato sea capaz de averiguar la verdad solo preguntando por ahí y resolviéndolo todo el un par de días. Más que nada porque no hay razón para que la gente hable con ella y le diga la verdad. En fin, son cosas de este género literario al que considero más bien pura fantasía.
En líneas generales me ha gustado el libro, entretenido y para pasar el rato.
El panda de la muerte es uno de esos libros. La protagonista Teddy, no es una bibliotecaria sino una persona que trabaja en el zoo del lugar, lo que da pie a que de vez en cuando se describa la vida de un zoo moderno, con curiosidades de animales y demás. Y eso incluye hacer un claro de luna retrasmitidos por la televisión. El caso es que Teddy está casada con el sheriff del lugar, su amor de juventud al que tuvo que renunciar porque su rica familia no deseaba que ella tuviera relación con el nieto de un inmigrante mejicano. Ha pasado el tiempo -y las novelas- y ahora Joe y Teddy están casados y viven con los dos hijos pequeños de él, además de con su madre, y un par de mascotas. Todo muy idílico.
A diferencia de otras novelas de este tipo Betty Webb ha escrito una historia un poco más densa, que puede ser excesiva si no has leído libros anteriores porque así no había tanta dificultad para entender todas las relaciones entre los personajes, aunque la verdad es que yo no he tenido ningún problema para meterme de lleno en la historia, eso sí, una vez que supe quién es quién.
La trama tiene dos partes, la primera es muy familiar, con un secreto que sale a la luz, muchas referencias sobre la vida de Teddy con trabajadora del zoo, y demás.
La segunda parte es más de intriga, es cuando la protagonista empieza a indagar mucho más sobre el asesinato y quién puede ser el culpable. Aquí he de confesar que no hubo ninguna sorpresa, ya me lo esperaba desde el primer capitulo pero aún así ha sido una historia interesante en su conjunto.
Lo malo del libro, si es que puede ser considerado malo, es que la parte familiar me ha gustado mucho más que la de intriga, porque a veces resulta muy densa y pesada y porque, vamos a ser sinceros, como lectora nunca he terminado de creerme que un personaje sin ninguna relación con los procedimientos de las investigaciones de asesinato sea capaz de averiguar la verdad solo preguntando por ahí y resolviéndolo todo el un par de días. Más que nada porque no hay razón para que la gente hable con ella y le diga la verdad. En fin, son cosas de este género literario al que considero más bien pura fantasía.
En líneas generales me ha gustado el libro, entretenido y para pasar el rato.
June 9, 2020
Teddy and new husband Joe get a major surprise when Joe's mother unearths Joe's son from a previous relationship - a son he didn't know he had. They are more surprised when that son is arrested for the murder of a children's television producer. Joe must recuse himself from the investigation, but his mother sees no reason why Teddy should do the same. And of course, neither does she.
I liked a lot of different aspects of this particular Gunn Zoo novel: the cast of the children's show was really fun to get to know, seeing Teddy and Joe finally settled, and of course, having more Colleen was very welcome. At the same time, there were so many things happening at once, and I didn't feel like we got to spend enough time with any one plot line. It also made Teddy's investigation seem disjointed. There were so many leads and suspects that her ideas and clues didn't feel connected. It was okay, in the end, but definitely not as enjoyable as any of the others for me.
I liked a lot of different aspects of this particular Gunn Zoo novel: the cast of the children's show was really fun to get to know, seeing Teddy and Joe finally settled, and of course, having more Colleen was very welcome. At the same time, there were so many things happening at once, and I didn't feel like we got to spend enough time with any one plot line. It also made Teddy's investigation seem disjointed. There were so many leads and suspects that her ideas and clues didn't feel connected. It was okay, in the end, but definitely not as enjoyable as any of the others for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 17, 2025
I went back and reread the reviews that I gave for the first 2 books in this series and find that I really liked them (with 4 stars). Although I enjoyed this book (and I haven't read 3,4 and 5) it didn't come off as interesting to me as the first two. I don't know if it's because I skipped over 3 books in the series and wasn't up to date on all the relationships or some other unknown problem. I still enjoyed the information about the zoo and the animals but didn't feel like there was nearly as much. The little red panda was really only included because she was the inspiration for a marionette character on a local children's TV show. Still a quick read maybe just not as fun as the first 2. I may still go back and read the 3 I skipped.
January 7, 2022
Have read and liked most of this series. I enjoyed the majority of this entry. The appearance of an unknown son and everyone’s reactions to it were amusing, if maybe a little glossed over. And who doesn’t love a red panda?
BUT, after the final reveal I was literally flipping through pages wondering if I’d somehow missed a chapter. Teddy’s use of a dark web website and then readers not having access to all she found felt like a cheat. And that feeling ramped way up at the end when the killer was revealed and quick mention was made of key events never even alluded to earlier. Detecting along with the characters is central to the genre and this book tossed that feature away at the end.
BUT, after the final reveal I was literally flipping through pages wondering if I’d somehow missed a chapter. Teddy’s use of a dark web website and then readers not having access to all she found felt like a cheat. And that feeling ramped way up at the end when the killer was revealed and quick mention was made of key events never even alluded to earlier. Detecting along with the characters is central to the genre and this book tossed that feature away at the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2022
I really enjoy these books. Love the boat-living characters in all their quirkiness. In this book, there's not only the mystery of who killed obnoxious Cliff Flaherty but also a sideline of an unknown son of Joe, Teddy's husband/sheriff. When Joe is forced to arrest his son for the murder, Teddy begins to investigate and finds that Cliff had two sides to him - one that was kind and exceedingly generous and the other that flew into murderous rages. As she seeks to understand Cliff's sudden change of moods, Teddy also has a new charge at the Gunn Zoo - an adorable red panda named Poonya. Another great summer read.
January 26, 2020
I have read The Panda of Death by Betty Webb, it's the sixth book about Teddy Bentley who works at Gunn Zoo and seems to always get involved in murder cases. I love smalltown mysteries and this is one of those and it's good. In every book there is a new main animal character and a new problem behind the murder. This is also very good. I actually think that the Lena Jones mysteries are better but I really like the style of writing that Betty Webb has. I must thank #PoisonedPenPress #Sourcebooks and #Edelweiss for letting me read this great book.
October 2, 2020
This series started out great, this last book was nothing but lazy writing. We first meet Lauren and are told she is beyond gorgeous. Ok I get it, but every time she is mentioned we are told again and again what a perfect face/body/eyes etc she has. Then every time information that was gathered on the web is mentioned we are told the name of the website. This adds nothing to the story, but it sure helps make word count. I actually just skipped to the end to find out who the killer was. Will not continue this series, there are too many great books out there to read and enjoy.
June 16, 2025
This has been one of my favorite series. This one was slightly disappointing in that there's a large, extended family issue that is quite irritating. Nothing stays the same forever. Her boat, and zoo which had separated the series still was given place in the book, but more backseat to a new life. There are some scenes, true to the authors style, were hilariously funny. The animal personalities too that make this the best as far as deciding I still will give it a five star and we'll see where the series goes from here.
April 1, 2020
I love this series and I think this is an excellent addition.
It's fun to read, well written and engrossing.
It's always nice to meet again the likeable and well thought cast of characters (both humans and animals) and follow their adventure.
The mystery is solid, full of twists and turns, and kept me guessing.
I can't wait to read the next instalment.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
It's fun to read, well written and engrossing.
It's always nice to meet again the likeable and well thought cast of characters (both humans and animals) and follow their adventure.
The mystery is solid, full of twists and turns, and kept me guessing.
I can't wait to read the next instalment.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
October 1, 2020
I have read two series of Betty Webb books and this is the first Betty Webb book I have not finished...It was Chapter 8 before she got really serious about "the zoo." I got tired of the characters and their personal relationships which have taken the place of "serious mystery." My reaction was that she was tired of writing this series, too.
I will continue reading her books because she is a great writer but this one was a waste.
I will continue reading her books because she is a great writer but this one was a waste.
September 29, 2022
This is the first Gunn Zoo Mystery I have read. It definitely worked as a standalone, but I think I missed a few things. I read it during a very full and tiring trip, so perhaps it was because my attention was not as focused as usual, but the story seemed to skip around a bit. At times it was difficult for me to follow all the characters and how they were connected to each other.
March 17, 2020
Another excellent book by Betty Webb
The Gunn Zoo series is just the latest set of wonderful books by Betty Webb. I read all of her Lena Horn books and now the zoo books. She really knows how to weave a story. Read them from the first book as she has a continuing story line.
The Gunn Zoo series is just the latest set of wonderful books by Betty Webb. I read all of her Lena Horn books and now the zoo books. She really knows how to weave a story. Read them from the first book as she has a continuing story line.
April 24, 2021
Same old, same old for this series at this point - adds in irrelevant new characters to make more mysteries happens, but it feels very much like the same story that's been told 5 times before with a few names changed. Feels like a series that should have stopped a few books ago.
July 30, 2022
Another fun and informative story but I think this time there was too much in the way of characters and potential suspects. I think it could have been whittled down a little to concentrate more on just a few suspects.
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January 28, 2020 i reviewed this editorially for Mystery Scene Magazine please subscribe to see the entire review published in February 2020
August 8, 2024
I have really enjoyed this series and am sorry that it's the last one.
August 18, 2020
This is a lively, crowded mystery, with perhaps too many characters for new readers, who would be better starting at an earlier book. Unless you're a nature fan like me and want to find out about the ethical zoo and red panda, in which case go for it.
Another issue I had is that several new characters from the TV world are present making a kids' programme, and we have to learn all of their backgrounds when one of them is killed, so that makes for many infodumps. We probably don't care as much for these people and their past as about the zoo staff, and after the third or so infodump we stop paying attention.
Some fun is to be had around and about the animal enclosures, but please, don't let your child play in the wolf run. Enjoy.
I read an e-ARC from Fresh Fiction. This is an unbiased review.
Another issue I had is that several new characters from the TV world are present making a kids' programme, and we have to learn all of their backgrounds when one of them is killed, so that makes for many infodumps. We probably don't care as much for these people and their past as about the zoo staff, and after the third or so infodump we stop paying attention.
Some fun is to be had around and about the animal enclosures, but please, don't let your child play in the wolf run. Enjoy.
I read an e-ARC from Fresh Fiction. This is an unbiased review.
April 13, 2025
This series has so much that I love in life--live-ab0ards in the harbor; zoo keepers (my son is one); and mysteries.
This particular book was well-constructed, very intricate in its plot, and an all-around good read.
I know Webb hasn't written a Gunn Zoo book in a while, but I sure do hope she's been working on the next one.
This particular book was well-constructed, very intricate in its plot, and an all-around good read.
I know Webb hasn't written a Gunn Zoo book in a while, but I sure do hope she's been working on the next one.
April 30, 2020
Despite having not read the previous five books, I was able to easily follow the characters and plot. Some events happen a little too easily; however, the conclusion made sense and the characters were likeable.
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