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Furever Pets Mystery #2

Dial M for Maine Coon

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Animal rescue is always risky business, but Liz Denton, owner of the Furever Pets, finds out it’s also dangerous when someone puts down one of her prospective pet adopters . . .

Liz is thrilled to find a forever home for her latest rescue, Sheamus, a Maine Coon cat. But on adoption day, she discovers Sheamus’s would-be owner, Joe Hitchcock, murdered in his study. Joe’s shocking death reveals an even more startling secret: his real name was Joe Danvers . . . a man accused of killing his wife thirty years ago.

Liz knows she should focus on finding Sheamus a new home, but this mystery already has its claws in her. So Liz begins vetting the clues from both investigations. But with a stalker sniffing at her heels and a rival swatting at her business, Liz’s curiosity may come at a hefty price . . . especially since Joe’s case has more lives than a cat.

304 pages, ebook

First published June 1, 2020

15 people are currently reading
320 people want to read

About the author

Alex Erickson

25 books574 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
Profile Image for Linda Langford.
1,607 reviews14 followers
August 22, 2020
Y’all might pull an all-nighter once you start reading this newest Furever Pets cozy! The plot is excellent and intriguing, so keep your eyes open for clues! Animal rescuer, Liz Denton, and her daughter, Amelia, lead the cast as a great twosome of amateur sleuths. Author Erickson keeps the mystery the centerpoint and presents several interesting theories involving the murders. Several sketchy-acting secondary characters are presented who could all fit the bill in some way in the murder/missing person cold case. A great series for pet lover’s and cozy mystery enthusiasts!

I honestly reviewed a mass market arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. Thank you.

Profile Image for Shirley Chapel.
727 reviews177 followers
July 19, 2021
This is my first time to read a book by this author. I thought it was a good mystery that kept me guessing. There definitely was edge of seat reading as the main character and her daughter put themselves in a very dangerous situation in order to gather much needed evidence against a murder suspect. The book was witty, entertaining and at times gripping. I will be sure to read more books by this author.
Liz Denton is the owner of Furever Pets. Her business is rescuing lost and abandoned pets and finding them forever homes. Liz is married to Manny Denton, who has his own Veterinarian practice in Grey Falls Ohio. They have two grown children, Ben and Amelia. When Liz takes Sheamus, a beautiful Maine Coon she has rescued, to his new forever home she finds the new owner dead in his home. He has been shot and it is ruled as murder.
Liz being of a curious nature can't let it go and leave it with Detective Emmitt Cavanaugh of the Grey Falls Police Department. The burning questions on her mind is who and why. Since she discovered Joe Hitchcock's body someone has been following her and she has been receiving anonymous phone calls where no one speaks but hangs up. Does someone mean to harm her or her family?
I recommend this book to readers of Cozy Mystery and fans of Alex Erickson.
I received an Arc copy of Dial M for Maine Coon from the Author and Publisher through Netgalley. A favorable review was not requested. All opinions expressed here in this review are my own.
Profile Image for Tari.
3,656 reviews103 followers
August 19, 2020
It was good to get back to Grey Falls and see what Liz and her family were up to. I loved reading about her pet rescue services in the first book. Of course, nasty neighbor Joanne was the same old grouch, and two-faced Courtney Shaw, Liz's nemesis was up to no good as always. But hey, if it wasn't for the nemesis, there wouldn't be the adorable Chihuahua on the cover. This author is super talented in creating loathsome people! There were some others as well, but they got justice--I don't want to say too much and spoil it.

On the other hand, the author is also great at writing about super likable people in Liz, her family and now Maya and Chester. I'm glad that Chester got a bigger part in this book. Erik was a good character, and I wouldn't mind seeing him pay a visit to town again or even settle there. I love that Amelia and Ben both had seemed to find what they wanted to do, and Amelia became such an awesome sleuthing buddy for Liz. Poor Liz just couldn't wrap her head around sleuthing with her daughter instead of instinctively protecting her, but when all was coming to a head, Amelia proved that she was learning a lot and ended up helping save her mom's life.

Both the murder and the cold case were interesting, solved in the end during a nail biting showdown and the bad guys punished. I was especially glad to see someone pay for what they did to and said about some good people!Now if we could just get rid of that pesky Courtney....lol.

This book releases August 25, 2020, and it's going to be an exclusive at B&N for a year. I received a paperback ARC from the publisher, and my opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Missi Martin (Stockwell).
1,134 reviews33 followers
June 20, 2020

Dial 'M' for Maine Coon is the second book in the Furever Pets Mystery series by Alex Erickson and I LOVED it !!

Main character Liz Denton owns Furever Pets which is an adoption agency for hard to place animals. Animals that may be older or have a health issue are Liz's main focus. She is married to a veterinarian, which helps with Furever Pets because he examines the animals before they get adopted, and they have two children. Ben is in his early twenties and he helps his dad out at the veternary clinic and Amelia is a little younger and is studying to be a private investigator and they both still live at home. Liz also has a cat, Wheels, who wears a harrness and wheels as back legs but that doesn't stop her at all !!

In Dial 'M" for Maine Coon Liz is taking Sheamus, a big fluffy Maine Coon with a sneezing issue to his forever home with a gentleman named Joe Hitchcock. Unfortunately when Liz gets to Joe's house to drop of Sheamus, she finds Joe dead.

Liz soon learns that Joe Hitchcock is not his real name. His real name was Joe Danvers and he has been hiding for over 30 years. His wife, Christine, went missing years ago and he was the main suspect even though her body was never found. Joe ran, changing his name but for some reason he came back to Grey Falls, Ohio. Was Joe murdered for Christine's disappearance some 30 years ago or was it just a random burglary gone bad ?

When Liz finds out that the private investigator that Amelia is mentoring under was involved in the case years ago and they are looking into things presently, she cannot stop herself from getting involved.

No road is ever a straight line for long and the road that Erickson takes the reader down is far from straight. There are more twists and turns that the craziest rollercoaster. There is no way for readers to solve this case, the police and private investigators are having a hard enough time. Thankfully it is not the readers job to solve murders, it is just our job to open up the book and read the story and let the road take us where ever it leads us.......
Profile Image for Cozybooklady .
2,179 reviews127 followers
June 13, 2021
Dial ‘M’ for Maine Coon is an adorable addition to this series.
Liz Denton is a great character, down to earth, and very likable. Rescuing animals is important to Liz, so when the placement of Sheamus, an adorable Maine Coon goes wrong, Liz finds herself wrapped up in another murder investigation.
This story has plenty of excitement going on, and once I started reading I couldn’t put it down.
I’m looking forward to reading more in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read this advanced copy. Reviews will be posted accordingly.

#DialMforMaineCoon #NetGalley
Profile Image for Mayda.
3,862 reviews65 followers
February 19, 2021
When Liz goes to deliver a rescue cat to his new owner, she stumbles upon the would-be owner’s dead body instead. This new case likely has ties to an old unsolved one. Decades before, the deceased was believed to have killed his wife. Liz gets sucked into the current case, wanting to satisfy her curiosity that she hadn’t selected a poor risk for an adoptive pet. When she finds out that the PI agency where her daughter works is also involved in the investigation, mother and daughter jump in with both feet to find some answers. It’s likely to be a dangerous leap, since both are a bit adventurous and not cautious. This well-plotted mystery is exciting, with clues to keep readers involved in the story. The characters, even the secondary ones, are well developed and add interest to the story. I missed the first book in the series, but it’s going to the top of my TBR stack. This is a great series for cozy readers and animal lovers, and anyone else who just likes a good story.
Profile Image for Lisa Cobb Sabatini.
849 reviews24 followers
October 11, 2020
Cozy Mystery fans find all the features they enjoy in Dial 'M' for Maine Coon: A Furever Pets Mystery by Alex Erikson. Protagonist Liz Denton has a unique occupation as someone who finds "furever" homes for difficult to place pets, and she is easy like and cheer for, even as she continuously gets herself into trouble. The supporting cast of characters are unique and interesting, and the small-town setting fits the story. The well-plotted whodunit is enhanced by an underlying theme that provides deeper insight. Readers will eagerly look forward to the next book in this delightful series.
Profile Image for Bridget.
2,789 reviews132 followers
August 21, 2021
My first in this series although it is the second instalment, animal rescuer Liz Denton, along with her daughter, Amelia, makes a great amateur sleuth. The two get involved when Liz finds a home for Sheamus, her latest cat needing a new owner. Sheamus, a Maine Coon cat is being taken to Joe Hitchcock, but on arrival, Liz discovers him in his study, dead. She soon discovers the murder is connected to a 30-year-old cold case.

Dangerous secrets surface in this charming mix of mystery and furry friends set in Grey Falls, Ohio. Liz is married to Manny, who has his own vets practice. Liz is a great, caring, down-to-earth, driven protagonist and her loving family is one of her main focuses. Witty and endearing, I shall be continuing with this series and hope to read more about Liz's Furever Pets business.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.
Profile Image for Sue Em.
1,811 reviews122 followers
November 29, 2021
Liz Denton thought she had found the perfect home for her latest rescue, a beautiful Maine Coon. Unfortunately, arriving at the new home, Liz finds the prospective adopter murdered. From there the story takes off with many twists and turns with a slew of potential suspects. Liz and her daughter, Amelia, investigate the murder and the cold case it derived from. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Beth.
928 reviews70 followers
January 15, 2022
I'd actually give it 3&1/2 stars.
Profile Image for The Cozy Review.
568 reviews43 followers
September 19, 2020
Alex Erickson is a wonderful writer who creates robust, intelligent, and curious characters. In the latest book in the “A Furever Pets Mystery” series, Dial ‘M’ For Maine Coon he delights readers with new and intriguing facets of those characters and a killer plot.

It isn’t every day that Liz gets to deliver a rescued Maine Coon to a new home. She hopes that the old bedraggled cat enjoys his newfound friend and loving companion. The only problem is, when Liz gets to the man’s house, she finds him dead. Instead of giving the cat a new home, she becomes involved in drama and danger and seeks out a killer who has her in their sights.

This story has many twists and turns and an abundance of evidence for readers to follow. Suspects range from old to young, rich and poor, men and women. All of them have a reason to see the victim dead, and all of them have secrets they are hiding. Liz digs in with the help of her daughter, to claw the killer out of the woodwork. The beautiful animals that Liz rescues play front and center in this book, with the Maine Coon being the star of the show, more or less.

After an exhaustive investigation, or as some put it, Liz putting her nose where it doesn’t belong and almost getting herself killed, the killer is revealed. The murderer may not come as a complete surprise, but the motive may. After everything is said and done, life resumes for Liz and her family. Sheamus, the Main Coon finds a new home and the other animals in Liz’s life settle down once more to a life of spoiled treats and loving hugs. Making Dial ‘M’ For Maine Coon , a book filled with action, entertainment, and delightful furry friends and happy humans.
Profile Image for Jeanie.
1,323 reviews1 follower
September 2, 2020
I loved it! This novel captured the heart of this cozy reader. The fluffy paws of Sheamus the Maine Coon cat and Wheels, Liz’s calico cat, invited me immediately into this novel of pet rescue and care and a fabulously intriguing plot. The characters are defined well through conversations and behaviors, and the mystery was complex, having begun decades ago. I really liked Liz’s business of choice! This is a series that I can easily see becoming one of my favorites.

Liz rescues pets and finds homes for them. The most challenging parts of this job include finding a good home for a pet, or the risk of getting bitten by a frightened pet, not finding dead bodies! Yet find one Liz did when bringing Sheamus, the Maine Coon cat, to his new owner. Joe was a quiet, kindly middle-aged man she thought would make a good pet owner. She did the usual background check. Liz was surprised Joe didn’t answer his phone when she called on the way to the house, and more surprised when he didn’t answer the door of his home, either. When putting a note on the front door she found it ajar. After calling Joe’s name, she entered the home, and found him in a pool of blood.

Liz talked to the detective who in charge of the case, took Sheamus, and went home. She learned several things about Joe that day. One is that he was going by an assumed name and was wanted for questioning of the murder of his wife from thirty years ago. Liz’s daughter Amelia was an intern for a PI, Chester, who has an excellent reputation in town. Chester had worked for Joe many years ago trying to find out what happened to his wife. A man had claimed, years ago, that he saw Joe carrying what looked like a body into the woods about the time his wife disappeared. While the police never found any graves, shallow or otherwise, they still suspected him of murder, and Joe finally left town. Chester, however, always thought Joe’s wife was still alive, had simply left town. Chester was one of the few people who even knew Joe was back in town.

I’m not sure how the characters and pets worked their way into my heart so quickly, but they did. Perhaps it is how Liz cares about the pets she finds homes, so much that she had a hard time being concerned that she might miss something when trying to place Sheamus in other homes. The pets themselves are adorable. Well, maybe not Piranha, but at least the pup brought a bit of comic relief. The way Liz and Amelia worked together to find whodunit was good to see, as they relate as cooperating adults more than mom and daughter.

The plot is finely plotted and executed. The mystery was intriguing and held my attention, as did the situation with the pup Courtney dropped off and subsequent challenges. I enjoyed the journey of finding whodunit and the very satisfying ending. I highly recommend this to those who enjoy well-written cozy mysteries with unique pets, a mom and daughter team, and a challenging mystery.

From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary copy of this novel, and this is my honest review.
Profile Image for Caitlyn Lynch.
Author 210 books1,825 followers
September 1, 2021
The Maine Coon in question is Sheamus, currently residing with Liz Denton of Furever Pets as Liz tries to find him the perfect home, because like most of Liz’s rescues, Sheamus is special needs - he has respiratory issues. Liz thinks she’s found Sheamus the perfect home, but when she goes to deliver the cat to his new owner, she gets a nasty shock - Joe Hitchcock is dead.

The shocks keep coming as Liz discovers the man’s real name was Joe Danvers and he’s wanted for the long ago murder of his wife… whose body was never even found. When a strange man follows Liz home from the crime scene, she quickly realizes that like it or not, she’s part of this mystery now - and she’d better solve it, before someone else winds up dead.

Gosh, there are a lot of things I loved about this book. I loved that Liz is an older heroine, happily married with kids in their early twenties preparing to fly the nest, instead of a ditzy singleton. I adored that Liz helps special needs pets - her own cat, Wheels, was adorable. And I also liked that Liz wasn’t a know it all who ignores police instructions and advice, an all too common trait among cozy heroines. She’s kind, sensible, empathetic - towards humans as well as animals - and very relatable. The crime too made sense when all was revealed at the end, with logical motives and nobody behaving stupidly for the sake of the plot.

There’s an odd subplot with a rival pet rescue owner trying to sabotage Liz - which made no sense whatsoever because Liz and Candace don’t do the same thing at all. And weirdly, this subplot was never really resolved. It just kind of got dropped. Maybe something’s being set up for a future book - I’m pretty sure Liz is being adorably clueless about her daughter’s real relationship with co-worker Maya, and that’ll get explored in a later book - but it seemed like an odd subplot to drop if that’s the case as the background will have to be explained all over again next time around.

Honestly though, the subplot getting dropped didn’t bother me all that much, and it is definitely outweighed by all the good stuff here. I liked Liz and her family so much, and I would happily read more in this series. I’ll give it five stars.

Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
Profile Image for Cozy Reviews.
2,050 reviews5 followers
August 26, 2021
This is the 2nd release in the charming new cozy series "Furever Pets" by cozy author Alex Erickson. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own.

I was pleased to receive this for review as I loved the first in series. The author has all the right elements for a perfect cat based cozy mystery series that we readers adore. Great endearing charcters, fun cats, and a good sleuth that keeps you reading into the night. This next in series I highly recommend.

Our protagnist Liz Denton owns Furever Pets a adoption agency for hard to place animals that have chronic illness that require treatment, missing limbs or are elderly. . She is married to a vet Ben and has two children. Liz a great cat, Wheels, who wears a harness and wheels as back legs mobility but is very active and a fun addition to the series. Its great that the author features a disabled cat and shows that they are deserving of love and good homes.

Liz is taking Sheamus, a Maine Coon to his forever home when she finds the perspective owner dead. Liz wants to investigate and soon is finding out clues abound as well as red herrings. I loved this sleuth as it kept me guessing and I read it into the night. The author has a well crafted story with great charcters and lots of cats to love and enjoy in this series. Very well done to the author. I look forward to the next in series.
113 reviews1 follower
July 26, 2022
Cat-lovers will get a kick out of this puzzler by Alex Erickson...and fans of the charming, small- town whodunit--the "cozy"--will, too. Liz Denton is an animal rescue specialist temporarily caring for a gorgeous Maine coon in need of a "furever" home; when she brings the cat to someone she thinks will be purr-fect for it, she's horrified to discover that the fellow has been murdered. What's more, it turns out that thirty years earlier he was accused of killing his wife, even though a body was never found. Are the crimes related? Why did he go on the run, change his name, and then come back to town? And who killed him? The cast is colorful--the frustrated detective, the ageing private eye, the racist bully, the arrogant power broker wielding an inordinate amount of influence on the town council--and it may be hard keeping up with them all, but the effort will be worth it. Erickson's prose is swift and charming and as smooth as a newly-brushed coat, the funnier moments (and there are more than a few) will keep you smiling, and there's a Stephanie Plum vibe to the story that will put you in mind of Janet Evanovich at her best. With Liz's adult daughter Amelia (who works for the PI), lots of appearances by Liz's veterinarian husband Manny and her son Ben, and a neat subplot involving a rival rescue operation run by the fiercely competitive (and wholly unlikeable) Courtney. I raced through it all in two short days. You will, too.
Profile Image for Cozybooklady .
2,179 reviews127 followers
June 13, 2021
Dial ‘M’ for Maine Coon is an adorable addition to this series.
Liz Denton is a great character, down to earth, and very likable. Rescuing animals is important to Liz, so when the placement of Sheamus, an adorable Maine Coon goes wrong, Liz finds herself wrapped up in another murder investigation.
This story has plenty of excitement going on, and once I started reading I couldn’t put it down.
I’m looking forward to reading more in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read this advanced copy. Reviews will be posted accordingly.

#DialMforMaineCoon #NetGalley
Profile Image for Kim.
1,163 reviews16 followers
July 27, 2022
Liz Denton, the owner of Furever Pets animal rescue, believes she has found the perfect home for a Maine Coon named Shamus. But when she arrives to deliver Shamus to his would-be owner, Joe, she discovers Joe’s body. Joe has obviously been murdered so Liz feels a sense of responsibility to help find Joe’s murdered for Joe and Shamus who she now needs to find another perfect home.

This is book two in the series but my first. I had no problems enjoying this book as a stand-alone mystery. The main character Liz is a likable, caring, and smart female lead. The secondary characters range from friendly to downright unlikable. The furbaby characters have their issues but all are lovable in their own right. The mystery is full of twists and turns and has no shortage of suspects. I enjoyed reading this book and the first in the series and future books will be added to my TBR list. I recommend this book to cozy mystery fans especially if you enjoy animals in your cozies.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and no one has influenced me.
Profile Image for Mikaela (Booklover1974).
491 reviews
February 28, 2023
I started reading, looking forward to a cozy mystery but on page 11 I came to a halt. The words that really rubbed me the wrong way were: “He seemed like a genuinely nice black man”.

Is it uncommon that black men are nice or are they fake instead of genuine? Why even mention he’s black?

How in the world can an editor let this just slide by?? I’m so disappointed in the author. This book will definitely not take up space in my bookshelf.
Profile Image for Lori.
271 reviews
May 25, 2022
This book was fast paced which I enjoyed. Always an added bonus for a Maine Coon character!
Profile Image for Laura Salas.
Author 124 books165 followers
August 25, 2021
This was kind of a strange one for me. I like Liz, and I love pet rescue as a cozy world, and this mystery was fine as I was reading it. But then when I finished it, I felt pretty unsatisfied with it. I had expected a lot more answers to my questions and more explanations for various characters' actions. But...nope. It all felt convoluted and unconvincing. There were no credible reasons for the actions that happened decades before--neither the killer's actions nor Christine's actions. And the whole thing with her pet rescue rival and Chico was so over the top I couldn't take it.

So...it left me flat. I'd give it 2-1/2 stars.

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Clare O'Beara.
Author 25 books372 followers
December 8, 2021
Some interesting situations develop as two rival pet rescue and rehoming services work in the same town. Our protagonist is placing a large, elderly cat with asthma in a new home, but is horrified to find the would-be adopter is dead in his home. She starts investigating and discovers that the new crime is linked to a cold case.

Some of the situations were not believable for me, but then, I don't live in USA and maybe some pet adoption people really are as sarcastic and self-centred as the rival. I enjoyed the many pets we meet and would read more in this series.

I read an e-ARC from Fresh Fiction. This is an unbiased review.
Profile Image for OpenBookSociety.com .
4,109 reviews136 followers
November 8, 2020
https://openbooksociety.com/article/d...

Dial M for Maine Coon
A Furever Pets Mystery, Book #2
By Alex Erickson
ISBN 9781496730886
Author Website: alexericksonbooks(.)com
Bought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

Synopsis:

Animal rescue is always risky business, but Liz Denton, owner of the Furever Pets, finds out it’s also dangerous when someone puts down one of her prospective pet adopters . . .

Liz is thrilled to find a forever home for her latest rescue, Sheamus, a Maine Coon cat. But on adoption day, she discovers Sheamus’s would-be owner, Joe Hitchcock, murdered in his study. Joe’s shocking death reveals an even more startling secret: his real name was Joe Danvers . . . a man accused of killing his wife thirty years ago.

Liz knows she should focus on finding Sheamus a new home, but this mystery already has its claws in her. So Liz begins vetting the clues from both investigations. But with a stalker sniffing at her heels and a rival swatting at her business, Liz’s curiosity may come at a hefty price . . . especially since Joe’s case has more lives than a cat. (Goodreads)

Review:

What a fun, fascinating cozy mystery this is, having captivated me from the opening page! Liz has a business that sounds (mostly) enjoyable. The characters and pets are defined so well I can almost picture them. The mystery is fast-paced and absorbing. One thing I appreciated that is a little different from many cozies is that the main character is married, and while a time is spent with the family dynamics, there isn’t a lot of time or angst on romantic encounters. While I had an idea who the bad guy was, I couldn’t figure out why.

Liz runs a pet rescue for the love of the cats and dogs she finds homes for, because there is little financial profit! It is a family affair, as her husband is a vet and does necessary exams and vaccines, and when necessary, her son or daughter assist with care and feeding. They have one pet of their own, Wheels, a calico kitty who moves faster with her front legs, harness, and wheels than many cats do with all four legs.

Liz found a loving home for Sheamus, a handsome Maine Coon cat. Due to some long-term conditions, finding a home wasn’t easy, but the eighteen-pound Sheamus will be a perfect companion for Joe Hitchcock. Liz arrived at Joe’s home on time, but he didn’t answer the door. She wrote a post-it note for him, then discovered his door was not latched. She called his name and entered the home but didn’t get a response. Joe Hitchcock, the kind man she met a few days ago was dead, apparently murdered in his home office.

Detective Cavanaugh and Liz had met in recent months, and he was on the scene quickly. She asked about an interesting bulletin board she had glanced at in the office that had photos and news attached to it with pieces of colored yarn connecting some of them – almost like what one would see on a TV cop show. While he couldn’t comment on it, the detective could comment on one thing. The man’s real name was Joe Danvers, suspected of killing his wife and disappearing 30 years ago. His late wife’s body was never found, however, so there was never evidence of his guilt.

Someone followed her when she left Joe’s house for home. Then Courtney, a competing pet rescuer who wants to put Liz out of business arrives with a yapping dog in a carrier that she begs Liz to take. Piranha nips and yaps constantly. She left Piranha, carrier and all, and escaped.

Liz’s daughter Amelia is being mentored by a private investigator and plans to become one. He is very familiar with Joe Danvers, who had hired him years ago to find what had happened to his beloved wife. Chester is an excellent PI, and while they never found Joe’s wife before he left town, Chester has investigated her disappearance on and off in the years since. Chester thought Joe’s wife was still alive, and perhaps had been frightened into leaving. There were – and still are – people in town who were hatefully prejudiced and lied about Joe at the time.

Liz, Chester, Amelia, and Maya, a PI who works for Chester, are intrigued and want to find out what happened to Joe, especially when Liz learns who is stalking her. When threats are made to Liz about her family members, the cost might get too high.

The characters are realistic and likable. They are also defined as needed for their roles. I enjoyed the interactions of Liz’s family, as well as Amelia’s with Chester and Maya. Liz is my favorite character as I love her concern for the pets in her care and the people she meets. She is smart, loving, and loyal, even if at times a bit impulsive. I was startled at some of the chances she takes to find the truth, especially when her daughter was with her. Her tact when dealing with Courtney is amazing, more than I could have had!

Plot twists bring remarkable changes to the mystery. For example, the identity of the stalker was quite a surprise! The mystery itself was riveting; it was hard for me to put the book down. The solution is not easy to find. There was no easy way to discover without someone who has first-hand knowledge what happened to Joe’s wife, but the background on it sounded realistic. As far as Joe’s murder, I narrowed down my favorite suspect who didn’t seem to be on anyone’s radar but couldn’t come up with the reason why. There were surprises at the end, and all loose ends were tied up. I highly recommend this cozy mystery and am looking forward to the next in series!
Profile Image for Mary Brown.
1,298 reviews74 followers
October 20, 2021
Dial “M” For Maine Coon
A FureverPets Mystery, Book #2
Alex Erickson
5 Stars

Synopsis:

Animal rescue is always risky business, but Liz Denton, owner of the Furever Pets, finds out it’s also dangerous when someone puts down one of her prospective pet adopters . . .

Liz is thrilled to find a forever home for her latest rescue, Sheamus, a Maine Coon cat. But on adoption day, she discovers Sheamus’s would-be owner, Joe Hitchcock, murdered in his study. Joe’s shocking death reveals an even more startling secret: his real name was Joe Danvers . . . a man accused of killing his wife thirty years ago.

Liz knows she should focus on finding Sheamus a new home, but this mystery already has its claws in her. So Liz begins vetting the clues from both investigations. But with a stalker sniffing at her heels and a rival swatting at her business, Liz’s curiosity may come at a hefty price . . . especially since Joe’s case has more lives than a cat. (Goodreads)

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. Furever Pets is going good and Liz feels like she is making a difference. When she takes Sheamus, a Maine Coon cat to his forever home, she finds his new owner dead. She cannot understand who would kill him and why. She decides to try and figure that out, she feels like she owes it to the man and the cat.

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The mystery was well plotted and there were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider.

I really like that Liz and her daughter were able to work together on this mystery. That is not the normal in most cozies and I thought it was very clever.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I cannot wait to see what animals she is going to rescue next.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.







2,239 reviews30 followers
September 6, 2021
Princess Fuzzypants here: This book should have been a slam dunk five purrs. It had all the elements. A very handsome Maine Coon named Sheamus with health issues who needs reforming goes straight to my heart. A nice lady named Liz who runs a rescue and reforming service for pets with “issues” is another check mark for me. It has Liz and Sheamus finding the body of Joe who was supposed to give Sheamus his furever home.. It has a convoluted mystery surrounding the deceased and the wife who disappeared thirty years ago. The PI who is training Liz’ daughter has been searching for the woman which brings her into the investigation. And it has a despicable “rival” of Liz who will stoop beyond low to ruin Liz’ burgeoning reputation.

There are a lot of questions regarding the various parties involved in the mystery including a son the deceased never knew he had. There are the question of his wife and why she disappeared so suddenly and totally. And there are other nefarious deeds including murders that will confuse the issue until Liz is able to put together all of the pieces. And this is where I must dock some purrs because I have difficulty with heroines who march into dangerous and illegal situation. To be doing so with her daughter took me just one step too close to the Darwin Award. Up until that moment I had enjoyed the book thoroughly. At that point, I was almost ready to bail but I was so near the end. I did stay and I am glad I did. However, I give this book four and a half purrs and two paws up. It came so close.
Profile Image for Vickie.
2,307 reviews6 followers
June 12, 2021
I like finding new-to-me book series, especially cozies. I can sample one by reading the back cover and if it intrigues me enough, it goes home with me or get loaded to the Nook or Kindle. This one came home with me from the thrift store several weeks ago. I put it on the table near my recliner in the family room and it waited in the stack for a bit for when I got in the right mood for a cozy with the main character being a pet rescue person, has two grown kids and a husband who is a veterinarian. That mood hit last week.
I'm not always crazy about the cozies where the main character has a family to take care of, let alone a business to run. I get nitpicky and watch for MC to fall down on the job somewhere while getting involved in the investigation. That didn't happen here. Her husband has his own business to run, being a vet, her two kids are striking out on their own and don't need much care and feeding. That part leaves Liz, main character, a bit sad that life is moving on. But it pleases me because I don't have to get nitpicky.
The suspicious death is fairly immendiate, Liz finds the body when delivering the rescue cat to the person's home. She gets involved fairly naturally. It's an intriguing case too, one I've not seen in past cozies I've read.
I like the book and will look for the rest of the series. The author has another series, Bookstore Cafe Mysteries, so will look for that. I believe I can recommend this book, series and author.
Profile Image for Tracy Wood.
1,274 reviews29 followers
July 11, 2021
Liz Denton's life is pretty much dominated by animals. Husband Manny is a vet, son Ben works with his dad and Liz runs an animal rescue service for those unwanted pets who maybe aren't quite as easy to love as others. Only daughter Amelia has a different type of job and her working for a private investigator is about to come in handy!

Taking a Maine Coon cat to his new owner wasn't supposed to be the hard part! A big, fluffy, loving moggy, he has a problem with allergies amongst other things and it had taken a while to find him his forever home. Unfortunately when Liz arrives she finds new owner Joe Hitchcock dead, and Sheamus in need of her care for a while longer.

This is the second in Alex Erickson's Furever Pets series and although I hadn't read the first felt at no disadvantage. Liz is a great main protagonist and her loving family is obviously her main focus. The animals are a close second however, and then her curiosity and need to finish everything she starts complete her reason for being.

I enjoyed this very much but there were a few parts which, to me at least, seemed quite obvious and I wasn't suprised by the outcomes which was a shame. It was however an easy read that I found relaxing and distracting which is always good.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. This is a good animal based mystery which is recommended to fans of the cosy crime genre.
629 reviews19 followers
August 31, 2021
This is the 2nd installment in the Forever Pets Mystery series. I have the first book in my TBR pile and decided to read this anyway. Had no issue following the story but plan to go back and dig it out. This was an enjoyable and engaging cozy. Liz Denton is a mom, wife and owns her own pet rescue for hard to rescue pets. She goes to deliver Sheamus a Maine Coon cat to Joe Hitchcock who is willing to take on the big cat and his respiratory issues. As she gets to his house he is not home or not answering so she decides to leave a note on his door and it comes open. She decides to check on him and finds him dead. She calls the police and learns his real last name is Danvers and he was suspected of murdering his wife 30 years prior. Liz is concerned that she should have found this out in her vetting of him and is shocked also when she is being followed not once but twice. She also learns her daughter Amelia who is working for a private investigator who was working with Joe to find his wife when she disappeared. So now there are two mysteries to solve and are they related. This story kept me reading until the wee hours of the morning to finish the story. I am looking forward to the next installment.

Profile Image for Rachel.
2,354 reviews99 followers
June 12, 2021
Dial “M” for Maine Coon by Alex Erickson is a great cozy mystery that is the second book in the awesome series: A Furever Pets Mystery.

I love this series!

1. It has a central theme of animal rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming.

2. It includes adorable and amazing pets, this time Sheamus, an adorable and spunky Maine Coon cat (I had a beautiful MC for almost 10 years named Butterfinger…he was so amazing and special…).

3. Wonderful character cast and main character: Liz. She is smart, down to earth, realistic, imperfect, and somehow gets wrapped up into murder mysteries. One didn’t know that pet adoption could be so deadly!

4. Great murder/mystery plots. Plenty of culprits. A few twists and turns, and a great ending.

All of these factors add up to what I expect to be an excellent cozy mystery series!

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Kensington for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.
Profile Image for Rachel.
2,354 reviews99 followers
June 12, 2021
Dial “M” for Maine Coon by Alex Erickson is a great cozy mystery that is the second book in the awesome series: A Furever Pets Mystery.

I love this series!

1. It has a central theme of animal rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming.

2. It includes adorable and amazing pets, this time Sheamus, an adorable and spunky Maine Coon cat (I had a beautiful MC for almost 10 years named Butterfinger…he was so amazing and special…).

3. Wonderful character cast and main character: Liz. She is smart, down to earth, realistic, imperfect, and somehow gets wrapped up into murder mysteries. One didn’t know that pet adoption could be so deadly!

4. Great murder/mystery plots. Plenty of culprits. A few twists and turns, and a great ending.

All of these factors add up to what I expect to be an excellent cozy mystery series!

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Kensington for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.
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