Tagged by Death

Riley Malloy #1

by Judith A. Barrett

Only the dog whisperer can identify a serial killer…Death stalks her.

Riley Malloy has a remarkable talent for understanding her veterinary patients. Unknowingly, she’s also the only one who can identify a serial killer. As one murder follows another, the evidence she discovers may lead her to expose the murderer’s scheme. When she gets too close, Riley finds herself in the crosshairs of the desperate killer as he escalates to a final murder. Can Riley escape his deadly intentions?

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Ebooks, Amazon, Animals

444 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 6, 2021

About the author

Award-winning author Judith A. Barrett lives in rural Georgia with her patient husband, FarmerMan, and two spoiled farm dogs. When she's not writing, you'll find her outside gardening or with her husband and dogs.

Judith A. Barrett writes thriller, mystery, and survival science fiction series. Her unusual main characters are brilliant, talented, and down-to-earth folks who embrace solving difficult problems and righting wrongs.

Donut Lady Mystery Series
Sweet Deal Sealed, Book 1 Sweet Deal Sealed
Sweet Deal Concealed, Book 2 Sweet Deal Concealed
Sweet Deal Revealed, Book 3 Sweet Deal Revealed
Sweet Deal Appealed, Book 4 Sweet Deal Appealed
Sweet Secret Deal, Book 5 Sweet Secret Deal

Maggie Sloan Thriller Series
I Always Wanted to Be a Spy, Book 1 I Always Wanted to Be a Spy
Red Is the New Gray, Book 2 Red is the New Gray
Hidden by Fire, Book 3 Hidden by Fire
One Eye on the Killer, Book 4 One Eye on the Killer
See Beyond the Fog, Book 5

Grid Down Survival Series
Danger in the Clouds, Book 1 Danger in the Clouds
|Danger in the Wind, Book 2 Danger in the Wind
Danger on the Road, Book 3 Danger on the Road
Danger in the Field, Book 4 Danger in the Field

Riley Malloy Thriller Series
Tagged by Death, Book 1 Tagged by Death
Defy Death, Book 2 Defy Death


Check her website for more information about her books and to read her blog.
Judith A. Barrett website

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You can find her books on Amazon with your preference of ebook or paperback!
Judith A. Barrett Amazon Author Page

Reviews

[Pat · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am half way through the book but I feel compelled to review it anyway. The writing is amateurish and often disjointed. The characters are one dimensional and the dialogue is simplistic. Halfway through and I have read at least 10 paragraphs stating that they cleaned the exam rooms. Every little detail isn't necessary. And does nothing to move the plot along. Over 200 pages in and the plot is no farther along than it was about 50 pages in. Just more characters introduced and more unnecessary information. I plan to finish the book, even though it is 444 pages, just to see where the author is trying to go. I will not be reading any more by this author. I should have known when I realized it is self published and only had a handful of reviews on Amazon and they were all 5 star. LOL.
Edited after finishing book: I had to take away a star as the book didn't get any better. This was not even a "cozy" mystery. It read like a play with stage direction and dialog. And don't even get me started on the fact that no one seems at all surprised that all of the animals talk to Riley. If that was true the book could have ended if only Jordie had told her about the "bad man" sooner.

[Beth · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was much too long. Too many times we read about going to the break room, baking cinnamon rolls, cleaning the exam rooms and all the sweet treats brought in by the GBI agent who ate lunch with the staff of the vet clinic. (What was that about?)

However, the most disturbing thing about this book was that the author used the word "snicker" seventy-nine times and usually it was a poor choice for the situation. She also overused phrases like rolled her (or his) eyes, snorted and grinned. (That last one 52 times.) In case anyone is wondering, my Kindle will count every time a certain phrase or word appears, I didn't count them myself.

I finished the book only because I wanted to see how it ended. I don't know why; I had difficulty figured out exactly what the plot was.

I would suggest a good editor and a thesaurus for future books!

[Maria Fledgling Author Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dogs and Docs and loads of Love

Tagged by Death, the Riley Malloy Mystery Series Book One by Judith A. Barrett is intelligent, hysterical, scary and packed full of people you wish were your best friends.

Riley Malloy is a Vet Tech, such a good one, she is known as the dog whisperer. When she and the entire practice at Truman Vet suddenly lose their jobs, she's in desperate need of a new job.

Tagged by Death is a rollicking good time detailing the nefarious deeds of Riley's former employer, the hysterical dialogue between her new colleagues at Doc Julie Rae's practice and the intrigue building between the local sheriff, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the mysterious person leaving yellow notes warning Riley to Cooperate or Get Out!

Judith A Barrett has an exquisite ear for rapid, funny dialogue. I was in stitches while reading this book. And she obviously is an animal lover. Her love for people and animals shows in the incredible depth of each furry or human person you meet.

Capping off this delightful book is the successful solving of the mysterious dying vets and Riley's inadvertent involvement in the whole mess. I'm thrilled to find out that there is a Book number two. I can't wait to read it.

[Lise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sudden death leads to a change in jobs for dog whisperer Riley Malloy. Yellow notes and further deaths in the veterinarian community swirl around Riley, pinning her at the centre of the mystery.

This is a difficult book to review because it doesn't follow the general cosy outline. There are a lot (A LOT) of details about Riley's life as a vet tech - veterinarian technician - that seem to rile (sorry) some readers. I personally loved the full-on deep dive into all that goes on in a vet's clinic, but I can see where others might find their attention wandering. I also adored the food talk - reading about it means I'm enjoying those delicious treats without adding on pounds (and you would with the amount of sugar they all eat!)

[joan morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my mind of book. But finished it anyway

[Sienna S'Zell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, that was a good easy read. The "mystery" didn't make any sense, but it was fun hanging out at the vet's and meeting all the animals, the dog whisperer, and the great camaraderie amongst the workers.

[Jodi Pomerleau · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can hardly believe I finished this. It was probably the single worst book I have ever finished. It was written very simply, and that is okay I guess but I still felt like I was reading a grade 8 composition. The story dddddraaaggggeeeeddd. There was more baking cinnamon rolls, eating, and tending to different animals than anything related to the mystery. Eli pops in with treats, but has no significant role in the novel and simply disappears towards the end. The editing was poorly done...in a couple of instances Riley's name changed to Wren. The whole mystery was covered in about 20 pages total in the book. The ending was awful...it simply ended. And a meth head? Seriously who wouldn't recognize a meth head when they saw one....a meth head certainly wouldn't have been able to hold a significant job or carry out planned attacks. Weirdly, everyone accepts that Riley is a Doctor Dolittle, but she doesn't find out till the end who the bad man is. Just plain awful, but great sleep material.

[Ralph Phares · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Wonderful, Caring, Entertaining Thriller!

Vet tech Riley can "talk" to animals and understand them when they respond. Sound weird? It really isn't. But when her Veterinary Doctor boss suddenly announces his son has been murdered and is closing his office, every employee, Riley included, has to scramble. They have new jobs to get, maybe moves to make, new housing to find, etc. Riley luckily lands on her feet running but finds strange notes left for her that raise suspicion. Things keep escalating until they reach a fevered pitch. I won't spoil any of the thriller that Tagged By Death is but just know that it flows smoothly, is quite often very funny, and keeps you engrossed and reading, despite that pesky bedtime you've missed. There is definitely a love story developing that also adds a level of warmth that usually isn't found in thrillers.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. The characters were likable and I was interested in how it was going to turn out. I wish the author had gone into more detail about why or how Riley could understand the animals.

Flaws:
There were a lot of overused/ frequently repeated words, and a lot of description that wasn't needed (cleaning the exam rooms, rotations at the front desk, the receptionist needing to use the bathroom). Also I assume that the main character was going to be named Wren originally because she is called that twice. Julie Rae is also called Julia at one point.

I would like to read more, and to find out what happens with Riley and Ben, who have the slowest moving romance in the world. 😄

[Becky Calaway · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Judith A Barrett book

I'm not usually a fan of "cozy" mysteries but this one kept me turning the pages until the wee hours of the morning. The characters were agreeable but I did have to turn back a few times to refresh my memory on who everyone was. My biggest complaint was the author's constant use of the word "snickered". She used it so much it became annoying. I'll have to read another of her works to see if this is an anomaly or if she needs to get a thesaurus.

[Uma · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful, well crafted murder mystery!

A beautiful exhilarating story with veterinarians, vet techs, dogs , cats, horse etc. One needs to read this book to enjoy the full effects of the marvelous story as it takes one through the adventures of Riley Malloy, Doc Julie Rae, Pia, Amanda and other endearing characters in addition to Toby, Jordy and other enchanting 4-legged beings.

Thanks to the author for a much enjoyed reading pleasure! I hope there are more Riley Malloy books coming soon!!!

[Julie Johnston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh...decent story line but not my writing style

The premise of this book was cute and I was looking for a light read. I noticed almost immediately that the author loves the words AFTER, WHILE, and BEFORE. The word AFTER appeared in the book almost 600 times. So many of the paragraphs started with the word that every time I turned the page, I would scan the screen looking for the word. It became a huge distraction. I won't be reading anymore books by this author, but I'm really hoping that she has figured out that the words mentioned above are way overused and unnecessary.

[Deborah A. Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too long and tedious!

This book was not one I really liked. It didn't seem at all believable that Riley was able to communicate with animals the way she did. And it took until the very end to find out what the story was about. Until then it was doc Julie, doc Thad, I mean, who talks like that? A lot of unnecessary details, like what Riley put in her sandwich one time. It was so long, over six hours, but it was all I had lined up at the time. If you like a little more action, choose another book!

[Susan Whitmarsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Must love dogs

I have been only reading books by this author for a couple weeks now. I love them. The characters are engaging, the animals wonderful, the food enticing and the settings sound beautiful. I have noticed some trends. There is often fires and explosions. The mysteries are vague and in the background for the most part. There are one or two grammatical errors. But the books are so much fun I've decided I don't care.

[Elizabeth Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

apart of "Riley Malloy Mystery series" book 1 ... i am new to Judith A. Barrett's writing. fun book cover. i love fall ...autumn time is the best. great crisp weather. perfect here in VA. just saying. i think i found this thanks to Bookbub ... came out on March 6, 2021. mystery romance. cozy animal mystery. women sleuths. i love a cozy read. they are the best. i will read more from Judith very soon. take care. be reading on. take care.

[Trevor Willmot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Average read, OK but not unputdownable.

The plot & setting were alright, if not exactly gripping, but I put that down to the writing style, which I found more junior level, & I would strongly recommend against the use of 2 part Christian names especially coupled with a title. "Doc Julia Rae repeated many times over becomes a dulling mental mouthful. Not sure if I would try another 1, it took me a while to work through this.

[Marty Langenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dog whisperer extraordinaire

Riley understands dogs and other animals. She talks to them and they talk back. Working in a vet clinic gives her plenty of opportunities to use her special skill. Someone wants to kill her though but she knows how to use a gun. A fun read, worth your time.

[Erika P. Lapham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder And Veterinary Clinics

An enjoyable mystery where the dogs are the heroes at least part of the time.
The relationship between Riley and Ben is rather juvenile for two adults; it is possible to stay "G" rated and still treat the characters like they are more than12.
The setting in a Veterinary Clinic did make an appealing backdrop for the story.
A good escapist read.

[Zilda · Rating 1 out of 5]

This author must be paid by the word. So much detail about vet visits and inane conversations that were so unnecessary. Made the book so much longer to read than necessary and made me uninterested in the mystery. Had this figured out very early and had to read through all those words to verify I was right.

[Lori Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!

Absolutely love the characters in this series. The details are stunning and the interaction between the characters is unique. A veterinary clinic makes for an interesting setting with the addition of all the animals and their person(s). A great read for anyone of any age.

[Linda J. Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming Mystery

Loved the characters and they are just real down to earth types and the setting is perfection. The plot has twists and turns, but not so many as to be confusing. Lacks the contrivances and ridiculous back stories which have become so commonplace, in this genre. Enjoyable read. Guessing I’m in for the whole series!

[Annette Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

good for a quick read

There was definitely some name mix ups, a couple of things didn’t make sense, but overall this is a completely clean book, with a good storyline, backgrounds and well fleshed characters.
I don’t think the book quite gelled as the oddities of name and other mix ups ruined the flow, at one stage I thought I’d missed many pages. Anyway, it all ends happily.

[Carol Beveridge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Early on I wondered why this book was classified for adults, when the writing was clearly in the juvenile fiction range. Our heroine doesn't seem to get rattled by warning signs so there's no real suspense build-up. I did breeze through the book, as it was an easy read on a rainy day, but I won't be continuing the series. I would definitely recommend it for middle-schoolers.

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

I rarely write reviews, but seriously, where was the editor of this book? There were several instances where the author called her main character something else entirely….and much of the detail was mind numbingly boring and repeated ad infinitum. Indeed I wonder if the author had help from either AI, or perhaps her pet dog or cat? Sadly, not an author I will be revisiting.

[Scott Shjefte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots and lots of details about the MC life and times (which may be boring for some but I found enchanting and interesting), a bit about some mystery killings, and how the MC deals with them. Oh ya, there are some nice animals that behave in a most excellent manner. Purchased this edition on December 21, 2021, from Amazon for free.

[Tiana · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was very little actual mystery. It was a great story if the point was to go through the life of a dog whispering vet tech, maybe a cute romance or comedy, but the mystery was a sub plotline in the background, where Riley didn't really do much other than get visits from policemen every once in a while.

[Connie P. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable.

I did enjoy the book. I especially liked how Riley understood animals like she did. I also enjoyed all the clinic happenings. Reading about the various illnesses and vet visits was interesting. All in all, I liked the book but it seemed more like it was written for a younger audience and was somewhat simplistic at times. I will probably check out the next book.

[Pat RS · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Protagonist, Riley Malloy, is not a character I enjoyed at all. If there was a plot, I missed it, and I unfortunately read the entire novel. Their is so much repetition that I kept thinking I read the same pages before; Riley likes to clean, drink a lot of tea, walk her dog, and read, and this is about all that happens. What a disappointment.

[Sharon Figart · Rating 4 out of 5]

All My Favorite Things

Mistery, dogs., suspense, and human interaction included in this story and it is awesome. A very well written book. And the author threw in a few extras: a hunting cabin out in the woods, murder, friendships and romance.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just OK

This was a long story and it felt like a lot of the veterinarian office story could have been left out. I would have given it more stars if the author would have condensed it.