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Samantha Davies Mysteries #1
Kibbles and Death
After a nasty divorce, Samantha Davies has finally gotten her life back on track. She enjoys her hobby of hooking—rug hooking, that is—and is fulfilling a lifelong dream by writing her first children’s book, featuring her dachshund, Porkchop. But the pleasant pace of her life in small-town Upstate New York is suddenly shattered when she finds the dead body of the local pet shelter owner—murdered and covered in kibble!
While Calvin Perkins wasn't the most beloved man in town, Samantha's shaken to think there's a killer among them. Even more so when her octogenarian neighbor's boyfriend becomes the police's number one suspect and her neighbor pleads with Sam to help him. While Sam's research skills have been honed in her pursuit of a publishing career, she's not convinced she won't be in over her head. Calvin may have been great with the animals, but he wasn’t well-liked by people, creating a list of suspects almost as long as Porkchop's favorite bone. But with the help of her Southern belle cousin, Candie Parker, Sam vows to find the truth...even if she has to go toe-to-toe with the handsome new detective in town to do it. Old grudges, new secrets, and danger around every corner means Samantha better find the killer's identity quickly...before they set their sights on another victim!
While Calvin Perkins wasn't the most beloved man in town, Samantha's shaken to think there's a killer among them. Even more so when her octogenarian neighbor's boyfriend becomes the police's number one suspect and her neighbor pleads with Sam to help him. While Sam's research skills have been honed in her pursuit of a publishing career, she's not convinced she won't be in over her head. Calvin may have been great with the animals, but he wasn’t well-liked by people, creating a list of suspects almost as long as Porkchop's favorite bone. But with the help of her Southern belle cousin, Candie Parker, Sam vows to find the truth...even if she has to go toe-to-toe with the handsome new detective in town to do it. Old grudges, new secrets, and danger around every corner means Samantha better find the killer's identity quickly...before they set their sights on another victim!
185 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 10, 2022
118 people are currently reading
194 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
May 15, 2022
A fun story with a savvy protagonist and her cute dachshund. I look forward to the next story.
April 22, 2022
A great start to the new Samantha Davies Mystery series. I enjoyed the mystery, humor and especially the unique names. I look forward to seeing what happens with Samantha and "Junior" in the following books.
March 28, 2022
Sam tries to be a good person, making a donation to the local animal shelter, but when she and her fur baby, Porkchop, stop by to drop off a bag of kibble, she finds a dead body. The guy who runs the shelter has been murdered! Sam and her cousin, Candie, team up to investigate suspects in the quiet upstate New York town of Wings Falls. Suspects are never who they seem to be on the surface, and there are twists and turns that keep this story moving quickly. Wings Falls is the home of one of the best-named diners ever: Sweetie Pie's. Another fun aspect is that Sam and Candie are members of a rug hooking group, and one of their fellow hookers is a suspect! And then there is Sam's high school crush recently returned to town with an offer Sam might not be able to refuse, but he's not the only love interest. There's a smoking hot detective who's just been transferred to not-so-quiet little Wings Falls. Will he resent Sam's efforts to solve the murder? Will Sam be able to resist his charms and stay focused on the case? Will the hookers friends group survive the investigation? Will Porkchop survive? I mean, really, come for the cozy mystery, stay for the cutie pie wiener dog.
March 29, 2022
This is a super fun cozy mystery! I just love the main character Samantha (Sam) and her little dachshund Porkchop. The secondary characters are also well done, including her best friend Candie and a new "hunky" detective in town. I really didn't know who did it until the end and meanwhile I really enjoyed the small town setting and characters. I would definitely pick up more Samantha Davies Mysteries!
May 11, 2022
I love everything about this book. Sam, the main character, is starting over. She has an adorable dachshund (because, well, all dachshunds are adorable) named Porkchop. The storylines are well written and hold your attention. Look forward to reading the next one.
May 29, 2022
Such a fun cozy mystery! Great protagonist and a solid supporting cast. The mystery is compelling, the plot well-paced, and the dachshund sidekick is adorable. A fabulous debut—can’t wait for the next installment!
November 6, 2022
Kibbles and Death Earns 5/5 Rug Hooks…Entertaining Gem!
I read Kazlo’s debut book in her Samatha Davis Mystery series like a prequel and found it to be just as exciting and entertaining. It provided extra background and insights into break-ups, friendships, and more than one romance opportunity. The crime has a bit of karma involved since the victim, the local pet shelter owner, wasn’t very popular and with the number of suspects and clever motives, it turned out to be an intriguing cozy drama. Sam’s neighbor pleads for her help which introduces Sam and her cousin Candie to the ins and out, ups and downs, even peril of snooping which includes run ins with Sergeant Peters who’s been a source of anxiety since kindergarten. Did he just accuse her of murder? There’s amusing dachshund antics, hooking talk, Candie’s insightful southernisms, hidden agendas and secrets to hide, and enough red herrings to delight my inner detective. Loved it!
I read Kazlo’s debut book in her Samatha Davis Mystery series like a prequel and found it to be just as exciting and entertaining. It provided extra background and insights into break-ups, friendships, and more than one romance opportunity. The crime has a bit of karma involved since the victim, the local pet shelter owner, wasn’t very popular and with the number of suspects and clever motives, it turned out to be an intriguing cozy drama. Sam’s neighbor pleads for her help which introduces Sam and her cousin Candie to the ins and out, ups and downs, even peril of snooping which includes run ins with Sergeant Peters who’s been a source of anxiety since kindergarten. Did he just accuse her of murder? There’s amusing dachshund antics, hooking talk, Candie’s insightful southernisms, hidden agendas and secrets to hide, and enough red herrings to delight my inner detective. Loved it!
July 27, 2022
Kazlo has woven a tail wagging mystery set in the fictional Upstate NY town of Wings Falls. When I say woven and tail wagging, I mean both of those quite literally. Sam is a children’s author, a rug hooker, and still is part owner in her ex's funeral home.
Don't let the funeral home link fool you, it doesn’t mean she’s in her element when she and her dachshund Porkchop discover the quite dead body of the not so lovable shelter owner. What follows is a bright, laugh out loud tale full of twists and turns as Sam, her southern cousin Candie, and Porkchop follow a trail of clues while doing their best to stay on the good side of the new detective in town.
A very entertaining new entry to the cozy genre, I’m looking forward to another visit with Sam, Candie, and Porkchop, and all the other Wings Falls locals!
Don't let the funeral home link fool you, it doesn’t mean she’s in her element when she and her dachshund Porkchop discover the quite dead body of the not so lovable shelter owner. What follows is a bright, laugh out loud tale full of twists and turns as Sam, her southern cousin Candie, and Porkchop follow a trail of clues while doing their best to stay on the good side of the new detective in town.
A very entertaining new entry to the cozy genre, I’m looking forward to another visit with Sam, Candie, and Porkchop, and all the other Wings Falls locals!
March 13, 2024
This was a fun read. It has the lightness of a Merry Wrath/Stephanie Plum and some of the same elements, but it didn't feel copied. It was, as is typical of many Gemma Halliday authors, more brief than I would like, but subsequent books seem to be longer. The one thing that was driving me a bit bonkers was the lack of contractions. The main character's cousin is Southern. We use contractions! A lot! We don't say "I will", or "You are". So the tone was a bit off when she was speaking, and even the protagonist to some degree. Also, very few of us actually use "y'all" in the singular. In the plural, absolutely. But when I say, "What y'all want to eat", I am speaking to more than one person. Now, maybe farther out in the sticks... That said, I'm heading on to the second in the series.
May 12, 2022
Samantha is finally recovering from a nasty divorce and seems to be getting her life in order. She is very busy with her hobby of hooking rugs and is waiting to hear if her children’s book featuring her dog Porkchop is going to be published. Everything seems to be going well until she discovers the body of the local dog shelter owner. There are a few suspects, but her elderly neighbor’s boyfriend seems to be the main suspect. She begs Samantha to help clear him because of her background in research. Sam agrees, and enlists the help of her cousin, Candie. There’s a new detective in town and he doesn’t appreciate Sam getting involved in his case. A delightful cozy mystery!
May 10, 2022
New series revolving around an older woman, her hobbies, and her pet. A secondary side-kick is her same age cousin. These ladies are fearless and at times funny. Together they tackle a murder mystery that was anything but easy to figure out.
This was a new author for me, and I enjoyed her main character and the funny little glimpses into her personal life. (Her shorts must have shrunk, so dump on the salad dressing!) Characters were interesting and provided a good cast of believable potential murderers.
This was a new author for me, and I enjoyed her main character and the funny little glimpses into her personal life. (Her shorts must have shrunk, so dump on the salad dressing!) Characters were interesting and provided a good cast of believable potential murderers.
March 30, 2022
KIBBLES AND DEATH is one of those fun cozy mysteries that you want to read and immediately gift to a friend (which I plan to do). The story features a quirky protagonist, her fun Southern cousin, a charming dog, and a delightful small town brimming with Loopy Ladies, Hookers (rug hookers, that is), a handsome detective, mystery and murder. Kazlo's book is appropriate for all ages, and it reminds me of cozies by Valerie Burns and Lea Wait. Add S.A. Kazlo to your reading list!
May 9, 2022
Kibbles and Death is a fascinating start of a new series. Samantha and Candie, Sam's cousin and partner in crime, make awesome sleuths. I love all the hooking puns and Sam's dachshund, Porkchop. The secondary characters are interesting. There is a handsome detective in town and the list of people who had issues with the deceased is a mile long. I did not detect the murderer - always a plus. This well written book grabbed my interest from the beginning. I am eagerly awaiting book two!
March 26, 2022
This is the first book of the Samantha Davies Mysteries. It is a wonderful read from star to finish. The cast of characters keep you engaged throughout the book. I especially loved the Dachshund, Porkchop. Just when you think you know "who done it", you have to think again. This surely is a must read. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
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March 23, 2022Kibbles and Death is a light, quick read from a new author and the first book in an exciting new series. It is populated by several interesting characters with motives to kill and a very cute Dachshund named Porkchop. I did not guess the ending.
April 11, 2022
I love this book! The author’s characters are funny and engaging. This is a story that will keep your attention straight through to the end. Read it and then recommend it to anyone who likes a good mystery done well throughout.
May 13, 2022
An excellent beginning for a new series. Well written and delightful.
June 5, 2022
A wonderful and humorous “who done it”? that flows from chapter to chapter! A delight to make one’s day .
A must for a summer read or a chilly fireside read.
Samantha Davies is the new Town PI. Can’t wait for
more !!
A must for a summer read or a chilly fireside read.
Samantha Davies is the new Town PI. Can’t wait for
more !!
May 10, 2022
I received an arc from the publisher.
This is a super fun new mystery series. The characters are all likeable and it was easy to relate to the main character, Samantha, and her dog, porkchop. I can't wait to see what they are up to in book #2.
This is a super fun new mystery series. The characters are all likeable and it was easy to relate to the main character, Samantha, and her dog, porkchop. I can't wait to see what they are up to in book #2.
November 28, 2022
You are going to fall in love with Kibbles and Death, the first book in the Samantha Davies Mystery series by S.A. Kazlo !! You will want main character Samantha Davies and her cousin Candie as your new best friends !!
In Kibbles and Death Samantha goes to For Pet's Sake, the local pet shelter to drop off a bag of dog food that her dog, Porkchop doesn't like. She is donating it to the shelter but has to deal with the owner, Calvin Perkins, who is not nice....to humans that is. When Sam and Porkchop get to the shelter and see that the door is open, they never think to be alarmed, not in Wings Falls. Unfortunately when they go inside, they soon find out why the door is open and Calvin didn't leave it open for Sam. Whoever clobbered Calvin in the head left the door open when they hastily left the shelter.....and Calvin dead on the floor.
After dealing with Sergeant Joe "Sandy" Peters at the scene, Sam thinks it cannot get any worse. Joe has had it out for Sam ever since she gave him the nickname Sandy in grade school and he still holds it against her. But Sam soon learns that things can only get worse when she meets the new detective in town. Detective Hank Johnson is trouble in a different way when Sam meets him and develops an instant crush !!
Sam needs to stay far away from both Joe and Hank but finds herself in the middle of the investigation when her neighbor, Gladys, asks her to look into Calvin's death when her boyfriend Frank is put on the police's radar. Sam, along with Candie as her sidekick, decides to look into the murder to clear herself and Frank from the suspect list. Unfortunately as they dig, the list of suspects grows instead and they have no idea how to clear everyone......
Readers will fall in love with this book as soon as they open it up. You will love the characters and the little town of Wings Falls. The only dark cloud over the town is Calvin's murder so if they can solve it, there will be sunny, cloudless days for days to come.....sadly the killer wants to stay hidden under that dark cloud and will do whatever it takes to stay there.
In Kibbles and Death Samantha goes to For Pet's Sake, the local pet shelter to drop off a bag of dog food that her dog, Porkchop doesn't like. She is donating it to the shelter but has to deal with the owner, Calvin Perkins, who is not nice....to humans that is. When Sam and Porkchop get to the shelter and see that the door is open, they never think to be alarmed, not in Wings Falls. Unfortunately when they go inside, they soon find out why the door is open and Calvin didn't leave it open for Sam. Whoever clobbered Calvin in the head left the door open when they hastily left the shelter.....and Calvin dead on the floor.
After dealing with Sergeant Joe "Sandy" Peters at the scene, Sam thinks it cannot get any worse. Joe has had it out for Sam ever since she gave him the nickname Sandy in grade school and he still holds it against her. But Sam soon learns that things can only get worse when she meets the new detective in town. Detective Hank Johnson is trouble in a different way when Sam meets him and develops an instant crush !!
Sam needs to stay far away from both Joe and Hank but finds herself in the middle of the investigation when her neighbor, Gladys, asks her to look into Calvin's death when her boyfriend Frank is put on the police's radar. Sam, along with Candie as her sidekick, decides to look into the murder to clear herself and Frank from the suspect list. Unfortunately as they dig, the list of suspects grows instead and they have no idea how to clear everyone......
Readers will fall in love with this book as soon as they open it up. You will love the characters and the little town of Wings Falls. The only dark cloud over the town is Calvin's murder so if they can solve it, there will be sunny, cloudless days for days to come.....sadly the killer wants to stay hidden under that dark cloud and will do whatever it takes to stay there.
May 11, 2022
This is such a fun new series. I love the characters and the storyline. I look forward to many more books in the future.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
May 6, 2022
New to me author. Great first book in a new series. Love the original characters & writing. Porkchop is my favorite. I look forward to reading the next book.
May 27, 2022
When I got the Gemma Halliday Publishing newsletter and saw that this new series featured a main character with a dachshund, I just had to get it! And I definitely wasn't disappointed. I read the author's bio and saw that she's a dachsie mom, so she knew exactly how to write a rascally but lovable dachshund character-and his name's Porkchop, how cute is that? I love that he goes everywhere with Samantha which makes total sense since she was writing a children's book featuring a dachsie named Porkchop. He's gonna be a star! The human character I got such a kick out of was Samantha's good friend Candie who could talk to just about anyone and get them to tell her things. I liked her right away!
This was one of those whodunits that nobody knew what was going on even after enough time went by that you'd think they'd have someone in custody. There was one guy who was into something illegal and another guy who didn't like the dead man so much. Sometimes I did feel like the story was dragging just a bit, but at least there was Porkchop who got to be part of the showdown but not in a heroic way like I'd figured. I kinda figured he'd chomp the perp's leg or something lol.
After everything was solved and explained, Sam got a fun surprise about the nephew her neighbor Gladys was trying to fix her up with! I'm really eager now to read the next book!
This was one of those whodunits that nobody knew what was going on even after enough time went by that you'd think they'd have someone in custody. There was one guy who was into something illegal and another guy who didn't like the dead man so much. Sometimes I did feel like the story was dragging just a bit, but at least there was Porkchop who got to be part of the showdown but not in a heroic way like I'd figured. I kinda figured he'd chomp the perp's leg or something lol.
After everything was solved and explained, Sam got a fun surprise about the nephew her neighbor Gladys was trying to fix her up with! I'm really eager now to read the next book!
July 19, 2022
Samantha Davies goes to the pet shelter to donate some food that her little dachshund Porkchop did not like. When she arrives, she discovers the dead body of the shelter's owner, Calvin, clobbered over the head with a big bone. Together with her cousin Candie, Sam finds out who wanted to murder the very unlikeable Calvin.
This was a very charming cozy mystery with likeable characters. If you are a pet lover, you simply cannot resist adorable Porkchop.
I'm looking forward to more by this new author in this series.
I received an ARC from the publisher for purposes of an unbiased review.
This was a very charming cozy mystery with likeable characters. If you are a pet lover, you simply cannot resist adorable Porkchop.
I'm looking forward to more by this new author in this series.
I received an ARC from the publisher for purposes of an unbiased review.
September 12, 2022
Great cozy mystery. Has all the components - cute pet, small town, single gal with a great group of friends, interesting hobby and/or career. I loved the recognizable local references like Martha’s Dandee Creme and the proximity to my own hometown. Was enjoyable all the way through.
Fun fact: I actually bought this book in Lake George (the Book Cabin) which is one of the major locations in the book!
Fun fact: I actually bought this book in Lake George (the Book Cabin) which is one of the major locations in the book!
April 13, 2022
Fun, fast story. Great characters. You can see the small town. Good twist. Worth the time!
November 22, 2022
Such a fun read! I was kept guessing from the beginning.
October 4, 2023
Recently divorced, Sam spends her days indulging in her hobby of rug hooking. Although she earns income from the funeral home she and her ex still co-own, Sam has also been trying to get a children's book published--one she wrote based on her Dacshund, Porkchop. After Porkchop turns his nose up at a bag of kibble, Sam takes the remaining dog food to the local shelter to donate. There she finds the proprietor, Calvin Perkins, murdered. Calvin was a curmudgeon and the list of suspects is long. Unfortunately, Sam finds herself on that list. The primary suspect, however, is her elderly neighbor's boyfriend. The woman begs Sam to put her research skills to work proving that her Pookie Bear is innocent. Sam reluctantly agrees, and with the help of her cousin, Candie, she launches her own investigation, much to the chagrin of the handsome new detective in town.
The story was enjoyable, Sam and Candie were likable, and the plot was reasonable. Other than that, nothing set it apart from the millions of other cozies on the market.
An okay read, but just okay. Three stars.
The story was enjoyable, Sam and Candie were likable, and the plot was reasonable. Other than that, nothing set it apart from the millions of other cozies on the market.
An okay read, but just okay. Three stars.
March 4, 2024
Sam and her beloved dachshund, Porkchop, head to the animal shelter, For Pets Sake, to drop off a bag of dog food Porkchop wouldn’t eat. Instead they find Calvin, the shelter worker, dead under a pile of large dog food bags! Her nemesis, Officer Joe Peters (a NOT friend from kindergarten where she tattled on him for peeing in the sandbox) finds her there, all set to haul her to jail, but listens to her explanation. Now she and her southern bestie have to figure out who the killer is, and the new Detective Hank Johnson, isn’t happy about their efforts at investigation! This book is delightfully sprinkled with witty southern sayings and I do recommend it for a fun read!
November 8, 2022
Dogs and murder
Porkchop the sausage dog is one of the main characters in this fun and frightening story. I mean, who doesn't love their animals so much they' all do anything for them? The small town of Wings Falls in up state New York has a murder happen and it involves the local anmal.shelter. Time to figure who done it and save Cookie Bear.
You should read and find out all about it. You won't be disappointed.
Porkchop the sausage dog is one of the main characters in this fun and frightening story. I mean, who doesn't love their animals so much they' all do anything for them? The small town of Wings Falls in up state New York has a murder happen and it involves the local anmal.shelter. Time to figure who done it and save Cookie Bear.
You should read and find out all about it. You won't be disappointed.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews