Review - Woof at the Door

This is a debut novel...from a debut author as well.  She grew up on a Costa Rican coffee farm and at one point was a volunteer at a zoo, helping out with everything from “waste management” to teaching an elephant how to paint.  I am sure her animal experience helps in writing this exciting new series.  

Author: Laura Morrigan

Copyright: July 2013 (Berkley) 304 pgs

Series: 1st in A Call of the Wilde Mysteries

Sensuality: n/a

Mystery Sub-genre: Amateur Sleuth

Main Characters: Grace Wilde, Animal behaviorist who speaks with animals telepathically

Setting: Modern day, Jacksonville Florida

Obtained Through: Publisher for honest review


When she’s not helping out at the zoo by comforting agitated lemurs, she’s listening to the woes of annoyed house pets. Grace Wilde's family all know about her ability to psychically communicate with animals, but otherwise she doesn't share how she does the amazing with wild and domestic animals. She is at the zoo getting a paniced lemur that escaped its enclosure off her head and back in its place, when she gets called by the police.  There is a murder of the a high profile football player for the Jacksonville Jaguars and son to the Governor and his Doberman Jax is the only witness to the murder.  Grace is called in because the Doberman is acting out and aggressive...until Grace gets there and he rolls over.  Grace takes him into her care to help him through his trauma.  But the real problem is how will Grace tell the cop that it’s Jax who shares what happened without sounding crazy? So Grace follows the Doberman's sketchy memories to track down the killer.  The main suspect is another football player, LaBryce Walker, that Grace knows because she has trained his real-live Jaguar named Charm.  Grace is positive that he did not kill his friend, no matter if they had an argument.

I really enjoyed the main character, Grace Wilde. She handles the animal communication much better than interactions with people.  She was burned before when attempting to tell a boyfriend about her skill so she is very reluctant to tell anybody outside her family and life-long close friend Wes.  This case has her rethinking that plan.  The romantic interest is... yep - a cop, Sergeant Kai Duncan.  He is supposed to be a crime scene unit member, but he seemed more like a regular cop in the course of the story.  This was perhaps the rough spot since every amateur sleuth seems to date a cop anymore.  Kai is at least an interesting cop, but is far too distracted by Grace.  Grace's sister Emma is a party planner handling high society of the area.  I think she is the surprise stand out character.  I enjoyed their close relationship and Emma's shrewd insights. I am looking forward to more of Emma in the following novels.  Grace's best friend, Wes only made a short appearance, but his character has lots of potential as well.  Last but not least is Grace's closest buddy, Moss, her half wolf companion.  I loved Moss who is a devoted wolf/dog pet.

The setting in Jacksonville was highlighted with nice beach scenes occasionally and some posh mansions.  But otherwise it is just backdrop.  The plotting had some good twists and kept me turning the pages.  I had my suspicions on who-donit, but I was surprised by a few of the turns the story took.  The climax got the blood pumping - my favorite. The wrap-up helped set up the next novel nicely.

This debut novel is actually one of the best involving communicating with animals I have read.  Not too cutesy, it is a smidgen more than a cozy with an interesting main character that has some brains.  This series is off to a good start.

Ratings:  Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list

Review - Dogs Don't Lie

I admit that I was primarily attracted to this book because it is labeled as "pet noir." Noir is defined as crime fiction featuring hard-boiled cynical characters and bleak sleazy settings. Read my review to see what pet noir is and how this debut book in a pet psychic series rates.

Author: Clea Simon

Copyright: April 2011 (Poisoned Pen Press) 260 pgs

Series: 1st in Pru Marlow Mysteries

Sensuality: mild references

Mystery Sub-genre: Amateur Sleuth, Pet Noir

Main Characters: Pru Marlowe, animal psychic

Setting: Modern day, Berkshires

Obtained Through: Library

Pru was working on her degree to be an animal behaviorist, but when Pru starts hearing the animals it isn't the sunny world of Dr. Doolittle for her.  She ends up sleep deprived and overwhelmed and consequently drops out of school with only a few weeks remaining to have completed her degree, and pulls up stakes to go to her small hometown.  The idea was to get away from New York with its multitudes of pets while going home to take care of her ailing mother.  

The story begins with Pru restraining Lily, the pit bull of her best customer in her animal behavior business.  Lily is hysterical because she witnessed the murder of her human.  Since Pru discovered the body and Lily, frantically trying to awaken Charles, is covered in blood, the police believe that either the dog turned violent or Pru trained the dog to kill Charles.  Pru is still coming to terms with her growing ability to hear animals while she starts piecing together who would want to kill the kind-hearted and geeky Charles.  Lily is not much help since she is traumatized, so Pru must deal with people - not her strong suit.  Her relationship with her crotchety cat Wallis goes through rough spots, but that is all Pru has to bounce ideas around with.

Pru Marlowe is mostly why this is considered Pet Noir.  She is a little hard-boiled, a splash anti-social, and sowed some wild oats in her youth.  Pru is a bit resentful about this "gift" of talking with animals, but Charles' murder forces her to come to some degree of utilizing it.  Wallis, the snippy tabby cat of Pru's, has plenty of attitude and doesn't understand Pru's drive to help Lily.  Wallis has some serious snark and is a solid character in her own right.  There is the Officer Creighton that may qualify as a love interest in following books since a little flirting was done in this book.  The hard part for characters is that Pru really only has a cat for her sidekick and the other characters are either suspects or minor characters thus far.  This results in the story leaning heavily on just Pru, which leaves the book feeling a touch flat.

The Berkshires is a standard small town thus far and doesn't add much to the story per say.  The plot has some good twists I did not see coming and I did not suspect the killer until just before the confrontation.  The pacing had a few periods where it slowed a tad, but picked up before long and suspense builds as the story develops.

The "pet noir" aspects probably are not what you really expect.  The noir part is only partially met with Pru being fairly cynical, but bleak or sleazy settings are not a main feature.  The pet psychic part is more a vehicle to get a few clues, sometimes obscure and not obvious.  Except for Wallis, Pru's cat, the animals aren't chatty and their minds work differently.  Not a Beverly Hills Chihuahua style at all, more serious and much less silly animal fluff.  Undoubtedly, this is not for everybody, but it just might surprise you.

The killer confrontation had some tense moments, which was closer to the noir label.  The wrap-up could have had a little more to it, the end came quickly after the killer was revealed.  The premise is great, but the story would have benefited from a stronger supporting cast and a more enticing ending to bring the reader back.  Overall it was a  solid mystery with a good plot that didn't succumb to stereotypes with the pet communication.

Rating:  Good - A fun read with minor flaws. Maybe read an excerpt before buying.