A Suspicious Breed
A Low Country Dog Walker Mystery
By Jackie Layton
ISBN: 9781960511485
Website: jackielaytoncozyauthor.com
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
Summary:
Low Country dog walker Andi Grace Scott is about to get married, but she’ll have to get a killer to say “I did it” before she can say “I do” . . .
With her wedding fast approaching and her plans to open a dog shelter underway, Andi Grace can barely find a free moment. Then she learns that her favorite local vet may have been roped into a crooked fundraising scheme meant to help animals, and worse still, her wedding photographer—a good friend who may have had firsthand knowledge of the scheme—is murdered. Determined to find justice for the victim and root out whoever is behind the scam, Andi Grace puts her nose to the ground to sniff out the clues. No sooner does she begin compiling a list of suspects than she uncovers an unscrupulous music producer pressuring a friend’s talented daughter, and a haphazard dog breeding operation that may be endangering animals. With so many unsavory characters cropping up at every turn, Andi Grace enlists the help of some equally clever friends to ensnare them. But just as she finds the evidence that ties everything together, the culprit finds it’s time to kill her before she can tie the knot . . . (Goodreads)
Review:
A Suspicious Breed is the sixth book in Jackie Layton’s A Low Country Dog Walker Mystery series. Andi Grace (the main protagonist and amateur sleuth) is getting ready for her wedding and honeymoon but trouble is afoot! She has just learned that her vet (Doc Hewitt) may have been roped into a potential fundraising scam … and knowing Doc Hewitt, Andi knows he is innocent. So now, to prove it all the while, she is putting the finishing touches in place for her wedding day (a mere week away). Her wedding photographer and good friend (Zarina Mills) may have some first-hand knowledge of this scam but is found dead before parting with any of that information. So now Andi must find the killer and figure out the details of the scam to help Doc Hewitt! And from the book’s intro – there are also a couple more issues to be solved…a dodgy record producer pressuring a friend’s young daughter and lest we forget – a disorganized dog breeding operation that may be endangering animals.
To begin with, it felt like there was just too many storylines that needed to be addressed. Maybe it is just me, but I think one or two less issues would have helped focus the storylines a bit more. I do contend that some of the confusion is definitely on me as I am entering the series at this newest addition. With more background of the main characters, I might not have felt so overwhelmed and confused.
I did enjoy how loving and attentive Andi was with her four-legged creatures. She definitely is a caring protagonist – both to animals and humans alike. She also had much fortitude to handle all of these days before her wedding. And speaking of wedding – she and her groom were so amenable to whatever would work for the second couple also getting married. Wow – that was so generous. As such, I may well go back and start the series from the beginning so that there is a chance to enjoy this addition to the series.
I must say – I loved the cover art. That in itself is a true winner for drawing in this reader to the story!
If you enjoy cozy mystery stories with lots of dogs and their amenable humans, a bit of intrigue and a murder to solve along with a number of issues to solve, then I suggest picking up a copy of A Suspicious Breed by Jackie Layton.
