Murder, She Barked: A Paws & Claws Mystery

I stared with a later book in this series and loved it so much, I came back to start at the beginning. I’m happy to say that it was just as good as the later one! I loved learning the history of how Holly (the main character) came to live in Wagtail and run the Inn with her Oma. I also enjoyed being introduced to the characters, many of whom were still around in the later book. Krista Davis has the wonderful knack of creating characters you actually care about and want to get to know and follow over time. That is a rare feat in an author, but the really fun part is she crafts a very good mystery as well. She knows how to through in lots of red herrings and make you think you know who the murderer is, but then pulls a surprise out for her “literary hat” at the end.I am really enjoying this cozy mystery series and look forward to starting the next book. I have also purchased another book by Ms. Davis, another cozy mystery series she writes, since I have been so impressed with this one.If you enjoy cozy mysteries, or just well written stories, you will love these books. Can’t recommend them highly enough. Wish there was a real Wagtail, which is the mark of a good storyteller, the desire to live in or visit the fictional town they create.

This was a fun read and mystery. And I want to go live in Wagtail. Seems like the perfect spot to be.

Loved this first installment of the Paws and Claws mystery series by Krista Davis. The story plot kept me on the edge of my seat, loved all the characters including the dogs Trixie, Gingersnap, Dolce, Murphy, etc and loved Twinkletoes the cat too. Highly recommend to all dog and cat lovers and mystery lovers. Can’t wait to continue reading the other books in the series.

I really enjoyed reading this book, and the second one in the series as well. Am ordering the third today. The characters are mostly well rounded and interesting, and this setting has a bit of a twist compared to most of the cozy mysteries I've been reading. The author did a good job of keeping the mystery of "whodunit" to the end, at least for me. I love the animals, and while there was some tense moments concerning the dog, I was very pleased to see the author did not drag it out too long and all worked out well. Sometimes authors don't know when to let up, but not so in this case I am thankful to say. I am much more of a cat person, and cats are a part of the setting, but more prominent in the second book. Still, I enjoyed the dogs as well. All pets are included in this delightful community where pets are not only welcome, but catered to. I found it to be a fun adventure, and toward the end had trouble putting the book down both for wanting to find out just who was to blame for the murder, and what Holly was going to decide. I thought I might know in the former case, but did not, and hoped I knew in the later case. While not all books resonate with everyone, I would recommend this book if you like animals, a female protagonist, and a mystery that really does keep you guessing until the end.

I read it, straight after finishing the last installment of the Domestic Diva series, intrigued by the peek-preview of the next in Paws and Claws Mystery.The book is filled with fantastic, colorful characters. The main protagonist is charming and so real. I loved the milling crowd - if you read the Domestic Diva series, you will be used to it and that's the part of Ms Davis' stories' charm. What I also liked is that even the 'not-so-nice' characters were softened and became almost likable. Nothing harsh (except murder) in this book.Oh, and sleuthing was subtle, more balanced, not pushy and kind of nonsense, like walking into dark room with certainty that someone will snag, rope or harm the main protagonist.The mystery was really nicely shaped - each red-herring was obvious but it kept me guessing till the very end who the culprit is :)For those looking for a well-paced mystery,with great first-time characters and amazingly cozy atmosphere (I honestly wished to be there) and of course - ANIMALS, that book is a must-read. I have a dog and two cats (and hamsters and ferret), therefore - it was great to read about the place where animals are the center of everybody's world (even the culprit's :)I definitely recommend this book, not only to dogs/ cats lovers but anyone looking for a very good mystery (and luckily - without sex scenes, which in some books seem to be a filler of the author's planned pages:). Cannot wait for the second installment! :)

If you love mysteries as well as animals then you will love this book! Krista Davis’s series Paws and Claws is an absolute delight. Highly recommended!

ミステリーやホラーが続けて読んでいたので 次はのんびりしたのがいいなと思い見つけたのがこれでした。シリーズ1作目。職を追われた主人公のホーリー。どしゃ降りの夜に祖母を訪ねにワグテイルの街を目指します。途中で寄ったガソリンスタンドで一匹の犬を発見。誰にも近づこうとしない犬がなぜか自分から彼女の車内にヒョイ！後からトリクシーと名前が付くこの犬を保護する所からお話しが始まります。ホーリーの祖母は飼い主とペットが一緒に過ごせる動物に優しい「いたせりつくせり」なホテルを経営しています。猫専用の別館もちゃんとあります。(巻末にはペットも食べられるオヤツのレシピが載っています)さて肝心なお話ですが、ホーリーが街に到着してすぐにホテルで事件が起こり「犯人な誰だ？」の展開です。1作目なのでお話の途中までは登場人物やつながり、街の様子等を中心に書かれています。犯人もギリギリまで確定しなかったです。(登場人物が意外に多いので初めにメモをしました)ホテルだけでなく街全体がペットを家族の一員として大切にケアしているのが良く伝わり愛犬家にはたまらない設定で思わず「いいなぁ。行ってみたいなぁ。」と。ホーリーの彼氏も登場しますがロマンス度は低い印象です。全部で7巻。このまま最後まで読む予定です。2巻はハロウィン、5巻はクリスマスにぴったりのお話しみたいです。今から読むのを楽しみにしています。

Wagtail is the ideal place to live in: hardly any cars, pets and humans living together in harmony, wonderful surroundings, and.... MURDER!!! If you love animals and a good mystery: this is the book for you!! Krista Davis will bring you joy in this series (Paws and Claws) as much as she does in her 'Delicious Mystery' (Diva...) series. You will keep on coming back for more!

Ich kann gar nicht einmal sagen, was mit dem Buch alles nicht stimmt. Den Anfang habe ich noch gerne gelesen, aber mit der Zeit wurde es immer holpriger, konstruierter, vorhersehbarer und läppischer. Die Charaktere waren nicht besonders interessant, zu viel blieb vage. Ich musste es diagonal lesen, um es zu beenden. Kein grosser Wurf. Eine knappe Sonntagslektüre, die weiteren Bände werde ich mir schenken.

It is the first in the series and does a very good job setting the scene and introducing the characters while making sure that there is an interesting murder mystery at the centre. I enjoyed the idea that there is a whole town dedicated to pet tourism and wish I could actually go on holiday somewhere like that. I think the characters are believable and fun, though I have to say some of the pets in the story are a bit too well behaved! I'm looking forward to the next book and would recommend this to people who enjoy expertly crafted mysteries.