Muzzled: A Kate Turner, DVM, Mystery

By: Eileen Brady
Illustrated By: Mike Hagelberg
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Publication Date: May 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4642-0186-8
Reviewed By: Kristi Benedict
Review Date: May 22, 2014

When Dr. Kate Turner got a call from a small town vet she never realized how much her life would change. She agreed to work there while the current vet took an around the world vacation, but now that she was there, everything was quickly turning upside down.

One morning as Kate was making her morning house calls she came to the Langthornes, an older couple that is well known for their champion Cavalier King Charles spaniels. This had been a frequent stop for Kate since she had arrived in this small town so nothing seemed out of the ordinary until the only answer she received when knocking on the door was frantic barking. Sensing that something was wrong, Kate opened the door and was confronted by a gruesome sight. The Langthornes had both been shot and the dogs were running radically through the house!

The police quickly call this a murder-suicide but Kate is sure that something is being missed as the list of potential suspects continues to grow. In no way satisfied with what the police have concluded, Kate does some investigating of her own including tuning into the local dog show gossip that is constantly circulating around the dog show world. To someone on the outside it’s just a group of people and their dogs, but to the breeders and owners those dogs are prize possessions. But would this be enough motive to murder two people? Kate’s grandpa always told her there are two motives for murder, love and money, and now Kate is bound and determined to find out who did this and why.

If I am glancing at books in a store a mystery is not something I instantly gravitate to as it is just not my first choice, but Muzzled is definitely causing me to reconsider that position. From beginning to end I enjoyed every bit of this book and applaud the author for creating such a relatable protagonist. In addition, I have had the opportunity to work as a vet tech so all of the little crazy things that happen when working with animals are something I can completely relate to. The way Eileen Brady described her appointments, patients and clients had me laughing out loud as I read through this story. Even somebody without experience around animals would get a kick out of the great humor in this book.

To top it off Brady writes an intriguing mystery that is complimented by the entertaining stories that come from being a veterinarian. It is always exciting to find a book that truly keeps you guessing until the very last page and this book definitely does that. Through each chapter new suspects would come about, new evidence, and little details that had me truly guessing who the real culprit would be. With skilled writing Brady kept me hanging on until the very end and reveals a completely unexpected twist that can only come from a great mystery.

Quill says: A wonderfully written story that will have you looking for that perfect spot to curl up and enjoy a good book.