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Tuesday, November 9, 2021

Book Review: Doggone Deadly by Deborah Blake (Catskills Pet Rescue #2)

Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: Strong human characters, cute animals, great plot
Cons: You’re doggone kidding, right?
The Bottom Line:
A deadly dog show
Setting for a fun cozy
Such cute animals



Doggone Fun

Earlier this year, I really enjoyed the first in the Catskills Pet Rescue series from Deborah Blake.  I’ve been looking forward to the follow up, Doggone Deadly, ever since.  It was another great book.

If you missed the first book, it features Kari Stuart.  When she won the lottery, she decided to buy a pet rescue shelter that was about to close.

This book takes the action to a regional dog show.  Kari is there to promote her pet rescue center, hoping to get more volunteers and some adoptions of the pets currently in the shelter.  Her best friend, Suz Holden, is helping run the entire event, and Kari is also planning to act as Suz’s assistant over the course of the three-day event.

Things take an unexpected turn when Kari and Suz find the body of a local dog breeder at the end of the first day.  It appears the murder weapon was a pair of Suz’s distinctive dog grooming scissors.  With the police looking at Suz as a suspect, Kari adds detective to her weekend plans.  Can she clear her friend?

The book does a good job of setting up suspects and questions before Kari and Suz find the victim.  Not that it is too far into the book when they find her.  When that happens, we’ve got plenty of suspects and potential motives to untangle before the climax.  Some of these trails lead us deep into the world of dog shows.  I know so little about that, but everything we need to know is presented in a way that is both informative and entertaining.  It doesn’t feel like a data dump at all, which I appreciated.

The characters are great as well.  Naturally, we get several returning characters from the first book, and I enjoyed seeing how they developed here.  The suspects are strong and memorable.

And I can’t forget the four-legged characters.  Fans of the first will be glad to know that Kari’s kitten, Queenie, is a major part of the action again.  While most of the action takes place at the dog show, we do get a couple of scenes at the shelter and Kari’s home, so we get some cameos by the animals we met there.  And there are plenty of dogs at the show to melt your heart.

It’s always nice to see a second book prove that a strong first book wasn’t a fluke.  That’s the case with Doggone Deadly.  If you enjoyed the first, you’ll enjoy this one just as much.  And if you haven’t started the series yet, don’t wait any longer to meet these characters.

NOTE: I received an ARC of the book.

Giveaway:

I'm giving away a copy of this book.  The winner will have a choice of a physical copy (US addresses only) or a digital copy (open to everyone).

If you were rescuing a pet, would you go for a dog or a cat?  Personally, I think I'd lean toward a cat, but I'm allergic to both.  Tell me your choice to be entered.  And please be sure to give me your email address so I can contact you if you win.

I'll pull the winner next Tuesday, November 16th (which is also the release day for this book), so please enter before then.

18 comments:

  1. Our dogs over the years - five so far - have all been rescue. All poodle or poodle mix so not an issue with allergies and no shedding. Never more than 3 at a time, but as the first two passed over the rainbow bridge, we got two more. That said, 2020 wasn't a good year and we currently only have one and he's a handful or two and never really did well with the other dogs. For now, he's an only child. Cats - allergies are too bad. cccnardi [at] gmail [dot] com - ebook please!

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  2. I would choose a dog due to cat allergies.
    jtcgc at yahoo dot com

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  3. I am a dog person...can't have a pet now, but it would definitely be a rescue.

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  4. I have two cats that I adopted from a shelter. I guess I'm a cat person, but I love dogs also.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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  5. As an animal lover, I'd help any critter in their time of need. One of my fondest memories is taking a hike through the woods and coming across a doe that had her hind leg caught in downed barbed wire fence. I was able to stay safe and help her get her foot loose at the same time. When she stood up, tested her leg, the look she gave me like gratitude as she walked off has stayed with me all these years. As for dog or cat, we are owned by a dog, but have are godparents to a cat. :)

    Thank you for your review on "Doggone Deadly by Deborah Blake" which is no on my TBR list. Can't wait for the opportunity to read it. Shared but hoping to be the fortunate one selected. Thanks for the chance!
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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  6. We have two rescued dogs and one rescued cat, so obviously,we enjoy both in our family.
    I wasn't aware this series startes, so I would be pleased to read it.
    browninggloria(at)hotmail(dot) com

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  7. I have rescued cats for years and currently have three cats who are all rescued. If I lived in a house rather than an apartment, I would also rescue a dog. I really enjoyed the first book in this series and would love to win the second one. My e-mail address is moonpanther@gmail.com

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  8. Definitely a cat! I have never owned a dog! lindaherold999(at)gmail(dot)com

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  9. I'm a cat person. I have 3 cats that I have rescued but only 1 from a shelter. Thank you for this chance at your giveaway. pgenest57 at aol dot com

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  10. I would definitely go for a dog. Most of my Labs have been rescues in some form or another. 3labsmom(at)gmail(dot)com

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  11. All our cats are rescues, and we also foster. I love dogs as well, but there is only so much energy to go around. ;-) peggi w l @ gmail . com

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  12. Cats for me. We've had lots over the years. I have one now. Never had a dog. We had guinea pigs when I was a kid.

    Catbooks72(at)gmail(dot)com

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  13. The book sounds so good! I am allergic to cats, plus I love dogs, so I would rescue a dog. My current dog is a rescue. Thanks for the chance! cking78503(at)aol(dot)com

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  14. I'm starting this one tomorrow and really looking forward to it. I really loved the first one. I'd probably get a dog. I'm much more of a dog person and am allergic to cats! I like our cat but it's mostly because he has more of a doglike personality and the allergy shots seem to be working.

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  15. A cat, but I’ve already rescued 3, so I’ve reached my limit. dtaylor14213atyahoodotcom

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  16. All my life I've rescued both cats, dogs & more..I do prefer cats to dogs, but I've rescued cats, dogs, bunnies, birds, sugar gliders, chickens, turtles and more. My last rescue dog, a Boston Terrier I had for 14 1/2 years.. my 2 cats (still) are now 10 & 2 years old.. & 1 of my chickens. Most of the other rescues I rehomed at various times. Thanks, stay safe! nani_geplcs(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  17. I am definitely a dog person so I would choose the dog rescue. We have 2 grand pups that we dog sit alot so we just love dogs.
    marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
    Maryann

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  18. Thanks for the giveaway. This series sounds so good! We are on our sixth and seventh dogs right now and they have all been rescues. I'd love to have cats, too, but I'm allergic. ckmbeg(at) gmail (dot) com

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