Murder Most Howl by Krista Davis

Murder Most Howl (Paws & Claws Mystery, #3)

by Krista Davis

In the third mystery in the New York Times bestselling Paws & Claws series, the Sugar Maple Inn is in for a ruff winter...

This January, Wagtail, Virginia, the top pet-friendly destination in the country, is throwing a fun murder mystery weekend—but no one expected the real thing...

Holly Miller is delighted her grandmother has finally left the Sugar Maple Inn to take a well-deserved vacation. It means Holly’s in charge, but running the inn might be more challenging than she realized. Wagtail’s throwing a weekend-long murder mystery game to draw in tourists during the slow season, the inn has a full house, and a blizzard is on the way. 

Trouble is unleashed the night the game begins, when the storm blows in and the lights go out.  It gets worse the following morning when Holly’s Jack Russell terrier, Trixie, discovers a body—one that’s actually dead. Now Holly, her calico kitten Twinkletoes, and Trixie must play by the rules and find one dirty dog...

Delicious recipes for owners and pets included! 

Reviewed by Mystereity Reviews on

4 of 5 stars

Share
4.5 Stars

The third book in the Paws & Claws series, Murder Most Howl sees the gang in the (unfortunately fictional) pet resort town of Wagtail hosting a murder mystery weekend. The Sugar Maple Inn is filled to the rafters with excited sleuths looking to solve their very own murder.

Things start going downhill when the morning after the "murder" kicked off the event, a real dead body turns up in town and it's up to Holly and her gang to solve the mystery.

This was a great plot; moved along pretty well, but bogged down a little towards the middle of the book. Still, I have to say that although I figured out who the thief was, I really had no idea whodunit until the very end. I loved the whole murder-mystery-within-a-murder-mystery idea. Really well done!

Deducted half a star because of a few niggling things; first, the whole Ben - Holmes - Holly triangle has got to go. It doesn't tantalize, it annoys. Second, there was an event that was mentioned before it was introduced into the story (Spoiler ahead)

While on the way to Shadow's house, Holly mentions that the money clip has gone missing. Wait, what money clip? Well, a few chapters later, a character reports that her husband's money clip is missing. Either Holly has become psychic or there was a glaring plot error that somehow made it to publication.

Last, what the is the point of Aunt Birdie? Seriously?

Last modified on

Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 7 January, 2016: Finished reading
  • 7 January, 2016: Reviewed