“Penned” By By Eileen Brady: Review/Giveaway

by Cynthia Chow

Details on how to win a copy of this book at the end of the review & links to purchase it.

When elderly Gloria LaGuardia announced that she saw evil on the street in Hudson Valley, veterinarian Kate Turner was sure that her new friend was simply confused. It was Halloween night after all, and the streets of the artistic Oak Falls town were abundant with ghouls and zombies. Kate soon begins to fear that a real monster was out that night, though, when poor Gloria is found strangled to death in her own bed.

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Although Kate has only been filling in for a vacationing veterinarian for the past year, the connection she feels to the town and the woman she briefly met compels her to attend Gloria’s funeral. It is there that Kate meets Tucker Weinstein, a true-crime writer very interested in Gloria’s death and close proximity to a past murder. Tucker’s new project documents men who kill their families, one of whom was a neighbor of Gloria’s twenty-one years ago. The news that Carl Wolf is still a fugitive on the run from the law is alarming, especially considering Gloria’s last words spoken to Kate.

Image Source  Poisoned Pen Press

Currently treating a senior border collie with cognitive dysfunction – basically Doggie Alzheimer’s – Kate knows the confusion that sets in with age. Gloria’s experience as a former courtroom sketch artist lends credence to observational skills, though, which leads Kate on a path to discover who best fits the bill of the missing murderer. An additional attack indicates that the killer remains nearby, escalating the need for Kate to implement her diagnostic skills to identify a multiple murderer. Her source for information is busy with night classes in preparation for law school, but Falls Oak police officer Luke Gianetti is still just as much as a distraction with his nightly delivery of take-out dinners and flirtatious but platonic friendship. Kate’s long-distance relationship with college boyfriend Jeremy seems to be longer and more distant every day, and with a lot of feedback from her friends and coworkers she’s being pushed to decide what she wants, and where she wants to live far sooner than anticipated.

The mystery moves along swiftly, with clues so deftly spread throughout that few readers will reach the solution before Kate and the police. The real treats of this series are Kate’s encounters with her patients and their human companions, who are so attached and loyal to one another. The humorous situations that lead to visits to the Oak Falls Animal Hospital are always incredibly entertaining, especially when the causes usually fall at the feet of the humans. Katie’s talents as a skilled veterinarian and animal lover serve her and the police well, especially when it comes down to tracking down a very important dog. Security dogs, the different forms of dog training, and especially the connection between humans and their companions are all fascinatingly explored in this fourth compelling entry in the series.

To enter to win a copy of If the Penned, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "Penned,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen October 27, 2018. U.S. residents only. If entering via email please include your mailing address (so if you win we can get the book sent right out to you), and if via comment please include your email address. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section in Kings River Life and in our mystery category here on KRL News & Reviews. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. And check out our new mystery podcast which features mystery short stories and first chapters read by actors! October's episodes are perfect for your Halloween listening!

You can use these links to purchase the book. If you have adblocker on you may not be able to see the Amazon link:

Penned (Kate Turner DVM Mysteries #4)

Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.