"Killers of a Feather" Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries By T. C. LoTempio: Review/Giveaway

Review by Kathleen Costa

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the book and a link to purchase it.

Shell Marlowe starred in her own popular cable show, Spy Anyone, but the fickle nature of Hollywood left her out and a game show starring an A-lister in. An opportunity to make a fresh start came with the sad passing of her Aunt Tillie sending Shell “McMillan” cross country to Fox Hollow, Connecticut. She took possession of her aunt’s Victorian mansion along with a substantial amount of money, a thriving pet shop business, and a white, one-eyed Persian cat named Purrday, and, later, a Siamese named Kahlua. The local residents are quite the fur-friend fanatics and relieved that Urban Tails Pet Shop will remain open. But with only forty-eight hours til the grand reopening, Shell has run into a few snags: her live music cancelled, faking an excuse to go fishing, and the fortune-telling parrot Captain Snaggle literally flew the coop. She admits going a bit overboard with the festivities, getting other businesses on board and making it a whole town event, but she just hopes nothing else goes wrong…famous last words!


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Image Source Beyond the Page
Killers of a Feather
Earns 5/5 Parrot Predictions…Entertaining Gem!

To the rescue…BFF Olivia Niven suggests using a boom box for music, and former co-star Gary Presser has a back-up parrot, Honey Belle, arranged. With that set and the shop ready for shoppers, Saturday just might be the success she needs. Even the new assistant manager Robbie Grant’s suggestion to hire Johnny Draco for the live music interests Shell. It’s awkward, however, when she learns Draco is not well liked having defrauded many of the locals and then up and disappeared. It was rumored he’d landed in jail somewhere. But, it may be moot when a man, “you can call be Ira,” appears at the shop, unaware Tillie had passed, and seems to have just the musical talent to save the day. But, hiring him will be problematic since it turns out “Ira” is Johnny Draco’s middle name. It’s even more problematic when, after a prophetic fortune, Draco ends up dead.

Meow-velous! T.C. LoTempio has upped her game with a delightfully engaging mystery, a town full of suspects, and some prophetic fortunes. Several friends approach Shell with their story about money misappropriated, who’s responsible, and their ideas for justice, but she’s also right place, right time to witness arguments, confrontations, and shadowy threats, but what is Draco’s truth? The investigative journey was a fascinating page-turner weeding through the murder victim’s past and cryptic comment about his innocence, surprise connections, alleged fraud victims with varied alibis, possibly a very good frame job, and additional felonies, but it all ends with a surprise, yet karmic, arrest. The intensity was not just finding a killer with a bit of peril thrown in, it was also the interactions between a diverse set of characters: friendship, budding romance, and a mother that would challenge a saint. The dynamic between Shell (Crishell) and her mother was excruciating entertainment easily contrasted by her relationship with friends, her boyfriend, and her fur-friends.

LoTempio’s writing is entertaining using descriptive language to paint the small town setting along with the images of a multi-generational cast. The banter supports the varied personalities and emotions of the moment. Shell is a strong, creative female empowered with a true sense of fairness, holding off judgements, with interactions to show she is a good friend, girlfriend, and daughter, and a true animal lover. LoTempio makes sure the fur- or feathered- friends get their own delightful scenes, too. It is a traditional cozy with all the elements I enjoy…Loved it!

Urban Tails Pet Shop Mystery

The Time for Murder is Meow (2021)

Killers of a Feather (2022)

Be a Big Fan of T.C. Lotempio!

Just like many of us, national best selling author Toni LoTempio’s lifelong love of mysteries began at the age of ten when she was introduced to her first Nancy Drew mystery, The Secret in the Old Attic. Today she has two delightfully entertaining mystery series: Nick and Nora Mystery starring PI Nora Charles and her tuxedo cat Nick and the Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries with Shell McMillan managing her pet shop with a two felines, Purrday and Khalua. Strong females. Fur friends. Criminal fun. 

Facebook: Toni LoTempio

Website: TC Lotempio

Blog: Cats, Books, and…More Cats!

Twitter @RoccoBlogger

To enter to win either an ebook or print copy of Killers of a Feather (winner's choice), simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "solace,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen August 20, 2022. US residents only and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. If entering via comment please include your email address so we can contact you. BE SURE TO STATE IF YOU WANT PRINT OR EBOOK.  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 local actors! A new episode went up this week.

You can use this link to purchase the book or click here. If you have adblocker on you may not be able to see the Amazon link:

Kathleen Costa is a long-time resident of the Central Valley, and although born in Idaho, she considers herself a “California Girl.” Graduating from CSU-Sacramento, she is a 35+ year veteran teacher having taught in grades 1-8 in schools from Sacramento to Los Angeles to Stockton to Lodi. Currently Kathleen is enjoying her retirement revitalizing hobbies along with exploring writing, reading for pleasure, and spending 24/7 with her husband.
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.

Comments

  1. Congratulations on the book! It sounds wonderful. I love books with lots of animals. What a cute cover! I would love to win a print copy of this. Thanks for the chance. ckmbeg (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. Thank you! We enjoyed writing Shell's adventures

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  2. Wow this book sounds just wonderful and that you are offering a print is even better. Battling RSD for more than 30+ years fingers are deformed so I only do print and this one sounds like a charm. thank you so much for going on tour! peggy clayton ptclayton2@aol.com

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  3. Love T.C. series. Great to get in on the start
    of a new one. Sounds exciting. thanks
    Print copy, please.
    txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  4. Thank you so much for the nice review! T.C. and ROCCO

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  5. I would love to win a print copy of this book!

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  6. Sounds like a great book. Can't wait to read. I prefer a print copy.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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  7. I would love to win an e book copy of the book. Sounds entertaining.

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  8. I would love y to I win a e book copy of this book. It sounds entertaining.

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  9. Many thanks to all who took the tiime to comment!

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  10. I'd like to be included! tWarner419@aol.com

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  11. Been enjoying the Nick and Nora books, will have to check out this series. I'd love to win a print copy.
    kozo8989@hotmail.com

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  12. Thanks everyone and don't forget to stop by my website, tclotempio.net and sign up for my newsletter. Info about giveaways, blog posts, upcoming books and cover reveals which i try to get out each quarter.

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  13. Sounds like a great book. Thanks for the chance!

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  14. Thanks to everyone for their kind comments. 2023 will not only see Nick and Nora #6 and Pet Shop #3, but also the debut of the Tiffany Austin Food blogger Mysteries!

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  15. We have a winner!
    Lorie Ham

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