"Snuffling Up Bones" By DonnaRae Menard: Review/Giveaway

Review by Tracy Condie 

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

 If you are a fan of cozy mysteries that revolve around saving animals, this release is going to be your new favorite. Introducing Doris Flynn, a recent widow with an amazing amount of love for all animals, great and small. I am not kidding when I say great. The biggest animal on the farm is a 450-pound Hampshire pig named Buttercup Belle. If you saw The Ugly Dachshund, then you know that a big dog can think of itself as a little dog. The same appears to be true for Buttercup. She is trained much like a dog, and she behaves much like a dog. There is one difference: Buttercup responds to singing cues, even joining in at times. When you get to the Buttercup bathing scene, you will laugh out loud.

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Doris’s daughter, Melanie, has moved home after developing MS and losing her dad, Ian. He died almost a year before of a heart attack. (I have to wonder if there isn’t the possibility of a future story arc regarding Ian’s death.) Central to the story are two head-strong as well as heart-strong ladies, one large farm, two family dogs, one really big pig, chickens, one dog being prepped for a new home, and a full cattery (eight cats I think). I feel tired just reading about all the work that Doris does, and that doesn’t include her sleuthing after Buttercup snuffles up some bones behind the homestead.

This is an interesting story because there are so many truly human aspects, like Melanie’s MS, and Rose Anne’s job as the medicolegal investigator, an occupation I have not encountered before. I also liked that Doris has a good working relationship with Sheriff Neddel, the new, and somewhat attractive, guy in town.

The mystery is so interesting that I found it difficult to put the book down. I bounced between suspects up until the reveal, and didn’t come close to guessing the whole plot line. I do hope this one becomes a series.

To enter to win a copy of Snuffling Up Bones, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "snuffling,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen April 12, 2025. 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. 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! 

You can click here to purchase this book.

Tracy Condie is a paralegal by day and cozy armchair sleuth by night. When she is not working or reading, she enjoys preparing the recipes found in culinary cozies or researching recipes of meal items described therein and sharing reviews of both books and food on Instagram and on KRL. She lives in Corona, California with her husband and dog Zoolie, and looks forward to visiting with their grown sons when their time permits.

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.