TAILS FROM THE CRYPT

Two special pups help an animal lover solve the murder of a cat hater.

Georgie Johansen has a heart for all creatures great and small, which is why she gave up life in the big city to help run an animal sanctuary on her Aunt Olivia’s farm in Twilight Cove, Oregon. So Genevieve Newmont’s threat to poison Hattie Beechwood’s cats for digging up her garden does not go down well. Nor does Georgie appreciate Genevieve’s attempt to buy a plum role in Twilight Cove’s annual Pumpkin Glow Halloween event with a hefty donation. Normally, Georgie wouldn’t spend much time worrying who killed Genevieve and left her body in the park—only the police regard Georgie’s best friend, Tessa Ortiz, as their prime suspect. Unlike the animals who roam freely across Aunt Olivia’s acreage, Fox keeps a tight rein on her narrative, moving the investigation forward briskly while keeping the Halloween festivities, the wildlife drama, and even Georgie’s budding romance with ex–MLB player Callum McQuade firmly in the background. She even lets her spaniels’ supernatural gifts appear low-key, allowing them to use their power of invisibility, for example, to sneak clues off the investigating officers’ desk without becoming objects of scrutiny themselves. The result is a well-balanced small-town cozy offering a hint of romance and a whiff of local color while allowing readers to enjoy seeing justice triumph.

For cozy fans who like their mystification with a little magic.