This is a wonderful series for pet lovers, as well as cozy mystery lovers. When Daphne shows up at a Hallowe'en fundraiser for Fur-ever friends, she should have known it was going to be a tough night. She was the only person in costume having lost her invitation. When Lillian Flynt's body is found electrocuted in the upstairs bathroom, the party is off and Maeve Templeton, Daphne's mother is the prime suspect. Of course Daphne gets involved in trying to solve the crime as well as getting the opportunity to spend time with Detective Jonathan Black.

Once again the pets are front and centre. Lillian's pedigreed cat Tinkleston is left to Daphne in her will and it takes a while to warm up to each other, along with several bandages to cover Daphne's scratches. The dogs get to march in a parade, Jonathan's ex-wife moves to town and Daphne moves into the cottage on her sister's property. I liked Daphne a lot better in this book. She did not seem as scattered or clueless. She still is not the most organized but that makes her more realistic to me. This is a fun story with some different characters that had me moving through the story quite quickly. Another great cozy mystery in this series.

Another fun cozy in the Lucky Paws Petsitting mystery series! I usually enjoy mysteries set during the Halloween season but, when the author throws in a supposedly haunted mansion, it's even better!
A well rounded mystery with a few red herrings that had me guessing until the end. I thoroughly enjoy reading about Daphne's antics with her lovable Socrates!
I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

Daphne Templeton is an experienced pet sitter, but isn't prepared for Tinkleston. Daphne is volunteering at a gala fundraiser for Fur-ever Friends Pet Rescue when it's discovered that Tinkleston's owner is dead. Daphne accidently discovers clues pointing to murder while she's chasing down Tinkleston. Afraid that the clues point to her mother as the killer, Daphne is determined to find the real killer and solve the case.
This is a fun, light read that's totally entertaining.

Fur-Ever Friends Pet Rescue gala is being held at the Flynt Mansion this year. As the set-up work is being done inside and outside the mansion owned by Lillian Flynt, Lillian's prized cat, Tinkleston escapes. At the same time, Maeve Templeton, Daphne Templeton's real estate agent mother, is waiting on a potential buyer to arrive to view Flynt Mansion. After Daphne is delegated the cat catcher by her sister Piper, Daphne discovers more than just a cat who hisses and tries to get away - she finds Lillian Flynt dead in an upstairs bathroom.

Daphne has assumed responsibility to care for Tinkleston and has decided after the previous murder investigation, to leave the murder-solving to Jonathan Black, resident hunky detective. Only, when Maeve is considered a suspect, Daphne can't just sit idly by while her mother is wrongly accused. Maeve Templeton may be many things but a murderer is not one of them!

Dial Meow for Murder is a wonderful cozy mystery full of action, suspense, drama, and animals. I love Artie, the chihuahua Daphne rescued in book 1 and convinced Jonathan to adopt. He is such scene stealer. Tinks is a feisty cat with a cantankerous personality and Socrates is patient, especially concerning Daphne and her recent influx of foster animals (both in book 1 and book 2). Now on to the humans.

Daphne is a wonderful character. She is snarky, compassionate, without too many cares in the world. Some may think she's a flake since her cell never works and she's never on time for anything, but she's a strong protagonist that doesn't live by the timeline of others. She even has a PhD in philosophy but doesn't use her degree. She's down-to-earth, kind, and gentle. She loves her pet sitting business and continues to prosper. The sparks between Daphne and Jonathan are still there in book 2 and the dynamics are not at all subtle.

The book is engaging from the very beginning and kept me entertained throughout. There was never a dull moment and some of Daphne's antics had me smiling. The author's writing style is phenomenal. All dialogue was smooth, thought out, and conversational. The twists and turns kept me guessing all the way until the end.

Daphne ends up with a nasty cat when Tinkleston’s owner is murdered on the night of a gala fundraiser for Fur-ever Friends Pet Rescue. Socrates is not very happy with their new roommate and even Daphne is not sure about it as that cat don't seem to like her much but she feels sorry for it.

Daphne is determined to find out what happened to Tinkleston's owner especially when it looks like her mother could be a suspect. This means bumping heads with Detective Jonathan Black who doesn't enjoy her snooping around in his crime scenes, especially when she always seems to muck something up like accidently take something that could be a clue.

Jonathan's ex is in town and thinking about buying a home and staying a while and even though Daphne is not dating Jonathan a part of her is not thrilled with this news. Meanwhile, the man that Daphne has been seeing wants to talk to her about something and it has her worried.

Daphne is real good and accidently finding things even a killer! I think Daphne is growing on me a bit more from the first book even though she really needs to start thinking before she messes with things she shouldn't even if it doesn't seem like a clue. That drove me crazy in the first book but she wasn't as bad this go around. I am a fan of Detective Black so I hope the romance moves towards Daphne and him, but I guess time will tell. I love some of the side characters like her sister, mom and best friend.

Even though I am not a cat person I really enjoyed Tinkleston and he made me laugh a few times. Poor Socrates though as he has to put up with that little cat. I miss Daphne having Artie even though we do get him a little in this one as Detective Black owns him now but he about stole the show in the last book so I was bummed when she gave him to Black.

I really enjoyed this one and it has a good solid mystery and I didn't figure it out so that is always a bonus for me. :) Can't wait to get to Pawprints and Predicaments!

Great follow up to Death by Chocolate Lab. Our Ph.D toting pet charmer Daphne is back and this time she needs to use her observation skills to clear her own mother. Maeve Templeton is a real estate agent bent on being the best and this time that just might not be good enough when the owner of the Flynt Mansion turns up dead.
What sort of treasures have been left behind in Flynt mansion? In addition to the oh so precious Tinks the Cat or as others like to call him, Tinks the Terror! That won't stop a pro like Daphne who will get to bottom of this cat-tastrophy with or without distractions like handsome Detective Black.
I really enjoyed this second installment of the Lucky Paws Petsitting series and can't wait to read the next one, Pawprints and Predicaments. The story line is moved along nicely, although I'd like to see more along the lines of Daphne and the Detective scenario.

It's getting close to Halloween and the Fur-Ever Friends Pet Rescue gala event is underway. Daph Templeton is helping her sister and friends put the finishing touches on the evening. When she goes looking for the woman usually in charge of the event inside her mansion, she finds that her mother, Maeve, is also putting the final touches on selling the mansion. In trying to chase down the owner's elusive cat, Tinkleston, Daph finds the body of his owner, Lillian Flynt, in the bathtub.

Evidence of course points to Maeve since she was with the deceased recently and trying to sell the house for her so Daph is not going to leave this case alone until she clears her mother's name. To add even more mayhem to the situation, her detective friend Jonathan Black's ex-wife is in town and is the person who wants to buy the mansion. It's tense sailing for Daph and Jonathan who seem to be growing a tad closer but when they're together it seems that Elyse is also there.

Daph's good friend Dylan is also needing to speak to her in private so she's a little on edge about that too. Since she's doing a lot of investigating lately, Daph will need to watch her back especially when she stumbles onto a second murder victim!

This was another fun and exciting mystery in this series. There were tons of suspects and reasons so I really couldn't decide who the killer was. I picked up on a clue the author left and thought maybe it was that but I wasn't sure of why. As always I just enjoyed the excitement and humor that went along with the story.

Moxie is still my favorite secondary character, she's such a hoot and Artie remains my favorite dog character but slow-moving Socrates actually plays a little bit bigger of a role in this book. I was glad for that because I have a special soft spot for basset hounds. Although Socrates wouldn't like me very much because I would want to hug on him a lot!

The setting and murder during a fund raiser for a pet rescue organization really caught my eye. I really enjoy how the family members both get along and don't get along in very real manner in this series. When Daphne's mother, a real estate broker, winds up on the suspect list for the murder, she feels compelled to look into things.

Dial Meow for Murder is the 2nd installment in the "Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery" series and it is a great addition to this series. Daphne Templeton is still the same person she was, a very unique and humorous character, a free spirit you could say. Well, a volunteer who helps out with the pet fundraisers ends up murdered and of course, Daphne and her pets must look for the culprit. The book is hilarious and fun to read. It is a great way to spend an afternoon. I highly recommend this series for those who love cozy mysteries.

Dial Meow for Murder is a Purrfect Halloween treat for mystery lovers.  These fun, fast paced cozies are an enjoyable repast with animals who have easily as much character as the humans.  It is easy to enjoy a book when the people are quirky and easily liked and the antics of the pets leave you with a smile. (Even Tinkleston who is known for his fridge based attacks). When you add in an intriguing mystery - well it's a combination difficult to pass up.

When Daphne is tasked by her mother to corral a bad tempered kitty, the last thing she expects to find is another dead body.  Tinkleston may be a terror, but a very human killer is behind the death of Miss Flynt, an active volunteer and owner of the mansion Daphne’s mother is trying to sell.  Daphne has more curiosity than the cats she cares for, so it’s only natural for her to nose around, particularly when her mother might be a suspect.  Daphne’s impulsiveness doesn't make it easy to keep her out of danger, but between her solemn basset Socrates and handsome Detective Jonathan Black she might just have a chance of staying alive and catching a killer.

Dial Meow for Murder is a cute, light mystery that is fun to read and is appropriate for all ages of mystery lover.  If you are looking to escape the stresses of everyday life, Dial Meow for Murder is a choice that will leave you with a smile on your face.

5 / 5

I received a copy of Dial Meow for Murder from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

--Crittermom

This is my first cozy mystery, and I loved it. This is a sequel, but everything was recapped and introduced so well, that I didn’t feel like I was missing anything.

The characters were great. There were some very eccentric older characters, and quirky young characters. Many of them were stock characters, but it worked in this story. There was also a hint of romance, but it didn’t overpower the story.

The mystery part of the story was so good. I really had no idea how it was going to end. The Halloween setting also increased the spooky atmosphere. The story kept me guessing till the end, which is what I think makes a good mystery.

I had to laugh at how much of the town was pet-oriented. There were pet stores and petsitters galore in that town! That didn’t seem very realistic but it was entertaining to see the town that was so focused on animals.

I loved this story! After reading this story, I would love to read another cozy mystery.

I love cozy mysteries like this-a likeable amateur sleuth, pets, and a fast-paced mystery to solve. Daphne has such a good heart and trouble seems to seek her out. There were plenty of red herrings and twists to keep readers interested. I am new to this author, but I do think that I would enjoy reading more in this series.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to discover this author in exchange for my honest opinion

Dial Meow for Murder is the second installment in the Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery series set in the small town of Sylvan Creek, Pennsylvania and featuring Philosophy major turned pet sitter Daphne Templeton. Daphne's business is growing, her homemade organic pet treats are a huge hit and she's ready to move into the small cottage on sister Piper's estate.

Heading to the Fur-Ever-Friends Pet rescue fundraiser at the Flynt mansion, Daphne quickly discovers that the Halloween theme does not include costumes and she and her beloved basset hound and sidekick Socrates are the only two dressed up for the holiday. The Flynt mansion has a reputation for being haunted and for some reason the power is off leaving the home even spookier in appearance.

Daphne's mother Maeve, Sylvan Creek realtor extraordinaire, has landed the listing to sell the home and with a potential buyer on the way for a showing is having a fit that the owner Lillian Flynt is missing and her black, Persian cat Tinkleston with a nasty reputation is terrorizing the guests. Following her mother's instructions to find the cat and keep it away from her client, Daphne goes room to room in search of Tinks and discovers Lillian dead in the bathtub.

The autopsy shows that Lillian didn't die an accidental death but instead was the victim of foul play. Maeve surfaces as the prime suspect and in an effort to clear her mother's name Daphne joins forces with the hunky Detective Jonathan Black to find the real killer.

A fast paced, fun plot with plenty of twists and turns. In traditional cozy fashion the characters in the idyllic small town harbor hidden secrets and as Daphne uncovers them she has plenty of suspects to investigate. A terrific cast of characters and loveable pets make for a terrific addition to the series.

I received an advanced copy of Dial Meow for Murder from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.

Daphne and Socrates are back for another fun mystery in Bethany Blake's second Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery series, Dial Meow for Murder. I loved the first book, Death by Chocolate Lab. Needless to say, I was not-so-patiently waiting for the next one. I needed to know what happened to the Rotties! 

Speaking of, while I did find out what happened to them, it was a two-sentence-in-passing mention. Please write another book about the Rotties, Ms. Blake. 

I wasn't quite as enamored with Dial Meow for Murder as I was with Chocolate Lab. Oh, I still enjoyed it, and I still plan on continuing the series. But a lot of what was so great about the first book was all the animals, and that just felt like it was missing here. Even Socrates didn't have much of a role. Plus, I wanted Artie back. 

I do think Blake improved on the mystery, keeping it front and center for the majority of the story. Daphne was also a little more subdued, but truthfully, I missed her passion from the first book. We did get more information about Detective Black's past, and some more about Sylvan Creek, both of which I wanted in the first book. So, happy there! 

Dial Meow for Murder is still a great cozy, and I can't wait to see what happens in book 3!

Daphne is a professional pet sitter and baker of all things delicious, both for animals and humans alike. While she attends a Gala to raise money for charity during the Halloween season, she discovers the dead body of the event's organizer. Lillian - our murder victim -was very famous for her charitable work in Sylvan Creek and her family's legacy went back to the 20th century. Nobody knows what happened to her and who would want her dead. The suspects are many and every one of them seems to have a very important motive for wanting Lillian dead. But who is the true killer and why did he or she actually killed her? Was it because she was famous? Rich? Was it because the killer had something to gain from her death? Daphne sets out on an exciting and extremely dangerous pursuit of the killer, while trying to balance her personal life and understand what is going on with the people around her.

This was such a fun and fast-paced read! I immensely enjoyed the story and found the characters to be extremely likable and easy to relate to and connect with! I haven't actually read the first book in the series and I really wish I had done that before picking up its sequel. It wasn't confusing to follow the plot or anything but, there were some mentions that piqued my interests and I feel like I would have had a more completely picture of Daphne's story if I had read Death by Chocolate Lab first.

I'm a huge animal lover so, the fact that dogs and cats played such a big role in this book really excited me and made me fall in love with it even more! I was also quite jealous of all the activities that took place in Sylvan Creek because I would have loved to take my four legged fella to them and actually join in all the fun! In case you're wondering, we have nothing remotely close to that here! Unfortunately!

The flow of the story was very addictive and I found myself engrossed in Daphne's adventures in trying to solve this very confusing murder. She put herself in danger so many times I actually lost count but, I really admired her curiosity and determination to see things through. She was also such a caring soul, who wanted to do the right thing and really cared about the people that were close to her. Even if they had the ability to driver her insane sometimes. Oh, let's not forget about our four legged felines, canines and all things animal. Jonathan was also a very intriguing and quite mysterious character. He seemed to genuinely care about Daphne but, he was extremely closed off and didn't reveal to us, poor readers, anything about himself or his past. At least in this book. There was no romantic relationship going on between those two and even though I totally ship them as a couple, I was so glad to realize that, for once, romance wasn't the main focus of the book. Well, we're introduced to Dylan - I'm using terms like these because as I have already mentioned above, I have not read the first book so, obviously, I'm not aware of their past and what really went on between them - but, there's no serious thing going on between him and Daphne.

I finished Dial Meow for Murder in a day people, I'm not even kidding. It was like new information never stopped coming my way and there were so many twists and turns that, I got so confused I needed to finish the book and figure out the truth, along with its characters! Picking this book up was one of the best decisions ever because, truthfully, I did not expect to enjoy it this much! The writing was beautiful and the characters developed in a very intriguing way! Even the secondary ones played a big part in the development of the plot and I couldn't have been more grateful for that! Moxie was also a very joyous presence and I feel like she completed Daphne's character perfectly!

Overall, I cannot recommend Dial Meow for Murder enough! If you love reading about solving murder mysteries and swoon over every single cat and dog that you meet, then this book is definitely for you! It's fast paced, easy to read and extremely enjoyable!

This is the second book in the series and takes place during Halloween time. I had not read the first book but there are references to it in this book. It didn't take away from this story. The mystery keeps getting more and more spooky and mysterious as the book goes on. It was a well told story- a few parts did give me the creeps and I had to hide under my blankets. I look forward to reading more cozy mysteries from Bethany Blake. She had me keep turning the pages. There are fun side notes and recipes included.

The author definitely knows how to paint a crazy engaging story! Book two in this series is definitely a read worth immersing yourself in.
What I love most about this series is are the relationships and personalities of the characters. The main character is so off the wall yet lovable you can't help but smile while reading. Her conflicts and relationships with the other characters are beautifully set within the story. The mystery was weaved perfectly and the prose not too wordy that you get lost trying to figure out what was going on. This is a solid second installment in a series that is really starting to get its stride.

Black cats and killer clowns and a costumed pet parade all add to the Halloween holiday feel
A killer plot and murderous twists will keep you turning pages until the very end.
Daphne and friends are trying to do good deeds but can't avoid being drawn into a murder investigation. The victim is a secretive heiress with a grand sense of community. She does good for so many, so why does she have so many enemies?
Are the clues tied up in the mansion or the town's history or can the portrait of the woman in the red dress deliver the final clue?
With her own reputation, Daphne keeps being drawn further and further into solving the murder and additional mysteries. One mystery is what is up with her sometimes boyfriend , Dylan, and another is who are these new men around town, one of which seems to light up Piper's face?
No heavy romance but wonderful friendship elements as well as the delightful animal antics add depth and strength to this series. The author has a nice, subtle touch which makes you stop and ponder.
This can be read as a stand alone but I can't wait to read what develops from here so recommend you don't miss any books in this series.

Dial Meow for Murder by Bethany Blake is the second book in A Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery series. Daphne Templeton owns Lucky Paws PetSitting in Sylvan Creek, Pennsylvania. Daphne is setting up her table for the Fur-ever Friends Pet Rescue gala fundraiser at Flynt Mansion which is being hosted by Lillian Flynt who is currently MIA. Daphne gets tasked with tracking down Lillian’s missing cat, Tinkleston and discovers Lillian dead in her bathroom (found the missing CD players too which explains the lack of electricity). Detective Jonathan Black is assigned the case and Daphne is happy to leave the sleuthing to him. However, when Maeve Templeton, Daphne’s mother, ends up at the top of the suspect list, Daphne has no choice but to start prowling for clues. Daphne has her hands full with her business, moving into the caretaker’s cottage, tetchy Tinkleston and tracking down a killer. Then she discovers that Maeve’s new client who wishes to purchase the Flynt Mansion is Jonathan’s ex-wife, Elyse Hunter. What is Daphne willing to do to expose a killer? Find out in Dial Meow for Murder.

Dial Meow for Murder is a cozy mystery for readers who like hilarity and hijinks. Daphne is flighty, bumbling, reckless, and scattered (lost her new business cards, trouble with cell phone, daydreams frequently, stole evidence from crime scene, disregards chain of custody for evidence and so much more). Would you trust your precious pet (i.e. your baby) with this woman? I would not trust Daphne to watch a cactus. On the flip side, I do like Daphne’s interactions with her dog, Socrates. My rating for Dial Meow for Murder is 3 out of 5 stars (okay, but I am the wrong audience for this book). The killer stood out like a red wine stain on a white tablecloth. There are two big clues that provide the answer (if you need them). I wanted less silliness and more mystery (more action and less zany). I found Dial Meow for Murder to be cliché and predictable. I felt the writing lacked polish. I do enjoy light hearted stories (Seashells, Spells and Caramels for example), but Dial Meow for Murder was not one of them. Even my mother (who normally likes this type of book) found Dial Meow for Murder over-the-top.

Princess Fuzzypants here:
We cats are quite sensitive so it is no wonder Tinks was upset when his human was found murdered in a bathtub in their mansion on the night of a big pet fundraisers on the grounds of the estate. Her human, MIss Flynt, was not only the doyenne of charitable good deeds, she was also the keeper of many secrets that she strove to keep hidden.
So, as Daphne, Tinks' new human, tries to figure out who would electrocute Miss Flynt, while trying to help Tinks adjust to his new and scary world, many of those well hidden secrets start coming to light. It is intriguing but it also means there were lots of humans who may have wished his human ill. One of them killed her but whom?
Daphne is a disorganized heroine. She is not one of those who can solve crimes with her hands tied behind her back with her cunning intellect. She sort of stumbles along, scaring those care about her as she manages to get tied up in deadly doings. Her liabilities make her human and quite endearing. So does her love of animals. She is an animal whisperer who is loved by her doggy cohort and all the other pets around town. Socrates is not above rolling his eyes at her. But he does understand her and so does her newest charge, Tinks.
This has many of the cozy traits but it is also just a tad different. It is a nice addition to the series we love already.
I give it five purrs and two paws up.