Dollycas’s Thoughts

Daphne Templeton arrives at Flynt Mansion just a little late to set up for the Fur-ever Friends Pet Rescue fundraiser but she and Socrates look darn good in their costumes. Wait, why isn’t anyone else wearing costumes? Daphne is going to kill her sister, Piper, okay not actually kill her but scream at her maybe.

Some screaming does occur and there is a dead body, but it is not Piper. It is Lillian Flynt, owner of the mansion where the fundraiser is taking place. It is also a property their mother, Maeve, is trying to sell and she has a client willing the pay the huge asking price. Will the owner’s death halt the sale? Who killed the Lillian Flynt? The only witness appears to be a Persian cat named Tinkleston, and he is the crankiest cat Daphne has ever met. He definitely is not going to help Detective Jonathan Black find a killer. Heck! the detective even puts Maeve on the list of suspects. Daphne tries to stay out of the investigation but while trying to corral the kitty she uncovers an important clue and ends up in another costume to try to catch the mansion murderer.

Daphne is an excellent protagonist. She is a strong willed woman and not shy about getting her point across with the good detective. Her relationship with her mother is another story but Daphne is getting stronger at getting her point across with her too. Maeve is a pushy woman, that is what makes her a successful realtor, but she does get on both her daughter’s nerves. I get a kick of of Daphne’s BFF and her homages to actresses in classic films too.

Ms. Blake has written a twisty mystery with surprising developments. A family connection turns the case in a whole new direction. The deceased’s will provides more questions than answers and even included Daphne. Another surprise early in the story is the potential buyer of Flynt Mansion. Plenty of action to keep us readers entertained.

The author has given readers a first class story. Her descriptive details bring it to life. The characters are well fleshed out. The pace of the story builds throughout to an exciting ending. I found everything I want to find in a cozy mystery within the pages of this book. I am really excited Pawprints & Predicaments coming in February 2018.

Daphne Templeton knows she's in for a bad night when she shows up to the annual gala fundraiser for Fur-Ever Friends Pet Rescue dressed as a witch....only to discover nobody else is dressed in Halloween costumes. The Flynt Mansion is elegantly decorated with twinkle lights, black chandeliers and jack o'lanterns. Everything is perfect for a great fundraiser to benefit charity....until Lillian Flynt's body is discovered. The eccentric woman has been electrocuted in an upstairs bathroom. The investigation into Lillian's death soon becomes a homicide investigation. Who killed the eccentric, wealthy old woman? The investigation turns up everything from old family secrets to a questionable local cat rescue. Daphne realizes she needs to discover the identity of the killer quickly....because someone is stalking her!

I really enjoy this series! Dial Meow for Murder is the second book in the Lucky Paws Petsitting series. Daphne is a bit of an air-head about some things (her cell phone never works, she loses things, and she's never on time for anything....), but when it comes to amateur sleuthing, she's tops! She's a fun, feisty and intelligent main character. Former Navy Seal turned local detective Jonathan Black really wishes that Daphne would stop discovering dead bodies and meddling with investigations. Daphne's mother and sister also disapprove of her sleuthing. But Daphne is bound and determined to jump right into danger to solve a mystery!

I like the pet sitter/baker theme of this series. Recipes for the Halloween pet treats mentioned in the story are included at the back of the book. The pet sitter theme doesn't overpower the mystery portion of the plot, but adds to it. Daphne's dog, Socrates, is a great side character! Not to mention Jonathan's one-eared chihuahua and lab dog, too! The mystery moved along at a nice pace, with plenty of twists, turns and surprises. The Halloween theme is nicely done as well. This book is definitely a fun, enjoyable autumn read! I loved the atmosphere of the dark, creepy, possibly haunted old Flynt Mansion. :)

To find out more about Bethany Blake and her books, check out her website: http://www.bethanyblakeauthor.com/ A third book in the Lucky Paws series, Pawprints & Predicaments, will be coming out in spring 2018!! I can't wait!! :)

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

It's the night of the big fundraiser for Fur-Ever Pets Rescue in Sylvan Creek, Pennsylvania, and pet sitter Daphne Templeton is in the thick of it. Since the party was at the rumored-to-be-haunted Sylvan Mansion in October, she assumed it was a costume party and dressed up as a witch, with her companion Socrates as a wizard, a pointy hat on his basset hound head. But Socrates' hat blew off, no one but Daphne and her best friend Moxie dressed up, Lillian Flynt (owner of the mansion and charitable heiress) is nowhere to be seen, and to make things more difficult, her power has gone out. 

Daphne's sister put her in charge of the table of dog treats, but Daphne sees a mysterious figure in one of the windows of the mansion and decides to investigate. With Socrates by her side, she bravely makes her way to the front door and lets herself in. And it's just as scary as she expected--her realtor mother is there wiping away all traces of clutter and lighting scented candles in anticipation of a late showing. She immediately puts Daphne in charge of finding Lillian's prized Persian, Tinkleston, who made his presence known on her last showing, leaping from the top of the refrigerator to show his displeasure. 

Unfortunately for Daphne, Tink is not all she finds. She also finds Lillian in the bathtub with an electrical appliance, explaining both her absence from the party and the loss of power at the mansion. But calling the police does result in the return of former Navy SEAL and current detective Jonathan Blake, and the complications that come next make Daphne's head spin. 

Who killed Tinkleston's owner, and why? Daphne takes over the pet sitting duties while the handsome Detective Blake tries to find a killer. But her attempts to track down Tinks the Terror has her stumbling on clues, and wanting to prove that her mother wouldn't really make a killing to sell a house has Daphne and Socrates doing everything they can to figure out the mystery first. 

Dial Meow for Murder is the adorable follow-up to Bethany Blake's Death by Chocolate Lab. Her Lucky Paws Petsitting Mysteries are filled with charming characters and lovable pets. Her fun characters are fueled by her sparkling writing, and she even throws in some recipes for homemade pet treats for good measure. Cats, dogs, and lots of fun in Dial Meow for Murder! 



Galleys for Dial Meow for Murder were provided by Kensington Books through NetGalley.com, with many thanks.

Dial Meow for Murder is the second book in Bethany Blake’s wonderful Lucky Paws Pet Sitting Mystery series. This book can be read as a stand alone however I highly recommend the first in series, Death of A Chocolate Lab for readers.
Daphne Templeton is the financially struggling owner of Lucky Paws Pet Sitting in the quaint village of Sylvan Creek, Pennsylvania. She has a Basset Hound, Socrates, who is her loyal companion, and she bakes healthy treats for cats and dogs. She’s been living with her sister, Piper, who is a veterinarian and owner of Templeton Animal Hospital, but now moved on her sister’s farm, Winding Hill.
Daphne is participating in a Halloween fundraiser for Fur-ever Friends’ Pet Rescue at Lillian Flynt’s mansion in town. This is a Halloween themed cozy which makes it even more fun. As a murder occurs Daphne is on the case and has proven excellent sleuthing skills. I was surprised by some of the clues and found myself surprised at the revel of the suspect in the end. The sleuth was overall very well crafted.
This is great series for animal lovers. The lovely basset hound, a funny cantankerous cat Tinkleton and many other funny animals throughout the book make this so fun to read. The author writes with humor and a fast paced style that is pleasing to read The town and supporting characters are all delightful and overall a very enjoyable second visit to this series. The added addition of the animals makes this the perfect read for all of us that love animals. Our protagonist is smart, funny and a great sleuth.
I look forward to the next in series. Thank you for the ARC which did not influence my review.

Book two in the Lucky Paws Pet Sitting Mystery series. I became attached to Daphne and Socrates in the first book and this one just made me even more so. As they are gearing up for giant fundraising event in their small town the main organizer is found dead in her bath tub. She leaves behind a cat that seems rather evil to begin with. Daphne just happens to be the one to find her since she was actually searching for the missing cat at the time and the prevailing theory is that it was a suicide. This idea is reinforced by the note left on the kitchen counter though it offers some very vague instructions regarding cat care as well as claiming she left town. Through no fault of her own Daphne ends up involved and adopting the cat which has the most comical personality ever as it dive bombs visitors though he seems attached to Daphne by the end of the book. This is a wonderful cozy mystery that is filled with the right touch of mystery, suspense, whimsy, cute animals, and strong characters that are easy to love. This is a must read for fans of cozy mysteries that are also animal lovers. I am absolutely loving each and every page of this series so this book gets 5/5 stars. Now if the next book would only come sooner.

This review will go up on my blog, Foxes & Fairy Tales on 5 October
https://foxesfairytale.wordpress.com/2017/10/05/review-dial-meow-for-murder

This cute, cosy mystery was perfect for getting me into the Halloween spirit.

I had a few issues with the author’s writing style at the beginning – there’s discussion and description of things which aren’t really relevant to the plot, and a strange habit of referring to even minor characters by their first and last names each time they’re mentioned – but the characters soon won me over.

Daphne is a bit of a scatter-brained, free-spirited individual. She’s really likeable but I have to say, it seems like her investigation style relies on her being unprepared for everything. She’s forgot cash for a purchase and the delay has her bumping into a suspect, she doesn’t have a pen and finds a clue while rummaging for one etc. I liked her relationship with her sister and mother (the first supportive and the latter confrontational) and I’m really rooting for the relationship with detective Jonathan to heat up. The pet’s in this are as important as the humans, and each have personalities of their own. Although, I did sometimes feel like Daphne was attributing a little too much human thought to her dog, Socrates, I really loved vicious little Mr Tinkleston.

There’s an awesome little bonus at the back of the book, which nicely ties into the pet theme and specifically Daphne’s pet-focused baking – recipes for homemade pet treats!

A good mystery, with a few red-herrings in a great small-town setting with lots of pet and Halloween themed scenes. I want a pets-and-owners matching-costumes Halloween parade in my town!

This was the perfect cozy for this time of year. Filled of Halloween fun and let treats. Bethany Blake is a great slueth who solved the murder with hello from her four legged friends. I would recommend this to anyone who loves a fun cozy and can't resist cute pets. This isn't the first in the series but if you haven't read the first you could read this book and boot be lost.

Petsitter extraordinaire Daphne Templeton returns in DIAL MEOW FOR MURDER, the second book in the Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery series by Bethany Blake. A few months ago I read the first book in this series and was smitten so I had great expectations when I picked this book up… and was as equally charmed with it as I was the first! The setting is Halloween time and the Fur-ever Friends Pet Rescue gala fund-raiser is being held at the reputedly haunted Flynt Mansion in Sylvan Creek, Pennsylvania. I enjoyed the seasonal theme along with the special events taking place in the town. Ms. Blake has an especially strong descriptive voice that made me feel like I was right there, seeing what the characters see along with experiencing a unique insight into the people the protagonist interacts with.

The author weaves a mesmerizing tale of a missing heiress, an embezzlement, an angry pedigreed attack cat, and murder. While the plot is well structured with twists and turns it is the humor and quirky characters (both human and pets) that captured my attention and held it until the very last page. Ms. Blake’s ability to provide entertaining personalities to the pets make it impossible for the reader to forget such endearing characters like Socrates, Artie, and Tinkleston. Their antics brought many laugh out loud moments to break up the seriousness of murder without detracting from the story. The ending provides a satisfactory conclusion with a bit of a teaser for some changes that may be occurring in Daphne’s life, along with the first chapter of the next book… and I can hardly wait until next year to read the full book!

Daphne likes to bake wholesome pet treats for her own pets along with the pets in town. Ms. Blake provides several recipes at the back of the book for both dogs and cats alike.

I really enjoyed the mystery, but there was too much relationship drama for me to fully enjoy the book. There were some great twists throughout the book, and the reveal surprised me. Daphne also surprised me with her decisions at the end. I'm looking forward to seeing more of Daphne and Socrates.

I really enjoyed this cozy pet mystery. The characters were interesting, and the mystery was well done. I wish I had read the first in the series before this one, but it was not a deal breaker that I had not - this book was easy to get into without that backstory. I will definitely go back and read the first one in the series and look forward to more from this writer.

Dial Meow for Murder by Bethany Blake is part of the Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery series. I had read the previous book in this series, but it is not necessary. Daphne is the laid back owner of a petsitting business. She is the complete opposite of her high strung sister, Piper, and her highly motivated realtor mother. Daphne agrees to help with a pet fundraiser at a local mansion. The evening is cut short when the town's wealthy volunteer Lillian is found dead in her bathtub. I enjoy the characters is this book - both the human and furry ones. The mystery kept me interested, but the sub-plots were the highlight. I am already looking forward to the next book.

Poor Daphne- she can't pet sit without finding bodies! I didn't read the first book but I was quickly engaged by this one because the characters, especially Daphne but also Socrates the dog, her mom Maeve, and love interest Jonathan are all so relatable. You'll like this if you are a fan of the cozy genre and if you like pets- whether cats or dogs. I hooted about Tinks (I have a wild cat myself). The mystery is not too complex. Real estate is always a motive, isn't it- or is it? Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of this quick read. I like Daphne, who is smart and not twee, and I'm looking forward to more from her.

What an enjoyable read. This is a great cozy series (Lucky Paws Petsitting ) that has a wide variety of dogs, cats and humans. Daphne inherits a crazy cat and a painting when a woman is murdered. Daphne's mother becomes one of the main suspects since she is in the house to meet a buyer. I love Socrates her Bassett Hound sidekick and I'm happy to see Detective Black is more accepting of her "help". Some yummy pet treat recipes.

Entertaining cozy mystery. A few surprises along the way. The cat and dogs add charm to the story. I look forward to reading the next one in this series.

Daphne, the petsetter, gets herself in trouble numerous times as she tries to find clues that her mother is not the murderer. Daphne takes on a claw using cat, finds more than one dead body, and of course has words with the detective.

After enjoying "Death by Chocolate Lab" so much I knew I had to request this installment the minute I saw it offered on Netgalley. In "Dial Meow for Murder," the main character, Daphne, once again finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time when she finds the body of a wealthy philanthropist during a Halloween gala at the woman's home. Despite the objections from Jonathan Black, the local detective, Daphne continues to look into the murder and gets into all kinds of predicaments along the way.

I felt this second installment was just as strong as the initial one. I enjoy the interaction between Daphne and her family, as well as her best friend. There is still some sexual tension going on between Daphne and Jonathan, but if the author is planning on hooking them up eventually, she is taking her time which makes me very happy as I am not a fan of insta-love. In addition, Jonathan's ex has shown up in town and it's unclear if there is a reconciliation in the future between the two.

What I like best about this series is the connection with the pets. The entire town seems quite pet-centric and since it takes place in October, there are lots of pet-centered activities throughout. In addition, we get to see more of Daphne's dog Socrates than in the first book. This book does introduce some new cat characters, as probably deduced from the title, named Tinkleston and Himmelfarb. I mainly mention them because I would love to ask Blake how she came up with these names!

"Dial Meow for Murder" is a wonderful cozy mystery and is a must read for anyone who enjoys the genre and likes animals to boot. The mystery takes a few twists and turns along the way and because Daphne is a far-from-perfect character, her day to day actions are a lot of fun to read about. This installment has left me anxiously awaiting book #3.

Daphne Templeton is back! Another murder has occurred in the small town of Sylvan Creek and Daphne is determined to unmask another killer with the help of her Basset Hound, Socrates, despite objections from the handsome detective, Jonathan Black.

This was a good, fast-paced read and you are quickly immersed in the small-town of Sylvan Creek and all of the characters in it. A new cat, Tinkleston, disrupts the Templeton household (poor Socrates) and a new face in town could possibly threaten the (dare I say) romance between Detective Black and Daphne.

This one kept me guessing until the end and I was shocked by the reveal and how many people knew about the murder, but kept it to themselves, for various reasons that are also revealed later. I can't wait till book #3 is out!

My review is posted on Goodreads now and will be posted on Amazon on the release date - 9/26/17.

I really enjoyed this book. I don't think I have read this author before, or at least I have not read this series before. Daphne is smart, but a she has a bit of a free spirit. She cares for pets. Takes care of them when their owners are gone or walks them. Her sister Piper is the serious one and her friend Moxie is quirky. The characters are fun and I love all the animals. Of course, her dog Socrates seems to understand what she says and shows his opinion through sighs, showing his sad eyes, etc. There were several suspects and the murder reveal was a surprise to me. Fun cozy. Loved it.

What better way to get into the mood for Fall than to immerse yourself in a cozy mystery set in a small town in Pennsylvania? Complete with four legged characters, this second entry in the petsitting series is a winner. Daphne and her basset hound, Socrates are joined by Tinks, the grumpy Persian cat whose owner is the murder victim. She is found electrocuted in her bathtub by Daphne. Not only is that awful but Daphne's mother, a real estate agent trying to sell the house, becomes the prime suspect. While the rest of the mystery is much like many other cozies on the shelves these days, it's not boring. It's got lots of humor, a good plot with a satisfying ending, a bit of romance and characters and a setting that I would love to visit for awhile. Perfect escape reading. I had read the first in the series and had enjoyed it and I'm so glad the second entry is just as good. I will be reading the third.

The thing I loved most about this cozy mystery is that each chapter ends with enough of a teaser to keep me reading one more chapter! To me, that's the sign of an engaging mystery--I couldn't put it down!
Daphne is one of those protagonists who you just have to love==a bit of a klutz, educated but with no job prospects for her degree, loves animals, and has a good sense of humor. She has a pet-sitting business and also makes pet treats (recipes at end of book!) When the town's most famous philanthropist is found dead in a bathtub, Daphne is keen on solving the murder as well as the puzzle behind a haunting painting.
The characters in this book are interesting, believable, and provide a nice mix of fun, mystery and romance. I'm in love with this series and can't wait to read the next book!