When a zookeeper doing an annual otter count discovers one of her favorite animals clutching a smart phone instead of a rock, she hopes to return it to its human owner. Instead, she finds pictures of a murder. I jumped into the Gunn Zoo series with the fifth book -- because how could I not want to read it after seeing that cover art? -- and I'm absolutely going to go back to the beginning and read Anteater of Death. There's obviously a lot of backstory that I missed by skipping the previous four books, but it was easy enough to figure out what I needed to know about Teddy and her circle of friends and family. The mystery is complex and kept me guessing. I also enjoyed getting a glimpse into Teddy's life, with lots of time spent at the zoo interacting with the animals and at the harbor where she lives on an old boat.

Betty Webb’s newest Gunn Zoo mystery is frighteningly pertinent in the current commercial environment that pits lovers of nature against those in search of profit despite potential ecological cost.  It also tackles the issue of sexual harassment. Despite its weighty background, The Otter of Death is still a cozy, and an appealing, well written one at that.


The annual otter count is vital, as it shows the health of the community and provides information about the impact of pollutants.  When zookeeper Theodora “Teddy” Bentley acquires a cell phone from an otter playing with the device she finds a suspicious photograph that looks like it shows a murder in progress.  Soon after, the body of Stuart Booth, a local marine biologist, is discovered. His reputation is an unsavory one with numerous allegations of sexual harassment. Suspicion immediately falls on Lila, a young woman whose reputation was ruined when her sexual harrassment claim against Booth was dismissed.  Teddy is convinced Lila is innocent putting her at odds with her fiancé Sheriff Joe Rejas. As she digs into the mystery, she upsets a number of rich and powerful people, including the owners of an oil company planning an offshore drilling platform.


In addition to the central mystery, Betty Webb includes plenty of scenes animal lovers will enjoy.  I especially loved when Kabuki, a very intelligent snow monkey, successfully launched poo at a set of hecklers.  Gunn Zoo is a fascinating place, and the challenges posed by the animals and the zoo visitors are easy to believe.  


The Otter of Death is a topical, well plotted cozy that will appeal to animal lovers and mystery lovers alike.  It is no surprise that the Gunn Zoo mysteries are so popular.


5 / 5


I received a copy of The Otter of Death from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.


— Crittermom

Heh. That was fun, if here and there a bit scattered.

It starts with Teddy finding a body-- uh-- I mean, she finds a phone which leads to the body of a person Teddy and some others are working with to do an otter count.

She promises her fiance Joe that she will not get involved and try and find the killer, but, that doesn't go well, and suddenly she's in the middle of it all as usual for this series.

There was also the subplot of whether when (if) she and Joe get married will they keep the Merilee or not.

When she gets involved, the killer goes after her of course, and there's a lot of back and forth with Joe and her mother Caro because they're both very worried about her. She also moves in with Joe, his mother, and his kids, and that stuff was some of my favorite parts of the book. Not to mention the very cool, 'almost mother in law' subplot. Which I found hilarious.

I do wish that like in the other books we'd gotten a bit more learning in about the Otters. Guess I'll have to do that research on my own.

A fun book.

I was given this ARC by Netgalley on behalf of Poisoned Pen Press.

The Otter of Death by Betty Webb is the 5th book in a Gunn Zoo mystery series, and my first book in this series. Theodora, Teddy, Bentley is a zookeeper, who finds her favorite otter with a cell phone. On the cell is a photo of a murder taking place, than a body is found. This book was delightful, especially if you love animals. Not only is there a good mystery, the plot and characters are well developed. I recommend this book, and am looking forward to reading other books in the series.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Even if I hadn't already become a fan of this series, the otter on the cover would have convinced me to pick it up. Another plus has to be the blend of a very good mystery and teaching me something new. Be warned, however, you may very well stay up past your bedtime finishing this one.
Teddy works for the Gunn Zoo and lives on a boat. That would change if she marries Sheriff Joe Rejas, so that hovers over her as she is pulled into this latest murder investigation. He says stay away from it but her boss asks her to continue. Well, she was the one who discovered the murder had taken place, thanks to her favorite otter, Maureen and her new tool - a smart phone that is still active. Teddy realizes that she is looking at the selfie of a man being murdered and it's somebody she knows. It becomes apparent that there are plenty of suspects -there was a long history of sexual misconduct. As Teddy investigates, she has to also balance her personal relationships with her Mother and her fiance and his family. Add her job and Teddy is very busy indeed. The killer decides she is very much in the way and sets out to stop her.
Besides the mystery there is lots to learn about the environment and animals. To be honest the animals won my vote - Maureen the otter, DJ Bonz (Teddy's three legged dog) and Miss Priss, (her one eyed cat)
If you haven't read any of the previous four books in this excellent series, not to worry, The Otter of Death can be read as a stand alone. I'm pretty sure you will want to get your hands on the rest of the series.

Interesting read. I liked that the characters lived on boats. I haven’t come across any other books like that, I might read more in the series.

The Otter of Death was a excellent cozy mystery. This is book 5 in the Gunn Zoo Series. I enjoy the authors work as she includes marine life, zoology and conservation in her stories. This series is great fun for animal lovers as it includes so many wonderful animals.
In this next in series our protagonist Theodora Bently is truly content with her life. She loves her live on houseboat, her job at the zoo and is excited to be planning a wedding soon. She also participates in the annual Otter count on Monterey Bay . As she is conducting her Otter count , she sees a Otter holding a smart phone. She retrieves it and finds photos of a murder. The victim Stuart Booth, a local Marine Biologist and instructor was intensely disliked by his students so the suspect list is long. She begins to investigate against the wishes of her law enforcement fiance who does not want her involved .
The mystery was very well crafted, the animals a delight and I love the supporting characters. The inner life of a zoo comes to life in this series. Each book in the series is interesting and a fun mystery with well crafted clues. . The author has a pleasing writing styl.e. I look forward to the next in series .
Thank you for the ARC which does not influence my review.

The Otter of Death

by Betty Webb

Teddy is a zookeeper at the Gunn Zoo in San Sebastian, CA. She lives on a houseboat and is engaged to Joe, the local county sheriff. She also volunteers conducting a census for the Otter Conservancy, a marine life rescue group. Trouble occurs during her routine survey when she discovers an otter with a cell phone. More troubling is a selfie on the phone that seems to indicate a crime.

The victim is well known, but not very popular, so there are a lot of suspects. Teddy puts herself in danger with her investigations, much to the dismay of Joe and her mother Caro. There are a lot of other characters in this book, including fellow zookeepers, neighbor liveaboards at the harbor, and the wealthy of San Sebastian. The author, Betty Webb, does a good job of defining the characters and subtly reminding the reader of who they are, as necessary.

I found all aspects of The Otter of Death fascinating, starting with the mystery to be solved, but also including the inner workings of the zoo and information about the animals, especially the otters.

Despite the appealing cover, I went into this cozy mystery wondering if I would like it. I emerged ready to read more of this series.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Poisoned Pen Press for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: 1. #5 in the Gunn Zoo Mystery Series
2. This is my first book in the series, but it worked great as a standalone.
3. You can read the first chapter of this book at bettywebbzoomystery.com.

Publication: May 2, 2018—Poisoned Pen Press

Memorable Lines:

“I love your mother’s house. It’s so tiny and cute.” Tiny? Cute? For an eleven-room—not counting the kitchen and six baths—antiques-stuffed mansion on a shaded hillside overlooking the Pacific? Only a Betancourt could make such an outrageous statement.

I expected a thunderbolt from Heaven to strike me dead any second, but it didn’t happen. Instead, Frasier—thrilled as any man would be to be called fascinating and mysterious—started talking about his job. It was almost, but not quite, as boring as his wails about his blood-sucking ex-wife.

Trumpeter swans may be beautiful, but they are quick to defend their babies with beating wings and slashing bills. The injuries inflicted by these large birds aren’t as minor as you might think. A peck from a swan’s bill can take out an eye, and a blow from an enraged trumpeter’s four-foot-long wing has been known to break an adult human’s leg.

First off, the cover? Completely adorable. Second, the storyline was really good. This is the first novel by Betty Webb that I've read and I will be looking for any other stories she writes. Absolutely loved it.

Betty Webb has created a fast-paced, light-hearted series that's just plain fun to read, and-- I'm happy to say-- The Otter of Death is the best of the bunch (so far). Personal relationships loom large in this book, with Teddy and Joe still having issues to iron out before contemplating setting a wedding date. There are also the soap opera-like intrigues amongst the other staff members at the Zoo. But it's not all who-did-what-to-whom. There's a tightly woven, intriguing mystery here, and Webb gives us animal lovers something else we crave: creatures of all shapes, sizes, and personalities. We learn about animal behavior, the ecology, and why flushable kitty litter is a no-no.

I have to admit that, although the mystery is excellent, I get my critter fix, and it's fun to catch up with the lives of characters I've grown to care for, it's the humor that is absolutely stellar in The Otter of Death. I laughed so hard at the Anteaters to Zebras live segment on Good Morning, San Sebastian that I woke up the neighbors' dog and made it bark. And if you don't love the identity of the cavalry that rides to Teddy's rescue at the end of the book, well... there just may be something drastically wrong with your funny bone. Make an appointment with your doctor.

Some of you may be familiar with Webb's other series featuring private investigator Lena Jones in Scottsdale, Arizona. It is marvelous and discusses some very serious issues. In Webb's Gunn Zoo mysteries, she gets to showcase an entirely different side of her personality, and these books are so much fun. It just goes to show that Betty Webb can handle both the serious and the humorous sides of your own reading personalities. If you're not already a fan, what are you waiting for?

The Otter of Death: A Gunn Zoo Mystery
By Betty Webb
Poisoned Pen Press
May 2018

Review by Cynthia Chow

It’s not unusual for zookeeper Theodora Bentley to see the Pacific Ocean otters wielding an assortment of tools to crack open the shellfish they adore. Even seeing her favorite otter Maureen hauling around a cellphone doesn’t raise Theo’s eyebrows, as the mischievous furry swimmers have a habit of stealing and hoarding their favorite shell-cracking devices. What does alarm Theo is that after sneakily retrieving the phone, she discovers that it recorded the last living moments of its owner. Stuart Booth, one of those responsible for recording the number of otters for the Otter Conservancy marine life rescue organization, managed to photograph his own bloody murder.

A Professor at Betancourt College, Dr. Stuart Booth had a reputation for favoring his female students, which may have led to the married man’s death. Theo has the unenviable task of being torn between masters; one being Mother, the much married social climber Caroline Piper Bentley Mallory Huffgraf Petersen Grissom who wants Theo to stay safe and move home, and the other her boss, the uber-demanding heiress Aster Edwina Gunn who insists that Theo DO something and make all the problems go away. Perhaps tracking down Stuart’s lurid history of philandering and sexism would be easier if she weren’t so distracted by her own recent engagement to San Sebastian County Sheriff Joseph Rejas, who also would prefer that Theo move off of her beloved houseboat, stop getting involved in his investigations, and not once again be attacked and targeted by a murderer. It’s no wonder that Theo finds her sanity within the Gunn Zoo, where her charges are more reliable than the Peyton Place lifestyle of the socially-challenged zookeepers.

This novel could never come at a more momentous time, as years of sexual discrimination and harassment by a patriarchy comes into play. The ramifications for its victims are seen decades later, with the emotional and physical toll it takes empathically revealed. Despite the weighty topic, humor is delightfully threaded throughout as Theo maneuvers between the two domineering women in her life. Fans of this animal-loving series will delight in seeing appearances by their favorite zoo occupants; Lucy the giant anteater, Wanchu the Koala, and Magnus the polar bear cub. It’s easy to sympathize with poor Theo as she’s pulled in so many directions, but she always manages to find the resilience to protect her animal wards and even appear on a favorite talk show with animals that tend to go rogue. It’s dealing with her own personal life that has Theo instinctively wanting to duck for cover. Few will be able to resist this ebullient, witty, and eminently likable heroine, one who bears the responsibility for not just her exasperating loved ones but for her dependent zoo residents. That Theo is the roommate of a three-legged terrier and a one-eyed Persian further testifies to her need to root for the underdog, as well as her innate need to be a protector. This continues to be a rewarding read for mystery lovers, especially those to love to learn and appreciate the unique animal kingdom.

What a good mystery! It was fun to read, full of interesting characters and kept me guessing till the end.
All the different parts, the zoo life description and the mystery part, are really interesting and entertaining.
The animal characters are lovely and my favourite one was the cuddly koala.
It's well written, the heroin is very human - a bit on the Rambo mode sometimes, and the developments of her love life are interesting.
It's strongly recommended.
Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley

Animal lovers will enjoy this visit to Gunn Zoo. There is a murder mystery, but sprinkled in amongst the tale are bits of information and fun interaction with wild animals in the zoo. The television appearances are a hoot. Miss the days of Carson and Letterman interacting with wild critters on their shows. Family issues add to the enjoyment. I want to read more of this series.

While participating in the annual otter count at a marsh near Gunn Landing Harbor, California, zookeeper Teddy Bentley sees her favourite otter Maureen clutching an expensive smartphone. When Teddy rescues the device, she finds photographic evidence of a murder-in-progress. A hasty search finds the body of local marine biology instructor Stuart Booth shot dead. Booth had been a notorious sexual harasser of young female students. When Teddy's friend Lila, one of Booth's original accusers, is arrested and charged with his murder, she decides to investigate to clear Lila. The trail leads Teddy to Gunn Landing's moneyed social elite and the financially strapped young women willing to do almost anything to pay for their college tuition. Alarmed by Teddy's meddling, Booth's killer tries to warn her off via a threatening message and then by shooting her. Teddy's fiance Sheriff Joe Rejas is not happy with Teddy's snooping and tries to keep her safe by having her convalesce at his home. But Teddy persists in her investigation and ends up confronting the killer again.

This is another fun entry in the Gunn Zoo mystery series.

I received an eARC via Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

Another great zoo mystery by Betty Webb! This is the third I’ve read and thoroughly enjoyed it! Always great to spend time with Teddy and all of the other characters of Gunn’s Landing! Once again Teddy’s insatiable curiousitu gets her too close to a killer. Great characters, great story, interesting information about the animals and the environment without being preachy. Very satisfyending! Can’t wait for the next in the series!

Would give this 3.5 stars. Probably my fault, as this is the first book I've read in this series, so felt a little like I was jumping off into the deep end a bit. Teddy is out doing a count on sea otters, and finds one playing with a cellphone. Turns out the phone belongs to a murdered man, and since Teddy's fiance is the local police detective Joe, the game is on. A good cozy mystery overall, but did not see much romance between her and Joe, nor did I see much affection towards his children, who seemed like an oversight at times. Not having read previous books, the lack of emotions seemed strange. Also, a lot of characters that I found hard to keep in order of who they were and what the relationship was. Would recommend, but suggest you try others first to help with the minor issues I struggled with in this book.

California zookeeper Theodora Bentley, who lives on a houseboat, notices an otter with a cellphone—an unusual occurrence, to be sure, but even more unusual is the picture on the phone. Of course, her sheriff fiancé doesn’t want her to get involved in investigating, but there are so many unanswered questions. Teddy, her 3-legged dog Bones, her one-eyed cat Miss Priss, and all the zoo animals make the well-written mystery even more interesting; Betty Webb’s series just keeps getting better.

The Otter of Death is the 5th installment in the Gunn Zoo cozy mystery series by Betty Webb. The series is a clean cozy whose main character is a zookeeper (and volunteer environmentalist) and Joe, her local sheriff love interest.

This is a well written cozy which fits comfortably into the genre. For fans of continuing series with animals/antiques/librarians/bakeries & caterers, this series is engaging and fun.

The characterizations and plotting are adept and very readable. It's a diverting and entertaining read.

Due out 2nd May, 2018 from Poisoned Pen, available in ebook, hardback and paperback formats (according to Amazon pre-pub info). No page content listed, but it's a relatively short read.

Bonus points for the author's dedication. I practically grew up in my local public library and owe my lifelong reading habit to my parents (both educators) and a slew of engaged and intelligent public librarians who encouraged me to read anything and everything I could get my hands on.

Three and a half stars.

After a slightly awkward start, I enjoyed this. I liked the main character, and loved her work/adventures at the zoo--and would love to hear more. I think I was able to keep all the characters straight. Overall a light, enjoyable mystery with an interesting, believable setting, that highlights real world issues. Nothing corny about this cozy!