Penned
Kate Turner, DVM, Book #4
Eileen Brady
5 Stars

Synopsis:

Dr. Kate Turner, DVM, is seven months into her one-year contract to cover for a Hudson Valley vet taking a year-long world cruise. She's getting used to the hospital and house-call workload but not to the sometimes dangerous, if not deadly, critters - animal and human - she meets.

Eighty-something-year-old Gloria LaGuardia has been installed at an assisted living center by her niece. They bump into Kate at the Oak Falls annual Halloween street bash. And while Gloria's conversation indicates some mental confusion - she asks a couple dressed as rabbits if they are real or not - she's still sharp. And she says, "Someone evil is here. I saw him."

Saw who? Will this chance meeting draw Kate into the path of Carl Wolf, a notorious fugitive twenty-one years on the FBI's Most Wanted List? Is Wolf hiding in plain sight in or around Oak Falls?

When Gloria, once an artist endowed with a sharp eye, is murdered, Kate doesn't know what to think. But author Tucker Weinstein approaches her at Gloria's funeral and indicates he believes the old woman. Further, he's devoting a chapter in his book to Carl Wolf.

The FBI doesn't appear interested. Gloria's family just wants to move on. But publicity-hungry Tucker mentions Kate in a newspaper interview that goes viral. She's overloaded with new clients like Billy, a Nubian stud goat living penned up with alpaca, llamas, and more goats on a local farm producing milk, wool, and cheese, and a grumpy Chihuahua dressed up like a Thanksgiving turkey. Yet she senses someone is now following her. An undercover FBI agent? Carl Wolf on the prowl?

Determined not to be a victim, Kate digs deep into the arson/murder Wolf committed long ago. Are the clues to unmasking him hidden in the past, or closer than she thinks?


Review:


The characters are well developed and well rounded. I really enjoy the relationships between Kate and the staff at the veterinary clinic, they were like a family instead of coworkers. They liked to gossip and they wanted to be in everyone’s business, including Kate’s. They do not let her get away with anything. She is not very lucky in love and she has some decisions to make about her beaus.

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book, I felt like I was right there, going on house vet calls with Kate and watching all of the action taking place. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. I really enjoyed the day to day workings at the clinic and I was fascinated when Kate was working with the animals.

The mystery was well plotted and moved at a steady pace. The author is very talented in creating suspense with the written word. The more I read the book, the more tension I felt. I felt like I was climbing a set of stairs and each step took me closer to climatic conclusion. I really enjoyed that feeling.

I would highly recommend this book (and series) to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. And if you like books about animals, then this is a must read.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

As an animal lover, I always enjoy Eileen Brady’s Kate Turner DVM mysteries.  For one, they are packed with quirky animal lovers and their pets. There are always plenty of laugh out loud moments.  I absolutely love Little Man and his mom who dress in a coordinated fashion, and they are only the tip of the iceberg. I also enjoy the mystery aspect, as Kate’s involvement is always believable.


Penned starts with an intriguing concept.  What can you do when a witness who may not be reliable sees something or someone important.  80 year old Gloria LaGuardia has dementia, but in some aspects, she is still sharp. When she sees someone she doesn’t expect, someone evil - noone believes her.  Even Kate has her doubts. But after Gloria dies soon afterward, Kate begins to wonder, particularly when an author who was working with Gloria approaches Kate at the funeral.  Gloria and Tucker were working on a chapter about the notorious murderer Carl Wolf. Everyone but Tucker wants to move on - and Kate is dragged in when Tucker mentions her in an article that goes viral.  Carl Wolf may be in Oak Falls, but will Kate find him before he catches her?


As you would expect, her knowledge of animals plays a key role in solving the mystery and getting her out of trouble.  Penned is a very satisfying read. It takes a different approach than the standard cozy, and unlike many where animals are window dressing, here they play a major role.

If you like pets and you like mysteries, you will want to pick up a copy of Penned.


5 / 5


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


-- Crittermom

I love this series ! This is my first in series by this author and the 4th of the Kate Turner series. I am quickly downloading the previous books . This book can be read as a stand alone .
Kate is seven months into a one-year contract at a Hudson Valley (NY) veterinary clinic . She faces many challenges running the clinic and one being the harsh weather as fall turns to winter . Her many animal clients provide entertainment throughout and challenging to her as a vet. I loved the way the author writes of animals and Kate's care for all the creatures she is entrusted with.

At the annual town Halloween party, Kate meets Gloria who is suffering from memory loss, who says “Someone evil is here. I saw him.” Kate doesn’t think much about it until she finds out that poor Gloria is murdered . Events take a strange turn when Kate is approached by an author writing a book about Carl Wolf, who has been on the FBI’s most wanted list for decades , and thinks Gloria may have been able to recognize Wolf. Kate begins to think Gloria’s words were true and wished she had paid attention .

When the writer’s article appears in the local paper and he names her as a source and gives the paper’s readers her address as well, she is now scared for her safety and knows she is being followed. Then the writer is beaten. While fearing for her life and hiding from a stalker she must piece together the mystery and save her own life. This quickly turned from the story of a country vet to a well plotted thriller.

I enjoyed the charcters and the setting. The descriptions of the fall to winter in upstate New York were true to life and interesting to see how life is navigated throughout snow storms when she has to drive to reach sick animals on farms. The aspect of the protagonist being a vet is endearing and will appeal to all animal lovers. The writing is well crafted and fast paced . The plot was well done and very much a whodoneit throughout to the end. I love this book and look forward to further books by this fine author. Thank you for the ARC which does not influence my review.

I enjoy reading this series, Kate Turner, DVM. This is book 4 and with each story you learn a little more about animals. This one has several visits to a farm that has goats. Kate has a chance meeting on Halloween with elderly Gloria who turns up dead shortly after. When Kate hears the news she has second thoughts about the strange conversation they had. Now the FBI and the local police, including Luke are investigating a possible connection to a serial murder. Can be read as a stand alone but it's nice to catch up on previous story lines. Well written cozy with great characters. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Really enjoyed this cosy about a sleuthing vet. I love when authors are the 'real deal' and manage to write mysteries incorporating their real-life careers; it makes the read that much more believable (whilst also suspending some of that belief to make it all work). Plus, having animals of various sorts in a book always makes it that much more enjoyable for me.

In this instalment, Dr Kate gets involved in the death of Gladys, an elderly lady that she's only met briefly. Gladys is convinced she's seen someone 'evil' from her past, and when she's murdered Kate is drawn into the investigation by an author who is at the Gladys's funeral, and who believes he knows 'whodunnit'. As she assists Tucker, the author, into digging into Gladys's past, she stirs up some trouble for herself.

Although this is the fourth in the series (so far), it was easy enough to get involved in the story and figure out who was who. Things like the reason for the long-distance relationship of Kate and Jeremy needs a return to the beginning to put in place, but otherwise it was a good mystery and well done, character-wise. The only downside is the (seemingly inevitable) love triangle that has reared up. I hope the author avoids going down this route - it's overused in cosy mysteries. Having said that, there is a subtle difference in that both characters are sort of in the same boat, having on/off relationships.

I will be going back to the beginning of this series and jumping in at the start. It was a thoroughly enjoyable story and is recommended.

Penned

by Eileen Brady

A clever murderer is on the loose and his endless killing seems to extend over the years. How do you stop a murderer who is a master of disguise? What do you do if you feel like someone is watching you—only to have him disappear? Dr. Kate in Eileen Brady’s Penned, after briefly befriending a senior with a memory for faces who is in the beginning stages of dementia, has to confront these questions.

Dr. Kate gets along well with the residents of Oak Falls where she serves as veterinarian, taking over an established practice for a year. The book has interesting characters and some romance, but the true focus is the mystery. I thought I had solved the crime only to be surprised at the end. I highly recommend this page turner.

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: #4 in the Kate Turner, DVM Mystery Series, but works well as a standalone.

Publication: October 9, 2018—Poisoned Pen Press

Memorable Lines:

“I don’t make any money. I’m a writer. The only people who are poorer than writers are actors. One night I calculated all the hours I put into my last book and how much I made, minus the cash off the top that my agent and publisher took. I would have been better off working at McDonalds.”

“What idiot uses a match to kill a tick? You could have set our dog on fire and burned down the house.” “I blew out the flame before I squished it,” Amos countered. This time I swear the dog rolled his eyes.

I remember arrogantly thinking I knew the answers to everything when I was a in my teens, and now…now I realize I hadn’t even understood the questions.

Penned by Eileen Brady is the 4th book in the Kate Turner DVM series, and it just keeps getting better. Dr. Kate Turner, a veterinarian, is replacing Hudson Valley vet who is taking a year-long world cruise. Kate gets involved in solving a murder that the police have written off as a robbery, along with a cold case file, where a man killed his family and disappeared. There are twists and turns around every corner. I found this book to be a quick read, with a well developed plot and characters. Looking forward to the next book in the series. I found this book to be a little darker than the other books in the series, but I strongly recommend this book.

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

Kate may be up to her eyeballs in feathered and furry patients, but she finds herself drawn to this mystery. Could a notorious killer really be living in sleepy little Oak Falls? And if he is... who is he?

I have to admit that I've been enjoying Eileen Brady's Kate Turner DVM series more for the anecdotal information about animals than for the mysteries, but that's all changed now with this fourth book, Penned. Something clicked into place and turned this book into a lean, mean Doberman of a mystery. (Don't worry, this particular Doberman still likes belly rubs and going for walkies.) There's only one thing about Penned that barked offkey, and that's the romantic triangle. Should Kate go for rich archaeologist Jeremy or for local lawman Luke? It's probably just me, but if there's one thing in a book that can have me rolling my eyes, it's the romantic triangle, and for that I can thank Janet Evanovich. (Stephanie Plum fans will know what I'm talking about even if they don't agree.)

Other than that, I really enjoyed this book. There's plenty for animal lovers to like. Brady's background in veterinary medicine means she's got plenty of tales to share-- both good, solid informational ones as well as ones that can make readers laugh. This is the part of Brady's novels that I've come to look forward to. What surprised and delighted me was that the author has successfully woven together elements of the cozy mystery with a serial killer thriller and turned it into a compelling detective story. It's not scary; there's no graphic violence, but readers are hooked into finding out Carl Wolf's identity. A canine clue shortly before the reveal made me realize the man's Oak Falls persona, but-- whew-- it was hard work.

Animal-loving mystery fans are going to find plenty to enjoy in Penned, and I know that I'm certainly looking forward to another visit with Kate Turner.

Penned: A Kate Turner, DVM, Mystery
By Eileen Brady
Poisoned Pen Press
October 2018

Review by Cynthia Chow

When elderly Gloria LaGuardia announced that she saw evil on the street in Hudson Valley, veterinarian Kate Turner was sure that her new friend was simply confused. It was Halloween night after all, and the streets of artistic Oak Falls town were abundant with ghouls and zombies. Kate soon begins to fear that a real monster was out that night though, when poor Gloria is found strangled to death in her own bed. Although Kate has only been filling in for a vacationing veterinarian for the past year, the connection she feels to the town and the woman she briefly met compels her to attend Gloria’s funeral. It is there that Kate meets Tucker Weinstein, a true-crime writer very interested in Gloria’s death and close proximity to a past murder. Tucker’s new project documents men who kill their families, one of whom was a neighbor of Gloria’s twenty-one years ago. The news that Carl Wolf is still a fugitive on the run for the law is alarming, especially considering Gloria’s last words spoken to Kate.

Currently treating a senior border collie with cognitive dysfunction – basically Doggie Alzheimer’s – Kate knows the confusion that sets in with age. Gloria’s experience as a former courtroom sketch artist lends credence to observational skills though, which leads Kate on a path to discover who best fits the bill of the missing murderer. An additional attack indicates that the killer remains nearby, escalating the need for Kate to implement her diagnostic skills to identify a multiple murderer. Her source for information is busy with night classes in preparation for law school, but Falls Oak police officer Luke Gianetti is still just as much as a distraction with his nightly delivery of take-out dinners and flirtatious but platonic friendship. Kate’s long-distance relationship with college boyfriend Jeremy seems to be longer and more distant every day, and with a lot of feedback from her friends and coworkers she’s being pushed to decide what she wants, and where she wants to live far sooner than anticipated.

The mystery moves along swiftly, with clues so deftly spread throughout that few readers will reach the solution before Kate and the police. The real treats of this series are Kate’s encounters with her patients and their human companions, who are so attached and loyal to one another. The humorous situations that lead to visits to the Oak Falls Animal Hospital are always incredibly entertaining, especially when the causes usually fall at the feet of the humans. Katie’s talents as a skilled veterinarian and animal lover serve her and the police well, especially when it comes down to tracking down a very important dog. Security dogs, the different forms of dog training, and especially the connection between humans and their companions are all fascinatingly explored in this fourth compelling entry in the series.

Penned is the fourth book in the Kate Turner mystery series. Written by real life veterinarian Eileen Brady, this entry has an anticipated release date of 9th Oct, 2018. Published by my link textPoisoned Pen Press, it's available in hardback, paperback and ebook format.

I had read the previous books in the series and had really enjoyed the gentle pace of these cozies along with the quirky secondary characters (and their pets). I honestly enjoy that the author slips in the occasional good suggestion for responsible pet ownership without being strident or snarky.

The plot develops gradually, the dialogue is solidly readable. The slow-burn romantic tension between Kate and Luke adds a little extra frisson (though I think they're both kind of being jerks to their respective romantic interests). The denouement was a bit over the top, but that's why most of us are reading cozies with amateur sleuths anyhow. (and *OUCH*,Kate's quite a b@d@ss!). I really like that she can take care of herself and I was cheering and *high fiving* at the end.

This book (and the series) are well written and comfortably fun cozy reads. I'm looking forward to continuing the series and seeing what Oak Falls has in store for Dr. Kate next.

Penned by Eileen Brady is the forth in a series of books featuring veterinarian Kate Turner. In this novel Kate is fulfilling a one year contract as substitutet vet for the community’s regular vet while he takes a year long cruise. The book, which takes place in upstate New York opens on Halloween and continues just past Thanksgiving and includes many scenes where Kate is traveling around the area in snow and ice as she performs home visits for some of her larger animals.

Throughout the book, there is a great deal of emphasis on veterinary medicine and activities, with the action split somewhat evenly between veterinary activities and musings regarding the latest murder to capture Kate’s attention. Although it isn’t necessary to have read the previous three books in the series to follow this one, the character’s descriptions and development are not as detailed as one might hope, with characters lacking some depth that may have been provided in earlier books in the series.

For example Gramps, Kate’s grandfather, is a likeable character with a penchant for gambling. While details are lacking, this affinity may have been detailed in earlier books so that the reader is already well acquainted with his interest and his success rate. He has a steady secondary role in this novel, learning some information about the murderer, although the reader is primarily made aware of this through his reports rather than experiencing his activities along with him.

The book begins in a strong prologue, detailing the killer’s mind as he plots his next murder. The book then moves to Kate’s participation in Halloween festivities where she meets the victim and, in subsequent chapters, the remaining characters central to this novel. While Kate does some cursory research into the possible identity of the murderer, much of what she learns is by way of encountering information and individuals through the course of her regular activities rather than active detection. In addition there is some allusion to the possibility of two love-interests, although this isn’t the central focus of the book.

The reader is made aware of various individuals who could be the perpetrator, but there are limited clues that would actually serve to allow solution of the murderer, relying more on intuitive guessing and a final reveal in the next to last chapter of the book. While I was accurate in my assessment of the murderer’s identity, this was the result of good guesswork along with a few clues sprinkled here and there. The red herrings were liberal, and somewhat forced on the reader in such a way as to become unavoidable.

For readers who have invested time and interest in other novels in this series, this may be an interesting addition, much in the way you slip into a pair of comfortable old shoes. If a reader has a strong interest in reading books that actively involve animals and veterinary activities, this series may hold some interest and would probably be best pursued by reading the books in the order written. For a reader who begins the series at this point, there may not be enough character development to interest them in going back and reading the first three books.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.