The author did a great job in staging this tightly woven whodunit with the perfect blend of suspects and tantalizing clues that kept me in the throes of what was going on. With giving us a glimpse of Kate’s day-to-day activities as well as her role in seeking out clues added to getting to know the person that is Kate. I liked how the story was being told with narrative that was visually descriptive, engaging dialogue that helped to guide the path with the various characters and their part in this whodunit. There was so much going on, both professionally and personally, that aided in how well the author was leading the tale with distractions and directional changes that enhanced the level of my reading entertainment. Overall, this was a terrific first start to a series that I hope is here to stay for a while.

Festive Season Not So Jolly.....
The first of the Dr Kate Vet Mystery series. The festive season has arrived and Kate Turner, vet and sometime amateur sleuth, has her hands full and, to make matters worse, her personal life is in disarray. When two clients turn up dead Kate’s situation is grossly compounded. Can Kate sort out the mess for Christmas? Enjoyable cosy mystery with a likeable protagonist and a colourful cast of supporting characters. A promising start to a new series.

Christmas is always a difficult time for Dr. Kate Turner, but she tries to throw herself into the holiday mood at the vet clinic party. The party goers are asked to reveal a “secret selfish holiday wish” pertaining to the clinic, and she blurts out a wish that two of her more difficult clients would disappear. She names no names, but her assistant gleefully supplies them: Frank Martindale and Radeen Lassitor.
The next day she makes a house call to deliver some pet meds and discovers the homeowner dead on the floor. It’s Frank Martindale. Kate tries to convince herself it’s just a freaky coincidence. Things take a disturbing turn, though, when she finds out the video from the party, including her secret wish, has been posted on social media and is racking up hundreds of views.
Immediately comments start, online and in person, that Kate is a witch, a magician who can make wishes come true. Most are said jokingly. Some aren’t. Police Chief Garcia assures her she is not to blame, but when the second name on the list turns up dead, he starts to take a closer look at her.
Saddled with Murder is the first in the Dr. Kate Vet Mystery series, and it is a delight. Dr. Kate is a likable character, a dedicated professional with a somewhat complicated love life. The other characters are fully-fleshed individuals, and the beauty of the Hudson Valley in winter is vividly depicted. The saddle of the title belongs to Lobo, a wild mustang bought from the Bureau for Land Management but a local woman who owns an animal sanctuary. The book provides information on the plight of the wild horses, a subject dear to the author’s heart.

Dr. Kate is back in Saddled with Murder, which takes place in upstate New York, during the holidays.
Kate isn’t a fan of the holidays, but tries to get into the spirit of things during the holiday office party.
When a silly party joke turns deadly, there are too many suspects and Kate isn’t sure who’s on her side and who isn’t.

I found this book to be good, but I did feel some parts were dragged out just a bit.
It didn’t take away from the story itself, but it didn’t seem pertinent to the story either.
My rating is 3.75 stars, and I recommend this book to animal lovers.

Upstate New York vet, Kate, plays along with a game at the clinic’s Christmas party and her response, along comments from other attendees, are recorded for prosperity. Once the video is shared on social media and goes viral, Kate’s ill fated wishes seem to come true when two of her most ornery clients are found dead. While it looks like natural causes, it’s the third name someone called out that makes everyone take a closer look at possible murders and Kate becomes the main suspect in most of the town’s eyes, right at Christmas time.

While I feel the book was a little longer than it needed to be compared to most cozies, it was still a solid read and will capture the hearts of cozy animal lovers. Here’s to a bright future for Kate and the gang at the clinic.