I enjoyed this cozy mystery story with all of the characters. The main character was Holly Miller.

Holly Miller lives with her aunt. Her aunt owns an Inn. While helping her aunt run this Inn she meets the Wag lady's. The Wag lady's  have came to this town so they can have a charity ball for the foundation of adoption pets. During this the charity ball something happens. Holly decides to try out why.

This was a fun story to read. It had action, suspense, and drama throughout. It had a few laughs within. I had fun trying to solve the mystery.

I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. This is my honest unbiased opinions.

A charity ball for pet adoption brings a lot of new faces to Wagtail. Amidst the chaos of preparations, Holly is called to a retired judges hose in secret by Rose, her hearts second grandmother, and boyfriend Holmes’ real grandmother. The judge’s loyal dog has gone missing and Rose swears someone is listening on their private conversations inside the house. Enter the pet detective hired to locate the missing German Shepard. The dog is soon discovered over the body of the pet P.I. Holly endeavors to discover who the culprit is with a plethora of suspects, all who seem to have a connection to the victim.

This was such a cute Cozy by Krista Davis! I absolutely love her Cozy Mysteries. They are such an enjoyable and easy read! Can't wait for next book!

Title: Big Little Spies
Author: Krista Davis

Chapters: 37

Pages: 304

Series: A Paws and Claws Mystery book 7

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: Berkeley



Big Little Spies is the 7th book in the A Paws and Claws mystery series by Krista Davis. Holly, and her canine and feline mystery solving partners Trixie and Twinkle Toes are back again for another mystery. And Trixie the dog has a bit a reputation because of a nose that sniffs out dead bodies, and her nose has never been wrong before. Even though just once Holly wants it to be wrong. I have to say that this one was my favorite of the series so far. Slight spoiler Do in part to the cover that is actually a scene in the book and having the cover be that seen made it even cuter. Trixie who's a dog basically acts likes she's a really bad date with another dog. And to me it just adds to the story and shows the reader more of Trixie's personality. And as always I look forward to the next book in the series.



I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Another excellent edition to a wonderful series! Full of twists and turns that leaves you wanting more and enjoying each moment until the end when the killer is caught!

Book 7 in this mystery series

The woman of Wagtail Animal Guardians are in town for a pet adoption charity ball. Holly and her fur baby Trixie are busy keeping the ladies happy and getting ready for the ball when a retired judges loses his pup.

The judge has hired a pet detective who has personal ties to Holly’s new guests. His presence cause problems and when Holly finds him dead before the ball she has to wonder if one the WAG ladies is a killer, until some other guests nearly suffer the same fate.

Holly and Trixie must work fast to solve the mystery before the killer strikes again.

I love coming back to Wagtail and visiting with Holly and her fur babies and friends.

I can’t wait for the next book in this series!

I enjoy this series and kinda wish that Wagtail was a place I could actually visit. While this wasn't my favourite instalment in the series, I still enjoyed reading this. I liked all the delicious food descriptions and the mischief all the pets get into. With a decent mystery and entertaining characters, this was a fun afternoon read.

This is book 7 in the Paws and Claws Mystery series. Fans of pet cozy's will love this series and this story. It can be read as a stand alone.The Wagtail Animal Guardians are holding a fancy ball fund raiser for the local shelter. A retired judge has lost his dog and hires a pet detective to find it. The detective is found dead and it looks like someone from the ball is a murderer. Holly and her grandmother, Oma have to track down the killer. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Wagstail, N.C. is a town like no other, pets are pampered and attend amazing fundraising galas in cocktail collars and tasteful tiaras. The collaboration between cat, canine, and cozy sleuth. makes for an fun and furry story. Multiple story lines that intersect in unusual ways starting with oatmeal on a countertop, a missing pup, the death of a detective, and many suspects. Holly works her way through her chores at the B&B and the clues, fueled by fabulous food like a Florentine Havarti scramble and the desire to keep her boyfriend's Grandmother, Rose off of the suspect list. The past is a part of the mystery but which past and who's past plays the biggest part. This was my first Paws and Claws mystery and it will not be the last. The characters are relatable and the back story is shared, interwoven, so that the reader can follow along and enjoy the present without being familiar with the past.

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele

Big Little Spies, the seventh entry in Krista Davis’s Paws and Claws series, is a pure delight with its complex twisty murder mystery and ideal pet lover’s setting.

I have to admit it, the Paws and Claws series probably has my favorite setting of all of the cozy mysteries I read. Wagtail, Virginia, is a tourist town that caters to pets and their owners. There are no cars allowed, every business relates to pets in some way, all of the restaurants have menu items specifically for four legged companions, and even the protagonist’s Sugar Maple Inn allows pets to roam free and has rooms with themed monikers. I adore it all in its over-the-top-ness and so wish it was a real place. I would pack up my corgi and head that way in a heartbeat. If you obsess over your furry family members like I do, this is the mystery series for you.

In Big Little Spies, Holly finds herself once again embroiled in a murder investigation when she and her beloved terrier Trixie stumble across the body of pet detective Seth Bertenshaw. When Holly finds out he was poisoned and that he has ties to several of her current guests, she cannot help but put on her sleuthing cap. There are a couple of subplots expertly intertwined with this murder, making the puzzle all the more difficult to solve. There are so many secrets to uncover, suspects with plenty of reasons to want Seth dead, and twists and turns galore. I thought I had it all figured out, but I was wrong, and I did not see the killer’s motive coming.

As much as I admire author Krista Davis’s writing and ability to construct an intricate head-scratcher, I love these characters even more. Holly is a friendly, trusted, reliable main character, and the supporting cast, including the various guests and pets, are realistically well drawn. I know Holly and I could be great friends, and I enjoy Rose and Aunt Birdie so much. There are quite a few new characters in this book that are easy to confuse until you get to know them, but I did not find it too difficult to keep them straight (there is a handy list of characters in the front of the book if needed).

Big Little Spies is an outstanding addition to the Paws and Claws series, and I highly recommend it to any cozy mystery reader, especially those who enjoy animals that take center stage. I cannot wait until my next trip to Wagtail.

Big Little Spies is the latest in the Paws and Claws Mystery series. The book could be read as a stand-alone, but there are references to several things from earlier books. If you are someone that does not like spoilers to previous books, start at number 1 and read in order.

I keep reading this series because the mysteries are engaging and the characters are likable. That said, the premise of a town where the dogs seem to be allowed to roam at will is more than a bit unrealistic. And the meals (of both humans and dogs) are described in more detail than most other books, likely to underscore that the dogs get dog-friendly versions of the human food. I find it mildly distracting, but not enough to stop reading the series.

Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I am a big fan of Krista Davis' The Diva cozies but I had not read one in this series yet. I am pleased to say I found it charming and very cozy!

Holly is busy running the Sugar Maple Inn with her Oma and getting ready for the big WAG gala to hopefully clear out the WAG shelter and raise money for homeless pets. However, when the prominent judge in town "loses" his beloved German Shephard a pet detective is brought in (and you better believe I was picturing Ace Ventura the whole time here...). However, when the PI winds up dead from poisoning and some others in town are nearly victims to the same fate, Holly must race against time to solve the mystery of the killer.

All the characters in this book are delightful, except for Mae the cat stealer. I especially love that the animals really run the show and the humans are just privy to be part of the story. Perhaps this is explored in other books but given the way Ms. Davis writes about critters I would love to see one of these with birds and other exotic pets. Delightful mischief would ensue. Either way, I will definitely seek out others in this series!

Frankly, I was disappointed in Krista Davis’ latest effort. I have enjoyed her books in the past and was looking forward to reading her current effort. On the other hand, I found the book somewhat boring. The cast of characters was long - with people, cats, and dogs, all playing significant roles This problem was addressed somewhat by including a list of 22 characters before starting the story proper - where she intermixes people’s and pets’ names.

The town of Wagtail was an appropriately named North Carolina village including water access, parks, and stately homes. The village catered to its pets allowing them open access to most areas, except for the local hospital. I was surprised the county health inspector allowed pets to enter and eat at restaurants throughout town, which provided specialized menus for cats and dogs. The book concludes with a series of recipes - read these carefully, some are suitable for pets, some are suitable ONLY for people. One pet recipe includes a potentially poisonous ingredient for dogs. It is clearly labeled but requires a careful reading of the peanut butter label before use.

I give the book three stars.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

Love this series! Another winner from Krista Davis! I know it's hard to pick a favorite series, but I think this is one of my top 3. Fun story with lots of colorful characters, each with their secrets. Very enjoyable!

I always love an adventure to Wagtail. The WAG ladies and their pets are staying at the Sugar Maple Inn. A German Shepherd owned by Judge Barlow has gone missing. Holly Finds the dog in the backyard of her grandmother's friend, Rose's, house along with the dead body of the person hired to find him.
Wagtail is a place I would love to live in with its pet friendly atmosphere. I love the characters. Holly and her Oma make a great team. Her pup and cat Trixie and Twinkletoes always find a way to steal the scene. I liked the side stories of Rose and the Judge, as well as the backstory of the Judges daughter and the circumstances surrounding her death. The main mystery was fantastic. I truly could not figure out who the killer was and was shocked at the outcome. You know the author has done a good job when you feel sorry for the killer and understand the reasoning behind their actions. I can't wait ti=o visit Wagtail again soon.

This is a cozy mystery, and this is the 7th book in the Paws and Claws Mystery series. I have read and review the several other books in this series. I feel with this series you really need to have read the books before this book, and the reason I say that is part of the greatest of this series is the town of Wagtail. This book really does not really go into the town of wagtail, but I think the fact I read the other books made this book so much better. I really loved being back in Wagtail with all these characters again. The mystery part in this book was so good, and I really enjoyed it. I loved all the dogs and cats in this book. This is a fun and cute cozy mystery series. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Berkley Books) or author (Krista Davis) via NetGalley, so I can give honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

Another perfectly written murder in Wagtail. I love this series. Wagtail seems like a great town to live in. This one involved the WAG Ladies staying at the hotel planning a gala for rescue animals. I really enjoy all the animals and how everything is always wrapped up nice by the end.

Big Little Spies by Krista Davis is the 7th A Paws & Claws Mystery. I love visiting Wagtail in each delightful tale. While Big Little Spies could be read on its own, I recommend reading this charming series in order. Holly, Liesel, Rose, Holmes, and the other residents of Wagtail are wonderful characters. They are developed characters who are friendly and relatable. I love all the cats and dogs. They run around playing, snooping, getting into mischief as well as helping find a clue now and then. Wagtail is a special town. I would love to live in this pet-friendly place. The mystery is well done. It is clever and fun to follow (and solve). There is plenty of action to keep things lively. I enjoy following Holly and Trixie as they ask questions and dig up clues. There are some great twists and turns in this whodunit. There is a good wrap up at the end. I wish all cozy mysteries were as well done as this one. There are some recipes at the end of the book for humans and canines. I am going to try the canine recipes (I think my fur babies will love them). I also learned to check the ingredients on my peanut butter before giving it to my dog. This is one of those books that you cannot wait to see how it ends, but you also do not want it do end. I was sad to leave Wagtail, and I cannot wait for my next visit. Big Little Spies is a captivating whodunit with a dead detective, a beastly bash, a misplaced pooch, a startling romance, a clever canine, and a crazed killer.

Big Little Spies: A Paws and Claws Mystery
By Krista Davis
Berkley
April 2021

Review by Cynthia Chow

When the appeal of their underground springs sputtered out as a tourist attraction, the town of Wagail, North Carolina pivoted into becoming a pet-friendly destination for those looking for everything catering to their best friends’ needs. It makes it the perfect site to host the fundraiser For the There’s No Place Like Home Gala, an event being held at the Wagtail Springs Hotel to raise money and encourage forever home adoptions. The owner of the Maple Sugar Inn along with her grandmother Liesel Miller, Holly Miller welcomes the ladies of the Wagtail Animal Guardians as they lunch and work for such a good cause. Their leader Theona Barlow had recently passed away six months ago, and it seems that Judge Barlow is missing more than his late wife. His prized German Shepherd Fritz ran away when accidently let loose by the housekeeper Dovie Dickerson, and in an effort to find him she has called in pet detective Seth Bertenshaw. A missing canine is only one of the concerns worrying the beleaguered Judge though. Liesel’s best friend Rose asks for Holly’s help in looking into a series of strange coincidences that have Rose and the judge believing that his house has been bugged with listening devices

Before Holly has time to decide whether or not they are being spied upon or just paranoid, her adorable pup Trixie lives up to his reputation as a body finder. To be technical about it, Trixie leads Holly to Fritz, who is standing over the body of the pet detective Seth. The investigation and evidence lead police to Rose, whom Holly knows is being framed for murder. Rose being the grandmother of Holly’s boyfriend Holmes Richardson has her determined to prove Rose’s innocence, which means that Holly will be looking into Seth’s many connections with the WAG Ladies. Jealousies, secrets, and financial scandals all become motives for the death of the rogue pet detective.

New readers will have no trouble catching up with the heartwarming antics of this seventh of the series, as it introduces new suspects and potential victims with the visiting women of WAG. Rose and Judge Barlow’s unsuccessfully discreet relationship is a charming aspirational goal, especially as Holly and Holmes continue to blend their pet-filled families. While the relationships between the women are always at the forefront of the plot, their bond with their pets always lies in the background as they rely upon them for emotional support. An additional poisoning heightens the stakes, but the town of Wagtail always remains an enviable site for those looking to indulge their fur babies. Delicious meals and recipes catering as much to humans as to their pets make this the perfect cozy mystery for readers eager to spend time with these animal-loving, good-natured characters.

Big Little Spies is the latest in the series set in the charming pet-centric town of Wagtail, Virginia. As the town gears up for the "there's no place like home" charity pet adoption ball, visitors flock to town to participate in the festivities. Holly Miller is busier than ever helping her grandmother Oma prepare the beautiful sugar maple inn for the large amount of guests who will be residing at the inn and attending the ball, humans and pets alike. When a local pet detective goes missing it is Holly's dog Trixie who uncovers the body. Holly quickly begins an investigation to discover who is behind the murder. Suspects abound in the small town of Wagtail however Holly must sift through the clues and viable suspects to determine if the murderer is a resident or visitor to her beloved town. With the help of her friends and fellow members of WAG or the Wagtail Animal Guardians and their four legged companions, secrets are quickly uncovered and piece by piece the puzzle begins to take the shape of killer.
Big Little Spies is the seventh book in the Paws and Claws series featuring the ladies of WAG and their adorable furry sidekicks. The town of Wagtail, Virginia was carefully designed to be not only pet friendly but also pet centered, taking the needs of animals into account in every way. The characters in the series, both two and four legged are an absolute delight and each new book in the series offers a chance to catch up with what feels like old friends. With a bit of romance and the antics of a particularly cranky retired judge and an adorable group of canine companions, there is plenty of humor, love, and friendship laced within the darker theme of murder. The mystery itself is swiftly paced and while there are quite a few characters within the story, there is a handy guide that helps keep the characters straight. I highly recommend this delightful cozy mystery series to animal lovers looking for a new series to binge.