Tailing Trouble
Laura Scott
January 11, 2021


Ally Winter steps into her second Furry Friends novel from Laura Scott. Dr. Winter is a Vet who started her career partnering up with her ex until she found him in bed with a friend. Ally left the practice losing money in the process. She returned home to Willow Bluff, Wisconsin taking over the clinic of Dr. Hanson who was retiring to Florida. Because of the expense she moved into the small apartment upstairs and had to forgo the idea of hiring a Vet Tech and secretary. It would be tough be she was bound to carry through.
Willow Bluff is also the home to old friends and her grandfather, Oscar who lives in a small retirement house on Legacy Drive. In the first of the Furry Friends series, Dogged By Death, Winter stumbles on a homicide and the entire book revolves around that as well as her family, friends and patrons of her Vet business. In this novel she finds herself burning the candle at both ends trying to run the kennel and help her Gramps and the women who live in Legacy House. The problems she runs into in this scenario become a hitch with her personal and Vet Clinic.
Tailing Trouble by Laura Scott will be published on January 11, 2021 by Crooked Lane Books of Penguin Random House Publisher Services. I appreciate their allowing me to read and review via NetGalley. As I had not read the first of the series so it did take me a while to discover who was who and what position they had with Ally Winter. As I dove into the book more, I found it fun yet suspenseful. Enjoy this one!

I'll be honest, I picked this title from NetGalley simply because of the black poodle on the cover.

Tailing Trouble is a pretty decent cozy mystery featuring Ally, a veterinarian struggling to establish her practice in her home town. She's very close with her grandfather who is recuperating from a broken hip at Legacy House. While walking a dog being boarded at her clinic, she encounters a dead body and from there she's constantly bumping into clues and suspects. There's also Noah, a hunky detective who kind of maybe likes Ally but definitely doesn't like Gramps trying to solve crime.

It's a good thing that the veterinary practice is very slow because Ally needs to have free afternoons for lunching and sleuthing.

I liked Ally's interaction with Gramps and his housemates at Legacy House. His enthusiasm for asking questions to support his amateur detective theories really kept this book entertaining.

I didn't love how much Ally worried and fretted about her weight whenever she had dinner at Legacy House. Every time she has one of Harriet's from scratch meals she complains about her weight and it's just so redundant. Especially since she only eats Cobb salads or microwave meals otherwise. Harriet, Tillie, and Lydia are just clumped together as "the widows" or the WBW (Willow Bluff widows") and I found that pretty annoying too.

Finally, Noah and Ally don't have much chemistry or even many conversations that aren't "stop interfering with my investigation Ally" or "Hey, you should adopt this Labradane puppy Noah". Since they are the only single characters older than 21 and younger than 60 in this book, I guess they just have to get together.

The ending was very rushed and came together in about 2 pages including a full voluntary confession after the killer was read his/her rights. I didn't understand why Noah, the detective, let Ally keep asking the killer questions. I also didn't understand why Ally was allowed to bring her grandfather when she gave her statement at the police station.

For those reasons, this is a 3 star book not a 4 star for me.

*I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and I am required to disclose that in my review in compliance with federal law.

I really loved the first book and this second one was as good. I give this one 5 stars.

When thirty-something veterinarian Ally Winter takes Domino, the black standard poodle she's boarding for the weekend, for a sunny September stroll along the shore of Lake Michigan, the diminutive dog dashes off, only to return with a single, polka-dotted, high-heeled shoe. Retracing Domino's paw prints back to a weeping willow tree, they find the other shoe. It's still on the foot of 20-year-old Pricilla Green--lying dead beneath the willow, with a silk scarf knotted tightly around her neck.

What I love most is that the book is well-written and all the characters are loveable (even grumpy Gramps).
The widows, Ally, Noah and of course all the cute animals!

Except for the sleuthing I really like reading about Ally's job as a veterinarian, something I have never read about in a cozy mystery before. I am already eager to read the third book and hope Ally can make a more profitable business.

This book kept me entertained throughout the entire mystery but the ending was a bit too rushed in my opinion. I wanna fell excited and bite my nails in anticipation when the bad guy(s) is being discovered and eventually getting caught by the sleuth when I read a cozy mystery. However the ending in this book was over too fast and left me wanting more.

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This was a fun cozy mystery, especially if you like dogs. I honestly LOVED the day-to-day consistency the author showed in having Ally take the dogs out for walks and bathroom breaks. Too many times authors gloss over what they may consider to be boring stuff, but it was refreshing that all of that was included in this book. She’s a veterinarian; we *should* see her taking care of the animals she is in charge of at any given time.

Gramps grated on me sometimes, because he is very pushy, but it was sweet how much Ally loves him and takes care of him, too. Another high point for me is the Willow Bluff Widows. Harriet is precious in her desire to feed everyone, Lydia knits a sweater for Ally, and Tillie is always up for cribbage and poker. I like how Ally considers them part of her family now, too.

The thing that really annoyed me though, was Noah’s hot-and-cold attitude he showed towards Ally. He’s warm when he thinks it might get him something he wants, and cold when Ally or Gramps “interfere in the investigation”. It seemed manipulative to me, and Ally really likes him so it seemed like he was taking advantage, even though he tells another character he really likes her. If their budding relationship is a storyline that continues, he would need to be a lot nicer about her and Gramps seeing what’s going on in the criminal world of Willow Bluff. I would want to see him show he cares about Ally, even when his job is involved.

This is the second book in Laura Scott’s Furry Friends series. Although I enjoyed the mystery, I felt that too much of the book was occupied with Ally eating meals and dealing with the two dogs. It also doesn’t make sense that Ally can make a go of the clinic with so few patients. But I really like the characters, especially Gramps and the widows. And I like Noah as a love interest, but if he’s not going to see Ally every time there’s a case they aren’t going to have much of a relationship. Hopefully the author will fine tune these issues in the next book.

This is the second in the series and unfortunately, Gramps is getting on my nerves. He is overly needy and I’m amazed Allie can get any work done. At the rate she is going getting paying patients into the clinic, she won’t be in business long.

Ally needs to establish some ground rules for her practice and her help. Taking reliable messages is essential. I know the author thought it would be a nice quirk that Gramps doesn’t do well remembering who called but I find it more than annoying.

I found the book well-written and the plot well-developed. Holding out hope this series gets an infusion of furry patients for this dedicated veterinarian. Looking forward to the next installment.

I was given a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books. I am not required to leave a positive review. I chose to do so.

A charming cozy mystery. Dogs and cats, grampa and widows add to the fun. A pleasant read. A little romance. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley.

Dr. Ally Winter recently returned to her home town of Willow Bluff, Wisconsin and opened the Furry Friends Veterinary Clinic. Business is off to a slow start, so she also started boarding and grooming dogs as well. She also gets some free help from her grandfather and a couple of his friends working the reception desk. Gramps, however, would rather be indulging his passion for true crime shows or investigating real life crimes. A series of local robberies followed by a murder gets Oscar’s attention and soon he’s convinced Ally to join him in their own investigation, even though her old friend and potential boyfriend Detective Noah Jorgenson want them to stay out of the case.

I love the unique premise of the main character being a veterinarian. In fact, the scenes I enjoyed the most were those of Ally on the job. That being said, when she gets scratched by one of her feline patients and dogs fight and get away from her during walks make her look incompetant! There is also such a thing as too much realism. We know dogs need to take walks, but didn’t need this mentioned in almost every scene.

This is only the second book in the series, so I think there is potential. In addition to the great premise, Ally is a likable character. Some of the dialogue between Ally and Noah seems stilted, so I couldn’t decide if I thought they would make a good couple or not. On the positive side,I enjoy the close relationship Ally has with her grandfather and how loyal and protective she is of him. I wasn’t able to guess the identity of the murderer or what was behind the series of thefts,. I also really enjoyed the cute ending of the book. I would rate it 3.5 stars.

I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of Crooked Lane. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

I LOVED this book even more than the 1st one in the series and that's saying a lot but b/c I thought that was the best veterinary cozy ever!

And I found a new character to love: Domino!! So cute!

Geez all Ally wants to do is walk Domino the poodle. But no.....they find the body of Priscilla, the somewhat challenging young housekeeper at the assisted living facility where Oscar, her grandfather resides. Yikes. Oscar is a fan of true crime and he's determined that he and Ally will find the villain- and that there's a connection to another issue. Unfortunately, this puts them afoul of Detective Noah Jorgensen, Ally's love interest. Cozy fans know there was more to Priscilla than everyone originally thought so that part of this is typical cozy. I like that Ally is a veterinarian and wish her work would feature more in the story. Oscar and his widow cohorts are a hoot. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is the second in the series and perfectly fine as a standalone. I'm looking forward to the next one.

Tailing Trouble by Laura Scott is the second book in the Furry Friends Mystery Series. This book opens with the main character, Ally Winter, continuing to try to grow her veterinary/grooming/boarding practice while still keeping an eye on her grandfather Oscar and the three widows who live at the assisted living home with him . At the beginning of this book, Oscar tries to get Ally to start investigating the recent robberies at an electronics store and it although he discusses several theories about the crimes Ally is able to deter him from the investigation until the dog she is boarding for the weekend finds the teenager that has been cleaning the house for the seniors murdered not far from the house. When the body is found, police detective Noah Jorgenson is once again assigned the case. Because the teenager is the daughter of a high ranking city employee, Noah has pressure put on him to solve the case quickly. As the case unfolds, Oscar starts to investigate and Ally reluctantly assists him mostly to keep him out of trouble.

As the author develops the storyline, she is able to explore both crimes as separate issues while still creating plausible connections between them. In developing the auxiliary characters for this novel, the author is also able to bring awareness to various issues affecting how young people handle the ever increasing decisions that they make while dealing with jealousy and social pressures in their lives. This book also touches some on the consequences of how families handle these issues.

The additional issues of teenage partying, gambling, cheating, and jealousy created an environment in this book that keeps the reader guessing as to the identity and motive of the killer until the very end. The burgeoning relationship between Noah and Ally creates its own issues and dynamics as part of this series as well. I found this book to be well-written and definitely worth the read and am looking forward to future installments in this series.

An enjoyable cozy intertwined nicely with a blooming romance. Dr. Ally Winter tried to remind herself she is a veterinary doctor not a detective wannabe but her grandpa kept pulling her back into investigating both a robbery and a murder. Detective Noah Jorgenson strongly suggested they both stay out of his investigation but keeping grandpa from investigating might be even harder than solving the actual crimes.

Fun characters, animals and an interesting protagonist kept me entertained and ready for more books in the Furry Friends Mystery series. Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy. The opinions expressed are my own.

Trailing Trouble by Laura Scott is the 2nd book in A Furry Friends Mystery, and another fun addition. Veterinarian Ally Winter moved to Willow Bluff, Wisconsin after her fiance cleaned out their bank account, and ran away with a vet tech. Ally bought the Willow Bluff veterinarian clinic after the other vet moved to Florida. When Ally takes one of the border dogs for a walk, they find a women dead. Ally's grandfather is a true-crime fan, and is determined to solve the case, while she has to work hard to keep gramps out of trouble. I really enjoyed this new series, and am looking forward to the next book in the series. I highly recommend this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I absolutely fell in love with the first book in this series and could not wait for the next one! While I enjoyed this one as well, it kind of dragged and was repetitive in places. I liked the characters however some of their quirks got to be a bit much. I will definitely read the next books in the series!

Veterinarian Dr. Ally Winter has stumbled upon another body as she walks the black poodle she was boarding in author Laura Scott's latest addition to her Furry Friends Mystery series. This was a great beginning to this murder mystery. I found this story to be well-written, paced well and with interesting characters. I really like Ms. Scott's writing style and look forward to the next book in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is the first I've seen a veterinarian solving a murder mystery, oh wow. Along with her grandpa (and dog) double wow. It did felt a little monotonous with the repetition of activities which made the pacing much slower than I'd prefer it to be. However, it's still a good read, albeit I had to force myself to get through the end of it.

Veterinarian Ally Winters has her hands full with her own dog, the standard poodle Domino which she is boarding for the weekend and her grandpa who is still having to use his cane due to falling and breaking his hip. Add to that the 3 widows at the retirement home where gramps lives and you have a full house. That is not to mention her attraction to Detective Noah. But then the anti is upped when Ally and Domino, while out for their nightly walk, find a young girl from the town murdered. Gramps is trying to act like a cop, Noah is upset because of the interference with his case, and Ally is just trying to juggle everything. Likeable characters, lots of suspense and a little hint of romance here and there makes this a very enjoyable read. Thank you NetGalley for an e-book of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Veterinarian Ally Winter and her gramps are on the case of a murder. With the help of her poodle boarder Domino, hopefully Ally can figure out who the killer is before shes next. A great read! I look forward to the next in the series!

This is a wonderful cozy series featuring a veterinarian as the protagnist . I enjoyed this next in series with smart charcters and a fun sleuth. Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher. My review opinion is my own.

Tailing Trouble is Furry Friends Mystery number Two . I highly recommend this series.

Dr. Ally Winter, DVM is living back in her hometown of of Willow Bluff, Wisconsin to open a new practice and be with her grandfather. Ally is out walking a poodle she is boarding when he finds a dead body. Her Grandfather has a interest in crime and wants to investigate with her. Grandpa is funny and a great addition to this series. He lives in assisted living and does not let his age slow him down. Ally is rebuilding her life , rebuking advances from a old love interest and loves working with her patients. The sleuth was fun and well crafted to conclusion. A fun second in series and I look forward to the next in series.

Fast Moving and Fun Cozy Mystery
I picked up this book because I enjoy cozy mysteries and love dogs. I was pleased on both counts. Dogs fill the pages and are integral to the story. The story is great. The plot is well done, the characters are believable and the ending makes sense. While this is part of a series, the book stands alone well. Past information is shared as needed and I never felt lost. The Gramps character is fun and unforgettable. But yelling into a cell phone like it was 1960s long-distance just does not make sense for a man in his 80s in today's world. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.