A Holland Reads: Death by Chocolate Lab by Bethany Blake

Book Details:

Death by Chocolate Lab (Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery)

Cozy Mystery

New Series

Kensington (February 28, 2017)

Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages

ISBN-13: 978-1496707383

E-Book ASIN: B01GBAG2T0

About the book:

Pet sitter Daphne Templeton has a soft spot for every stray and misfit who wanders into the quaint, lakeside village of Sylvan Creek. But even Daphne doesn’t like arrogant, womanizing Steve Beamus, the controversial owner of Blue Ribbon K-9 Academy. When Steve turns up dead during a dog agility trial, Daphne can think of a long list of people with motives for homicide, and so can the police. Unfortunately, at the top of the list is Daphne’s sister, Piper—Steve’s latest wronged girlfriend.

Certain that Piper is innocent, in spite of mounting evidence to the contrary, Daphne sets out to clear her sister’s name—and find Axis, Steve’s prize-winning chocolate Labrador, who went missing the night of Steve’s death. Aided by Socrates, her taciturn basset hound, and a hyperactive one-eared Chihuahua named Artie, Daphne quickly runs afoul of Detective Jonathan Black, a handsome and enigmatic newcomer to town, who has no appreciation for Daphne’s unorthodox sleuthing.

Can a free-spirited pet sitter, armed only with a Ph.D. in Philosophy and her two incompatible dogs, find the real killer before she becomes the next victim?

Includes recipes for homemade dog treats!

About The Author

Bethany Blake lives in a small, quaint town in Pennsylvania with her husband and three daughters. When she’s not writing or riding horses, she’s wrangling a menagerie of furry family members that includes a nervous pit bull, a fearsome feline, a blind goldfish, and an attack cardinal named Robert. Like Daphne Templeton, the heroine of her Lucky Paws Mysteries, Bethany holds a Ph.D. and operates a pet sitting business called Barkley’s Premium Pet Care.

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Guest Post:

Bethany Blake

Hi, and thanks for visiting this stop on the blog tour for my new cozy mystery, Death by Chocolate Lab. The main character, Daphne Templeton, would love A Holland Reads. Daphne’s a pet sitter with a Ph.D. in philosophy and a passport filled with stamps from all over the world. She’s a journeyer in every sense of the word.

At least, Daphne thinks she’s a wanderer at heart. The problem is, she’s also a big softie who makes instant connections with people and animals. So while Daphne doesn’t plan to stay long at her sister’s bucolic farm, Winding Hill, outside the quaint town of Sylvan Creek, Pennsylvania, she quickly finds herself surrounded by souls who make it difficult for her to leave.

First of all, Daphne’s reconnecting with her sensible sister, Piper. And when Piper – a veterinarian – is accused of murdering a controversial dog trainer, Daphne jumps in headfirst to solve the case and clear her sibling’s name.

Daphne’s childhood best friend, quirky Moxie Bloom, also lives in Sylvan Creek. A fan of all things vintage, Moxie runs Spa and Paw, the pet-friendly town’s unique salon for people and pets.

Daphne also has a canine constant companion, an introspective basset hound named Socrates, who does his best to keep Daphne out of trouble. And she’s temporarily – or at least she hopes – fostering Artie, a one-eared Chihuahua with a severe overbite and an excess of personality.

Then there’s Daphne’s mother, Realtor Maeve Templeton, who thinks Daphne should forget pet sitting, get a real estate license, and trade in her ancient VW for a reliable sedan – a life plan that doesn’t interest Daphne at all.

Finally, Daphne’s intrigued by a newcomer to Sylvan Creek. Handsome, enigmatic Detective Jonathan Black seems bound and determined to send Piper to jail for homicide, but he has some compelling secrets of his own. And even though Daphne knows she might ruin a budding friendship... or more... she just can’t stop herself from prying into Jonathan’s past.

These are just a few of the people and pets you’ll meet in Sylvan Creek. I hope you’ll visit the town, where you’ll also find delicious food and recipes, and, of course, lots of clues to follow!

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