In the opening pages of this excellent cosy crime novel, the reader learns that Nicolette Briggs doesn’t do humans. But she does do animals, which is a good thing, as she is Wellington’s premier, and possibly only, animal detective. She investigates missing pets and cases of animal cruelty. Her latest case is one of a poisoned cat, who thankfully survived, but her client wants to know what happened. This is exactly the type of case that Nicolette excels in, but then human bodies start showing up. Before she knows it, Nicolette is smack bang centre in the middle of two murder investigations.
Her police detective brother doesn’t want her encroaching on his work life. But then someone breaks into her home, and one of her three much-loved dogs is injured, and Nicolette can’t stay on the sidelines. She resolves to solve these cases before the police can.
To further complicate things, is her testy but loving relationship with her teenage daughter, her testy, not-so-loving relationship with other members of her dysfunctional family, a car breakdown when she has no money in the bank, and people generally being much too human and annoying for her. To cap things off, then there is a killer who has her in their sights…
Three Dogs, Two Murders and a Cat is the perfect blend of action, mystery, humour, entertaining family dynamics and an unforgettable heroine. Completely unputdownable and unmissable!
Reviewer: Karen McMillan