There have always been a host of canine and feline mysteries to keep animal-loving readers occupied.
There are two new zookeeper detectives of note.
In Betty Webb’s forthcoming Anteater of Death, Lucy, a pregnant giant anteater from Belize, is blamed for killing the man found dead in her pen. California zookeeper Teddy Bentley must find the real culprit before Lucy is shipped to another zoo. Teddy's search puts her at odds with her boss, a lecherous zoo administrator, and many of the local residents resent her “nosing” around. Teddy, of course – not Lucy.
PW remarked “Webb deftly weaves zoological lore into the fast-moving plot.”
In Marilyn Victor and Michael Allan Mallory’s Death Roll, zookeeper Lavender "Snake" Jones and her husband Jeff – an Australian herpetologist who bears a striking resemblance to the late crocodile hunter Steve Irwin – investigate when the director of the Minnesota Valley Zoo ends up as a crocodile snack.
Kirkus called this one “A competent debut with engaging characters and an intriguing behind-the-scenes look at zoo life.”
And there are two new veterinarian detectives as well.
David Waltner-Toews’s debut, Fear of Landing, introduces Canadian vet Abner Dueck, who must unravel the mysterious deaths of both cattle and people in 1980s Indonesia – where asking questions is a dangerous pursuit.
Waltner-Toews is a Canadian epidemiologist and veterinarian – a specialist in the epidemiology of food and waterborne diseases – so his descriptions, especially of the animal autopsies, are quite detailed. A compelling read, but not your usual animal cozy.
If you prefer something a little lighter and closer to home, try The Case of the Ill-Gotten Goat by Claudia Bishop. Set in the New York Finger Lakes region, veterinarian Austin McKenzie and his wife, Madeline, investigate when a randy milk inspector turns up dead in a 400 gallon milk vat. There is a veritable herd of suspects, including the dead man’s jealous wife, several vengeful husbands, and the ancient owner of a goat cheese dairy who wields a mean cane.
Long Island veterinarian-turned-amateur sleuth Jessica Popper and her animal menagerie also entertain in a fun and frisky paperback series from Cynthia Baxter.
Rita Mae Brown fans take note – the legendary Mrs. Murphy will be putting in her 17th appearance shortly in Santa Clawed.
Some of us just can’t get enough of that merry menagerie!
