Best in Show
Maria Grazia Swan
File Size: 2538 KB
Print Length: 190 pages
Publication Date: October 22, 2015
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
ASIN: B016R28JZ2
Book Blurb:
Mina Calvi, Italian transplant to Southern California, thinks her love life might finally come together, just as her professional life has. Her Furry Friends Foundation, a no-kill shelter for rescued cats and dogs, is a success, and Mina hopes she may find a loving forever home for herself, in the arms of Diego Moran, her elusive, frustratingly mysterious, on again-off again, lover.
Review:
This is the first book I read in the series that spans five previous books, and it might have been good to read the series from the start, although enough back story was included to let the reader know what happened to the central characters in previous stories. In addition to Mina and Diego, there is detective DeFiore; Margo, Mina’s best friend; Millie, who works with Mina at the animal shelter; Gino, who works for Diego; and Houdini, Mina’s fur friend and companion.
The mystery begins when Kalinda, a friend of Diego’s, calls for help with something Diego can’t tell Mina about at first. Kalinda, known as the “Matchmaker to the Stars,” lost her legs in a previous story involving Mina and the gang, and now Kalinda has a full-time assistant named Eva. There is something off about Eva, and sometimes that is presented with a bit of a heavy hand.
An automobile accident that has Mina in the hospital for a day is another element of the mystery. She was in the passenger seat when the car was hit from behind, but police find her strapped into the driver’s seat when they arrive. Diego, who was driving, is nowhere to be seen. Where did he go, and why?
As a cat lover, I did enjoy the antics of Houdini and could relate to how a cat can completely take over your life. I also appreciated the compassion that Mina and her staff had for the Persian show cat, Princess, that is booked into the Ritzy Cats B&B that Mina owns. The cat’s owner, a mysterious man himself, leaves the cat for a week and the staff notices that the cat’s eyes are too bright, making them wonder if something is amiss. When other odd things happen to the cat, they are sure that something is amiss.
This is a pleasant read, and I thought the mystery was played out nicely. As with most cozy mysteries, the cast of supporting characters add sub-plots that can interweave with the main plot, or not. Those little side stories are often humorous and presented with banter between the characters that sounds just like friends laughing at their most recent antics.
thank you so much, enjoyed reading your take on the story.
You’re welcome. It was a fun read.