Click on book to visit Amazon
THE WAGTAIL MURDER CLUB is the tenth book in the Paws & Claws Mysteries by Krista Davis. First off, the setting of the Sugar Maple Inn in Wagtail, Virginia is absolutely charming and I wish it were a real place! Between the town, protagonist Holly Miller and her family, and her menagerie of pets, you couldn’t ask for a better place to while a few hours away, immersed in this book. Adding to the adorableness, is a new rescue dog, Squishy, who moves in and steals each scene he inhabits. I’ll have to admit he tugged at my heartstrings more than a few times. The author has an admirable way with descriptions, bringing each of the characters and the setting to life. Holly’s relationship with her grandmother and her mother is delightful, and I enjoyed how they interact and work together. The only discord in the story is the arrival of Ben, Holly’s ex-boyfriend. I won’t spoil the plot with details, but I hope this is the last we see of him and his sense of entitlement and condescending ways.
With Ben and his new attorney colleagues in town to discuss opening a satellite office, there’s some drama going on. Plus, folk in Wagtail are up in arms about a released convict moving to town, and living across the street from Holly’s mother. When one of the visiting attorneys plunges to her death, it soon becomes apparent that it was anything but accidental and is similar to the death of a young woman numerous years before. Could there be a connection between the two murders? Holly, with the assistance of her darling dogs, her grandmother, and mother, starts investigating. There are many suspects to sift through, with misdirection around every corner. I always love a good whodunit that features a long-ago crime that is somehow related to the current day crime. Ms. Davis does an admirable job tying the two together into a cohesive story. It’s always a pleasure visiting Wagtail and I can’t wait to make a return visit with the next book in the series!
You can always count on several yummy recipes included in the Paws & Claws Mysteries, some for humans, some for pets, and some that can be shared with our furry friends. In this newest release, Ms. Davis includes a recipe for Banana Pancakes, using three simple ingredients and all are safe for our pups to eat in moderation. I think I’ve found my new favorite breakfast! These take just a minute to mix the batter up with a fork, using banana, eggs, and flour (I’ve made these three times and substituted gluten-free flour once, and oat flour another time… it works perfectly). And before you know it, you’ve got beautifully browned, yummy pancakes sitting on your plate. Missy has never been a fan of bananas so I wasn’t sure if she’d want to eat a small pancake. She sniffed it but didn’t back away, so I offered her a small nibble. Once she downed it, she snatched the entire pancake off the plate (leaving the banana garnish behind) and ran to the back of the dining room table to gobble it up, lol. Apparently she didn’t want me changing my mind about her getting such a special treat. Missy gives this recipe two paws up and wants to know when I’m making them again!
Amazon Synopsis
Holly Miller is on her way home to Wagtail, Virginia when she spots something in the grass not far from her car. It turns out to be an adorable black Labrador in a cage with a note attached to his collar. My name is Squishy. I am a very good boy. Please take good care of me. Holly takes Squishy home to the Sugar Maple Inn, which she owns with her grandmother, who also happens to be the mayor of Wagtail. They decide to foster Squishy at the Inn. Days later, Holly is surprised to see her ex-boyfriend Ben checking in with a group of his attorney colleagues who all seem to think that he and Holly are still an item!
Aided by Squishy, Holly’s rascally dog and cat find one of Ben’s fellow attorneys who has died from a non-accidental fall. Is the fiend a resident of Wagtail or a visitor? Holly bands together with her mom, grandmother, and beloved elderly Inn butler, Mr. Huckle, to uncover the killer and the truth about Squishy. Because nothing brings a town together like murder.
A special thanks to Krista Davis for offering a hardcover copy of THE WAGTAIL MURDER CLUB to one lucky winner! Contest ends February 16, 2025 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)
Share with your dog, but you eat the maple syrup.
These are the quickest, easiest pancakes I have ever made. Because of the moisture in the banana, you may not even need milk. I have made them with milk and without. They're a little bit thinner with milk, but my preference is without milk. However, if you make them with bananas that are too green, you may find the mixture too dense. All you have to do is add one or two tablespoons of milk for additional moisture. While these are for people, your dog can also have a bite, just not too much. If you want more than two pancakes, simply double the recipe.
Makes 2 pancakes.
- 1 banana, preferably ripe with a few spots on the peel
- 2 eggs
- 1/3 cup whole wheat flour
- Canola oil
- 1 - 2 tablespoons milk (optional)
- Maple syrup (for serving)
-
Mash the banana with the back of a fork in a medium bowl. Add the eggs and use the fork as a whisk, blending the eggs with the banana. It won't be smooth; there should be some lumps.
-
Add the whole wheat flour and whisk it in with the fork.
-
Preheat a stove burner on medium and set a small or medium frying pan on it.
-
Pour a tablespoon or so of the canola oil onto the warm pan (eyeball it). Swirl to spread it, then pour in half of the banana mixture. You may need to adjust the heat if it gets too hot. When the bottom is set, flip the pancake to cook the other side until it's a light brown color.
-
Move the pancake to a plate, add more oil to the pan as needed, and repeat the process with the remaining batter.
-
Serve with maple syrup for humans. Your pups will be thrilled to eat them without the maple syrup. Or for extra banana flavor, slice another banana and sprinkle the slices over the top.
-
I made these with gluten-free flour once, and with oat flour another time. Both substitutions for whole wheat flour worked perfectly. If you use a gluten-free flour blend, make sure the ingredients are safe for your pup.
-
While the directions say to make these into two large pancakes, I made one of the batches into small pancakes. It took more time to cook up all the batter, but did make it easier to give just one small pancake to Missy.
Pin to Pinterest:
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you for the Banana Pancakes recipe! Love the idea of being able to share with our furbabies. <3
Can't wait for the opportunity to read and review WAGTAIL MURDER CLUB!
I LOVE this series and I LOVE pancakes! Cover is adorable!
Banana Pancakes sounds absolutely delicious! I will be making those! Thank you for the chance to win The Wagtail Murder Club, it sounds intriguing!
Sounds great, I like the cover.
Adding bananas to pancakes sounds like a good way to use up bananas that need to be ate. Thank you for a chance for this book.
Sounds yummy! Now I just need to get some bananas.