Petsitter extraordinaire Daphne Templeton returns in DIAL MEOW FOR MURDER, the second book in the Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery series by Bethany Blake. A few months ago I read the first book in this series and was smitten so I had great expectations when I picked this book up… and was as equally charmed with it as I was the first! The setting is Halloween time and the Fur-ever Friends Pet Rescue gala fund-raiser is being held at the reputedly haunted Flynt Mansion in Sylvan Creek, Pennsylvania. I enjoyed the seasonal theme along with the special events taking place in the town. Ms. Blake has an especially strong descriptive voice that made me feel like I was right there, seeing what the characters see along with experiencing a unique insight into the people the protagonist interacts with.
The author weaves a mesmerizing tale of a missing heiress, an embezzlement, an angry pedigreed attack cat, and murder. While the plot is well structured with twists and turns it is the humor and quirky characters (both human and pets) that captured my attention and held it until the very last page. Ms. Blake’s ability to provide entertaining personalities to the pets make it impossible for the reader to forget such endearing characters like Socrates, Artie, and Tinkleston. Their antics brought many laugh out loud moments to break up the seriousness of murder without detracting from the story. The ending provides a satisfactory conclusion with a bit of a teaser for some changes that may be occurring in Daphne’s life, along with the first chapter of the next book… and I can hardly wait until next year to read the full book!
Daphne likes to bake wholesome pet treats for her own pets along with the pets in town. Ms. Blake provides several recipes at the back of the book for both dogs and cats alike. I was immediately drawn to her recipe for “Liverin’ It Up Treats”. Last year I took my granddaughter shopping at the local pet store to buy her dog, Piper, some treats to keep at my house. She picked up a bag of freeze-dried liver and my thought was “ick”. But Piper went absolutely gaga over them and in fact when she comes to visit my house, makes a bee-line for the cupboard where I keep her dog treats and foods. She will whine and scratch at the cupboard until I give her some of the liver! Given how expensive those particular treats are, I liked the idea of making some beefy treats at home and keeping them in the freezer for her infrequent visits. Personally I couldn’t find the liver baby food called for so substituted beef and gravy baby food. It came as no surprise when Piper went gaga over these treats and she heartily agrees that the substitution works just fine. I made a second batch of these dog treats and added some chopped up freeze-dried liver to the batter. These treats were a big hit too! I’ll be baking up a few batches to give to her neighborhood doggie friends for Christmas!
Amazon Synopsis
Even an experienced pet sitter like Daphne Templeton can be fooled by animal behavior: how can an adorably tiny fuzz ball named Tinkleston be capable of sudden flying leaps with cat claws bared? But human behavior remains even more mysterious, especially when Tinkleston’s owner is murdered on the night of a gala fundraiser for Fur-ever Friends Pet Rescue.
Accompanied by her unflappable basset hound, Socrates, Daphne plans to take charge of Tinks the Terror and leave the crime-solving to handsome detective Jonathan Black. But while luring the prickly Persian out of hiding, she uncovers clues that might take suspicion off her own mother. Maeve Templeton already has a reputation as a killer—in real estate. How far would she go to bag Sylvan Creek’s most coveted property, the Flynt Mansion?
To expose the truth, Daphne finds herself donning a deranged clown costume on an autumnal adventure that might just be crazy enough to work—if it doesn’t get her killed.
A special thanks to Bethany Blake for offering a copy of DIAL MEOW FOR MURDER along with some fun swag for one lucky winner! Contest ends Monday, October 2, 2017 at 11:59 pm PST and is open to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe 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!)
I would never tell Socrates, but the secret to his very favorite snack is...baby food! He would be so appalled. I actually hide the jar when I make these little crackers.
- 3/4 cup wheat germ
- 3/4 cup nonfat dry milk powder
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon brewer's yeast
- 1 (3.5 ounce) jar pureed liver or beef baby food
- 1/4 cup water, or more if needed
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Preheat your oven to 350 degrees (F).
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Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl. Add a little more water if the dough isn't coming together.
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Drop the dough by teaspoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet - or better yet, use parchment paper. Less mess, less chance for things sticking.
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Bake the snacks for about 20 minutes, then remove them from the oven and cool them before Socrates... er, your dog... gets hold of them.
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Store leftovers - there won't be any - in the fridge. For longer term storage, freeze in a freezer-safe ziplock bag.
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I was provided a copy of this book with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
We have both dogs and cats. Hate the hair. But. Can’t see life without them Oh! Yeah. The spit ups, too. Only part of being a pet parent don’t like. Homemade food is really the best. Love this recipe. Thanks.
In our house we have a kitten, she is just three months old and crazy. Her name is Eartha Kitty.
in my house we have 5 cats! would love a dog though too
We have a cat that adopted us years ago.
I have 3 very spoiled cats.
I have two 11 year old cocker spaniels, MercyMe and GloryBee. I’m adding the treat ingredients to my shopping list so I can bake up a batch. Thanks for the review. I enjoyed Bethany’s first book in this series and am looking forward to reading #2!
I remember MercyMe and GloryBee! 🙂 Just FYI, Cheryl – Apparently the liver baby food is really hard to find, as there is now controversy over kids eating liver. If you don’t have, say, an organic food co-op nearby, you’ll probably need to substitute a different meat. The pups probably won’t mind!
The puppy is adorable!
We are a cat household.
We have three dogs — a yorkie, a miniature Australian shepherd and a lovely rescue dog ~
We have a pup and a kitty. Love them both with all their crazy antics.
We have dogs and love them so very much.
I have neither now. I had a wonderful dog growing up
We have two rescue dogs and one rescue cat. We’ve had them all now for about 8 years or so and they have brought so much love to our house!
We currently have two cats…Bri and Jimmie. My 15 year old dog Ellie crossed the Rainbow Bridge in December. Planning on looking for a new dog to join our family in the fall.
In our house we have 1 dog, 2 cats, 5 birds and multiple fish.
We have three cats. They actually own the house…we just pay the mortgage! 😉 Thanks for the chance to win!
I have 4 cats. Thanks for a chance to win a copy of your book.
A mystery with a Basset on the cover!
We have 2 rescue dogs Yogi and Marley!
I don’t have either right now.
We have 2 dogs and 2 cats—and all would like to try those cookies.
I don’t have either.
I have one very sweet cat.
I had two cats before I had to move, but I do have a grandpuppywho would love these treats
Right now, we have two rescued cats that we’ve had for 21 years. Before that, we had a black lab that we had for 17 years.
We had cats, but right now have none. Our one daughter has 2 dogs and the other has 2 cats. We spend a lot of time buying toys for these cuties!
We have both. Our cat is Jill, 17 years old. Our dog is Jaxson a 3 yr old Golden doodle.
That pup is too cute! Can’t wait to try the treats for our girl, Ginger Snap. After reading her first book, I look forward to enjoying this one!
“In your household do you have dogs, cats, both or neither?” We have a cat and in the past we’ve had a dog at the same time, as well.
We have cats and dogs both.
We have one dog, a 4 year old yellow lab named “Dixie.”
I have an outside dog named Louie. And thank you for the chance to win a print copy Dial Meow For Murder plus swag.
Is that your cutie pie? We have dogs (my Tyler and 3 big dogs that belong to my brother and his wife). My mother also feeds several feral cats. Thanks for the chance to win this book. It is on my tbr list for sure. May have to try the recipe too!
I don’t have a pet. Bear died last summer and I just haven’t
had the heart to replace her. She was 11 and born on
the 2nd anniversary of my husband’s death. I always
thought he sent her to comfort me. She did a
wonderful job.
We have both at our house. I’m pretty sure our doodle girls would like to try these treats!! Thanks for the recipe! Thanks also for the review & giveaway!
I have two wonderful kittens, Hamilton and Jefferson. They are so much fun and so busy!
I don’t have any pets right now, but I love most dogs. I’m allergic to cats, but I don’t mind them, although they’re not as affectionate–I find them so beautiful.
I have a dog and cat.
I actually have 2 dogs. One is a Basset Hound named “Boomer” and a Yorkie named “Calvin.” They ate both rescues.
Oops they *are both rescues. Sorry
We have 3 treasured service dogs: Stitch, Faith and Susy. Our daughters would lo e a cat, but Mom is severely allergic!
I have to dogs/fur babies! Lacey and Sadie. I love them so much. My book club read Death by Chocolate Lab last month and the author joined us. It was a great time.
*two
How fun to have the author join your book club to discuss her book! Lucky you 🙂
My dear OH and I have always had two fur cat children.
When one died we got a another one
We’ve done this twice.
I could ALMOST eat these! Lol. This is a great recipe for our 4 legged family members, thank you for sharing. What a fun book! I love mysteries with animals.
I have had animals all my life. I have a 15 year old cat now that I rescued 13 years ago. I love all animals. Would have more but I live in an apartment. Would love to read this book.
Three dogs!
At this time we just have a spoiled Pomeranian. But I love cats and am ready for another. My daughter has two cats, lucky girl, so I just have to enjoy them!
I have a cat & grew up with both dogs & cats.
I have two cats Lucy and Tia. I also have a dog Rusty. Thanks sharing the recipe and the review!
We have 2 dogs (a dachshund and a jack chi)and a kitten in the house at least part of the time and a rabbit outside. I loved the first book and this book sound just as great. Thanks for the sharing the recipe and your review.
I no longer have any cats since i moved off the farm. Once my cabin is built, I will acquire some more cats….lol. In the meantime, I have 4 small rescue dogs who are my world
Just cats here now, but I did have a dog when I was growing up.
I have two digs here at home. One little one and a really big one! Josie and Pudge!
Two dogs!
Live on farm have pigs,cows,dogs,cats,birds,fish,chickens
I have 1 dog, a mixed Corgi, who has us wrapped completely around her paws
We have Toby, a 5 year old Jack Russell terrorist 😉
We have a 13 year old chihuahua furbaby named Snickerdoodle. He’s a giver of love and taker of treats. 🙂 He’s just been diagnosed with diabetes so we are having to learn a whole new routine but all is worth it for our baby. <3
Sounds like a great cozy mystery.
I love animals! I have both at my house. Thank you so much for the chance to win!!