It's an OK series but this is as far as I go, I want more than OK :) ( )

Not bad, but not her best. I was in a mood today, and nothing set right with me except this book, so Davis gets huge points for that, but she's doing something weird with love interests in this series in much the same way she's done in her other one (the Domestic Diva series), that resulted in my giving up that series out of sheer frustration. Even though I don't read mysteries for the romance, it's still annoying when the author acts as though she can't make up her mind, and Mission Impawsible smacks of a love triangle setup.

Still, who amongst us wouldn't like to live in a town where the pets are treated as equals with their own menus at restaurants and their own play parks all over town? The matchmaking event was an interesting concept as well, and the strong theme of animal rescue and adoption went a long way towards compensating for the odd human story line.

Not a bad read, not a great one, but definitely adequate to the needs of my grumpy self today.

Book themes for Bodhi Day: Read a book set in Nepal, India or Tibet, –OR– which involves animal rescue. ( )

Mission Impawsible: A Paws & Claws Mystery
Author: Krista Davis
Publisher: Berkley

Wagtail, Virginia, loves pets, the entire town seems built around the animal companions of the residents and visitors. Holly Miller along with her grandmother Oma are busy with their unique B&B, the Sugar Maple Inn with the upcoming matchmaking event for pets and their owners, and murder.

Though Holly has no desire to participate in the event, Oma has different ideas. Unfortunately, Holly meets the one man in the entire town that hates animals and people alike. Fortunately, or unfortunately, he ends up dead. Holly’s fur cat companion Twinkletoes has a habit of finding bodies, and like others, Twinkletoes finds another one. As suspicion is cast over the inn's guests, Holly must locate the killer, even if it is one of her guests.

--
Holly is an everyday woman, she has had her heart broken and given up on romance, but no matter what she does, she finds herself smiling as her guests, and their pets get matched with unlikely partners, yet many find a way to make the match work. She has no desire to try her hand at the matchmaking event, but her grandmother and the event planner have other ideas. She is paired with John Adele, and the attraction is almost instant.

Oma is a wonderful, caring, loving grandmother that likes to interfere with her granddaughter's life. She is spunky and filled with surprises. It is no wonder that she easily becomes a favorite character. When she pretends to lose her memory after Holly confronts her about setting her up with the matchmaking is one of the funniest scenes in the story and makes the reader grin.

Holly finding yet another body and becoming the number one suspect leads to twists and turns that keep the reader turning the page. There is never a dull moment and as the murderer is revealed many will be surprised and delighted.

Krista Davis has crafted an extremely well written and enjoyable cozy mystery. The characters are lively, unique and highly entertaining. This book is one of the best cozies on the market. It is filled with intelligent clues, entertaining scenes with a plot that is present throughout the story and understandable. Lovers of the pet or true mystery cozy will enjoy this book and series, and it is highly recommended as are most books written by Krista Davis.








( )

A matchmaking event is taking place in Wagtail, and even though Holly has no real interest in meeting someone new, she is not totally against it. With pets up for adoption and a professional matchmaker at hand, anything is possible, but what happens is murder. Unfortunately for Holly, she not only is led to the bodies by her dog Trixie, she also becomes one of the primary suspects. It’s a busy time at Wagtail: animals in midnight pantry raids, mothers spying on their daughters, couples rendezvousing at all times of the night and day, and Holly being accused of stalking and murder. A fun cozy, if a bit tense at times, this novel is sure to entertain you. The characters – both the four-footed and the two-footed – are well-developed and real, and the story, though a quick read, is engrossing. ( )

Mission Impawsible by Krista Davis is the fourth book in A Paws and Claws Mystery series. Holly Miller and Liesel Miller, her grandmother, co-own the Sugar Maple Inn in Wagtail, Virginia. The inn is fully booked this weekend for their Animal Attraction Matchmaking event. Liesel (Holly calls her Oma) has hired Macon Stotts, a professional matchmaker, to pair up participants. Holly is waiting for their last guest, Gustav Vogel to show up. When Gustav fails to arrive by check in, Holly lets to the room to two nervous mothers who have come to spy on their daughters (they want to make sure the girls are not matched with inappropriate men). Holly then goes off to walk the dogs and meets up with John Adele and his dog, Cooper. They decide to get a drink at The Alley Cat bar in the Shire. They are walking along when Holly hears Trixie barking. Holly knows that bark. Trixie has stumbled upon man on the ground (the dead as a doornail type). A letter in his pocket is addressed to Gustav Vogel. It looks like they have found the missing guest, and he will not be needing a room. Later the next morning, Holly is shocked when a gentleman with a German accent introduces himself as Gustav Vogel. Gustav had been mugged the previous day and ended up in the hospital. The deceased gentleman (using this term loosely) is Dr. Randall Donovan, a psychiatrist who had an extreme dislike for Macon. The weekend takes a turn for the worse when Trixie and Holly end up finding another body in Zelda’s backyard. It is Zelda’s ex-husband, Hank who has been stalking her all weekend. This time Holly ends up on the suspect list. Can Holly find the guilty party before she gets carted off by Officer Dave?

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Mission Impawsible. It is always a pleasure to return the town of Wagtail. I found the novel to be well-written and have a good pace (or flow). I thought that there was just the right amount of humor and fun in Mission Impawsible. The characters are delightful. I appreciate the various personalities Ms. Davis created for this fictional town. She put together an eclectic mix that somehow all works together (Nessie and Sky will have you in stitches along with Huey). I wish the town of Wagtail was real. A town that caters to people and their animal friends (they do not discriminate). My dogs and cats would love to visit this animal paradise (actually, so would I). I thought the author crafted a well-rounded and challenging mystery. Most readers will have difficulty identifying the killer prior to the reveal (you need to pay very careful attention to the clues). I give Mission Impawsible 5 out of 5 stars. My only criticism is about Ben. Ben is Holly’s ex-boyfriend and a royal pain in the you know what. He shows up uninvited and expects to stay in Holly’s guest room. He then signs up for a dog and spends little time with it. He expects Holly to look after the sweet fellow. Ben is very vanilla. I hope we experience less of him in future novels. I have read all the books in A Paws and Claws Mystery series (in order), but a reader could pick up and read the books in any order. There is only one downfall with reading Mission Impawsible. You have finished it and now must wait so very long until the next book in A Paws and Claws Mystery series come out! ( )