Book Review (and a Giveaway!): Paws for Alarm by Amy Hueston

PAWS FOR ALARM
SERIES: Canine Confections Mystery #2
GENRE: Cozy Mystery
PUBLISHER: Donelson Press
RELEASE DATE: March 22, 2021
PAGES: 196

One murder is bad enough …

But two murders in a month on the same strip of Worth Avenue in Palm Beach is enough to whip Samantha Armstrong into a frenzy.

When Samantha relaxes into her new role as a dog mom, finds a circle of friends in her new hometown, and sees her new dog bakery Canine Confections barking up business, she’s thrilled that things are going so well … until she hears a bloodcurdling scream from the pastry shop two doors down and runs over to find a dead body on the floor.

Suddenly Samantha finds herself in a race against time to find not only the thief who is stealing from the upscale shops, but a murderer, too. Samantha’s Lab-Mix Sweet Pea wags her tail through all of the clues, suspects and shenanigans. Both Samantha and Sweet Pea are aided in their amateur investigation by the other shopkeepers on the elegant Worth Avenue, and Samantha finds the suspect list growing at every turn.

To make matters worse, Samantha’s old boyfriend arrives in town, and mysterious people start showing up at the Sophisticated Pet and New Age stores nearby. Samantha soon finds that things are not what they seem, and she must figure out what’s going on—or become the next dead body on a bakery floor.

Includes an original recipe from the world-famous Three Dog Bakery!

Other Books In This Series

Paws for Alarm takes us back to the swanky Worth Avenue shops in Palm Beach and the friendships of the shop owners there. Of course, that also means that another murder has occurred. Last time it was in Samantha’s fledgling dog bakery, Canine Confections, and her business is still struggling from the aftermath. Fortunately, this time the murder takes place in another of the shops, but Canine Confections is not untouched by the random thefts that have been taking place in the neighborhood. Poor Samantha just can’t seem to catch a break – which means her Aunt Mary’s finances are also in jeopardy and ack! so much tension going on from all sides. The author does a great job, though, of inserting plenty of cuteness & comic relief by way of Sam’s adorable dog Sweet Pea and Sam’s assistant Tracey (who reminds me a little of Amelia Bedelia lol)

The murder plot in Paws for Alarm was as surprising as it was complex. Lots of layers to unpack and it kept me guessing the whole time. Plenty of suspects to choose from, too, but deciding on the culprit is complicated for a variety of reasons – for the reader as well as Sam. Not to mention the break-ins and small thefts that have been taking place around Worth Avenue – are they related to the murder or something altogether different? – and Sam’s jerk of an ex-boyfriend who keeps showing up uninvited.

Bottom Line: Paws For Alarm by Amy Hueston is just as cute as its predecessor. Samantha is a great protagonist whose impatience ends up being an asset when it comes to solving the crimes on Worth Avenue. The characters of Sweet Pea (yes, a dog) and Tracey add a dose of levity when needed, and the dog bakery setting is the perfect choice. I was surprised by both the victim and the murderer in this cozy mystery – and that doesn’t happen often. A quaint whodunnit with an eclectic cast of characters & a dreamy beach locale, this quick read is a lot of fun!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)

My Rating: 4 stars / enjoyed it!

Reviewer’s Note: Readers may want to be aware that there is some mild and infrequent cursing in this novel.

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Amy Hueston writes mini-mysteries for Woman’s World magazine when she isn’t writing mystery and suspense novels. The first 3 books in her Canine Confections mystery series have an abundance of dogs and pastries, two of her favorite things, and will be available in 2021. Amy is also a professional singer who has performed nationally and internationally. A sought-after singer in South Florida, Amy draws on these experiences when writing.

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