Showing results by publisher "Tantor Media" in Animals

Desperate to find a director for their annual production, the Fox Hollow Players have a stroke of luck when Shell McMillan's actress mother lands a prominent theater director for the job. He's more gruff and demanding than the small-town cast and crew are used to, but his soft side for animals quickly endears him to pet shop owner Shell. Persuading her to let him use a shed on her property where he can work in peace, Shell is horrified when she finds his dead body there. And with obvious signs of foul play, she can't help but investigate the murder.

Garage sale reseller and amateur sleuth, Macy Garson, has had a rough patch. When her late husband's classic truck breaks down, she seriously wonders if she can survive without him. A feud with her next-door neighbor over a misunderstanding grows even frostier when he invites her to a barbecue, and she politely declines. Just when Macy thinks that things can't get much worse, a body is discovered near the pond behind Happy Paws, the dog shelter where she volunteers.

With the grand re-opening of her Urban Tails Pet Shop just days away, Shell McMillan has her hands full planning entertainment for the festive event, including a fortune-telling parrot. But her jubilant mood is soon threatened by ominous rumors of the return of Johnny Draco, a former investment guru who swindled money from most of the residents of Fox Hollow and then vanished without a trace. And when the parrot predicts a dire future for Draco and his dead body is found just hours later, no one can say they're surprised—but no one will say who did it.

Between taking care of her family and assorted Standard Poodles, Melanie is also working as a special needs tutor for Howard Academy. This year, the headmaster has come up with an idea for a school fundraiser. All students will participate in a town-wide treasure hunt. Tokens shaped like pumpkin spice muffins have been hidden in downtown stores. Students will scramble to collect as many as they can in exchange for prizes. At first all goes smoothly, and the uptick in foot traffic to the stores is a win-win . . . Until the pet supply shop owner lodges a complaint.

It's the holiday season on Daybreak Island, and Maddie James is looking forward to stepping out of the limelight, watching the island's Christmas decoration competition from afar, spending time with her boyfriend and family, running tours for visitors as part of the festivities, and spreading holiday cheer through cute cats in jingle bell collars. But trouble hits close to home when word gets out that Donna Carey, the publisher of the island's only daily newspaper where Maddie's best friend Becky is editor, may be selling the business.

Stan and Jake's wedding will soon take place on the town green in Frog Ledge, Connecticut, followed by a reception at their beloved Irish pub filled with friends, family, and their four favorite canine companions. Stan just has to endure the traditional girls' night out first. Male strippers jumping out of gigantic cakes aren't her preferred entertainment. But the hired hottie never gets around to taking it all off . . . because someone takes him out first with one of Stan's kitchen knives.

In the New England town of Frog's Ledge, the Holiday Light Festival is a Christmas tradition. Killing Santa is not. To bring joy back to the season, organic pet patisserie owner Kristan "Stan" Connor will have to find another Santa before it's too late . . . To the townspeople's delight, the annual lighting of the tree is a spectacular success. Unfortunately, Santa pulled up in his sleigh, DOA. At first Stan is sure it's Seamus, her boyfriend's uncle, inside the red suit. But the victim turns out to be an employee from the town's Christmas tree farm.

When her law partner is murdered and the only witness is a blue macaw named Gigi, attorney and pet-sitter Kendra Ballantyne, with the help of her hunky P.I. boyfriend, must teach Gigi to sing like a canary and reveal the killer.

Phoebe's life was a hot mess, but inheriting an island and the ability to chat with the dead? That's a whole new level of chaos. Not to mention the body in the attic. Phoebe Ellis thought her life was already circling the drain, but attending the funeral of a wealthy author she's never met with the hopes she was named in the will? That's a new low. Little did she know that this would be the start of a wild and wacky adventure complete with a houseful of familiars, discoveries, and danger. Inheriting an island was just the breath of ocean breeze Phoebe needed.

The cranberry bogs at Sassamanash Farms have never looked more festive than when Monica's half-brother celebrates his wedding there. It's a genuinely joyous occasion, and even greeting a strange assortment of guests and witnessing a heated argument can't spoil Monica's mood. But that all changes when one of the guests is found murdered at the reception—and then one of Monica's employees is accused of doing the deed to get his hands on the dead woman's money.

Georgia is forced to balance her mother's first visit with a murder investigation when a body is discovered at the ruin of the island's old lighthouse. Things are not as they seem, her friend Olive Henry's nightmares seemingly tied to a mysterious magic she can't seem to uncover. But when the past comes back to haunt them all, Georgia is forced to admit certain truths while dealing with the real reason the victim fell prey to homicide—before the death is the end of everything.

Pet shop owner Shell McMillan is thrilled to see everyone in Fox Hollow flocking to the local animal shelter's fundraiser, where they can get their old keepsakes and collectibles appraised and maybe even sell them for a tidy sum. But the event has drawn some shady characters as well, including Pete Martin, who seems determined to get his hands on a beat-up old jewelry box at any cost. Then Martin is found murdered, and Shell has to go from fundraising to finding a killer.

Professor Adler, distinguished historian and Athos's former owner, had died in a tragic accident. At least, that has been the official story until now. But a former employee of the professor's is very insistently interested in his estate-and suddenly dies himself under suspicious circumstances. Does the gardener of the neighboring property, seemingly a very friendly two-legged, have both men on his conscience? Athos's and Pearl's sleuthing instincts are called for, because the police may be on the wrong trail . . .

Beneath the charming exterior of Hemlock Hollow lurks darkness and deception. When wealthy recluse Clara Thompson is murdered and her valuable antiques stolen, amateur sleuth and budding white witch Blue Bell suspects foul play. She teams up with handsome P.I. Ethan Moore to crack the case, using her investigative prowess and discreet witchcraft to uncover clues the police miss.

Annie competes in a cat show, to help raise funds to improve the local park. Her friend AJ, a Maine Coon, enters too. A grumpy Persian called Mrs. Snuggle Face Furry Frost is also a competitor. Her owner, Kathleen, seems to like winning at all costs. But when Kathleen dies at the show, the trio wonder if it's natural causes . . . or . . . murder. Who is the killer? The male judge accused of bribery? The glamorous female judge who owns Himalayans? Or is it another competitor? And what will happen to Mrs. Snuggle Face Furry Frost?

Raven Ouellette, owner of Pine Acres Cabins in Secretly, Maine, takes a break from Thanksgiving preparations to walk her dogs in the woods. When Lily, the labrador, runs off the path, Raven stumbles upon the remains of a neighbor who wasn't wearing a blaze orange hat or vest, a standard precaution during hunting season.

Christmas time in Vienna: for the two Master Sleuths, sled dog Athos and cat diva Pearl, it was supposed to be a relaxing vacation in the Austrian capital. But instead of getting comfortable in front of the fireplace and enjoying some delicious Christmas cookies, the two four-pawed detectives suddenly find themselves at the center of a murderous intrigue.

When the bookstore where she works closes for renovations, Molly Pink and the Tarzana Hookers hit the road for a relaxing crochet weekend in the quaint town of Pixie. The getaway comes at the perfect time for Molly, who's been asked by her former beau to help finger a thief in Pixie who's been pilfering personal items from a friend. Molly's plan is to attend a pre-wedding party at the friend's home and catch the culprit in the act, but her simple sleuthing turns deadly serious when the groom-to-be is found murdered.

Sandie's sister needs help. If she can't come up with a hefty chunk of change to save her struggling bakery, her wish for a fair settlement with her soon-to-be ex-husband will be dashed. When Sandie devises the perfect plan—a competition to save the bakery, all the pieces come together fairly quickly. Sandie believes she's done something that can help Kathy keep her business and finalize her divorce relatively unscathed. But her plan goes awry when not one but two bodies are discovered.

Sandie will do anything for her brother. When he is suspected of murdering not one but three young women, she is forced to show just how far she'll go to prove his innocence. As Sandie uncovers the clues, she discovers the investigating detective may have an ulterior motive for placing the blame on Will. Desperate to find the actual killer, Sandie enlists the help of her trusty dog Marlowe and her boyfriend. Unfortunately, time isn't on their side.