THE PURRFECT MURDER

The battle over abortion rights may provide a motive for a rural Virginia murder.

Harry Haristeen is enjoying the autumn, her remarriage to veterinarian Fair and her circle of friends when a well-liked OB/GYN who does terminations is shot dead at his office. The killer, an anti-abortion fanatic, soon turns himself in. It’s only when Harry’s friend, high-end architect Tazio Chappers, is found standing over the bloody body of her difficult client Carla Paulson that Harry and her sleuthing animals (Puss ’N Cahoots, 2007, etc.) leap to investigate. Blackmail demands continuing to arrive at the homes of local ladies who’ve had abortions indicate that the jailed fanatic had some outside help. Meantime, locally prominent politician “Little Mim” Sanburne raises bail for Tazio while Harry investigates an abrasive building inspector who had several public battles with Carla. Because Harry has no sense of self-protection, it falls to her husband, her best friend Susan, Deputy Cooper, Sheriff Shaw and Harry’s resourceful cats, Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, along with her brave corgi Tee Tucker, to save her from the consequences of her snooping.

While the humans philosophize over the big issues, the pets steal the limelight in a transparent mystery that will still offer pleasure to fans of animal sleuths.