First in a new vet books mystery series, perfect for fans of cozy mysteries by Miranda James and Leann Sweeney!Veterinarian and amateur sleuth Kate Turner has her hands full trying to juggle two boyfriends, a thriving practice, and a criminal investigationIt’s the Christmas season and veterinarian Kate Turner is not feeling very jolly. She’s overworked, unappreciated, and dealing with two … dissatisfied clients. Throw in a very complicated personal life and Kate’s definitely got a case of the holiday blues.To make matters worse, Kate’s ex-boyfriend, Jeremy, is mugged and robbed after they have a heated argument in the hospital parking lot. Then, two of her dissatisfied clients turn up dead (which really gets Kate’s tinsel in a tangle). All of these events seem like coincidences, but they add up to something much more venomous.Saddled with Murder is a cozy holiday mystery from beloved author Eileen Brady that explores the fragility and resiliency of animals and humans whose trust has been broken, and will keep animal-loving readers riveted until the last page.
more
This book was a good solid read. I’d totally try another future book by this author!
You can check out my booktube video review at https://youtu.be/twZDxArW2kE
or read my review on my blog at https://lisasiefert.com/book-review-saddled-with-murder-by-eileen-brady/
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Kate Turner has taken a temporary job filling in for another vet for a year. At the staff Christmas party, a wishing game goes awry and a video of it goes viral. Very relevant when bodies start to pile up. All of the victims have a connection to Kate. To save her own hide she starts to do a little sleuthing of her own. Sleuthing that could have her crossing paths with the killer.
As I opened this book on my Kindle there was a note to readers that for me gave too much detail of the upcoming story and explained this is a continuation of the author’s Kate Turner, DVM Mysteries and that the protagonist was “pivoting in a new direction. I am usually a stickler for reading series in order, but I plunged ahead. The author does provide some background but I was still wishing I had read the previous books first so I would have met Kate from the start. She is a strong character with a tragic past and I really wanted to know her better.
There is a great supporting cast of characters. The staff at the clinic, their clients, and residents of Oak Falls. I assume many were in the earlier books which explains their interactions and development. It warmed my heart to see how caring the staff was not only with the pets but their owners too. The relationship Kate has with her grandfather was heartwarming as well.
The story is very well-written and twists many subplots together with a very captivating mystery. The whodunit had me stumped almost to the end. I was pleased that I was at least on the right track.
Ms. Brady has a very comfortable writing style. I do love the veterinary theme. It is very easy to see that the author draws on her own life as a vet and her love of animals of all sizes. I love that a rescued Mustang was part of the story.
Saddled with Murder was a very entertaining escape. I am looking forward to the next book in this series for Kate’s new direction. I would like to go back and read the previous stories but if I don’t get the chance I am confident the author will continue to give me the info I need to get to know all the character’s histories.
Saddled with Murder by Eileen Brady is the beginning of A Dr. Kate Vet Mysteries. However, I discovered it is a spin-off of Kate Turner DVM Mysteries (no clue why the change). Dr. Kate Turner has taken a yearlong assignment in Oak Falls, New York. This job gets her away from her cheating ex-boyfriend, Jeremy which she appreciates, but she does not like the distance from her grandfather. I thought Saddled with Murder was easy to read. I like the authors conversational writing style. There are a variety of secondary characters from Kate’s co-workers, clients, and townspeople like Pinky. I like the clinic staff and how they deal with their animal clientele. I would take my fur babies to this clinic. Kate makes a reckless (and naughty) wish at the clinic’s employee Christmas party that she regrets the moment she does it. She had no idea that Mari recorded the event and accidentally uploaded it with the video of the litterbox cake she created. When the two malcontented clients Kate wished would disappear die unexpectedly, Kate is a little suspicious. At first blush, the cases do not appear to be the cause of foul play. But then the Christmas cards arrive stating that her wish had come true. The video goes viral and people begin to wonder if Kate is a witch. Kate has no choice but to investigate so she can clear her name. There are a couple of suspects including a glaring red herring. I found it a cinch to solve the whodunit, but I have been reading cozy mysteries for over twenty years. Kate is also dealing with a long-distance boyfriend, an ex-boyfriend who wants her back, and her father who would like to reunite. It is a difficult holiday season for Kate Turner, but she is fortunate to have good friends and her Gramps. I enjoyed reading Saddle with Murder and I look forward to the next A Dr. Kate Vet Mystery. Saddled with Murder has discontented customers, wacky wishes, a viral video, a bothersome ex-beau, long distance afflictions, the holiday ho-hums, and good-hearted Gramps.
If you’re like I am, you like reading holiday-themed cozy mystery books. Well, just in time for Christmas, Eileen Brady has a brand new Christmas-themed book that you will really enjoy: Saddled with Murder.
I adored the characters in Saddled with Murder. They’re so much fun and easy to get to know. Kate has had a lot of sadness in her life. She lost her mom and brother in an accident when she was a teen. Kate’s also been estranged from her father since shortly after the deaths. Her grandfather raised her after her dad got remarried since Kate was unable to understand how her dad could move on. This brings a lot of depth to the character, and those who have experienced this type of loss will “get it.”
Mari, Kate’s best friend and vet tech, seems like she’d be a great friend to help you keep things in perspective and keep you in a good mood…most of the time. I like Cindy’s ability to keep everyone on schedule and to “delicately” handle irritating pet parents. I can’t say too much about the side characters without giving any potential spoilers, but they fit into the story well and aren’t just filler. The setting in northern New York made me appreciate the fact that I don’t live there! It’s bad enough in Ohio, but boy do they get a lot of snow in this book! No, really, I am sure it’s beautiful there, but I’m done with cold weather!
The plot moves at a good pace, and you will have fun trying to figure out whodunit. I know that the author wrote another series with Dr. Kate in them, but I didn’t read those. You’ll be fine if you didn’t either! Give this one a read this holiday season!
Saddled With Murder is the first book in the Dr. Kate Vet Mystery series by Eileen Brady.
Dr. Kate Turner will probably think if I only thought of the old saying: Be careful of what you wish for.
Christmas is just a few days away, and the Oak Falls Animal Hospital is having its annual Christmas party.
When Dr. Kate is asked what her Christmas wish would be. She responds that two of her dissatisfied customers would disappear. Marti, a technician, loudly announces the names of Frank Martindale and Eloise Rieven. Unfortunately, this was being recorded, and that person soon posted it on social media.
The next day as Kate and Marti are ready to visit some clients, they first need to deliver some medicine to Frank Martindale for his cat. When they arrive, they find the front door ajar, and after repeated calls to Martindale, they enter the house and find him dead in his chair. At first, his death doesn’t appear suspicious, but Kate begins to wonder if one of her “wishes” has come true. Police Chief Garcia tells Kate that he doesn’t think her responsible. When Kate finds Eloise Rieven’s body outside her home, and when the third person named is killed, Kate will start to come under suspicion. Soon, some people in town are calling her a witch, and the number of views on the social media site is skyrocketing, Kate feels the need to start investigating to clear her name and save the animal hospital from utter ruin.
I found the book to be well written and plotted. The text reads at a good pace. The book’s characters are all well developed and believable. I would be willing to take my pet to be administered by the staff. There were plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end.
Also, Kate has to deal with her ex-boyfriend showing and begging for forgiveness, and her estranged father wants her to come to visit him and his family.
I will be watching for the next book in this delightful new series.
Saddled With Murder
Dr. Kate Vet Mysteries, Book #1
Eileen Brady
5 Stars
Synopsis:
Veterinarian and amateur sleuth Kate Turner has her hands full trying to juggle two boyfriends, a thriving practice, and a criminal investigation
It’s the Christmas season and veterinarian Kate Turner is not feeling very jolly. She’s overworked, unappreciated, and dealing with two dissatisfied clients. Throw in a very complicated personal life and Kate’s definitely got a case of the holiday blues.
To make matters worse, Kate’s ex-boyfriend, Jeremy, is mugged and robbed after they have a heated argument in the hospital parking lot. Then, two of her dissatisfied clients turn up dead (which really gets Kate’s tinsel in a tangle). All of these events seem like coincidences, but they add up to something much more venomous.
Saddled with Murder is a cozy holiday mystery from beloved author Eileen Brady that explores the fragility and resiliency of animals and humans whose trust has been broken, and will keep animal-loving readers riveted until the last page. (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Kate and her coworkers get along well, and at times they feel more like family than coworkers. At the Christmas party, they play a game of what they would wish for if they could have their wishes come true. Kate wishes two of her difficult clients would disappear, and when they are killed, they do disappear. When a third person is killed, it becomes more than Kate’s wish coming true, it becomes a murder investigation.
The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and the descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. I enjoyed reading about all the animals that Kate took care of, it made for some interesting reading. The writing style flows smoothly and the book was a quick easy read, The mystery was well plotted and there were plenty of clues to sift through and suspects to consider. The culprit was on my radar but I did not not no for sure until it was revealed at the end.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading more in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
Saddled With Murder by Eileen Brady is the first in a new series of cozy mysteries: Dr. Kate Vet Mysteries.
I really enjoyed this first book. I have never had the privilege to read any of her works before this novel, and I have to say I am now a fan. I really liked Kate Turner as a heartwarming Veterinarian. Her on-the-side sleuthing just added a nice layer of complexity to her personality. I loved the inclusion of her practice, day to day tasks, and of course the patients (hello animals!) Kate is realistic, imperfect, like-able, and interesting in the fact that she is her own person, smart, and has more fire inside then she realizes. I liked the plot. It had a multitude of layers (personal, professional, family, mystery/murder) and it introduces us to plenty of players with regards to this plot (suspects aplenty) and also for material to be used in future books.
It kept me entertained and interested (I devoured this gem in 2 days) and I am really looking forward to reading more from this series.
5/5 stars
Thank you EW and Poison Pen Press for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.