When Kate Davidson gets an offer to teach yoga classes at the Elysian Springs resort, she jumps at the opportunity–even if it means enduring the wedding ceremony of the center’s two caretakers. But avoiding the M-word turns out to be the least of Kate’s problems when a wedding guest is found floating face-down in the resort’s hot tub, shortly after a loud, public fight with Kate. The police pick … police pick Kate as their number-one suspect, so she teams up with her boyfriend Michael, best friend Rene, and German shepherd sidekick Bella to find the real killer. They must solve the crime before the police arrest Kate, or her next gig may last a lifetime–behind bars.
Praise:
“Cozy readers will enjoy the twist-filled plot.”–Publishers Weekly
“[Kate’s] path to enlightenment is a fresh element in cozy mysteries…An entertaining read.”–Library Journal
“Weber’s vegan yoga teacher is a bright, curious sleuth with a passion for dogs. A well-crafted whodunit with an intriguing mystery and a zinger of a twist at the end!”–Krista Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Domestic Diva and Paws and Claws Mysteries
“An engaging mystery full of fun and fascinating characters and unexpected twists. An intriguing read that includes yoga lessons and feisty dogs.”–Linda O. Johnston, author of The Pet Rescue Mystery Series
“Fans of Tracy Weber’s charming Murder Strikes a Posehave eagerly awaited the return of yoga instructor Kate Davidson and her challenging yet lovable German shepherd, Bella. Happily, Weber’s second yoga mystery, A Killer Retreat, is as delightful as her first. Readers will love the setting, the complex mystery, and the romance of Kate’s second adventure. Especially noteworthy in this popular series is the appealing combination of strength and vulnerability that Kate and Bella share. Enjoy!”–Susan Conant, author of The Dog Lover’s Mystery Series
“Whether yoga instructor, Kate Davidson, is wrestling her hundred-pound dog, her new love life or trying to solve a murder, A Killer Retreatis simply a killer read! Witty, fun and unpredictable, this is one cozy mystery worth barking about!”–Shannon Esposito, author of The Pet Psychic Mystery Series
“Fun characters, a gorgeous German Shepherd dog, and a murder with more suspects than you can shake a stick at. A Killer Retreatis a must read for cozy fans!”–Sparkle Abbey, author of The Pampered Pet Mystery Series
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Oh my god just about every character is annoying in this book. Kate is obnoxious & annoying and I just did not gel with her at all. She is a vegetarian yoga instructor (cliché much!), Who along with her boyfriend Michael and dog Bella are off to the Elysian Springs resort so Kate can teach yoga to the resort’s owners wedding guest.
On the journey she encounters Monica and her off the leash jack Russell dog – instant dislike on Kate’s part and when she find out the Monica is part of the wedding party it just goes from dislike to worse.
She has several run ins with Monica and on several occasions made it know what she thinks of her – mainly about wrapping the dogs leash around Monica’s neck, you know the kind of banter you come out when you don’t like someone?
Only when Monica winds up dead, the police see Kate as the prime suspect based solely on witnesses hearing her saying that, with resembles the death.
It is a very slow burner before anything happens but once it did I go into the story, I loved the yoga aspect but also found Kate’s dislike of Monica being so inherently against the yoga lifestyle – a point that Kate actually makes herself.
Kate also seems to have a strange aversion to facial hair as well as nearly everyone male she meets with a beard or moustache she is physically repulsed – she was an odd character and one that I didn’t not like from the get go, but as I have not read the previous books maybe I will grow to like her?
She certainly seems to have a way for getting involved when people wind up dead!
A Killer Retreat is book 2 of a Downward Dog Mystery by Tracy Weber. We join Kate Davidson, her boyfriend Michael, and beloved German Shepherd-Bella on a work vacation trip to Elysian Springs Resort. When Kate has agrees to teach yoga to a wedding party all kinds of trouble ensues. Some of the family members of the wedding party do not seem to be able to be around one another without arguing and somehow Kate get pulled into their drama. When a body is found, Kate becomes suspect number one. Can Kate clear her name, as she deals with Bella health problems, her relationship with Michael, and all the other drama that seems to surround her?
I love how Mrs. Weber make Kate more realistic by giving her a quick temper, commitment phobias, and unconditional love for her dog-Bella. I definitely can relate to Kate’s quick temper or what seems as quick but I feel like she and I are alike. I feel that we take in a lot of stress and frustrations and it builds up. So when she loses her temper it seems quick. I know this sounds like a strange trait for a yoga instructor but I feel it makes her more human. I also can relate to going to extra mile to take care of a sick animal, as I am an animal lover and have taken care of my fair share of sick pets over the years. I also enjoyed learning a little more about yoga as this is something I keep meaning to try.
In addition to Kate and Bella being great characters, all the secondary characters are hilarious with their family drama. You can just see how crazy this wedding party is as narrator Anne James brings the characters to life. She does a fabulous job with the accents and comedic timing. She seems to be a natural storyteller.
Mrs. Weber has another hit on her hands with this cozy mysteries. The book has great pace, wonderful characters, no bad language, and no graphic sex or violence. I would definitely recommend this book. I have read books 1 and 3 in this series and look forward to more.