When exotic pet–sitter Belinda Blake starts pecking at the details of a suspicious accident in her sleepy hometown, she inadvertently digs up a murder case that won’t be solved without ruffling a few feathers . . . The moment Belinda arrives in Larches Corner, her Upstate New York hometown, she’s immediately recruited to care for a deceased friend’s flock of homing pigeons. But Belinda’s plans … Belinda’s plans for a swift visit scatter after a local college student is mowed down in a malicious hit-and-run that has the whole town reeling.
At first, the gruesome demise of Jackson Hait appears to be a random tragedy. But Belinda quickly uncovers connections to a tight-knit group of friends and a similar death three years earlier . . . one that wasn’t as accidental as it seemed. Now, Belinda must pluck the truth from a tangled nest of lies before a cruel killer takes wing.
Praise for Belinda Blake and The Snake in the Grass
“A humorous series debut with exotic pets and a zany cast of characters. Gilbert’s cozy will make you smile.”
—Amanda Flower, USA Today bestselling author of Premeditated Peppermint
“Cozy fans will root for pet-sitter Belinda Blake as she unravels this cleverly-crafted mystery in a delightfully-deadly new series by Heather Day Gilbert.”
—Elizabeth Spann Craig, author of the bestselling Myrtle Clover Mysteries
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I have enjoyed the Exotic Pet-sitter cozy mysteries from the very first book, but this one was my favorite yet! At one point I thought three different people could have been the killer, but was wrong–the truth totally surprised me and yet it made sense. Belinda Blake is a great character, the kind of person you’d want to be good friends with, so seeing her again from book to book is like getting to spend time with someone you miss in between visits. The exotic pet aspects are always fun and interesting. Can’t wait for the next book in the series.
We’ll start with the one thing I’m not happy about with Belinda Blake and the Birds of a Feather: This is the last book in the Belinda Blake series
Yes, it’s another great instalment in Belinda’s life as an exotic petsitter, and it wraps up well, but I’d like more.
For those who have been following the series, we do get an answer to Belinda’s little romance problem. For those who haven’t been following the series … this is the third in the series, and while it’s an excellent standalone novel, there is a little backstory that you might appreciate more if you read Snake in the Grass and Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing first
Belinda returns to her hometown after her best friend’s mother dies. While she’s there, she gets pulled into caring for the lady’s homing pigeons … and investigating a suspicious death in the neighbourhood. As you do.
Belinda is a great character—fun, intelligent, and slightly weird. She has two jobs: she’s a video game reviewer who probably understands more of what my teenage son says than I do, and she babysits exotic pets: snakes, wolves, and pigeons, among others. The novel is written in first person, and her quirky voice works well as a narrator.
As with the other books in the series, this is a fun mystery with no on-the-page violence but plenty of humour, witty dialogue, and great characters. I’ve enjoyed this series, and I’m sorry to see it end (although I am hoping that hint towards the end was prepping us for more Belinda Blake books—hint, hint).
Recommended for cozy mystery fans.
Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
Belinda Blake is such a fun character. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know her over the course of these three stories, and it’s been even more fun seeing her get to know herself. Though the mystery is stellar in this story – I actually wasn’t sure about the culprit at all – this story dug deeper into her personal growth, as well as the relationships between the characters. I love that the setting is in Belinda’s hometown, which allows the reader to get to know her parents and friends there a bit better.
As for the mystery, this one felt a bit darker and a bit more personal, because it was set in her hometown. I guess it adds an extra layer of gravity to the story, because these are people that she has known and that have connections to those that she loves. I also can’t pretend that I wasn’t thrilled that this focused on Belinda’s romantic life as well. I personally was thrilled with her choice. However, the ending leaves things a bit unsettled as for Belinda’s next step career wise; I’m looking forward to seeing how it all turns out. I’ll be waiting eagerly for Belinda’s next story. Thanks to her, I can say that I like cozy mysteries and will be seeking out more to read. I heartily recommend this series!
Belinda Blake and the Birds of a Feather
Exotic Pet-Sitter, Book #3
Heather Day Gilbert
5 Stars
Synopsis:
When exotic pet–sitter Belinda Blake starts pecking at the details of a suspicious accident in her sleepy hometown, she inadvertently digs up a murder case that won’t be solved without ruffling a few feathers . . .
The moment Belinda arrives in Larches Corner, her Upstate New York hometown, she’s immediately recruited to care for a deceased friend’s flock of homing pigeons. But Belinda’s plans for a swift visit scatter after a local college student is mowed down in a malicious hit-and-run that has the whole town reeling.
At first, the gruesome demise of Jackson Hait appears to be a random tragedy. But Belinda quickly uncovers connections to a tight-knit group of friends and a similar death three years earlier . . . one that wasn’t as accidental as it seemed. Now, Belinda must pluck the truth from a tangled nest of lies before a cruel killer takes wing. (Goodreads)
Review:
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and those descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning and took me along a thrilling adventure.
The characters are well rounded and well developed. I really like the relationship between Belinda and her family, you can tell how much they love each other and how well they get along. I love Belinda’s occupation, that would be such a wild and exciting job to have.
The mystery was well plotted and moved along at a steady pace. I liked the fact that the past and the present were involved in the mystery. There were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider and it was not easily solved. I was very surprised with the culprit, I did not expect that.
I would recommend this book, and series, to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I really like this series and I am already looking forward to the next book.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
This book is so good! I stayed up way too late because I didn’t want to put it down! I read it all in one sitting! I love reading about Belinda’s adventures in pet-sitting and murder investigating. The reveal of the murderer completely shocked me! I really hope there will be more books!
I was given a complimentary copy of this ebook from NetGalley, but was not required to write a review. The thoughts and comments are my own.
Belinda Blake and the Birds of a Feather by Heather Day Gilbert is such a delightful book. It’s book 3 and they are all solid reads. If you are looking for a clean cozy mystery, look no further. Ms Gilbert is a master at this genre, creating believable characters and a community in which unbelievable tragedy occurs and justice must prevail. And the exotic pets— so much fun! This is a fantastic read and I highly recommend it. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.
BELINDA BLAKE AND THE BIRDS OF A FEATHER
By Heather Day Gilbert
The Third Exotic Pet-Sitter Mystery
When Jonas calls to tell her his mother just died, Belinda Blake doesn’t hesitate to return to Larches Corner. Belinda agrees to care for the woman’s homing pigeons, not only to ease some of Jonas’s burden, but to spend time with the enigmatic farmer and perhaps determine his feelings for her. But thoughts of Jonas aren’t the only thing keeping her in town. A recent hit and run has ties to a death three years prior. Hoping to quench her curiosity, Belinda decides to help an old friend who’s now a reporter. As she investigates she also considers her feelings for both Jonas and Stone, and wonders if either of them see her as more than a friend and neighbor. But as she continues to question people in Larches Corner, more than her heart may be in danger. Is she getting too close to a killer?
I absolutely loved this book! While I enjoyed the first two books in the Exotic Pet-Sitter Mystery series, this third outing knocked it out of the park. There’s an old tragedy sparking modern murder, relationship quandary and development, and more than a touch of suspense and excitement. There’s also more than one shocking twist! The mystery had me guessing, the romance had me hoping, and the ending opens up whole new possibilities.
BELINDA BLAKE AND THE BIRDS OF A FEATHER looks at love, loyalty, and vengeance. Relationships, both romantic and familial, color this complex mystery making it a riveting read.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
This is the third installment in the Belinda Blake Cozy Mystery series by Heather Day Gilbert. I loved Gilbert’s writing and have read the previous books in this installment and I enjoyed this one just as much. I felt like Belinda and the other cast of characters were old friends and her I was visiting them again for the third time. Belinda goes back to her hometown this time, the story is more personal. I loved that it also focused on Belinda’s love life, and I did enjoy that very much! Overall, this is one of those series that should not be missed for any fans of cozy mysteries. I highly recommend this book and the entire series for an entertaining read. Heather Day Gilbert sure knows how to create lovable characters!!
The third novel in the Belinda Blake series by Heather Day Gilbert has finally arrived. Birds of a Feather is a great addition to Gilbert’s superb cozy series. I have loved the love triangle that developed between Stone the Fifth and Belinda and Jonas, but never quite understood so well Belinda’s attraction to Stone the Fifth until this book: Stone looks like a “modern-day Remington Steele.” Ooh, la, la, pretty certain that might have swayed me a little more (ok, a LOT more) to Team Stone the Fifth over Team Jonas.
Belinda returns home to her little hometown for the funeral of Jonas’s mom. She reluctantly agrees to sit the pigeons Jonas’s mom was watching at the time of her death. While home, Belinda meets up with an old reporter friend who quickly involves her in a mystery of first one drunk college literary club member, then another.
I would have liked to see the pets (pigeons) play as big a role in this novel as the snake and the wolves did in the first two. I did enjoy the heightening of romantic elements. I also loved this mystery. I could really feel the tension of needing to “help” solve the crime before Belinda herself is in mortal danger. But guess the correct murderer? Nope. Gilbert still was wilier than me. AND Gilbert left the door open, that just MAYBE, there COULD be a book four. Bring it on!!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and publisher through NetGalley. This did not influence my opinions, which are my own, and for which I am solely responsible.
When Belinda goes home to help her friend Jonas take care of his mom’s pigeons (after she passed away), she doesn’t expect to get involved in murder. Can she stay safe while investigating?
Great Cozy Mystery with an interesting twist at the end. I’m really enjoying this series.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.
Heather Gilbert is back with the third book in her Exotic Pet-Sitter cozy mystery series and it is just as good as the first two. We find Belinda Blake back in her hometown for a visit with her parents. Once there a close family friend dies and Naomi’s son Jonas recruits her to take care of his mom’s homing pigeons, until he can find someone to do the job. She is happy to comply for she secretly has a thing for Jonas. Then things start happening. One death, accidental or ?? Then another murder. Then another. They all seem to be connected as they all belonged to the same book club. Belinda’s friend is a reporter and enlists her to help find out are these deaths related? If you like unforgettable characters and cozy mysteries with lots of twists and turns, then I highly recommend this book. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC and I am Happy to submit this review.
Belinda Blake is an exotic pet sitter. This is a wonderful interesting book, lots of twists and turns and complex and interesting characters. She is taking care of homing pigeons and doesn’t expect to be involved in another mystery death. Another whirlwind fun story! I loved it!
I do love me some Belinda Blake! Intrepid, inquisitive, discerning. Bold and sometimes foolhardy.
Ms. Gilbert maintains the pace with this third in her Exotic Pets Sitter series. And I gotta say, she threw a giant—and unsettling—curve ball in this one!! Not only did I not see it coming, I didn’t like it one bit!
With her knack for stirring things up, feathers fly as Belinda pecks around asking questions. One death is a tragedy, two is suspicious. But a third is no coincidence.
Between her pigeon care duties and quasi-assistant reporter snooping, Belinda has taken a devastated and hurting teen under her wing, AND she’s weighing her heart in a balance of love.
Ms. Gilbert so deftly weaves this story, subtle details turning to pivotal plot points. Belinda is so real, so down to earth, so flawed and human. And so downright loveable!
ROBIN’S FEATHERS
FOUR FEATHERS
I received a complimentary copy of this book, but was under no obligation to read the book or to post a review. I offer my review of my own free will. The opinions expressed in my review are my honest thoughts and reaction to this book.
#Blogwords, Tuesday Reviews-Day-on-Saturday, #TRD, Book Review, Belinda Blake and Birds of a Feather, Heather Day Gilbert
” . . . .I couldn’t shake the feelling that their deaths were somehow connected. The question was why.”
Belinda Blake takes a break from her life as an exotic pet sitter in Greenwich to visit her family in upstate New York in response to the death of her best friend’s dear mother; Jonas Hawthorne’s mom had been special. While there, a suspicious death in Larches Corner draws her attention, especially because the young decedent shared membership in a local college literature club with another young woman who died under mysterious circumstances. Sticking around town longer than expected, while caring for Jonas’ mother’s pigeons, Belinda takes every opportunity to “snoop” under the guise of assisting a local reporter. Connecting the dots in a murder case turned out to be more difficult than she expected, considering the fact that all her theories flew out the window the moment the real killer pointed a revolver in her face.
Enjoy this delightful cozy mystery, which ended up solving more than Belinda originally counted on, for her heart had been following some awfully strong clues of its own.
Book 3 in this well-done exotic pet sitter series sent Belinda Blake back to her hometown. The mystery involved both a past event and a present event. I liked how she was inserted back into her former life. Characters were memorable. The end was definitely unpredictable. I had thought that this might be the end of the series (since books often go together in three’s), but based on what the author implied, we have not seen the last of Belinda Blake. By the way, I definitely recommend reading this particular series in order. Reading only book 3 would be a bit confusing! Thanks to #netgalley & Kensington books for letting me read a preview of this book! All positive opinions are my own!
This series quickly became one of my favorite cozy mystery series, and this novel my favorite so far. The characters are developed well, and there is just enough information from earlier books woven in so each can be read as standalones. One learns a little about the exotic pet focused on, in this case, white homing pigeons. The mystery is challenging; I was completely surprised at whodunit! Belinda Blake is sufficiently like the average woman in that she has self-doubts in certain areas of her life as well as confidence in her career.
Belinda rents the perfect guest house in Greenwich, CT. She is self-employed as a video game reviewer and an exotic pet sitter, a business she began when living in Manhattan. Stone Carrington the fifth, son of the estate owner, has been a friend to Belinda since she moved into the guest house.
Belinda has been involved in a couple murder investigations. Her curiosity, sense of justice, ability to ask pertinent questions and consider different scenarios make her a huge help to law enforcement. The detective in Greenwich suggested she consider becoming a detective, and she has been considering it, but it is quite a commitment.
Belinda received a phone call from Jonas, her parents’ neighbor in upstate New York and a special friend. After several years of being primary caregiver for his mother since she’s had breast cancer, she passed away that evening. Naomi and Belinda had become good friends, and she is already grieving the loss of the delightful woman.
While she is in Larches Corner, Jonas asks her to help care for Naomi’s pigeons. He hopes to re-home them as he is so busy with the farm that it would be hard for him to fit one more thing into his day. They discuss a hit-and-run death that occurred in which a college senior, Jackson, died. Something about it doesn’t sound right to Jonas, especially since another student, Claire, had been run over by a train three years earlier. Her death was ruled an accident, but a determination has not yet been made in Jackson’s death.
Belinda talked with a high school friend, Chloe, who is now a local newspaper reporter. Jackson and Claire had known each other and belonged to the same literature club. Claire’s boyfriend is now getting engaged to another member of the club. Chloe will let Belinda join her as her “assistant” as she gets her story for the upcoming society wedding. Before the evening is over, one of the club members has been murdered, devastating another local family. Belinda is going to stay a few extra days to help Chloe with interviews for the paper while she helps care for the pigeons.
This cozy is the best! There are good suspects, plot twists and turns revealing many secrets, and even the possibility of romance for Belinda. I appreciate that it is a completely clean read with interesting animals to learn about and the differences between wealthy Greenwich and rural Larches Corner. I also like that I was stunned at the solution to each death! The ending was satisfactory in every way, one that I was really excited about. The only thing I didn’t like was the bit of a cliffhanger…but that’s just my preference and I’m looking forward to the next in series. I highly recommend this to those who appreciate well-written cozy mysteries, unique pets, interesting characters, and excellent resolutions.
From a thankful heart: I received a copy of the eARC from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.
This series keeps getting better and it started out great. For a change of pace, Belinda has returned to her home town due to the death of a close family friend. Little does she know that her talent for solving murders will be taking a front seat. The son of the deceased woman asks Belinda to care for his late mother’s homing pigeons and, of course, she says yes. If that wasn’t enough, her high school friend, Chloe, is a local reporter and is on the trail of a story which soon involves them in deaths that seem to be connected, spanning several years. The victims were all members of a literature group.
As all of this is going on, Belinda is also trying to decide which of her romantic relationships is The One – Jonas, a farmer or Stone, a millionaire. I hope that, by the next book, she will have figured it out. As for the mystery – well, I’ll just say I read it in one sitting, staying up into the early hours to find out who dunnit. Boy, that was a surprise. A very satisfying mystery and I will, without any hesitation, get my hands on book #4 as soon as it’s published.
Third in the Exotic Pet-Sitter series, Belinda Blake and the Birds of a Feather by Heather Day Gilbert is a great cozy mystery. Having read several of this author’s books before I knew I could expect a good book and I wasn’t disappointed. Gilbert is a skilled storyteller and she has crafted a story that moves quickly with several unpredictable twists (I never saw the identity of the murderer coming!)and interesting situations, drawing the reader in right from the start. The characters are great–colorful and a tad quirky, likable and realistic. I enjoyed the relationship of Belinda with her family and the tension depicted when there are two potential boyfriends for Belinda. A little humor, dead bodies piling up, pseudo-reporter interrogation missions, a sweet romance and an ending that says there is more to come with Belinda Blake…what more could a reader who loves cozy mysteries want!
I read a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.
Series: An Exotic Pet-Sitter Mystery – Book 3
Author: Heather Day Gilbert
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Pet
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Page Count: 168
From Lyrical Press comes book three in the “An Exotic Pet-Sitter Mystery” by Heather Day Gilbert, Belinda Blake And The Birds Of A Feather.
This animal-based cozy is highly entertaining and interesting for readers who enjoy mysteries that make you think. Most will not know who the killer is until closer to the end of the book, and it may give them cause to reflect on the evidence contained within the pages of this book.
Belinda isn’t your ordinary heroine. Here in the third book of the series, we learn that there is more to her than the reader may believe. She isn’t out to play video games or hang out with the rich and wealthy. She may love animals and enjoy the freedom that her life gives her, but she also loves her family and friends; she wants to be a part of their lives. Even though there aren’t any exotic animals this time around, they play a smaller role in the overall plot; it makes for a more intriguing read that shapes the characters far more than either of the other books have combined.
All of the repeating characters in this series are enjoyable, even when they are pushy and outspoken, or meek and private. The animals, in this case, mostly pigeons, are fun to images in the circumstances they are placed. The victim(s) are curious as we know little to nothing about them, but it’s hard not to understand them and sympathize.
Readers will enjoy Belinda Blake And The Birds Of A Feather. If the reader is an animal lover, they will want the book to be a bit longer, and the animals more plentiful. Overall, it’s a quick read with a great plot and wonderful characters. However, I took issue with the ending of the book and feel it was a questionable way to end the story. It made me enjoy the book just a little less.
After facing down murderers twice during the course of her exotic pet sitting duties in Greenwich, Connecticut, Belinda Blake might expect a trip back to her quaint and quiet home in Upstate New York to be a reprieve from strange animals and violent crime…but she would be wrong. First, she agrees to feed homing pigeons for her parents’ hunky neighbor. Before the feathers have a chance to settle on that decision, she gets embroiled in an investigation into a mysterious string of deaths. Thanks to danger, scandal, and a love triangle, Belinda’s homing is anything but peaceful. In fact, it could turn out to be deadly!
Belinda Blake and the Birds of a Feather is the third and most multilayered book in the Exotic Pet-Sitter Mystery series. The countless readers who fell in love with Belinda’s quirky charm in earlier books will be cooing over this story, as it develops and expands her personality even more, giving her journey a coming of age feel against the backdrop of her colorful family, friends, and love interests.
In addition, the escalating fatalities, unique suspects, classic misdirections, and savvy sleuth work will have fans of Christie style whodunnits feeling like they’ve come home to roost in the pages of this novel’s perplexing mystery.
If you like unforgettable characters and cozy mysteries with lots of twists, I highly recommend, not only this book, but the entire series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not obligated to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.