Rocco. He’s got a nose for the news… but can he sniff out a killer?A 50-something local newspaper publisher and a pampered prince of a poodle stumble upon a shocking crime in a cottage-country small town.Who killed the mayor? It’s up to Zora Flynn and her nasty small poodle Rocco to sort out a distinctive cast of characters in the town of Williamsport and find the murderer.Meet Zora. She’s one of … Zora. She’s one of a kind, flavored with a dash of Agatha Raisin and a splash of Stephanie Plum, and her exploits and foibles will have you laughing out loud before the end of Chapter 1.
Her small dog, Rocco, wears a bright blue collar studded with yellow crowns. With his regal personality, he amuses Zora with his snide comments and princely demands. Despite this, he is a poodle of action. And Zora’s secret weapon.
Surrounded by rocky cliffs, pristine lakes and picture-perfect scenery, Williamsport is a charming town in cottage country. But now the murder of the mayor casts a shadow. Police chief Arni Korhonen looks like he stepped from the pages of GQ but he’s being forced to consider Zora as a suspect. Can Zora and her reporters Brady and Olivia track down the real killer before the noose tightens around Zora, jeopardizing her business and their livelihood?
Poodle Versus The Assassin is the highly entertaining first book in an ongoing series starring Zora and Rocco.
(It probably goes without saying, but the Poodle Versus… Series is good, clean fun, except for the occasional suspicious death. No graphic violence, sex or swearing.)
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Entertaining!
This was my first book by this author and she now has a new fan! It’s different than other cozies and I like that. It’s one of a kind. I also appreciated the humor. The characters are great. The mystery was twisty, and that’s how I like my mysteries to be!
Anne Shillolo has written another fine addition to her POODLE VS . . . series with POODLE VS THE RUSTLER.
When the rodeo comes to Williamsport, life gets hectic and murder takes the spotlight. A much-disliked cowboy is found skewered on the business end of a pitchfork and the main suspect is Zora’s best friend’s boyfriend. Clearly, the wrong man is in custody and Zora snaps into action!
With the help of the Whistle’s crack investigative team, a laundry list of suspects with strong motives is quickly revealed. It takes the combined efforts of Zora, her fiancé Darius and the dedicated Whistle staff to work out the convoluted financial conspiracy behind the murder. But it takes everyone, including Darius’ visiting family, an unusual group of quasi-reformed animal rights activists and Rocco, the Nasty Small Poodle, to corral the murderer.
From the gathering storm that could sink Zora and Darius’ wedding and the socially relevant issues surrounding the humane treatment of rodeo and circus animals to the deviously complex world of finance, Anne Shillolo does a masterful job of weaving seemingly unconnected threads into a story made of whole cloth that informs and entertains to the end!
Has humor, suspense & good characters.
Very enjoyable, easy reading book. I enjoyed the characters and their realistic behaviors and situations.
Zora Flynn is the owner and publisher of the Williamsport Whistle. She is a mature woman who stands up for herself. When she accidentally enters the men’s room, she finds herself in the middle of a murder. Mayor Fred Phipps is dead. In order to save herself as well as her newspaper, Zora and her two reporters start investigating. The killer doesn’t take kindly to their interference. I didn’t know if I should laugh or cry when the assassin ended up burning her clothes. However, Zora has someone who can sniff out clues and bodies. Rocco, her poodle, is certainly demanding but his help is invaluable. Don’t mess with this dog! I enjoyed this cozy mystery. It’s suspenseful and filled with snarky humor. Anne Shillolo kept me on the edge of my seat. The story had plenty of suspects and unexpected surprises. I never guessed who the murderer was until the very end. I’m looking forward to reading more about these two. I know that Zora and Rocco can’t stay out of trouble.
The Mayor is Dead and The Reporters are on It
This is a fun cozy mystery that is far from run-of-the-mill. The story takes place in small-town Canada, centered around the newspaper crew. The mystery part is very good as are all of the sub-plots. This should be a fun series to read. I received the ARC version of this book for free from the author and this is my honest review.
POODLE VERSUS THE ASSASSIN.The first thing that popped into my mind was :
‘ Oh lord …not one of those hyper active , high pitched yappers.. ”
And how wrong was I 😛 We meet Zora Flynn , the owner of a small town Canadian newspaper. That meeting unfortunately takes place in the men’s room, with Zora unknowingly witnessing the murder of the mayor , and lo and behold : she stands accused of murder….. Murphy’s Law in full swing I’d say
Enter police chief Arni, reporters Brady and Olivia, Zora’s best friend Marley and of course the star of the show Rocco THE poodle. All help Zora in her search for the killer.
Rocco is sure to keep the mood light with his antics. The plot is filled with humor, brevity and twists and turns and will keep you guessing. I appreciate a cozy mystery that’s just that… a mystery.
This is a clean cozy that embodies Canada
I recommend this to anyone who loves dogs ( poodles in particular ) a nice dose of banter , twists and turns and /or a 50 something ‘young’ lady with sas and a head on her shoulders
I loved this book! It kept me guessing all the way through. It was the first one of Anne Shillolo’s books I’ve read, but it won’t be the last.
POODLE VERSUS THE ASSASSIN is the first in what I hope is a long ongoing series!
We meet Zora Flynn, the owner of a small town Canadian newspaper. That meeting unfortunately takes place in the men’s room, with Zora unknowingly witnessing the murder of the mayor. And then stands accused of murder. And so her investigation begins!
Enter police chief Arni, reporters Brady and Olivia, Zora’s best friend Marley and of course the star of the show Rocco THE poodle. All help Zora in her search for the killer.
The author, Anne Shillolo, packs so much detail in each sentence, the characters and places jump off the page. I appreciate being able to “see” the people and places in my mind as I read.
The plot is filled with twists and turns and humor. Just when you think you have the killer, guess again! I laughed out loud in places and Rocco’s antics are always entertaining!
While this is a clean cozy mystery, there is an edgier writing style that pulled me in and kept me reading till the last page.
I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Ms. Shillolo for the opportunity!
I received an ebook from the author and this is my voluntary, honest review. This is an amazing start to what I’m sure will be an amazing series. Rosco and Zora are a great team when it comes to reporting the news and solving a murder. The writing is superb along with great characterization. This is a fun filled entertaining adventure where you will chuckle through the scenes of the duo’s escapades. Definitely recommend and looking forward to many more. Enjoy!
Poodle Versus the Assassin is the first book in an ongoing series featuring Zora Flynn, a local newspaper publisher, who has a nose for investigating and reporting the news, and her pampered prince of a poodle, Rocco. They investigate news stories and specifically, in this story, a murdered mayor. There were quite a few twists and turns that kept you on your toes to identify the murderer. Her two new reporters are eager and enthusiastic about working at the newspaper office and using their skills to investigate and write articles along with using their skills to update social media on the webpage. The characters were entertaining and Rocco was hoot! If you enjoy mysteries with lovable characters, then this book is for you. I enjoyed it and look forward to the next book. I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.