If Kate Doesn’t Act Fast, the Only “I Do” in Michael’s Future Will Be at His Trial Yoga instructor Kate Davidson is ready to marry her boyfriend Michael, so she’s disappointed when a special dinner doesn’t end with a proposal. But disappointment turns to dismay and outrage as she learns the real problem: Michael is already married and his estranged wife is blackmailing him. When his wife’s body … him.
When his wife’s body is found—by Kate and her dog, no less—Michael is strangely unable to remember where he was the night she died. Since Michael has no alibi, Kate steps up to uncover what happened. What she walks into is a tangled web of deceit, obsession, and immigration fraud . . . with Michael trapped in the middle.
Praise for the Downward Dog Mystery Series
“Weber’s yoga-inspired series regulars (A Fatal Twist, 2017, etc.) hit the road…light on yoga and heavy on complex relationship dynamics.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Lots of red herrings and potential motives eventually lead Kate to a surprising killer. Cozy fans will cheer her every step of the way.”—Publishers Weekly
“If you’re a fan of yoga, dogs, childbirth and murder cases, then Tracy Weber’s A Fatal Twist is just what the fertility doctor ordered.”—The Seattle Times
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My first book by Tracy Weber. I knew this was not the first book in this series but I decided to give it a shot anyway. I was pleasantly surprised. I was able to follow the story well enough without knowing any of the backstory and the mystery was compelling, though I guessed the killer very early. (I generally, though not always, do.) I also found the touches of humor in the story very much to my liking and provided quite a few laugh-out-loud moments. I would definitely recommend this book and look forward to checking out more in this series and by this author in the future. I received an ARC of this via NetGalley and have decided to voluntarily provide my honest opinion in a review.
Kate and Michael have been together for a few years. They are getting close to tying the knot…at least that is what Kate believes when all comes crashing down. Michael has a secret that will keep them apart, but it is not going to be easy nor cheap. And to prove that possibility, Kate will have to use all her investigative power to keep Michael out of the electric chair.
Pre-meditated Murder by Tracy Weber is one of the best books I have read in her Downward Dog Mystery series. I read two other books in this series and this one is my favorite. The otherwise clean tale contains a few unnecessary swear words. Pre-meditated Murder by Tracy Weber is well-written and entertaining to the last page. Mysteries fans be they YA or Adults will enjoy this tale and its telling. Pre-meditated Murder by Tracy Weber is a good book to add to your personal library.
Kate Davidson is ready to marry her boyfriend Michael, so she’s disappointed when a special dinner doesn’t end with a proposal. Her disappointment turns to shock and horror as she learns the real reason Michael didn’t propose. Michael is already married, and his green card-seeking wife is blackmailing him.
When his wife’s dead body turns up on a beach by Kate and her dog, Bella, Michael is strangely unable to remember where he was the night she died. Since Michael has no alibi, Kate steps up to uncover what happened. What she walks into is a tangled web of deceit, obsession, and immigration fraud with Michael trapped in the middle.
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Series: A Downward Dog Mystery – Book 5
Author: Tracy Weber
Genre: Cozy/Pet Mystery
Publisher: Midnight Ink
Pre-Meditated Murder is a fun and fast read filled with good characters and lovely locations. Ms. Weber is a talented writer with a flair for making the ordinary seem extraordinary. Her series, “A Downward Dog Mystery” should appeal to most readers that enjoy a romantic tinge to their murder mysteries.
The characters of Kate and Michael have issues, namely caused by Michael not telling Kate that he was married, or that his wife was trying to blackmail him. Just when Kate thought they were taking the next step in their relationship, the rug is pulled out from under her feet, and she lands squarely on her backside.
The realization that Michael might not be the man she thought he was gets to her, and she fears she will never be able to trust him again. She may not be sure of her and Michael’s future, but she knows he’s not a killer. With the help of her Rene and her German Shepard, Bella she sets out to prove his innocence.
These characters are heartwarming with heir oddities and faults and give the reader hope for the future. They are easy to relate to, and the reader will find themselves rooting for their relationship. Other characters are wonderfully original with characteristics that remind us of people in our own lives.
The locations described including Seattle’s famous Space Needle and Oregon are wonderfully described with enough detail to get the reader interested in possibly exploring the areas on some future vacation. There isn’t a great deal of flowery prose to interfere with the clues to the killer’s identity and the resolution of the investigation.
Even though this is book five of the series, it can be read as a standalone without a retelling of the other books. All in all, Pre-Meditated Murder is a good book that will give the reader hours of entertainment. It is rich with well-rounded characters and emotions that have the reader smiling, laughing and occasionally anger.
Pre-Meditated Murder had me hooked from the very beginning. This quick paced cozy will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish!
Just the Facts
Name of Book: Pre-Meditated Murder (Fifth book in the Downward Dog Mystery Series)
Author: Tracy Weber
Publisher: Midnight Ink
A Little About the Book
Kate Davidson is loving life with her boyfriend, Michael. However her world is turned upside down when Michael reveals a secret. He is already married and his estranged wife refuses to give him a divorce! When his wife is found murdered, Michael becomes the main suspect and Kate knows it’s up to her to prove the innocence of the man she loves. Can she solve the mystery and protect her heart in the process?
Stuff You Should Know
Sub-Themes: Yoga, dogs, small scenic towns
Can You Start the Series in the Middle: This was the first book in the series that I read and I had no problems jumping right in.
Marie’s Thoughts
I really enjoyed this one. Midnight Ink has the best cozy mystery covers! They are so inviting. I’ve been wanting to read this series for awhile now and I was excited when the opportunity to review this book presented itself. Kate is a character you can’t help but root for. I love the knowledge of yoga that is sprinkled through the book. I have fallen out of the habit and this book made me want to roll back out my yoga mat and make it a regular part of my routine. I have found a new series to follow for sure!
https://cozyexperience.com/pre-meditated-murder/
Kate is enjoying a lovely birthday meal with her boyfriend Michael when she thinks he is going to propose only to be given a piece of jewellery that is not a ring. Trying her best to hide her disappointment he realises his mistake and that is when her world comes crashing down. He wasn’t planning to propose as it turns out he is already married! Who even does that? You don’t date someone for a length of time and fail to tell them that you are married, its not something you just forget. Apparently his excuse is that he married Gabriela so she wouldn’t get deported and its was a marriage of convenience than anything else. OK male logic aside he still should have told Kate from the get go.
After he decides to confront Gabriela and ask for a divorce, he soon becomes a suspect as his wife turns up dead and he has no recollection or alibi to where he was when it happened. Kate is determined to clear his name and what ensues is a cozy mystery to whisk you away for a few hours.
This is my second foray in the Downward Dog Mystery series from Tracy Weber, having only read book 2 A Killer Retreat. Kate is just as obnoxious and annoying that I remember her to be from the previous book, the only hail Mary is Rene and Bella the dog.
That being said I did rather enjoy this story.
I loved this book! I went ahead and bought the whole series. It’s a great cozy that offers a little bit of everything.
Life, love and happiness on are the line for
Kate Davidson, yoga instructor. The book
creates a riveting storyline that grips the
reader from the first word until the final word.
There is deceit, betrayal, mystery, murder,
suspense, domestic abuse issues, immigration
issues mixed with intrigue in a puzzling plot.
The characters are vivid, colorful, mysterious
and very realistic.
The scenery of the various areas was described
so vividly the reader feels as they are there.
Come take a trip with Kate, her dog Bella, her
best friend Rene, Rene’s husband, Rene’s twins,
Rene’s two puppies and Kate’s boyfriend, Michael.
It is an adventure that will test trust, friendship,
faith and love.
Bella even manages to make friends with a
polydactyl kitten named Mouse.
An ending to remember!!
This is book # 5 in the Downward Dog
Mystery series. It can be read as a stand alone
as the author weaves the past and present
together effortlessly.
I volunteered to read this book. Thank you to
author via The Cozy Mystery Review Crew for
this book. My opinion is my own.
Pre-Meditated Murder by Tracy Weber, the fifth book in her Downward Dog Mystery series was a wonderful story. This cozy mystery series involving yoga, dogs, and friends is one of my favorites. I love following Kate, her dog Bella, her boyfriend Michael, and their all of their support network of friends and family as they solve a variety of murders. Now that Kate is ready for marriage Michael drops a surprise on her, making her question everything she knew about him. When Kate and Bella find the body of Michael’s estranged wife and Michael is suspected of the murder, you know she and her supporting cast will do all they can to prove his innocence as well as find the real killer. Only then can Kate and Michael work out where they are going next with their relationship.
I really enjoyed reading this book and loved how Ms. Weber created Kate with her solving murder karma. Kate is written so that she stumbles on more clues than the police or detectives trying to solve the crime. Helped by her supporting cast of characters, or pushed forward by some, Kate proves to be a strong, grown-up Nancy Drew. Although part of a series, this is a standalone book. I definitely recommend this book to other readers and I look forward to the next book in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
I have loved this series from the beginning and this book stands even above the earlier ones for excellence and intensity. As announced in the blurb, Kate gets a shock when Michael reveals a secret he has kept throughout their relationship, a secret that she is not sure their relationship can recover from. The awesome foursome plus 3 dogs and the twins travel to his home town to address the situation. Kate’s body radar is in its usual outstanding and totally depressing working condition but this time the suspect is not a friend or stranger, but the man that she loves. A lie, or a major untold truth, is more than enough to deal with but now in the midst of a separation of sorts, she must decide how far to work to reveal the true murder when Dale, friend and lawyer, insists that she stay out of it.
While the series is cozy, it has a much stronger connection with reality than most lighter mysteries. Watching Kate struggle, Michael’s pain, and Bella’s confusion feels as real as if it is happening to real life friends.
I received an ARC of Pre-Meditated Murder through NetGAlley. I always review books that I love and this one is outstanding. Thanks NetGalley and Midnight Ink for the chance to read Pre-Meditated Murder early, and thank you, Tracy Weber for once again creating a world and characters I love to visit.