To Die Fur - Booker T Has An Important Question

TITLE: To Die Fur (Whiskey, Tango & Foxtrot Mystery #2)
AUTHOR: Dixie Lyle
PUBLISHER: St. Martin's Paperbacks
PUBLISHING DATE: August 26, 2014

FROM GOODREADS: Deirdre "Foxtrot" Lancaster is back. With trusted companions Whiskey and Tango, she’s on the prowl for a brand-new predator…

Deirdre has her hands full, as usual. Working as as a Jill-of-all-trades for a zany billionaire like Zelda Zoransky means the daily grind is closer to a juggling act, and this week is no exception—especially when her side job is directing spiritual traffic in Zelda’s pet cemetery. With ZZ hosting a party for some of the world’s wealthiest animal collectors and a rare albino liger named Augustus in residence at the private zoo, Foxtrot is ready for trouble to take a big bite out of her schedule…

TO DIE FUR

She doesn’t have to wait long. The half-ton big cat is dead, and there’s a houseful of colorful suspects, each one wackier than the next. But if they were all bidding to buy him, who would want Augustus dead? With the help of Tango’s feline telepathy and Whiskey the canine shapeshifter, Foxtrot learns that there’s much more to Augustus than meets the eye. Now they just have to sniff out a killer before any more fur flies… 　

MY THOUGHTS:
Somehow I managed to devour this book in two days which is always a good sign and in my world, proof that I am really enjoying a cozy mystery. Although I read the first book over a year ago, it didn't take long until my memory was sparked and I was back in love with this zany cast of characters.

The main character Foxtrot is a personal assistance to ZZ, a rich philanthropist. ZZ also runs an animal menagerie on her property for rescued animals, and right new door is a large pet cemetery which is also a Crossroads for departing animals souls. Not only is Foxtrot paid well for her very complicated job working for ZZ, but she also has a job working at the Crossroads and helping the animals spirits move on to live without their loved ones. She has the help of Tango, a tuxedo cat currently on her 6th life, and Whiskey, a ghost dog who can materialize into the physical form of any dog he chooses - both of whom she can speak to telepathically. In this installment, a rare white liger has been taken to the rescue and it's up to ZZ to week to weed out the 5 bigwigs who all have individual plans for this regal being. However, when Augustus turns up dead, the chaos really begins, both in the real world and on a spiritual realm.

So if you made it this far, you've probably guessed that there is a lot going on in this book. And while there is, it really flows quite well and the wit and banter simply shouldn't be missed. ZZ is a lovely but quite zany woman and her son Oscar refuses to grow up. i couldn't decide if I wanted to beat him to death or hug him and either way, he is sure to be intoxicated no matter which I chose. ZZ's staff, including Ben the chef, all have jobs of their own on the premises and some are learning they have capabilities they never dreamed of possessing. However, the animals and animal spirits in the book are absolutely adorable - even the grumpy ones. Can you imagine having a ghost crow named Eli for one of your bosses? Well Foxtrot can.

This book had the potential to be sad, but wrapped up better than I ever anticipated. I am so glad I have been motivated by a reading challenge to dive back into this world and I am greatly anticipating the next installment, which is on my radar to read next week. If you love cozy mysteries, quirky characters or animals, you should definitely consider picking up this series by Lyle.

RATING: 4 PAWS

BOOKER T'S THOUGHTS:  Please explain why there is a perfectly great, capable and smart dog in this book with awesome telepathic and shapeshifting abilities, not to mention an wonderful name, yet the cat is on the cover!!!!!!!!!  PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!