Howl Once for Murder by authors Krista Lockheart and Dorothy Danger is the first book in their Baked Books mystery series. Are you a dog lover? This book is going to fall pretty high up on your “must-read” list. Brace yourself for a whirlwind of drama as a famous writer winds up dead, and the list of suspects ends up being just about anyone who was at his apparently ill-fated wedding.
Howl Once for Murder is a cozy mystery novel that is going to put a smile on your face from the beginning. Who wouldn’t smile when the first character you meet is a delightful pup with an adorable look on his face for his owner?
But don’t get too comfortable. The story moves forward in a false calm as we meet bookstore owner, Adelaide, who is excited to welcome a famous author with connections. Unfortunately, while most people sing his praises, the personality Adelaide sees has her questioning said praise. The man is brusque and seemingly incapable of getting her or Georgina’s names right. Seriously, who calls a woman they just met, “Atlanta?” Well, it’s enough to make you snicker, so it works. Ha, ha!
One thing that is absolutely true to the character of this book is that when an animal sidekick is around–there is going to be a ton of trouble. Adelaide’s dog, Truman, does not disappoint in that element. It’s adorable how he is always looking to make a new friend—furry or human. His timing, though? Yeah, I know you’re going to agree that his timing needs a lot of work. When one of the pups of the characters gets sick, Truman gets an invite to the wedding. Adelaide is excited about this prospect, but Truman gets more excited about a furry little “guest” he finds. And from there, chaos promptly ensues.
You’re absolutely going to feel for Adelaide as she chases her furry friend all around the party trying to stop the mayhem breaking out all over the place. For a “well-trained” dog though, Truman seems pretty adamant in his pursuit. Adelaide is able to bring him to heel, but unfortunately, it begs the question: why didn’t she command him sooner? Regardless of his antics, Truman is 100% going to warm his way into being your favorite character of the story.
Adelaide is an interesting character, and she has to deal with a lot throughout this book. Chaos with Truman, her friend being the primary suspect of murder, and then forcefully inserting herself into the investigation. Of course, you can’t forget about the romance that takes off in full force between her and the handsome detective, Trent. Their relationship is a strong point in the story.
And, if you’re looking for a character with loyalty, Adelaide is your woman. You’re going to have nothing but respect and appreciation for how she supports her friend. She’s not just determined to clear her friend’s name, but to also find out who really committed the murder. As you read, though, you’re going to find that Adelaide can be overly dramatic—about a lot.
The over exaggerations on her part put a dampener on this story. There are missed opportunities to tone things down and to also address her friend’s problems. Some examples of her drama happen when she claims the detective “badgered her with questions” concerning Georgina and the murder. After that, more conflict ensues as she confronts the mayor and claims the woman had her “drawn and quartered” in the conversation. Nothing of the sort happened, so it makes it hard to take Adelaide seriously.
Another frustrating aspect of Adelaide is her self-absorption. When her friend says that worse things happened in her day, she doesn’t even pause to pursue that further or comfort her friend. It’s disappointing and makes her come off as self-centered.
But, enough about that. Let’s get to the romance. It starts off fun enough but quickly becomes rushed. This is more of a “whirlwind” romance—emphasis on whirlwind. They meet, they crush on each other, and less than two days later are dating and “falling in love.” Romances that develop over the span of books (at least two) tend to be more interesting than ones that feel rushed to create a relationship that isn’t essential to the storyline.
For readers of cozy mystery novels, it will be quite a surprise when Adelaide inserts herself into the investigation and Trent doesn’t fight her on it. Normally, a police officer would push back on such behavior, so to see it encouraged and allowed detracts from the “realistic” element that would have amped up the drama. The push and pull between the police officer and the main character are what really makes these books more fun.
The light that shines brightest in this book is how the authors keep you engaged in figuring out who the killer is. They will drop red herrings to distract you and try to keep you guessing. Readers who enjoy a good whodunit will absolutely appreciate the twists and turns that run rampant throughout this book.
So, if you love a mystery that gets solved in the same book, then this will definitely be the book for you. It’s packed with drama, mischievous critters, romance, murder investigation, and TONS of tasty food mentions that will have you drooling.
Pros:
- Engaging storyline
- Keeps you guessing as to who the murderer is
- Lots of drama
- Delightful animals
- Attention to detail
Cons:
- Romance is rushed
- Trent acquiesces too quickly to Adelaide involving herself in the official investigation. Detracts from “realism” for the storyline/investigation
- Some detail is overdone
Lesson of the story: Murder always brings chaos, but a good friend with a furry sidekick can always help save the day.
Scribble's Worth 
Leave a comment