Winners and a Zoo Mystery Contest

Congratulations to the three people who won copies of Dewey's Nine Lives by Vicki Myron and Bret Witter.  I'll be mailing the books today to Pearl E. from Albuquerque, NM, Shirley N. of Columbus, OH, and Linda B. from Bridgewater, VA.  And, Emily G. from Canal Fulton, OH won the dog book collection from Hatchette Book Group.  They'll be sending Emily's books.

In keeping with this month's accidental theme of animal books, this week I'm giving away autographed mysteries set in zoos.  Ann Littlewood was just at Velma Teague, and signed a copy of her latest mystery, Did Not Survive.   Set at Finley Memorial Zoo in Vancouver, Washington, it features Iris Oakley, pregnant and still recovering from her husband's murder.  She's now a keeper for birds, but, on the way to clock in, she has to rescue her boss from being mauled to death by an elephant.  Iris' friends select her to investigate when it seems there are a few people who might want to kill the man.

Betty Webb's The Koala of Death is a little lighter, with an eccentric group of characters.  Gunn Landing Harbor is in California, where zookeeper Theodora "Teddy" Bently fishes the body of Koala Kate out of the harbor.   Unfortunately, a number of the animal keepers at the Gunn Zoo are suspects in Kate's murder.  But, Teddy has other problems as well, and she reluctantly agrees to appear on a weekly live TV show about the zoo animals in order to raise a little extra money.  And, Teddy and the animals have a few escapades in the studio.  Webb does a terrific job balancing the lightness of the TV show with the serious nature of murder.

So, which autographed zoo mystery would you like to win, The Koala of Death or Did Not Survive?  You can enter to win both but I need separate entries. Email me at lholstine@yahoo.com. Your subject line should read either "Win The Koala of Death" or "Win Did Not Survive." Your message should include your mailing address. Entrants only in the U.S., please.


The contest will end Thursday, Oct. 28th at 6 p.m. PT. The winners will be selected by random number generator. I'll notify the winners and mail the books the next day. Good luck!



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Sunday Salon- Did Not Survive by Ann Littlewood

Ann Littlewood follows up her dark, educational mystery, Night Kill, with another fascinating glimpse in to the world of zoos.  Since Littlewood worked as a zookeeper for twelve years, she knows the animals, the politics and intrigue, and the mysteries surrounding zoos and the animals.  Her latest mystery, Did Not Survive, captures all those elements in an absorbing story.

Zookeeper Iris Oakley found her husband's body in the lion enclosure at the Finley Memorial Zoo in Vancouver, Washington.  Six months later, she's working in birds because of her pregnancy, and she's on early morning duty when she hears an uproar in the elephant enclosure.  When she finds her boss lying in the enclosure, being mauled by Damrey, one of the elephants, she has no experience to try to save him.  Although she was able to move the elephants, she's sure Damrey tried to kill the foreman.

With the zoo in an uproar over the attack, and people out front picketing against elephants in zoos, Iris' friends turn to her to find out what's happening.  But, Iris has her own priorities, "Staying healthy, doing my job, and getting ready to deal with a baby."  However, events continue to spiral out of control, as zookeepers turn on each other, and Iris doesn't know who to trust.  It might not be a member of the elephant species that is the real killer.  The human species might be more deadly to Iris.

Once again, Ann Littlewood has placed Iris Oakley in jeopardy in an enthralling story that includes controversy over elephants, zoos, and endangered species, as well as the trafficking in animals.  And, I don't think Iris has anything to worry about with her mothering skills.  As the go-to person for all of her friends, she'll have that mothering bit down pat.  It's going to be interesting to see how capable she is at juggling her zoo job and motherhood.  I'm sure Ann Littlewood has plans for her in the follow-up to Did Not Survive.  Readers will be waiting.

Ann Littlewood's website is http://www.annlittlewood.com/

Did Not Survive by Ann Littlewood.  Poisoned Pen Press, ©2010. ISBN 9781590587454 (hardcover), 250p.

*****
FTC Full Disclosure - The author sent me a review copy, knowing she would be appearing for Authors @ The Teague on Oct. 18th.

The Koala of Death by Betty Webb

If you only know Betty Webb's books from the Lena Jones mysteries, you know the dark side of her writing.  If you want to know the fun side, you'll have to check out her zoo books.  The latest one, The Koala of Death, has all of the elements that made the first book in the series, The Anteater of Death, so successful.  If you're looking for mystery, interesting characters, and fascinating animals, combined with some humor, you won't go wrong with The Koala of Death.

Theodora "Teddy" Bentley is a zookeeper who lives on a houseboat in Gunn Landing Harbor in California.  She headed home early after a party on one of the other boats, but that doesn't mean she slept well enough to face the body she found bumping against her boat in the morning.  When the body turned out to be "Koala Kate," the new koala keeper at the Gunn Zoo, Teddy's troubles were just beginning.   Now she was involved in another murder case, to the despair of her wealthy mother, and the frustration of her boyfriend, Sheriff Joe Rejas.  And, the zoo now needed a PR person to appear on a weekly TV show, so Teddy was drafted for that job. 

Teddy Bentley has a very complicated life.  Her family was always wealthy, but her father embezzled millions, and left for Costa Rica.  Her mother,Caro, still loved him, but found ways to recover her money and pride, by marrying one man after another, each wealthier than the previous one.  And, despite Teddy's relationship with Joe, Caro was always trying to fix her daughter up with eligible, wealthy men.   Teddy values her independence, her life on the houseboat, and her job at the zoo, but a second murder drives her back home.  She might be forced to live with her mother, but she's determined to continue to dig into the death of her friends.

Teddy is a likable, intelligent amateur sleuth.  Throw in her sense of humor when it comes to her beloved animals, and it's a pleasure to read about her.  The book is filled with a wealth of material about various animals as Teddy and the zoo staff promote them on TV, and raise money to save endangered animals.  Readers who loves animals will have to respect Teddy's knowledge.  She does have a sense of humor about the animals, though, and she enjoys their antics as she copes with a self-important TV journalist.   And, her relationship with the koala, Wanchu, is wonderful to see.

Despite warnings from Joe and Caro, Teddy and the Gunn Zoo are once more deeply involved in a murder investigation.  Readers will only say thank heavens Teddy cares enough to investigate.  Betty Webb's zoo mysteries, The Anteater of Death, and, now, The Koala of Death, are enjoyable treats.

Betty Webb's website is http://www.bettywebb-zoomystery.com/

The Koala of Death by Betty Webb.  Poisoned Pen Press, ©2010. ISBN 9781590587560 (hardcover), 250p.

*****
FTC Full Disclosure - I requested this ARC from the publisher so I could read and review it.