Last But Not Leashed Paperback / softback - 2022

Last but Not Leashed by Eileen Brady is the second novel in A Dr. Kate Vet Mysteries. It can be read as a standalone for those who have not read Saddled with Murder. Eileen Brady has a conversational writing style. It makes her stories easy to read. I found the pacing to be on the leisurely side as we follow Dr. Kate about her day-to-day life. I enjoyed the scenes where Dr. Kate is treating her patients. Mr. Pitt's condition will upset animal lovers (I know it is fiction, but what this dog endured happens in real life). I like the secondary characters especially Kate's office staff, but I feel they need to be fleshed out (a little flat). I did not find the scenes regarding Kate's relationship with Luke to be enjoyable. They were uncomfortable and they added nothing to the book (in my opinion). The mystery had some interesting parts. Sookie Overman, a professional organizer, is murdered outside the community center after giving a lecture (and being rude to some of the attendees). Kate finds herself curious about the crime. When the victim's husband, Glenn offers a reward for certain information, Kate teams up with Rainbow (an unusual woman who is good at mathematics and coding). The reward money would help Kate with her student loans. Kate hopes she can trust Rainbow whose moral compass is skewed. Kate gathers information with help from her friends while Rainbow dives into the dark web. The mystery moves along at a relaxed pace. There are a couple of suspects and a red herring. I thought the clues were pointed. I found that the mystery could be solved long before the reveal. While I knew the who, I was not sure of the why (had an inkling, but I needed more data). I followed Kate as she sought information on the case. Kate, the veterinarian, manages to outwit the police and solve the case. The book does contain mild foul language (I especially detested the use of the word that rhymes with witch). My favorite scene was Dr. Kate treating a chihuahua called Little Man. My family had a chihuahua for almost twenty years, and he behaved similarly to the one in the book (lots of growling with teeth bared). My mother treated him like a baby similarly to Little Man's owner. I enjoyed Kate's conversations with Gramps. They are sweet. The author captured winter with the snow, ice, the bitterly cold temperatures, and travel troubles because you are snowed in. Last but Not Leashed is a cute creature cozy with a slain professional organizer, a curious cashier, a wounded bowwow, a party surprise, romantic woes, a generous reward, and an inquisitive veterinarian.