Karma’s A Killer
Downward Dog Mystery, Book #3
Tracy Weber
5 Stars
Synopsis:
When Seattle yoga teacher Kate Davidson agrees to teach doga (yoga for dogs) at a fundraiser for a local animal rescue, she believes the only damage will be to her reputation. But a few downward-facing dogs are the least of Kate’s problems when an animal rights protest at the event leads to a suspicious fire and a drowning.
The police arrest a woman claiming to be Kate’s estranged mother and charge her with murder. To prove her innocence, Kate, boyfriend Michael, and German shepherd sidekick Bella dive deeply into the worlds of animal activism, organizational politics, and the dangerous obsessions that drive them. All while discovering that when it comes to murder, there’s no place like hOMe. (Goodreads)
Review:
Kate Davidson loves being a yoga instructor and she loves offering different types of classes at her yoga studio. She enjoys helping people to discover the benefits of yoga, whether they are pregnant or older or new to the yoga world. But she has never held a yoga class for dogs. When she agrees to teach doga at an animal rescue fundraiser, she can now add that to her resume. She is not sure how to engage the dogs and help them, but since she agreed to do the class, she is determined to do her best. But during the event, a fire and a drowning take place and her worries about the doga class take a backseat to these other concerns.
When the police make an arrest she is relieved that the case has been solved without her getting involved. That is until she learns that the woman that has been accused claims to be her mother. Kate does not know what has her most concerned: that the woman is her mom or that her mom is a killer. Now Kate has to investigate the crime and try to clear her mother, if she is innocent. And if her mom is guilty, well, Kate cannot even bear to think that way. She, along with help from her boyfriend, Michael, her best friend Rene, and her German Shepherd, Bella, set out to find the killer and hopefully prove her mother’s innocent.
The characters are well developed, well rounded and three dimensional. Kate is one of my favorite protagonists. She is feisty, witty, sarcastic and hilarious. She is also kind hearted, loyal, insecure and an animal lover. She will do anything to help those she cares about and loves. She loves Bella with all her heart and does not think twice about doing whatever is needed to keep Bella healthy and happy. As an animal lover, this is something very special. I so wish that I knew Kate in real life because I would definitely be friends with her. The other characters are just as likable and add a lot to the story. I love reading about the interactions between all the characters.
I think this book is my favorite of the series. That is saying something about how good this book is because I really loved the first two books. I think the thing I liked so much about this book is learning about Kate’s past and meeting her mother. Kate has such mixed emotions about finding out that her mother is alive and well. She is angry and finds it hard to let go of that anger, but she is also excited about the prospect of getting to know her mother. This made her seem so real to me.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy enjoyable read. This book has a little bit of everything. There is mystery, suspense, humor, friendship and many heartfelt moments. I found myself laughing out loud every few pages. The things that Kate says and thinks are so funny. The doga session (with a bunny in attendance) and the pigeon drama were two of my favorite parts and I found them hysterical. But there are so many funny moments in this book.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery with lovable characters. If I could I would give this book ten stars, that is how much I enjoyed it. This author is a great addition to the cozy genre and one of my favorites.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. And I can honestly say I loved this book so much. I would like to thank NetGalley and Midnight Ink for the opportunity to read and review this book.
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