Sit, Stay, Slay (A Kendra Ballantyne, Petsitter Mystery)

This is the first book in a new series. Kendra Ballantyne cannot practice law. She was accused of providing a strategy memo to opposing counsel's client. The client then killed the CEO of the corporation she was suing. Kendra insists that she in innocent, but she was forced to resign from her law firm and her law license was suspended for three months. She had to file for bankruptcy. Luckily she was able to hold onto the old family home. Not that she can afford to live in it. She is living in the cottage in back. She's rented out the house. Her friend Darryl Nestler who runs Doggy Indulgence Day Resort talks her into dog sitting for Jeff Hubbard's Akita. She accepts because she is allowed to live in his house while he's gone. That way she won't have to see her mansion being lived in by others. Slowly she accepts additional pet sitting jobs, not always of dogs. She is able to juggle the many schedules and still have time with her dogs as well. Doesn't hurt that Jeff is sexy and easy on the eyes when he is in town. All is going well until she finds one of her clients murdered in his home when she arrives to take care of his dog. Unfortunately the detective believes Kendra is guilty of the murder. Before she can prove that she didn't do that, she walks in on another dead client, also murdered. Jeff, a private detective and security expert, gives her advice on proving her innocence. When he is in town, he tries to help her. Kendra is determined to find the killer, but will she survive? This is a fun, quick cozy to read. I loved it. Kendra is a great character. She takes on pet sitting with gusto and yet some fear. She is open to new experiences. Once she starts investigating, she finds she has a knack for it, along with a little help from Jeff. I can't wait for the next book. I highly recommend this book!

When we meet Kendra Ballentyne, she's watching her over-the-top tenants move into her beloved Los Angeles home. A few pages later, we learn why: she's a disgraced lawyer with a suspended license, forced to resign her old firm, forced into bankruptcy by her legal fees. Visiting her friend Darryl, operator of an upscale boarding and training kennel, Kendra soon begins a new career as an upscale pet-sitter. Through a fortuitous alliance with a private detective, she unravels the clues that led to her own misfortunes and learns who was responsible for the dead bodies that she finds along the way. This book belongs to the new sub-genre of mysteries featuring female lawyers who were disillusioned or disgraced. Frankly, some of their career distress seems misguided. Law is one of the most flexible careers. Some law school graduates never get licensed but find satisfying careers as teachers, legal researchers, business owners, corporate executives, and a whole lot more. Still, to be fair, many lawyers are unaware of their career options and our heroine loved certain aspects of litigation that are not to be found in other lines of work. I gave the book five stars because it accomplishes what's promised in a paperback mystery with a female heroine: high-quality fast-paced writing with likeable (though not deeply drawn) characters. The book could be a textbook for writing a mystery. When we think, "Things can't get worse," they do. When the heroine begins to relax, a body or other disaster appears to complicate her life. And there's a nice romantic subplot. Unlike most cozy mysteries, Sit, Stay, Slay boldly incorporates a hard-nosed value system that has been criticized by other reviewers. Some readers will question the heroine's decision to declare bankruptcy, thus relieving herself of her debts. Others will be disturbed by the solution, which raises questions of right, wrong and court-appointed justice. It is important to remember that all literature - including murder mysteries - presents some value system, such as values related to marriage and child rearing. Researchers have found that mystery readers tend to identify with upper middle to upper class values of consumption; if you don't believe me, read the way Robert Parker's hero, Spenser, describes homes, food, clothing and furniture of his clients. I was more disturbed when the heroine allows dogs on the couch (they need to know who's pack leader) and apparently hasn't spayed her dog. Those are *my* values! And although the author herself is a lawyer, I wondered whether a disgraced lawyer would have such open access to her former firm. I also wondered about the source of her debts. Wouldn't the firm have bought out her partnership? Would her legal bills really be stratospheric for a non-criminal proceeding? Maybe...but I'd have liked some details spelled out. Regardless, I liked Kendra and hope we see her again. Wisely the author has opened the way toward future alliances

This was a fun, light read. I'm a veterinarian and have purchased copies for several of my clients.

This novel was just plain fun! It showed a fiesty protagonist who didn't let adversity stand in her way of her life, but changes her life to deal with it. Also, it has dogs in it, and it is a mystery. Do you know how rare that is. This is just the type the of book that helps a reader get through the winter!

Kendra Ballantyne was a first rate litigator until she was accused of giving a strategy memo to opposing counsel's client. When the client got the memo, she went berserk and killed the CEO of the corporation she was suing. Although Kendra insisted she never sent that memo, she was forced to resign from the firm, her law license was suspended for three months and she filed for bankruptcy. Darryl Nestler, her friend of Doggy Indulgence Day Resort where Kendra used to bring her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, convinces her to dog sit for sexy Jeff Hubbard's Akita. She accepts because she is renting out her mansion and doesn't want to see others living there. Gradually, Darryl gives her more assignments taking care of the pets of the rich and famous; she is reasonably content until she walks into a client's home and finds him dead, the murder weapon next to him. The lead detective believes Kendra is a viable suspect and that conviction is strengthened when she walks in on another murdered client. Jeff, a private detective and security expert, wants to help her but she's determined to find out who is out to get her although she may get killed in the process. SIT, STRAY, SLAY is a very funny and exciting mystery. Although Linda O. Johnston has written many novels, this is her best tale worthy of an award nomination because it entertains yet shows the audience what happens when an innocent person's life spins out of control and how that person copes with the changes forced upon her. The romance in this novel adds spice to a very clever crime thriller. Harriet Klausner