The Telltale Turtle

Now and then a authors come up with a new twist for a mystery. This one is a great one. A pet psychic. Mary Catherine helps people and their pets with her radio talk show. Then trouble begins when she finds a dead body. A hurt turtle isn't talking about the mystery just yet. Maybe after he recovers from his cut, he will be able to help Mary Catherine. Meanwhile, there is plenty of help from Buck,Charlie and a few animals such as dogs, raccoons,and squirrels. Hope Jim and Joyce are working on a new pet psychic book. I will definitely be on the lookout for it.

I was thrilled to be asked to read this new work by two of my favorite authors, Joyce and Jim Lavene and I was in for a wonderful treat. The main character of this charming mystery is Mary Catherine Roberts, a pet psychic. Yes, you read that correct, a middle-aged woman who actually communicates with animals. What a character. She is just about as likeable and colorful as a woman could be. I loved her. A widow many times over, whose husbands all died in very strange ways, she has now settled in to her aunt's home, which she has turned the downstairs into an animal clinic. She does a daily show on the local radio answering questions for pet owners. The problems began when her friend Taxi driver, Danny is driving her home one afternoon, and Mary hears an animal in distress and simply must find and rescue it. Unfortunately when they find Tommy, the turtle that was crying out to her, they also find a dead body. To top off the already outrageous situation, the dead woman is non other than the aunt of the radio station manager, Colin Jamison. The chips are about to fly as Mary tries to explain to Detective Angellus how she ended up in an apartment with a dead body. After all, how do you explain hearing a turtle calling for help? I have to say this was one of the most enjoyable reads I have had the pleasure to review in a very long time. All of the characters that played in the story were extremely interesting, enjoyable and sometimes downright mysterious. And I am including the animals here as well. Everyone of them added just the right amount of sugar and spice to keep the story flowing. As the story progress Colin's seemed to be the main suspect in the murder of his aunt, but after hearing from Tommy, Mary Catherine wasn't so sure of that fact. She somehow fell headlong into the investigation, unnerving poor Detective Angellus, and got herself into more trouble than she bargained for. As a matter of fact, she even finds a little romance along the way. The interaction between her and different animals of what they might have possibly seen or head concerning the different happenings surrounding the murder was excellent. It was fresh and vibrant in a mystery read. Bravo. I absolutely give this work my highest recommendation. I was actually sorry when it was over. I wanted to yell, "More, More!" In my humble opinion if you want a top-notch mystery, with characters both human and animal, that will keep you guessing who done it right to the end, this book is for you. I truly never guessed who the killer was, that is how well the author's hid their true murderous personality. Was it Colin Jamison? This is one superb read. If I could I would most definitely give it a standing ovation. Bravo Jim and Joyce. This truly is a winner. I loved this book.

Enjoyed the story and the characters - a pet whisperer no less. I can believe in the main character. I'd definitely buy another one in the series.

This was a cute mystery with the turtle being a "witness". Until recently I wouldn't have given much credence to a turtle being able to communicate, but then I had the chance to see a pet turtle with its owner and I'm a believer now. I would recommend this book.

Mary Catherine Roberts is a pet psychic who can communicate with all types of creatures. She is world famous and has her own talk show on Lite 102 5 WRSC in Wilmington, Delaware. She has converted the building she owns into an animals shelter, which depends on donations to supplement the large amount of money she contributes. One day when Mary Catherine was driving home she hears a noise as if a creature is in distress. She zeroes in on the anguished sounds until she finds a house. Inside is a woman whose throat is slashed. She takes Tommy the Turtle with her to her home, but is shocked to learn the victim was Ferndelle Jamison, her station manager Colin's aunt. He immediately becomes a suspect because he is expected to inherit her fortune. Mary Catherine rejects the notion that Colin killed his aunt, but someone threatens her by injuring her beloved cat Balor and makes nasty calls to her show. When she gets injured after someone breaks in her home, former cop Charlie, now a private eye is hired to protect her. He is like a guardian angel after someone cuts her brake lines. However in spite of him, an unknown adversary plans to make Mary Catherine deceased number two, Joyce & Jim Lavene always write a charming cozy that immerses the reader deep into the story line. THE TELLTALE TURTLE is no exception as the audience will enjoy middle aged Mary Catherine's antics as the heroine does not slow down for a breather especially since her menagerie includes new guest Tommy, her cat Balor, a horde of canines, and some sly squirrels, etc. Plus she has a case to work as the cops focus on Colin while she looks elsewhere. The audience will enjoy this fine lighthearted tale and look forward to more capers in this delightful series. Harriet Klausner