There's trouble brewing in the woods of Beauville, and the only witness isn't talking.
When Pru Marlowe is called to a forest clearing to help with an illegally trapped bear, she finds a colleague passed out drunk, his pet ferret locked in his truck. When one of her old running buddies turns up dead as well and then the town's pampered pets begin to disappear, Pru can't tell if her heavy-drinking colleague is involved--or how much the ferret, a wise little creature called Frank, knows. Frank's not communicating--even to her--and for once the bad-girl animal psychic is at a loss.
The offer of a job--and maybe something more--from a hunky warden only complicates Pru's life as she goes on her rounds between her small Berkshires hometown and the woods that lie beyond. And although her crotchety tabby, Wallis, would have her make some changes in what has become a familiar routine, Pru knows her special skills set her apart as the only one who can shed light on these crimes--and save the animals at risk.
But as the mysteries pile up, Pru is forced to admit that even a city-hardened animal communicator can't understand everything that's going on, and that a small town may be as dangerous as the darkest woods when a predator is on the prowl.
Pru Marlowe Pet Noir:
Dogs Don't Lie (Book 1)
Cats Can't Shoot (Book 2)
Parrots Prove Deadly (Book 3)
Panthers Play for Keeps (Book 4)
Kittens Can Kill (Book 5)
When Bunnies Go Bad (Book 6)
Fear on Four Paws (Book 7)
Praise for Pru Marlowe Pet Noir:
"Watch this series closely. It could well sprint to the top of the animal-cozy genre." --Booklist STARRED review for Dogs Don't Lie
"Clever, original and completely captivating " --Hank Phillippi Ryan, award-winning author for Parrots Prove Deadly
"Clea Simon does an excellent job of mixing humor, romance, and mystery into one coherent and exciting tale." --San Francisco Review of Books for When Bunnies Go Bad
Industry Reviews
"...cozy fans will enjoy spending time with Pru and her two- and four-legged friends."--Publishers Weekly review of Kittens Can Kill
"Readers who love bossy cats, don't mind ferrets, and can accept an animal psychic as a protagonist will enjoy this seventh entry in the Pru Marlowe Pet Noir series....Series fans, who have no problem with the fact that Pru talks mostly to animals, will lap it up."--Karen Keefe "Booklist "
"The animals outshine the human characters in this irresistible outing."--Publishers Weekly
"This is an interesting read. The story line moves back and forth: from Pru trying to find out how Albert is involved in the bear trapping, to taking care of her regular pet clients, and back to the investigation as she tries to pump her boyfriend, Detective Jim Creighton, about what's happening...the exchanges between various animal characters and Pru are skillfully done and sound genuine. The mystery is good but the conversations between Pru and the animals make this a delightful read with little noir to be found."--Ruth Castleberry "Reviewing the Evidence "
