Purebred Dead: A cozy dog mystery (A Mary McGill Canine Mystery)

Mary McGill's Christmas turns less than jolly when she gets wrapped up in a murder mystery in this debut cozy with "a charming cast of canines" ( Kirkus Reviews ). A pillar of her small California town, retired schoolteacher Mary McGill has a finger in every pie and a place on every committee. Usually, everything Mary organizes runs smoothly. But this year, the town's annual Christmas pageant hits a snag with the discovery of a blood-stained corpse lying in the manger—and a cowering black-and-white cocker spaniel puppy right beside the body. Two local children report seeing a shadowy figure fleeing the scene, but there are no clues as to the murderer's identity. If Mary can figure out what the purebred pup was doing there, she'll be one step closer to finding the killer. But as someone who knows nothing about puppies, purebred or otherwise, Mary needs to scratch beneath the surface before more than the Christmas pageant goes to the dogs . . . "Dog-loving cozy fans will welcome Delaney's series launch, an extension of her Ellie McKenzie series . . . Christmas cheer, puppies, and cute, resourceful children add to the fun." — Publishers Weekly This lively cozy, set in smalltown California, is the first in a brand-new dog mystery seriesPillar of the community, Mary McGill has a finger in every pie, a place on every committee. She's the one the townsfolk can count on when they need help. Everything Mary organizes runs smoothly - apart, that is, from the town's traditional Christmas pageant. For the festivities are rudely interrupted by the discovery of a blood-stained corpse lying in the manger. Cowering beside the body is a small black-and-white puppy.Two local children report seeing a shadowy figure fleeing from the scene - but there are no clues as to the murderer's identity. If Mary could only find out what the puppy was doing there, she would be one step closer to finding the killer. As someone who knows nothing about dogs, purebred or otherwise, Mary had better learn - and fast - before she and the children become the next victims This lively cozy, set in smalltown California, is the first in a brand-new dog mystery series Pillar of the community, Mary McGill has a finger in every pie, a place on every committee. Shes the one the townsfolk can count on when they need help. Everything Mary organizes runs smoothly apart, that is, from the towns traditional Christmas pageant. For the festivities are rudely interrupted by the discovery of a blood-stained corpse lying in the manger. Cowering beside the body is a small black-and-white puppy. Two local children report seeing a shadowy figure fleeing from the scene but there are no clues as to the murderers identity. If Mary could only find out what the puppy was doing there, she would be one step closer to finding the killer. As someone who knows nothing about dogs, purebred or otherwise, Mary had better learn and fast before she and the children become the next victims. Pillar of the community, Mary McGill has a finger in every pie, a place on every committee. She is the one the townsfolk can count on when they need help. Everything Mary organizes runs smoothly, apart, that is, from the town's traditional Christmas pageant. For the festivities are rudely interrupted by the discovery of a blood-stained corpse lying in the manger. Cowering beside the body is a small black-and-white puppy. Two local children report seeing a shadowy figure fleeing from the scene but there are no clues as to the murderer's identity. If Mary could only find out what the puppy was doing there, she would be one step closer to finding the killer. As someone who knows nothing about dogs, purebred or otherwise, Mary had better learn and fast before she and the children become the next victims. When Santa Louisa's traditional Christmas pageant is interrupted by the discovery of a bloodstained corpse lying in the manger, a cowering black-and-white puppy beside it, pillar of the community Mary McGill steps in to investigate. As someone who knows nothing about dogs, Mary had better learn - and fast - in order to catch a ruthless killer.