MAE DECEMBER MYSTERIES - Four Dog's Sake Reviews

MAE DECEMBER MYSTERIES

May 25th, 2016

5/25/2016

4 ½ puppies: “Four Dog’s Sake was well written and no easy task. The authors clearly stated when another point of view was given. There was no trying to figure out whose head you were in. The storyline’s progression was paced appropriately, never slowing down. You could easily relate to the characters and were concerned about their well-being and their abilities. You really didn’t know the guilty party until the very end.”

https://gottawritenetwork.wordpress.com/2016/05/22/book-review-four-dogs-sake-by-lia-farrell/

ALOE FOR LONG AND SHORT REVIEWS

4/26/2016

"The author does an amazing job of character development. There are a lot of players in this story but they are all interesting and it takes all their skills to determine how Chester was murdered and who the killer was. I found myself caring about them all. I even enjoyed Mae's four dogs.The author stayed ahead of me. I had one suspect, then another. It isn't until the very end you get the motivation of the killer. This is a fast paced cozy that keeps your attention all the way through." --Aloe, for Long and Short Reviews

CYCLAMEN LONG AND SHORT REVIEWS

4/26/2016

"Three Dog Day is a wonderful cozy mystery, and a great addition to a lovely series. It is sure to offer a lot of entertainment for mystery fans."
--Cyclamen, Long and Short Reviews gave "Four Dog's Sake" 4 stars

Portland Book Review

3/8/2016

“‘This damn case,’ Wayne said aloud and hit his steering wheel with his open palm. He had never come across a case with such a dearth of actual evidence. They didn’t have a murder weapon. Since the murder had been committed with a needle and not a gun, and they had never found the syringe, there was no blood spatter to analyze or bullet to track back to a weapon. Without that syringe, there were no fingerprints that would point to the killer. They had no DNA, no trace evidence, and the only indication of assault on Chester’s body was the needle mark on his toe.”

Coffee time Reviews

1/25/2016

“This 4th book in the Mae December series is a delight to read. An eclectic cast of characters take a murder mystery on an interesting spin making for a humorous and adventurous mystery. The icing on the cake is the adorable dogs.”
—Matilda, Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More

Suspense Magazine Review for “Four Dog’s Sake”

1/3/2016

"There is a lot of action in this book, and the author gives a wonderful view of the motivation of a real killer. This is one fast-paced cozy that keeps you on your toes."

--Mary Lignor, Professional Librarian and Co-Owner of The Write Companion for Suspense Magazine

SUSPENSE:
A state or condition of mental uncertainty or excitement, as in awaiting a decision or outcome, usually accompanied by a degree of
apprehension or anxiety

Cover Embellishments by Camel Publishing

1/3/2016

It’s always exciting when the advance author copies of our new books arrive. This arrival was particularly exciting because Camel Publishing did something neat with the cover of this book. The cover color, which is lavender, blends slowly from a bluer tone to a pinker tone from the top of the cover to the bottom. The color saturation is very pretty. Then at the top of the spine for the book, they inserted a little square that says “Mystery.” That way when the book is shelved at the bookstore, people can instantly see the genre. Very cool. Thanks Camel. Lia Farrell

Killer Nashville's book of the day

12/15/2015

Killer Nashville Book of the Day
Four Dog’s Sake by Lia Farrell
Reviewed by Sharon Marchisello

You don’t have to be a dog lover to enjoy Four Dog’s Sake, the fourth installment in the Mae December mystery series by Lia Farrell. Lia Farrell is a pseudonym for the mother-daughter writing team, Lyn Farquhar and Lisa Fitzsimmons.
In Four Dog’s Sake (Camel Press), Mae December, kennel owner and dog trainer, is one of four central characters, and although knowledge of canines is not essential to the plot, Mae’s connections and people skills are. The story unfolds from four different points of view, using chapter divisions whenever there is a shift. Dr. Lucy Ingram first suspects her recent patient, Chester Willis, did not commit suicide, contrary to the initial coroner’s report. After some amateur sleuthing to give credence to her theory, she persuades her boyfriend, Chief Detective Wayne Nichols, to open an investigation.

Mae’s fiancé, Rose County Sheriff Ben Bradley, coordinates the operation while trying to run for re-election. His opponent is sleazy trial lawyer Ramsey Tremaine, who represents Rick Willis, one of the chief suspects in Chester’s murder. Ramsey generates plenty of publicity about wrongful accusations and harassment of his client in an effort to discredit the competence of the current administration.
Likeable Chester Willis does not appear to have had any enemies. Before his death, he cared for his terminally ill father, Leonard Willis, and stood to inherit a substantial fortune at Leonard’s impending death. With Chester out of the way, Leonard’s estate is divided between Chester’s older brother Rick—high-living stock broker engaged to socialite Meredith Flynn—and Brooke Piper, Leonard’s massage therapist, a young, attractive nursing student who is struggling to make ends meet.

Against the backdrop of a sweltering Tennessee summer, budding romantic relationships, and staff changes around the sheriff’s office, the four main characters work as a team to assemble the puzzle pieces and deliver justice for Chester. Something tells me this amiable group of characters will allow readers more glimpses into the continuing saga of their lives next time there is a murder in Rose County.

4 Stars for Four Dogs - L&SR

12/2/2015

He was a healthy young man who had diabetes and was here to care for his father who has congenital heart disease. And, yet, he was the one who died first…

The author does an amazing job of character development. There are a lot of players in this story but they are all interesting and it takes all their skills to determine Chester was murdered and who the killer was. I found myself caring about them all. I even enjoyed Mae’s four dogs.

Mae helps Sheriff Ben with his cases. She’s good at getting people to talk to her. When you add in a doctor and coroner and all the folks from the cop shop, Ben has a real good team. He’ll need it for this case. There’s a lot of action in this read and it all flows well. Ben has to sort out what he finds out and figure out what’s important and what’s not.

The old man knew he was getting close to death. He had made his will leaving the majority of his wealth to his two sons. When Chester died, he changed his will. The oldest son is trying to contest it after his father’s natural death. Was it one of the two inheritors that killed Chester? Who else would have cared about him?

There are secrets in everybody’s closet in this story. The author stayed ahead of me. I had one suspect, then another. It isn’t until the very end you get the motivation of the killer. This is a fast paced cozy that keeps your attention all the way through. I’ll be watching for more in this series.

—Aloe, for Long and Short Reviews
http://www.longandshortreviews.com/book-reviews/four-dogs-sake-by-lia-farrell/