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The Anteater of Death (A Gunn Zoo Mystery #1)
by
Betty Webb
But if Lucy, the pregnant Giant Anteater from Belize, didn't kill the man found dead in her enclosure, who did? California zookeeper Teddy Bentley must find the real murderer before her furry friend is shipped off to another zoo in disgrace.
Then another human bites the dust, the monkeys riot, and the wolves go nuts. Things get worse when the snooty folks at Gunn Landing
Hardcover, 261 pages
Published
December 1st 2008
by Poisoned Pen Press
(first published October 1st 2008)
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I read this book for the anteater. Lucy (the anteater) is awesome, definitely one of the best animal characters I've read where the author is trying to show a real animal's thoughts and actions rather than anthropomorphizing them. Teddy (the human protagonist) is at her best when she's talking about her job as a zookeeper and the various animals she works with.
I was not nearly as enthralled with the human cast of characters. Teddy has a controlling mother and various relatives and acquaintances...more
I was not nearly as enthralled with the human cast of characters. Teddy has a controlling mother and various relatives and acquaintances...more
Rating: 3.5* of five
The Book Description: But if Lucy, the pregnant Giant Anteater from Belize, didn't kill the man found dead in her enclosure, who did? California zookeeper Teddy Bentley must find the real murderer before her furry friend is shipped off to another zoo in disgrace.
Then another human bites the dust, the monkeys riot, and the wolves go nuts. Things get worse when the snooty folks at Gunn Landing Harbor attempt to evict Teddy from the Merilee, her beloved houseboat. That's just th...more
The Book Description: But if Lucy, the pregnant Giant Anteater from Belize, didn't kill the man found dead in her enclosure, who did? California zookeeper Teddy Bentley must find the real murderer before her furry friend is shipped off to another zoo in disgrace.
Then another human bites the dust, the monkeys riot, and the wolves go nuts. Things get worse when the snooty folks at Gunn Landing Harbor attempt to evict Teddy from the Merilee, her beloved houseboat. That's just th...more
15 likes · like · see review
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This is a very strong three; it's almost a four.
I don't know quite what to make of this book, to be honest. It has all sorts of things that normally push my buttons - central female is the only truly compentent women, she doesn't seem to have close female friends (though she claims otherwise), other women are jealous of her, tragic love and so on.
And yet, I finished it, and there were times when the book really swept me up. Those times when you read and don't realize that you have passed x numb...more
I don't know quite what to make of this book, to be honest. It has all sorts of things that normally push my buttons - central female is the only truly compentent women, she doesn't seem to have close female friends (though she claims otherwise), other women are jealous of her, tragic love and so on.
And yet, I finished it, and there were times when the book really swept me up. Those times when you read and don't realize that you have passed x numb...more
2 likes · like · see review
The main character here is Teddy (Theodora) Bentley, a zookeeper assistant at a private zoo in central California. The place setting is Gunn Landing, a upper-class community with environmental limits on further expansion. The leading family is, of course, the Gunns, headed by matriarch Aster Edwina, and though Teddy's family has lost most of their money, she is also from a privileged background.
Her mother is very class conscious and resents Teddy's choice of job, as she resented Teddy's choice o...more
Her mother is very class conscious and resents Teddy's choice of job, as she resented Teddy's choice o...more
I am surprised at how much I liked this story. I picked it up because its sequel The Koala of Death was the book I planned on reading to fulfill my K requirement for the A-Z fun challenge. I didn't want to read a second book of a series if the first was available, so I read this book.
The first chapter was a bit misleading because it was through the viewpoint of the anteater, Lucy. I was then expecting intermingling chapters of human-side story and whatever the anteater was thinking. Luckily, tha...more
The first chapter was a bit misleading because it was through the viewpoint of the anteater, Lucy. I was then expecting intermingling chapters of human-side story and whatever the anteater was thinking. Luckily, tha...more
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Zookeeper Teddy Bentley must fight off efforts by her wealthy, much-married mother to get her off her low-status job and out of her shabby houseboat, and into the high society life her mother thinks is the only proper way to live. When Teddy finds a corpse in the cage of Lucy, a pregnant giant anteater, she must defend her beloved animals from the threat of a callous new zoo head, and her best friend, another zookeeper, from a murder accusation. Her romantic history with the now-widowed local sh...more
Who could resist this title. At the Gunn Park Zoo, the most dangerous animals are called Code Red. When a man is discovered dead and mauled in the enclosure of Lucy, the pregant Giant Anteater, everyone assumes it was the dangerous animal. It is soon discovered that the cause of death is a bullet.
Teddy Bentley is the zookeeper assigned to Lucy and she is sure that not only did Lucy not do it, but the zoo keeper arrested is not to blame. Since the murder involves the monied people with whom she...more
Teddy Bentley is the zookeeper assigned to Lucy and she is sure that not only did Lucy not do it, but the zoo keeper arrested is not to blame. Since the murder involves the monied people with whom she...more
This is the first in a new series with protagonist Theodora "Teddy" Bentley, an heiress who has decided to become a zookeeper. She works, despite her family's disapproval, at a small private zoo on the central coast of California. One morning, Lucy the anteater discovers a human corpse in her enclosure, and is blamed for the death of one of the zoo's largest benefactors. Teddy is certain that Lucy is innocent, and sets out to prove it. Her efforts are complicated by her mother's unsubtle efforts...more
Okay Ms. Webb scores some points in the "Adorable Title that FORCED me to read her book" category but she immediately loses those points for actually writing a really derivative, typical, plodding story with very, very, VERY typical leading and supporting players. Literally the only thing differentiating this from every other "young woman gets in over her head solving a mysterious murder!" novel on the market is that she hamhandedly (look at that I made up a word!) inserts very detailed descript...more
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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It’s a mystery that is more of the cozy type, and it appears to be the first of a series. The setting is in a fictional coastal town in the San Francisco area of California. The protagonist is a daughter of one of the founding families of the area which has fallen on hard times. Ignoring her socialite background, she has found a fulfilling career as a zookeeper, but when a member of the most prominent family in town is found mauled to a bloody pulp in the enclosure of the Giant Anteater, she has...more
This is the first book in the series "A Gunn Zoo Mystery" by Betty Webb starring Teddy Bentley as a California zookeeper. Each mystery involves a zoo animal in its story, this time, it is a pregnant Giant Anteater from Belize which is Teddy's main charge. I started with the second book, so I got to know more about the characters like Teddy's millionaire felon father who was on the lam in the second book but comes back to the US in the first. I just really enjoyed learning more about the animals...more
First in a new series by Webb. Set in fictional town near Pacific Ocean, the main character (Teddy/Theodora) is a zookeeper, who is also descended from the town's "elite". A body is found in the pregnant Giant Anteater's compound and the zoo director (a total jerk) takes her off exhibit because of the bad publicity. Concerned because the anteater is near her due date & exhibiting anxiety because she is being cooped up, Teddy agrees to assist the local Sheriff (a former boyfriend) by question...more
Theodora Bentley (Teddy) arrives at work at the Gunn Zoo to find that one of her charges, pregnant anteater Lucy, has apparently mauled one of the Zoo Board members. Trying desperately to clear the anteater of any wrongdoing she starts to investigate the death herself. Much to the chagrin of her on again/off again boyfriend, the local sherriff.
Teddy is not your conventional heroine and, she is surrounded by a wonderful cast of truly zany characters. The book is filled with interesting wildlife f...more
Teddy is not your conventional heroine and, she is surrounded by a wonderful cast of truly zany characters. The book is filled with interesting wildlife f...more
There is a dead body in the anteater enclosure, but did Lucy do it? All eyes point to this man going where he didn't belong, then being killed by a pregnant anteater. But, not so fast! Why was there blood? a bullet? Teddy has to find out what happened before the zoo removes the animal for good. With the help of Joe, the sheriff and her former boyfriend, Teddy reluctantly investigates the people she knows. What is the real story behind the murder and possible break up of the Gunn group? Can Teddy...more
This novel takes place at a privately run zoo. Zookeeper Teddy Bentley investigates the murder of a socialite who was found in the enclosure of a giant anteater. She is also trying to prevent her houseboat from being evicted from the harbor it is docked.
I enjoyed this novel and had a hard time putting it down. My biggest problem with it was other than Teddy and Lucy, (the anteater) most of the characters were greedy, selfish, or just plain unlikeable. Not sure if I would want to work at a zoo li...more
I enjoyed this novel and had a hard time putting it down. My biggest problem with it was other than Teddy and Lucy, (the anteater) most of the characters were greedy, selfish, or just plain unlikeable. Not sure if I would want to work at a zoo li...more
A departure from Webb's Desert series, this is more in the cozy vein and introduces a new heroine..Teddy. Teddy works for the zoo and when one of her charges, the giant anteater, is accused of killing one of the zoo's important trustees and fund raisers, Teddy sets out to clear the beast. It is interesting in that we also hear from the anteater..:) Her view is simplistic but believable.
I can't wait for August when the next in this series is released. Loved it, loved it, loved it
I can't wait for August when the next in this series is released. Loved it, loved it, loved it
But if Lucy, the pregnant Giant Anteater from Belize, didn't kill the man found dead in her enclosure, who did? California zookeeper Teddy Bentley must find the real murderer before her furry friend is shipped off to another zoo in disgrace.
Then another human bites the dust, the monkeys riot, and the wolves go nuts. Things get worse when the snooty folks at Gunn Landing Harbor attempt to evict Teddy from the Merilee, her beloved houseboat. That's just the beginning. Her father, on the lam from t...more
Then another human bites the dust, the monkeys riot, and the wolves go nuts. Things get worse when the snooty folks at Gunn Landing Harbor attempt to evict Teddy from the Merilee, her beloved houseboat. That's just the beginning. Her father, on the lam from t...more
Webb, launches a new series featuring a warm and unconventional heroine, zookeeper Teddy Bentley. She weaves zoological lore into a fast moving plot with rich relatives, an old family trust, a Dad on the lam from the feds and the mob...oh and she lives on a boat that can't make it out of the harbor. Lots of interesting characters including the 4 legged ones, a solid plot with an unexpected twist in the reveal. I'm looking forward to the next volume.
My mystery book club assigned us all to read a mystery set in either a zoo or circus. In my search I discovered Betty Webb's series about Gunn Zoo and animal caretaker Teddy Bentley. I enjoyed the California coastal setting, Teddy's quirky family, the character development of the zoo community, Teddy's houseboat live aboard neighborhood, and the descriptions of animal behavior. I will probably read the nest book in the series.
This will be a great series. It takes place at the Gunn Zoo in the town of San Sebastian which is south of Santa Cruz. "Teddy" Theodorea Bentley is the zookeeper of the anteaters and proves they didn't kill the victim. I never knew that anteater nails are so lethal. The charachters are fresh and the story is fun to read. I hope there are many more to look forward to. I just read the second in the series "The Koala of Death".
Zoo life, animal lore, and the leaky ups and downs of Central Coast California houseboat living create a thrilling backdrop for murder. ForeWord Magazine praised, “She [Webb:]…has a knack for scene-setting, and having a zoo as the center stage for a murder mystery, offers an educational opportunity for any reader who loves learning about exotic animals—or who just enjoys smart storytelling.”
I was totally drawn by the title of this book. I loved the zoo setting, and that the animal characters were as colorful and important to the story as the human ones. I felt overall that the characters were very "cliche," and lacked in depth. On the plus side, I've never been into mysteries, and would be curious to investigate the genre more after reading this one.
Fairly typical for a cozy, but the zoo aspect kept my interest. While most of the time I found the humans annoying, the descriptions of the zoo and the animals made the book enjoyable for me. Teddy was a pretty decent character and one of the few who seemed to have a bit more substance than the others. Some were little more than caricatures; I hope they are given a bit more dimension in subsequent books. I really liked all of the animal facts that Webb put in the book.
I found the title of this so ridiculous and yet appealing that I checked it out of the library. Sister Lynn is correct in saying there is a mystery series for everyone about everything. This mystery series has a zookeeper sleuth. It was enjoyable, but not a series to which I'll go running back to read more.
Fun, light murder mystery in a Zoo. Teddy Bentley, the main character, Zookeeper, is a good character. As an animal lover, I appreciate the zoo setting - and clearly the author loves animals too. Murder mystery was interesting though not hard to solve. But it was a fun, fast read - good brain candy.
Very similar plot to many cozies, but with a giant anteater initially being accused of being the killer, until dead guy found to be shot.
I did like characters and setting was different. Glad that only first and last chapters told from point of view of anteater.
I did like characters and setting was different. Glad that only first and last chapters told from point of view of anteater.
I listen to these books and they are fantastic when you want something that skims the line between holding your interest/mentally stimulating and simple fluff. They make me smile, but if I accidentally skip a chapter - I can usually still figure out what's going on.
This was a fun read, a light mystery. I had not read Betty Webb before, but since have found she as another mystery series that I plan to read. It had the style of the Earlene Fowler books. Likeable characters who seem to always find themselves in the middle of a murder investigation. Look forward to more.
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As a journalist and literary critic for more than 20 years, Betty -- a resident of Scottsdale, Arizona, where her detective Lena Jones also lives -- has interviewed U. S. presidents, Nobel prize-winners, astronauts who’ve walked on the moon, polygamy runaways, the homeless, and the hopeless.
Now retired from journalism to write full time, she also contributes the Small Press column for Mystery Sce...more
More about Betty Webb...
Now retired from journalism to write full time, she also contributes the Small Press column for Mystery Sce...more
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