Hare Today, Dead Tomorrow

Reigning Cats & Dogs Mystery #4

by Cynthia Baxter

Can a vet detective catch a killer who's hopping mad?

Veterinarian and amateur sleuth Jessica Popper races down the rabbit hole and into a vintage case of passion and betrayal in Long Island's elite wine country in...

Hare Today, Dead Tomorrow

It's harvest time, but this season's crop includes chardonnay, merlot...and murder. The victim is heir to one of the North Fork's most prestigious wineries-and if the crime isn't shocking enough, the prime suspect is one of Jessie's closest friends!

Between managing her menagerie of pets, including Lou, the one-eyed Dalmatian, her tailless Westie, Max, and a tiger kitten who thinks she's queen of the jungle, commitment-phobic Jess struggles to adjust to a new addition to her household: live-in boyfriend Nick Burby. But even that proves easy compared to the challenge of catching a killer who's left nothing behind but a "hare"-a stuffed bunny rabbit. To clear her friend's name, Jess must maneuver through a warren of bizarre twists and more suspects than a bunny has offspring-and she'll need her own lucky rabbit's foot to avoid becoming this killer's next victim...

"Five paws up for Cynthia Baxter's Reigning Cats and Dogs series!"--Carolyn Hart

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Animals, Fiction

365 pages, Hardcover

First published April 25, 2006

About the author

(from author's website)

Dear Reader,

Thanks for taking the time to check out my web site! I love the fact that the Internet makes it so easy to "talk" to readers (and to hear from them, too - my email address is below).

My favorite thing to do is read - and my second favorite is to write. Since 2003, I've been writing The Reigning Cats & Dogs Mystery Series, which features veterinarian Jessica Popper. The books also include the antics of Jessie's menagerie: her rambunctious Westie, Max; his shy sidekick, Lou the Dalmatian; aging pussycat Catherine the Great; newcomer Tinkerbell, a tiger kitten with the personality of a diva; mouthy Prometheus, a Blue and Gold Macaw with attitude; and last but not least, the silent yet seemingly wise chameleon Leilani. The newest book in the series is CROSSING THE LION.

I also launched a second mystery series, The Murder Packs a Suitcase Mystery Series, which will run concurrently with Reigning Cats & Dogs. The first book, also titled MURDER PACKS A SUITCASE, introduces Mallory Marlowe. Recently widowed at the age of 45, Mallory is still struggling to find her old self when she falls into a new job as a travel writer. In addition to researching exciting destinations, she happens upon the occasional murder - and she can't help getting involved in finding out whodunnit. The first book is set in Orlando, where she goes to discover whether or not the "old Florida," with alligator farms and pink plastic flamingoes and seashell jewelry, still exists despite the proliferation of glitzy theme parks. The second book in the series, TOO RICH AND TOO DEAD, is set in glamorous Aspen, where Mallory is trying to find out if even a non-skier can have a fun vacation.

Working on two different mystery series has been an interesting challenge. I've tried to make the two series different - but at the same time to include the same elements in the new series that readers of the original series seemed to enjoy. That means a likeable heroine, a compelling mystery with some quirky suspects and a few surprises, a touch of romance, and lots of humor. I'm really looking forward to seeing how readers respond to my new character and her adventures!

I always enjoy hearing from readers, so please don't hesitate to write and say hello. In the meantime, I hope you continue to enjoy my books!

Best wishes, Cynthia Baxter

Contact Cynthia: Cynthiab1@optonline.net

Reviews

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty good cozy about an accident prone veterinarian sleuth.

In this one, a woman is killed, and the sleuth's best friend is the prime suspect. In this case, the super cop who can't catch a cold is not the detective's boyfriend. Of course, our heroine investigates. Meanwhile, she has a TV deal going on, her boyfriend moves in, and she's got a million things going on.

It's pretty good, even though I thought it strange every chapter started with a quote about cats, instead of rabbits.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Cynthia Baxter's Hare Today, Dead Tomorrow, the fourth installment in the Reigning Cats and Dogs Cozy Mystery series, this cozy mystery will shed some lights into some dark aspects of the winery business. For Dr. Jessica Popper, things couldn't be more sublime, when she and her boyfriend Nick Burby to live together. But when her best friend Dr. Suzanne Fox is accusing of killing her ex's current flame, she would do anything to help her out and prove her innocence. While her mobile vet practice is up and running, she discovered the world that Cassie Thorndyke left behind by talking to her family, which included her troubled brother, grieving father, and her own stepmother. She also took a good luck at the restaurant world and Suzanne's former ex, too. But meanwhile, someone has it in for Jessica by leaving her creepy emails and following her every move. While she becomes a local celebrity with her own show on a local network, she pieces the puzzle together, one piece at a time, to take a real good look at the clues on the crime scene and what they meant. When she figured it out, it's up to her to confront the killer before he comes after next in the final showdown before life and death.

[Marty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another well-written mystery involving Veterinarian Jessica Popper. This mystery turns a bit dark towards the end, but not for long. It starts out with Jessica’s college friend and fellow veterinarian, Suzanne being the prime suspect in a murder. Jessica is sure her friend is innocent, but can she prove it? … Unlike the previous three books in this series, you do not hear as much about her business, her friends, or even her boyfriend Nick. Yes, they are all there, but the center of this story is Jessie and her difficulty in finding out who really killed the wine-maker’s daughter, Cassandra. She discovers that many people have a “secret life” that allows them to be a very different personality than the one the public sees. This story was a little more complicated than the previous two mystery books in the series. It certainly kept me guessing until the very end. I must say, that only after rereading the blurb on the back of the book after reading the story, did I find out the connection between the title of the book and the story

[Mel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Light mystery with a vet as the main character. It you don’t get any insight into the world at all, as she’s always off somewhere. Instead of being helpful to the police detective, she has an adversarial relationship.

Throughout the book (#4 in the series) I felt like the important facts were not included from prior books. Like why it opens with her in the hospital. No background about her relationship either. It’s like instead of being a new book, it’s a new chapter at the end of the prior book.

I got pretty tired of the author writing “my polyester blue fleece” over and over. This was written in 2006, everyone knows what fleece is! I also got very tired of how out of control her dogs were. Really, a vet? The author is trying to be Janet Evanovich but missing by a mile. I bought another one in the series so I’ll give it a try - for a few pages - but I’m definitely not keeping this one.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun! But one thing I don't recall getting resolved: SPOILER ALERT!

The two restaurant folks, competitors, who seemed to be in cahoots to put the one out of business, why didn't she tell the owner of the one being put out of business? I know it's fiction, but I was annoyed that she didn't let him know how it was happening. The restaurant business is hard enough; he didn't need purposeful mischief to put him under.

[Jennifer Daun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoy the fun loving veterinarian who done it mystery! I relate to Ms. Baxter’s humor & enjoy the history lessons about Long Island! Feel very lucky to have lived on Long Island & experience it’s wonder!

[Mama · Rating 2 out of 5]

Conservative Mama Notes
Winery, controlled alcohol consumption
Mental health issues not not treated with respect
And lots of sexual discussion including fetishes, BDSM, descriptions of nearly nudes at a dungeon party.
Just not necessary for the story line, seemed like an immature attention getter

[Margaret · Rating 2 out of 5]

A library find.
Not my cup of tea!

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the. Yesteryear, but there were a lot of weird characters.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great series. Can't wait to read more!!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book to read. It kept me guessing as to who did the crime. Plus, I liked reading about the animals the Vet owned and took care of.

[Amy DiGiulio · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun cozy mystery

[Julie H. Ernstein · Rating 2 out of 5]

While there are some nice touches, Hare Today, Dead Tomorrow is the weakest entry yet in the "Reigning Cats & Dogs" series. There are some nice animal factoids, as always, but as a mystery this story would be better served by a different title--maybe something like The Red Herring. I'm a reasonably avid mystery fan, and when things just don't make sense (e.g., if our heroine were to go over the cliff she faces certain death, yet when the murderer goes over they survive to be nabbed and prosecuted for their offence), I get really frustrated. Moreover, the turn-around time between when the main character, veterinarian Jessica Popper, encounters one mystery to the next simply defies reason. Specifically, this is the fourth entry in the series and it follows literally on the heels of--as in begins the same day Jess is released from the hospital after an injury sustained while solving the previous case--its predecessor. While mindful that we read as a form of enjoyment and stress release, this simply defies reason. There's willing suspension of disbelief, and then there's incredulity. This series is rapidly approaching the latter.

[Samantha · Rating 1 out of 5]

The most ridiculous installment of the "Reigning Cats and Dogs Mystery Series" yet. What is wrong with me? Why am I continuing to read these? I wish I could answer that intelligently, but I just don't know. This book picks up the same day the last book left off with Jessica being discharged from the hospital and immediately coming to the rescue of her veterinarian best friend who is under suspicion for the murder of her ex-husband's new fiance. Coming back from the brink of death, Jessica jumps into the case with both feet. This book and someo f its characters are just ridiculous and annoying. Every time the kids with the dummy showed up, I felt my jaw tighten. (Reading shouldn't give you a tension headache!) I am hoping Baxter wrote this purely out of contract and not because she actually thinks this is what constitutes a good mystery. Again, it's like watching a car crash. You know its going to be awful, but its impossible to look away.

[Dorothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

okay this book took me a while to finish since i put it down and kept find book i was more in too. The story line was a decent one i didn't know who was the killer until the main character figure it out for herself. With a mystery is a big plus. Also the fact that the were animals in the story line didn't hurt being an animal love myself and all. with that said for me it was my cup of tea for the most part. so it was a very slow read for me and i could seem to fine my self getting lost in the book as much as i do with my supernatural reads. i say this book is more for either big time animal lover and mystery lovers and if you love both this book is perfect for you.
for more thought see by blog for more detail on my thought of the book.
http://deedee20121992.blogspot.com

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't think that I have read any Reigning Cats and Dogs Mysteries before. This was rather fun, having a veterinarian as the main character and sleuth. Mysteries are my first love, having grown up on the ones that Dad brought home to NJ from the New York Public Library.

If you were to compare this detective to the series featuring Goldie Bear Schultz, I'd say that this is a little lighter than the caterer with her husband the policeman.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing great or special about this series, but it still holds your interest and has lots of good background information on wherever the murder has taken place, this time wineries. I sometimes find Jessica a little hard to deal with because she can be a little agressive and she needs ot grab hold of Nick before he wises up and gets tired of her commitment issues. I will continue to read the series and am sure I will enjoy them.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

First in the series that I have read and I was not overly impressed. Still, the story flowed well and I had no problem finishing it. The main characters seem to act almost childish even though she's a successful veterinarian and he's a law student. Jessie also acts like a prude at the same time, so hmmm. This novel had some quirky plot twists that really seemed to go nowhere but did spice up the book. I'll give the series another shot but I'm not jumping up and down.

[Vicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another cozy mystery series which is based on a veterinarian and she stumbles on her mysteries by having a vet-mobile to visit her patients which also gives her the chance to find all kinds of murders that she can solve. This series involves animals, but not the talking type. I enjoyed these WHEN I just wanted very light reading….

[Rita Kiernan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chardonnay, Merlot and Murder! Cynthia Baxter presents us with a beautiful view of wine country, with family drama, greed, and murder. I love the way she describes the East End of Long Island and populates it with very believable but complex characters. Jessie has a lot to do to get through to the truth of this story. A very good read.

[Becky Rippel · Rating 2 out of 5]

As another reviewer said these books are so bad they are terrible and yet this is the second one I have read. Veterinarian, Jessica Popper, mixes pets and people to solve mysteries, so when the heir to one of Long Islands most prestigious wineries is murdered, Jessica is on the hunt!! Well the prime suspect is one of her closest friends, Suzanne Fox.

[Wendy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This mystery has a great premise, and I already like the characters from the previous books in this series. However, the sleazy double life the murder victim lead makes this particular book a very disturbing read. I wouldn't recommend this one to my friends.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked this one more than #3. It had interesting characters and a bit of flavor added with the investigation into the victims alternative lifestyle. The killer wasn't obvious right from the start, which is a good thing in mysteries. An easy read that wasn't a waste of a read.

[Ladiibbug · Rating 4 out of 5]

#4 Reigning Cats & Dogs mystery series

[Robert Van Tuyl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lightweight mystery. Good for a summer vacation.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good beach read.

[Daniele]

I thought this installment was pretty good. At least I did not guess "who did it" right from the start. These are easy, light reading.

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as fun or as well done as the others but i think I will still stick with the series as I like the characters and all the neat vet info.

[Pat Beard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice addition to the series - a bit predictable.