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Kate Turner, DVM #1
Muzzled
On a house call one wet spring morning, veterinarian Dr. Kate Turner rescues a family’s hamster from a vacuum cleaner, then visits an estate whose owners breed champion Cavalier King Charles spaniels. Instead of sharing traditional tea with the couple, she confronts a bloody scene of bodies and twenty-seven blue-ribbon dogs running wild.
Police initially suspect a murder-suicide, but when Dr. Kate proves the famous best-in-show champion is missing, a darker reality intrudes. She remembers her grandfather saying that there are two motives for murder—love and money. While treating local pets, Dr. Kate discovers suspects and motives everywhere in this charming town filled with people who wanted the couple dead.
Was the couple murdered for money their champion could bring to another breeder? How is their daughter, anxious to rid herself of the pampered dogs, handling the wealth she inherits? Would the celebrity filmmaker living nearby kill to end a multi-million dollar lawsuit? Did long-buried personal secrets cause the deaths? And what’s going on at the office behind her back? Is Dr. Kate now in danger?
We are delighted to discover and publish first-time mystery writer Eileen Brady, D.V.M. Her characters, style, and storytelling bring authenticity and atmosphere to this new “pet noir” series.
Police initially suspect a murder-suicide, but when Dr. Kate proves the famous best-in-show champion is missing, a darker reality intrudes. She remembers her grandfather saying that there are two motives for murder—love and money. While treating local pets, Dr. Kate discovers suspects and motives everywhere in this charming town filled with people who wanted the couple dead.
Was the couple murdered for money their champion could bring to another breeder? How is their daughter, anxious to rid herself of the pampered dogs, handling the wealth she inherits? Would the celebrity filmmaker living nearby kill to end a multi-million dollar lawsuit? Did long-buried personal secrets cause the deaths? And what’s going on at the office behind her back? Is Dr. Kate now in danger?
We are delighted to discover and publish first-time mystery writer Eileen Brady, D.V.M. Her characters, style, and storytelling bring authenticity and atmosphere to this new “pet noir” series.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2014
108 people are currently reading
590 people want to read
About the author
Eileen Brady
11 books147 followersA veterinarian for more than twenty years, Eileen lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, with her veterinarian husband, Jonathan Grant and their two daughters— plus numerous four legged family members. She is busy working on the next Kate Turner, D.V.M. mystery and trying to keep the animals off her keyboard.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
July 12, 2014
Muzzled won the Poisoned Pen Press's 2013 Discover Mystery Contest, and I can see why. The mystery is a corker. When the killer was revealed, I could've slapped myself upside the head because the clues were there from the beginning. I'm going to blame my lack of prowess on two things: Eileen Brady's wonderful sense of humor, and the way she weaves the life of a veterinarian into her story.
One of my pet peeves about so many "niche" cozy mysteries-- those books with themes like knitting or running a B&B or cooking for example-- is the fact that the theme is just a thin veneer to hook the reader and has very little or nothing to do with the action in the book. If I pick up one of these books and the main character is supposed to be a glass blower, she'd better be able to convince me that she knows how to create something in glass. Same goes with knitting or any of the dozens of themes (or hooks) that are out there. That is certainly no problem in Muzzled. Eileen Brady was a vet for many years and still has a hand in the business. There is no doubt in your mind that Kate's a vet because of all the house calls she makes.
Make no mistake, those house calls can be a riot, whether Kate's saving a hamster from the maw of a vacuum cleaner or meeting a woman who dresses like her Chihuahua. These scenes provide verisimilitude, they provide humor, they provide knowledge on pet care and on the characters in the book, and they provide clues to the mystery. I enjoyed every single house call Kate Turner made.
Kate is a dedicated vet who's been experiencing a bit of man trouble. She's strong, she's smart, and it seems almost everyone who meets her thinks she's Meryl Streep. In fact her resemblance to Streep is a running joke throughout the book. If there's any problem at all with the book, it's that Kate is so strong a character that the others pale in comparison. I'm looking forward to Kate's next investigation so I can reacquaint myself with those other characters.
Naturally I have no interest at all in seeing Kate, following along on those house calls, or reading another first-in-show mystery....
One of my pet peeves about so many "niche" cozy mysteries-- those books with themes like knitting or running a B&B or cooking for example-- is the fact that the theme is just a thin veneer to hook the reader and has very little or nothing to do with the action in the book. If I pick up one of these books and the main character is supposed to be a glass blower, she'd better be able to convince me that she knows how to create something in glass. Same goes with knitting or any of the dozens of themes (or hooks) that are out there. That is certainly no problem in Muzzled. Eileen Brady was a vet for many years and still has a hand in the business. There is no doubt in your mind that Kate's a vet because of all the house calls she makes.
Make no mistake, those house calls can be a riot, whether Kate's saving a hamster from the maw of a vacuum cleaner or meeting a woman who dresses like her Chihuahua. These scenes provide verisimilitude, they provide humor, they provide knowledge on pet care and on the characters in the book, and they provide clues to the mystery. I enjoyed every single house call Kate Turner made.
Kate is a dedicated vet who's been experiencing a bit of man trouble. She's strong, she's smart, and it seems almost everyone who meets her thinks she's Meryl Streep. In fact her resemblance to Streep is a running joke throughout the book. If there's any problem at all with the book, it's that Kate is so strong a character that the others pale in comparison. I'm looking forward to Kate's next investigation so I can reacquaint myself with those other characters.
Naturally I have no interest at all in seeing Kate, following along on those house calls, or reading another first-in-show mystery....
August 27, 2014
New cozy mystery series with our amateur sleuth being a veterinarian, which is fun. The author obviously knows the ins and outs of veterinary practice.
The book really could have used a proofreader- there were so many errors (mostly punctuation) and in some places I actually had to go back and reread the sentence to figure out what was going on because of errant quotation marks or commas. Hopefully the next book in the series will have that kind of thing cleaned up.
The book really could have used a proofreader- there were so many errors (mostly punctuation) and in some places I actually had to go back and reread the sentence to figure out what was going on because of errant quotation marks or commas. Hopefully the next book in the series will have that kind of thing cleaned up.
April 5, 2016
Muzzled by Eileen Brady is the first book in the Dr. Kate Turner DVM mystery series. Vetinarian Dr. Kate Turner discovers the bodies of two of her clients, breeders of pedigree Cavalier King Charles spaniels, shot dead on making a house call. I enjoyed this book very much. It was nice getting to know the various quirky characters and their pets and the vetinary work was interesting and authentic. Behind the scenes at the dog show circuit and the various tricks and touch ups employed was fascinating. Overall a fast paced, captivating and entertaining read
November 21, 2021
3.5
Kinda like All Creatures Great and Small in an American setting only with murder. :-) Loved all the zany vet details, some of which were laugh out loud funny and others that tugged at my heart. If you're an animal lover, this cozy mystery might just be for you. I enjoyed getting to know Dr. Kate and her new small town, tagging along on her vet visits as well as her sleuthing. I'd rate this a solid four except for one plot thread involving Kate's personal life that just irked me -- it really didn't need to be in the story at all and I felt it pulled away from the important plot points. Hopefully it's all sorted now and won't be revived in future books. I'll find out soon because I'm about to download the next one from audible!
Kinda like All Creatures Great and Small in an American setting only with murder. :-) Loved all the zany vet details, some of which were laugh out loud funny and others that tugged at my heart. If you're an animal lover, this cozy mystery might just be for you. I enjoyed getting to know Dr. Kate and her new small town, tagging along on her vet visits as well as her sleuthing. I'd rate this a solid four except for one plot thread involving Kate's personal life that just irked me -- it really didn't need to be in the story at all and I felt it pulled away from the important plot points. Hopefully it's all sorted now and won't be revived in future books. I'll find out soon because I'm about to download the next one from audible!
October 11, 2015
I have read cozy mysteries about people with all kinds of different jobs, but I had never read one about an actual Veterinarian. As a matter of fact, I don't think I have read many books period about animal doctors. So this this book immediately caught my attention when I saw it available on Audiobook Jukebox. This was both a new to me author and narrator.
Dr. Kate Turner is filling in as a relief veterinarian in the small town of Oak Falls in upstate New York, while the regular veterinarian takes a very much overdue vacation on a cruise around the world with his cancer survivor sister. The story starts with Dr. Kate almost to the home of an elderly couple who breed and show champion spaniels. When she arrives, she finds them both dead in what looks like a murder/suicide. Except that everything she knows about the couple seems to make this an unlikely scenario. Oak Falls is a small town, and it seems that everyone she meets has a different story or theory about the couple that may have led to their death.
Caroline Shaffer did a really good job separating the voices, taking clues from the story to make each person unique in some small way. She had an appealing tone, even when she was laying on the thick New York accent. Her pacing and emoting was well done, making this an enjoyable listen.
If you enjoy stories involving animals, you will have a good time with this book. The clues were well thought out and though I was surprised at the end, looking back, I could see that they were all there. They just had to be put in the right order. I had a good time with this story and am happy to have discovered not only a new author, but a new narrator. I gave this book 4 stars.
Special thanks to Audiobook Jukebox and Blackstone Audio for the opportunity to listen and review this book.
Dr. Kate Turner is filling in as a relief veterinarian in the small town of Oak Falls in upstate New York, while the regular veterinarian takes a very much overdue vacation on a cruise around the world with his cancer survivor sister. The story starts with Dr. Kate almost to the home of an elderly couple who breed and show champion spaniels. When she arrives, she finds them both dead in what looks like a murder/suicide. Except that everything she knows about the couple seems to make this an unlikely scenario. Oak Falls is a small town, and it seems that everyone she meets has a different story or theory about the couple that may have led to their death.
Caroline Shaffer did a really good job separating the voices, taking clues from the story to make each person unique in some small way. She had an appealing tone, even when she was laying on the thick New York accent. Her pacing and emoting was well done, making this an enjoyable listen.
If you enjoy stories involving animals, you will have a good time with this book. The clues were well thought out and though I was surprised at the end, looking back, I could see that they were all there. They just had to be put in the right order. I had a good time with this story and am happy to have discovered not only a new author, but a new narrator. I gave this book 4 stars.
Special thanks to Audiobook Jukebox and Blackstone Audio for the opportunity to listen and review this book.
August 8, 2018
What I liked: narrated by a character who is a veterinarian, that's new, and the actual mystery was pretty good. What I didn't like: the central character, an accomplished professional, spends too much time bemoaning her single status. It is 2018; professional, educated women don't spend this much time worrying if they will meet Mr. Right. Also, the accomplished professional in the story does a whole lot of stupid things, making her less than believable. There is also mention near the beginning of the story that some elderly dogs belonging to the murder victims are taken to the pound. Well, the book is billed as something animal lovers will enjoy, but what most animal lovers would have enjoyed more is a writer clever enough to mention somewhere that those dogs were rescued. Once a year I read an author named Joanne Fluke, who writes these harmless mysteries with a female protagonist who, although not in law enforcement, solves the crimes in the story. I thought Muzzled would be similar, and while it does contain a harmless enough, forgettable mystery that makes for a decent read, much like Fluke's novels, Brady makes Fluke look like Shakespeare. I will probably read the second in the series to see if the writing is stronger but I am ambivalent enough about Muzzled that I am unsure whether to recommend or not. :)
September 5, 2015
REVIEW: MUZZLED by Eileen Brady
(Kate Turner DBM Series, Book 1))
The exciting debut of this cozy mystery series is a true winner, and not just at dog shows. The author, Eileen Brady, is an experienced veterinarian and relates the "inner workings" of a vet's life--frequently gratifying, often tiring, and sometimes lonely-especially for a relief vet, new to town and friendless. When Dr. Kate discovers the double death of two clients, in suspicious circumstances, suspicion grips her in its gossipy sights, especially as further events indicate the new vet is either guilty--or victimized by a frame.
(Kate Turner DBM Series, Book 1))
The exciting debut of this cozy mystery series is a true winner, and not just at dog shows. The author, Eileen Brady, is an experienced veterinarian and relates the "inner workings" of a vet's life--frequently gratifying, often tiring, and sometimes lonely-especially for a relief vet, new to town and friendless. When Dr. Kate discovers the double death of two clients, in suspicious circumstances, suspicion grips her in its gossipy sights, especially as further events indicate the new vet is either guilty--or victimized by a frame.
May 13, 2019
This book is well written, interesting and a joy to read. Maybe I loved it so much is because I adore dogs.
Very well written first in series. Story centered around a relief vet in small town. After discovering a pair of grouchy elderly clients having just died of gunshot wounds, Dr Turner decides to investigate the circumstances surrounding this apparent murder-suicide.
After an early morning rescue of a hamster she heads to a wealthy couples house to check on their King Charles spaniels. What she finds is a dead elderly couple. This starts and exciting chain of events that make this book difficult to put down. Loved it.
Very well written first in series. Story centered around a relief vet in small town. After discovering a pair of grouchy elderly clients having just died of gunshot wounds, Dr Turner decides to investigate the circumstances surrounding this apparent murder-suicide.
After an early morning rescue of a hamster she heads to a wealthy couples house to check on their King Charles spaniels. What she finds is a dead elderly couple. This starts and exciting chain of events that make this book difficult to put down. Loved it.
October 12, 2018
Nice cozy that rates 3.5 stars. I enjoyed the main character, DVM Kate Turner, and the blend of real veterinary info and dog show info with amateur sleuthing. Thankfully her non-human clients do not talk or solve the mystery so it does not sink into the cuteness sector. I look forward to reading more in this series, it was a fun read.
April 17, 2019
Not too bad. I mostly liked this book. The only thing i didn’t like was that there were way too many names to memorize. Lots of animal and human names. Can’t wait to see what Dr. Kate is up to next!
April 28, 2014
A fun well done mystery for those who like animals.
Full review: http://iwishilivedinalibrary.blogspot...
Full review: http://iwishilivedinalibrary.blogspot...
June 30, 2019
Great story about a veterinarian
March 14, 2022
I chanced upon this by accident as it is currently being offered free on audible. It falls into the cosy crime category but what raises it from a 3 to a 4 is the authentic details around the protagonist’s job.
Dr Kate is a vet, contracted to look after a small town practice whilst the owner is on a world tour. This gives lots of opportunity for fish-out-of-water laughs but the writing really takes on a different tone when discussing animals and how to treat them. I felt sure, listening to it, that the author must be a trained vet, which she is.
Overall, quite fun, a bit silly, some interesting information on treatment of different pets and a nice murder mystery to get to grips with. Very easy listening.
Dr Kate is a vet, contracted to look after a small town practice whilst the owner is on a world tour. This gives lots of opportunity for fish-out-of-water laughs but the writing really takes on a different tone when discussing animals and how to treat them. I felt sure, listening to it, that the author must be a trained vet, which she is.
Overall, quite fun, a bit silly, some interesting information on treatment of different pets and a nice murder mystery to get to grips with. Very easy listening.
March 19, 2023
Meh. Another "I'm too smart to let the police bungle this investigation MC " and the plot was weak. Won't be continuing the series.
May 20, 2023
Not brilliant but very good. Parts are slow and laborious but enjoyable
June 11, 2023
This was okay, not bad but I just didn’t connect with Kate 🤷🏾♀️🤷🏾♀️
Read
August 4, 2024Poorly written
March 27, 2020
This is a fun mystery about a rural vet. She makes home visits, and finds a dead couple. She uses her sleuthing skills to figure out who did it!
May 25, 2018
In Muzzled by Eileen Brady, veterinarian Dr. Kate Turner has taken on a year-long job in upstate New York substituting for a long-time vet who is taking an extended vacation. Not long after taking over the practice, Barbara makes a house call to a couple who breed Cavalier King Charles Terriers for competing in dog shows and have over 20 dogs they dote on. When Dr. Kate arrives at the house, the dogs are going wild, and something seems strange. Pushing on the door, Dr. Kate is alarmed to see the dogs running loose, something they would never normally do. Then she discovers the bodies of the couple, at first appearing to be a murder/ suicide but showing further clues that it was outright murder. The couple’s daughter arrives to take possession of theit estate and immediately gets rid of their dogs, selling the best and dropping off the retired show dogs at the animal shelter.
Read the rest of this review and other fun, geeky articles at Fangirl Nation
Read the rest of this review and other fun, geeky articles at Fangirl Nation
July 13, 2019
I was in the mood for a cozy-type mystery and found Muzzled on my library's Overdrive site. It was exactly what I was looking for. The story follows Kate Turner who is filling on for a local Veterinarian for the next year while he travels the world. Hoping to make a fresh start in a new town, she is sidelined when she stumbles on the dead bodies of a couple during a home visit.
For the most part, I enjoyed the mystery. I definitely did not figure out who the killer was as there were a lot suspects. Kate, herself, was being framed. The characters were engaging and fun. There were some very funny moments. I loved Kate. She was a great lead who didn't take herself too seriously. The fact that the author is a vet herself helped to lend an air of authenticity to Kate and the story. If you are in the mood for a fun cozy mystery to curl up with on a rainy day, I do recommend this one. I have Unleashed, the next book in the series on my iPod ready to listen to very soon.
For the most part, I enjoyed the mystery. I definitely did not figure out who the killer was as there were a lot suspects. Kate, herself, was being framed. The characters were engaging and fun. There were some very funny moments. I loved Kate. She was a great lead who didn't take herself too seriously. The fact that the author is a vet herself helped to lend an air of authenticity to Kate and the story. If you are in the mood for a fun cozy mystery to curl up with on a rainy day, I do recommend this one. I have Unleashed, the next book in the series on my iPod ready to listen to very soon.
December 23, 2018
I decided to read this after seeing the latest installment on my library's new book shelf. The blurbs on both that book and this one mentioned the humor in these mysteries. I think I can safely say this author is not giving Janet Evanovich a run for her money. But I did appreciate the basic mystery and the author's writing style. Looking forward to perhaps some romantic involvement in the future episodes. Since I also had a cat named Jimmy, I was pleased at the appearance of a Jimmy cat as a client.
January 28, 2020
It’s great when you’re looking for one book and you find another one, and decide to try it. Kate Turner is a Veterinarian and taking over another Vet’s practice while that doctor is on an extended vacation. Arriving at a client’s home , she discovers the clients have been shot and killed and the show dogs are running around the house going crazy. So the story continues. All sort of unique animal issues and Kate’s desire to find out what happened to the dead couple less the reader on a crazy journey.
February 9, 2020
Great series about a veterinarian, her clients, and her insatiable curiosity, and when she discovers two irascible clients shot to death, along with their show dogs, Dr Kate is on the case. Eccentric characters, cool critters, and an intriguing mystery!
November 29, 2020
2.5-3 stars. Fun cozy, easy listen. I enjoyed the filler of house calls and appointments with assorted animals. The mystery was fine but wasn’t solved by the MC. Kate (MC) seemed to be written much older than her age but it didn’t distract from the story.
I was annoyed by the frequent shaming/judging comments about eating dessert. Eat the pie and enjoy it.
I will listen to the next in the series.
I was annoyed by the frequent shaming/judging comments about eating dessert. Eat the pie and enjoy it.
I will listen to the next in the series.
April 20, 2019
Not a bad start to the series. The author did use a lot of character names (between people and animals) and I got confused once or twice, but it didn't take away from the story. There were also a lot of unfinished type of business things that are hopefully answered in future books. While this story was a little plain and not a lot of action, I will continue with the series and hope for the best!
May 21, 2021
This was a cute and cozy mystery, a little cheesy like many cozy mysteries, but entertaining and easy to read without many eye rolls. And there are dogs. :) My main question throughout was how does a vet not have a pet? Not even a cat?
Dr. Kate was a fun character and I will read more of this series.
Dr. Kate was a fun character and I will read more of this series.
September 2, 2017
Fun cozy mystery with a vet detective. Some errors in facts that irked me a bit. E.g. You cannot register a dog without a permanent form of identification with tattoo or microchip. But a lot of the vet stuff was not too bad. Except all the cats were friendly!!!!
October 10, 2017
Dr. Kate Turner is a substitute vet in up state New York. She makes home visits and happens on a double murder. Lots of information about caring for a variety of animals. The book is light. It is not gory. Great literature, no, but I throughly enjoyed it.
June 2, 2019
Okay read hampered by bad editing. I had a hard time engaging with the heroine, who did a number of idiotic things during the course of the story, imo. Still, I'll check out the next one in the series to see if it improves.
December 18, 2017
Entertaining read
Kate is like your high school buddy. Fun, slightly nutty, and ready for whatever comes her way. I'm ready for book 2.
Kate is like your high school buddy. Fun, slightly nutty, and ready for whatever comes her way. I'm ready for book 2.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews