The heroine in this one is unusual as she is smart, funny and much older than generally portrayed in this type of book. As we meet Katherine her world is coming down around her ears. About the time when she is at her wits ends, she gets more bad news...her father, who she hasn't seen or heard from in years, has died. She next discovers something that will set her off on a journey destined to change her life. I really liked the writing style of this author and the fact that she takes a job in the Austin Zoo....a fellow "Zoo Enthusiast:) The story has everything that came together to make it a 5 star rating. Lots of action... a great story line with enough mystery & suspense...a little romance thrown in... and a more than satisfying ending. ( )

Although a decent book after several years it doesn't stay with me. I reread my notes on the book and if it weren't for them I wouldn't have remembered reading this book at all. I do remember it took me weeks to finish it. I had a hard time connecting to the character Katherine and could care less who killed her father whom she hadn't seen in over 30 years. This is definitely not a cozy as the context was a bit more graphic then that. Katherine not only finds herself in the business of uncovering the reason behind her fathers death but also the death of several other men, an illegal rare animal selling ring, and a deep dark family secret. Overall I would say the book wasn't bad but I didn't rush out and read any other books by this author either. ( )

This is the first book by this author that I have read and have enjoyed reading it. She has 3 other books available and I have bought all 3 which much say something. Not a bad read.

Back Cover Blurb:
It's feeding time at the zoo. Who's for dinner?
Katherine Driscoll hasn't heard from her father since she was a baby -over thirty years ago. She's deeply suspicious when he writes her a letter. How does he know she is in desperate need of help? Although she's the best dog trainer in Texas, she must find $90,000 immediately or lose everything, including her beloved golden retriever, Ra.
But when she tries to take her father up on his offer, she finds that he is already dead, mauled by a tiger at the zoo where he was a keeper. Katherine resolves to investigate, drawn to uncover long-buried family secrets which appear to be entangled with events at the zoo. Grimly repressing her fear of snakes, she joins the staff of the reptile house. Only to realize that the tiger isn't the only killer around. ( )

...a fabulous unsung mystery writer. Runs circles around Patricia Cornwell and Jonathan Kellerman. ( )