Christmas & Kennels

Paisley Burger runs the best-known pet store in Wrangler's Hill. She's known as much for her clumsiness as her critters-snakes, turtles, and raccoons have a habit of escaping into the city, sometimes terrorizing schoolchildren.

When Paisley is found dead in her store shortly before Christmas-having struck her head against the corner of a table-her friend Geneva Pomolo suspects foul play. The good-natured Paisley had acquired certain enemies during her fifteen years in Wrangler's Hill, and as Christmas approaches, Geneva and her investigating partner Iris Reeves encounter the worst of human nature: a fame-hungry young man whose obsession with Paisley curdled into hatred when she sabotages his dreams of hosting a television show; a litigation-happy businessman whose commercial ambitions Paisley scuttled; a notoriously lazy former employee with an over-developed sense of revenge.

Meanwhile, things are heating up in Geneva's personal life. Iris is offered an opportunity that may take her away from Wrangler's Hill, and Geneva's long-suffering gentleman friend, George, has marriage on the brain. This Christmas may prove to be the most momentous of Geneva's life-if only she can survive it.