Pet Rescue Mystery

Series · 7 books · 2011-2014

By Linda O. Johnston

Books in series

Beaglemania

2011

Lauren Vancouver is the head of HotRescues, a no-kill animal shelter north of Los Angeles, but it's often human nature that puts her in the path of danger. Just like when she helps rescue four adorable beagle puppies that were dumped down a drainpipe at a nasty puppy mill. One of the mill's employees has a history of dog abuse-and a bone to pick with Lauren. And when he's found dead at HotRescues after threatening her, Lauren will have to sniff out the real killer to keep herself out of a cage...

The More the Terrier

2011

When shelter manager Lauren Vancouver finds out that her old mentor, Mamie Spelling, is an animal hoarder, no one is more shocked, and she jumps in to help re-home the cramped critters. But Mamie's troubles don't end there. She's accused of murder when the CEO of a pet shelter network is found dead. And Lauren's dogged determination to clear her former friend of murder may put a killer on her tail.

Hounds Abound

2012

Saving animals and solving murders seem to go paw-in-paw for shelter manager and amateur sleuth Lauren Vancouver. But this time, mixed up in a murder that may close a much-needed new shelter. Lauren will have to keep herself and her critters safe from an unleashed killer.

Oodles of Poodles

2013

Shelter manager and pet rescuer Lauren Vancouver once again takes on the role of amateur sleuth when there’s a murder on a film set . . . Has Hollywood gone to the dogs? Pet rescuer Lauren Vancouver is observing production on a new movie called Sheba’s Story . The title character—a white Miniature poodle—is played by many similar-looking poodles, and to make sure no animals are harmed, Lauren’s friend, veterinarian Carlie Stellan, and Grant, a handsome representative from the American Humane Association, are on location. But when the film’s director is killed in a suspicious hit-and-run after arguing with Carlie about animal safety, it’s up to Lauren to clear her friend’s name and catch a killer before someone else ends up in oodles of deadly trouble.

#4.5

Nonstop Spaniels

2013

Pet rescuer Lauren Vancouver is about to discover that some animal shelters make exceptions in their no-kill policy—for people as well as animals—in this all-new novella available only in digital format. Lauren prides herself on the strict pet-saving policies of her animal shelter HotRescues. As a member of a popular no-kill organization, she tries to intervene at a nearby shelter that seems to care more about appearances than the animals themselves. But it’s not just the animals who are in danger at PetForYou. When the veterinarian is murdered, it’s up to Lauren to find out if an enraged no-kill proponent made a grizzly exception, or if something even more sinister has scratched its way to the surface… Includes a preview of the next Pet Rescue Mystery, Teacup Turbulence.

Teacup Turbulence

2014

Los Angeles animal shelter manager Lauren Vancouver has a soft spot for animals in need—and a keen eye for crime. . . Thanks to a savvy ad campaign featuring teacup pups sporting HotPets Bling—a new line of faux jewelry dog collars—small dog adoptions have skyrocketed across the city. So when Lauren discovers a shelter in the Midwest with more toy dogs than it can handle, she arranges a private plane to swoop in and fly the pups back to LA. But Lauren didn’t count on rescue worker Teresa Kantrim coming along for the ride. Teresa has cared for the dogs since they were found and doesn’t trust anyone from La-La Land to take over the job. Her biting comments clearly haven’t earned Teresa any new friends, but when she turns up murdered, it’s time for Lauren to dig into Teresa’s past and find out who wanted her put down.

#5.5

Chihuahua Chaos

2014

Chief administrator Lauren Vancouver knew something was wrong the moment Brittany Brandewyn showed up crying at HotRescues ready to relinquish her beloved Chihuahua Kirbee forever. Lauren can’t figure out why—until she learns that Brittany ’s neighbor, whose track record includes dog abuse, has been found murdered, and all paws point to Brittany as the culprit. About to be arrested, Brittany has no one else to care for her beloved dog. Can Lauren find the real killer before Chihuahua chaos conquers all and Brittany and Kirbee are separated forever? Chihuahua Chaos is a novella in the mode of the Pet Rescue Mysteries, which Linda O. Johnston writes for Berkley Prime Crime. It’s a cozy mystery series centered around HotRescues, a no-kill pet shelter in Los Angeles. Its chief administrator Lauren Vancouver, the protagonist of the series, will do anything to save dogs and cats and make sure they have wonderful new homes—even solve murder mysteries.

Author

Linda O. Johnston

Author · 55 books

Linda O. Johnston's first published fiction appeared in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine and won the Robert L. Fish Memorial Award for Best First Mystery Short Story of the Year. Since then, Linda has had more short stories and novellas published, plus, by the end of 2018, she will have had fifty novels published, including mysteries and romance. Linda currently writes the Barkery and Biscuits Mysteries cozy mystery series for Midnight Ink, and also wrote the Superstition Mysteries for them, both featuring dogs. She has also written the Pet Rescue Mystery series for Berkley Prime Crime, which was a spinoff from her Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter mystery series. And yes, they involved dogs, too. Linda also writes for Harlequin Romantic Suspense, including a new miniseries about a K-9 ranch where dogs are trained. Linda additionally writes paranormal romance for Harlequin Nocturne including the Alpha Force miniseries about a covert military unit of shapeshifters—and all the werewolves also have cover dogs. Linda, a currently inactive transactional attorney, now writes fiction full-time. She is a member of the Los Angeles chapters of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. She is also a member of Romance Writers of America, including the Los Angeles, Orange County and Santa Clarita chapters.