Kate Davidson is ready to marry her boyfriend Michael, so she's disappointed when a special dinner doesn't end with a proposal. Her disappointment turns to shock and horror as she learns the real reason Michael didn’t propose. Michael is already married, and his green card-seeking wife is blackmailing him.

When his wife's dead body turns up on a beach by Kate and her dog, Bella, Michael is strangely unable to remember where he was the night she died. Since Michael has no alibi, Kate steps up to uncover what happened. What she walks into is a tangled web of deceit, obsession, and immigration fraud with Michael trapped in the middle.

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Series: A Downward Dog Mystery – Book 5
Author: Tracy Weber
Genre: Cozy/Pet Mystery
Publisher: Midnight Ink

Pre-Meditated Murder is a fun and fast read filled with good characters and lovely locations. Ms. Weber is a talented writer with a flair for making the ordinary seem extraordinary. Her series, “A Downward Dog Mystery” should appeal to most readers that enjoy a romantic tinge to their murder mysteries.

The characters of Kate and Michael have issues, namely caused by Michael not telling Kate that he was married, or that his wife was trying to blackmail him. Just when Kate thought they were taking the next step in their relationship, the rug is pulled out from under her feet, and she lands squarely on her backside.

The realization that Michael might not be the man she thought he was gets to her, and she fears she will never be able to trust him again. She may not be sure of her and Michael’s future, but she knows he’s not a killer. With the help of her Rene and her German Shepard, Bella she sets out to prove his innocence.

These characters are heartwarming with heir oddities and faults and give the reader hope for the future. They are easy to relate to, and the reader will find themselves rooting for their relationship. Other characters are wonderfully original with characteristics that remind us of people in our own lives.

The locations described including Seattle’s famous Space Needle and Oregon are wonderfully described with enough detail to get the reader interested in possibly exploring the areas on some future vacation. There isn’t a great deal of flowery prose to interfere with the clues to the killer’s identity and the resolution of the investigation.

Even though this is book five of the series, it can be read as a standalone without a retelling of the other books. All in all, Pre-Meditated Murder is a good book that will give the reader hours of entertainment. It is rich with well-rounded characters and emotions that have the reader smiling, laughing and occasionally anger.

An ARC was provided by NetGalley

My first book by Tracy Weber. I knew this was not the first book in this series but I decided to give it a shot anyway. I was pleasantly surprised. I was able to follow the story well enough without knowing any of the backstory and the mystery was compelling, though I guessed the killer very early. (I generally, though not always, do.) I also found the touches of humor in the story very much to my liking and provided quite a few laugh-out-loud moments. I would definitely recommend this book and look forward to checking out more in this series and by this author in the future. I received an ARC of this via NetGalley and have decided to voluntarily provide my honest opinion in a review.

Good solid cozy with authentic characters.

Kate owns a yoga studio. Michael, her live-in boyfriend, owns a pet store. Together they are renovating the house they live in that Kate inherited in Seattle.

After not getting the engagement ring she was expecting, Kate asks Michael why they aren't moving forward in their relationship. Michael tells Kate that he is already married to Gabriella who is still living in his hometown in Oregon. He insists that it is a sham marriage to get her a green card but agrees to ask her for a divorce. Kate, Michael and their dog go to Oregon though Kate has not forgiven Michael for his deception. Michael stays with his sister Shannon. Kate stays with her best friend Rene with husband Sam, 3 month old twin daughters and two labradoodle puppies.

Kate, Michael and their 100 pound German Shepherd, Bella, confront Gabriella, who is reluctant to speak to Michael. During a doggy beach run the next day, Bella finds Gabriella dead. Kate and Rene have solved four murders in the past two years. To clear Michael's name, they begin investigating the crime.

Kate, Rene and Shannon are delightful characters. Each have their own quirks and personalities. Kate and her dog Bella suffer from pogonophobia, the irrational fear of beards. Bella also has a stomach disorder, which is how Kate and Michael met. Shannon is a hoot and is the perfect person to have at Michael's back. Rene is the perfect partner in detection. Even though she calls herself Watson to Kate's Sherlock, she can hold her own when interrogating suspects or investigating clues.

Overall, Pre-meditated Murder is a good choice for cozy mystery fans. It would especially appeal to dog fans. The yoga is minimized and all terms are explained so even readers that are not into yoga will enjoy this book. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Thanks to the publisher, Midnight Ink, and NetGalley for an advance copy.

My review was published on my book blog on Tumblr. The link to the review is here: https://thebookstalker.tumblr.com/post/169385706400/pre-meditated-murder-by-tracy-weber-this-was-an

Pre-Meditated Murder by Tracy Weber

This was a digital ARC I received from Netgalley. I have read all four of the previous books in the series and was ecstatic to learn that I had been approved to read the fifth book of the series.

Pre-Meditated Murder continues the story of yoga instructor, Kate, and her German Shepherd, Bella. Since the first book, it is expected that Kate will somehow get involved in a murder investigation. I love reading these books by Weber because I enjoy trying to figure out who the murderer is before the conclusion.

The book picks up with Kate and Michael at a restaurant. Thanks to Rene, Kate believes that this is the moment when Michael is going to propose. However, sadly, this was not that moment. While Michael loves Kate, he is hiding a secret that is keeping him from marrying her. He is already MARRIED! However, his estranged wife is not allowing the divorce. The couple decide to go to his old town to persuade reason. Rene, Sam, their twin daughters and dogs join the trip.

Shortly after arriving, Kate and Bella find a body on a beach. Who the victim is, I will not disclose for those who wish to read and find out. I will say that Michael is the lead suspect, and Kate has to try to figure out what really happened to the victim and who the murderer truly is. All the while Kate is having to reevaluate her relationship with Michael.

This book had me on my toes. I was so enthralled in this book, that I actually read during two shifts at work this week. I kept my Kindle on my lap, and thanks to the weather, not many patrons disturbed my reading. Mwahahaha!

Pre-Meditated Murder
Downward Dog Mystery, Book #5
Tracy Weber
5+ Stars

Synopsis:

If Kate Doesn't Act Fast, the Only "I Do" in Michael's Future Will Be at His Trial

Yoga instructor Kate Davidson is ready to marry her boyfriend Michael, so she's disappointed when a special dinner doesn't end with a proposal. But disappointment turns to dismay and outrage as she learns the real problem: Michael is already married and his estranged wife is blackmailing him.

When his wife's body is found--by Kate and her dog, no less--Michael is strangely unable to remember where he was the night she died. Since Michael has no alibi, Kate steps up to uncover what happened. What she walks into is a tangled web of deceit, obsession, and immigration fraud . . . with Michael trapped in the middle. (Goodreads)

Review:

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book I felt like I was right there, watching all of the action taking place. I liked that this book took place away from Kate’s hometown, it added a little something extra to the story. And the premise of the book really surprised me and I thought it was clever.

The characters are well developed and well rounded. Kate is one of my favorite character in all of cozy world. She is strong, smart, feisty and loyal. But she also has a temper that she is trying to control and she has a beard phobia, that is not as easy to control. These things just make her seem more human to me. I also really enjoy her best friend, Rene, and I so enjoy the interactions between Kate and Rene. They have so many funny moments and I was laughing out loud through much of this book. And Kate and Bella’s relationship is so heartfelt and it should be the standard of all dog owners.

The mystery was well written and carried on well throughout the entire book. There were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through and it was not an easy one to solve. Throw in some red herrings and twists and turns and even the most seasoned armchair detective will have a tough time solving it.

This book has everything I enjoy in a book: friendship, suspense, mystery and a wonderful dog. This is definitely one of my favorite cozy mysteries, there is not one thing that I would change about it. I cannot recommend it enough.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Midnight Ink for the opportunity to read and review this fantastic book.

This is the fifth book in the downward dog series. Kate is mad at Michael when she finds out that the reason he won't propose to her is because he is already married to someone else. Kate and Michael, along with Rene and Sam and the twins, venture to Oregon to talk to Michael's estranged wife, Gabby, and convince her to divorce Michael. But when Gabby's body is found on the beach, Michael becomes the prime suspect. Kate, with the help of her friend, Renee and Michael's sister, Shannon, sets out to prove his innocence.

I really like this series. Kate is such a realistic character and is so fun to read about. There were many twists that kept me guessing until the end. I received this book from net galley for review.

*Oh my gosh that was a bit surprising. Kate managed to grow as a character between the books. I'm not sure how it happened, but I like the change. I also really liked how immigration was added to the story. It really made me think about how different situations might affect choices.

A great way to end my reading year or start yours! A polydactyl kitten named Mouse claws her way into German Shedder Bella's heart as the dynamic duo of Kate and Rene chase down clues, tandem twins attached.
Starting and ending with romantic surprises, this yoga centric novel takes the reader to unexplored locations on a roller coaster emotional run. I was excited to see all our friends involved in this close-to-home murder mystery.
This reads fine as a stand alone but to get the deepest emotional reaction from this read I suggest you start this series from the beginning. As soon as you finish one book you'll ne calling for the next. You can't stay away.
Kate has been hesitant to trust but eventually allows Michael to capture her heart and her imagination about a rosy future. So when she finds out he is presently married she needs her yoga training to remain in a charitable frame of mind. When Bella gets the scent of trouble and digs up a body, we know things will get further complicated. Mysterious strangers, old friends with hidden agendas, and a cop with a strong bias against Michael, is there any way this can end with happily ever after?
Come down to the beach for a "working" vacation and help gather clues to solve what the future holds for Kate and Bella.

Kate owns a yoga studio (the author had a yoga studio in Seattle). She is living with Michael, the owner of a pet store, and her special needs German Shepherd, Bella (based on the author's own dog, Tasha, who passed away in 2016). On her birthday, Kate thinks Michael is going to pop "the question" but he doesn't. It turns out that Michael is already married. A couple years ago, he had married Gabriella, a girl he was dating, so she wouldn't be deported back to Mexico, with the agreement that they would stay married until she attained her U.S. citizenship.

Michael had recently contacted her to ask for a divorce but Gabriella had responded that it would come at a cost ... $50,000 cash. As a small business owner and just recently renovating their house, Michael can't afford to pay her. Michael, Kate and Bella, along with Kate's best friend, Rene, and Rene's family (which includes her husband, twin babies and two puppies) travel to Michael's hometown to discuss the situation with Gabriella. It doesn't go well and Gabriella is discovered murdered the next day.

With Kate's mother's boyfriend, Dean, as Michael's lawyer and Shannon, Michael's sister, and Rene helping, Kate starts to investigate to find out who really killed Gabriella.

This is the third book I've read by this author and I liked it. It is the fifth in the Downward Dog series (I've read the first one and fourth one). Though it is part of a series, it works as a stand alone ... I haven't read #2 or #3 and I never felt lost. I liked the writing style. It is written in first person perspective from Kate's point of view.

Is Michael a rat or even worse, a murderer? Kate thinks everything is going well in their relationship when he finally (a long time in, for me) admits that he's already married to Gabby. Leaving aside the fact that he's also engaged in immigration fraud, Kate and her trusty pal Bella take off to persuade Gabby to give him a divorce but they discover that she's been murdered! This is the fifth in a series but Weber gives you enough (but not too much) back story to read it as a standalone. Kate is a spunky interesting heroine who you'll especially like if you enjoy yoga and or dogs. The mystery is topical but not too complicated. Thanks to net galley for the ARC.

Although I have had this series on my TBR list for a while, this is the first book that I have read in it. I started the book and got so engaged in the story that I didn't want to put it down. I loved the characters and the setting, but also the story with its twists and the many suspects and possible motives kept me turning the pages. I can't wait to go back to book 1 and see how things began between Kate and Michael and what happened between then and this book. What a great series!

Thank you Tracy Weber, Midnight Ink and the Cozy Mystery Review Crew for a copy of this book. This did not influence my opinion of this book.

Kate is a believable character and I love having yoga included as a part of the story as well as dogs.. The setting is familiar and realistic.

3.25 stars

This is the fifth entry in the yoga-themed Downward Dog mystery series. Yoga instructor Kate Davidson gets swept up in yet another murder investigation when her boyfriend Michael falls under suspicion in the murder of his wife -- yes, his wife. Imagine how Kate felt when she discovered her sweetie had been keeping his marriage a secret. And no, he wasn't a philandering husband. He married Gabriela in a fraudulent marriage scheme to provide her with a green card and they planned to divorce when she obtained U.S. citizenship. But that all became a moot point when her bludgeoned body was found on the beach.

Kate, already a guarded soul, has to decide if she'll ever trust this man again -- but first she has to clear him of murder.

Some interesting characterizations and a fairly unbelievable plot. Thanks to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love books that immediately grab my attention and quickly become a page turner and that is what this one did. Who knew? Michael has a wife and she’s trying to scam him. When she is found dead, Michael becomes the prime suspect and it will be up to Kate to clear his name. The tone of the story was very comfortable and the pacing was on par with how well this drama was being told. The mystery was staged to perfection with narrative that was visually descriptive putting me in the middle of all the action with engaging dialogue that evoked a myriad of emotions. The author did a great job in setting this up with strategically placed clues and twists that kept me glued to the pages as I had to what the outcome would be. This story was nicely done and it all came together in the end. I enjoyed the latest adventures with Kate and her friends, making it one of my favorite, in this terrific series.

This is number 5 in A Downward Dog Mystery series. It can be read as a standalone story and you will not feel lost. If you have been following the series, then you will be surprised to find out that Michael is married and not to Kate. Find out about the wife, the separation and why you are learning of it now.
Kate needs to clear Michael of murder as he isn’t capable of defending himself. There is sadness, humor, and revelation in this book. Read to see what happens next to Kate and Michael.

This is an entertaining read, especially if one likes dogs and yoga. There were a number of false leads and the identity of the murderer was unexpected.

Pre-Meditated Murder by Tracy Weber, is the 5th book in the Downward Dog mystery series. This is a cozy mystery that involves yoga, dogs, and a fake marriages. Tracy kept me captivated until a very exciting end. She is a great writer with her details from the other four books that help a new reader understand the past. I have read three of the five books and love the characters in this series. This is a wonderful quick read. I would recommend this series to my friends.

This was a really enjoyable book. I was a little unsure how the yoga thing would work out in a murder investigation but it turns out Kate (the main character) gets just as stressed and uptight as I do.
It's a real page turner, I had to read just a little bit more to find out how the story would unfurl.
Great read and will definitely be looking for Tracy Weber's books in the future.

This book is fifth in the series but the first one I read. I loved it. The murder was unexpected- I had someone else in mind. It had drama, love, mystery. This was a very fun read and will be reading more from this author. I love finding new reads!

A great beach read. A cozy murder mystery that involves dogs, yoga, and fake marriages. The author keeps the reader captivated until a very thrilling end. The author did a great job of giving enough detail from previous books so a new reader of the series (myself included) could understand what had happened in the past. The descriptions of the dogs is as fun and interesting as the descriptions of the individuals. A reader will definitely connect with the characters. Also the author's words illustrated the Oregon landscape wonderfully. Overall, a good quick, enjoyable read.