Hudson Valley winters can be brutal…and deadly! Dr. Kate is once again on the case (not to mention thin ice) after discovering a young engaged couple frozen to death in the lake. To make matters worse, her temporary receptionist appears to have overdosed from a recreational sedative used at the animal hospital. Kate barely has time to dread Valentine's Day (and the fact that she's alone on this holiday, once again) as the police investigation shows that all three fatalities are in fact homicides. Third in the Dr. Kate series, this one is every bit as good as the previous outings. I really enjoy this character and the description of the Hudson Valley. Lovely location, well plotted mystery and and interesting characters made this a fun cozy read.

A couple is found dead, and Dr. Kate is presented with a mystery. Murder comes close to home when her temp receptionist is found dead as well. Dr. Kate is a bit whiny, but I can over look that. The mystery was not as strong as it could have been for me. Overall this was an interesting cozy. I would give it 3.5 stars which can be improved if Dr. Kate lightens up on the complaining.

In Oak Falls, part of the Hudson Valley, Dr. Kate, a veterinarian, finds herself in the middle of several mysterious deaths. First, she finds two bodies frozen in a lake. They’re a couple ready to begin their lives together. How did they end up in the water?

Kate has a temporary receptionist who has a different outlook on the job than her regular employee. Still, it’s a major shock to come into the office and find the woman on an exam table dead from an overdose of a sedative used for animals.

When the three deaths are ultimately declared homicides, not accidents as first thought, Kate is determined to find out what’s going on. With a busy hospital to run, murders to investigate, and a potential new romance, Kate’s got her hands full. At least it keeps her mind off Valentine’s Day and its potential pitfalls.

This is the third book in the series. Kate is a great character, a good friend, and someone you’d surely trust to care for your pets. After a couple of disastrous or at least unworthy love interests, she deserves a good man. I hope this one is a keeper. And then there is the crow. I hope he’s a keeper too. With a solid knowledge of animals, characters who are more than names on a page, and a good mystery, I hope this series is in for a long run.

Book Review: A Cozy Mystery Delight: Murders of a Feather by Eileen Brady

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 Stars

Murders of a Feather by Eileen Brady is a delightful cozy mystery that takes readers on a thrilling journey through the Hudson Valley winter. Dr. Kate, an Oak Falls veterinarian, finds herself knee-deep in not only snow but also a string of homicides that will keep readers captivated from start to finish. With its engaging writing, charming setting, and unique protagonist, this standalone novel is a solid read for any cozy mystery lover.

One of the first things that caught my attention was the captivating writing style of Eileen Brady. The author effortlessly weaves together a story that keeps readers hooked from the very beginning. The pacing is well-balanced, allowing for an immersive experience without feeling rushed. Brady's ability to maintain suspense throughout the book is praiseworthy, making it difficult to put down.

Set in the beautiful Hudson Valley town of Oak Falls, Brady expertly captures the essence of the winter season. The vivid descriptions of the snowy landscapes and cozy small-town atmosphere create an immersive reading experience. The setting becomes almost like another character in the story, adding depth and charm to the overall narrative.

Dr. Kate, a veterinarian, brings a refreshing twist to the typical cozy mystery genre. Her profession adds a unique layer of interest and allows readers to explore the world of animal care alongside solving crimes. Kate's determination and intelligence make her a likable character, and her interactions with animals add an endearing touch to the story.

The central mystery in Murders of a Feather is expertly crafted, keeping readers guessing until the very end. As Kate delves deeper into the investigation, she uncovers surprising connections between the victims. The twists and turns are skillfully executed, ensuring that readers remain engaged and invested throughout the book. Brady carefully plants clues along the way, allowing astute readers to try and solve the puzzle alongside Kate.

The characters in this cozy mystery are well-developed and likable. Dr. Kate's interactions with other townspeople, including the handsome large animal vet she meets on a house call, add depth and warmth to the story.

Murders of a Feather is a solid read that will appeal to fans of cozy mysteries. Eileen Brady's engaging writing style, charming setting, unique protagonist, and well-plotted mystery come together to create an enjoyable reading experience. Whether you are new to cozy mysteries or a seasoned fan, this book is sure to entertain you from start to finish. So grab a cup of tea, snuggle up in a warm blanket, and get ready to dive into this captivating tale set in the beautiful Hudson Valley.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

This is my first Eileen Brady book. The accounts of various veterinarian procedures is most interesting, and the relationships among Dr. Kate and her office staff enhance the plot. The personalities of the various pets skillfully balance the investigations into the lives of a number of suspicious characters. The plot moves along at a good pace although there may be just too many characters with their relationships a bit vague. I learned a lot from this book. I would definitely read another Brady mystery.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Valentines Day is approaching fast and Dr. Kate has some serious questions she needs to answer, the least of which is whether she is ready to open her heart again to love. But that decision must wait when she and her vet tech discover two bodies in the woods. What initially appears to be a murder - suicide turns into out and out murder. One of the victims seems to be a magnet for tragic and violent occurrences. Then there is a third murder that hits very close to home. Had there been any question of whether Kate would get involved, this seals it.

The more she learns about the three victims, the clearer it becomes that the murders are connected and Kate is putting herself in harms way. Good thing she is a vet. Between her dogs and her cat, the villain faces a formidable foe but is a third species that proves to be the deciding hero. It will make you cheer.

It is an enjoyable series as the characters are very likeable and realistic. Five purrs and two paws up.

Murders Of A Feather
A Veterinarian Cozy Mystery
Eileen Brady
5 Stars

Synopsis:


It's February in the Hudson Valley and Oak Falls veterinarian Dr. Kate is once again up to her galoshes in corpses
Hudson Valley winters can be brutal…and deadly! Dr. Kate is once again on the case (not to mention thin ice) after discovering a young engaged couple frozen to death in the lake. To make matters worse, her temporary receptionist appears to have overdosed from a recreational sedative used at the animal hospital. Kate barely has time to dread Valentine's Day (and the fact that she's alone on this holiday, once again) as the police investigation shows that all three fatalities are in fact homicides.
But who would want the young couple dead, just as they were embarking on a new life together? And who pumped the temp employee full of enough animal tranquilizers to drop an ox? Kate doesn't know where to begin until she stumbles upon a connection between the three victims and decides she needs to investigate further. But will her investigation leave her any time to get to know the handsome large animal vet she's just met on a house call? And is the injured wild crow she's taken under her wing in fact an omen of more bad things to come? (Amazon)


Review:


The characters are well developed and well rounded. Kate does not have a date for Valentine’s Day and no prospects of getting one. Things get even worse for her when she finds a young couple murdered. She feels like she has to find out the killer. And when she finds another dead body, she knows she must find the culprit before more people are murdered.


The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. The writing style flows smoothly and it defines the characters very clearly by their actions and words. The mystery is well plotted and there were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider.


I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well written cozy mystery. And if you like animals, that is a plus.


I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

Dr. Kate is back!

One of my favorite aspects of this book is how much I learn about animals and vet treatments.

This care for animals is a welcome thread throughout the mystery, which was very well plotted.

I also like the descriptions of the weather and nature, which gives a sense if place to the book.

Lastly, romance enters the pucture for Dr. Kate. Rather than the over used "hot detective" trope, her romance is very organic is its development.

Now, read the book and enjoy the further developments in the story of Dr. Kate!

Murders of a Feather is the 3rd cozy featuring veterinarian Dr. Kate written by Dr. Eileen Brady. Released 3rd Oct 2023 by Poisoned Pen Press, it's 384 pages and is available in mass market paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

I had read the previous books in the series and had really enjoyed the gentle pace of these cozies along with the quirky secondary characters (and all their pets). It's also cool that that the author slips in the occasional good suggestion for responsible pet ownership without being strident or snarky.

The plot develops gradually, the dialogue is smooth and not clunky. The denouement was a bit over the top, but that's why most cozy fans are reading the amateur sleuth genre anyhow. It's refreshing that Dr. Kate can take care of herself and readers will be cheering and *high fiving* at the end. There's a strong romance subplot, but it doesn't take over the story (too much). It's a Valentine's day themed story, so there's a fair bit of holiday romance included, but nothing too spicy.

The language is clean and there is no graphic on-page violence. The author has 4 books in an earlier series with the same main character, but the continuity is a trifle iffy between the 7 books, so readers should treat them as 2 separate series and proceed accordingly.

Four stars. This book (and the series) are well written and comfortably fun cozy reads. It would make a good selection for public library acquisition, binge/buddy read, or for fans of animal cozies.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

Murders of a Feather is a cozy mystery set around Dr. Kate a veterinarian in Hudson Valley. When three deaths turn into three homicides, Kate is on the case! Making matters extra personal, one of the victims was her temporary receptionist.

This was my first book is the Dr. Kate series as each novel can be read as a stand alone. I really liked Kate, as well as Cindy, Mari, and the case of characters as a whole. I found the mystery to be intriguing and I was quickly sucked in. I loved the side romance plot and was glad it didn't feel rushed or over done, but instead was slow and organic. I also enjoyed all the veterinarian aspects of the novel. I feel like I learned more about animals simply from reading this.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all views expressed are my own.

I liked this cozy mystery of a vet that solves crime in the Hudson Valley. I love the setting and just felt that it was overall a great comfort read that makes you want to read the rest of the books in this series
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book

Dollycas's Thoughts

Winter is still going strong in the Hudson Valley and Valentine's Day is quickly approaching. Mari and Dr. Kate are out doing house calls when they see a man waving his arms on the side of the road. When they stop to help the man tells them he found a dead body in the woods. After notifying the police they ask the man to take them to the body to be sure he is beyond help. He was, but he wasn't the only dead body in the woods. Kate and Mari discover a woman under the frozen water of the lake not far away. They turn out to be a young engaged couple getting ready to start their lives together. Was it a murder/suicide? or were they both murdered?

A couple of days later Dr. Kate and Mari are clearly sent to the wrong address by the temporary receptionist but she isn't answering their calls. They head back to the office to find the receptionist dead from a sedative sometimes used on their animal patients. Again, was it suicide? maybe an accidental overdose? or was she murdered?

The police determined all three were homicides. Are the deaths connected or coincidence? Are there one or two killers on the loose? Kate is having a hard time dealing with the deaths and she needs some answers.

Kate also has met a large animal vet she would like to get to know better and she has an injured wild crow she helped that now checks in with her every day and brings his friends. She is not sure if either of these things is good or bad.

______

Kate, Mari, and Cindy have become true friends and work together like a well-oiled machine. Cindy is taking some time off so Babs Fields comes in to take her place. She has her own way of doing things and Kate and Mari quickly adjust never dreaming that Babs would be killed. The banter between all the characters is genuine and they do get to know Babs well enough to know she would have left clues to help them pinpoint her killer, they just have to find them.

I really enjoyed the introduction of Mike, the large animal vet, and the bit of confusion about his status. Who can identify the life of a vet better than another vet? He and Kate have a lot in common, I just hope the author lets the relationship evolve in a realistic way.

My favorite character though is Kate's Gramps. Just a phone call away with advice or a little story to make Kate smile. He is also close enough for a quick visit when she needs a real hug and some face-to-face time. I can almost smell his pasta sauce from here.

While I feel like I am getting to know Kate, Mari, and Cindy better, in this story we learn a huge piece of Mari's history and it is heartbreaking. I am so happy that she has such strong friends in Kate and Cindy.

The mystery was very intriguing from the get-go. Who was this man on the side of the road? Did he have anything to do with the murders? Were the three deaths connected? Who would want these people dead? Digging into their lives reveals some secrets and leads to quite a few suspects. There are also several twists and so many clues. It was hard to determine what was really relevant and what to cast aside, only to find after casting out it was actually pretty important. Ms. Brady plotted this one out so well. I finally decided to just read and enjoy the ride rather than trying to solve the mystery myself. That was the right choice because I was totally caught by surprise when all was revealed. I was impressed by the way Kate could think on her feet. The showdown was so exciting. My heart was racing as the drama played out.

Part of the fun of this series is all the animals that Kate takes care of. This time there was a pot-bellied pig named Porky, a litter of puppies, some barn kittens, named Tootsie, Tommy, Taffy, and Tiny, the birth of some baby goats, a couple of horses, and an injured crow and his friends. She had other patients too and her own dog Buddy. I love the way the animals are worked in throughout the story and that we see a little bit of each of their personalities.

Kate receives some news at the end of the story that is going to force her to make a big decision. I think I know what she will decide and I am looking forward to the next book in the series to see if I am right.

Murders of a Feather is a marvelous addition to this series. It is my favorite of the three. An intriguing mystery, with great characters, set in a small New York town, with animals galore. A Perfect Escape!

I received an advance reader copy of this book from NetGalley. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Eileen Brady for the opportunity to review it. This is my honest review of the book.

I had never read Dr. Kate Vet Mysteries before, although this is the 3rd one in the series. It was wonderful to read a cozy mystery where the main character has a unique job. I was fascinated learning about the ins and outs of a vet practice and the quirkiness of pet owners.

The characters in the book are fleshed out well and I really enjoyed getting to know them. I didn't feel lost because I hadn't read the first two books, which was nice. I will be going back to read them now though.

Dr. Kate is filling in at the vet practice while the owner is away on a cruise. Her receptionist Cindy and her assistant Mari have been there a long time and know all the people in the small town. Cindy is the police chief's sister in law so she also has the inside track on any information. So when someone is murdered, Dr. Kate often goes to her for information on what the police think. She also has a close relationship with her Gramps and he is great for coming up with new ideas that she hasn't thought of.

I thought the mystery was interesting and not easily solved, the characters were fun and engaging and I now have a whole new respect for my vet. I can't wait to read more from Eileen Brady.

Murders of a Feather: A Veterinarian Cozy Mystery is book #3 in the Dr. Kate Vet Mysteries series by Eileen Brady.

Dr. Kate is a veterinarian in in NY. While returning from a house call with her vet tech Mari, the stumble across a couple who had died. When a temp at her office dies, Kate has to investigate.

I enjoyed this book. Dr. Kate has to see her patients and deal with emergencies so her investigations have to take place over lunches or when she has free time. She can’t put her work aside to investigate. Dr. Kate and her friends are very likable characters. Having to solve the mystery of what ails the animals she treats helps her with her investigation skills. There are times the story seemed to drag a bit, but overall, I really enjoyed it. I was very surprised at the ending! 4.5 *

Thank you to the author, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Full written review forthcoming but as much as I was looking forward to this book, ultimately I was INCREDIBLY disappointed. Character growth, story, plotting, twists, etc were all excellent but for some reason the author thought to inject the events of 2020 into a work of fiction. I read to escape, the last thing I want is real world intrusion into fiction.

Dr Kate is an accomplished vet who has a tendency to get drawn into murders and with her innate interest in them, gets involved in solving them.

Finding a young couple, both murdered by a lake wasn’t enough. Finding their temporary receptionist murdered in their own surgery was more than what they could take. Dr Kate and her assistant start their own investigation to link up the dots, as she is convinced there is a connection between these three people. Disparate though they may be.

Descriptive of the Hudson area in frozen February and equally descriptive of how a flourishing veterinarian practice would work, we follow them in their pursuit of justice for the victims, with a good dash of a budding romance thrown in.

This is another fun installment in this series! I love the idea of a sleuthing Veterinarian and seeing Dr. Kate on the job with her patients. I was definitely kept guessing as to the identity of the killer. The pace of the book is a bit uneven, but I enjoyed the book and like this series. Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advance copy of the ebook.

This was absolutely awesome and I really love these key characters! Kate has an amazing team of ladies at her vet clinic that’re more than just coworkers. They’re friends outside if work and they sleuth together sometimes as well.

After three deaths that were connected by various ways, Kate was determined to get some answers especially since the temp employee had cleverly done something hoping to point to her killer just like Kate herself did during a super exciting showdown. I think I was most excited to see just when she’d get to use the pepper spray she kept on her at all times as per her promise to Gramps. (I just love her Gramps!). Kate didn’t disappoint and neither did some furry and feathered friends of hers who did a real number on that killer!

I was so happy for Kate meeting that sweet fellow vet named Dr. Mike too. He was sure a keeper and even helped in the showdown, although he paid a price that slowed him a little but not enough to keep from making some post-Valentine’s Day plans with Kate. Her actual Valentine’s Day date was her favorite man in the entire world. 😉

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book. Kate is a vet in NY state. She’s at a scene where two bodies are found and works to help find the killer or killers.
There were many elements to this book I liked. I liked hearing about the different animals the vet saw at the clinic, with brief but understandable descriptions of their ailments and treatments. I liked the relationships between the staff at the clinic. They’re all friends but it was clear each had their own life. The vet from the other clinic, Mike, was a nice romantic addition for Kate. I know they’re characters in a book but they couldn’t be more perfect for each other.
The mystery was well worked out. The steps Kate took in her investigation made sense. And she didn’t take stupid risks like I’ve seen some characters do. The ending made sense, even if I didn’t figure it out. Well, I figured out part of it. I’m looking forward to more books from this author. This was the third book in this series and I haven’t read the first two yet but had no trouble keeping up.
I received this book as a free ARC and am voluntarily leaving this review.

Oak Falls veterinarian Dr Kate and her assistant Mari were returning to the hospital from a call out when a man flagged them down. It was freezing with the snow and ice surrounding them all, but when they were told he'd discovered a body, Kate and Mari walked through the snow to check it out. After siting the body, they then came across a young woman dead in the frozen lake, just below the surface. The young couple were engaged to be married, and at first it seemed like a murder suicide, but when the Chief of Police declared both deaths murder, the small town was in shock. Within days, Dr Kate and Mari returned to the hospital, only to discover their temporary receptionist deceased inside. What was going on? Were the three deaths connected?

In between Kate rescuing a crow that flew into her door, and treating a sweet little pup she named Bella, plus the many other treatments and surgeries, Kate investigated the deaths, digging deeply. Her new friend, Dr Mike, a large animal vet, encouraged her in her endeavours - but would they discover who had murdered the three people? And was Kate putting herself in danger?

Murders of a Feather is the 3rd in the Dr. Kate Vet Mysteries by Eileen Brady and I loved it! Filled to the brim with many animals, both small and large, with some weird and wonderful diagnoses, the three main characters - Dr Kate, Mari and Cindy - were exceptional. I realised I'd read #2 before this one, but not #1, so I purchased that one today. Looking forward to it - and #4 later on down the track. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.