Collared

September 3, 2012
Fantasy writer Kornetsky’s charming first mystery introduces an enterprising heroine in Ginny Mallard, the owner of a fledgling concierge business in Seattle, Wash., and a supporting cast that includes a couple of four-footed friends. While having a drink in Mary’s, a neighborhood pub, Mary overhears realtor Walter Jacobs worrying aloud to the bartender, Teddy Tonica, about his uncle, Joe, and a batch of important papers, both of which are missing. Hoping to gain a new customer, Ginny volunteers to find Walter’s uncle and the documents, recruiting Teddy to help. Aiding in their search are the bar’s resident “mouser,” a gray tabby cat named Mistress Penny-Drops, and Georgie, Ginny’s half-grown puppy. Meanwhile, the two amateur human detectives trade banter and strike up a wary friendship. Vivid descriptions of Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood are a plus in a cozy tale that will draw in even those normally skeptical of animal-centered stories. Agent: Jennifer Jackson, DMLA.

November 1, 2012
A bartender and one of his regulars find themselves out of their league when they agree to do a shot of private-eye work for a customer. Virginia "Ginny" Mallard's the kind of person who notices things, even little things like when her regular bartender, Teddy Tonica, shorts a patron a finger of booze in his vodka tonic. Usually, this skill in observing suits Ginny in her job as a private concierge--it helps her notice the details for coordination that her clients love--but it may have gotten her in trouble with her latest job. When Ginny overhears a man at her local bar complaining about his missing Uncle Joe, she figures that a little private investigation can't be that much of a jump from her usual 9-to-5. To her surprise, Tonica agrees to help with the search. Walter "DubJay" Jacobs offers Ginny the basics on his uncle: The two run a corporate realty firm, and DubJay needs to find Joe in a few short days to file some paperwork. This all seems straightforward to Ginny, but when she receives a threatening text involving the case, she knows she'll be relying on Tonica more than she'd expected. After all, her only other ally is Georgie, a canine who's more cuddler than watchdog. Tonica's got some animal assistance, too, though he maintains that Penny is the bar's cat and not really his. As the case progresses, Ginny and Tonica find it more fraught than they anticipated. Thank goodness their pet pals have their backs. Cloying talk from companion animals obscures the budding human relationship in Kornetsky's bar cozy debut.

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October 1, 2012

Kornetsky, writing as Laura Anne Gilman, has authored several urban fantasy titles, but this is her first venture into the mystery genre. Ginny Mallard, the work-obsessed owner and sole employee of a private concierge company, has adopted a Shar-Pei puppy named Georgie. Meanwhile, Teddy Tonica, the laid-back bartender at the local establishment Ginny frequents, has been adopted by a stray cat he calls Mistress Penny-Drops. When Ginny overhears a man complaining to Teddy about his uncle and some missing documents, she jumps in with both feet, and she and Teddy are off on a missing-person case. Things don't smell quite right, but pride makes them stumble onward. Can they find the uncle in time for their payday? And will Georgie and Penny be able to help them? VERDICT The plot moves quickly, enhanced by smart dialog and good characterizations, but the ending is a little disappointing. Still, this is a fairly strong beginning to what should be an entertaining series. Recommended for purchase where pet mysteries are popular. --Susan Hayes, Chattahoochee Valley Libs., Columbus, GA

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