Excerpt from Panthers Play for Keeps

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, read the rules at A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along!

I am listening to Panthers Play for Keeps, by Clea Simon. I have previously read Parrots Prove Deadly. Both are part of the Pru Marlowe series. Pru is a dog walker/animal psychic who stumbles across dead bodies much like Jessica Fletcher in Murder She Wrote. A light, enjoyable series.

I honestly did have a job to do, and once again I was reminded of why I prefer animals. They’re direct. Honest. If they have an agenda, they let you know right away. Even if that involves eating you for lunch. Once they pounce, they don’t try to make small talk.

Clea Simon, Panthers Play for Keeps

When Pru Marlowe takes a dog for a walk, she doesn’t expect to find a body. But Spot, a service dog in training, has too good a nose not to lead her to the mangled body of a young woman. Despite her own best instincts, Pru can’t avoid getting involved.

The young woman seems to have been mauled by a wild cat—and Pru knows there have been no pumas in the Berkshire woods for years. Wallis, Pru’s curmudgeonly tabby, seems fixated on the idea of a killer cat, but Spot suggests that the violent death was something more than a tragic animal attack.

As motives multiply, a cougar of a different sort sets her eyes on Pru’s sometime lover, and another woman disappears. With panther panic growing, Pru may have to put aside her own issues—and her own ideas of domesticity—to solve a savage mystery.

P.D. Workman Authorpreneur

P.D. Workman is a USA Today Bestselling author and multi-award winner, renowned for her prolific output of over 100 published works that span various genres. With a knack for crafting page-turners, Workman captivates readers with everything from cozy mysteries like the Auntie Clem's Bakery series to gripping young adult and suspense novels. Her stories resonate deeply as she masterfully weaves sensitive themes—such as childhood trauma, mental illness, and addiction—into compelling narratives that evoke a powerful emotional response. Readers are drawn to her unique voice and empathetic portrayal of complex issues. With each new release, fans eagerly anticipate another thrilling blend of thought-provoking storytelling and relatable characters that define P.D. Workman’s brand as an author of unforgettable page-turners—gripping tales that leave a lasting impact long after the last page is turned.

See Full Bio

Mystery and suspense fiction Young adult crime thrillers Character-driven storytelling Cozy Mysteries Mental health and trauma in fiction Resilience and personal growth themes Indie publishing Writing craft and novel development Obsidian for writers and authors Forensic and medical thriller research Social issues in contemporary fiction Psychological thrillers Traditional mysteries Police procedural mysteries Characters with disabilities

Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews

March 11, 2015 at 1:23 pm

This sounds great! I hope you’re enjoying it 🙂

nadz2014

March 10, 2015 at 4:27 pm

So true. Love the teaser. Here is mine
http://totallyaddictedtoreading.blogspot.com/2015/03/teaser-tuesday-7.html

cleopatralovesbooks

March 10, 2015 at 1:29 pm

This sounds fun and I love the teaser, dogs making small talk would be something worth seeing! Thanks for visiting my Tuesday Post https://cleopatralovesbooks.wordpress.com/2015/03/10/4158/