Thursday, October 31, 2013

Book Review: Halloween Hijinks by Kathi Daley

Halloween Hijinks (Zoe Donovan Mystery Book 1)


Blurb: Amid a backdrop of zombies on the run and Halloween festivities, animal control officer Zoe Donovan is faced with losing something she loves in order to save someone she loves when she finds a dead body in the basement of a haunted house just two days before Halloween. With the help of her best friends, Levi and Ellie, and her dog Charlie, she delves into a mystery as complex and multilayered as the feelings she develops for her ex-nemesis Zak Zimmerman. Halloween Hijinks is the perfect recipe, combining holiday fun with a touch of humor, a pinch of romance, and a dollop of murder.

My Review: I always feel sorry for people who don't get to experience all four seasons, and reading a book like this reminds me why I love fall so much. It's a regular fall-a-palooza!

I loved the fact that Zoe is an animal control officer with several rescue pets of her own, including dog Charlie, orange tabby Marlow, and black kitty Spade. Her alpine town of Ashton Falls in celebrating their annual Haunted Hamlet, a four-day event featuring a haunted barn, maze, zombie run and pumpkin patch. Football fever is in the air too. Then a call to respond to a howling dog complaint at the haunted Henderson place leads Zoe to find the town rival's football coach dead in the basement.

I found myself completely transported by the small town atmosphere in this book, from the characters to the setting to the yummy, cozy recipes at the end. I'm so excited that the second in the series, The Trouble with Turkeys, is already out, and a Christmas book will soon be out too! I can't wait to spend more time with Zoe, her pets, her friends, and finding out what the future holds for her.



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