The series is kicking off with pot-bellied pigs and two of the contestants are Detective Ned Noralles, with whom Kendra has butted heads on more than one occasion, and his sister Nita. Kendra doesn’t have time, nor a reason (yet) to spar with Ned as all her focus is on the show and its money man, Dante deFrancisco, to whom Kendra feels an instant and mutual, attraction. Kendra knows that getting involved with a business associate is a bad idea (she once had a disastrous relationship with a senior law partner), especially as Dante, and his money source, are very much mysteries.

There is a lot of enthusiasm from the participants until the panel of three celebrity judges express their opinion.  The first two offer gentle criticism and advice, but the third, Sebastian Czykovski, is very caustic with his comments, especially toward Ned and Nita who exchange heated comments with the judge.  When Sebastian is found murdered, strangled with a pot-bellied pig harness, Ned and his sister are the police’s primary suspects, in spite of the fact that the lead detective is Ned’s former partner. 

Given their past history and the fact that Kendra’s an amateur, she is very surprised when Ned turns to her and asks her help in uncovering the real murderer.  Kendra agrees, even if it means teaming up with ex-boyfriend, private eye Jeff Hubbard.

  Pet lovers will find a lot to enjoy in this mystery, but fans of the series may be a little disappointed with this entry.  Kendra has a very patient (attorney) boss and clients as she spends much of her time with her pet sitting clients and her new television venture.  She does deftly turn one legal client’s problem into business for a fellow pet sitter as she helps solve the problem of a lonely pup and a disgruntled neighbor. After being so quick to dispense with Jeff over a lack of trust issue, Kendra is quick to give in to her attraction to Dante even though she knows very little about him and has many misgivings regarding his secret past.   

The mystery is fairly easy to solve, though there is something about the commission and resolution that seems a bit unlikely.  Aside from her judgment in men, Kendra is a fun character, filled with a lot of life and energy, though she does utter the phrase “murder magnet” several times too often.  Pet lovers will enjoy all the attention lavished on the furry, and not so furry, animal characters.                                                                

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry