Helen’s current gig is at the Pampered Pet Boutique that caters to rich clients with more money than sense when it comes to their four-legged friends. On the day of Yorkie Prince’s birthday party, Helen delivers the dog after a relaxing (for the dog) day of pampering to find owner Tammie sunbathing in the nude, shocking enough, but Tammie also has a pair of #10 grooming scissors sticking out of her chest. In an attempt to pretend she was never at the house, Helen leads the police right to the pet salon to her and the two prima Donna groomers Jonathan and Todd.

Both men have secret pasts and both may have a prior connection to Tammie and her side-of-beef husband Kent, but Helen can’t see either of them killing Tammie. As if one dead body isn’t enough for Helen, she gives a superstar dog to his owner’s estranged husband and the next day the owner is dead. Now the Pampered Pet Boutique is receiving unwanted attention, the police are looking too closely at Helen for her comfort, and oh yeah, a hurricane is bearing down on Fort Lauderdale.

Filled with fabulous characters, Murder Unleashed is a fun mystery with something for everyone. Pet lovers will be delighted with the eccentrics who frequent the Pampered Pet. Others will enjoy the varied residents who inhabit Helen’s apartments, the Coronado, including Marge the seventy-something manager and a fresh-talking parrot.

The pace is fast moving, and there are many connections between the dead woman and customers and groomers, providing for many suspects. Helen remains a charming character, one readers will root for time and again. She may be getting tired of running as she begins to confront her past in order to ensure a future with hunky undercover agent Phil. Fun, sun and dead bodies are all ingredients for a great, quick read. Readers will be glad to hear Helen has landed a new job and will more likely than not run across another body in the not too distant future.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry