A BISCUIT, A CASKET is Book 2 in Liz Mugavero's charming Pawsitively Organic cozy mystery series. Kristan "Stan" Connor is continuing to make a go of her organic treats for animals in her new home base of Frog Ledge, Connecticut. One of the things that make this series so enjoyable is Stan herself. She's very relatable, not in any way abrasive or annoying but yet not a pushover. Equally as likable are the animals in this story--Stan's dogs Henry and Scruffy and cat Nutty, as well as Jake's dog Duncan. These animals are great supporting characters in their own right.

A BISCUIT, A CASKET opens with Stan about to host a doggie party. The grisly death of a local farmer on the same farm that is hosting the doggie party puts a damper on the event. I like that Liz Mugavero gives a reasonable explanation for Stan's involvement in the case, as well as a legitimate way for her to investigate without being a nuisance. In A BISCUIT, A CASKET, the author makes the grief of the victim's family very real, particularly with the victim's children. The subplot involving Stan's visiting mother didn't distract from the mystery or the enjoyment of the book. The number and variety of suspects kept me guessing right up until the end. In addition to the mystery itself, I enjoyed the supporting characters like Char, Brenna, and Jake. I love the romantic interest between Stan and Jake and hope it continues in future books. I also like how the author tied up some loose threads with characters from the previous book.

A BISCUIT, A CASKET is a wonderful cozy mystery with likable characters, a good story, charming pets, and a pinch of romance. I very much look forward to the next book in this entertaining series, Pawsitively Organic, as well as other books Liz Mugavero might write in the future.

Book Summary

The small town of Frog Ledge, Connecticut, has wholeheartedly embraced Kristan "Stan" Connor's new business--preparing quality organic treats for dogs and cats. On a healthy diet, the animals may live longer. . .but one local farmer won't be so lucky.

As Halloween approaches, Stan is asked to cater a doggie costume party hosted by the Happy Cow Dairy Farm. Part of a local co-op, Happy Cow specializes in organic dairy products, and farmers Hal and Emmalee Hoffman have started opening up the farm for parties, offering a "haunted" corn maze as an added attraction.

When Hal's lifeless body is found in the maze, the police at first suspect his wife, but Stan soon learns the dairy farmer had plenty of enemies--from bitter family members to shady business associates. If Stan can't extract a kernel of truth from the labyrinth of lies, she may be the next one to buy the farm. . .