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The Llama of Death
The Gunn Zoo Mysteries (Book 3)
- Author
- Betty Webb
- Narrator
- Hillary Huber
- Publisher
- Blackstone Publishing
- Publish Date
- 1 January 2013
- Run Time
- 9 hours 14 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
What to expect
Theodora "Teddy" Bentley, zookeeper at the Gunn Zoo, takes the zoos llama, Alejandro, to a Renaissance fair in the Monterey Bay area. That is where Teddy discovers the still-warm body of the Reverend Victor Emerson, owner of the local wedding chapel, dressed in his costume as Henry the Eighth. At first it appears that Alejandro stomped the man to death, but a closer look shows a crossbow dart in the man's back.
Teddy's investigation reveals that Reverend Victor wasn't really a reverend at all but an escaped convict, which means that every marriage he performed in the past twenty years is null and void.
Teddy's mother, Caro, a spoiled ex–beauty queen, becomes the chief murder suspect and is immediately jailed when she causes a riot in the courtroom. The "reverend" had twice married Caro to wealthy men, and when both marriages failed, Caro received large financial settlements that she may now have to give back—certainly a motive for murder.
But Caro wasn't the only person gunning for Victor. The child of the man that Victor the convict once murdered may have wanted to kill him too. Then even Teddy herself is handcuffed and jailed. Even worse, Teddy's embezzling father flies in from exile in Costa Rica to help spring Caro from jail, putting his own freedom in jeopardy.
As Teddy continues her investigation, she finds herself up to her ears in Renaissance fair actors and stuntmen, assorted animals, squabbling boat live-aboarders, and gang members.
Critics Review
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“Zookeeper Theodora ‘Teddy’ Bentley’s human relationships prove more taxing than her animal ones in Webb’s amusing third Gunn Zoo mystery…Animal lore and human foibles spiced with a hint of evil test Teddy’s patience and crime solving in this appealing cozy.”
Publishers Weekly
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“Quirky characters and the zookeeper frame story add zest to this engaging cozy mystery that will appeal to fans of Donna Andrews’ Meg Langslow mysteries.”
Booklist
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“A renaissance faire provides both the setting and the weapon for a murder…Webb’s zoo-based series is informative about the habits of the zoo denizens and often amusing.”
Kirkus Reviews
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“Webb’s third zoo series entry winningly melds a strong animal story with an engaging cozy amateur sleuth tale. Set at a relaxed pace with abundant zoo filler, the title never strays into too-cute territory, instead presenting the real deal.”
Library Journal
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“Readers who love animals, are interested in zoos, and who can keep up with the more than twenty characters will like this breezy mystery story…Hillary Huber reads the book in her usual, excellent, fully voiced manner. She has a great ironic tone in her voice throughout, which is most suitable for this story of murder and mayhem.”
SoundCommentary.com
User Reviews
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Details
- Author
- Betty Webb
- Narrator
- Hillary Huber
- Duration
- 9 hours 14 minutes
- Release Date
- 1 January 2013
- ISBN
- 9781481593144
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Blackstone Publishing
- Genre
- Crime and mystery fiction, Crime and mystery: women sleuths
Synopsis
Theodora "Teddy" Bentley, zookeeper at the Gunn Zoo, takes the zoos llama, Alejandro, to a Renaissance fair in the Monterey Bay area. That is where Teddy discovers the still-warm body of the Reverend Victor Emerson, owner of the local wedding chapel, dressed in his costume as Henry the Eighth. At first it appears that Alejandro stomped the man to death, but a closer look shows a crossbow dart in the man's back.Teddy's investigation reveals that Reverend Victor wasn't really a reverend at all but an escaped convict, which means that every marriage he performed in the past twenty years is null and void.Teddy's mother, Caro, a spoiled ex–beauty queen, becomes the chief murder suspect and is immediately jailed when she causes a riot in the courtroom. The "reverend" had twice married Caro to wealthy men, and when both marriages failed, Caro received large financial settlements that she may now have to give back—certainly a motive for murder.But Caro wasn't the only person gunning for Victor. The child of the man that Victor the convict once murdered may have wanted to kill him too. Then even Teddy herself is handcuffed and jailed. Even worse, Teddy's embezzling father flies in from exile in Costa Rica to help spring Caro from jail, putting his own freedom in jeopardy.As Teddy continues her investigation, she finds herself up to her ears in Renaissance fair actors and stuntmen, assorted animals, squabbling boat live-aboarders, and gang members.
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