About
Reviews
Search
Submit
Home

Mystery Books for Sale

[ Home ]
[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]


  

MONKEY SEE, MONKEY DIE
by Cynthia Baxter
Bantam, July 2008
368 pages
$6.99
ISBN: 0553590375


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

Many years ago, Jessica Popper knew Erin Walsh in veterinary school. Though they were friends, they lost touch after graduation. Therefore Jessie is surprised to be getting a phone call from her before six in the morning. Jessie agrees to meet Erin at a nearby diner; however, Erin does not show up. Jessie is quite annoyed by this seeming rudeness but her opinion changes when she learns Erin died shortly after speaking with her.

Even though her wedding is in a couple of weeks and she is training an assistant, Sunny McGee, Jessie cannot help but start digging into Erin's death. Erin's husband, Ben, seems to believe everything was wonderful in their marriage; even though they had both gone against the ideals they had held as vet students. Her sister, Kimberly, on the other hand, believes that Erin’s marriage was falling apart and that Erin was murdered. Kimberly gives Jessie a napkin that Erin had left in a coat she had borrowed from Kimberly. This napkin has several abbreviations that they are unable to identify. In addition to this clue, Kimberly points her towards several people to question.

Erin had been volunteering at the New York Zoo helping a renowned primate specialist, Dr Annalise Zacarias. Dr Zacharias might be a well-known figure but she is rather prickly and difficult to work for and some of her research and activities border on the illegal. Did Erin threaten to blow the whistle on her? Then there is Walter Weiner, a collector of poisonous creatures and Erin's lover. Did Erin try to end the relationship and was she then murdered when Walter refused to accept her decision? And finally there is Donald Drayton. Drayton and Ben are partners in a pet store chain. Jessie does not find the pet stores 'customer friendly' and quickly discovers that Drayton is involved in exotic animal smuggling. Did Donald - and possibly her husband - decide that Erin must be stopped before exposing their profitable but illegal activities?

The focus of this book is a little different from others in the series as it focuses on a large international crime rather than on a crime limited to Jessica's locality. MONKEY SEE, MONKEY DIES looks into the smuggling of exotic animals and some of the ramifications of this trade. Though the book does not go into great depth, it does provide a solid overview of the situation and the organizations trying to prevent this illegal activity. Admittedly the smuggling involved in the plot is not as secure as it most likely is in real life but the basics seem accurate. With an activity so illegal, I cannot image that the smugglers would share such information without doing background checks and other precautions to prevent expose and arrest.

MONKEY SEE, MONKEY DIE also resolves many of the relationship issues that appeared in WHO’S KITTEN WHO? Jessie is able to make the necessary decisions regarding her future, her career, and her relationship with Nick and his family. Jessie may be still scared of commitment, but she seems to accept the fact that those around her do not have the same fears. In addition, Nick is able to be supportive of her investigative instincts. While he does not want her to put herself in danger, he finally seems to understand that she cannot stand aside when confronted by a mystery. The fact that Jessie will most likely continue to get into dangerous situations is something that still needs to be resolved between them. While this is not the focus of the book, I am glad that Jessie and Nick seem to have settled some of their relationship issues.

Reviewed by Sarah Dudley, July 2008

[ Top ]


QUICK SEARCH:

 

Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]
[ Home ]