Hare Today, Dead Tomorrow (Reigning Cats & Dogs Mysteries, No. 4)

by Cynthia Baxter

Book Overview

Can a vet detective catch a killer who's hopping mad? Veterinarian and amateur sleuth Jessica Popper races down the rabbit hole and into a vintage case of passion and betrayal in Long Island's elite... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0553588435
• Release Date: April 2006
• Publisher: Bantam
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.8" x 1.0" x 4.3"

Customer Reviews

The vet in the van wins again!

Dr. Popper is a veterinarian who does house calls with her van. Her work provides the perfect excuse for snooping around other people's homes. I like Dr. Popper's independence, her reluctance to commit to her guy, her love of animals, and her edgy escapades. In this case, she needs to find the real killer when her vet-friend is arrested for murdering her ex-fiance's fiance. Mystery. Surprises. Laughter. Another entry in a fun series.

Series Improves With Each Book

I've read several books in this series and find this to be the best so far (I haven't read the latest book). I only have one real complaint: I just don't like Jessie's boyfriend, Nick Burby. He's demanding, impatient, and has the emotional maturity of a 14 year old. He doesn't really seem to respect her or her feelings and I find it really annoying. He has no wit, no sense of humor and just doesn't seem to really like Jessie for herself. On the other hand, the reporter guy, whose name I forget, is witty and seems to like Jessie fine the way she is. I hope he reappers in future books.

An unpredictable addition to the genre that will keep the reader begging for more of Jessica...

On the North Fork of Long Island harvesters are working to gather grapes, and begin preparing some of the most delicious wines a mouth could ever taste. But on top of merlot and chardonnay, this season's crop includes one very to-die-for specialty...murder. The victim being the heiress to one of the North Fork's biggest and most prestigious wineries. And, as if that weren't enough to get Jess's wheels turning, the fact that her best friend is the prime suspect in the case, definitely has. Now, between working to keep her menagerie - including the one-eyed Dalmatian, Lou; a tiger kitten named Tink; and a tailless Westie named Max - calm, Jess is trying to get over her commitment-phobic ways, and adjust to the fact that her long-time boyfriend - and first-year law student - Nick Burby, is now living with her. But even the prospect of living in such close quarters with the harried Nick proves easy compared to the crazy twists and turns she's encountered as she plays a game of cat and mouse, trying to catch the killer, and clear her friend's name. Now, it's up to Jess to beat the killer at their game, as they set out to set Jess up for something that she never could have expected...her own death. And if she's not careful, and doesn't reveal the identity of the killer in the nick of time, she may just be dealing with something new - being six-feet under. From the first time I picked up one of Cynthia Baxter's REIGNING CATS AND DOGS MYSTERIES, I knew that she had crafted something special, and that ingeniousness has only grown with each new installment in this spectacular series. Jessica Popper, as always, is exuberant, and lights up the pages of HARE TODAY, DEAD TOMORROW, as she plays the amateur sleuth - with smarts, sassiness, and a little bit of trickery - and lands herself smack dab in the middle of a whirlwind of a roller coaster ride that takes her all over Long Island. Baxter's descriptions of Long Island, from the North Fork, to the LIE (Long Island Expressway), to various hot spots dotting the community, make for an enjoyable thrill ride that will leave the reader gripping the edge of their seats. An impeccable, unpredictable addition to the amateur sleuth genre that will keep the reader begging - pardon the pun - for more of Jessica and her adorable menagerie of pets - and human pals! Erika Sorocco Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

delightful amateur sleuth

Veterinarian Dr. Jessica Popper has a mobile practice using her van as her office in which she travels to her patients. She has so far also solved three homicide investigations. The last one got her poisoned and she had to stay in the hospital for forty-eight hours after getting her stomach pumped. When she gets out of the hospital all she wants to do is go home to bed but a call from her best friend and fellow vet Suzanne Fox has her going to her pal's house instead. Suzanne tells Jessica that she is a suspect in the stabbing death of the fianc?e of her ex-husband because she was seen coming out of her home shortly before the body was discovered. A neighbor gave a description of Suzanne to the police. To make matters worse, Suzanne lied to the police, claiming she was never in the woman's house. The police know she lied to them and certain other evidence makes Suzanne the prime suspect forcing Jessica to start her own investigation to find the killer so she can clear her friend who she believes is innocent. The latest "Reigning Cats and Dogs Mystery" is a very entertaining who done it. Cynthia Baxter has a knack for creating eccentric and dysfunctional characters who add humor even when they become prime suspects. The heroine is very easy to like as she not only stands by her friend but does all she can, even risks her own life, to prevent Suzanne from being arrested. Fans will appreciate the delightful amateur sleuth HARE TODAY, DEAD TOMORROW. Harriet Klausner