Megan and Brigitte are called to an apparent murder, a bloodbath. There is also a crooked contractor to catch. And Seth popped the question. She is learning to become a detective under Detective Jackson’s tutelage. ( )

Officer Megan Luz and her trusted K-9 partner Brigit are back in the 9th Paw Enforcement mystery! I love this series. Megan is a feisty, intelligent main character....and Brigit is capable and loyal! They are a well matched team! The plots are always entertaining and a nice mix of background story, investigation and humor.

This time, Megan and Brigit are called to a bloody crime scene. Despite all the gore and an obvious hint at a murder, there is no body. The duo also investigate some home repair scammers.

I love the fact that this series doesn't just have the point of view of the main character. Brigit gets to make her opinions and thoughts known, as do the bad guys. I don't usually go for POV flip-flopping, but in this series it really works! This newest book in the series kept my attention from start to finish. The story develops at a nice pace, and there are several side plots woven in as well. Never a dull moment!

I enjoyed this newest book, and look forward to the next!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St Martin's Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.** ( )

This crime was exceptionally well researched and thought out. A strong police procedural, Bridgit's point of view added humor and a cozy warmth. The main characters are strong females. The third viewpoint offered (Slasher) showed human weaknesses. You almost felt compassion.

As Megan and her K-9 partner are following the clues toward answers in their bloody kitchen case, another crime comes into play. An unhappy home owner claims she is being scammed and protests loudly that the police are not taking her seriously. She demands someone take action and keep her informed,

The descriptions are precise, the cases muddy enough to cause suspicion in many directions.
This crime novel will appeal to all ages and genders. ( )

Bending the Paw by Diane Kelly is the 9th A Paw Enforcement Novel. It can be read as a standalone, but you will be missing out on some entertaining cozy mysteries. I have read each book in this series and they just keep getting better. Plus, there is background information in the previous books that would enhance your understanding of the characters. The story is told from three different points-of-view: Megan, the antagonist (aka The Slasher), and Brigit. I just love Brigit’s chapters. I like getting her take on the situations plus they are amusing. There are a variety of secondary characters that include Seth (Megan’s boyfriend), Frankie (Megan’s roommate), Blast (Seth’s bomb sniffing dog), Derek (Megan’s former partner), and Detective Audrey Jackson (Megan’s mentor and role model). They are not as developed as our main characters, but they enhance the story. Megan Luz is a police officer in Fort Worth, Texas who works with her K9 partner, Brigit. Megan and Brigit make a great team (and Brigit is a step up from her last partner). I enjoyed the two mysteries in Bending the Paw. The death of Greg Olsen was a fun one to solve. It is an unusual whodunit for cozy mysteries. We get to follow Megan and Brigit as they work to solve this case. It is a police procedural mystery with Megan reviewing security footage, talking to people, digging through emails, and checking financials. The second mystery involving a roofer allowed Megan and Brigit a little more time on the street. There still was time spent searching for information, but Brigit gets a chance to stretch her legs. Megan and Seth’s romance is developing nicely. I like the direction of their relationship. Bending the Paw is a fun cozy mystery to read. I cannot wait for the next A Paw Enforcement Novel. Bending the Paw is an amusing cozy mystery with a crafty roofer, a crime scene conundrum, a sneaky slasher, beaucoup blood, lackluster leads, and a romantic proposition. ( )

Fans of cozy mystery books will enjoy this latest offering from author, Diane Kelly. Bending the Paw is the ninth book in this series. Which you can read these books as stand alone novels. I must admit that when I heard the title of this book by first instinct was to think if Game of Thornes. Maybe a little tongue in cheek reference to GOT with the title of this book.

Brigit is a huge part of what makes this series. She is an important part of these books. She is not just Megan's side kick but her partner. I enjoyed Brigit's voice though out the book but wished that her parts were a bit longer. Another aspect of this book that I liked was the "killer's voice. It kept the killer engaged as a character in this book and added to the intensity of the overall story. Fans of this series will not be disappointed with this book. I know if my dogs could speak they would give it two paws up as a recommendation. ( )