Never Say Sty

“An incredible writer who creates believable, intelligent characters.
Double Dog Dare
has a fun-filled, suspenseful story line that contains intrigue, mystery, murder, lots and lots of animals, and humor. Ms. Johnston’s wit, pacing, and dialogue make this cozy entry into the Pet-Sitter series a surefire winner.”—
Fresh Fiction

“[A] fast and fun read.”
—New Mystery Reader

The Fright of the Iguana

“Wonderful . . . I always enjoy the pet-sitting antics in this series. The author has done a great job of making the reader care about the animals. Plus their personalities really shine through. The Southern California [setting] is enjoyable as well.”
—Mystery Lovers Corner

Meow Is for Murder

“A humorous, cleverly constructed murder mystery . . . Intelligent . . . with an eccentric cast that infuses the plot with a sense of jocularity and pets that readers would love to adopt.”
—Midwest Book Review

“Kendra is such a fun . . . likable character. [There’s] plenty of humor along with a well-plotted cozy mystery.”

—Mystery Lovers Corner

Fine-Feathered Death

“A wonderful new addition to the ranks of amateur detectives . . . The well-timed humor . . . sets it above the current crowded crop of cozy mystery series. Johnston’s ability to blend pet love, mystery, and romance into one well-wrapped package makes this a summer treat for mystery and pet lovers alike.”
—Front Street Reviews

“Exciting . . . Johnston is a creative storyteller who not only writes a fascinating mystery but also creates a deep character study.”
—Books ’n’ Bytes

“A fast-paced who-done-it . . . Kendra is a fun character, and her supporting friends and assorted critters make an enjoyable read.”
—Fresh Fiction

“You’ll laugh out loud! Don’t read it when you have to be quiet!”
—Mystery Lovers Corner

Nothing to Fear but Ferrets

“Linda O. Johnston has a definite talent for infusing humor in just the right places . . . Pet lovers and amateur sleuth fans will find this series deserving of an award as well as a place on the bestseller lists.”
—Midwest Book Review

Sit, Stay, Slay

“Very funny and exciting . . . Worthy of an award nomination . . . The romance in this novel adds spice to a very clever crime thriller.”
—The Best Reviews

“A brilliantly entertaining new puppy caper, a doggie-filled who-done-it . . . Johnston’s novel is a real pedigree!”

—Dorothy Cannell

“Pet-sitter sleuth Kendra Ballantyne is up to her snake-draped neck in peril in Linda O. Johnston’s hilarious debut mystery
Sit, Stay, Slay
. Witty, wry, and highly entertaining.”

—Carolyn Hart

Berkley Prime Crime titles by Linda O. Johnston

SIT, STAY, SLAY
NOTHING TO FEAR BUT FERRETS
FINE-FEATHERED DEATH
MEOW IS FOR MURDER
THE FRIGHT OF THE IGUANA
DOUBLE DOG DARE
NEVER SAY STY

THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP
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Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

NEVER SAY STY

A Berkley Prime Crime Book / published by arrangement with the author

PRINTING HISTORY
Berkley Prime Crime mass-market edition / April 2009

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

For information, address: The Berkley Publishing Group,
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375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

eISBN : 978-1-101-03197-1

BERKLEY® PRIME CRIME
Berkley Prime Crime Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.
BERKLEY® PRIME CRIME and PRIME CRIME logo are trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

http://us.penguingroup.com

There’s usually a time gap between when a book’s manuscript is completed and when it’s published, or so Kendra has been told by Linda. Even though belatedly, they want to give the following acknowledgments:

Thanks to Peggy Wimberly, secretary, newsletter editor, and web manager of SCAMPP (the Southern California Association of Miniature Potbellied Pigs) for her prompt response to Linda’s e-mailed inquiry about potbellied pigs, and for putting her in touch with Marlies Reno.

Special thanks to Marlies Reno for her invitation to visit her home and potbellied pig rescue facility, her unstinting answering of questions about potbellies, and her forwarding of the most delightful photos of adorable piggy noses.

All the best to
Arfriend, a Resource Guide for Human & Animal Friends
, and its founder and president, Janet Cole. Mooch, one of the pups who appears in this book, was the winner of the contest at the Arfriend booth at the 2007 West Hollywood Book Fair.

Ever so many thanks to Michelle Vega, who’d just become Linda’s new editor around the time she was writing this book. Michelle’s enthusiasm and excellent advice have helped Kendra’s adventures keep coming.

A belated but heartfelt public welcome to the world to Blake Alexander Bartlett, son of Linda’s outstanding agent, Paige Wheeler, and her delightful husband, Drew Bartlett.

And speaking of delightful husbands, Linda, as always, wants to acknowledge how special hers is, so here we go again—and Kendra agrees. Fred, you’re the greatest! But don’t let it go to your head.

Another belated but very special welcome to our family to Tara, Linda’s older son Eric’s wife.

—
Kendra Ballantyne/Linda O. Johnston

P.S. A very special acknowledgment to our inspirations, our Lexies, and a welcome to a Cavalier puppy named Mystie, a recent addition to Linda’s family.

Chapter One

“IT’S SOOO PERFECT, Kendra,” piped my pet-sitting assistant, Rachel Preesinger, into my ear. Or, rather, into her cell phone, as I listened to mine, propped between my shoulder and my bent head.

I was sitting in my office at the law firm of Yurick & Associates, staring at my computer. I’d been drafting a bruiser of a brief for a motion in a senior citizen case I was handling for my boss, buddy, and firm’s senior partner, Borden Yurick. And, okay, I admit it: my mind wasn’t exactly focused on my other incarnation and adored career—pet-sitter.

But Rachel’s words absolutely yanked my attention back to animals. “What’s perfect?” I asked.

“Haven’t you been listening?” I could almost see the pout on the pretty twenty-year-old’s face. She’d just had a birthday, so my chief helper—and daughter of the primary tenant of the large house on the property the bank and I owned—was no longer a teenager. That didn’t make her mature, of course.

“Er . . . not entirely.”

“Well, great. You put me into this fabulous situation, told me to work closely with Charlotte LaVerne so we can get
Animal Auditions
off the ground, and—”

“That’s the name now?” I inquired, my concentration finally focused. “Cute, but not as catchy as I’d hoped.”

“Well, you come up with something better, then.” I felt her fuming over the phone.

I swiveled in my desk chair and stared out my office window into the crowded parking lot. Not much to see there but cars—including that stupid little sedan I was still renting—but at least it was better than trying to concentrate on my computer screen.

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