The Koala of Death

by Betty Webb

Overview

When zookeeper Theodora "Teddy" Bentley fishes the body of Koala Kate out of Gunn Landing Harbor, she discovers that her fellow zookeeper didn't drown; she was strangled. The clues to Kate's killer implicate other animal keepers at Gunn Zoo, including Outback Bill, marsupial keeper and Kate's Aussie ex-boyfriend; and Robin Chase, the big cat keeper who's got it in for Teddy. Also displaying suspicious behavior are several "liveaboarders" at the harbor; Speaks-To-Souls, a shady "animal psychic;" and even Caro, Teddy's much-married, ex-beauty queen mother.

But murderers aren't all Teddy has to worry about. Her embezzling father is still on the run from the Feds, and the motor on her houseboat is failing. To pay for the repairs, Teddy agrees to appear on a weekly live television broadcast featuring misbehaving animals that range from a cuddly koala to a panicky wallaby - and all hell breaks loose in the TV studio. All the while, the killer is narrowing in on Teddy....

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781615952526
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	04/02/2024
Series:	Gunn Zoo Series , #2
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	277
Sales rank:	145,855
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

As a journalist, Betty Webb interviewed U.S. presidents, astronauts, and Nobel Prize winners, as well as the homeless, dying, and polygamy runaways. The dark Lena Jones mysteries are based on stories she covered as a reporter. Betty's humorous Gunn Zoo series debuted with the critically acclaimed The Anteater of Death, followed by The Koala of Death. A book reviewer at Mystery Scene Magazine, Betty is a member of National Federation of Press Women, Mystery Writers of America, and the National Organization of Zoo Keepers.

Editorial Reviews

"Teddy's second case showcases an engaging array of quirky characters, human and animal."

Kirkus Reviews - null null

“Teddy’s second adventure will appeal to animal lovers who enjoy a bit of social satire with their mystery.”

Book List

“From mucking out the cages to carrying a lemur with a loose sphincter onto a TV set, Teddy's adventures will appeal to fans of animal-themed cozies.”

Library Journal

“Webb warmly evokes the unconventional worlds of zoo and marina. Readers don't even have to be animal lovers to enjoy watching, say, a pushy television host get her comeuppance from a mischievous lemur."

Publishers Weekly

"Teddy's second adventure will appeal to animal lovers who enjoy a bit of social satire with their mystery. Pair this series with Ann Littlewood's Iris Oakley novels, also starring a zookeeper."

Booklist

The body of one zookeeper provides a workout for the brain of another. Zookeeper Teddy Bentley comes from a wealthy family but chooses to live on an old converted trawler in Gunn Landing Harbor. After the strangled corpse of Koala Kate appears alongside her home, Teddy reluctantly agrees to assume Kate's job as TV personality and blogger. Several other zookeepers who actually want the gig are even less happy than Teddy. But Teddy's boyfriend Sheriff Joe Rejas hopes it will keep her too busy to stick her nose into the investigation. Teddy's wealthy, much-married mother Caro is determined to find her daughter a husband up to Caro's standards (i.e., not Joe). Ignoring both Joe and her mother's wishes and the burden of her extra work, Teddy continues to care for the animals she loves, especially Wanchu the Koala. The suspects in Kate's murder include Aster Edwina, the patroness of the Gunn Zoo; an animal psychic who helped Caro's nasty Chihuahua reform his ways; Outback Bill, who was recently dumped by Kate and is actually arrested for the murder; and other human denizens of the zoo. Shrugging off pressure from her loved ones, Teddy won't give up, even though her own life is in danger and the motive for murder comes out of left field. Teddy's second case (The Anteater of Death, 2008) showcases an engaging array of quirky characters, human and animal.

Kirkus Reviews