Support Your Local Pug by Lane Stone

Buckingham Pet Palace may provide services fit for a four-legged king, but there’s no use crying over spilled kibble—not unless it leads to murder!

When a break-in at the Pet Palace robs Sue Patrick of more than her beauty sleep, she intends to tidy her ransacked doggy daycare and spa before making any rash decisions. But after Sue abandons her better instincts to rescue a petrified pug stranded at a lighthouse in the Delaware Bay later that morning, she’s lured off mainland Lewes long enough for a freshly murdered body to get dumped in her driveway . . .

Aided by Lady Anthea Fitzwalter, her practically royal business partner from across the pond, Sue sniffs out clues about the yappy pug with a complicated history and the old car spotted at both crime scenes in hopes of IDing the culprit. As the investigation leads them back to the bay, the ladies soon find themselves immersed in a case trickier than a canine agility course—and chasing after a well-groomed killer who will do anything to maintain a perfect reputation . . .

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL PUG author Lane Stone took time out of her busy day to chat with The Big Thrill about her latest cozy mystery:

What do you hope readers will take away from this book?

I hope readers will laugh a lot reading the second book in the Pet Palace Mystery series and enjoy spending time with Sue Patrick and Lady Anthea.

No spoilers, but what can you tell us about your book that we won’t find in the jacket copy or the PR material?

The jacket copy doesn’t mention Sue and Chief Turner’s relationship. She’s not the kind of woman who needs a man in her life, but he’s being patient.

What authors or books have influenced your career as a writer, and why?

We all owe a debt to the masters, like Agatha Christie and Ngaio Marsh, but I also like learning from today’s writers. I read the Man Booker short listed books every year. It’s great literature and you’re supporting these authors by buying the books. I love to find authors bringing a new twist to the novel. I’m enjoying “sliding door” books right now. Just finished The Post-Birthday World by Lionel Shriver and I’ve begun Anything You Do Say by Gillian McAllister.

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Lane Stone and her husband, Larry Korb, divide their time between Lewes, DE and Alexandria, VA. When not writing, she enjoys characteristic baby boomer pursuits: volunteering for good causes and playing golf. Her volunteer work includes conducting home visits for A Forever Home, a dog foster organization, and media/communications for the Delaware River & Bay Lighthouse Foundation. She’s on the Political Science Advisory Board of Georgia State University.

Readers can visit her on her website.