Trapped and Tested

DeeLo Myer Cat Rescue Mystery, #2

by

Sharon Marchisello

A great follow-up to the first book in the series!

Trapped and Tested is the second book in author Sharon Marchisello’s intriguing and informative DeeLo Myer Cat Rescue Mystery series and is a great follow-up to the debut novel, Trap, Neuter, Die. The suspense gets going right away with DeeLo’s niece, Demi, getting notice of a DNA relative match and the pair’s late-night discovery of an assault victim near the site of DeeLo’s current TNVR (Trap, neuter, vaccinate, and return) project. 

Demi Myer, the daughter of DeeLo’s older sister, Desiree, has long been curious about the identity of her birth father, a question her mother has steadfastly refused to answer. When she matches with a previously unknown half-brother, Kwintone Johnson, on a genealogical site, she includes DeeLo in her efforts to get to know him. He, too, is searching for his birth father, and may have found the answer for them both. But there’s something about Kwintone that doesn’t sit well with DeeLo; his secretive behavior, evasive answers, and too-smooth personality make her suspect his intentions, and when he signs up to do community service with her TNVR program, arriving far too late to help and leaving early, her opinion of him doesn’t improve. Leaving the site for the night, DeeLo finds his car abandoned on a nearby road, his cellphone inside, and no sign of Kwintone. Alarmed when he doesn’t soon return, she and Demi search the nearby area only to find a badly wounded man instead, whose cellphone shows Kwintone’s number as his last caller. 

In the meantime, DeeLo is struggling with her relationship with Barry, who is spending an inordinate amount of time and effort assisting his devious and unpleasant ex-wife, Victoria, with her campaign for an empty seat on the county’s board of commissioners. Victoria is no fan of DeeLo’s, and the feeling is mutual. But Barry suddenly seems blind to Victoria’s nastiness and may be a little too willing to lend his support. 

I love that DeeLo has really settled into her new life in Pecan Point, with her newly adopted cat, Manny, her volunteer work, and spending time with her mother, who is in memory care. She has taken charge of and champions the TNVR program every chance she gets and hasn’t given up on her mission to update the county’s outdated laws regarding the care and processes involving stray animals. She sees some light at the end of the tunnel in a rival candidate for commissioner, Zach Kirkpatrick, a seemingly perfect counterpoint to Victoria, and jumps at the chance to volunteer on his campaign, putting an additional strain on her personal relationship with Barry. Barry, on the other hand, is walking a treacherous path if he wants to do right by her. 

While Demi is only a year’s difference in age, she almost seems to come from a much younger generation. Both she and Kwintone are reluctant to share needed information with DeeLo, while expecting a lot in return from her. Their repeated avoidance of giving a straight answer is frustrating not only to DeeLo but to me as well! 

The story unfolds quickly, and I became invested in DeeLo’s life, struggles, and efforts to get answers right away. The little Town of Pecan Point gained more and more personality in this story as the locals debated their choices for the empty commissioner’s spot and all the proposed improvements for the future of their community. The author tackles the topic of animal testing head-on and offers a thought-provoking update on the current advancements that are making this horrible practice a thing of the past. There are several viable suspects to consider as DeeLo (and readers) work toward the final resolution of this latest case. 

I recommend TRAPPED AND TESTED to readers of cozy mysteries, especially those who enjoy stories featuring cats, feral cat colonies, and TNVR programs. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.