Merry Merry Merry Murder

A Merry Holliday Mystery

“Andi Clark uses her therapy animals to offer comfort when needed to the residents of the small town of Auburn, Oregon. Cocoa, a brown and white border collie, Athena, a Golden Retriever/Pyrenees, Lulu, a Chiweenie, Flopsie, a brown and white Holland bunny, Chicklet, a brown and tan checkerboard silky hen, Sparky, a tan paint mini donkey, and Cupcake, a black and white pygmy goat travel with Andi to schools, nursing homes, hospitals, and events like the annual Christmas Craft Bazaar for the petting zoo. Young and old at the bazaar love getting up close and personal with the animals, but one little girl saw something very upsetting and cuddled up with Athena and told her all about it.

The Tree Lighting Ceremony brings most of the town’s residents out to watch. When the tree fails to illuminate as expected, a scream rings out, causing Cocoa to pull Andi behind the tree to find the little girl’s mother dead with a string of Christmas lights tightly around her neck.

A murder turns the town’s merry holiday celebration into a tragic, dismal affair. Andi knows her animals will comfort those in shock, but finding the killer is the number one priority. She, along with niece Deputy Bailey Harper, know the people of the community and will be able to unravel the secrets from the lies, better than the new sheriff, but could the killer really be someone they know? Will the killer come after them?

The therapy animals theme is a big winner for me. While my dog has not yet been designated as a therapy animal, I am very familiar with the way our pets tune into our emotions and are there when we need them. Through my cancer treatments and other recent medical maladies, she has been by my side, comforting me as only she could. She is a good listener, too, yes, I talk to my pup.

Merry Merry Merry Murder has set this series off to a fantastic start. A merry holiday mystery! I am now invested in Andi’s life and excited to see what Ms. Jager has planned for her and her lovable therapy animals next. A Perfect Escape!”  Lori Caswell /Dollycas

“My first time reading one of Ms. Jager’s books and I wasn’t disappointed. You won’t know the killer ’til the end. Love all the dogs and others too. Recommended.” — Christmas Angel

“Author Paty Jager has started a brand new series featuring a female protagonist who has found her niche in training and working with support animals. This is a terrific addition to her other wonderful murder mystery stories. Discovering the heroine’s activities prior to returning home, however, begs the question of whether we will get that series as well? As you can tell from the title, this is a Christmas themed story, so NOW is the perfect time to start reading. I’m sure it is clear I was already a Paty Jager fan before I even picked up this volume, and I am more than happy to strongly recommend this interesting interplay among childhood memories and friendships, family dynamics, and small town shenanigans. I’ve also had a chance, now, to listen to the audiobook, which really brought the story alive for me, all over again!

But wait! There’s MORE! Now out in audio format and engagingly read!” — BetaBabe