Susan McKinney: A new mystery with the animal psychic
Sun, 05/22/2016

“When Bunnies Go Bad” is the latest installment in the Pru Marlowe Pet Noir mysteries by Clea Simon.

Pru Marlowe is an animal psychic who fled from Manhattan to Beauville years ago when she suddenly developed her powers.

She has a curmudgeon of a cat named Wallis that assists her in solving the mysteries. Wallis the cat is the only one that knows the whole truth about Pru and her past.

Pru is attempting to deal with Henry, a supposedly tame rabbit that has gone wild that lives illegally with an 84-year-old lady, when the newest murder happens.

Pru and her sometimes boyfriend, Detective Creighton, are trying to enjoy a steak dinner when their attention (and everyone else’s in the restaurant) is drawn to a loud, obnoxious man who is verbally abusing his waiter and his female companion.

It’s no surprise to Pru when he is found murdered. However, the snow bunny, Cheryl Ginger, whom he was verbally abusing, is the main suspect, and Pru is asked to take care of the woman’s spaniel.

Caring for Pudgy, the spaniel, drags Pru into the middle of a murder investigation that will bring out the news that an old enemy has resurfaced in her life, involve some of her new friends in Beauville and bring out information about her own past.

Pru doesn’t just have a murder and spaniel on her hands; there has been an art theft at a museum, and now the feds are involved in the little town’s business.

Pru tries to live under the radar with her special gift. She has a growing business in Beauville of helping people deal with animal problems. She doesn’t trap or poison; she talks to the critters. She walks dogs, helps people with mice invasions and, in general, takes care of the animals around town.

As the story progresses, Pru comes very close to being exposed for what she is, a modern-day Dr. Doolittle.

Simon’s mysteries are lighthearted with a fair amount of humor in the mix. Her animal characters are as three-dimensional as the human characters. She makes Pru’s ability believable and realistic in how she interacts with the animals. She draws you in with the first paragraph and keeps you engaged to the final word.

Susan McKinney is the librarian at the St. Joseph Township-Swearingen Memorial Library.