Murder Strikes a Pose

A Downward Dog Mystery

By: Tracy Weber

Narrated by: Anne James

Seattle yoga instructor Kate Davidson often acts more like a champion fighting rooster than the Dalai Lama. When she's not teaching yoga, she spends her time hiding from her creepy landlord and dodging her best friend's relentless matchmaking attempts. Even though her father was a cop, Kate has zero crime fighting aspirations. She has enough trouble keeping her struggling yoga business afloat while trying to live up to yoga's Zen-like expectations.

Then she stumbles over a body in the studio's parking lot.

The police dismiss the murder as drug-related street crime, but Kate knows that George - a homeless alcoholic she had befriended-was no drug dealer. And if the police won't take his murder seriously, she'll just have to solve the crime herself. After all, "Drunk Dies in Drug Deal Gone Bad at Yoga Studio" isn't exactly the free publicity she's been hoping for.

Kate stretches herself and takes on two new challenges. First, solve George's murder. Second, find someone-anyone-willing to adopt his intimidating, horse-sized German shepherd, Bella, before Animal Control sends her to the big dog park in the sky.

But with Bella's time almost up and the murderer hot on her trail, Kate will have to work fast. Or the next time she practices Corpse Pose, it may be for real.

©2014 Midnight Ink (P)2016 Tracy Weber

Funny, Realistic Characters, and a Mystery!

First a caveat. I hadn't listened to an audio book for several months. In the beginning, I couldn't reconcile the words I was reading to what I was hearing. I closed the book and a beautiful world of colors, places, people, emotions, conversions and actions burst forth in my head. It was wonderful!

The author's words and the narrator's voice combined into an intricate story. It held a great plotline with highly developed character studies. The mystery kept me guessing until it was revealed. I am definitely trying, not only more audio books, but more work by this author.

Great Book!

Any additional comments?

This is a great book; this is the first book in the Downward Dog Mystery series written by Tracy Weber and narrated by Anne James. Kate Davidson is a yoga instructor in Seattle. When she's not teaching yoga, she spends her time hiding from her creepy landlord and dodging her best friend's relentless matchmaking attempts. Even though her father was a cop, Kate has zero crime fighting aspirations. She has enough trouble keeping her struggling yoga business afloat while trying to live up to yoga's Zen-like expectations. Then she stumbles over a body in the studio's parking lot. The police dismiss the murder as drug-related street crime, but Kate knows that George, a homeless alcoholic she had befriended-was no drug dealer. And if the police won't take his murder seriously, she'll just have to solve the crime herself.

The narrator Anne James did a wonderful job with this book. She did a great job with the different voices of each character in this book. It was very easy to listen to in one sitting and I didn’t want to stop listening until the end.

If you are looking for a great book with well-developed characters then you need to listen to this book. I am looking forward to listening to the next book by this author and narrator.

A Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review

IMHO, This book is better read

I enjoyed this book. The characters were real and learning new yoga terms was interesting. I knew early on who did it but not exactly why even though I could guess. I like the cozy genre because there isn't a lot of gruesome details. Kate has some issues to get over and some maturing to do. She needs better coping mechanisms than "flight or fight." I see potential for her growth as a person. Looking forward to the next in the series.

I gave the written book 5 stars. The narrator just hit a certain note that came across whiney to me which was not evident in the written form.

Yoga, German Sherperd, and Murder

Murder Strikes a Pose is a cozy mystery story. A homeless man, George and his German Sheperd, Bella have moved from selling newspaper in front of Pete's Pets to Kate Davidson's yoga studio. This is bad business for Kate since Bella is scaring all of her students away.

What begins as a pay-off, Kate became friends with George and Bella. When George disappeared for several days and then ended up dead, Kate was not going to let George's murder goes unsolved or allows Bella to go to the shelter.

Kate is funny and crazy. She has an aversion to facial hair in men, and still remains a brat to the police department. She's is picky on which guys she's dating. Kate has so many flaws as the heroine in the story yet she has a best friend who will stick by her, Michael, her new beau, and Bella, a misunderstood german sherpard, who have her back.

Kate has issues that readers/listeners can relate to from daddy's issue, dating issues, and a bit of unresolved anger issues. The character, Kate is not perfect but she does the best she can.

The narrator, Anne James does a wonderful narration of the story. The narrator gives Kate the right tone and personalities of someone who still has some issues unresolved with her deceased father.

I was given this audiobook by the author in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated or influenced in any way for writing this review.

A great start to the series

What made the experience of listening to Murder Strikes a Pose the most enjoyable?

The plot was gently paced but I would have liked the investigative parts to be a little bit more exciting and suspenseful. There were a lot of phone calls and visiting people to talk to them- all very realistic but not very dramatic.
I wasn't expecting the story to focus on the dog more than the murder mystery but I still enjoyed it. I could relate to the owner's love for his dog and wanting to do everything he could for her. Growing up, my much loved King Charles Spaniel had EPI, just like Bella, and I empathised with that entire story line.

I am interested to see what mysteries the pair solve in the future and so this is one series that I will be happy to continue reading/listening to.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I preferred to listen to this book in a few sittings.

Any additional comments?

I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator.