New from Betty Webb, THE PANDA OF DEATH, a Gunn Zoo Mystery

In her sixth Gunn Zoo Mystery, THE PANDA OF DEATH, Betty Webb provides a relaxing, intriguing, and at times even charming armchair delight to enjoy in this in-between season. Narrated by zookeeper Theodora "Teddy" Bentley, it features the newest resident of the local zoo -- a red panda, not at all like the classic black-and-white version -- plus the competitive vibe of California would-be actors and writers. Most importantly, it's Teddy taking on yet another (forbidden) effort to solve a crime. But how can she resist?

Any other happily married spouse might get understandably defensive and angry, upon discovering her husband fathered a child long before they married ... yet never even knew he'd done it. When 18-year-old Dylan comes into Teddy's life, she's charmed by him, and goes to see Lauren, the ex-girlfriend of her husband, and mother of this delightful young man.

She shrugged and looked back up, meeting my eyes. "Look, I just couldn't cope, so for a while I simply did what everyone told me to do. Until Dylan was born. Then I took one look at him and everything changed."

Her movie-star face twisted, and I could see how hard she was trying to keep from crying.

Seeing Lauren's grief spurred me toward resolve. Regardless of what happened, I would find out who had really murdered Cliff Flaherty.

Murdered? Oh, that's another unexpected detail -- no sooner had Teddy met and, with her husband Joe, embraced the newfound family member, than the police turned up and arrested him on charges of killing a local and particularly unpleasant TV script writer.

Nothing gruesome or horrific in this one -- a series of clues, classic red herrings, and emphatic efforts toward solving the crime follow, and along with the triumph of justice, both friendship and family surge to the forefront. Pick this one up for traditional mystery puzzle solving without stress, and enjoy again Betty Webb's behind-the-scenes knowledge of animals at the zoo, along with Teddy's steady progress toward a happy ending.

PS:  Looking for more mystery reviews, from cozy to very dark? Browse the Kingdom Books mysteries review blog here.