The pair learn the local veterinarian has been found dead and someone has released all the animals in her care. The two rush over to Dr. Gail Pilsner's office and find the doctor at the bottom of the stairs, apparently pushed.  The only other person in the building is Orlando, Dr. Pilsner’s assistant, who speaks very little English. 

Because Sky is fluent in Spanish, Alex allows her to accompany him while the police speak to Orlando.  Alex isn’t convinced by Orlando’s story that white men ransacked the doctor’s office looking for drugs and takes him into custody.  Even though Sky doesn’t like the sound of his story, she doesn’t think Orlando is guilty.  When she learns what Orlando is hiding, she is very surprised and is more certain than ever of his innocence. 

In the meantime, Sky’s good friend and landlord Chloe has been acting oddly and Sky sees Chloe leaving a mutual friend Natalie’s house just before Natalie is found murdered.  Sky doesn’t know what is going on with Chloe, but is certain it doesn’t include murder.  She also thinks that there must be a connection between Natalie’s murder and the doctor’s, though she can’t figure out what. 

In the meantime, Sky has a permanent new friend, the monkey, attached to her, has unresolved feelings toward Mike and can’t seem to get started with Alex.   

There are a lot of really great cleaning tips mixed in with the mystery as part of Sky’s blog and news column, and some of them are “green” tips that are currently very popular.  The plot is a little thin, though, and the mystery not very satisfying.  When Orlando’s secret is revealed, his initial response to the break in and to the doctor’s death seem even more suspicious and odder. 

Sky seems very gung-ho to start a relationship with Alex Vega, but then all of a sudden announces to Alex that she doesn’t know where her relationship with Mike stands, even though her thoughts and actions to that point seem to indicate she is over Mike.  There are not enough clues along the way to help readers solve the crime or to point them in the right direction as cozy readers have come to expect.  Even Chloe’s behavior seems odd after it is explained and there seem like a variety of other ways the problem could have been solved and maybe saved a few lives.                                                               

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry