Book Review: A Suspicious Breed by Jackie Layton

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A Suspicious Breed is the sixth and final book in Jackie Layton’s Low Country Dog Walker Mysteries.

As her wedding day approaches and her dream of opening a dog shelter edges closer to reality, Andi Grace finds herself stretched thin with a whirlwind of responsibilities. However, her packed schedule takes a dark turn when she discovers that her favorite local vet might be involved in a shady fundraising scheme aimed at helping animals.

To make matters worse, her wedding photographer – a close friend who may have had insider knowledge – is found murdered. Determined to seek justice for her friend and uncover the truth behind the scam, Andi Grace immerses herself in the investigation, following every lead with dogged determination.

But as she starts to piece together clues, she uncovers even more unsettling truths – a manipulative music producer exploiting a friend’s talented daughter and a questionable dog breeding operation putting innocent animals at risk.

With suspects cropping up at every turn, Andi Grace enlists the help of her resourceful friends to catch them in their lies. Yet, just when she thinks she’s closing in on the truth, the culprit makes a deadly move to silence her before she can say “I do.”

Having followed this series from the beginning, I couldn’t help but feel a tinge of sadness knowing that this would be the final installment. With high expectations for a satisfying conclusion, I eagerly delved into the story.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the ending left something to be desired. As the last book in the series, I had hoped for more closure on the characters’ personal journeys. With Andi Grace’s wedding to Marc looming just around the corner, her attention is torn between solving the murder and untangling the dog scam – a conflict that felt all too real.

As she delves deeper into the investigation, I found myself wishing for more scenes of Andi Grace spending time with her sister and her new niece, a subplot that might have added depth to her character. Additionally, I missed seeing more of her best friend, Juliet, who has been a constant presence throughout the series.

While the recurring characters have undoubtedly grown over the course of the series, I felt that there could have been more development in this final installment. Andi Grace’s indecision about wedding preparations, for example, seemed out of character for someone who has shown such resolve in the past.

Overall, while I enjoyed this series, I couldn’t help but feel slightly disappointed by the final two books. While they were engaging, they didn’t quite live up to my expectations for a series finale. I had hoped for more closure and character development, as well as a more satisfying resolution to the overarching mystery.

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