Animal Instincts

Lydia Miller, the sleuth with the ""snotty eyebrow"" introduced in In Murder We Trust, has taken a leave of absence from her job as fashion editor for gazelle to volunteer at a local animal shelter. As Lydia investigates the disappearance of pets and other shelter volunteers, she stumbles across a youth-restoring potion called Anima. Luckily, Lydia is aided by a supporting cast that is both spunky and very lovable: Colombo, Lydia's ever-faithful canine companion, and a pair of love-starved teens--Gary, who looks for himself on Unsolved Mysteries, and teen-prostitute Tiffany, who's determined to save all the kittens and puppies in the world. This is a strong mystery that also makes a good case for animal rights as Hyde reveals that minks are skinned alive to preserve the luster of their fur and laboratory animals are blistered and blinded to test cosmetics. The story takes a premise that was funny in Death Becomes Her to a more believable, frighteningly realistic level. (Aug.)