Bird, Bath, & Beyond: An Agent to the Paws Mystery

In Copperman’s charming second Agent to the Paws mystery (after 2017’s Dog Dish of Doom), Amazon parrot Barney, who acts on a zombie-themed TV show shooting in Manhattan, is the sole witness to the murder of star Dray Mattone in his trailer. Animal talent agent Kay Powell insists that Barney can only repeat phrases after lengthy training, but the parrot’s tendency to blurt incriminating snippets around the lead detective suggests that the bird can help solve the case. Meanwhile, Barney’s trainer is hiding her own secrets. Fans of the series debut will enjoy catching up with Kay, her showbiz-duo parents, potential love interest Sam Gibson, and a lively supporting cast of nonhuman clients and pets. A subplot involving the desire of office manager Consuelo, Kay’s assistant, to represent her own animal clients adds humor. Never mind the implausibility of the eventual solution, animal lovers and cozy readers should savor this romp through the world of animal acting and television production. [em]Agent: Josh Getzler, Hannigan Salky Getzler Agency. (Oct.) [/em]