Curiosity Killed the Cat Sitter (Dixie Hemingway Mysteries, No. 1)

Dixie Hemingway knows first-hand that many things in life are worse than a dirty litter box. Once happy as a Florida sheriffs deputy she lost everything when senseless tragedy shattered her world. Now Dixie laces up her sneakers grabs some kitty treats and copes with one day at a time as a pet-sitter. Her investigations deal strictly with "crimes" such as who peed on the bed . . . until she finds a dead man face down in an Abyssinians water bowl. With the local cops stymiedincluding a handsome detective who catches her eyeshe decides to clip a leash on a lead or two and go sleuthing herself. Dixie soon finds out that the Abyssinians pretty owner has vanished and left behind a shocking past a lonely cat and a chilling reason for Dixie to start running when shes out walking the dogs.