DOWN

A Paws & Probable Cause Mystery

A murdered developer. A feral cat colony. And secrets that refuse to stay buried.

Spring has finally arrived in Tidal Cove, Maine—but mud season brings more than melting snow and returning birds. Veterinary behaviorist Wren Calloway is settling into her new life with veterinarian Jonah Ridley and his daughter Bea when a call from feral cat advocate Iris Holloway pulls her into a battle between preservation and progress at the historic Lighthouse Point.

Raymond Cross, the ruthless developer behind the luxury condominiums threatening an established feral cat colony, has made enemies throughout the community. When he's found dead at his construction site—staged to look like an accident but unmistakably murdered—suspicion falls on his secret half-brother Marcus Webb, the foreman who's been caring for the cats in secret.

But Wren notices something no one else does: the cats are watching.

Their behavior has changed since the murder. They avoid certain paths, track certain people, and gather in patterns that speak of something they witnessed. As Wren maps their fear responses and traces their avoidance zones, she realizes the colony has been showing everyone the killer's escape route—if only someone would listen.

With her relationship with Jonah tested by her deepening involvement in the case, a town divided over development and preservation, and a killer who's spent years planning the perfect revenge, Wren must navigate treacherous waters. The truth lies buried in family secrets, buried evidence, and the buried resentments that can drive someone to murder.

In DOWN, the third novel in the Paws & Probable Cause series, Wren learns that "down"—the command to lie still and stay—isn't just about obedience. Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is know when to rest, when to trust, and when to let the truth reveal itself.

Perfect for fans of:

• Cozy mysteries with animal protagonists
• Small-town settings with complex communities
• Strong female protagonists
• Found family themes
• Environmental and preservation themes

Series reading order:

1. STAY
2. HEEL
3. DOWN
4. SIT
5. GUARD