If you'd rather place an order by talking to one of our cheerful order desk clerks, please call 1-888-232-4444 (USA and Canada only) or 250-383-6864. From Europe, ring our UK order desk clerk at local rate number 0845 230 9601 (UK only) or 44 (0)1865 722 113.

Canine Capers: The Case of the Posturing Principal

by April Smith

154 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #03-0402; ISBN 1-4120-0039-4; US$17.50, C$22.04, EUR14.40, £10.00

Haley Ann Lethridge just can't seem to escape murder. This time the high school she works at is stunned when someone is shot and killed in the parking lot. Of course, not many people will miss the person killed; moreover, it appears that the student responsible is caught right away. Everything is not as it appears, however, Haley suspects that the student is innocent and someone who works at the high school committed the murder. Together with her winsome Siberain huskies, Haley must play the sleuth to find the real killer.

Read more!

about the book      about the author      sample excerpts or Table of Contents      catalogue info

About the Book Haley Ann Lethridge is a new history teacher at a high school ruled by domineering Gina Echols. As principal, Echols presides with an iron fist and an acerbic tongue. One of her favorite pastimes is to criticize those around her and take all the praise for herself. But when the abrasive principal goes too far, the high school is the scene for sudden murder. Circumstantial evidence points to a student who has already been in trouble, but Haley thinks there is much more to the shooting than the police suspect. While her parents decide to give her a surprise visit, Haley has to scramble to find out what really happened. Now she and her enterprising canines are back in the middle of a murder mystery with too many suspects and not very much time. The second in the Canine Capers series, The Case of the Posturing Principal features cats determined to outwit humans and dogs intent on getting the most from the dinner table. While Haley tries to narrow the list of likely killers with her best friend Pam, Pam's cats concentrate on getting their saucers filled with cream. Meanwhile, Haley's dogs approve of the new man in her life, Robert Lawson, who shares food from his dinner plate and takes them on walks. For anyone who loves animals and murder mysteries, this book is full of feline friskiness and canine cleverness.

---

About the Author April Smith is a long-time Agatha Christie fan. She has a master's degree in English literature and lives in California with her three Siberian Huskies.

---

Sample Excerpts

Once everyone on the faculty and office staff was crammed in, the vice principal called the meeting to order. His distinguished air and self-assured manner had come into their own since Echols's death, for he was truly in charge now.

"Thank you for being here so early in the morning so we could take care of some business before classes start," Alfred Lehning said. "As you all know, Ginerva Echols was shot on Friday with a weapon that belonged to a student's father. The police now have reason to beleive that the student never, in fact, actually fired the weapon, but that it was one of us."

The muttering of protest at this temporarily called a halt to proceedings. Roger Malone looked particularly disgruntled.

I know that seems hard to beleive," Lehning continued with the air of unruffled command. "But we have an eye witness. Haley Lethridge has been instrumental in getting this eye witness to agree to testify. I'll let Haley explain the rest."

Haley cleared her throat. All eyes in the room honed in on her. One of those set of eyes, Haley knew, belonged to a murderer.

- - - - - - - - - - -

Desi, a black-and-white tom, had tried everything he could think of to get his human to retrieve the cream from the refrigerator for him. His sister had known the task was useless all along.

"I told you that the humans were dense, Silly," Lucy laughed as her tail did a dance of ridicule.

"I hate humans!" Desi declared, skittering around the room. He stopped in front Pam and attacked her pant leg out of frustration.

That, at least, got his human's attention, although it was not the kind of attention he sought. He was summarily ostracized to the enclosed patio, and Lucy was deposited next to him.

"Nice going, Hot Shot," Lucy remarked dryly. "I told you it would end up like this."

She crouched, her hindquarters behind her and her nose close to the glass. It was maddening to be punished for Desi's crimes, and if she looked miserable enough, her human would feel guilty and let her back in.

---

Catalogue Information

---