A Deadly Tail (Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Series #4)

by Dixie Lyle

Overview

Deirdre "Foxtrot" Lancaster returns-with her otherworldly animal companions Whiskey and Tango-to shine a light on the dark side of fame...

Foxtrot has seen a lot of strange things as assistant to billionaire Zelda Zoransky at her wacky mansion. And that includes her telepathic cat Tango and ectoplasmic pooch Whiskey. So it's no surprise to find a horde of zombies lurching across the lawn-even if they are just actors in a horror movie that's filming on the mansion grounds. The special effects look pretty convincing. But all that fake blood doesn't fool Whiskey, who quickly sniffs out the truth: one of those corpses is real...

A DEADLY TAIL

Before you can say, "Lights, camera, murder," Foxtrot and her furry partners-in-crime-solving are caught up in the drama of who-killed-who...and why. With a crazy cast of characters including a neurotic director, a star-hungry diva-even with an appearance by Lassie's ghost-it's bound to have one hell of a twist ending. But first, Foxtrot and her supernatural sidekicks have to find a killer amongst them-before the whole case is a wrap...in the next Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot novel from Dixie Lyle.
"A clever new series that deftly blends cozy mystery with the paranormal...original and witty."-Ali Brandon, author of the Black Cat Bookshop mysteries

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781466890633
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	02/02/2016
Series:	Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Series , #4
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	321,412
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Dixie Lyle, author A Taste Fur Murder, To Die Fur, and Marked Fur Murder from the Whiskey, Tango and Foxtrot Mysteries from St. Martin's Books, loves animals, mysteries, books, reading, words, bad puns (are there any other kind?) and once had a torrid summer romance with an entire library. Did I mention the books? Oh, and definitely doesn't believe in the supernatural. Nope, not me. Hey, what was that sound? Where's that spooky green glow coming from? Oh, hello, didn't see you standing there in the corner, what with you being all see-through and everything. Want a cup of tea? Moan once for yes, twice for no.
Allegations that Dixie Lyle has a goofy sense of humor are entirely unfounded, and should be forwarded to the unfounded and unlost department.

Dixie Lyle, author of A Taste Fur Murder and To Die Fur from the Whiskey, Tango and Foxtrot Mysteries from St. Martin's Books, loves animals, mysteries, books, reading, words, bad puns (are there any other kind?) and once had a torrid summer romance with an entire library. Did I mention the books? Oh, and definitely doesn’t believe in the supernatural. Nope, not me. Hey, what was that sound? Where’s that spooky green glow coming from? Oh, hello, didn’t see you standing there in the corner, what with you being all see-through and everything. Want a cup of tea? Moan once for yes, twice for no.

Allegations that Dixie Lyle has a goofy sense of humor are entirely unfounded, and should be forwarded to the unfounded and unlost department.

Editorial Reviews

12/21/2015
Lyle's quirky fourth Whiskey, Tango, and Foxtrot mystery (after 2015's Marked Fur Murder) follows Deirdre "Foxtrot" Lancaster; her reincarnated cat, Tango; and Whiskey, an ectoplasmic, shape-shifting dog (who, like Tango, is telepathic), as they observe the odd goings-on at the Victorian mansion of wealthy Zelda Zoransky, Foxtrot's employer. A zombie film is being shot at the estate; when an unidentifiable body turns up and an explosion injures one of the stars, Foxtrot decides it is up to her to solve both the murder and the bombing. The vast and paranormally energized pet cemetery on the grounds, known as the Great Crossroads, also sees its own suspicious activity. An unknown cat almost identical to Tango shows up, as well as some deceased "actors," which include the ghosts of Lassie and Roy Rogers's horse Trigger, but no one can figure out why the ghosts have appeared and why they're sticking around. As the trio piece the clues together, Lyle's use of puns keeps readers laughing, intrigued, and entertained right up until the director calls "Cut!" Agent: Lucienne Diver, Knight Agency. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

"Lyle's use of puns keeps readers laughing, intrigued, and entertained." - PW on A Deadly Tail

“Blends pet cemeteries, animal spirits, and a cast of zany human characters...those who read paranormal mysteries will enjoy.” —RT Book Reviews on To Die Fur

“A delightful, funny mystery filled with eccentric and colorful characters, be they humans, animals or spirits. Dixie Lyle will entertain the reader page after page!” —Leann Sweeney, New York Times bestselling author of Cats in Trouble mysteries on A Taste Fur Murder

“A clever new series that deftly blends cozy mystery with the paranormal, and that is sure to please readers of both genres...A Taste Fur Murder is original and witty, with a twisting plot that contains more than a few 'shocks'.” —Ali Brandon, author of the Black Cat Bookshop mysteries on A Taste Fur Murder

“An enjoyable read for cozy fans.” —RT Book Reviews on A Taste Fur Murder

From the Publisher

A clever new series that deftly blends cozy mystery with the paranormal, and that is sure to please readers of both genres...A Taste Fur Murder is original and witty, with a twisting plot that contains more than a few 'shocks'.

author of the Black Cat Bookshop mysteries on A Ta Ali Brandon

A delightful, funny mystery filled with eccentric and colorful characters, be they humans, animals or spirits. Dixie Lyle will entertain the reader page after page!

New York Times bestselling author of Cats in Troub Leann Sweeney

02/01/2016
Foxtrot is Deirdre Lancaster, a personal assistant to billionaire Zelda Zoransky; Whiskey is Deirdre's ectoplastic dog, and Tango is a cat enjoying her eighth reincarnation. On the side, the trio guard the Great Gateway, a passage to the afterlife, located in a pet cemetery on ZZ's property. In this third paranormal adventure (after A Taste fur Murder and To Die Fur), ZZ has agreed to host the filming of a zombie movie at her mansion. After the producer is found dead, the film star is nearly killed by a bomb, and animal spirits erupt from the cemetery, Foxtrot and crew try all they can to keep the balls up in the air. VERDICT With a little romance, a bit of paranormal activity, and a dash of mystery, this title will entrance readers of Leanne Sweeney, Miranda James, and Sofie Kelly.

Library Journal

2015-12-10
Scene-stealing animals are the stars of this ghostly mystery. Deirdre "Foxtrot" Lancaster is the personal assistant to Zelda Zoransky, an eccentric millionaire with a big estate and diverse interests. Since a zombie movie is being filmed at ZZ's place, the headless, handless corpse to which her ectoplasmic, shape-shifting dog, Whiskey, leads Foxtrot might be mistaken for a prop. Sadly, the body is all too real. Even worse, Foxtrot suspects that a resident of ZZ's private zoo may be involved—perhaps Owduttf, a honey badger with a voracious appetite. While they're on the way to question him, an explosion sends them back to the mansion, where they find Natalia Cardoso badly injured. Natalia was sleeping with unpopular director Maurice Rolvink, whose body may recently have lost its head. Foxtrot takes up the scent, with help from Whiskey and Tango, her telepathic cat. ZZ's estate also features a huge pet cemetery, and the unseen but often present animal specters (which range from household pets to sharks and tigers) are a big help to the detecting trio. Meanwhile, Tango's plan to produce her own play with a nonhuman cast leads to major fights and jealous scenes burlesquing the actual film production. Foxtrot's attempts to establish alibis for the major suspects are aided by the ever present animals, but keeping them in line and separating truth from fantasy are no easy tasks. This fourth outing for Whiskey, Tango, and Foxtrot (Marked Fur Murder, 2015, etc.) isn't much of a mystery, but it's a witty, zany story whose delightful animals are vastly entertaining.

Kirkus Reviews