Secrets and Scents: A Leashes and Lies Mystery
About Secrets and Scents: A Leashes and Lies Mystery
When Cassidy Wells arrives at a countryside retreat to teach her annual week-long dog obedience intensive, she expects the usual challenges: stubborn puppies, nervous handlers, and maybe a few recall disasters. What she doesn't expect is her rescue German Shepherd mix Cooper to dig up a cache of cash and incriminating documents buried beneath an old oak tree—evidence connected to a local accountant whose "hiking accident" six weeks ago is starting to look a lot more suspicious. Despite warnings from a skeptical detective and threatening notes slipped under her cabin door, Cassidy finds herself investigating a murder while juggling puppy training classes and advanced heel work demonstrations.
Because when your dog has a nose for finding buried secrets, ignoring what he digs up isn't really an option. As Cassidy navigates morning training sessions by day and amateur sleuthing by night, she uncovers a web of embezzlement, gambling debts, and financial desperation that reaches deeper than anyone imagined. The property owner desperately trying to save her struggling business.
The maintenance man with a criminal past and muddy hiking boots. The charming business partner with secrets of his own. The office manager who's hiding something about her relationship with the victim.
Everyone had access to the remote property where evidence was buried, everyone had secrets they'd rather keep hidden, and everyone claims they're innocent. With Cooper's talent for discovering what's meant to stay buried and her own stubborn determination to see justice done, Cassidy pieces together a puzzle someone has gone to dangerous lengths to keep her from solving. In the cozy town of Oakridge, where dog owners know each other's business better than their own and gossip spreads faster than a German Shepherd on a scent trail, Cassidy Wells is about to learn that teaching dogs to sit and stay is a lot simpler than solving murder.
Someone at this peaceful countryside retreat killed to protect their secrets, and that same someone is watching Cassidy's investigation very carefully. Between training four dogs, dodging a killer's warnings, and keeping Cooper from digging up the entire property, Cassidy will need all her patience, Cooper's sharp nose for finding evidence, and maybe a healthy dose of caution to catch a murderer before threatening notes turn into something far more dangerous.