A Deadly Tail

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.)