The Anteater of Death: A Zoo Mystery

Betty Webb
Poisoned Pen Press (2008)
ISBN 9781590585603
Reviewed by Leslie Granier for Reader Views (8/08)

 

Theodora “Teddy” Bentley works as a zookeeper at the Gunn Landing Zoo.  Following a fundraiser that took place at the zoo, a mauled body is found in the anteater exhibit, leading to suspicions that Lucy (the anteater) is responsible for the death.  In order to exonerate Lucy, Teddy, who likes animals more than she likes people, vows to uncover the truth about what happened that fateful night.  In doing so, Teddy finds herself in the midst of a family squabble and places herself in danger.

“The Anteater of Death” will appeal mainly to adult females. The main character is a strong and independent woman who will stop at nothing to find the truth.  Much of the plot revolves around Teddy’s relationships.  Her high-school flame, Joe Regas, is now the sheriff and working closely with him on this case rekindles their feelings, but neither is certain if this is appropriate.  Teddy must also deal with her mother, who constantly tries to get Teddy fired because she thinks her daughter is too good to be cleaning up after animals.  The exchanges between Teddy and her mother are quite humorous.  A third relationship Teddy faces is with her coworkers.  She must decide whom she can trust and wonders if any of them could possibly have been involved in the death.

Betty Webb includes many intriguing side stories in this book.  She provides a detailed and insightful look into what occurs behind the scenes in a zoo.  I found it fascinating, yet somewhat frightening, how the zookeepers interact with the animals.  I thought it was clever how the first and last chapters were written from Lucy’s point of view.  There are also elements that are reminiscent of soap operas, including: a wealthy family that lives in a castle, affairs, and fights over trust money.  The unexpected ending may cause the reader to examine her own life and reflect upon how what appears to be true may, in reality, be only a facade.

“The Anteater of Death” by Betty Webb is a well-written story that allows the reader to put the evidence together to form a conclusion.  This book is the first in the Gunn Zoo Mystery series.  I hope the future offerings can live up to the original.

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