You don't have to be a dog lover to be attracted to the title of Diana Orgain's latest book. YAPPY HOUR immediately brings good things to mind: puppies, friends and fun. What the title does not suggest is the madcap mayhem that results when someone is found dead on the barroom floor.

Orgain shares her affection for the small town of Pacific Cove (which sounds a lot like Pacific Grove) and the quirky characters who inhabit it. Although the economic downturn has been difficult for business owners, many of them have creatively increased their regular services in order to increase their incomes. For example, attorney Brenda Bradford has changed the name of her firm to Bradford and Blahnik and sells designer shoes in addition to practicing law. Orgain also has high praise for enterprises like Meat and Greet, the butcher shop, and the Dreamery Creamery, which serves up delicious desserts.

"...a delightful beginning for a new series that will have readers looking forward to Maggie's next mystery and to learn how she is going to deal with the two eligible bachelors who have begun vying for her affections."

The fun begins when Maggie Patterson leaves her high-pressure job with a New York City financial firm to make a fresh start in California. Her plan was to spend time with her great-uncle Ernest until she could get a job with the local cruise line. But, as often happens with the best-laid plans, this one immediately goes awry. With nothing more than a text from her sister Rachael, asking her to “tend to the Wine and Bark until I get back,” Maggie is sidetracked and tossed into situations way outside of her comfort zone.

First of all, there is Grunkly, his name being the morphed version of grumpy great-uncle. He is refusing to follow doctor's orders and firing every caregiver who tries to make him do unreasonable things like taking walks and quitting cigarettes. Recovering from a heart attack, he believes, will be best served by his enthusiasm for betting on the horses and smoking Lucky Strikes.

Then there is the responsibility of running Rachel's bar….not a bright prospect for a non-dog lover. As the name implies, not only does the bar cater to pet owners, every Friday the entire place goes to the dogs during Yappy Hour. There are special events such as Live Auctions (of doggie paraphernalia) and entertainment by the Howling Hounds band. And all of the Roundup Crew descends on the Wine and Bark to enjoy “arf-d'oeuvres” and “mutt-ini's.”

If all that were not enough, a man's dead body greets Maggie as she gets ready to open the bar for the evening. As the “tail” unfolds, Maggie is determined to help the investigation along because she is afraid that the dead man's parents will sue the bar as a result of their son's death.

After eliminating most of the obvious suspects in the murder, Maggie channels Perry Mason by dramatically exposing the killer in front of everyone gathered for Yappy Hour. The book is a delightful beginning for a new series that will have readers looking forward to Maggie's next mystery and to learn how she is going to deal with the two eligible bachelors who have begun vying for her affections.