The Otter of Death by Betty Webb

Teddy is counting otters and checking for any dead ones along the coast line.  When she sees her favorite, she sees that the tool she's using to open shells is a cell phone.  She lures her close, grabs the phone, and then the search changes.  She calls the cops and now it's a search for a dead man...

Poisoned Pen Press and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published May 2nd.

The man who was killed was married to a young woman with money.  It didn't make him stay true to her but she didn't mind.  She only married him because her father wanted her to.  He's been in trouble as a teacher for harassing and sleeping with his students.  Could this had been what killed him?  Or was it trouble with the oil drills in the ocean?  There's a lot of money tied up there and the profits are worth millions to billions.

Teddy gets introduced to the rich and snotty people of her town as well as dealing the zoo problems and the management there.  No one is making any breakthroughs on the case.  And her boyfriend, who is the sheriff, is afraid she's going to get hurt.  He's right.  The deeper she digs, the more dangerous it gets.  She almost gets shot.  But she doesn't stop...

I love zoos and the stories of the animals there made me smile.  Teddy is a good person and a good friend but I'm afraid I agree with Joe:  She takes too many chances.  He better marry her and settle her down soon.