Dive into the sun-soaked, sometimes silly, always surprising world of Citrus Beach, Florida, where graphic designer and part-time detective Emma Cassidy finds herself unraveling a mystery that's as tangled as a leash at a dog park.

The grand opening of "Paws and Relax," the latest and greatest doggy day spa, ends not with a bark, but a bang, when the beloved owner is found murdered. Known for her eye for design and her nose for clues, Emma can't resist sniffing out the truth, especially when her mischievous pocket beagle, Dixie, digs up the first puzzling piece of evidence.

From a spa rival who's more cutthroat than a pair of grooming shears to a fired employee with a bone to pick, the suspects are as plentiful as sand on a Florida beach. With the help of her friends, the feisty reporter Kim Hart and crime-solving whiz Jake, Emma wades through a swamp of red herrings and comic mishaps. And amidst all the sleuthing, there's a whiff of romance in the air with the dashing Travis Anderson, making things a tad more complicated, but a lot more fun.

As Emma untangles this hairy case, she discovers Citrus Beach is bursting with secrets, some as hidden as a lost ball in tall grass. Will she collar the culprit before they scamper away? Or is this mystery too ruff for even Emma to handle?

"Puppies and Paybacks" is a rollicking jaunt through the quirks and quibbles of Florida life, where humor, romance, and a good old-fashioned whodunit blend together like a tropical smoothie. Grab your sunhat and join Emma and her crew in this delightfully zany cozy mystery, where the laughs are abundant, and the paybacks are as satisfying as a belly rub.