Catskills Pet Rescue Mystery Books in Order

The Catskills Pet Rescue Mystery books are cozy mysteries with a big soft spot for animals, small town routines, and people trying to build a better life after things have gone sideways.

At the center of the series is Kari Stuart, a woman whose life changes fast when she wins the lottery. Instead of drifting into a carefree future, she finds herself pulled toward Serenity Sanctuary, a struggling pet rescue in the Catskills town of Lakeview. The sanctuary needs money, leadership, and more than a little hope. Kari, who was not exactly looking for a grand purpose, winds up giving it all three.

She does not do it alone.

The books surround Kari with a cast that gives the series its warm, lived-in feel. There is Queenie, the bossy black kitten who seems to know exactly when to show up. There is veterinarian Angus McCoy, whose presence adds a little romance without taking over the mystery. Kari also has loyal friends, volunteers, and rescue staff around her, plus the usual small town mix of helpful neighbors, local politics, and people who have known one another long enough to carry old grudges.

That setup gives Deborah Blake a lot to play with. Each book drops Kari into a murder investigation tied to the world around the sanctuary, whether that means dog shows, town festivals, old relationships, or trouble that lands right on the rescue's doorstep. Kari is an amateur sleuth, not a hardboiled detective, so the appeal comes from watching an ordinary woman use common sense, stubbornness, and her knowledge of people to sort through lies and suspicion.

The sanctuary matters in every book. This is not just a cute backdrop full of wagging tails and whiskers. Keeping the place open, safe, and financially stable is part of the ongoing tension. Kari is trying to protect animals that nobody else has prioritized, and that gives the mysteries a nice emotional anchor. When danger threatens the people around her, it also threatens the home she is building for herself and for the animals she has taken on.

The tone stays firmly on the cozy side. There is murder, yes, but there is also humor, friendship, and a lot of affection for everyday community life in the Catskills. Readers can expect clever pets, seasonal events, small town gossip, and the steady satisfaction of seeing Kari grow more confident in both her personal life and her role at the rescue.

If you like mysteries where the heart of the story is as important as the puzzle, this series does that well.