Fifty-four pigs

Veterinarian Schott (The Accidental Veterinarian) makes his mystery debut with this charming series launch Peter Bannerman, an amiable, introverted, tea-drinking, obsessive vet, who converses more with his dog, Pippin, than with his wife, Laura, or anyone else. When Peter's friend Tom Pearson's swine barn explodes near New Selfoss, Manitoba, 54 pigs and one human die. Tom, who's suspected of setting the fire that caused the explosion, has disappeared. Peter has assisted the police in the past and sets out to clear his friend. He believes the deductive skills he uses to make diagnoses of his uncommunicative patients can help solve the case. Some inexplicable break-ins follow, including into the garden shed of an elderly gentleman who turns to Peter because the police won't bother to investigate. Pippin's particularly sensitive nose proves invaluable to Peter's sleuthing, which Laura and her RCMP brother discourage because they fear Peter is putting himself in danger. A second murder raises the stakes, and the action builds to a dramatic showdown on icy Lake Winnipeg. James Herriot fans will want to check out this one. (Apr.)

"Peter!? Where are you?" came a shout. It was Kevin. "I'm over here!" Peter shouted back and began walking towards the yard. Kevin met him at the edge of the aspen bluff. His already often red-tinged face was crimson, and his brows were set low over his narrowed eyes. "What. The. Hell. Pete?!" He spat out each word as if it were an entire sentence on its own. "What the hell are you doing out here?!" Peter tried to smile, although he knew it looked fake. "I'm sorry Kevin, I know I shouldn't have. I just had a hunch about maybe some of the pigs having escaped and thought I'd bring Pippin out to help me look." Kevin stared at him, not showing any change in the level of anger on his face. "I didn't touch any evidence or any part of the barn," Peter added hastily. He would ask himself afterwards why he didn't simply explain about the scent training and the piece of paper, but somehow it was easier to lie in the moment. "Escaped pigs? Like from two weeks ago? In the middle of winter? With nobody having reported seeing any frozen hogs anywhere? What the frig are you talking about Pete?" "I guess when you put it like that it sounds pretty stupid, but I just thought there might be a small chance..." Kevin cut him off, "And so what if? What if this lame ass theory is right? So what? One effing pig gets out and effing freezes in the woods here. How does that effing help anyone or justify effing coming onto an effing crime scene that is still under active investigation!" He was screaming at Peter now. Pippin moved quietly to stand between the brothers-in-law and looked up warily at Kevin. "Sorry. It was dumb. I'm really sorry." Peter tried to sound as contrite as he could. Contrition was not his natural state. His instinct was to doggedly argue each and every point until the other person either conceded or changed the subject in exasperation. But sometimes he managed to recognize in time that that was a bad idea. This was one of those times. "Dumb is a big frigging understatement." Kevin's tone had softened ever so slightly. "I should charge you, I really should. This Sherlock crap has got to stop. One more time and I swear I will. And I bet Laura would back me up." "It won't happen again." "Just get out of here." Kevin had stopped screaming and now sounded more tired than angry. This was not the first time Peter had been chewed out by Kevin like that. Kevin was quick to anger, but also quick to calm down. Nonetheless, with each such encounter Peter felt that the ice was growing thinner beneath him. Excerpted from Fifty-Four Pigs: A Dr. Bannerman Vet Mystery by Philipp Schott All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.