When people hear I’m both a veterinarian and a cozy mystery author, their eyes widen. A veterinary career is surprisingly great training for writing about amateur sleuths, quirky characters, and hidden clues. I love puzzles, but I also love a happy ending. Life can be unpredictable, but the satisfaction I get from treating patients and making a difference is like the hopefulness you feel after reading a cozy mystery—justice served, order restored, friendships forged, and maybe a slice of cake in a neighborhood cafe to celebrate.
I’m going to share two truths and a lie about what my years in animal medicine taught me about crafting cozy mysteries. See if you can spot the fib.
Truth or Lie? Observing small details can save a life—or solve a mystery.
In veterinary school, you’re trained to notice what others miss. A cat isn’t “just tired,” and a dog doesn’t cough to get its owner’s attention. Both could signal injury or changes in
lung function. Pets can’t tell us what’s wrong, but through a detailed exam, thoughtful questioning, and deductive reasoning, we can uncover the facts, leading to a successful treatment plan.
Cozy sleuths also survive on details—a dog’s reaction to an uninvited guest, or the talking parrot who repeats a suspicious new phrase. Clues like these may be overlooked by an untrained observer but could help my amateur sleuth find the killer.
Truth or Lie? Every client is a character waiting to happen.
Veterinarians meet everyone—farmers, CEOs, retirees, college students—and they all love their animals. In the waiting room, people who might never speak to each other swap stories about their pets. As a vet, you get a front-row seat to the quirks and contradictions of human nature. The shy woman who comes to life showing photos of her new puppy dressed up for Halloween or the long-haul trucker who chokes up discussing his aging cat’s mobility challenges.
In cozy mysteries, readers return to a series not only for a well-crafted plot but to spend time with their favorite cast of characters, both two- and four-legged. My career provides real-life personalities to draw from, many of which have ended up on the pages of my veterinary series. With their permission, of course.
Truth or Lie? Animals always make the perfect witnesses.
Real animals can’t give testimony, but as a veterinarian, I’ve learned they can give signals—just not in human words. A friendly cat that hisses when a particular person walks into a room. A horse that refuses to enter a certain stall. These moments can spark questions and add tension.
In my mysteries, the animal companions don’t “solve” the crime, but they often tip off the sleuth to something unusual. The trick is balancing believability with charm—without wandering into fantasy.
Which one was the lie?
If you guessed correctly, you know animals aren’t perfect witnesses in real life, even though their instincts should never be discounted. They can also be eccentric bystanders—observing events and responding to our cues and body language. I’ve seen dogs act guilty for no reason and cats ignore the most dramatic moments. But one thing is certain: they make delightful fictional co-investigators.
The other two? Absolute truth.
Being a veterinarian taught me to notice details and to appreciate the complex characters you meet along the way. And sometimes, the most unexpected career change makes the most perfect plot twist.
Website www.dlmitchellmystery.com (with links to buy)Facebook www.facebook.com/DLMitchellAuthorInstagram @dlmitchellmystery
DL Mitchell is the award-winning author of the Coral Shores Veterinary Mystery series and a 2024 Nominee for Georgia Author of the Year.
She brings her unique perspective as a practicing small animal veterinarian to the world of mystery fiction. With experience in bustling, big-city hospitals, her transition to a house call concierge veterinary practice has enriched her storytelling with firsthand encounters and insights into the human-animal bond.
She lives with her husband, daughter, and their menagerie of pets and is constantly planning the next travel adventure. She’s a scuba diver but gets seasick, and when she’s on the road, she travels with her espresso machine and her blow-up, stand up paddle board.
Such a great post since you’re a new author for me sure would love to read your books in print format so I could review them & what’s your newsletter link to sign up for your newsletter?
Somehow this got cut off the post, but it will be added back in the next day or so, but for now:
Website: http://www.dlmitchellmystery.com (with links to buy)
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DLMitchellAuthor
Instagram: @dlmitchellmystery
DL Mitchell is the award-winning author of the Coral Shores Veterinary Mystery series and a 2024 Nominee for Georgia Author of the Year.
She brings her unique perspective as a practicing small animal veterinarian to the world of mystery fiction. With experience in bustling, big-city hospitals, her transition to a house call concierge veterinary practice has enriched her storytelling with firsthand encounters and insights into the human-animal bond.
She lives with her husband, daughter, and their menagerie of pets and is constantly planning the next travel adventure. She’s a scuba diver but gets seasick, and when she’s on the road, she travels with her espresso machine and her blow-up, stand up paddle board.
Thank you, Crystal! Here’s a link to my newsletter sign up. My Coral Shores Veterinary Mystery series is available in paperback with most booksellers. Links on my website as well.
https://www.dlmitchellmystery.com/newsletter
Great post!
It is, isn’t it. I’ve used some of these in my cozy mysteries, but this validates what I thought about animal behavior.
Thank you, Sharon!
Having grown up on a farm, I have worked with vets my entire life. On two different occasions I’ve had next door/farm neighbors which has come in handy with my critters. Enjoying your series and am looking forward to number 3.
Nancy,
I’m sure you can identify both with DL’s books and her observations.
Thanks, Nancy! Book number 3 will be available in Feb. 2026 and is titled Marina Mews. Features the same cast of characters and an orange tabby that lives at a scuba dive shop and marina.
Put an animal on the cover and in the story and you have my attention!
That’s the truth, isn’t it?
I agree. Elvis, the West Highland White Terrier on the cover of the first book in my series, became a beloved character and earned himself a permanent role and placement on all the future covers!
DL,
Thanks for posting for It’s Not Always a Mystery today. Great observations that cozy writers (or anyone who includes animals) can use.
Wonderful post. I’m a fan of mysteries with animal characters and will add yours to my TBR list.