Squirrel Away - Ann Paquette

Fitch Berhan, squirrel shifter and black sheep of the Blackroot Ridge Police Department, moonlights as a private investigator solving problems the police can't or won't deal with. His newest case, a wife's suspected infidelity, turns complicated after he discovers her alter ego - a self-employed lady of the night.

The case goes from bad to worse when one of her clients turns up dead in a grisly fashion. Unable to report the death, for fear of being accused of murder himself, and unwilling to hand his case over to the local police department, he does the next best thing; he gets eyes on the body. The gruesome manner of death would force the Chief to hire a forensic investigator from out of town. Fitch's plan: disguised as a squirrel, he would follow them as they collected the evidence, then swoop in and connect the dots, solve the case, and become the hero of the story.

His entire scheme was flipped upside down and sideways when Karina Thompson stepped into his life.

The magic within him shouted a single word.

Mate.