When Stella Smith is found lifeless in a beluga tank during a bizarre group outing, the whimsical world of The Society of People Who Showed Up takes a sinister turn. Enter Detective Ned, a man with more questions than clues, tasked with unraveling a mystery packed with delightfully deranged suspects. From a sea lion fanatic with a suspicious alibi to a self-proclaimed ladies' man whose charm wears thin, secrets swirl beneath the surface as motives bubble to the top. Bestselling author Cristina Matta delivers a razor-sharp satirical mystery that's as laugh-out-loud funny as it is deliciously twisted. Every page crackles with eccentric energy, clever dialogue, and an unforgettable cast of misfits whose animal obsessions are almost as dangerous as their buried grudges. Will Ned catch the killer before another critter-loving member meets a watery fate? Critters is part of the wildly addictive Crack the Case Books series, where every book hands readers the final clue - and the power to choose how it all ends. Dive in, play detective, and decide Stella's murderer.

Hi, I'm Cristina Matta, an award-winning mystery author, lifelong storyteller, and survivor of the 2007 earthquake in Peru.

I write across the mystery spectrum. My work ranges from sharp, satirical detective fiction to suspenseful, emotionally layered crime novels. My Crack the Case series turns the classic whodunit on its head. Outrageous plots, multiple endings to choose from, and a blog written by the lead detective himself. serves up real-life forensic facts, behind-the-scenes case commentary from the lead detective, and snark. Lots of snark.

Coming soon: a mystery novel inspired by my own experience surviving an 8.1 magnitude earthquake in Peru. It's the first in a psychological suspense trilogy about trauma, corruption, and what happens when you return to a place forever changed.