Pipsqueak (2004) by Brian Wupred

Good Reads meta data is 320 pages, 3.35 rated by 342 litizens.

Genre: krimi.

DNA: Yankee.

Verdict: ‘Looking, Garv.’

Tagline: the squirrel did it!

Taxidermy is a dangerous trade, but Garv was not warned of this peril when he learned the business.  Now he knows.  He survives the mobsters, psychopaths, MAGAs, and more through the combined efforts of (Y)Angie his de facto wife who is an inveterate love tackler; Otto the Russian imp who honed his survival skills in the Gulag whom they shelter from ICE, his criminal brother who is less of crook than the police and lawyers after them.  Oh, and the sacrifice of Fred, the tame, because stuffed lion, in the living room.  Fortunately, it turns out the venom in a dead snake’s fangs is still toxic. Who knew.  

This is a re-read.