Staff Picks
#BroaderBookshelf 2021: Read A Book With A Cat Or Dog On The Cover ( Dog Mysteries)
- Mona Verma
- Saturday, January 02, 2021
Collection
Gun Shy
Published in 2007
Nestled in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, Hanover County draws tourists every fall to leaf-look and hike. But unlike them, Michelle White came to die. The cops don't know if it was suicide, but for days, her body has lain in a cabin, her wheelchair toppled, her hand around a shotgun?and her terrified dog starving. So they call in Raine Stockton, known among these parts for her canny way with canines... Busy with a thriving kennel business, an annoying new neighbor, four dogs, and an estranged husband looking to reunite, Raine hardly has time for the poor dog she's named Hero. But as she falls for him, questions surface: Why were there no groceries, luggage, or dog food in the cabin? And if Michelle was paralyzed on her right side, why was the gun in her right hand? Only Hero knows...and it's up to Raine to find out.
The Dog Who Knew Too Much
Published in 2015
The path to enlightenment is fraught with danger when Greenwich Village PI Rachel Alexander and her pit bull, Dash, investigate the death of a tai chi practitioner Did she jump or was she pushed? Devastated by the loss of their only child, David and Marsha Jacobs hire Rachel to find out why Lisa leaped to her death from the fifth-floor window of her martial arts studio. The tai chi instructor, who was studying to be a Zen Buddhist priest, seemed to have it all: beauty, brains, a vocation she adored, a sexy lover-and her beautiful, sad-eyed Akita, who may have been the only witness to her death and is still grieving the loss of his mistress. Refusing to believe that Lisa would abandon her beloved pet-and with only a suspicious suicide note to go on-Rachel and her canine assistant, Dash, hit the streets of downtown New York, retracing the dead woman's steps to figure out whether she was yin to a killer's yang. The Dog Who Knew Too Muchis the 2nd book in the Rachel Alexander and Dash Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
Bite Club
Published in 2019
Thanks to Aunt Peg and her enthusiastic pedigree dog show pals, Melanie's aptly named Bite Club reading group has book lovers all over town burying their noses in thrilling murder mysteries. But another pet project surfaces when Melanie reluctantly agrees to train a Bulldog puppy for elusive member Evan Major. Between the unusual bruise on his face and a bizarre run-in with an unknown dog show attendee, introverted Evan can't dodge trouble. It even sends him to an early grave--while landing Melanie in the hot seat for homicide . . .
The Finders
Published in 2020
"Jeffrey B. Burton's The Finders marks the beginning of a fast-paced new mystery series featuring a heroic golden retriever cadaver dog named Vira and her handler, Mason Reid. Mason "Mace" Reid lives on the outskirts of Chicago and specializes in human remains detection. He trains dogs to hunt for the dead. Reid's coming off a taxing year-mourning the death of a beloved springer spaniel as well as the dissolution of his marriage. He adopts a rescue dog with a mysterious past-a golden retriever named Vira. And when Reid begins training Vira as a cadaver dog, he comes to realize just how special the newest addition to his family truly is... Suddenly, Reid and his prize pupil find themselves hurled into a taxing murder case, which will push them to their very limits. Paired with determined Chicago Police Officer Kippy Gimm, Mace must put all his trust in Vira's abilities to thwart a serial killer who has now set his sights on Mace himself"-- Provided by publisher.
Dog Dish of Doom
Published in 2017
"Kay Powell wants to find that break-out client who will become a star. And she thinks she's found him: His name is Bruno, and he has to be walked three times a day. Bruno's humans, Trent and Louise, butt in a lot, and Les McMaster, the famous director now mounting a revival of Annie, might not hire Bruno just because he can't stand Trent in particular. That becomes less of an issue when Trent is discovered face down in Bruno's water dish. With a kitchen knife in his back. Laugh-out-loud funny, this series debut is a delight"-- Provided by publisher.
Suspect
Published in 2013
Struggling to reclaim his career after the devastating murder of his partner eight months earlier, LAPD cop Max Kent is teamed with a traumatized military canine named Maggie who assists Max in an effort to track down his late partner's killer.
Dial C for Chihuahua
Published in 2012
"Pepe may have soft white fur, big brown eyes, and mucho attitude - but he's no furry fashion fad. Pepe is different. Pepe can talk - even if his new owner, Geri Sullivan, seems to be the only person who can understand him. When Geri takes on her first assignment for a quirky investigator named Jimmy G and stumbles over a Seattle millionaire's corpse, Pepe proves to be worth his weight in liver treats. Suspicion falls on the not-so-grieving widow, Rebecca Tyler, who wants to finance a reality TV show, "Dancing With Dogs". Normally, Pepe wouldn't be caught muerte in a sparkly costume. However, for Mrs. Tyler's caliente Pomeranian, he might make an exception. But puppy love will have to wait. First Pepe has to sniff out the real killer and keep Geri safe. Lesser dogs might flinch. But Pepe isn't the kind to turn tail and run"--Publisher.
Mission Impawsible
Published in 2017
In the pet-friendly town of Wagtail, Virginia, Holly Miller and her grandmother, Oma, are working their tails off to prepare the Sugar Maple Inn for an upcoming matchmaking event for pet owners. While Holly has no interest in pairing up, Oma plans on playing Cupid and finding someone to warm her reluctant granddaughter's heart. Unfortunately, one man Holly does meet is cold--dead cold--and he has a personal letter from Oma in his pocket. As suspicion is cast over the inn's guests, Holly--with the help of her furry friends, Trixie the Jack Russell and Twinkletoes the cat--must fetch the real killer, or she may soon have a date in court.
Storm Rising
Published in 2018
FBI special agent Meg Jennings and her K-9 partner Hawk head to Virginia Beach to help with search and rescue after a hurricane. They uncover a human trafficking ring run by some of the most powerful and influential powers in Virginia. With the evidence-- and victims-- washed away, Meg joins forces with Special Agent Walter Van Cleave to hide the scared teenage girl who is their only witness. And now dangerous enemies are coming out of the storm to stop them. -- adapted from jacket.
Paw of the Jungle
Published in 2019
"Police officer Megan Luz and her K-9 partner in crime, Brigit, are on all fours as they try to solve their latest Lone Star mystery. The weather is beautiful, work is slow, and her canine colleague could use a walk. What better day for Megan to take Brigit to the Fort Worth Zoo, where they can let loose and witness the law and order of nature unfold? But what begins as a fun field trip turns serious when a pair of rare hyacinth macaws named Fabiana and Fernando goes missing. Is the new custodian, a gentle soul who happens to be an ex-convict, to blame? Or is something far more sinister afoot? The birds are worth thousands of dollars, and the list of people on the premises who might have stolen them is long. Soon other animals start disappearing. . .and Megan and Brigit have their hands and paws full of suspects. But when a rare black rhino is taken from the zoo, presumably for its black-market-friendly horn, time is of the essence. Can Megan and Brigit find out who's behind the mystery--before they too become prey?"-- Provided by publisher.
Burning Ridge
A Timber Creek K-9 Mystery
Published in 2018
"Colorado's Redstone Ridge is a place of extraordinary beauty, but this rugged mountain wilderness harbors a horrifying secret. When a charred body is discovered in a shallow grave on the ridge, officer Mattie Cobb and her K-9 partner Robo are called in to spearhead the investigation. But this is no ordinary crime--and it soon becomes clear that Mattie has a close personal connection to the dead man. Joined by local veterinarian Cole Walker, the pair scours the mountaintop for evidence and makes another gruesome discovery: the skeletonized remains of two adults and a child. And then, the unthinkable happens. Could Mattie become the next victim in the murderer's deadly game? A deranged killer torments Mattie with a litany of dark secrets that call into question her very identity. As a towering blaze races across the ridge, Cole and Robo search desperately for her--but time is running out in Margaret Mizushima's fourth spine-tingling Timber Creek K-9 mystery"--Publisher.
Blind Search
Published in 2019
"Former Army MP Mercy Carr and her retired bomb-sniffing dog Elvis are back in Blind Search, the sequel to the page-turning, critically acclaimed A Borrowing of Bones It's October, hunting season in the Green Mountains-and the Vermont wilderness has never been more beautiful or more dangerous. Especially for nine-year-old Henry, who's lost in the woods. Again. Only this time he sees something terrible. When a young woman is found shot through the heart with a fatal arrow, Mercy thinks that something is murder. But Henry, a math genius whose autism often silences him when he should speak up most, is not talking. Now there's a murderer hiding among the hunters in the forest-and Mercy and Elvis must team up with their crime-solving friends, game warden Troy Warner and search-and-rescue dog Susie Bear, to find the killer-before the killer finds Henry. When an early season blizzard hits the mountains, cutting them off from the rest of the world, the race is on to solve the crime, apprehend the murderer, and keep the boy safe until the snowplows get through. Inspired by the true search-and-rescue case of an autistic boy who got lost in the Vermont wilderness, Paula Munier's mystery is a compelling roller coaster ride through the worst of winter-and human nature"-- Provided by publisher.
A Borrowing of Bones
Published in 2018
"The first in a gripping new mystery series by literary agent Paula Munier, about a retired MP and bomb-sniffing dog who become embroiled in an investigation in the beautiful Vermont wilderness. It may be the Fourth of July weekend, but for retired soldier Mercy Carr and Belgian Malinois Elvis, it's just another walk in the remote Lye Brook Wilderness--until the former bomb-sniffing dog alerts to explosives and they find a squalling baby abandoned near a shallow grave filled with what appear to be human bones. U.S. Game Warden Troy Warner and his search-and rescue Newfoundland Susie Bear respond to Mercy's 911 call, and the four must work together to track down a missing mother, solve a cold-case murder, and keep the citizens of Vermont safe on potentially the most incendiary Independence Day since the American Revolution. A Borrowing of Bones is full of complex twists and real details about search-and-rescue dog training that Paula has learned through the training of her own dog. With its canine sidekicks and procedural plot, this series is well-positioned to become "Julia Spencer-Fleming with dogs" and will be a must-have for mystery fans" -- Provided by publisher.
Scents and Sensibility
Published in 2015
When his neighbor gets in trouble for cactus smuggling, Bernie Little, along with his dog, investigates and discovers dangerous goings-on in the desert that seem to be linked to a strange festival, a cult, and a long-ago kidnapping.
Of Mutts and Men
Published in 2020
Chet the dog and his private investigator partner, Bernie Little, must investigate after they show up for a meeting with a hydrologist but discover him murdered.
Dachshund Through the Snow
Published in 2019
"This Christmas, lawyer Andy Carpenter and his golden retriever, Tara, can't say no to helping young Danny and his dachshund, Murphy. Lawyer Andy Carpenter and his wife, Laurie, have started a new Christmas tradition. Their local pet store has a Christmas tree, where instead of ornaments there are wishes from those in need. One poignant wish leads Andy to a child named Danny, whose selfless plea strikes a chord. Danny asked Santa for a coat for his mother, a sweater for his dachshund, Murphy, and for the safe return of his missing father. It turns out Danny's father doesn't want to be found, he's on the run after just being arrested for a murder that took place fourteen years ago - a murder that Danny's mother swears he didn't commit. With his trademark humor and larger-than-life characters - including a police officer and his K-9 partner, Simon - Rosenfelt never fails to deliver as Andy and his eccentric crew dash to reunite a family in time for Christmas"-- Provided by publisher.
The K Team
Published in 2020
"In David Rosenfelt's newest series - a spinoff of the much beloved Andy Carpenter mysteries - Andy's wife forms an investigative team with a former detective and his German shepherd partner. Andy Carpenter's wife, Laurie, was a cop, a good one. Now she helps out on Andy's cases while also raising Ricky, their son. But she's been chafing to jump back into investigating on her own, and when her former partner and his German shepherd K-9 partner come to her with a proposal, she's in. From the author of thebestselling Andy Carpenter mysteries comes a spectacular new series with a K-9 main character"-- Provided by publisher.
Rescued
Published in 2018
"Defense lawyer Andy Carpenter is reluctant to take on any more cases. He'd much rather spend his time working for his dog rescue organization, the Tara Foundation, than find himself back in a courtroom. However, when a truck carrying over seventy dogs from the South to the rescue-friendly northeast turns up with a murdered driver, Andy can't help but get involved. Of course Andy is eager to help the dogs, many of whom come to the Tara Foundation while awaiting forever homes-- it's the man accused of murder who he has a problem defending. The accused just happens to be his wife Laurie's ex-fiance; her tall, good looking, ex-Marine ex-fiance. Even though he acknowledges having argued with the victim, he swears that he is not a killer, and though he would rather not, Andy has to admit he believes he's telling the truth"--Provided by publisher.
A Dog Gone Murder
Published in 2014
Josie has been asked to investigate Uncle Bob's Doggy Day Camp, known for its commercials featuring Uncle Bob liking dogs so much that he acts like one. But Josie soon learns how Uncle Bob acts when the cameras are off. Her mother's new tenant, Franklin, who works for Uncle Bob, plans to quit after seeing the man's true nature. But before he gets the chance, Bob is murdered, and Franklin goes from the doghouse to the big house. Now it's up to Josie to clear Franklin's name. Her investigation reveals that Bob was more of a dog than anyone knew--and had been kicked out of his house for bad behavior. As she digs up new clues, Josie will have to catch the killer quickly, before any more trouble is unleashed.
Murder Most Sweet
Published in 2020
Declared a chief suspect when her scarf is used to strangle a visiting tourist, talented baker and mystery writer Teddie St. John works to clear her name before finding herself wooed by the victim's suspiciously dry-eyed fiancé.