Dog on It by Spencer Quinn (Chet and Bernie Mystery #1)

Dog on It by Spencer Quinn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Jacket Blurb:  Meet Chet, the wise and lovable canine narrator of Dog on It, who works alongside Bernie, a down-on-his-luck private investigator. Chet might have flunked out of police school ("I'd been the best leaper in K-9 class, which had led to all the trouble in a way I couldn't remember exactly, although blood was involved"), but he's a detective through and through.
In this, their first adventure, Chet and Bernie investigate the disappearance of Madison, a teenage girl who may or may not have been kidnapped, but who has definitely gotten mixed up with some very unsavory characters. A well-behaved, gifted student, she didn't arrive home after school and her divorced mother is frantic. Bernie is quick to take the case-something about a cash flow problem that Chet's not all that clear about-and he's relieved, if vaguely suspicious, when Madison turns up unharmed with a story that doesn't add up. But when she disappears for a second time in a week, Bernie and Chet aren't taking any chances; they launch a full-blown investigation. Without a ransom demand, they're not convinced it's a kidnapping, but they are sure of one thing: something smells funny.

Their search for clues takes them into the desert to biker bars and other exotic locals, with Chet's highly trained nose leading the way. Both Chet and Bernie bring their own special skills to the hunt, one that puts each of them in peril. But even as the bad guys try to turn the tables, this duo is nothing if not resourceful, and the result is an uncommonly satisfying adventure.

With his doggy ways and his endearingly hardboiled voice, Chet is full of heart and occasionally prone to mischief. He is intensely loyal to Bernie, who, though distracted by issues that Chet has difficulty understanding-like divorce, child custody, and other peculiar human concerns-is enormously likable himself, in his flawed, all-too-human way.

Read as an audio book.

This was a "new to me" mystery series that slots quite nicely into the "cozy" category. This is fun, it's brain candy, it's light, it's a summer read on the porch or for a rainy autumn afternoon curled up on the porch. It's improbable, and it totally works.

Best part about the book - Chet. This is Chet's story, told from his very doggie point of view. So enjoyable! So very dog-like.

The Mystery - So so. Through Chet, the reader knows what is going on, and it's a matter of waiting for the Humans to catch up.

Least favorite part - the pound. Just, no. Not in my feel good stories with animals.

If you are looking for something light for vacation or travel, for a lazy afternoon, a story that can easily be put down and picked back up again, this might be a strong possibility. If you have dogs, you'll completely relate. If you don't have dogs, this is a pretty darn good anthropomorphization of a dog. Recommended.



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