As an owner of two chocolate Labradors, I just adore reading cosy mysteries involving pets, especially dogs. I love to see the increasingly imaginative ways that authors manage to work their dogs into a storyline, often becoming a key part to the mystery’s solution. Having read these books, I realise that I need to raise my game and concentrate more on this aspect of story-telling. Using pets adds dimension to stories, and always give opportunity for humour and love. Anyway, here is a list of my favourite doggy cosy mysteries…
#1: Lucky Paws Pet Sitting Mystery Series
Bethany Blake writes the Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery Series. She has been writing stories set in Sylvan Creek, Pennsylvania since around February 2017. The series features Pet sitter, Daphne Templeton, and Artie, her one-eared fostered Chihuahua, who suffers from a severe overbite and an excess of personality. Daphne has a soft spot for every stray and misfit who wanders into her quaint, lakeside village.
Favourite book: Death by Chocolate Lab
#2: Paws and Claws Mystery Series
Krista Davis has a series of five novels all based in Wagtail, Virginia, the top pet-friendly getaway in the United States. The heroine, Holly Miller, investigates animal-themed mysteries with help from her Jack Russell, Trixie, and her cat, Twinkletoes. I love these stories as Krista has crafted a unique ‘cosy-village’ in which the reader can almost live in.
Favourite book: Murder, She Barked
#3: Dog Town USA Mystery Series
Meg Muldoon writes the Dog Town USA Mystery Series as well as several other cosy mystery series. The Dog Town series is set in Oregon, and first began in 2015. It features reporter Freddie Wolf who returns to Dog Mountain, Oregon, to take a job as a reporter for the local newspaper. Although only a short series at the moment, they offer great potential and I hope that she keeps adding to it.
Favourite book: Mutts & Murder
#4: Happy Tails Dog Walking Mystery Series
Stella St. Claire writes the Happy Tails Dog Walking Mystery Series. It features Olivia Rickard who would kill to keep everything just the way it is. She’s got a gorgeous boyfriend who loves her, a supportive sister to lean on, and a dog walking business that’s briskly barking away. Linda also writes another series called Paws Fur Play which is worth checking out – I simply love the book covers!
Favourite book: Kept in the Bark
#5: Barkery & Biscuits Mystery Series
Linda O. Johnston writes the Barkery & Biscuits Mystery series. It features veterinary technician, Carrie Kennersly, who jumps at the chance to buy a local bakery and then converts it into a Barkery; a shop where she can make and sell her canine delights. I like these because of their included delicious recipes for both pets and people.
Favourite book: Pick and Chews
#6: The Cornish Coastpath Mystery Series
I had to fit my own series in somewhere! There are now seven stories in the cosy mystery series about Pippa Welbury and her lovable dog Benjamin. Join Pippa as she investigates her way through cosy mysteries all based around the Polperro area of Cornwall in England. Walks along Polperro’s cliff tops, afternoon teas (with gin), baking local delicacies, moaning about the bus service, and tentatively feeling her way through life. This is Pippa Welbury.
Favourite book: The Chocolate Eclair Mystery
#7: Dog Walker Mystery Series
This delightfully unique paranormal series takes place in Manhattan on the Upper East Side where Ellie Engleman, a professional dog walker communicates psychically with dogs. Ellie and her adopted Yorkie Rudy, and her sometime boyfriend police detective Sam Ryder, investigate local mysteries all based around her successful dog walking business.
Favourite book: Hounding the Pavement
#8: Barking Detective Mystery Series
Waverly Curtis writes the Barking Detective Mystery series. They are set in Seattle, Washington, and feature P.I. Geri Sullivan and her talking Chihuahua, Pepe. If you like something out-of-the-box, give this series a try. Charming, funny, witty one-liners, imaginative… what more can I say? Oh, and pleasantly believable seeing as it contains a talking dog!
Favourite book: The Silence of the Chihuahuas
So there you go. If you have any comments, please drop me a line.
JJP