Book cover of Dog On It

Book description

The first book of the New York Times bestselling Chet and Bernie mystery series, an “enchanting one-of-a-kind novel” (Stephen King) that is “nothing short of masterful” (Los Angeles Times).

Chet, the wise and lovable canine narrator of Dog on It, and Bernie, a down-on-his-luck private investigator, are quick to take…

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Why read it?

10 authors picked Dog On It as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Comical mystery. From a dogs point of view

I found this book to be an excellent, well-crafted mystery, but what put it on my best books list was Chet, the four-legged narrator. He’s not an entirely reliable narrator, but the reader can count on his doggy behaviors to be consistently reliable as he serves as his owner’s faithful sleuthing sidekick.

Just as Chet has a nose for sniffing out trouble, he also has a nose for Slim Jims, burgers, and the other dogs (his tribe members) in the neighborhood, and can be easily distracted. This keeps the story light and delightfully entertaining. I was charmed from page one.

I’m more likely to read mysteries with cats than with dogs, so when I enthuse over one of the latter, my recommendation can be trusted. I listened to this book, and it was love at first bite. It was my first earful.

The book is narrated by Chet, a failed police dog trainee. He partners with Bernie, a failing private eye, whom Chet sees as the best, bravest, smartest PI ever. Except for maybe where money is concerned or when it comes to things like Hawaiian shirts. Or Hawaiian pants. I’m with Chet on the Hawaiian pants. What was Bernie…

From Molly's list on mystery with sidesplitting sidekicks.

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Book cover of The High House

The High House by James Stoddard,

The Victorian mansion, Evenmere, is the mechanism that runs the universe.

The lamps must be lit, or the stars die. The clocks must be wound, or Time ceases. The Balance between Order and Chaos must be preserved, or Existence crumbles.

Appointed the Steward of Evenmere, Carter Anderson must learn the…

Chet the Jet is another police-dog dropout, and he narrates this series with droll humor and canine insights.

This is the first in the series, and it sets the tone for Chet’s droll first-person (or first-dog?) narration. One of my favorite parts is that Chet is unaware that he’s enthusiastically wagging his tail until he feels the breeze coming past his snout.

From Neil's list on crime-solving dogs.

Much lighter in tone than the preceding, this book is narrated by Chet the dog.

Utterly charming, Chet is the quintessential unreliable narrator. Not because he wants to be, but life is just so full of distractions.

Though there are many books in the series, Dog On It is book one and does a great job introducing both Chet and his human, Bernie Little, a small-time private investigator with money problems.

The mystery is fun and the rapport between these two characters delightful. This is a perfect read when you want to escape a difficult day or time.

From Peggy's list on mysteries for dog lovers.

Now for something completely different but wonderful all the same. The POV is from Chet, the dog, rather than his partner, amateur detective Bernie. Who is a pretty good guy, according to Chet. The author captures the motivations and attention span of a happy, healthy companion dog.

Seeing human interactions and a mystery unfold from a dog’s eyes is a whole different experience and one I recommend. Chet is as lovable as they come, and Bernie’s acceptance of Chet’s ahhh, excentricities, is something I could identify with. This is a mystery, so there are some dark moments that remind me…

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Book cover of The Guardian of the Palace

The Guardian of the Palace by Steven J. Morris,

The Guardian of the Palace is the first novel in a modern fantasy series set in a New York City where magic is real—but hidden, suppressed, and dangerous when exposed.

When an ancient magic begins to leak into the world, a small group of unlikely allies is forced to act…

I love this book and the entire series. These are mysteries I can sink my teeth into, which is what the narrator lives for—sinking his teeth into a Slim Jim, or better yet, a perp’s pant leg. This detective can’t conceive of a number larger than two, he has a gnat’s attention span, and will lay down his life for his partner. The storyteller is loveable dog named Chet. Chet is the partner of Bernie Little, owner of the Little Detective Agency. Seeing the world through a dog’s eyes puts things in perspective, reminding me to live in the moment…

I love a good puzzle, I love humour, and I love adventure. Spencer Quinn fulfills it all. And this author’s main protagonist is a dog. I kid you not. I admit I thought twice before reading it. But I’m so glad I did. This book is a hilarious, fast-paced whodunit. Chet, the dog, is a wise and lovable canine narrator. With many ups and downs, he and Bernie, his master, a down-on-his-luck private investigator, solve the murder.

Bernie Little, a down-on-his-luck Private Investigator, solves crime with a feisty dog companion Chet. Hired to investigate the disappearance of a fifteen-year-old girl, Chet narrates the story with laugh-out-loud descriptions of the people they encounter and places they visit. The plot twists keep the reader guessing, and suspenseful scenes make the book hard to put down. Chet will show his complete unconditional love for Bernie while questioning the strange behaviors of humans. In the end, the criminals are brought to justice with a few tears in their pant legs from Chet’s mighty jaw.

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Book cover of Oaky With a Hint of Murder

Oaky With a Hint of Murder by Dawn Brotherton,

Aury and Scott travel to the Finger Lakes in New York’s wine country to get to the bottom of the mysterious happenings at the Songscape Winery. Disturbed furniture and curious noises are one thing, but when a customer winds up dead, it’s time to dig into the details and see…

I have always loved animals and am invariably happy to tumble into a good animal book. In Dog On It, we meet Chet, the large, lovable canine narrator of this thirteen book mystery series. He is the best of best friends with Bernie Little, the other half of the Little Detective Agency. Together they track down missing persons, infiltrate politicians’ evil schemes, and follow some of the baddest of bad guys into nasty smelling, slimy places. Yes, Chet will fall for a Slim Jim, which often gets him in trouble, and he’ll abandon the narrative if there is a…

From Marty's list on if you’re a dog needing rescuing.

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Book cover of The High House

The High House by James Stoddard,

The Victorian mansion, Evenmere, is the mechanism that runs the universe.

The lamps must be lit, or the stars die. The clocks must be wound, or Time ceases. The Balance between Order and Chaos must be preserved, or Existence crumbles.

Appointed the Steward of Evenmere, Carter Anderson must learn the…

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