As this is my last post-dated blog which will appear before I get back from my summer trip, I thought that I would give the dogs in our lives equal time. I know that cats are typically what most of us think of when we think of a "cozy animal"… to go with the white-haired sleuth, no less! Gone are those days! Now we have young sleuths who manage their professions along with their family lives. But… I'm not going to be focusing on the sleuths… rather on their dogs. So, here are the site's authors with dog themes in their mysteries.
I will start out with the White House Pet Detectives: Tales of Crime and Mystery at the White House from a Pet's Eye View. It is an anthology which was edited by Carole Nelson Douglas. In it, you will find stories by some of your favorite mystery authors.
There are some veterinarians and veterinary technicians who have series all of their own! Dr. Nightingale is the veterinarian in the Deirdre Quinn Nightingale series by Lydia Adamson. And Karen Ann Wilson writes the Samantha Holt Mystery series. While Samantha is not a full-fledged veterinarian, she is a veterinary technician.
Ellery Adams (aka Jennifer Stanley & J. B. Stanley) writes the Books by the Bay Mystery Series which features Olivia Limoges and her Standard Poodle (Captain Haviland), and a writers club… all of whom solve crimes!
Cynthia Baxter's series is called Reigning Cats & Dogs. The series name lets you know that this series will have puppies and dogs, galore!
Carol Lea Benjamin knows all about training dogs… and I don't mean just her dog Dash!
Laurien Berenson writes the very popular cozy mystery series that features a Special Education teacher who participates in dog shows.
Michael Bond's Monsieur Pamplemousse series has Pommes Frites, Monsieur's dog. With a dog named French Fries, is it any wonder that Monsieur's business is restaurants!?!
Rita Mae Brown fans know Tucker (the Corgi) in her Mrs. Murphy series. But a lot of us are just becoming aware of Brown's new series about foxhunting… and could you ever "foxhunt" without the horses and hounds?
Nancy Bush writes the Jane Kelly Mystery Series which not only features Jane, but her Pug, The Binkster (aka Binks and Binkster)…
Claudius, a Siberian Husky/German Shepherd mix is Annie O'Hare's sidekick in the mystery series that is written by Ann Campbell. Annie owns an antique shop, and Claudius owns Annie's love and devotion!
Edie Claire writes the Leigh Koslow Mystery Series. While Leigh is not a veterinarian, her father is. Every once in a while Leigh wroks as a tech at her dad's office. Also, the second book features a zoo vet and setting.
The Melissa Cleary cozy mystery series is known as the Dog Lovers Mystery series, and features Jake, with his professor Jackie Walsh.
And no cozy mystery book list featuring dogs would be complete without Susan Conant's Holly Winter mystery series. Holly is a writer for Dog's Life Magazine and also a dog trainer.
Evelyn David is a pseudonym for two authors, one with a degree in Political Science and the other with a degree in Biology. They write the Sullivan Investigations Mystery Series which features an ex-policeman and his Irish Wolfhound (Whiskey) and a divorcée mortician who sleuth together…
J. F. Englert writes the Bull Moose Dog Run Mystery Series which features a Black Labrador Retriever (who is actually the narrator of this mystery series) and his often-confused owner…
Christy Evans writes the Georgiana Neverall Mystery Series which has, as its dog-stars, Daisy and Buddha, Georgie's two darling Airedales…
Patricia Guiver writes the Pet Detective Mystery Series which features Delilah Doolittle and her Doberman Pinscher, Watson, who helps her solve her cases.
David Handler writes the Stewart Hoag & Lulu Mystery Series. Lulu is Stewart's faithful Basset Hound.
Sue Henry's first cozy series featured Jessie Arnold, a dog sled racer in Anchorage. She now has a new series about a widow in her 60s (Maxine McNab) who travels in her RV, accompanied by her Mini Dachshund, who could only be called "Stretch!"
Gabriella Herkert writes the Animal Instinct Mystery Series, and her second book in that series features dogs.
Marion Moore Hill pens the Scrappy Librarian Mystery Series which has the librarian and her collie/mongrel, Rip…
Suzette A. Hill writes the Reverend Oughterard Mystery Series. Bouncer (his dog) and Maurice (his cat) enjoy the British village life, even with all of the mysteries to solve…
Linda O. Johnston writes the Pet Rescue Mystery Series which features an animal advocate who runs a pet rescue agency…
Lee Charles Kelley is a dog trainer (along with being an author!) who writes the Continuing Adventures of Jack & Jamie Mystery Series which happens to feature a dog trainer/dog kennel owner/ex-NYPD detective.
Judi McCoy writes the Dog Walker Mystery Series which features Ellie and her dog Rudy… and, lest I forget, Ellie's ability to communicate telepathically with her charges.
Leslie O'Kane writes the Allie Babcock Mysteries. Don't all dogs deserve a dog therapist? And, Allie not only solves their problems, but she also solves mysteries!
Spencer Quinn (aka Peter Abrahams) pens the Chet and Bernie Mystery Series. This mystery series is narrator by Chet, Bernie's loyal Black Labrador Retriever.
Dana Stabenow's Kate Shugak mystery series has Mutt, a half-wolf/half Husky playing second fiddle to Kate, an ex-investigator and current sleuth, in Alaska.
Nancy Jill Thames writes the Jillian Bradley Mystery Series which features a gardening columnist and her Yorkie.
Maggie Toussaint writes the Cleopatra Jones Mystery Series which features a golfing-accountant-sleuth and her side-kick, Madonna (a rather huge St. Bernard)…
Peggy Webb writes the Southern Cousins Mystery Series which features a Basset Hound named Elvis.
Nina Wright, who writes the Whiskey Mattimoe Mystery Series which features Whiskey's Afghan Hound, Abra.
Sue Owens Wright pens the Beanie & Cruiser Mystery Series which features a Basset Hound (Cruiser) and Beanie, a freelance reporter in Lake Tahoe…
There are two authors who feature dog trackers in their mystery series: Donna Ball's series' dog is a Golden Retriever named Cisco. He keeps an eye on Raines Stockton, the North Carolina ex-tracker. Virginia Lanier's series features JoBeth Siddens, who is a Bloodhound trainer and tracker.
While I was working on this Cozy Mystery Dog Theme List, I came across some books about dogs that look like they would be a lot of fun… They are not mysteries, but with titles like they have, if you are a dog lover, you might enjoy checking them out:
Why Do Dogs Drink Out of the Toilet?: 101 of the Most Perplexing Questions Answered About Canine Conundrums, Medical Mysteries and Befuddling Behaviors, by Marty Becker & Gina Spadafori
bowWOW!: Curiously Compelling Facts, True Tales, and Trivia Even Your Dog Won't Know, by D.V.M., Marty Becker, Gina Spadafori, & Molly Pearce (Illustrator)
Dogs For Dummies – A Reference for The Rest Of Us!, by Gina Spadafori; Foreword by Marty Becker
Let's Dance: a Beginner's Guide to Dancing with Your Dog by Donna Ball
♦To access more Cozy Mysteries by Theme click on this link.♦
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I have found a great cozy mystery series by Lee Charles Kelley. He is by profession a dog trainer and that is the profession of his main character….so lots of dog stuff. He has three books out that I know of and I am finishing his last book now. The books are "A Nose for Murder", "Murder Unleashed" and "To Collar a Killer". These books are great fun. His website is leecharleskelley.com
Thank you so much, Sue, for bringing Lee Charles Kelley to our attention. We’re always on the lookout for more cozies!
Don’t forget Nina Wright’s Whiskey Mattimoe series featuring Abra the Afghan Hound…and Victoria Laurie’s Psychic Eye series features Eggy the dachshund, so named because of his love for fried eggs!!! =)
Thank you , Melissa, for bringing those two series to my attention!
Please include the Carol Lea Benjamin series about Rachel Alexander and her dog Dashiell.
Thanks
Jill,
I am so glad you caught my oversight! Thanks for letting me know… (I just added her, and wonder how I missed her!)
Lee Charles Kelley has more than the 3 books that Sue mentioned. The books in order are: A Nose for Murder (to be re-released as An Airedale Heiress) Murder Unleashed (to be re-released as Beagle Troubles) To Collar a Killer Twas the Bite before Christmas Dogged Pursuit Like a Dog with a Bone
Leslie,
I am going to make up a page for Lee Charles Kelley very soon… I’m always on the look out for new cozy authors to add to the site. And, since you have listed all of the books, his page should be very easy for me to make!
Thank you!
To add to the books about dogs that aren’t cozies, you should think about adding this one:
The Dangerous Book for Dogs: A Parody by Rex and Sparky
Thanks, Leslie. You just did!
It’s very difficult to come by, but there is a wonderful British series of mystery novels featuring the training of hunting dogs in Scotland written by Gerald Hammond. They were written in the 80′s and 90′s. Surprisingly, I found several of them available in this country in Large Print editions.
Thank you, Elizabeth, for telling us about Gerald Hammond’s John Cunningham Mystery Series…
Not sure if it fits here or with supernatural, but a new series just started by Judi McCoy, the first book is Hounding the Pavement. The main character is a dog walker and can talk to dogs and her own dog is a reincarnation of her first dog.
Thanks for telling us about her!
Pretty good, cozy mysteries by Spencer Quinn. His 2 books are: Dog On It and Thereby Hangs a Tail. They’re about a dog and his PI partner, told from the viewpoint of the dog
I’ve read all the Spencer Quinn books. There are a couple others: To Fetch a Thief and The Dog Who Knew Too Much. All books are wonderful.
Thank you, Sara. I have another author who I am going to be posting to the site who also writes from the dog’s viewpoint: J. F. Englert.
I’ll add Spencer Quinn to my list of authors to post. Actually, I won’t have to add him as a new author… He’s Peter Abrahams!
Abrahams also writes a children’s mystery series: the Echo Falls Mystery Series. And, as I have said before, I love it when “established” best selling authors write books for children.
I also love it that he is now writing a cozy mystery series for those of us who prefer our mysteries Cozy!
Are there any books out there about Yorkies????
Bunny,
Judi McCoy‘s series has Rudy, a little Yorkie as the star dog.
Wow! What a great list. Thanks so much for creating it. I only knew about half of these people. I’m the raffle chairperson for our sheltie rescue picnic and I make up baskets with cozy dog books, mugs, tea, etc. You’ve given me new resources to search out so thanks!
Do you know of any fiction sheltie books other than Gay, A Shetland Sheepdog?
Thanks, Barbara
A series about West Highland White Terriers would really please me and Cully.
Kay,
The only West Highland White Terrier I can think of is Ballou – in the mystery series by Nora Charles (aka Noreen Wald) which features Kate Kennedy, a senior citizen sleuth in Florida…
(Don’t be put-off by the cover of the first mystery book in the series… the author (or publisher/editor) didn’t know the difference between a Jack Russell Terrier and a West Highland White Terrier. They corrected their mistake in later books, which incidentally are some of the cutest covers out there!)
Danna,
We’ve had Westies for 25 years so I was happy to see Ballou as the main character in the Kate Kennedy Senior Sleuth Mysteries. I can’t wait to read them! Thanks so much for the post.
Do you know of any cozies with a Toy Poodle as the main character?
I’m sorry, Renee T, I can’t think of any Cozy Mystery series which feature Toy Poodles. Hopefully someone else knows of one…
laurien berenson has standard poodles in her melanie travis series she is a school teacher single mom and with her aunt peg they show dogs and solve mysteries
Ellen O’Connell has just published Rottweiler Rescue, which I enjoyed enormously, and is working on her second Rottie mystery.
Thanks, Charlotte, for telling us about Ellen O’Connell!
Does anyone know the names of a couple of mysteries, set in NY in 40s or 50s, written at least 30-35 years ago (the books were used when I bought them in early 80s). Main characters were Jack, Susan and their dog named Tripod. Have exhausted all regular avenues of online searching.Thanks.
Christine, I happen to know this one!
The author you are looking for is Michael McDowell. He wrote three Jack and Susan novels:
Jack and Susan in 1953 (1985)
Jack and Susan in 1913 (1986)
Jack and Susan in 1933 (1985)
He also is the screenwriter of Beetlejuice, which incidentally is one terrific movie!
Danna – that’s it!! I had searched Amazon to no avail- probably didn’t enter search terms in the best manner. Thanks so much – they were great stories and Tripod is the best. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Beetlejuice – I’ll check it out. Thanks again.
Christine
Christine, Beetlejuice isn’t for everybody… It’s pretty quirky, to say the least. Very Tim Burton-esque!
I’ll immodestly mention my Scrappy Librarian Mysteries, in which the librarian protagonist has a collie mongrel called Rip (an ironic reference to Jack the Ripper, since Rip was abused in the past and consequently is timid around most people). Thanks for compiling this list–I now have some new authors to look for!
Thank you, Marion, for telling us about your Cozy Mystery series. We are always looking for new Cozies!
My mystery, A POINTED DEATH, features sidekick dog Skootch, a rescue from the San Francisco pound. I don’t tend to think of my mystery as a cozy because it is set in the biotech industry, and it is just too much of a hybrid, but many blog reviewers see it as a cozy. Since I love cozies, who am I to object?
Thank you, Kath, for telling us about your new mystery series. I’m sorry, but I don’t know what a “hybrid” mystery is…
Love a mystery with a canine in it and I would have never even thought to write a blog on it. My current novel, The Trust, features a canine, a rescue. As I was writing it I was wishing for some other books to read to get a feel for how they handled and wove the canine into the story. Look forward to exploring some of the books on the blog.
Sean, I see (from your site: Sean Keefer – The Trust) that you and your wife have two Australian Shepherds. I have always loved that breed… but know that they are a handful. (I even loved Australian Shepherds before the movie: Babe!)
Thanks for your list. Rita Mae Brown, Lee Charles Kelly, Virginia Lanier and Shirley Rousseau Murphy (who wasn’t on your list) are my absolute favorites. Am now reading my first Spenser Quinn book.
My apologies, in my excitement of this list I forgot this was for “dog” cozies. Ms Murphy is on the cat list.
Today I read a debut mystery by Carol Ann Newsome.
A Shot in the Bark (A Dog Park Mystery) available on Kindle, is an extremely well written mystery about a serial killer who is methodical and manipulative.
It was recommended by another member of my book club.
Lia Anderson is the main character who has to deal with the aftermath of one murder followed by more complications and revelations of secrets of others in the dog park group.
Unlike so many mysteries, the protagonist does not do any sleuthing on her own, the investigation is led by a very believable detective who acts the way one would expect in a dedicated law officer.
While there are some brief, fairly tasteful, mentions of sex, they are integral to the story and not just thrown in for effect.
I have always been an inveterate dog lover and the dogs in this story are well rounded characters in their own right.
It is surprising that this is a first novel because the author writes with authority that is often missing in stories by established authors and I finished the book wishing it would go on.
I look forward to another mystery featuring the Mt. Airy Dog Park characters.
Witness Unleashed by Louie Flann is a mystery based on the what-ifs that arose during the OJ Simpson trial. It features an animal behaviorist who trains a German Shepherd to communicate sufficiently well to testify at a trial. For everyone who was fascinated by the “trial of the century” this will be a thought provoking read.
Rita, thanks for telling us about Louie Flann’s Witness Unleashed.