by Antony Johnston
SYNOPSIS
Meet Gwinny, an unlikely bloodhound, and her four-legged friends determined to dig up the truth.
Penniless Gwinny Tuffel is delighted to attend her good friend Tina’s upmarket wedding. But when the big day ends with a dead body and not a happily-ever-after, Gwinny is left with a situation as crooked as a dog’s hind leg.
When her friend is accused of murder, Gwinny takes it upon herself to sniff out the true culprit. With a collection of larger-than-life suspects and two pedigree Salukis in tow, she is set to have a ruff time of it.
P.S. nothing bad happens to the dogs!
REVIEW
I know that cosy crime is not for everyone, especially if you like darker crime fiction, but I have always thought that there is plenty of room for humour within the genre. If you love a good mystery but are looking for a slightly lighter read then this is the new series for you!
Firstly I have to talk about the cover - what a stunning design! As the title suggests, this series revolves around Gwinny who has always had a good relationship with, and a good understanding of dogs. In each of the books there will be a different breed of dog helping Gwinny with her investigations and this first book has two Salukis. There is a gorgeous illustration of a Saluki on the cover and this was what caught my attention as they are my favourite breed. In fact when discussing the amusing idea that owners look like their dogs, I was told that I would have to get a Saluki as that is the type of dog I most resemble! Anyway...
Gwinny is a sixty-year-old former actress who gave up her career to become a carer for her dad before he died. Coming from what looked like a wealthy family with an impressive and sprawling house, Gwinny is surprised to hear from her solicitor that the money she thought she would inherit doesn't exist. Not knowing what to do she calls on Tina (one of her oldest friends) to ask for advice. Tina is getting married again in a few days time and Gwinny decides to look on the bright side but things don't quite go to plan. When she attends the wedding, Gwinny surprisingly gets caught up in a murder investigation!
I absolutely loved Gwinny as a character. She is certainly tenacious. I would never have the nerve to complain to the police about their lack of progress or of their incompetence, but Gwinny couldn't care less - her determination to help her friend no matter what is very endearing. I also loved the pairing of Gwinny and Birch and it goes without saying that a lot of readers will really enjoy their banter while at the same time hope that the spark between them might develop. The story itself was funny and entertaining but it actually used this as a way to address some bigger issues such as unconscious prejudice, ageism and complicated family relationships.
The Dog Sitter Detective is a solid murder mystery that will appeal to fans of The Thursday Murder Club, Killers of a Certain Age, The Marlow Murder Club or A Pen Dipped in Poison. Any crime fans who prefer or enjoy a lighter and entertaining take on the genre should immediately add this to their TBRs.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Antony Johnston's career has spanned books, award-winning video games and graphic novels including collaborations with Anthony Horowitz and Alan Moore. He wrote the New York Times bestseller Daredevil Season One with Marvel Comics and is the creator of Atomic Blonde which grossed over $100 million at the box office. Johnston is a former vice chair of the Crime Writers’ Association and can often be found writing at home in Lancashire with a snoozing hound for company.
Thanks to Antony Johnston - @AntonyJohnston Helen Richardson - @RichardsonHelen and Allison and Busby - @AllisonandBusby for the opportunity to read and review.
Publisher: Allison and Busby Genre: Cosy Crime
ISBN: 978-0749029944
Pages: 320pp
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