About
Readers will be instantly captivated by Chet’s doggy ways and his endearingly hard-boiled voice. 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, cash flow, and child custody—is enormously likeable himself, in his flawed, all-too-human way. There’s genuine suspense and intrigue, combined with humor and deep insight into the bond between dog and man. From a dog’s-eye perspective, crime has never been so much fun.
The fourth entry in the irresistible New York Times bestselling mystery series featuring canine narrator Chet and his human companion Bernie—”the coolest human/pooch duo this side of Wallace and Gromit” (Kirkus Reviews), marks a triumphant return in a tale that’s full of surprises.
Bernie is invited to give the keynote speech at the Great Western Private Eye Convention, but it’s Chet that the bigshot P.I. in charge has secret plans for. Meanwhile Chet and Bernie are hired to find a kid who has gone missing from a wilderness camp in the high country. The boy’s mother thinks the boy’s father—her ex—has snatched the boy, but Chet makes a find that sends the case in a new and dangerous direction. As if that weren’t enough, matters get complicated at home when a stray puppy that looks suspiciously like Chet shows up. Affairs of the heart collide with a job that’s never been tougher, requiring our two intrepid sleuths to depend on each other as never before. The Dog Who Knew Too Much is classic Spencer Quinn, offering page-turning entertainment that’s not just for dog-lovers.
Chet has smelled a lot of unusual things in his years as trusted companion and partner to P.I. Bernie Little, but nothing has prepared him for the exotic scents he encounters when an old-fashioned traveling circus comes to town. Bernie scores tickets to this less-than-greatest-show-on-earth because his son Charlie is crazy about elephants. The only problem is that Peanut, the headlining pachyderm of this partiuclar one-ring circus, has gone missing–along with her trainer, Uri DeLeath. Stranger still, no one saw them leave. How does an elephant vanish without a trace into the dark desert night? To Fetch a Thief shows why readers everywhere have fallen head-over-paws in love with the Chet and Bernie mystery series.
In Thereby Hangs a Tail, Bernie and Chet are called on to investigate threats made against an unlikely target—a pretty and pampered show dog named Princess. What seems like a lark of a case turns serious when Princess and her owner are abducted. To make matters worse, Bernie’s on-again off-again girlfriend, reporter Susie Sanchez, disappears too. When Chet is separated from Bernie, he’s on his own to put the pieces together, find his way home, and save the day.
Meet Chet, the wise and lovable canine narrator of the Chet & Bernie Mystery Series, 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.
Readers will be instantly captivated by Chet’s doggy ways and his endearingly hard-boiled voice. 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, cash flow, and child custody—is enormously likeable himself, in his flawed, all-too-human way. There’s genuine suspense and intrigue, combined with humor and deep insight into the bond between dog and man. From a dog’s-eye perspective, crime has never been so much fun.
6:44 pm on May 31st, 2010
The first two books are just GREAT!!!!!!!!
Chet and Bernie LIVE!!!! I can't remember when I found a book so very entertaining. I read constantly but these two books can't be beat. I have bought several copies to give as gifts and everyone has thought they were wonderful. NOW the big question, when can we ger our hands on the third, fourth, fifth. sixth etc Chet and Bernie adventures? Tomorrow can't be soon enough. I'm not sure that Chet is not the author, writting under the name of Shencer Quinn.
6:57 am on June 5th, 2010
Vic! I agree! These books are SOO awesome! The third is called To Fetch A Thief, coming out September 7th, 2010. CAN'T WAIT! MY PAWS ARE SHAKING! My human, Megan, reads them to me all of the time! Can't wait for the third book to come out, although I don't remember what it is about, it'll be awesome! Just like the first 2 were.
2:37 pm on June 12th, 2010
Honesty and personality PLUS! I talk back to Chet while I'm reading! (I'm reading Thereby Hangs a Tail for the second time in a month!)
10:50 am on July 10th, 2010
I used to know German but I've forgotten most of it. Could I see the video with English? I can't wait to look for SPRNCER QUINN at my local library!!
6:57 am on October 4th, 2010
Love the German trailer. Who did it? We are big Chet and Bernie fans, and in fact, got to meet Spencer Quinn yesterday. He is almost as awesome as Chet the Jet!
6:03 am on October 26th, 2010
I love these books…and have told many many friends and family about them..can't wait for the next one…….
6:04 am on October 26th, 2010
These books are so special, I can't put them down…..
2:15 pm on November 11th, 2010
I love the Chet and Bernie series and can't wait for the next one. They provide mystery, humor, and insight into such a wide range of human emotions. Chet the Jet lives and I would love to have a dog just like him. Thanks so much for the wonderful writing!!!
7:37 pm on November 29th, 2010
I love the books. so fun. am on the third one. Thanks so much.
1:29 am on December 14th, 2010
I love these books. Just reading them makes me look at my dog Moose and wonder what he’s thinking. I am sure that he and Chet would be buds. Can’t wait for the next one!
4:09 pm on December 22nd, 2010
I bought Dog On It on the sale table at my niece’s work just because I had extra money and I hadn’t read a book based on a dog since “Marley and Me”. I had no idea how it was written or what it was about, but the behind view of Chet’s head was so cute, I couldn’t resist. Now, I’m glad I just picked it up and bought it. I’ve just finished the second book and am on to the third, which I bought on purpose this time when I was supposed to be Christmas shopping for other people. Chet, see what you made me do? lol I love Chet and Bernie so much and how they love each other too. Can’t wait to get into To Fetch a Thief and wait for the next book….there WILL be one, yes?
3:15 am on January 4th, 2011
I’m NO friend of Chet. It all began when my human found a copy of Dog On It in a secondhand shop, and in a moment of lunacy purchased it. I was underwhelmed to say the least. Worst of it is, she loved it and now has a copy of Thereby Hangs a Tail,and wants more, more, MORE! Must use my evil feline brain to find a solution to this developing addiction before it’s too late and she turns into a …………ahhh…dog person. Cats of the world unite to rid us of this device that is threatening to rob us of our humans’ total and undivided devotion to serving US.
3:59 am on January 8th, 2011
Quite simply, these books are the best! I am so delighted by Chet’s “voice,” and all his observations. The stories are laugh-out-loud funny, sweet, exciting, and even sad all at once, and they’re impossible to put down. Long live Bernie and Chet! Can’t wait for their next adventure!
P.S. Sandy the Lab says that if Chet is ever interested, she’d be available to hang out. She lives with a cat (sorry, Chet!) but even Emily the Cat likes Chet…well, she prefers all dogs to any other cats anyway, so….
4:25 pm on January 16th, 2011
Bingo and I love Chet and Bernie. Bingo is an eight pound Poodle and as we sit together reading the great tales (tails ) we imagine that we are detectives as well. We’ve read Dog On It and Thereby Hangs A Tail and have ordered To Fetch A Thief which we can not wait to read. Hopefully Spencer is hard at work writing more delightful stories about Chet and Bernie’s adventures. Although Bingo is tiny in size, he thinks he is as big and strong as Chet and he knows he is just as smart. He can find a cookie in two quick shakes of his tail. Please keep providing this great entertainment. We can’t wait for the nest story.
4:27 pm on January 16th, 2011
Bingo and I love Chet and Bernie. Bingo is an eight pound Poodle and as we sit together reading the great tales (tails ) we imagine that we are detectives as well. We’ve read Dog On It and Thereby Hangs A Tail and have ordered To Fetch A Thief which we can not wait to read. Hopefully Spencer is hard at work writing more delightful stories about Chet and Bernie’s adventures. Although Bingo is tiny in size, he thinks he is as big and strong as Chet and he knows he is just as smart. He can find a cookie in two quick shakes of his tail. Please keep providing this great entertainment. We can’t wait for the next story.
11:37 pm on May 19th, 2011
Dear Buffy, My staff just read me your post to this blog and all I can say is right on Sister! My staff has gone so far as to tell Mr.Staff that maybe it would be really ‘fun’ to have a dog. I think she is crazy! This is an evil that shouldn’t be encouraged! Kats Unite!
8:38 pm on March 12th, 2012
I’ve fallen in love with Chet and Bernie…pure and simple.
8:44 pm on April 6th, 2012
Chet – you are my HERO! I love your sense of humor. I found Dog On It purely by accident. I finished it in 24 hours and my husband and I scoured every bookstore town for To Fetch a Thief because I couldn’t bear to wait for it to come via mail. I finished books 2 and 3 in two days and can barely wait for The Dog Who Knew Too Much to reach my mailbox.
I can’t wait to see if anything more develops with Iggy—(‘cuz I have an iggy of my own that I read your books to.) Even though he’s small and spastic I think he’s scrappy enough to be a great sidekick!!
8:30 pm on April 26th, 2012
Simply put… best character/series EVER!
P.S. What breed is Chet? Aren’t K9 dogs usually German Shepherds? Is he a Collie/Shepherd cross? kinda confused…
P.P.S Let’s see more Iggy, he’s hilarious!
11:12 am on May 1st, 2012
I laughed so hard I cried at Chet and Iggy’s romp through Iggy’s house in The Dog Who Knew Too Much. Wow. WONDERFUL!
10:15 am on May 22nd, 2012
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Chet and Bernie! Thanks so much for this
great series. I hope they keep coming.
1:15 pm on June 7th, 2012
Chet, just to let you know my husband and I love your books.You and Bernie are very special. We have read them all and are looking forward to your next book. PLEASE HURRY!
3:31 pm on July 20th, 2012
I am plowing through these charming mysteries faster than Chet can catch a tennis ball! Chet is every dog I have ever known and loved. I give him 2 paws up! And, quite frankly, my kitty thinks that number is high enough in her opinion. (I won’t tell her she thinks alot like Chet…) I always feel tip-top curling up with a good Chet and Bernie mystery. And let me tell you, I think they are all good. The very best. Thank you, Spencer Quinn, for bringing Chet the Jet into our lives.
6:54 pm on July 26th, 2012
I just finished reading DOG ON IT & enjoyed it immensely. I am going to look for the other four books in the series in the very near future & either buy them at my local bookstores or download them on my NOOK. Having received the first of the Chet & Bernie mystery books recently from my paternal aunt as a birthday present, I was very quickly captivated by the camraderie that exists between Chet & Bernie Little & how they work so well together in solving crimes. This series is the best I’ve read in a long time, & I’m sure that I will enjoy THEREBY HANGS A TAIL, TO FETCH A THIEF, THE DOG WHO KNEW TOO MUCH, & A FISTFUL OF COLLARS when I get them as much as I enjoyed DOG ON IT.
7:31 pm on August 9th, 2012
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8:34 am on August 17th, 2012
[...] On It, Spencer Quinn I loved this first book in the Chet and Bernie mystery series, narrated by Chet, failed K-9 candidate and superb sleuth (with a fabulous sense of smell). Chet is [...]
2:27 pm on August 24th, 2012
[...] On It, Spencer Quinn I loved this first book in the Chet and Bernie mystery series, narrated by Chet, failed K-9 candidate and superb sleuth (with a fabulous sense of smell). Chet is [...]
8:16 am on August 27th, 2012
[...] woman has impeccable taste, especially after all those years of reviewing. She has referred to the Chet and Bernie series by Spencer Quinn in several emails, so I decided to sniff them out recently. As a dog person, a [...]
9:23 am on August 30th, 2012
Wow, superb blog structure! How long have you been running a blog for? you made running a blog glance easy. The overall look of your site is wonderful, let alone the content!
12:19 pm on December 2nd, 2012
The Chet and Bernie mysteries are great. I have read all 5 in the series and thought the last book…A Fistfull of Collars was perhaps the weakest.
It would be better for someone to read them in the order they were published. My only regret is that I do not have at least another 10 new Chet and Bernie books sitting by me to read…as Chet would say books out the ‘ying-yang’. Do I like that it may be at least a year or more before I see a new one…’not one little bit Amigo’.
I have met more dogs and cats which I cared about and enjoyed than people.
I was also lucky..My dog lived to be 17 years old and my cat who died in 2008 was 19 when I had no choice but to have him put to sleep.
Long live the Chet and Bernie books and hopefully Spencer Quinn will get it in gear and publish at least two a year.
2:36 pm on January 10th, 2013
Our book group chose Chet to read about, after a string of serious classics and tear-jerkers we are really looking forward to reading about a dog’s life.
12:56 pm on January 26th, 2013
I have thoroughly enjoyed the CHET & BERNIE series ever since I got the first book, DOG ON IT, about a year or so ago from my aunt as a birthday present. I read it in only a few short days. I have since purchased & read all of the other books in the series on my NOOK & have enjoyed each of them just as much as I enjoyed the first book. I think that Peter Abrahamson is a great author & that he puts a great deal of heart & finesse into the CHET & BERNIE books. I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of the 6th book this summer! If I were a dog, I would want to be just like Chet! 5 stars for a great series!