Chet The Dog

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Beginnings

On Sunday we do beginnings – the first paragraph or two or three of a Peter Abrahams novel, including those written under the Spencer Quinn moniker (and it gives us a chance to use “moniker”!). How about today we look at Dog On It, first in the Chet and Bernie series (which can be read in any order!).

I could smell him – or rather the booze on his breath, before he even opened the door – but my sense of smell is pretty good, probably better than yours. The key scratched against the lock, finally found the slot. The door opened and in, with a little stumble, came Bernie Little, founder and part-owner (his ex-wife Leda walked off with the rest) of the Little Detective Agency. I’d seen him look worse, but not often.

He mustered a weak smile. “Hey, Chet.”

I raised my tail and let it thump down on the rug, just so, sending a message.

“I’m a little late, sorry. Need to go out?”

Why would that be? Just because my back teeth were floating? But then I thought, what the hell, the poor guy, and I went over and pressed my head against the side of his leg. He scratched between my ears, really digging his fingers in, the way I like. Bliss. How about a little more, down the back of the neck? I hunched my shoulders a bit, giving him the idea. Ah, nice. Very nice.

Deal of the Century (More)

Here’s the Buffalo News on Ruff vs. Fluff:

Spencer Quinn, author of the amusing Bowser and Birdie mystery series (narrated by Bowser the dog) ups his game in the laugh-out-loud first book of a new mystery series, alternating narrators between arch rivals Arthur the dog and Queenie the cat. As he did in Bowser and Birdie, Quinn – a pen name for mystery writer Peter Abrahams – shows a real flair for inventing a mystery scenario that allows his animal detectives to credibly unearth clues (say, chewing up a wallet, thus exposing a fake ID) to point their humans in the general direction of solving the crime.

While Arthur and Queenie intensely dislike each other, they adore 11-year-old twins Harmony and Bro and their divorced mom, who runs the struggling Blackberry Hill Inn near the Canadian border. A rude guest arrives shortly before Christmas (cat and dog both instantly dislike him), bearing an old map and a handgun and insisting on hiking a treacherous trail on nearby Mount Misty. When he fails to return, the incompetent local sheriff arrests the twins’ cousin, sending the family and their pets on a quest to find the real perpetrator. Harmony uses Queenie’s charms to cajole clues out of the cat-loving local librarian and an elderly nursing home resident. Arthur has his own role to play, which includes a stint in the local pound and some heroic tracking. The narration by scheming cat and clueless hound is hilariously spot on. Queenie observes: “There’s a quiet dignity about me that I’m sure goes unnoticed by nobody.” And here’s Arthur: “Yes, my growl for sure, low and rumbly. Grrr. Grrr. The party on the other end of that growl must have been shaking in his boots. I wondered who it could be.” Appealing characters, a vivid setting and a well-crafted plot inspired by booze-smuggling of the Prohibition years make this series launch a winner.

(for deal details see yesterday’s post)

Deal of the Century

For a limited time only – as they say – you – yes, you! – can get the e-book Ruff vs. Fluff, first in the Queenie and Arthur series, plus a sneak peek at Paws vs. Claws, for $1.99! These are middle-grade novels but available to adults with fake ID.

Paws vs. Claws starts with no cream for Queenie, a mini-disaster that balloons.

(Now until 8/31. The ebook deal is available on Amazon, B&N, iBooks (Apple), Google Play, and Kobo. The sneak peek is a PAWS VS. CLAWS excerpt at the end of the book.)

Searching For The Truth …

… in Heart of Barkness (the new Chet and Bernie):

What do you know? Shermie “Shoulders” Shouldice!

“Hey, Shermie,” Bernie said. “What are you doing on the loose?”

Exactly! Hadn’t we sent him up the river not so long ago? No water in that particular river, but not the point. Why wasn’t he in an orange jumpsuit and doing whatever they do up at Northern State when the hot sun goes down and they have to stop with the rock breaking?

“Early parole,” Shermie said. “On account of overcrowding. This is a civilized country, don’t forget.”

“It’s hard sometimes,” Bernie said.

Shermie laughed and slapped his knee. It sounded like a gunshot. “You can say that again.”

Bernie did not. Instead he went with, “You’re the bouncer here?”

“My mom’s tight with the owner,” said Shermie. His face pinkened a bit. Was Shermie blushing? I’d seen plenty of human blushing, but never on a face like that. Right away I knew it was one of those once-is-enough things.

“Everybody loves somebody sometime,” Bernie said.

“Wow!” said Shermie. “That’s so true!”