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Chet and Bernie Mystery #1
Dog on It
Fabulous, funny new detective novel featuring Bernie, a slightly down-at-heel PI and his offsider, Chet, a dog (and the captivating narrator of the story).
'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.'
So begins this fabulous, funny new detective novel featuring Bernie, a slightly down-at-heel PI; and his offsider, Chet, a dog - and the captivating narrator of the story.
Chet may 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 just as much a detective as Bernie - superior, sometimes, in his insight into human foibles.
In Dog On It, their first adventure, Chet and Bernie investigate the disappearance of a teenage girl who may or may not have been kidnapped, but who's definitely gotten herself mixed up with some very unsavoury characters.
'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.'
So begins this fabulous, funny new detective novel featuring Bernie, a slightly down-at-heel PI; and his offsider, Chet, a dog - and the captivating narrator of the story.
Chet may 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 just as much a detective as Bernie - superior, sometimes, in his insight into human foibles.
In Dog On It, their first adventure, Chet and Bernie investigate the disappearance of a teenage girl who may or may not have been kidnapped, but who's definitely gotten herself mixed up with some very unsavoury characters.
291 pages, Paperback
First published February 4, 2009
1921 people are currently reading
12145 people want to read
About the author
Spencer Quinn
44 books2,128 followersSpencer Quinn lives on Cape Cod with his dog Audrey, and is hard at work on the next Chet and Bernie adventure.
Spencer Quinn is a pseudonym of author Peter Abrahams.
Series:
* A Chet and Bernie Mystery
Spencer Quinn is a pseudonym of author Peter Abrahams.
Series:
* A Chet and Bernie Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,197 reviews
June 2, 2020
What a positively cute read! Perfect for all dog lovers!
The entire book is told from the perspective of Chet. Who’s Chet? Glad you asked! He’s an adorable, furry, four-pawed delight with two different colored ears. Yup! Chet's a dog!
Chet’s partner in crime and best pal in the whole wide world is Bernie. A down on his luck private investigator, and together duo make an amazing team.
I loved Chet’s…Ooh look! A squirrel moments when he forgets what he’s doing at any given second. Or catching himself growling with no particular reason. Well, that sounds just like my pup! Lol! I think the two might have some distant DNA.
The story-line of a missing teen flowed smoothly as Bernie and Chet began turning over every stone to find her.
A light, enjoyable read that left me chuckling and smiling throughout!
Thank you to Simon & Schuster.
The entire book is told from the perspective of Chet. Who’s Chet? Glad you asked! He’s an adorable, furry, four-pawed delight with two different colored ears. Yup! Chet's a dog!
Chet’s partner in crime and best pal in the whole wide world is Bernie. A down on his luck private investigator, and together duo make an amazing team.
I loved Chet’s…Ooh look! A squirrel moments when he forgets what he’s doing at any given second. Or catching himself growling with no particular reason. Well, that sounds just like my pup! Lol! I think the two might have some distant DNA.
The story-line of a missing teen flowed smoothly as Bernie and Chet began turning over every stone to find her.
A light, enjoyable read that left me chuckling and smiling throughout!
Thank you to Simon & Schuster.
September 21, 2020
There are types of books I don't like, don't care for, or downright can't stand. Two of them are 'Cozy Mysteries' and 'Run-of-the-mill Thriller'.
So, when 'Dog On It' was recommended to me by a friend, I rolled my eyes at the cornball title and politely refused this canine-perspective mystery. She insisted, said it wasn't what I thought it would be, and I gave in. Last week I cracked it open with little enthusiasm, intending it to be more of a personal exercise in speed-reading just so I could tell her I'd read the thing.
It turned out to be just what I thought... a cozy(ish)-run-of-the-mill-mystery-with-a-lack-of-thrills. But there was one major difference: Chet the dog.
This book won me over pretty quick for all the reasons I didn't expect, and they all had to do with the furry protagonist. Chet's interaction with humans (good and bad), other dogs, and general puppy stuff had me laughing aloud and reading constantly. And it's not all heartwarming stuff either... That scene in the dog pound? That made my blood run cold!
So, in turn, I'm going to recommend you read this book... even though you might think it ain't your cup of tea. I wager you'll like it regardless.
So, when 'Dog On It' was recommended to me by a friend, I rolled my eyes at the cornball title and politely refused this canine-perspective mystery. She insisted, said it wasn't what I thought it would be, and I gave in. Last week I cracked it open with little enthusiasm, intending it to be more of a personal exercise in speed-reading just so I could tell her I'd read the thing.
It turned out to be just what I thought... a cozy(ish)-run-of-the-mill-mystery-with-a-lack-of-thrills. But there was one major difference: Chet the dog.
This book won me over pretty quick for all the reasons I didn't expect, and they all had to do with the furry protagonist. Chet's interaction with humans (good and bad), other dogs, and general puppy stuff had me laughing aloud and reading constantly. And it's not all heartwarming stuff either... That scene in the dog pound? That made my blood run cold!
So, in turn, I'm going to recommend you read this book... even though you might think it ain't your cup of tea. I wager you'll like it regardless.
September 1, 2016
If you ever wanted to stick your head inside a dog’s brain, wiggle it around a little, and see what decides to pop out, then DOG ON IT is the book for you. If you’re a mystery lover with a heightened sense of curiosity about said dog, then that’s even better. If you don’t love dogs on some sort of basic level, then you might find yourself in a state of uncertainty. Or maybe you like unique voices in detective fiction. But the bottom line is it’s all about the dog, and Chet fills every page with his unique perspective.
This book was an easy read, but it was a darn fine enjoyable one, too. Chet was lovable, affectionate, filled with happiness and joy, and just so darn cute. He changed direction about as often as Britney Spears changes her underwear, but I got caught up in whatever scent, or thread, or squirrel happened to pop into view.
As for unique voices, though, I’m drawn to those like cars are to potholes. Chet made me feel like I was driving down I-25 with my head stuck out the window and the wind assaulting me, as my nostrils filled with the fresh air after a brief desert rain. The rhythm of the sentences, the quick turn of direction, and the bubbles that seemed to pop with the utmost ease allowed me to believe I was inside Chet’s head every step of the way.
Sure, Chet had his faults, but he was as lovable on the first page as he was on the last. And sure the mystery could have been more complicated, but this is a dog’s perspective after all. It helps to look at it from a slightly tinted glass. Just smile and wave boys, smile and wave, because Chet is here to stay.
Cross-posted at Robert's Reads
This book was an easy read, but it was a darn fine enjoyable one, too. Chet was lovable, affectionate, filled with happiness and joy, and just so darn cute. He changed direction about as often as Britney Spears changes her underwear, but I got caught up in whatever scent, or thread, or squirrel happened to pop into view.
As for unique voices, though, I’m drawn to those like cars are to potholes. Chet made me feel like I was driving down I-25 with my head stuck out the window and the wind assaulting me, as my nostrils filled with the fresh air after a brief desert rain. The rhythm of the sentences, the quick turn of direction, and the bubbles that seemed to pop with the utmost ease allowed me to believe I was inside Chet’s head every step of the way.
Sure, Chet had his faults, but he was as lovable on the first page as he was on the last. And sure the mystery could have been more complicated, but this is a dog’s perspective after all. It helps to look at it from a slightly tinted glass. Just smile and wave boys, smile and wave, because Chet is here to stay.
Cross-posted at Robert's Reads
March 1, 2023
3.5 stars
Bernie Little, graduate of West Point and former cop, runs the 'Little Detective Agency,' which consists of Bernie and his dog Chet. The agency is located somewhere in the Southwest.
The book is narrated by Chet from his doggy point of view, which makes it fun since he doesn't quite get idioms, is confused by conversations, sees the world through his schnoz, and is always on the lookout for a tasty snack. Chet has heard Bernie talking about the agency's 'cash flow problem' and thinks Bernie needs to take a job soon.
So it's all good when Bernie is hired by an attractive divorcée, Cynthia Chambliss, who's worried because her teen daughter Madison didn't come home from school. Madison soon reappears with a bogus story about where she was, but Bernie figures all is well and goes about his business.
Before long Madison disappears again, and this time she doesn't return. So Bernie and Chet get back on the case.
Madison's father, Damon Keefer, is a big-time real estate tycoon in the midst of constructing a high-end housing development. He seems a little blasé about Madison, suggesting she ran off to Las Vegas to let off some steam and will soon return.
He also seems to want Bernie off the case - and he's not the only one. As soon as Bernie signs on to look for Madison a strange car starts lurking around his neighborhood and odd things start to happen.
The worst thing is Chet's dognapping. When the pooch sneaks out to visit a girl dog with a seductive bark he's snatched up, thrown into the skulking car's trunk, and driven very far away. Chet soon falls into the hands of a Russian mobster who calls him 'Stalin' and plans to enter him into Mexican dog fights.
Before Chet makes his escape he glimpses Madison in a window...but unfortunately Chet can't communicate this to Bernie when he gets home after additional harrowing adventures.
In the course of their inquiries Bernie and Chet talk to Madison's family and friends, visit Keefer's pricey housing project, come across Russian mobsters, find themselves in dangerous situations, and so on. As it happens Bernie also becomes interested in a pretty journalist named Suzie, though Chet isn't exactly sure what's going on between them. Suzie has tasty dog biscuits in her car, though, so it's all good...ha ha ha.
The story's plot is pretty straightforward and the culprits - and their motivation - are not too hard to work out. The pleasure of the book lies more in the entertaining characters and the mountainous setting of the story. I especially liked Chet and his quirky brand of narration.
This is an enjoyable light mystery, the first in the 'Bernie and Chet' series. I'd recommend the book to fans of humorous suspense stories.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
February 11, 2014
Light fun. If you are a dog lover with a tolerance for whimsy and in the mood for some mystery, Dog On It should fit the bill. Definitely a clever concept tailored for canine fans, Quinn mostly succeeds by staying faithful to the concept of dog as narrator.
Chet is waiting for his owner and partner Bernie to come home. When Bernie arrives, he smells a little boozy and Chet’s “back teeth were floating,” but needless to say, Chet’s a forgiving sort. It isn’t long before a woman drops by, begging Bernie to find her missing fifteen-year old daughter. Bernie reluctantly agrees–the five hundred dollars she waves at him will make a huge difference paying overdue bills. Naturally, Chet accompanies them to the woman’s home–he was trained as a K-9, after all (if only that cat hadn’t crossed his path!). Bernie inspects her room, Chet sniffs out a bag of pot they forget to mention to the mother, and to no one’s surprise, the girl shows up while they are still there. Chet approves; she’s a fan of his mismatched ears and has a gentle pat. Case solved, they return home and to bed. The next morning, they’re awakened early by Bernie’s ex-wife and a female reporter doing a story on Bernie. In a moment of deja vu, they are called again by the teen’s mom–she’s missing again. It is soon clear that this time there’s something wrong.
So, cute concept executed reasonably well. Quinn’s strength is in characterizing Chet during his many doggie activities. He captures the (likely) time-sense of a dog well, remaining focused on the moment, whether it’s the pleasure of burying a bone, or digging it up again. Chet also makes an enjoyable narrator because of his zest for life and general enthusiasm. Really clever–although Bernie may have his human moments of frustration, depression and withdrawal, Chet remains upbeat. However, I’d have to say that while Quinn catches a wide range of doggie behaviors, the range takes place over a few weeks at most. It comes out like a person who loves their dog and wants to share all the fun and funny things they do, and sounds less like the course of a normal day. Still, it’s fun. I found myself giggling every time neighbor dog Iggy was mentioned:
“I had never seen a real swan and was wondering how catchable they might be when I heard Iggy’s bark. Iggy had a high-pitched bark, an irritated-sounding yip-yip-yip. I barked back. There was a brief silence, and then he barked again. I barked back. He barked. I barked. He barked. I barked. He barked. We got a good rhythm going, faster and faster. I barked He barked. I –
A woman cried, ‘Iggy, for God’s sake, what the hell’s wrong with you?’ A door slammed. Iggy was silent. I barked anyway.”
At any rate, my review will be hanging out in full, unexpunged, with an additional quote or two and even some links at:
http://clsiewert.wordpress.com/2014/0...
AND
http://carols.booklikes.com/post/7858...
Chet is waiting for his owner and partner Bernie to come home. When Bernie arrives, he smells a little boozy and Chet’s “back teeth were floating,” but needless to say, Chet’s a forgiving sort. It isn’t long before a woman drops by, begging Bernie to find her missing fifteen-year old daughter. Bernie reluctantly agrees–the five hundred dollars she waves at him will make a huge difference paying overdue bills. Naturally, Chet accompanies them to the woman’s home–he was trained as a K-9, after all (if only that cat hadn’t crossed his path!). Bernie inspects her room, Chet sniffs out a bag of pot they forget to mention to the mother, and to no one’s surprise, the girl shows up while they are still there. Chet approves; she’s a fan of his mismatched ears and has a gentle pat. Case solved, they return home and to bed. The next morning, they’re awakened early by Bernie’s ex-wife and a female reporter doing a story on Bernie. In a moment of deja vu, they are called again by the teen’s mom–she’s missing again. It is soon clear that this time there’s something wrong.
So, cute concept executed reasonably well. Quinn’s strength is in characterizing Chet during his many doggie activities. He captures the (likely) time-sense of a dog well, remaining focused on the moment, whether it’s the pleasure of burying a bone, or digging it up again. Chet also makes an enjoyable narrator because of his zest for life and general enthusiasm. Really clever–although Bernie may have his human moments of frustration, depression and withdrawal, Chet remains upbeat. However, I’d have to say that while Quinn catches a wide range of doggie behaviors, the range takes place over a few weeks at most. It comes out like a person who loves their dog and wants to share all the fun and funny things they do, and sounds less like the course of a normal day. Still, it’s fun. I found myself giggling every time neighbor dog Iggy was mentioned:
“I had never seen a real swan and was wondering how catchable they might be when I heard Iggy’s bark. Iggy had a high-pitched bark, an irritated-sounding yip-yip-yip. I barked back. There was a brief silence, and then he barked again. I barked back. He barked. I barked. He barked. I barked. He barked. We got a good rhythm going, faster and faster. I barked He barked. I –
A woman cried, ‘Iggy, for God’s sake, what the hell’s wrong with you?’ A door slammed. Iggy was silent. I barked anyway.”
At any rate, my review will be hanging out in full, unexpunged, with an additional quote or two and even some links at:
http://clsiewert.wordpress.com/2014/0...
AND
http://carols.booklikes.com/post/7858...
June 17, 2019
Bernie was a Private Investigator tasked with finding a missing teenager; his sidekick and partner in the Private Eye business was Chet, canine narrator and all round “good guy”. But between Chet’s highly trained skills, his sensitive nose and Bernie’s dogged determination, their search for Madison took them far and wide. From Las Vegas to New Mexico and across the vast desert – but would they find her? It seemed that there were bad guys at every turn. Chet wished he could talk at times so Bernie could figure out the answers sooner – then he could go back to doing what he did best; devouring his doggy treats.
Dog On It is the first in the Chet & Bernie Mystery Series by Spencer Quinn and I quite enjoyed it. Chet, as narrator, became sidetracked quite often (too many yummy smells around) but he and Bernie made a great team! But would they be better than the crooks? You’ll have to read it to see 😉 Recommended.
Dog On It is the first in the Chet & Bernie Mystery Series by Spencer Quinn and I quite enjoyed it. Chet, as narrator, became sidetracked quite often (too many yummy smells around) but he and Bernie made a great team! But would they be better than the crooks? You’ll have to read it to see 😉 Recommended.
June 2, 2024
Chet y Bernie Little son la agencia de detectives privados Little. Pero lo que no sabes es que Chet es un perro y es la mano derecha de Bernie Litte. Ambos son "ex-policías" especializados en Niños Perdidos. Así que cuando una señora llega a pedir sus servicios para encontrar a su hija adolescente, Chet y Bernie comienzan a investigar, lo que no esperan es que el caso se vuelva cada vez mas complicado hasta el punto de Chet y Bernie ya no sepan que mas hacer. Sin embargo, Chet con su gran olfato y su entrenamiento de K9 puede ser el único capaz de encontrar a la joven y desenmascarar a los delincuentes, si solo logrará concentrarse un poco mas...
Es una historia de lo mas divertida y entretenida, toda la historia narrada desde el punto de vista de Chet (el perro), como su lealtad, entrenamiento y terquedad logran guiar a su humano a resolver el crimen. Ahora, el misterio es bastante sencillo, se sabe que esta pasando casi desde el comienzo, pero lo que entretiene es ver como Bernie logra encajar todas las piezas que Chet ya a armado pero que no puede decirle. 😝
¿Te imaginas si uno pudiera realmente saber lo que piensa tu perro? ¿Si pudieras saber lo que siente hacía ti o como razona? 🐶
Me gusto mucho este libro, y es seguro que leeré otros de esta serie mas adelante.
Es una historia de lo mas divertida y entretenida, toda la historia narrada desde el punto de vista de Chet (el perro), como su lealtad, entrenamiento y terquedad logran guiar a su humano a resolver el crimen. Ahora, el misterio es bastante sencillo, se sabe que esta pasando casi desde el comienzo, pero lo que entretiene es ver como Bernie logra encajar todas las piezas que Chet ya a armado pero que no puede decirle. 😝
¿Te imaginas si uno pudiera realmente saber lo que piensa tu perro? ¿Si pudieras saber lo que siente hacía ti o como razona? 🐶
Me gusto mucho este libro, y es seguro que leeré otros de esta serie mas adelante.
May 11, 2019
I was looking for something light and maybe fun but still a mystery and I had this book. And It really was all of that. The perspective of the dog is uniquely fun and fresh and novel. Yes, the mystery is basic and not exactly new, but from the eye of a dog it certainly was. This is a light, fun and easy read.
February 18, 2009
What a great read! The mystery is told from the POV of the dog, Chet. If Chet doesn't see/hear/smell it neither do we. And Chet gets distracted easily. Saves us from a lot of unnecessary tedious details. The story is written with great flair, humor and style. I'm really enjoying this book, and will be sure to read the next one when it comes out!
June 13, 2013
Rating: 3.8* of five
The Publisher Says: As sidekicks, Maxwell Smart and Agent 99 have nothing on Chet and Bernie. This charming detective duo make their debut in Dog On It, the first volume in Spencer Quinn's new mystery series. The fast-paced and funny tale is narrated by the inimitable Chet, Bernie's best friend and canine partner, whose personality and preferences are never in doubt: "I liked to sleep at the foot of Bernie's bed, but my favorite napping spot was in the breakfast nook, under the table with my back against the wall, all cool and shady, plus there was often good snacking around Bernie's chair."
Bernie's enterprise, the Little Detective Agency, limps along, waiting for the next job to arrive. While Chet freely admits that he doesn't always understand the humans around him, the mutt who failed to graduate from the police academy quickly establishes that he's got a nose made for sniffing out trouble -- as well as the tasty morsel.
When the story begins, Chet and Bernie are settled into the companionable routine they established when Bernie got divorced and lost custody of his son. Riding shotgun for stakeouts in Bernie's beat-up convertible (and snarfing up doughnuts and beef jerky) is the perfect life for Chet, though he knows Bernie's worried about cash flow.
But their luck is about to change. During a nighttime stroll through the neighborhood -- an older enclave in the southwestern desert that Bernie fears will soon be eclipsed by new development -- the pair encounter a panicked neighbor, Cynthia Chambliss. Waving a wad of bills, she beseeches Bernie to find her daughter, Madison, a 15-year-old who has been missing for several hours.
Bernie heeds the call of cash and the urgency of parental concern, but Madison soon returns home on her own, only to disappear again in short order -- this time for several days. Cynthia frantically rehires Bernie, but her ex, Damon Keefer, refuses to cooperate, insisting that Bernie be taken off the investigation. Nevertheless, intrigued by the young girl's apparent connections to a group of Russian thugs, Bernie and Chet follow a trail of clues that leads them into more danger than they'd bargained for.
As Chet and Bernie race across the desert toward Las Vegas in their sandblasted Porsche, Quinn's narrative unfolds with mounting suspense. At every stage of their journey, readers will warm to Chet's loyalty and courage -- to say nothing of his delightfully doggy digressions -- and be captivated by Spencer Quinn's deft blend of humor and thrills in this enormously entertaining tale, bound to be the first of many adventures.
My Review: Chet and Bernie. Say it with me, now. Chet and Bernie. Get used to saying it, because once you read this book, you'll be saying it a lot to others who haven't read it yet.
Chet's a dog. Bernie's a schlub. They're a team, crime solving magic of a team. In a mystery world dominated by cat cozies, they're very unusual and very much a pair of guys. This makes them a breath of fresh air at the least, and a cold Alberta Clipper to blow the cobwebs full of cat-dander out of the bookstores. Come back to the fold, gentlemen, there's a voice a lot like the one in your head all ready to talk to you, and it's a dog's!
It's wonderful to read something that's got a new slant on an established trope (read: hoary old cliche), and slants it well enough to keep a cynical old sourpuss like me leaning forward in his seat, eager to see what Chet's going to do next, what Bernie's brain's going to wrest from its depths to help the innocent and land on the wicked with all six feet (four Chet's). LT member cameling gets all the credit for shoving this book into my awareness. Bless you, dear madam.
Oh yeah...the schlub gets the girl, too. The right girl. Never mind that she's a vegetarian...who among us is without major character flaws?...she loves Chet.
Fetch! Sit! Read!
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
The Publisher Says: As sidekicks, Maxwell Smart and Agent 99 have nothing on Chet and Bernie. This charming detective duo make their debut in Dog On It, the first volume in Spencer Quinn's new mystery series. The fast-paced and funny tale is narrated by the inimitable Chet, Bernie's best friend and canine partner, whose personality and preferences are never in doubt: "I liked to sleep at the foot of Bernie's bed, but my favorite napping spot was in the breakfast nook, under the table with my back against the wall, all cool and shady, plus there was often good snacking around Bernie's chair."
Bernie's enterprise, the Little Detective Agency, limps along, waiting for the next job to arrive. While Chet freely admits that he doesn't always understand the humans around him, the mutt who failed to graduate from the police academy quickly establishes that he's got a nose made for sniffing out trouble -- as well as the tasty morsel.
When the story begins, Chet and Bernie are settled into the companionable routine they established when Bernie got divorced and lost custody of his son. Riding shotgun for stakeouts in Bernie's beat-up convertible (and snarfing up doughnuts and beef jerky) is the perfect life for Chet, though he knows Bernie's worried about cash flow.
But their luck is about to change. During a nighttime stroll through the neighborhood -- an older enclave in the southwestern desert that Bernie fears will soon be eclipsed by new development -- the pair encounter a panicked neighbor, Cynthia Chambliss. Waving a wad of bills, she beseeches Bernie to find her daughter, Madison, a 15-year-old who has been missing for several hours.
Bernie heeds the call of cash and the urgency of parental concern, but Madison soon returns home on her own, only to disappear again in short order -- this time for several days. Cynthia frantically rehires Bernie, but her ex, Damon Keefer, refuses to cooperate, insisting that Bernie be taken off the investigation. Nevertheless, intrigued by the young girl's apparent connections to a group of Russian thugs, Bernie and Chet follow a trail of clues that leads them into more danger than they'd bargained for.
As Chet and Bernie race across the desert toward Las Vegas in their sandblasted Porsche, Quinn's narrative unfolds with mounting suspense. At every stage of their journey, readers will warm to Chet's loyalty and courage -- to say nothing of his delightfully doggy digressions -- and be captivated by Spencer Quinn's deft blend of humor and thrills in this enormously entertaining tale, bound to be the first of many adventures.
My Review: Chet and Bernie. Say it with me, now. Chet and Bernie. Get used to saying it, because once you read this book, you'll be saying it a lot to others who haven't read it yet.
Chet's a dog. Bernie's a schlub. They're a team, crime solving magic of a team. In a mystery world dominated by cat cozies, they're very unusual and very much a pair of guys. This makes them a breath of fresh air at the least, and a cold Alberta Clipper to blow the cobwebs full of cat-dander out of the bookstores. Come back to the fold, gentlemen, there's a voice a lot like the one in your head all ready to talk to you, and it's a dog's!
It's wonderful to read something that's got a new slant on an established trope (read: hoary old cliche), and slants it well enough to keep a cynical old sourpuss like me leaning forward in his seat, eager to see what Chet's going to do next, what Bernie's brain's going to wrest from its depths to help the innocent and land on the wicked with all six feet (four Chet's). LT member cameling gets all the credit for shoving this book into my awareness. Bless you, dear madam.
Oh yeah...the schlub gets the girl, too. The right girl. Never mind that she's a vegetarian...who among us is without major character flaws?...she loves Chet.
Fetch! Sit! Read!
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
November 13, 2018
Those of us who read a lot often have a tendency to fall into particular grooves when we choose our reading material. If we're into crime, we inclined to read successive crime novels, similarly, for me the historical fiction genre, my favourite.
Sometimes it is both enjoyable and therapeutic to branch out and explore other genres. After a number of very solid, earnest reads in recent weeks, I opted to grab from my library a humorous book. What a good idea that was!
I must preface my review here by saying I am a passionate dog owner with a great love of all things canine. So when I chose Dog On It I had in mind some interest in how the author would handle the narrative. Because what is key to an appreciation of this light-hearted cozy mystery is that the narrator is Chet The Dog (note: upper case is deliberate!).
Bernie Little is self-employed, running a small detective agency. He lives with his mixed breed, large dog Chet in a suburb of Phoenix, where he suffers from a lack of paying work. He is experiencing financial difficulties, including failure to pay his son’s school fees, which provokes the wrath of his spitfire ex-wife Leda. Just as things are getting very desperate, he is engaged by Cynthia Chambliss to find her missing daughter Madison, teenage school girl. Cynthia’s ex husband Damon Keefer is involved in the development of a gated community outside Phoenix, which appears to be in financial trouble.
A freak situation finds Chet transported to an old industrial site adjacent to a disused mine in the desert across the border in New Mexico. He is imprisoned without water in the mine, until he is able to escape. He makes a long trek across the desert and has lots of adventures along the way back to his home and his beloved master Bernie.
For quite some time Bernie has held suspicions about dodgy finance deals and suspects they are connected in some way to the Madison Chambliss disappearance. Although his methods seem haphazard, Bernie knows what he is doing and ultimately resolves the mystery. Along the way he forms an alliance with local news journalist, Suzie Sanchez. Chet is greatly pleased about this, as Suzie develops a great affection for him, and is a reliable source of doggie treats.
The key element of the success of this novel is that the story is told through Chet’s eyes. A canine narrator is not new, but the skill of the author in intuiting Chet’s mental processes with pin-point accuracy elevates this doggie novel above many others I have read. As a passionate dog owner, I have good insights into canine behaviour. All the way through the book I could see elements of my own dogs' personalities and habits in Chet's conduct and ideas. These include being obsessed with food, constantly scenting the surroundings, barking just because... Clearly Spencer Quinn has close bonds with his own dog, as he absolutely nails the dog's characteristics and thought processes.
The story is told with great humour, and Chet’s doggie observations of the human world he inhabits are often quite insightful. He has a great sense of irony for a dog. The humour lifts the story from something plain, verging on the banal, to something engaging. It’s not high drama, but a very satisfying cozy mystery. And I laughed on nearly every page.
Comic relief is always welcome in our serious lives, and I think the adventures of Bernie and Chet The Dog make for a relaxing, funny, entertaining novel. It would be perfect holiday reading.
Sometimes it is both enjoyable and therapeutic to branch out and explore other genres. After a number of very solid, earnest reads in recent weeks, I opted to grab from my library a humorous book. What a good idea that was!
I must preface my review here by saying I am a passionate dog owner with a great love of all things canine. So when I chose Dog On It I had in mind some interest in how the author would handle the narrative. Because what is key to an appreciation of this light-hearted cozy mystery is that the narrator is Chet The Dog (note: upper case is deliberate!).
Bernie Little is self-employed, running a small detective agency. He lives with his mixed breed, large dog Chet in a suburb of Phoenix, where he suffers from a lack of paying work. He is experiencing financial difficulties, including failure to pay his son’s school fees, which provokes the wrath of his spitfire ex-wife Leda. Just as things are getting very desperate, he is engaged by Cynthia Chambliss to find her missing daughter Madison, teenage school girl. Cynthia’s ex husband Damon Keefer is involved in the development of a gated community outside Phoenix, which appears to be in financial trouble.
A freak situation finds Chet transported to an old industrial site adjacent to a disused mine in the desert across the border in New Mexico. He is imprisoned without water in the mine, until he is able to escape. He makes a long trek across the desert and has lots of adventures along the way back to his home and his beloved master Bernie.
For quite some time Bernie has held suspicions about dodgy finance deals and suspects they are connected in some way to the Madison Chambliss disappearance. Although his methods seem haphazard, Bernie knows what he is doing and ultimately resolves the mystery. Along the way he forms an alliance with local news journalist, Suzie Sanchez. Chet is greatly pleased about this, as Suzie develops a great affection for him, and is a reliable source of doggie treats.
The key element of the success of this novel is that the story is told through Chet’s eyes. A canine narrator is not new, but the skill of the author in intuiting Chet’s mental processes with pin-point accuracy elevates this doggie novel above many others I have read. As a passionate dog owner, I have good insights into canine behaviour. All the way through the book I could see elements of my own dogs' personalities and habits in Chet's conduct and ideas. These include being obsessed with food, constantly scenting the surroundings, barking just because... Clearly Spencer Quinn has close bonds with his own dog, as he absolutely nails the dog's characteristics and thought processes.
The story is told with great humour, and Chet’s doggie observations of the human world he inhabits are often quite insightful. He has a great sense of irony for a dog. The humour lifts the story from something plain, verging on the banal, to something engaging. It’s not high drama, but a very satisfying cozy mystery. And I laughed on nearly every page.
Comic relief is always welcome in our serious lives, and I think the adventures of Bernie and Chet The Dog make for a relaxing, funny, entertaining novel. It would be perfect holiday reading.
August 1, 2022
Dog On It
(Chet and Bernie. Mystery #1)
By Spencer Quinn
I am hooked already on these two characters! The story is mostly told by the dog, Chet. The mystery is unpredictable and it has great characters! Realistic dialogue and when Chet is explaining his view it's great!
I love the unique telling the story from the point of view from Chet the dog. The great characters and plot! Wonderful story!
(Chet and Bernie. Mystery #1)
By Spencer Quinn
I am hooked already on these two characters! The story is mostly told by the dog, Chet. The mystery is unpredictable and it has great characters! Realistic dialogue and when Chet is explaining his view it's great!
I love the unique telling the story from the point of view from Chet the dog. The great characters and plot! Wonderful story!
February 21, 2009
I completely adored this book. It's a mystery, but the driving force behind the novel is the narrator, Chet the dog. He gives a voice to all your dogs thoughts, and Quinn is consistent in Chet's characteristics throughout. Chet will be recalling plot, and get distracted by a rabbit, or bark his head off at the neighbor's dog, without realizing he is the source of commotion until owner Bernie tells him to knock it off.
I think this book is wonderful first of all for anyone who has ever owned a dog and wondered what s/he was thinking, but also for anyone who is looking for a fresh style of narration in the mystery genre. Chet is humorous and endearing, and I cannot recommend this novel highly enough. Worth a doggie treat, in any case.
I think this book is wonderful first of all for anyone who has ever owned a dog and wondered what s/he was thinking, but also for anyone who is looking for a fresh style of narration in the mystery genre. Chet is humorous and endearing, and I cannot recommend this novel highly enough. Worth a doggie treat, in any case.
August 17, 2025
I no longer remember how I came to buy an audiobook of Dog on It on audible.com. Most likely, it attracted my attention because it happened to be on discount. A mystery narrated by a dog? I was both curious and skeptical.
When I acquired the book in 2018, our dog was a goofy one year old. Now she is a wise 8-year-old canine lady, aka Nicky the Jewish Shepherd (also known as Superbrain and House Psychotherapist). I think she would have liked being friends with Chet the Jet, the canine partner of Bernie Little, the private detective. Chet is quite a canine superhero, and his narration of this first Chet and Bernie adventure was much better than I expected. Of course, anthropomorphism was constantly and unavoidably shooting through the roof, but experiencing this mystery through Chet's point of view was both entertaining and enjoyable, so I was willing to suspend my disbelief.
So, contrary to my expectations I was quite happy with the canine narrator. It was that annoyed me. If it were a parody or a farce, these cardboard criminals with absurdly impossible names would have worked just fine, but in a detective story that strained to appear plausible they seemed as believable as if crafted by Chet himself, probably upon watching John Wayne's anti-commie opus Big Jim McLain.
Nevertheless, I might still read the next Chet and Bernie mystery one day, when I'm too tired for anything else and just want to be entertained.
P.S. Speaking of canine narration, when she was still quite young, Nicky the Jewish Shepherd dictated a poem to me:
Bewildering Stories Magazine: Socks
When I acquired the book in 2018, our dog was a goofy one year old. Now she is a wise 8-year-old canine lady, aka Nicky the Jewish Shepherd (also known as Superbrain and House Psychotherapist). I think she would have liked being friends with Chet the Jet, the canine partner of Bernie Little, the private detective. Chet is quite a canine superhero, and his narration of this first Chet and Bernie adventure was much better than I expected. Of course, anthropomorphism was constantly and unavoidably shooting through the roof, but experiencing this mystery through Chet's point of view was both entertaining and enjoyable, so I was willing to suspend my disbelief.
So, contrary to my expectations I was quite happy with the canine narrator. It was that annoyed me. If it were a parody or a farce, these cardboard criminals with absurdly impossible names would have worked just fine, but in a detective story that strained to appear plausible they seemed as believable as if crafted by Chet himself, probably upon watching John Wayne's anti-commie opus Big Jim McLain.
Nevertheless, I might still read the next Chet and Bernie mystery one day, when I'm too tired for anything else and just want to be entertained.
P.S. Speaking of canine narration, when she was still quite young, Nicky the Jewish Shepherd dictated a poem to me:
Bewildering Stories Magazine: Socks
November 20, 2015
I read Dog On It because a friend recommended it, saying it made her laugh. I like dogs and I like laughs. Plus, after just coming off of reading The Art of Racing in the Rain, a truly great book narrated by a dog, I thought this was a perfect time to do so. I had no other expectations going into Dog On It, except knowing that it was the first in a “Chet and Bernie Mystery” series (one of them has got to be the dog right?), and there is also a praise on the cover by Stephen King. What more could I ask?
Here’s the lowdown: Chet is the dog (I solved that mystery in the first page). He is an almost-passed-the-K9-training-test, large mixed-breed dog with mismatched ears, and an off-the-chart dog intelligence topped off with a sense of humor. How can a dog have a sense of humor, you ask? He narrates the story from a dog’s POV. Bernie is a one-time cop, now private detective who is slightly down on his luck. When he paid a visit by a mother looking for her missing teenage daughter, the mystery is on.
Quinn is a pretty much a genius portraying comedy by using the dog’s point-of-view. The one-liners and viewpoints consistently made me laugh. I expected the humor to go stale at some point, but if anything it just gets better. I say Quinn is a comic egghead, who has created a perfect character in Chet. It’s also a plus to know that the human story never gets lost in the dog’s view of things. It’s enhanced because as the reader we follow both sides simultaneously, and receive the benefit of laughs as only a dog would see things (a dog, and Mr Quinn of course).
Here’s a little example when Bernie and Chet approach a client at club-side pool:
"I sniffed the air in hopes of scraps: poolsides were usually good for a potato chip or two, or even one of those mini hot dogs – had to be careful about the toothpicks they came on, I’d learned that the hard way."
That’s plucked that from the middle of the book, but I hope you see a hint of Chet’s personality.
Like I said, Dog On It is only the first of the series, currently up to #8. If you like fun reads set in the middle of a mystery, I suggest these for sure. One other tidbit: Spencer Quinn is a pseudonym used by a very well known thriller author.
Here’s the lowdown: Chet is the dog (I solved that mystery in the first page). He is an almost-passed-the-K9-training-test, large mixed-breed dog with mismatched ears, and an off-the-chart dog intelligence topped off with a sense of humor. How can a dog have a sense of humor, you ask? He narrates the story from a dog’s POV. Bernie is a one-time cop, now private detective who is slightly down on his luck. When he paid a visit by a mother looking for her missing teenage daughter, the mystery is on.
Quinn is a pretty much a genius portraying comedy by using the dog’s point-of-view. The one-liners and viewpoints consistently made me laugh. I expected the humor to go stale at some point, but if anything it just gets better. I say Quinn is a comic egghead, who has created a perfect character in Chet. It’s also a plus to know that the human story never gets lost in the dog’s view of things. It’s enhanced because as the reader we follow both sides simultaneously, and receive the benefit of laughs as only a dog would see things (a dog, and Mr Quinn of course).
Here’s a little example when Bernie and Chet approach a client at club-side pool:
"I sniffed the air in hopes of scraps: poolsides were usually good for a potato chip or two, or even one of those mini hot dogs – had to be careful about the toothpicks they came on, I’d learned that the hard way."
That’s plucked that from the middle of the book, but I hope you see a hint of Chet’s personality.
Like I said, Dog On It is only the first of the series, currently up to #8. If you like fun reads set in the middle of a mystery, I suggest these for sure. One other tidbit: Spencer Quinn is a pseudonym used by a very well known thriller author.
September 14, 2025
Halloween Bingo 2025
I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this mystery. I went in knowing only that Chet, the dog, played a large role. Well, that's putting it mildly. Chet is the narrator, but sees his human partner Bernie as the star of the tale. Bernie is a private investigator who has been retained to find a missing 15 year old girl.
It's obvious that the author loves dogs and has spent many hours with them. He captures the basics of doggy existence: snacks are always a good thing, any food on the floor is fair game, car rides are the best, cats are not to be trusted. Chet understandably hasn't the best sense of time passing and he leaves the analytical thinking to Bernie. But he is a faithful companion and takes care of Bernie as best he can. He doesn't understand human motivations all the time and quite often finds their behaviour puzzling.
The mystery itself is pretty basic. If the novel relied on it to do the heavy lifting, this would never have been published. It's Chet's adventures that keep the reader engaged. He gets separated from Bernie on a couple of occasions, with harrowing results. Setting an animal up to narrate a story can be hit or miss, but in this case it was an entertaining choice.
I read this book for the Cozy Mystery square of my Halloween Bingo card.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this mystery. I went in knowing only that Chet, the dog, played a large role. Well, that's putting it mildly. Chet is the narrator, but sees his human partner Bernie as the star of the tale. Bernie is a private investigator who has been retained to find a missing 15 year old girl.
It's obvious that the author loves dogs and has spent many hours with them. He captures the basics of doggy existence: snacks are always a good thing, any food on the floor is fair game, car rides are the best, cats are not to be trusted. Chet understandably hasn't the best sense of time passing and he leaves the analytical thinking to Bernie. But he is a faithful companion and takes care of Bernie as best he can. He doesn't understand human motivations all the time and quite often finds their behaviour puzzling.
The mystery itself is pretty basic. If the novel relied on it to do the heavy lifting, this would never have been published. It's Chet's adventures that keep the reader engaged. He gets separated from Bernie on a couple of occasions, with harrowing results. Setting an animal up to narrate a story can be hit or miss, but in this case it was an entertaining choice.
I read this book for the Cozy Mystery square of my Halloween Bingo card.
February 29, 2012
Chet the Jet
★★★★☆ (This is a review of the audiobook.) I’ve heard Jim Frangione narrate other audiobooks, so I had to concentrate at first to remember this delightful mystery is told from a dog’s POV. Mr. Fragione does a nice job of it here. I kind of like him with a bit of ‘tongue-in-cheek,’ mixed with the ‘eagerness-to-please,’ and ‘why are these humans behaving this crazy?’ qualities in his canine narrator delivery. Oh! The things that happen to this dog! Stun-guns, bullets, knives, kidnappers, mountain lions, the pound, electric fences, biker bar-fights, and more!
Chet is a wonderful pooch who enjoys riding shotgun with his human companion, Bernie, a delicious private investigator. So, you can imagine the scrapes and misadventures. My heart was in my throat a few times and I laughed out loud more than once. Chet is clever and insightful, but not overly smart, and all loveable. I’ll definitely continue the Chet and Bernie Mystery series. Can't wait to get to the one with the missing elephant named ‘Peanut’!
★★★★☆ (This is a review of the audiobook.) I’ve heard Jim Frangione narrate other audiobooks, so I had to concentrate at first to remember this delightful mystery is told from a dog’s POV. Mr. Fragione does a nice job of it here. I kind of like him with a bit of ‘tongue-in-cheek,’ mixed with the ‘eagerness-to-please,’ and ‘why are these humans behaving this crazy?’ qualities in his canine narrator delivery. Oh! The things that happen to this dog! Stun-guns, bullets, knives, kidnappers, mountain lions, the pound, electric fences, biker bar-fights, and more!
Chet is a wonderful pooch who enjoys riding shotgun with his human companion, Bernie, a delicious private investigator. So, you can imagine the scrapes and misadventures. My heart was in my throat a few times and I laughed out loud more than once. Chet is clever and insightful, but not overly smart, and all loveable. I’ll definitely continue the Chet and Bernie Mystery series. Can't wait to get to the one with the missing elephant named ‘Peanut’!
May 6, 2013
4 1/2 stars
This is a comic mystery told adorably from the point of view of Chet the dog. Being a dog and all, Chet has a different way of looking at things and tells the story with lots of pauses for “ahhh’s” (hooray, head scratch), and “thump thumps” (uncontrollable tail wag). He gets distracted easily by tantalizing smells. It’s super cutesy, I admit, but I love it still. Sometimes a person needs a little cutesy to balance out the ugly, mean-nasties.
Chet’s owner Bernie is a gruff, divorced private investigator but Chet loves him all the same. Seen through Chet’s eyes, many, if not most, of Bernie’s actions are unintentionally humorous as Chet is often confounded by Bernie’s behavior. However, as the book goes along Chet and Bernie (but mostly Chet) are put into some life-threatening situations. If you don’t like doggies in peril you may have a hard time with this one. Parts of it were definitely hard to read. Poor Chet is stabbed, tossed by a car, almost made into a dog fighter, starved and nearly euthanized. You’ve been warned.
The case revolves around a missing teen and was unexceptional and not all that gripping but then again I’m use to gory serial killer mysteries when I bother to read them. This type of quieter mystery needs me some gimmicks or humor or I’ll lose interest fast. This one has both but it was the characters that made the book work for me. Sure, Chet’s thoughts are too people-like but if you go with it you’ll have fun. He even makes rather sad sack Bernie lovable. You rarely forget the narrator is a dog and I loved that. Even when Chet is “on the job” he’ll take the time to snarf up the Cheerios at the client’s house. How can you not love Chet?
Chet being Chet: “Suzie was interesting. No doubt about it. An urge came over me to sidestep my way under the table and give her toes a quick lick. I resisted it, she was the guest.”
This is a comic mystery told adorably from the point of view of Chet the dog. Being a dog and all, Chet has a different way of looking at things and tells the story with lots of pauses for “ahhh’s” (hooray, head scratch), and “thump thumps” (uncontrollable tail wag). He gets distracted easily by tantalizing smells. It’s super cutesy, I admit, but I love it still. Sometimes a person needs a little cutesy to balance out the ugly, mean-nasties.
Chet’s owner Bernie is a gruff, divorced private investigator but Chet loves him all the same. Seen through Chet’s eyes, many, if not most, of Bernie’s actions are unintentionally humorous as Chet is often confounded by Bernie’s behavior. However, as the book goes along Chet and Bernie (but mostly Chet) are put into some life-threatening situations. If you don’t like doggies in peril you may have a hard time with this one. Parts of it were definitely hard to read. Poor Chet is stabbed, tossed by a car, almost made into a dog fighter, starved and nearly euthanized. You’ve been warned.
The case revolves around a missing teen and was unexceptional and not all that gripping but then again I’m use to gory serial killer mysteries when I bother to read them. This type of quieter mystery needs me some gimmicks or humor or I’ll lose interest fast. This one has both but it was the characters that made the book work for me. Sure, Chet’s thoughts are too people-like but if you go with it you’ll have fun. He even makes rather sad sack Bernie lovable. You rarely forget the narrator is a dog and I loved that. Even when Chet is “on the job” he’ll take the time to snarf up the Cheerios at the client’s house. How can you not love Chet?
Chet being Chet: “Suzie was interesting. No doubt about it. An urge came over me to sidestep my way under the table and give her toes a quick lick. I resisted it, she was the guest.”
July 21, 2020
My second Chet and Bernie book
I must admit I liked #10 better. Maybe because the characters have grown more. Needless to say I will be reading more of their lives. This from someone who doesn’t really take a shine to animals narrating stories. Um except for Duncton Woods series, Watership Down, Skallagrigg and Mmm!!
Maybe I mean I’m not keen on detective animal books except for Geronimo Stilton.
So adult detective stories with an animal proponent! Ok Chet wins hands down!
I must admit I liked #10 better. Maybe because the characters have grown more. Needless to say I will be reading more of their lives. This from someone who doesn’t really take a shine to animals narrating stories. Um except for Duncton Woods series, Watership Down, Skallagrigg and Mmm!!
Maybe I mean I’m not keen on detective animal books except for Geronimo Stilton.
So adult detective stories with an animal proponent! Ok Chet wins hands down!
Read
February 1, 2009February might be a short and bleak month, but this year we have the debut of a new, unstoppable, hilarious, hard hitting crime fighting duo--Bernie and Chet--to look forward to. Bernie is a human private investigator with more heart than money. Chet is an almost completely trained police dog (there was an incident with a squirrel during the final field test--he'll tell you about it if he gets time later). And that's the real kicker to this team--Chet narrates the action in a very "dog nation" kind of way. Their current case is a missing 17 year old girl that many people don't want to be found. It's a good mystery with interesting clues, and the charm of the storytelling style just can't be beat. The great news is that this is the first book in what promises to be a popular ongoing series--author Spencer Quinn and his dog Audrey are busy on the next one even now!
Jackie
Once you read this book, we're sure you'll be interested in this special note from the publisher:
"Good Morning fellow F.O.C. (Friend of Chet)
If I am translating Chet’s tail wagging properly, I believe he wants me to thank you for the kind words you’ve shared with us about Dog On It.
He’d also like me to invite you read his thoughts on his new blog. Visit www.ChetTheDog.com for a daily look into the mind of our favorite four-legged detective sidekick.
Plus, if you’re on Facebook, please join me in the group named Chet Appreciation Society where you’ll find al the latest Chet news and information plus you’ll be able to meet and chat with other Chet fans and author Spencer Quinn. The more, the merrier so tell your friends to tell their friends to join.
But wait, there’s more! Chet the Dog also Twitters! Follow him at www.twitter.com/ChetTheDog so you too can know whenever he smells bacon!
Jackie
Once you read this book, we're sure you'll be interested in this special note from the publisher:
"Good Morning fellow F.O.C. (Friend of Chet)
If I am translating Chet’s tail wagging properly, I believe he wants me to thank you for the kind words you’ve shared with us about Dog On It.
He’d also like me to invite you read his thoughts on his new blog. Visit www.ChetTheDog.com for a daily look into the mind of our favorite four-legged detective sidekick.
Plus, if you’re on Facebook, please join me in the group named Chet Appreciation Society where you’ll find al the latest Chet news and information plus you’ll be able to meet and chat with other Chet fans and author Spencer Quinn. The more, the merrier so tell your friends to tell their friends to join.
But wait, there’s more! Chet the Dog also Twitters! Follow him at www.twitter.com/ChetTheDog so you too can know whenever he smells bacon!
June 11, 2017
I listened to the audio book, and given the fact I literally had to stop the car on I-17 I was laughing so hard, I would definitely recommend the audio.
Dog on It is from Chet the dog's perspective, and he is a charmer. Chet isn't a very good dog, but he's a great dog especially for the almost down and out Bernie owner of The Little Detective Agency. As far as Chet is concerned Bernie can do no wrong, and that's what makes this such a charmer. Spencer Quinn jumps into the heart and mind of a dog. Or, at least what we humans would like to think is the heart and mind of our pets.
It's been a few years since I listened to this so the mystery is murky in memory, but frankly the mystery is not why this book is a success. Chet's POV is hysterical whether he is engaged in a bark fest with Iggy his next door dog best friend or admiring the way Bernie moves through life or contemplating the horror of falling down on the job when he smells cat too near his door.
I don't normally do dog books as I don't do bittersweet or coming of age crap, but the Chet and Bernie show is an easy fix to that problem.
A 3 star mystery with a 4 star character.
Dog on It is from Chet the dog's perspective, and he is a charmer. Chet isn't a very good dog, but he's a great dog especially for the almost down and out Bernie owner of The Little Detective Agency. As far as Chet is concerned Bernie can do no wrong, and that's what makes this such a charmer. Spencer Quinn jumps into the heart and mind of a dog. Or, at least what we humans would like to think is the heart and mind of our pets.
It's been a few years since I listened to this so the mystery is murky in memory, but frankly the mystery is not why this book is a success. Chet's POV is hysterical whether he is engaged in a bark fest with Iggy his next door dog best friend or admiring the way Bernie moves through life or contemplating the horror of falling down on the job when he smells cat too near his door.
I don't normally do dog books as I don't do bittersweet or coming of age crap, but the Chet and Bernie show is an easy fix to that problem.
A 3 star mystery with a 4 star character.
June 30, 2017
3.5 stars
I enjoyed this story. I appreciated the way the story was told from the perspective of a dog (albeit a very smart one). Aside from the unique narrator, this is a run of the mill mystery book.
So run of the mill, in fact, that I was four chapters into the audiobook version before I remembered that I'd read this book before (in a regular book version). That such a uniquely told story still managed to become unforgettable within a few years is telling.
As well, the Audible version of this book was horribly edited. There were long (several seconds each -- and I listen at an increased speed) pauses of dead air. Sometimes this was between chapters, but often it was not. And speaking of chapters, this was one of those annoying books that did not align its chapters with the chapters audible sets.
I loved the narration by Jim Frangione -- he did a great job of somehow managing to sound exactly the way a dog should.
I'd consider listening to the next book (if I knew the editing would be better), except that once I remembered having read this book, I remembered details that were not covered in this volume, so I suspect I have also read the second book as well.
I enjoyed this story. I appreciated the way the story was told from the perspective of a dog (albeit a very smart one). Aside from the unique narrator, this is a run of the mill mystery book.
So run of the mill, in fact, that I was four chapters into the audiobook version before I remembered that I'd read this book before (in a regular book version). That such a uniquely told story still managed to become unforgettable within a few years is telling.
As well, the Audible version of this book was horribly edited. There were long (several seconds each -- and I listen at an increased speed) pauses of dead air. Sometimes this was between chapters, but often it was not. And speaking of chapters, this was one of those annoying books that did not align its chapters with the chapters audible sets.
I loved the narration by Jim Frangione -- he did a great job of somehow managing to sound exactly the way a dog should.
I'd consider listening to the next book (if I knew the editing would be better), except that once I remembered having read this book, I remembered details that were not covered in this volume, so I suspect I have also read the second book as well.
October 23, 2014
This was a fun book, 3.5 stars with an extra half because it is the beginning of a series. Chet is a dog that almost graduated from the Police Academy & would have if not for a cat. Bernie is an ex-soldier & ex-cop who is now a private investigator with a big heart. The story is told from Chet's POV, which makes it pretty funny, somewhat corny, but definitely a fun read.
The writing is well done. The case is interesting, especially as we only see those portions that Chet is interested in - somewhat more than a real dog would be, but with plenty of doggy distractions such as food, playing ball, going for walks & his opinion of other pets. It's well plotted & well executed. We learn a lot about Bernie, Chet & several other characters slowly, logically & often between the lines. The story slowly comes together with some good action & thrills.
I'm not in a rush to get the rest of the series, but that's just me. While it was very enjoyable, between it & The Art of Racing in the Rain, I've had enough anthropomorphizing for a few months. If you are into stories told by animals or like mystery/thrillers, then this book is worth buying new.
The writing is well done. The case is interesting, especially as we only see those portions that Chet is interested in - somewhat more than a real dog would be, but with plenty of doggy distractions such as food, playing ball, going for walks & his opinion of other pets. It's well plotted & well executed. We learn a lot about Bernie, Chet & several other characters slowly, logically & often between the lines. The story slowly comes together with some good action & thrills.
I'm not in a rush to get the rest of the series, but that's just me. While it was very enjoyable, between it & The Art of Racing in the Rain, I've had enough anthropomorphizing for a few months. If you are into stories told by animals or like mystery/thrillers, then this book is worth buying new.
November 16, 2008
February might be a short and bleak month, but this year we have the debut of a new, unstoppable, hilarious, hard hitting crime fighting duo--Bernie and Chet--to look forward to. Bernie is a human private investigator with more heart than money. Chet is an almost completely trained police dog (there was an incident with a squirrel during the final field test--he'll tell you about it if he gets time later). And that's the real kicker to this team--Chet narrates the action in a very "dog nation" kind of way. Their current case is a missing 17 year old girl that many people don't want to be found. It's a good mystery with interesting clues, and the charm of the storytelling style just can't be beat. The great news is that this is the first book in what promises to be a popular ongoing series--author Spencer Quinn and his dog Audrey are busy on the next one even now!
January 19, 2017
This was my very first audiobook, believe it or not, and I really enjoyed how the story was told from the dog's hilarioius point of veiw. I'm going to have to practice with audiobooks, though because I have a tendancy to get distracted and found myself going back to listen to parts I missed. Thanks for the recommendation Carol!!
March 4, 2019
I just finished reading this and it was most amusing and I enjoyed it enough that I requested the next one. It is very rare for me to read the next book in a series. If you love dogs you will probably enjoy it also. Chet is a very entertaining narrator.
March 29, 2009
I’m now looking forward to the forthcoming books in the series; this is the first book in a new mystery series.
This is a fun, creative, and unique book that’s told from the point of view of a dog. I don’t think the author captured 100% perfectly the way a dog is but overall he seemed to do an excellent job.
I love Chet, Bernie, and Suzie. There’s a lot about Bernie I’d think I wouldn’t like, but there’s so much that’s laudable and loveable about him too. I hope that Charlie plays a bigger role in future books.
And the story sure reminded me of how I miss having one of these miraculous food vacuum cleaners (dogs) in my life.
But, Grrrr, as Chet would say: Even though I know Bernie and Chet have to survive because this is the first book in a series, there are too many times I was uncomfortable with the suspense when Chet and/or Bernie were in danger. One particular time with Chet was brutally difficult for me. I do think the book would have been better if the heroes hadn’t been in danger quite so many times throughout the book; it was all a bit too much.
Luckily, there were many very amusing parts. For me, the dog’s voice, and the relationships/characters, and also the humor were the best things about this book.
One thing I loved is that the author dedicates the book to what looks to be all his previous dogs, and his current dog Audrey.
Edit: I've been thinking about this book and considering upping it to 5 stars until we hopefully get a half stars option, and just remembered a plot point was left wide open, I assume for the second book. Another dog in danger situation. Ack!
This is a fun, creative, and unique book that’s told from the point of view of a dog. I don’t think the author captured 100% perfectly the way a dog is but overall he seemed to do an excellent job.
I love Chet, Bernie, and Suzie. There’s a lot about Bernie I’d think I wouldn’t like, but there’s so much that’s laudable and loveable about him too. I hope that Charlie plays a bigger role in future books.
And the story sure reminded me of how I miss having one of these miraculous food vacuum cleaners (dogs) in my life.
But, Grrrr, as Chet would say: Even though I know Bernie and Chet have to survive because this is the first book in a series, there are too many times I was uncomfortable with the suspense when Chet and/or Bernie were in danger. One particular time with Chet was brutally difficult for me. I do think the book would have been better if the heroes hadn’t been in danger quite so many times throughout the book; it was all a bit too much.
Luckily, there were many very amusing parts. For me, the dog’s voice, and the relationships/characters, and also the humor were the best things about this book.
One thing I loved is that the author dedicates the book to what looks to be all his previous dogs, and his current dog Audrey.
Edit: I've been thinking about this book and considering upping it to 5 stars until we hopefully get a half stars option, and just remembered a plot point was left wide open, I assume for the second book. Another dog in danger situation. Ack!
February 4, 2015
Dogs should not write books. Nor cats, badgers, pythons, or lemurs. But if a dog has to write a book, I suppose this is the best you can expect. A simple, Hardy Boys mystery, as viewed and narrated through the nose and brain of Chet, a shepherd.
It has its charms. Dogs are fun, cute, emotional. The carefully constructed (and convoluted) plot allows Chet to do much of the investigating. But how many times must we be reminded that Chet smells stuff? That he likes steak, meat, chicken, meat, treats, meat, cheese, rawhide, meat, kibble, meat, etc.? That's most of what goes through a dog's head, presumably, so that's most of what Chet has to say. Funny, a few times, witty, occasionally, but GET ON WITH IT after the twentieth time.
Like a lot of jokes, it would be better done sparingly. But if you subtract the endless doggy-do, what's left is a 15,000 word mystery for middle-grade readers.
It has its charms. Dogs are fun, cute, emotional. The carefully constructed (and convoluted) plot allows Chet to do much of the investigating. But how many times must we be reminded that Chet smells stuff? That he likes steak, meat, chicken, meat, treats, meat, cheese, rawhide, meat, kibble, meat, etc.? That's most of what goes through a dog's head, presumably, so that's most of what Chet has to say. Funny, a few times, witty, occasionally, but GET ON WITH IT after the twentieth time.
Like a lot of jokes, it would be better done sparingly. But if you subtract the endless doggy-do, what's left is a 15,000 word mystery for middle-grade readers.
July 26, 2022
This was a mystery book club pick. I loved it and I had no idea there are many more books in this series, yay! I will be adding those to my TBR list. The story is very cleverly written from Chet the dog's point of view. The writing is witty, funny and interesting. Chet and Bernie are great characters. There is definitely some violence and the dog does get hurt several times and put into cringy situations. A few times, I had to skip over the rough parts, but it was short-lived and I didn't miss much by doing that. I want to know what's going to happen next with Chet and Bernie!
April 3, 2022
I saw a lot of other people have read this book so I had pretty high hopes for it. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. I liked the book somewhat, but the twists that lead our narrator, the dog Chet, and his owner detective Bernie, to the finish were a little too contrived. But my main pet peeve is that dog does not think like a dog. Since the dog is doing the narration, he has to tell what is going on, and in the authors attempt to make the dog funny, he goes way over the top of what a dog would talk like. That funny quality also makes the dog goofy sounding, but then at times the dog has to go after people, and it was hard to match the goofy dog and the aggressive dog together.
Here is an example of what I mean by the dog not thinking like a dog and the author trying to make the dog funny:
"Maybe not a wild-goose chase," Bernie said, farther along the freeway. "Maybe more like a red herring."
(now this is Chet thinking-) Red herring? That was new. The truth is, I'm not a seafood fan. I've had more than one bad experience with fish bones; plus, there's a smell I detect, even with very fresh fish, that puts me off my feed, except for a piece of barbecued swordfish I took once at a party from a discarded - at least I thought it was discarded - plate. That was pretty good. But herring, of any color, I'd never tasted.
I have read books told from a dogs point of view that are done well. People talk to their dogs and can think out loud as a way of telling the reader things. Conversations can be written outside of the dog thoughts. Tone, mannerisms, smells (like fear smell) can be picked up and interpreted by a dog. Some familiar words could be picked up by a dog. There can also be extra ordinary reasons why the dog can understand human speech (like Einstein in Dean Koontz's book Watchers). Mr. Quinn does not express how a dog thinks in a way I like. There are a lot of other people who are not bothered by this over the top anthropomorphism, (as evidenced by the popularity of The Art of Racing in the Rain), and people can like what they like, but this doesn't work for me.
I did however, enjoy his book Woof (Bowser and Birdie #1) though.
Here is an example of what I mean by the dog not thinking like a dog and the author trying to make the dog funny:
"Maybe not a wild-goose chase," Bernie said, farther along the freeway. "Maybe more like a red herring."
(now this is Chet thinking-) Red herring? That was new. The truth is, I'm not a seafood fan. I've had more than one bad experience with fish bones; plus, there's a smell I detect, even with very fresh fish, that puts me off my feed, except for a piece of barbecued swordfish I took once at a party from a discarded - at least I thought it was discarded - plate. That was pretty good. But herring, of any color, I'd never tasted.
I have read books told from a dogs point of view that are done well. People talk to their dogs and can think out loud as a way of telling the reader things. Conversations can be written outside of the dog thoughts. Tone, mannerisms, smells (like fear smell) can be picked up and interpreted by a dog. Some familiar words could be picked up by a dog. There can also be extra ordinary reasons why the dog can understand human speech (like Einstein in Dean Koontz's book Watchers). Mr. Quinn does not express how a dog thinks in a way I like. There are a lot of other people who are not bothered by this over the top anthropomorphism, (as evidenced by the popularity of The Art of Racing in the Rain), and people can like what they like, but this doesn't work for me.
I did however, enjoy his book Woof (Bowser and Birdie #1) though.
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