Chihuahua of the Baskervilles

Gigi Chihuahua Mystery #1

by Esri Allbritten

Tripping Magazine is a quirky low-budget magazine that reports on travel destinations for believers in the paranormal. A few fake ghosts away from throwing in the towel, the Tripping staff get the tip of a lifetime when they get a call from Charlotte Baskerville, the rich founder of a clothing company for small dogs. Charlotte thinks that her beloved Chihuahua, Petey, has come back from the dead, and she's desperate for someone to come verify his appearances. The magazine's three-person reporting team travels to Manitou Springs, Colorado, sure that the ghostly dog will be a work of fiction. But when they arrive, they see evidence of Petey with their own eyes. And he's not just floating by―he's howling advice and spelling out threats with tiny paw prints. Is the ghost real? Or is someone teaching a dead dog new tricks…like murder? Find out in Esri Allbritten's Chihuahua of the Baskervilles.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Animals, Dogs, Mystery Thriller, Humor

275 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 5, 2011

About the author

ESRI ALLBRITTEN lives in Boulder, Colorado. She is the author of Chihuahua of the Baskervilles, which was also published by Minotaur/Thomas Dunne Books. In addition to her writing, she enjoys sushi, bowling and madrigals.

Reviews

[Jeannie and Louis Rigod · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book based upon the advertising blurb, the cover, and the wonderful title which reminded me of a famous Sir Arthur Conan Doyle novel.

This book turned out to be a delightful romp through the humorous ghost hunting, murder mystery, and all to alive haunting of a woman that owns a Chihuahua doggie clothing business.

It takes place in Manitou Springs, Colorado, during the annual festivities of coffin races and wakes of the founding families reenacted. The characters within the novel are colorful and all to believable.

I'm greatly impressed with this new, to me, Author. I look forward to future novels.

[Almeta · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know I am going to be lambasted for thinking dressing animals up in costumes is absurd. And if not for that, then for believing that there are no such things as ghosts.

Yet these two elements make this book a very humorous read. Don’t read it for the mystery. (In fact after only a week, I’ve already forgotten WhoDunNit!) Read it for the comedy.

And if you know where I can write to subscribe to Tripping Magazine, I am thoroughly interested.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Allbritten, Esri
Chihuahua of the Baskervilles
Mystery/2011/Minotaur Books/275 pgs
1st in a serie
Present/Manitou Springs,CO
Characters -- staff of Tripping -- a magazine featuring travel destinations that focus on the paranormal -- Angus/editor, Michael/writer, Suki/photogapher
1st line: The heavy tick of a grandfather clock filled the parlor, as if to convince the listener that this was a serious timepiece, despite the Chihuahua toy in a fairy costume perched on its mahogany case.
Comments: fun, nice sense of humor -- will look for more character development in the 2nd book. This outing takes the Tripping staff to the home of Charlotte Baskerville. She is the owner of a Petey's Closet -- designer clothing for small dogs. She believes her beloved & departed Petey is making a ghostly appearance. The Tripping group is invited to investigate and write a feature article.
4/B

[Jaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute cozy mystery starring some adorable puppies. The storyline was cute, if predictable at times. The main characters from Tripping magazine were the most interesting characters in the story (other than the chihuahuas, of course). The ending was also predictable, but at least there was not a pretty bow wrap-up. Overall, the story was fun and I enjoyed reading it.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charlotte Baskerville has built a pet-clothing empire in picturesque, haunted Manitou Springs. But when her dead chihuahua starts haunting her, three journalists from a magazine for supernatural touring, Tripping, arrive: Angus, who believes in ghosts almost as much as he believes in commerce, cynical Michael, and beautiful photographer Suki. They quickly learn that there is dissension in the Baskerville house, and that they may have to ward off attacks on Charlotte.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had seen a review of this on Booklist online months ago and I enjoyed the humor of the title. Then I forgot about the book for a bit and was reminded of it during a webinar on mysteries. I checked it out to take on a weekend getaway and was very glad I did. The characters were full of quirks, there were several suspects for various reasons, and it was relaxing to sit back and let the story unfold. I'm looking forward to the next in the series, which is due out in July.

[Gusto Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank God. It's refreshing to find a writer who can build realistic yet unique characters, acting around a fun premise. It's funny. It's charming. And it's so easy to picture it as movie. I don't even read mysteries, but this one wrapped itself around me. Anyone who has a brain will get a kick out of this one.

Gusto Dave

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute, fun, book that doesn't tax your brain cells too much. Purely for entertainment value. Yeah, the mystery kept me hanging in, but I'm used to meatier fair. Still, I enjoyed reading something purely for the pleasure of it and am glad I could give my brain a rest for a while.

[Karol · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a romp! I loved how the book describes how tabloid news magazines might spin stories . . . like referring to the reflection of a flash bulb against a window in a photograph as an "apparition". The story was rather cute and the staff of "Tripping Magazine" were amusing.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a wildly ridiculous and adorable read, I want to read more from this series.

[Jessica Pritt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book ♡

[Eileen Lynx · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute story easy to read in a day

[Anne-Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The debut novel in a series for this fresh author. I loved it. Plot line was believable even if the main chihuahua was a ghost!!!! PICK it up and you won't put it down until you are finished. I hope Esri will read this: please don't stop writing. You are great and I recommend this to anyone I can. I read this around my birthday, and I enjoyed it as if it was my personal gift from you. I hope that my novel will be as good (Im working on a novel myself).

[Lynn Lerch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tripping Magazine goes to Colorado to investigate a ghost dog that has appeared to a wealthy owner of dog apparel. Petey is he a ghost or is someone doing something to make it appear to be him? The magazine staff who goes there also contends with murder. A fun mystery and I hope there are more with the same cast of charaxcters.

[Jacqui Ainsworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light, fun read. I enjoyed the quirky characters, especially the Scottish guy. I couldn't help but compare him with Jamie from Outlander. An enjoyable mystery with a less heavy hand of the teaching moments so common in this genre.

I went to Mesa Verde this past summer. Although I did not go to Manitou Springs, I pictured the town as similar to those I did see.

[❂ Murder by Death · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun mystery. Interesting concept and unlike just about all the mysteries I've read in a long time. There was a bit of dry humor I would have liked to have seen more of, but perhaps this is the start of a series? A lot of fun.

[DROPPING OUT · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clever, cute lightweight entertainment, as innocuous as a Sunday night mystery program on television years back (think: Murder She Wrote). A very good start for what I hope will be a dynamic new series. (It's an easy read - I read more than half in my doctor's waiting room.)

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Bookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lovely, light read. The author's sarcasm was not lost on me. Recommended for a bit of fluff.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

It started slow, but got better and more fun as it went along. Will be interested in reading more if this is a series.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun read

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book. I recommend it to readers who enjoy entertaining mysteries with a humorous twist.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun, quirky, lite read.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute quick read. Nothing great, but cute in parts.

[Carol Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first in a new series. It was a fun read. The perfect cozy. Not violent or to grim with entertaining characters. I look forward to the next one in the series.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

very light, very humorous mystery

[Beth Balser]

Set in Manitou Springs, a delightful easy story with lots of local flavor.

[Diana Petty-stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!! A paranormal magazine crew, a mystery, a chihuahua and a lot of laughs! What more could you want?

[Shannon]

This book combined two of my favorite things, paranormal and chihuahuas! Definitely a fun, non-spooky read that will keep you entertained throughout the book.

[Patricia Gulley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to say, this was much different than I expected. Not bad.