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A Dog and His Girl Mysteries #1
Play Dead
A dog and his girl show how six legs are better than two in this brand new mystery series!
When Dodge, a German shepherd police dog, finds himself retired after an accident leaves him deaf in one ear, he's lucky to be adopted by the perfect family. Twelve-year-old Cassie Sullivan, his girl, smells almost as good as a dog, and gets her nose for sleuthing from her police chief mom and coroner dad. Cassie is smart and quick on her feet, and doesn't mind breaking a couple rules to get to the bottom of a mystery. Dodge has forty-two dog years of experience solving crime, as well as a great network of other four-legged colleagues when he needs more intel.
When Verdel Ward, the richest man in town, goes missing, it seems like everyone from the mayor to the housekeeper wants his fortune, which he's left behind with no will. But Cassie and Dodge can smell a mystery from a mile away, and can't help wondering why a miser would go swimming in a dangerous cove, what's up with the suspicious fiancee, who's been sneaking around the mansion, and where a twin brother has come from.
When Dodge, a German shepherd police dog, finds himself retired after an accident leaves him deaf in one ear, he's lucky to be adopted by the perfect family. Twelve-year-old Cassie Sullivan, his girl, smells almost as good as a dog, and gets her nose for sleuthing from her police chief mom and coroner dad. Cassie is smart and quick on her feet, and doesn't mind breaking a couple rules to get to the bottom of a mystery. Dodge has forty-two dog years of experience solving crime, as well as a great network of other four-legged colleagues when he needs more intel.
When Verdel Ward, the richest man in town, goes missing, it seems like everyone from the mayor to the housekeeper wants his fortune, which he's left behind with no will. But Cassie and Dodge can smell a mystery from a mile away, and can't help wondering why a miser would go swimming in a dangerous cove, what's up with the suspicious fiancee, who's been sneaking around the mansion, and where a twin brother has come from.
208 pages, Paperback
First published December 15, 2012
17 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
About the author
Jane B. Mason
119 books102 followers Jane B. Mason grew up in a large family in northern Minnesota. She has written books for kids of all ages under many names and on many subjects, among them ghosts, Jedi, detective duos, princesses, twins, mean girls, and slam books.
Jane has lived in the midwest and on both coasts, but appears to have settled in Oakland, California, and writes almost every day at either a friend's dining room table or a little studio in her back yard, where she has a purple loveseat, a whole lotta books, and an odd selection of trinkets she has unwittingly been collecting since she was a child.
Jane has lived in the midwest and on both coasts, but appears to have settled in Oakland, California, and writes almost every day at either a friend's dining room table or a little studio in her back yard, where she has a purple loveseat, a whole lotta books, and an odd selection of trinkets she has unwittingly been collecting since she was a child.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
April 15, 2013
Started out a little confusing until I figured out the dog was telling the story. Then the girl told the story in the 2nd chapter. Once I conquered the format.....I couldn't put it down. Can't wait for book 2 in the series.
January 11, 2024
Nice story but short end tho.
May 10, 2013
Love how the chapters alternate between dog and girl's point of view. And the dog's voice is utterly believable. Looking forward to future investigations.
March 27, 2015
AMAZING! I can't wait to read the next one. The only problem is that it makes me wish I had a dog, and that's a good problem.
February 18, 2014
This was a great book! It was so well written. It had some turning points and had a great ending. It is not a horror book, but does have some death. It was probably the best book I ever read!!!
February 12, 2021
Really good and lighthearted! If you want a fun mystery this is one you should try. It is told by both a dog and his girl. It is great for kids but is also a good read for tween to teens as well. A little bit of a lower reading level but has a great plot of friends, family, and mystery. Highly suggest it for tweens!
9+
9+
November 15, 2025
Bought this thinking my niece would love it but wanted to make sure it wasn't like too violent or anything before I gave it to her, it's great! Super fun and the dog's POV is such a great touch! I love that I wasn't able to guess the ending even though when I read it I was like "oh I should've known!!". She'll love this!
March 16, 2018
I liked how the book was a mystry for kids yet it was a little chalenging.
February 4, 2019
Oh my goodness-- this was so good. Fantastic mystery, wonderful writing, made me laugh numerous times, and kept me on the edge of my seat!
March 20, 2020
it was amazing this is not your average cop story it is a whole new adventure
January 7, 2024
This book was not for me
January 17, 2022
I actually didn't read all of this as I am not a fan of reading books from an animal's perspective. I thought this looked like a very cute and fun mystery series for young girls. I expected it to be rather reminiscent of the old-school mystery series like Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden, just with a dog as a partner. I was wrong. Every other chapter is from the dog's point-of-view. That alternates with "his girl's" perspective. I would have rather it been one or the other. However, I think there will be a select market of young girls in the 3rd-6th grades, that will appreciate this style. It will especially appeal to fans of Erickson's Hank the Cowdog series with the similarities of a sleuthing canine. I do love the cover though!
October 30, 2012
such a cute book.
A girl and her dog - told through both POV - are hot on a new mystery! The richest guy in the area disappears and is asked to be presumed dead.
and, of course, everyone wants a cut of his money!!
But Cassie has to fit crime solving in between her chore of doing dishes, homework, surviving the cafeteria and the super mean girl of middle school: Summer! Hayley is also a great friend to Cassie and provides help. And Gatsby is a great friend to Dodge (the retired police dog) with a super sniffer!
It's definitely a mystery to sit back and enjoy!
A girl and her dog - told through both POV - are hot on a new mystery! The richest guy in the area disappears and is asked to be presumed dead.
and, of course, everyone wants a cut of his money!!
But Cassie has to fit crime solving in between her chore of doing dishes, homework, surviving the cafeteria and the super mean girl of middle school: Summer! Hayley is also a great friend to Cassie and provides help. And Gatsby is a great friend to Dodge (the retired police dog) with a super sniffer!
It's definitely a mystery to sit back and enjoy!
March 5, 2013
It started off kind of slow and a little confusing, but cleared up quickly. I really enjoyed the split point of view between Cassie and Dodge (the dog). This is a fun middle grade mystery that will appeal to young readers of both genders. I really liked the way the plot played out and how the book ended.
While the glimpses of Cassie's time at school gave the story a realistic feel, I wasn't sure what the point of Summer was. The conflict between the girls seemed irrelevant to the rest of the story.
More reviews on my blog: Books for Kids
While the glimpses of Cassie's time at school gave the story a realistic feel, I wasn't sure what the point of Summer was. The conflict between the girls seemed irrelevant to the rest of the story.
More reviews on my blog: Books for Kids
July 5, 2013
This is one of my favorite new children’s series. It’s about a dog and it’s a mystery – two of my favorite things. It’s a quick, easy read, perfect for Nancy Drew fans. It is a little hard to believe that Cassie is not older than she is, but that doesn’t take away from the story. The story is told alternating between Cassie’s and Dodge’s viewpoints. I love hearing the story from Dodge’s view. He’s my kind of dog.
Play Dead is the first in the series. I can’t wait to read the next in the series – Dead Man’s Best Friend.
Play Dead is the first in the series. I can’t wait to read the next in the series – Dead Man’s Best Friend.
August 11, 2016
Review
Adorable series debut, narrated by--the dog:) ! I really like this approach. The story can be easily handled by upper elementary readers, and precocious younger readers, and would make a good chapter-a-day bedtime read as well. A winner!
Adorable series debut, narrated by--the dog:) ! I really like this approach. The story can be easily handled by upper elementary readers, and precocious younger readers, and would make a good chapter-a-day bedtime read as well. A winner!
April 20, 2014
Very cute. I liked that every other chapter is from the dog's point of view.
April 16, 2015
Great book! I'm in love with the series I hope they write more!
April 24, 2015
Just finished reading this with the kids. They loved how the girl, Cassie, and the dog, Dodge, took it in turns to tell a chapter each through their own eyes.
November 29, 2018
The story is told via two points of view- Dodge, a retired police dog, and Cassie, his girl. In my opinion, Mason does a great job describing the action through Dodge's eyes.
April 29, 2024
This was a great book! I love a good mystery! It was a real page turner!!!
April 16, 2014
Great story! My 7 year old and I read this together and both of us really enjoyed it!
July 5, 2014
Great series. Has some very dark moments, which I didn't expect going in.
April 5, 2017
Fun. The interdispersed chapters told from the girl's and the dog's point of views are fun. A bit of a stretch to connect the chapters when the dog has information and the girl doesn't exactly. Enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews