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The Returns #1

The Returns

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Alternate cover edition for ASIN: B00AFMVTBM

What happens if you arrive at the Pearly Gates before your time?
F.B.I Agent Bentley Clanton finds out the hard way as he is directed to a little-known area devoted to correcting glitches in the longevity system. The Returns Department specializes in finding appropriate bodies for “early arrivals” before sending them back to earth. It seemed an acceptable solution until Bentley realizes his new body includes long velvety ears, four stubby legs with giant paws and a tail. Helping him adjust to life as a Basset Hound is his rookie Guardian Angel, along with three other canine Returns.
Laugh along as a delightful Golden Retriever, a feisty Chihuahua, and flamboyant Westie join Bentley to form an unlikely brotherhood of crime-fighting heroes. The Returns takes you on a fun-loving, junk food eating adventure through the exciting streets of New Orleans during Mardi Gras.

Kindle Edition

First published November 28, 2012

48 people are currently reading
189 people want to read

About the author

M.K. Clinton

2 books32 followers
I'm what you can refer to as a GRITS...Girl Raised In The South. I've been married to my best friend for over 30+ years. We have two grown children both are newlyweds. Along with them, we have a four-legged hairy child, Bentley, who is trapped in the body of a Basset Hound. He is not married and plans to live at home with us forever. For the time being, we have our granddog Pierre, the Westie. The four of us enjoy playing, making each other laugh, and spending time together. I love writing The Returns series, it gives me a chance to play with my pets that crossed the Rainbow Bridge to wait for me. Each of them left big paw prints on my heart. Blogging is a passion for me and I am having a great time. I've met many new friends and discovered a whole new world of other crazy dog people! I absolutely love reading. I can get lost in a good book for hours. My husband and I are huge LSU football fans. You can hear us screaming every Saturday during game time. I appreciate all of my loyal readers and those of you that just hopped in to see me. Drop by to visit me at "Barking from the Bayou." http://www.mkclinton.com

In her debut novel, The Returns, M. K. Clinton explores the brotherhood of unlikely friends Bentley, Tucker, Pierre, and Bones as they sniff out crime in NOLA. Showstoppers, the second book in The Returns series follows the gang's adventures as they stop a ring of dognappers.

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Community Reviews

5 stars
62 (44%)
4 stars
36 (25%)
3 stars
26 (18%)
2 stars
8 (5%)
1 star
8 (5%)
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Profile Image for M.K. Clinton.
Author 2 books32 followers
August 19, 2013
I had such fun writing The Returns! The animals in my book are pets who have shared my life. Although some have passed away, they each left paw prints on my heart. In writing about them, I have been able to bring them back to life and enjoy their company once again. I hope readers enjoy my story and that it brings some laughter into their day!
48 reviews
December 7, 2017
Good Clean Fun! What a Great Story!

I chose this book to try something different from my usual genres and I'm glad I did! This is an interesting and unusual story and I hope the author has written other books that I will find when I finish here and go search. I'd recommend this book to anyone. It is good clean fun, intelligently written, suitable for all ages. Enjoy!
Profile Image for Deborah.
Author 14 books114 followers
July 19, 2014
What a hoot!
I picked this up as a suggestion from a friend as I fancied something light and humorous - and I wasn't disappointed.
Take one (dead) FBI agent, re-incarnate him in the body of a Basset Hound and send him back to finish his last case, along with several other 'returns' also connected with the villain: Bones, former World Champion Featherweight boxer, now a Chihuahua; fashion designer and computer hacker extraordinaire, Pierre the flamboyant Westie; Tucker the Golden Retriever and former Navy SEAL, and Faith, the beautiful one-time fashion model and now their (probationary) angel whose task is to take care of them.
Faith can't cook, Tucker's enthusiasm knows no bounds (I've owned Golden Retrievers - he's perfectly cast!), particularly when it comes to diving into water, Bones struggles to remember how tiny he is, but has a useful line in dodgy contacts, and Pierre would rather be at his sewing machine. Add in Bentley's old partner who falls for Faith while trying to figure out the case that killed his best buddy, and you have a fine, fun romp.
I will admit I struggled at first with the impossibility of what the dogs could do with their paws (operate computers, sewing machines, be car mechanics and drive) but if you can cope with that, this book is well worth a read just for the oh-so typical doggy characteristics of the characters and the colourful New Orleans setting.
And of course, the villain gets suitably taken down at the end!
Profile Image for Maureen.
406 reviews
June 19, 2017
Loved this

Fun, entertaining. A little silly at times but gives you good laugh out loud moments. It has action that keeps the story moving so you hate to put it down. Loved it!
Profile Image for Leiah Cooper.
763 reviews95 followers
June 23, 2013
I got a tremendous amount of enjoyment from this book. Very clever and HIGHLY entertaining! It gives the term "good fun" a whole new twist, as an Angel, a cat and four wonderfully believable dogs (oh, and one FBI agent) struggle to bring a really, really bad man to justice!

The dogs characterizations were spot-on. I could hear and see these guys in my head the whole time I was reading. Have I said it was funny? Ah, the pictures in my head! If you are a dog lover, this is absolutely a book you should read. The characters of the dogs are perfect for their breeds, as well as for the personalities of the people they used to be. Back before they had an "oops" moment that sent them to the "Heavenly Returns Department" upstairs. Oh, well, even angels make the occasional mistake!

If you have a great sense of humour, a good attitude and the ability to "make yourself comfortable" with dogs who sew costumes, work on car engines and generally behave like I can imagine my own dogs behaving, don't miss this one. I am eagerly watching for the next!
Profile Image for Carol Tilson.
10 reviews3 followers
February 4, 2014

Gotta love ghosts, angels and dogs!



This comedy has one of the most original story lines I have come across in a long time. It is truly a feel good book! A group of people die before their time, they are sent back as animals and an angel so they can solve a crime. The four dogs and one cat live with the most beautiful guardian angel out there. This angel is probably the world's worse cook, but they all love her anyways. The Golden Retriever usually says the blessing before the meal, and you guessed it - he prays for better food. Each of the dogs bring a special talent or two that they had when they were human. One of them was a designer and now makes them all costumes; another can fix cars, and so on. Can you imagine a small dog at a sewing machine or a basset hound trying to undo the lug nuts on a flat tire? Besides being hilarious, the book is for the most part PG rated, so the tweens at your house can enjoy the book with you. The author says this will be a series, if so; I cannot wait for book 2.

Wag More - Bark Less!
Profile Image for Angie.
1,391 reviews281 followers
August 21, 2013
This is definitely a delightful little read, and dog lovers would especially enjoy this. I could easily visualize it as a Disney movie, and I think kids in particular would love this novel. Oh, and I absolutely love the cover! It fits in perfectly with the story.
33 reviews
January 17, 2014
So sweet

I loved this book and can't wait to read the next one. I have 2 dogs and one feisty cat. I talk to them all the time and would love to have a conversation with them and have them talk back. This is a make you feel good book. M.K., thanks.
Profile Image for Mahoghani 23.
1,325 reviews
June 6, 2016
I first thought this book lacked the comedy and entertainment that I like to read. I'm glad that I took the time to finish the story. Entertaining, funny and downright believable if you're a pet owner and thinks your pets talk to you.
4,416 reviews28 followers
December 14, 2014
The Returns review

The Returns is an adorably cute and funny story. It's about four people who died and returned to earth under the guardianship of a newbie guardian Angel. This is a series by author M.K. Clinton.
Profile Image for Kathryn Cook.
72 reviews5 followers
May 3, 2017
Captivating

So cute. Excellent, entertaining and fun to read. The plot was way cool especially if your a dog lover. Good story and all in my favorite city the Big and Easy - New Orleans.
Profile Image for Sandra Shanholtzer.
26 reviews
May 24, 2015
Light mystery

Light mystery. This is a light mystery and well written. I look forward to the next book. I do find it hard to buy into the fact that the dogs can do all that is written, but is it is fiction after all.
Profile Image for Julie Rogers.
31 reviews
March 14, 2016
Awesome!

I enjoyed every minute of this book. I have three dogs and a cat and I wish I could talk to them. But we understand each other just fine. Thanks for the great book. I look forward to reading more.
Profile Image for Becky See.
19 reviews
April 25, 2013
Such a fun book to read! Kind of reminded me of something Disney would make a movie out of! Hope she continues to write more about "The Retuns".
Profile Image for Jamie Miller.
4 reviews1 follower
May 31, 2013
I absolutely LOVED this book! The Returns have huge personalities and will keep you laughing! I can not wait to read about their future adventures!
Profile Image for J.C. Mells.
Author 10 books302 followers
September 22, 2013
This is not the type of book I usually read, but having said that, I found this book to be a quirky, fun read, which will no doubt be a big hit with dog lovers as well as mystery fans.
33 reviews
April 26, 2018
Fast paced warm and just too funny

Anyone who loves Christ ,animals and believes in Angels is in for the funniest adventure the mind can imagine. A warm and hilarious story to be sure. Trust me, you will feel enlightened and keep the tissues handy. The humor and blessings abound. Best reading time I've had in years. The world needs more of these stories to be sure. So looking forward to next book.
12 reviews2 followers
March 22, 2018
A thriller with a twist.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a real page turner. It was an exciting and fun read. The characters aren't your normal wannabe sleuths. I look forward to reading the second book in the series.
1,273 reviews
January 11, 2019
A very unusual but funny book. When someone dies before their time, they are returned but in a different form. A Seal, a FBI agent and others come back as dogs, watched over by a guardian angel who also is a return.
1 review
April 28, 2023
The Returns

Good fun!
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Profile Image for bex.
2,435 reviews24 followers
September 4, 2013
3 stars for the interesting story and characters. But it needs work on POV. The point of view shifts too often and unpredictably, sometimes initially confusing.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews

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