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Haunted Bookshop Mystery #9
The Ghost Goes to the Dogs
A stray dog leads bookseller Penelope McClure and her gumshoe ghost on a chase for a clever killer in this brand-new entry in the “utterly charming” (Mystery Scene) Haunted Bookshop Mysteries from New York Times bestselling author Cleo Coyle.
Pet Mystery Week brings brisk business to Penelope’s Rhode Island bookshop, but a real mystery comes barking at her door when a lost dog turns up in a panic. Pen and her son Spencer follow the furry fugitive to a wooded area where the dog’s owner lies unconscious. Mrs. Cunningham is a warm-hearted widow who volunteers at the animal shelter and runs Buy the Book’s pet lovers book club. Why would anyone shoot such a sweet soul?
The police believe it’s an accident, a shot by a careless deer hunter, but Pen remains skeptical. To straighten out this doggone mess, she whistles for the ghost of PI Jack Shepard, an expert in hounding as well as haunting. Jack has a dog story of his own, a case from the 1940s that may help Pen sniff out clues to her present predicament. Yet even with Jack’s hard-boiled help, Pen may not be able to stop the killer from striking again or letting this whole case go to the dogs...
Pet Mystery Week brings brisk business to Penelope’s Rhode Island bookshop, but a real mystery comes barking at her door when a lost dog turns up in a panic. Pen and her son Spencer follow the furry fugitive to a wooded area where the dog’s owner lies unconscious. Mrs. Cunningham is a warm-hearted widow who volunteers at the animal shelter and runs Buy the Book’s pet lovers book club. Why would anyone shoot such a sweet soul?
The police believe it’s an accident, a shot by a careless deer hunter, but Pen remains skeptical. To straighten out this doggone mess, she whistles for the ghost of PI Jack Shepard, an expert in hounding as well as haunting. Jack has a dog story of his own, a case from the 1940s that may help Pen sniff out clues to her present predicament. Yet even with Jack’s hard-boiled help, Pen may not be able to stop the killer from striking again or letting this whole case go to the dogs...
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First published May 2, 2023
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About the author
Cleo Coyle
54 books3,565 followersDon't miss the newest title in Cleo's long-running Coffeehouse Mystery series (with more to come),
NO ROAST FOR THE WEARY,
a National Mystery Bestseller and triple #1 Amazon Category Bestseller. Join Cleo's Coffee Club for bonus recipes and giveaways: Click Here to Subscribe to Cleo’s Free Newsletter
CLEO COYLE is the New York Times and Publishers Weekly bestselling pseudonym for Alice Alfonsi, writing in collaboration with her husband, Marc Cerasini. With more than 1 million books sold, they have gained an enthusiastic following. Cleo's "relenlessly entertaining" (Criminal Element) novels have been translated into Spanish, Japanese, and Czech. Their books have earned starred reviews from Library Journal and Kirkus, Best of Year selection honors from multiple reviewers, and have been recommended by Booklist as among the best culinary mysteries for core library mystery collections.
When not haunting coffeehouses, hunting ghosts, or wrangling their rescued stray cats, Alice and Marc are New York Times bestselling media tie-in writers who have penned properties for Lucasfilm, NBC, Fox, Disney, Imagine, Toho, and MGM. One of those projects (ghostwritten by Alice Alfonsi) was named by Entertainment Weekly as the best media tie-in book written that year.
CONNECT WITH CLEO at CleoCoyle.com and CoffeehouseMystery.com
*******
CLEO'S TWO BESTSELLING SERIES:
Cleo’s Coffeehouse Mystery series, celebrated for pioneering both the “urban cozy" and “coffee cozy” mystery genres, follows the adventures of amateur sleuth Clare Cosi, a single mom with a complicated love life who manages a Greenwich Village coffeehouse and a crew of quirky baristas who helps her solve perplexing crimes.
Cleo’s Haunted Bookshop Mystery series, hailed as a highly original and "utterly charming" (Mystery Scene) blend of cozy and hardboiled genres, features an earnest young New England widow who catches criminals with the help of a gumshoe ghost, the irrepressible spirit of a tough private detective who’d been gunned down in her bookshop decades before.
*******
LATEST BOOK NEWS:
The newest title in Cleo's long-running Coffeehouse Mystery series is NO ROAST FOR THE WEARY, on sale April 1st and already a national mystery bestseller and triple #1 Amazon category bestseller. Cleo's previous release, BULLETPROOF BARISTA, was a "wildly entertaining" (Criminal Elment) national mystery bestseller; a #1 category best seller for Amazon; and honored with 2 Best of Year list selections by reviewers. It is now availalbe in a new paperback reprint edition along with the previous bestselling book in the series, HONEY ROASTED, "A honey of a tale" (Kirkus Reviews).
Cleo's latest Haunted Bookshop Mystery releases include THE GHOST AND THE STOLEN TEARS, praised by Kirkus as "a gem of a story." And THE GHOST GOES TO THE DOGS, a #1 category best seller for Amazon, which Fresh Fiction called "amazing and unique." Cleo is now writing the next Haunted Bookshop Mystery. Subscribe to Cleo’s Free Newsletter for updates on the pub date!
CLEO COYLE is the New York Times and Publishers Weekly bestselling pseudonym for Alice Alfonsi, writing in collaboration with her husband, Marc Cerasini. With more than 1 million books sold, they have gained an enthusiastic following. Cleo's "relenlessly entertaining" (Criminal Element) novels have been translated into Spanish, Japanese, and Czech. Their books have earned starred reviews from Library Journal and Kirkus, Best of Year selection honors from multiple reviewers, and have been recommended by Booklist as among the best culinary mysteries for core library mystery collections.
When not haunting coffeehouses, hunting ghosts, or wrangling their rescued stray cats, Alice and Marc are New York Times bestselling media tie-in writers who have penned properties for Lucasfilm, NBC, Fox, Disney, Imagine, Toho, and MGM. One of those projects (ghostwritten by Alice Alfonsi) was named by Entertainment Weekly as the best media tie-in book written that year.
CONNECT WITH CLEO at CleoCoyle.com and CoffeehouseMystery.com
*******
CLEO'S TWO BESTSELLING SERIES:
Cleo’s Coffeehouse Mystery series, celebrated for pioneering both the “urban cozy" and “coffee cozy” mystery genres, follows the adventures of amateur sleuth Clare Cosi, a single mom with a complicated love life who manages a Greenwich Village coffeehouse and a crew of quirky baristas who helps her solve perplexing crimes.
Cleo’s Haunted Bookshop Mystery series, hailed as a highly original and "utterly charming" (Mystery Scene) blend of cozy and hardboiled genres, features an earnest young New England widow who catches criminals with the help of a gumshoe ghost, the irrepressible spirit of a tough private detective who’d been gunned down in her bookshop decades before.
*******
LATEST BOOK NEWS:
The newest title in Cleo's long-running Coffeehouse Mystery series is NO ROAST FOR THE WEARY, on sale April 1st and already a national mystery bestseller and triple #1 Amazon category bestseller. Cleo's previous release, BULLETPROOF BARISTA, was a "wildly entertaining" (Criminal Elment) national mystery bestseller; a #1 category best seller for Amazon; and honored with 2 Best of Year list selections by reviewers. It is now availalbe in a new paperback reprint edition along with the previous bestselling book in the series, HONEY ROASTED, "A honey of a tale" (Kirkus Reviews).
Cleo's latest Haunted Bookshop Mystery releases include THE GHOST AND THE STOLEN TEARS, praised by Kirkus as "a gem of a story." And THE GHOST GOES TO THE DOGS, a #1 category best seller for Amazon, which Fresh Fiction called "amazing and unique." Cleo is now writing the next Haunted Bookshop Mystery. Subscribe to Cleo’s Free Newsletter for updates on the pub date!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
April 29, 2024
Solid 3.5 stars. A bit of a slow start but it really ramped up at the end.
Dislike: the pet festival day was laughably unrealistic. In no town, no matter how small, would you EVER see pet owners bringing their dogs, cats, lizards, hamsters, birds, and turtles all into a theater and expecting the watch a movie, nor would you see a parade of pets without sheer panic and chaos ensuing. I can’t believe the authors thought this whole day was plausible.
Like: the storyline of the shady pharmaceutical company hiding study results, continuing to advertise a dangerous medication, and paying/bribing others to shut up about it. Guess what y’all, hate to be the bearer of bad news but this is EVERY pHARMa company. I love that the authors were brave enough to take this plot route.
Dislike: the pet festival day was laughably unrealistic. In no town, no matter how small, would you EVER see pet owners bringing their dogs, cats, lizards, hamsters, birds, and turtles all into a theater and expecting the watch a movie, nor would you see a parade of pets without sheer panic and chaos ensuing. I can’t believe the authors thought this whole day was plausible.
Like: the storyline of the shady pharmaceutical company hiding study results, continuing to advertise a dangerous medication, and paying/bribing others to shut up about it. Guess what y’all, hate to be the bearer of bad news but this is EVERY pHARMa company. I love that the authors were brave enough to take this plot route.
November 23, 2023
The Ghost goes to the Dogs (Haunted Bookshop Mystery, *9) by Cleo Coyle.
I'll gladly get in line with all the many other 5 star ratings for this intense and rewarding addition to the series. Let me add that after a ten year waiting period my joy has returned. Jack and Penny are together again and this reader is in seventh Heaven.
Jane Cunningham is well known and a loved member of the town of Quindicott, Rhode Island. Each day Jane would take her beloved dog Sparky on their usual walk. This day, however, things did not go as usual. A sniper shoots Jane and Sparky goes flying. Flying right into Buy the Book. that's Penny's book shop. As soon as Penny and Spencer realize that Sparky wants them to follow his lead they discover a lifeless Jane. As the ambulance approaches they wonder who in the world would want to shoot poor Jane.
An intense investigation ensues as the red herrings arrive one by one. That never deters Jack Shepard and Pen. In fact they work well together on two dimensions. And those two dimensions puts this story as well as this series far above the average cozy. Their relationship takes on a whole new meaning in Jack's thrilling past endeavors.
I just loved this book and appreciate all the deep thinking that went in to it. Five Stars for another winner in The Haunted Bookshop Mysteries.
I'll gladly get in line with all the many other 5 star ratings for this intense and rewarding addition to the series. Let me add that after a ten year waiting period my joy has returned. Jack and Penny are together again and this reader is in seventh Heaven.
Jane Cunningham is well known and a loved member of the town of Quindicott, Rhode Island. Each day Jane would take her beloved dog Sparky on their usual walk. This day, however, things did not go as usual. A sniper shoots Jane and Sparky goes flying. Flying right into Buy the Book. that's Penny's book shop. As soon as Penny and Spencer realize that Sparky wants them to follow his lead they discover a lifeless Jane. As the ambulance approaches they wonder who in the world would want to shoot poor Jane.
An intense investigation ensues as the red herrings arrive one by one. That never deters Jack Shepard and Pen. In fact they work well together on two dimensions. And those two dimensions puts this story as well as this series far above the average cozy. Their relationship takes on a whole new meaning in Jack's thrilling past endeavors.
I just loved this book and appreciate all the deep thinking that went in to it. Five Stars for another winner in The Haunted Bookshop Mysteries.
May 13, 2023
Dollycas's Thoughts
It's Pet Mystery week in Quindicott, Rhode Island, and Penelope McClure's Buy the Book bookshop is catering to canines, felines, snakes, parrots, fish, and any other pet that comes through the door and their humans. In addition to the happenings at the bookstore, there are guest speakers, a traveling vet, pet adoptions, a blessing of the animals, a pet parade, and animal movies being shown at the theatre. All the local businesses are getting involved.
As Pen was getting ready for her events a dog was creating a heck of a racket in front of her shop. Pen's son Spencer recognizes the dog and tries to calm the pup but ends up chasing him down the street to a wooded area. Pen follows as quickly as she can. They stop when they find the dog's person unconscious on the side of the road with a bullet wound. Mrs. Cunningham is loved around Quindicott. She heads the pet lover's book club at Buy the Book and volunteers at the local animal shelter. Why would someone have shot her?
Pen is dismayed when the police decide it was a stray bullet from a hunter. She thinks there is much more to the story and she knows just who to contact to help her investigate. Her favorite PI and resident ghost, Jack Shepard. He just so happens to have a dog case of his own dating back to the 1940s. He thinks his case will help her solve her current canine case. Together they set out to sniff out all the clues and like dogs with a bone they won't give up until they catch the shooter and leash them up and put them in the pokey.
____
I get so excited when a new book is released in this series! Jack and Pen are a dynamic duo that pull readers into their crime-solving adventures and hold on tight. Jack always appears when she needs him and I love that she can travel to his world in her dreams.
Spencer really impressed me. He was respectful and truly wanted to help. He reminded me of my grandson, especially the way he was so dedicated to keeping Sparky safe. Mailman Seymour also plays a bigger role in this story. The former Jeopardy champ really knows his stuff but he can be long-winded. He also has great comedic timing, even if he may not know it, and knows how to take control of a situation. Chapter 33 is a hoot, I laughed so much I had tears in my eyes between Jack's comments and Seymour taking charge.
This time the two mysteries have dogs being key players. Sparky is such a loyal animal and went where he could get help for his owner. Spencer and Sparky form a quick bond. Toto Two appears at Jack's door and "hires" him to solve a riddle. I loved the way the authors captured each dog's unique personality. I know they are animal lovers.
The mystery regarding Mrs. Cunningham was complex and multifaceted especially because the police were no help at all and wouldn't listen to anything that didn't confirm the conclusion they had already reached. I appreciated the twists and the unexpected connections. The second mystery took Pen and Jack to some interesting places and she met some interesting people. Both are entertaining and supremely plotted. I really enjoy following the clues and trying to put them together before Pen and Jack. I did figure out part of Jack's mystery but the current-day mystery was harder to solve. There were some really scary situations and a chilling reveal.
I have said it before and I will say it again. Cleo Coyle is a master at setting a scene. The descriptions take readers right into the drama, the chaos, the good times, and the bad. The characters come to life and I felt like I was right there with them. I have always been able to escape into these stories and have real life slip away. Just ask my husband how hard it was to get my attention when I was reading this book. We had our own comical moment.
The Ghost Goes to the Dogs is so dog-gone great. Each new book in this series tops the last and becomes my new favorite. Another title that will be added to My Best Reads of 2023. I loved every minute!
I highly recommend every book in the Haunted Bookshop Mystery Series and the Coffeehouse Mysteries are excellent too! You can't go wrong with a book by Cleo Coyle.
It's Pet Mystery week in Quindicott, Rhode Island, and Penelope McClure's Buy the Book bookshop is catering to canines, felines, snakes, parrots, fish, and any other pet that comes through the door and their humans. In addition to the happenings at the bookstore, there are guest speakers, a traveling vet, pet adoptions, a blessing of the animals, a pet parade, and animal movies being shown at the theatre. All the local businesses are getting involved.
As Pen was getting ready for her events a dog was creating a heck of a racket in front of her shop. Pen's son Spencer recognizes the dog and tries to calm the pup but ends up chasing him down the street to a wooded area. Pen follows as quickly as she can. They stop when they find the dog's person unconscious on the side of the road with a bullet wound. Mrs. Cunningham is loved around Quindicott. She heads the pet lover's book club at Buy the Book and volunteers at the local animal shelter. Why would someone have shot her?
Pen is dismayed when the police decide it was a stray bullet from a hunter. She thinks there is much more to the story and she knows just who to contact to help her investigate. Her favorite PI and resident ghost, Jack Shepard. He just so happens to have a dog case of his own dating back to the 1940s. He thinks his case will help her solve her current canine case. Together they set out to sniff out all the clues and like dogs with a bone they won't give up until they catch the shooter and leash them up and put them in the pokey.
____
I get so excited when a new book is released in this series! Jack and Pen are a dynamic duo that pull readers into their crime-solving adventures and hold on tight. Jack always appears when she needs him and I love that she can travel to his world in her dreams.
Spencer really impressed me. He was respectful and truly wanted to help. He reminded me of my grandson, especially the way he was so dedicated to keeping Sparky safe. Mailman Seymour also plays a bigger role in this story. The former Jeopardy champ really knows his stuff but he can be long-winded. He also has great comedic timing, even if he may not know it, and knows how to take control of a situation. Chapter 33 is a hoot, I laughed so much I had tears in my eyes between Jack's comments and Seymour taking charge.
This time the two mysteries have dogs being key players. Sparky is such a loyal animal and went where he could get help for his owner. Spencer and Sparky form a quick bond. Toto Two appears at Jack's door and "hires" him to solve a riddle. I loved the way the authors captured each dog's unique personality. I know they are animal lovers.
The mystery regarding Mrs. Cunningham was complex and multifaceted especially because the police were no help at all and wouldn't listen to anything that didn't confirm the conclusion they had already reached. I appreciated the twists and the unexpected connections. The second mystery took Pen and Jack to some interesting places and she met some interesting people. Both are entertaining and supremely plotted. I really enjoy following the clues and trying to put them together before Pen and Jack. I did figure out part of Jack's mystery but the current-day mystery was harder to solve. There were some really scary situations and a chilling reveal.
I have said it before and I will say it again. Cleo Coyle is a master at setting a scene. The descriptions take readers right into the drama, the chaos, the good times, and the bad. The characters come to life and I felt like I was right there with them. I have always been able to escape into these stories and have real life slip away. Just ask my husband how hard it was to get my attention when I was reading this book. We had our own comical moment.
The Ghost Goes to the Dogs is so dog-gone great. Each new book in this series tops the last and becomes my new favorite. Another title that will be added to My Best Reads of 2023. I loved every minute!
I highly recommend every book in the Haunted Bookshop Mystery Series and the Coffeehouse Mysteries are excellent too! You can't go wrong with a book by Cleo Coyle.
May 4, 2023
I began reading the Haunted Bookshop Mystery series with book seven which was shortly after the series returned after a long hiatus. Though I’d never read any of the other books, I quickly caught up with the story and fell in love with it! The Ghost Goes to the Dogs is just as delightful as the other books I’ve read from this series.
The characters in The Ghost Goes to the Dogs have lots of personality and are full of life. Yes, even Jack the ghost is full of life, and in this case, he helps Pen track down the culprit who tried to kill Mrs. Cunningham.
Just like Lassie, Mrs. Cunningham’s dog shows up at Pen’s bookstore barking up a storm. When her son heads out to bring him inside, the dog takes off leading Pen and her son to Mrs. Cunningham, who has been shot! I appreciate how kind Pen’s son is. He’s helpful and respectful….ah, the good old days when kids respected their elders. In spite of Pen and her aunt’s reluctance to foster the dog while Mrs. Cunningham is in hospital, they know that Spencer is a responsible kid, and they cave. How could they let a poor, adorable dog be put in a shelter? They can’t!
In case you haven’t read any of the other books, I won’t tell you much about Pen’s two male friends whom she’s known forever because you just have to “see” them for yourselves! I will say that I wished they’d played a bigger role because I feel like they did in the prior two books I read. One of them had a bigger role than the other, but still. I just love them. Maybe it was just me! But if you read this and can’t get enough of those guys, be sure to read The Ghost and the Haunted Portrait and The Ghost and the Stolen Tears. (Those are the two I’ve read.)
And, of course, Jack is my favorite. Since he was gunned down decades ago in the building that’s now the bookshop, he “haunts” the place. Pen is the only one he communicates with. He can communicate with her in her thoughts, and they can spend “real life” together in her dreams where he shows her his past cases. It’s all very cute and charming, and I just love it!
The mystery in The Ghost Goes to the Dogs is very well-plotted. I love following the clues that the author leaves throughout the book. The “ah-hah” moments when you put the pieces together and figure stuff out is very satisfying. It makes me think that I’d better become a detective…maybe not. If you’re a cozy mystery lover, I’ll bet you want to be a detective too! Solving mysteries has been in my blood since my Nancy Drew books days!
The Ghost Goes to the Dogs is a must-read for cozy mystery fans. It’s got great characters, a small town (and big city…you’ll see!) vibe that I love, a celebration of pets, and a “dog-goned” good mystery! I think you’ll enjoy this delightful book as much as I did!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
The characters in The Ghost Goes to the Dogs have lots of personality and are full of life. Yes, even Jack the ghost is full of life, and in this case, he helps Pen track down the culprit who tried to kill Mrs. Cunningham.
Just like Lassie, Mrs. Cunningham’s dog shows up at Pen’s bookstore barking up a storm. When her son heads out to bring him inside, the dog takes off leading Pen and her son to Mrs. Cunningham, who has been shot! I appreciate how kind Pen’s son is. He’s helpful and respectful….ah, the good old days when kids respected their elders. In spite of Pen and her aunt’s reluctance to foster the dog while Mrs. Cunningham is in hospital, they know that Spencer is a responsible kid, and they cave. How could they let a poor, adorable dog be put in a shelter? They can’t!
In case you haven’t read any of the other books, I won’t tell you much about Pen’s two male friends whom she’s known forever because you just have to “see” them for yourselves! I will say that I wished they’d played a bigger role because I feel like they did in the prior two books I read. One of them had a bigger role than the other, but still. I just love them. Maybe it was just me! But if you read this and can’t get enough of those guys, be sure to read The Ghost and the Haunted Portrait and The Ghost and the Stolen Tears. (Those are the two I’ve read.)
And, of course, Jack is my favorite. Since he was gunned down decades ago in the building that’s now the bookshop, he “haunts” the place. Pen is the only one he communicates with. He can communicate with her in her thoughts, and they can spend “real life” together in her dreams where he shows her his past cases. It’s all very cute and charming, and I just love it!
The mystery in The Ghost Goes to the Dogs is very well-plotted. I love following the clues that the author leaves throughout the book. The “ah-hah” moments when you put the pieces together and figure stuff out is very satisfying. It makes me think that I’d better become a detective…maybe not. If you’re a cozy mystery lover, I’ll bet you want to be a detective too! Solving mysteries has been in my blood since my Nancy Drew books days!
The Ghost Goes to the Dogs is a must-read for cozy mystery fans. It’s got great characters, a small town (and big city…you’ll see!) vibe that I love, a celebration of pets, and a “dog-goned” good mystery! I think you’ll enjoy this delightful book as much as I did!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
May 2, 2023
"'Things change Penny' [Jack] said ' but they don't always get better.'"
In this, the 9th entry in the "Haunted Bookshop" series, Pet Mystery Week is on a priority track. However Penelope McClure has a divided interest as not only is she working on the festival, one of the leaders was shot for what seems to have been mysterious circumstances. Of course, law enforcement is not taking the situation at more than face value while Penny and her regulars are skeptical of their methods. Why would anyone shoot Jane Cunningham?
Penny also enlists bookshop ghost PI Jack Shepherd who had had a few dogs come across his desk in the 40s. With Penny's son Spencer watching out for Mrs Cunningham's dog, Pen and Jack are on the case. What will happen can be found at the end of this mystery.
Here's to Cleo Coyle and marvelous series! I like Pen and Jack and adore that they kind of teach the 21st century readers about 1940s New York City. Highly Recommended 5/5.
[ Disclaimer: I received this book from the author and voluntarily read and reviewed it]
In this, the 9th entry in the "Haunted Bookshop" series, Pet Mystery Week is on a priority track. However Penelope McClure has a divided interest as not only is she working on the festival, one of the leaders was shot for what seems to have been mysterious circumstances. Of course, law enforcement is not taking the situation at more than face value while Penny and her regulars are skeptical of their methods. Why would anyone shoot Jane Cunningham?
Penny also enlists bookshop ghost PI Jack Shepherd who had had a few dogs come across his desk in the 40s. With Penny's son Spencer watching out for Mrs Cunningham's dog, Pen and Jack are on the case. What will happen can be found at the end of this mystery.
Here's to Cleo Coyle and marvelous series! I like Pen and Jack and adore that they kind of teach the 21st century readers about 1940s New York City. Highly Recommended 5/5.
[ Disclaimer: I received this book from the author and voluntarily read and reviewed it]
April 30, 2023
Penny and Jack are back together again solving the case of who shot Mrs. Cunningham.
When Sparky a cute little puppers, shows up at Penny's bookshop without his owner and then takes off, Penny and Spencer follow. Only to find Sparky's owner shot on the side of the road. Of course, the two worst cops show up and are certain she was shot by a stray bullet from a hunter, but Penny's instincts.. and Jack's voice in her head tell her something else is going on, and she's on the case! All the while taking care of Sparky and trying to get ready for the pet-themed event going on in town.
I love how Penny and Jack not only work together to solve whatever mystery has fallen in their lap during the present but how while Penny is sleeping Jack is able to transport her to his past and shows her how he solved a case. I also love how the current and past cases are always somehow connected! Both sets of mysteries always keep me on the edge of my seat and ridiculously entertained!
This was such a fun mystery, I love this small town, even with its surprising number of deaths and mysteries, and I can't wait to see what's in store for Penny and Jack next!
When Sparky a cute little puppers, shows up at Penny's bookshop without his owner and then takes off, Penny and Spencer follow. Only to find Sparky's owner shot on the side of the road. Of course, the two worst cops show up and are certain she was shot by a stray bullet from a hunter, but Penny's instincts.. and Jack's voice in her head tell her something else is going on, and she's on the case! All the while taking care of Sparky and trying to get ready for the pet-themed event going on in town.
I love how Penny and Jack not only work together to solve whatever mystery has fallen in their lap during the present but how while Penny is sleeping Jack is able to transport her to his past and shows her how he solved a case. I also love how the current and past cases are always somehow connected! Both sets of mysteries always keep me on the edge of my seat and ridiculously entertained!
This was such a fun mystery, I love this small town, even with its surprising number of deaths and mysteries, and I can't wait to see what's in store for Penny and Jack next!
December 27, 2022
This is my second book that I’ve read in the series since I “discovered” the one before this one and read it. There is such an interesting premise in these books that just intrigue me the more I read them. It’s like two separate storylines that are eventually connected to each other. Anyway, this latest has a sort of dog convention going on in town, and Pen has her hands full when she and her son discover one of the committee members that was shot on the side of the road. Jack and Pen need to go in the past to one of his own cases to help find ways to solve the problem in the here and now. I love how these two cases intertwined, and how the mystery plays out. This makes me really miss working as a bookseller, too. Wonderful addition to the series, and I’m ready to read another. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
September 22, 2023
Cleo and Marc did it again. I couldn’t put it down. Jack and Pen’s are the perfect crime solving duo for sure. I really like how Jack’s cases mix with Pen’s cases and how the figure who and how it was done. Can’t wait to read the next one. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 2, 2023
A Great Story!
Maybe it’s the ghost, maybe it’s the dogs, but this novel is topping the charts in this series. While I have enjoyed all these novels, this one (so far) is my absolute favorite.
Maybe it’s the ghost, maybe it’s the dogs, but this novel is topping the charts in this series. While I have enjoyed all these novels, this one (so far) is my absolute favorite.
January 22, 2023
A pet festival in Quindicott takes a frightening turn as Sparkyleads Pen to his mistress, lying bloodied in a ditch. Can Pen figure out who shot Jane Cunningham? Or was it really just a tragic accident like police Chief Ciders believes?
I love the Coffeehouse series written by the same authors and was always kind of reluctant to start this set but I’m so glad I finally did! Quindicott is the perfect little New England town, and I love Pen and Spencer, who are really sweet. Spencer has blossomed over the last few books, which I love because he’s a genuinely nice guy. I also love the peripheral characters in this book, though I won’t give too many details so as not to spoil the ending!
This series is one that belongs on every cozy fan’s TBR list. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC!
I love the Coffeehouse series written by the same authors and was always kind of reluctant to start this set but I’m so glad I finally did! Quindicott is the perfect little New England town, and I love Pen and Spencer, who are really sweet. Spencer has blossomed over the last few books, which I love because he’s a genuinely nice guy. I also love the peripheral characters in this book, though I won’t give too many details so as not to spoil the ending!
This series is one that belongs on every cozy fan’s TBR list. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC!
January 5, 2023
I loved all the quotations about dogs.
Jack was a private eye who died in 1949 but is now a ghost who solves murder problems with bookseller Pen McClure in a small town in Rhode Island. This case involves the shooting of a favorite customer and the part her pet dog plays. The sleuths need to go into the past to have another look
at one Jack's last cases to find ways to solve the problem in the present. Well done whodunit complete with humor and the archetypical bumbling cops. Enjoyed it immensely!
I requested and received an EARC from Berkley Publishing Group/Berkley via NetGalley.
Jack was a private eye who died in 1949 but is now a ghost who solves murder problems with bookseller Pen McClure in a small town in Rhode Island. This case involves the shooting of a favorite customer and the part her pet dog plays. The sleuths need to go into the past to have another look
at one Jack's last cases to find ways to solve the problem in the present. Well done whodunit complete with humor and the archetypical bumbling cops. Enjoyed it immensely!
I requested and received an EARC from Berkley Publishing Group/Berkley via NetGalley.
August 9, 2023
I love this series, it is one of my all time favorites. Jack is my favorite ghost and I love how one of his past cases always gets woven in with the present day case. I loved how this case unfolded and there was so much going on that you never would have guessed.
July 13, 2024
I absolutely love this series so much. Unique side characters and the mystery is always shrouded secrets both past and present. I love to tackle the clues along with the way.
June 4, 2023
So much fun and you get two mysteries for the price of one! Absolutely love when Jack takes her back to his time where the mystery there influences the mystery in the present ❤
May 29, 2024
What an exiting installment in the Haunted Bookshop series! The action kept me going from chapter to chapter. There is never a dull moment in Quindicott, especially near Buy the Book bookshop.
May 18, 2023
I love the Haunted Bookshop Mystery series and The Ghost Goes To The Dogs (book #9) was a great continuation. Penelope McClure co-owns a bookstore with her Aunt Sadie. Penelope has help solving mysteries from PI Jack Shepard who is a ghost that solved cases in the 1940’s. Jack’s cases overlap what is going on currently. It makes this series unique and fun! In this book, a local lady is shot while walking her dog. Penelope’s son Spencer wants to take care of the dog while the lady is recovering. Penelope and Jack work together to find out what is going on in town. Jack brings Penelope (Penny) in her dreams back to the 1940’s. This was an enjoyable cozy mystery. The audiobook is well done. In earlier books there were 2 narrators (1 male & 1female) but Traci Odom does a good job. #TheGhostGoesToTheDogs
May 29, 2023
Goes to the dogs is right. It wasn't awful, but we had cute dog Sparky who is praised and adored and in the past cute dog Toto, which is okay but between the two the plots slowed to a crawl and so did my reading. 100 pages in and neither timeline's crime has been investigated very much. It was easy to lose interest, especially after Sparky gets after the cat Bookmark, but it's Bookmark's fault because he was teasing the dog. Bookmark vanishes for most of the rest of the book until a kumbaya moment where all is peace and love and forgiveness with no explanation. Because I tend to be a completist, I made myself come back and finish it. The flashes to the past are fun, but some of the novelty has worn off; also there seems to me to be a stronger romantic undertone between Our Heroine and the ghost, and that storyline often troubles me. True, there have been books that made it work wonderfully (Ghost and Mrs. Muir, Tryst) but those were one and done. In a series, I start wondering about the end game: are we supposed to hope the heroine dies so she can be with her ghostly lover and haunt the house happily ever after? Anyway, both crimes were solved with a huge info-dump near the end. There are some nice touches in the book-- I tend to like some of the visits to the past and the book stuff, but sometimes that doesn't make for compelling reading. That's just my take.
May 7, 2023
Read this review on Fresh Fiction
Jack and Penelope are back in the newest installment of the Haunted Bookshop Mystery series! If you’re a fan of all things four-footed and furry, then I think you’ll love this book. The presence of the dogs added so much fun and intrigue to this book. As a dog lover myself, I enjoyed seeing how a lost dog happens to lead them into trouble.
What’s interesting about this book is that Jack’s storyline also provides an additional story that adds to the mystery that Pen is trying to solve. So using his experience and his knowledge, she is able to figure out what truly happened to the dog’s owner. It’s almost like having two stories rolled into one, which is kind of amazing and unique.
Needless to say, this book was really well-done and fun to read. I always enjoy Cleo Coyle’s books, but I have to say, this one might be my favorite of the series so far.
Jack and Penelope are back in the newest installment of the Haunted Bookshop Mystery series! If you’re a fan of all things four-footed and furry, then I think you’ll love this book. The presence of the dogs added so much fun and intrigue to this book. As a dog lover myself, I enjoyed seeing how a lost dog happens to lead them into trouble.
What’s interesting about this book is that Jack’s storyline also provides an additional story that adds to the mystery that Pen is trying to solve. So using his experience and his knowledge, she is able to figure out what truly happened to the dog’s owner. It’s almost like having two stories rolled into one, which is kind of amazing and unique.
Needless to say, this book was really well-done and fun to read. I always enjoy Cleo Coyle’s books, but I have to say, this one might be my favorite of the series so far.
December 18, 2022
This is another fantastic addition to this great series by Cleo Coyle.
Penelope has a love of books and a knack for getting caught up in murder investigations.
She and her ghostly PI pal find themselves embroiled in another bizarre situation, this time involving a furry four legged friend and his human.
I enjoy this series and it was fun to get caught up in another investigation with Penny.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
#TheGhostGoestotheDogs #NetGalley
Penelope has a love of books and a knack for getting caught up in murder investigations.
She and her ghostly PI pal find themselves embroiled in another bizarre situation, this time involving a furry four legged friend and his human.
I enjoy this series and it was fun to get caught up in another investigation with Penny.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
#TheGhostGoestotheDogs #NetGalley
May 18, 2023
Intriguing story lines with great characters. Great endings to all plots. Penny and Jack are a great team.
May 27, 2023
Wish these were published in hardcover so I could read them easier. I prefer large print so paperback is hard on the eyes, but I enjoy this series so I read them anyway. I'll have to try them on audible next time & hear Jack's voice!
April 18, 2024
I really enjoy this series!
June 15, 2023
I miss the old timey PI voice in the audiobook.
November 7, 2023
Nice entry in the series. Again, I love the mysteries that happen simultaneously in the past as Jack recalls a case, and the current one playing out in the present.
October 11, 2023
A fast fun story.
December 26, 2024
Absolutely love every entry in this series. Pen and Jack are two of my favorite characters, and I enjoy reading all of their adventures. The fact that there are always two mysteries going simultaneously, in different eras, but related, is so fun. The surrounding characters are well developed and contribute so much to every book. The mystery itself is well written and kept me involved until the last minute. I look forward to the next visit to the Haunted Bookshop.
July 9, 2023
The Ghost Goes To the Dogs
I really enjoy this series , between Penny’s adventures solving crime in her time and her travels back to ghost , Jack’s time it keeps you reading .
I hope this series continues for a long time
I really enjoy this series , between Penny’s adventures solving crime in her time and her travels back to ghost , Jack’s time it keeps you reading .
I hope this series continues for a long time
July 9, 2025
The interaction of the new issues with an old case from the ghost's past keeps this series hopping. Most of the obnoxious characters are now more background noises rather than up front parts of the stories. And the basic plots allow for the bookshop tie-ins to make sense.
October 24, 2023
Ms Coyle weaves a tail pun intended of twists and turns that leaves the reader guessing til the end. Enjoyable and a quick read !
November 25, 2023
A great mystery written by a great author.
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