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The Iron Druid Chronicles #8.3
The Purloined Poodle
Thanks to his relationship with the ancient Druid Atticus O’Sullivan, Oberon the Irish wolfhound knows trouble when he smells it—and furthermore, he knows he can handle it.
When he discovers that a prizewinning poodle has been abducted in Eugene, Oregon, he learns that it’s part of a rash of hound abductions all over the Pacific Northwest. Since the police aren’t too worried about dogs they assume have run away, Oberon knows it’s up to him to track down those hounds and reunite them with their humans. For justice! And gravy!
Engaging the services of his faithful Druid, Oberon must travel throughout Oregon and Washington to question a man with a huge salami, thwart the plans of diabolical squirrels, and avoid, at all costs, a fight with a great big bear.
But if he’s going to solve the case of the Purloined Poodle, Oberon will have to recruit the help of a Boston terrier named Starbuck, survive the vegetables in a hipster pot pie, and firmly refuse to be distracted by fire hydrants and rabbits hiding in the rose bushes.
At the end of the day, will it be a sad bowl of dry kibble for the world’s finest hound detective, or will everything be coming up sirloins?
The Purloined Poodle is another exciting novella entry in Kevin Hearne’s New York Times best-selling Iron Druid series.
When he discovers that a prizewinning poodle has been abducted in Eugene, Oregon, he learns that it’s part of a rash of hound abductions all over the Pacific Northwest. Since the police aren’t too worried about dogs they assume have run away, Oberon knows it’s up to him to track down those hounds and reunite them with their humans. For justice! And gravy!
Engaging the services of his faithful Druid, Oberon must travel throughout Oregon and Washington to question a man with a huge salami, thwart the plans of diabolical squirrels, and avoid, at all costs, a fight with a great big bear.
But if he’s going to solve the case of the Purloined Poodle, Oberon will have to recruit the help of a Boston terrier named Starbuck, survive the vegetables in a hipster pot pie, and firmly refuse to be distracted by fire hydrants and rabbits hiding in the rose bushes.
At the end of the day, will it be a sad bowl of dry kibble for the world’s finest hound detective, or will everything be coming up sirloins?
The Purloined Poodle is another exciting novella entry in Kevin Hearne’s New York Times best-selling Iron Druid series.
122 pages, Paperback
First published September 30, 2016
202 people are currently reading
3608 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Hearne
72 books12.8k followersKevin is the NYT bestselling author of the Iron Druid Chronicles, as well as The Seven Kennings, an epic fantasy trilogy, and the Tales of Pell, a humorous fantasy series co-authored with Delilah S. Dawson. INK & SIGIL, a new urban fantasy series set in the Iron Druid universe, will be out in 2020.
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October 4, 2016I have a real fondness for books told from interesting points of view, especially those in established worlds I've come to know.
This book is from the point of view of the main character's dog. (Which isn't as odd as it might sound, if you haven't read the books.)
It's an interesting angle to see these events through, and adds something to the story. But what was *really* interesting to me was the audio narration. The whole book was done in the dog's (literal) voice. Even the "he said" and "she said" parts. Except for when other people were talking, then the narration was in their character's voices.
It makes perfect sense, but I wasn't expecting it. And after listening to most of the other books on audio, it spun my head around a bit.
Fair warning: Not a full length novel in the main storyline. A spinoff story that's much shorter.
This book is from the point of view of the main character's dog. (Which isn't as odd as it might sound, if you haven't read the books.)
It's an interesting angle to see these events through, and adds something to the story. But what was *really* interesting to me was the audio narration. The whole book was done in the dog's (literal) voice. Even the "he said" and "she said" parts. Except for when other people were talking, then the narration was in their character's voices.
It makes perfect sense, but I wasn't expecting it. And after listening to most of the other books on audio, it spun my head around a bit.
Fair warning: Not a full length novel in the main storyline. A spinoff story that's much shorter.
July 23, 2016
This novella was a pleasant Little trip to Portland, full of murder, intrigue, and lost doggies... But particular to this series, we don't really care much about when people die. It's really all about the dogs.
You know those traditional mystery novels where the main character's girlfriend enters into the picture and begs the MC to help with that personal project that becomes one nightmare after another? Well scrap the girlfriend. The MC is the dog and he's enjoining his Druid meat-provider, read Doggie-friend, to transform his way away from a vampire war and right into the dark, dark world of poodle-napping and fixing a bit of doggie nervousness.
Hey! This is great! And it's also delightfully funny and a very nice respite from all the hellish goings-on from before.
The best parts are all the witty repartees. ;)
Definitely a light repast, but also a wonderful return to a dog and his best friend. :)
Thanks to Netgalley for the Arc!
You know those traditional mystery novels where the main character's girlfriend enters into the picture and begs the MC to help with that personal project that becomes one nightmare after another? Well scrap the girlfriend. The MC is the dog and he's enjoining his Druid meat-provider, read Doggie-friend, to transform his way away from a vampire war and right into the dark, dark world of poodle-napping and fixing a bit of doggie nervousness.
Hey! This is great! And it's also delightfully funny and a very nice respite from all the hellish goings-on from before.
The best parts are all the witty repartees. ;)
Definitely a light repast, but also a wonderful return to a dog and his best friend. :)
Thanks to Netgalley for the Arc!
September 19, 2016
So Iron Druid hasn't entirely been my top favorite UF series. The first two entries were totally amazeballs, but after that, they've teetered close into the "meh" category. I feel like Kevin Hearne's split focus and working on his epic fantasy kinda left Iron Druid out in the cold on putting quality time into it.
All that being said, this little nugget was highly entertaining... mostly because, well, Oberon is the bee's knees. Seriously, he's probably the best part about the entire series.
Let's examine a few quotes as proof:
"But the boxer was kind of like Tybalt, this Prince of Cats Atticus was telling me about" (WHO DOESN'T LOVE OCTOBER DAYE REFERENCES???)
"I mean, it's a bona fide, certified fact that I am hashtag-blessed in the fighting department"
"He seems like the type to have a basement with lots of plastic sheeting on the walls and floors, you know what I mean?"
"Okay. Is this linear time or a big ball of wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey stuff?" (WHO DOESN'T LOVE DOCTOR WHO REFERENCES???)
All in all, thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this three-point-five-star-rounded-up-to-four-star read. :)
All that being said, this little nugget was highly entertaining... mostly because, well, Oberon is the bee's knees. Seriously, he's probably the best part about the entire series.
Let's examine a few quotes as proof:
"But the boxer was kind of like Tybalt, this Prince of Cats Atticus was telling me about" (WHO DOESN'T LOVE OCTOBER DAYE REFERENCES???)
"I mean, it's a bona fide, certified fact that I am hashtag-blessed in the fighting department"
"He seems like the type to have a basement with lots of plastic sheeting on the walls and floors, you know what I mean?"
"Okay. Is this linear time or a big ball of wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey stuff?" (WHO DOESN'T LOVE DOCTOR WHO REFERENCES???)
All in all, thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this three-point-five-star-rounded-up-to-four-star read. :)
November 13, 2016
4.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2016/11/13/...
What a fun little book! Not to be missed by fans of Hearne’s Iron Druid Chronicles, but even if you don’t follow the series, it might be worth taking a look. When this novella landed in my lap, I briefly debated whether or not I should read it, since I am woefully behind on the main series and I know a lot has happened to the characters since I last visited this world. I worried that I would get too confused or lost.
Well, for readers who might be wrestling with the same doubts, let me put your minds at ease: no prerequisite reading is required before jumping into this one. Of course, if it would help if you know a little of the basic foundation behind the Iron Druid Chronicles, i.e. our protagonist is Atticus O’Sullivan, a 2,000-year-old druid living in modern times with his faithful Irish wolfhound Oberon. Everything else is going to be pretty easy to pick up along the way, not to mention The Purloined Poodle is a whole different animal anyway. Pun absolutely intended.
For one thing, the entirety of the tale is told through the eyes of a dog. That’s right, Oberon fans, urban fantasy’s most popular pooch gets his very own book. In the main series, Atticus’ ancient druidic status gives him access to a full suite of nifty powers, including shapeshifting and having an ability to commune with the natural world. That also extends to being able to talk with his dog, and in every Iron Druid book I’ve read so far, Atticus and Oberon’s conversations always manage to become the highlight. This probably goes without saying, but if you find the two’s psychic exchanges as entertaining as I do, then you will love this.
What I enjoyed most about this novella was how “dog-like” Hearne managed to sound while writing from the POV of Oberon. I was laughing from the very first page, reading about his thoughts on canine butt-sniffing etiquette. Like his human, Oberon is also well-versed in all forms of geek culture, so expect tons of pop-culture references. But humor is only one part of this equation; the story quickly builds into a mystery, as a routine walk through the park leads to Oberon and his owner to discover a string of abductions in the Pacific Northwest involving prizewinning dogs. Local police already have their hands full dealing with people cases, so it’s up to Oberon to convince Atticus to help the victims’ owners to look for their stolen pets.
Right away, I knew I’d missed some key events in our characters’ lives, since the last time I saw them they were still in Arizona. The main cast seems to have expanded a bit too. Happily, these are just background details. This novella is part of the main series timeline, but it’s probably more accurate to call this one a short side-story, a lighthearted little detour. It doesn’t matter if you aren’t caught up anyway, because we’re not going to be focusing on the humans too much.
Not only is this narrative all about the dogs, I simply love how this book portrays the relationship between Oberon and Atticus. It’s clear that the two of them are best friends who dote upon each other, and when latter indulges the former, I can’t help but think of one of my own dogs, who’s also a big, lovable goofball like Oberon. It just makes me want to take this book and shove it into the hands of all my dog-lover friends, because I know they will appreciate the beauty of the human-dog bond that Hearne captures here so well.
And like I said, the story is also entertaining and funny as hell. Knowing what I do about its doggy protagonist, I went into The Purloined Poodle expecting a few chuckles, but Oberon really brought down the house with this one. I was impressed that an entire story told from his perspective would work so well, figuring that being inside his head would start to get on my nerves or his narrative get stale after the first twenty minutes. Not so, though. The novella format was well-suited for a story like this—just long enough to be satisfying, but also short and sweet enough that it doesn’t wear out its welcome.
Dog lovers, urban fantasy enthusiasts, and Iron Druid fans take note: if you are one or any combination of the above, I would highly recommend reading The Purloined Poodle. It won’t take long and it’s the perfect escape; a great way to spend a rainy afternoon or a quiet evening in, curled up on the couch with your special fur baby and this wonderful little novella.
What a fun little book! Not to be missed by fans of Hearne’s Iron Druid Chronicles, but even if you don’t follow the series, it might be worth taking a look. When this novella landed in my lap, I briefly debated whether or not I should read it, since I am woefully behind on the main series and I know a lot has happened to the characters since I last visited this world. I worried that I would get too confused or lost.
Well, for readers who might be wrestling with the same doubts, let me put your minds at ease: no prerequisite reading is required before jumping into this one. Of course, if it would help if you know a little of the basic foundation behind the Iron Druid Chronicles, i.e. our protagonist is Atticus O’Sullivan, a 2,000-year-old druid living in modern times with his faithful Irish wolfhound Oberon. Everything else is going to be pretty easy to pick up along the way, not to mention The Purloined Poodle is a whole different animal anyway. Pun absolutely intended.
For one thing, the entirety of the tale is told through the eyes of a dog. That’s right, Oberon fans, urban fantasy’s most popular pooch gets his very own book. In the main series, Atticus’ ancient druidic status gives him access to a full suite of nifty powers, including shapeshifting and having an ability to commune with the natural world. That also extends to being able to talk with his dog, and in every Iron Druid book I’ve read so far, Atticus and Oberon’s conversations always manage to become the highlight. This probably goes without saying, but if you find the two’s psychic exchanges as entertaining as I do, then you will love this.
What I enjoyed most about this novella was how “dog-like” Hearne managed to sound while writing from the POV of Oberon. I was laughing from the very first page, reading about his thoughts on canine butt-sniffing etiquette. Like his human, Oberon is also well-versed in all forms of geek culture, so expect tons of pop-culture references. But humor is only one part of this equation; the story quickly builds into a mystery, as a routine walk through the park leads to Oberon and his owner to discover a string of abductions in the Pacific Northwest involving prizewinning dogs. Local police already have their hands full dealing with people cases, so it’s up to Oberon to convince Atticus to help the victims’ owners to look for their stolen pets.
Right away, I knew I’d missed some key events in our characters’ lives, since the last time I saw them they were still in Arizona. The main cast seems to have expanded a bit too. Happily, these are just background details. This novella is part of the main series timeline, but it’s probably more accurate to call this one a short side-story, a lighthearted little detour. It doesn’t matter if you aren’t caught up anyway, because we’re not going to be focusing on the humans too much.
Not only is this narrative all about the dogs, I simply love how this book portrays the relationship between Oberon and Atticus. It’s clear that the two of them are best friends who dote upon each other, and when latter indulges the former, I can’t help but think of one of my own dogs, who’s also a big, lovable goofball like Oberon. It just makes me want to take this book and shove it into the hands of all my dog-lover friends, because I know they will appreciate the beauty of the human-dog bond that Hearne captures here so well.
And like I said, the story is also entertaining and funny as hell. Knowing what I do about its doggy protagonist, I went into The Purloined Poodle expecting a few chuckles, but Oberon really brought down the house with this one. I was impressed that an entire story told from his perspective would work so well, figuring that being inside his head would start to get on my nerves or his narrative get stale after the first twenty minutes. Not so, though. The novella format was well-suited for a story like this—just long enough to be satisfying, but also short and sweet enough that it doesn’t wear out its welcome.
Dog lovers, urban fantasy enthusiasts, and Iron Druid fans take note: if you are one or any combination of the above, I would highly recommend reading The Purloined Poodle. It won’t take long and it’s the perfect escape; a great way to spend a rainy afternoon or a quiet evening in, curled up on the couch with your special fur baby and this wonderful little novella.
July 9, 2016
Oberon and Atticus visit the set of the 2000 Christopher Guest film Best in Show.
A friend of mine and I were talking and I told him that I was a complete and shameless Kevin Hearne junkie, reading all of his Iron Druid works like a fat boy gobbling little chocolate doughnuts. He asked, “Isn’t that the fun urban fantasy series with the Irish druid and the dog has all the best lines?”
Yep, that’s it!
Fans of the series have no doubt enjoyed Hearne’s expansion of the narrative storyline to include Granuaile and Owen and now the best addition of all … Oberon has his own story.
And it’s a damn good one!
Oberon and his faithful druid Atticus solve the mystery of some dognapped AKC champions – with the help of some ancient druidic magic.
All good fun and a running joke that many of the dogs are named after Jane Austen characters.
For dog lovers, urban fantasy readers, and of course all the KevinHearnenistas will want to get in line behind me to enjoy this latest selection.
*** A free copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review
A friend of mine and I were talking and I told him that I was a complete and shameless Kevin Hearne junkie, reading all of his Iron Druid works like a fat boy gobbling little chocolate doughnuts. He asked, “Isn’t that the fun urban fantasy series with the Irish druid and the dog has all the best lines?”
Yep, that’s it!
Fans of the series have no doubt enjoyed Hearne’s expansion of the narrative storyline to include Granuaile and Owen and now the best addition of all … Oberon has his own story.
And it’s a damn good one!
Oberon and his faithful druid Atticus solve the mystery of some dognapped AKC champions – with the help of some ancient druidic magic.
All good fun and a running joke that many of the dogs are named after Jane Austen characters.
For dog lovers, urban fantasy readers, and of course all the KevinHearnenistas will want to get in line behind me to enjoy this latest selection.
*** A free copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review
October 10, 2023
Re-listened to October 8th 2023
Just as engaging and funny as the first time!
Atticus' hilarious hound, Oberon, narrates this latest adventure and it was a load of fun! Oberon's observations never fail to make me laugh. It this installment we have a case where prize winning hounds have been doggie-napped and Oberon is determined (with Atticus at his side, of course) to get these "purloined" pets back to their respective owners. I was immediately sucked into the investigation!
I received a review copy, but I can never resist the audio version of this series so I bought a copy and ended up "reading" it that way. Luke Daniels is an amazing narrator, bringing the characters to life! His comedic timing is spot on making me laugh throughout the story!
A copy was kindly provided by Subterranean Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This review is also posted at The Readers Den.
Just as engaging and funny as the first time!
Atticus' hilarious hound, Oberon, narrates this latest adventure and it was a load of fun! Oberon's observations never fail to make me laugh. It this installment we have a case where prize winning hounds have been doggie-napped and Oberon is determined (with Atticus at his side, of course) to get these "purloined" pets back to their respective owners. I was immediately sucked into the investigation!
I received a review copy, but I can never resist the audio version of this series so I bought a copy and ended up "reading" it that way. Luke Daniels is an amazing narrator, bringing the characters to life! His comedic timing is spot on making me laugh throughout the story!
A copy was kindly provided by Subterranean Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This review is also posted at The Readers Den.
February 19, 2019
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
This was fun! I kind of jumped ahead by reading this one when I did but I have no regrets. I needed a shorter audiobook that both my daughter and I could enjoy on a short road trip. We started another book and both hated that narrator so I downloaded this book and decided to give it a try. I think it worked well out of order although a few things in Atticus's personal life were different than in the earlier books. We both had a lot of fun going along for the ride as Oberon worked to solve the mystery with a little help from Atticus.
I have enjoyed the books that I have read in the Iron Druid Chronicles so far. My favorite part of the series has been Oberon from the start. When I found out that there were stories from Oberon's point of view, I knew that I had to have them in my life. It turns out that this story was just as good as I had hoped it would be. I just love the Oberon looks at the world.
Oberon and Atticus learn that several champion dogs have gone missing and they decide it is time to help figure out what is going on. It was a fairly involved mystery that involved a lot of pretty awesome dogs and a lot of excitement. It was great meeting Starbuck and I thought he was the perfect addition to the cast. I loved the way that Oberon and Atticus worked together along with Starbuck to get to the bottom of the missing dogs.
Luke Daniels did an amazing job with this story. I think that he does a great job giving a dog the voice that is just perfect for his character. I could have easily listened to this book in its entirety if my life would have made it possible. I thought his delivery was very well done and I love the way he delivered the more comical parts of the story.
I would recommend this book to others. I think that readers of the series are not going to want to miss this one. Readers new to the series could start with this book but it is really best to read these books in order. I can't wait to read more of this exciting series.
Initial Thoughts
I know that I read this one kind of out of order but I had a feeling that it would stand up on its own and it did. This was the perfect story to keep me and my daughter entertained during a shorter road trip. I found myself laughing a time or two and the mystery was interesting. I felt like this was about the right length for a story from Oberon's point of view. The narration was fantastic!
Book source: Audible purchase
This was fun! I kind of jumped ahead by reading this one when I did but I have no regrets. I needed a shorter audiobook that both my daughter and I could enjoy on a short road trip. We started another book and both hated that narrator so I downloaded this book and decided to give it a try. I think it worked well out of order although a few things in Atticus's personal life were different than in the earlier books. We both had a lot of fun going along for the ride as Oberon worked to solve the mystery with a little help from Atticus.
I have enjoyed the books that I have read in the Iron Druid Chronicles so far. My favorite part of the series has been Oberon from the start. When I found out that there were stories from Oberon's point of view, I knew that I had to have them in my life. It turns out that this story was just as good as I had hoped it would be. I just love the Oberon looks at the world.
Oberon and Atticus learn that several champion dogs have gone missing and they decide it is time to help figure out what is going on. It was a fairly involved mystery that involved a lot of pretty awesome dogs and a lot of excitement. It was great meeting Starbuck and I thought he was the perfect addition to the cast. I loved the way that Oberon and Atticus worked together along with Starbuck to get to the bottom of the missing dogs.
Luke Daniels did an amazing job with this story. I think that he does a great job giving a dog the voice that is just perfect for his character. I could have easily listened to this book in its entirety if my life would have made it possible. I thought his delivery was very well done and I love the way he delivered the more comical parts of the story.
I would recommend this book to others. I think that readers of the series are not going to want to miss this one. Readers new to the series could start with this book but it is really best to read these books in order. I can't wait to read more of this exciting series.
Initial Thoughts
I know that I read this one kind of out of order but I had a feeling that it would stand up on its own and it did. This was the perfect story to keep me and my daughter entertained during a shorter road trip. I found myself laughing a time or two and the mystery was interesting. I felt like this was about the right length for a story from Oberon's point of view. The narration was fantastic!
Book source: Audible purchase
March 27, 2018
Rating: 3* of five
If you already like the Iron Druid series and have read them all, this will make a pleasant diversion from the tedium of waiting for more. It's nice to have a little more perspective on some magical elements of the series universe. Oberon's a hoot. But, like The Lone Gunmen spinoff of The X-Files in the 1990s, it's not likely to make fans out of newbs or win fallen-away fans back.
I got the eARC from NetGalley ages and ages ago and finally finished the read after more than a year of neglect. In fact I was surprised to find it on my Kindle...and I guess that's everything you need to know right there.
If you already like the Iron Druid series and have read them all, this will make a pleasant diversion from the tedium of waiting for more. It's nice to have a little more perspective on some magical elements of the series universe. Oberon's a hoot. But, like The Lone Gunmen spinoff of The X-Files in the 1990s, it's not likely to make fans out of newbs or win fallen-away fans back.
I got the eARC from NetGalley ages and ages ago and finally finished the read after more than a year of neglect. In fact I was surprised to find it on my Kindle...and I guess that's everything you need to know right there.
September 22, 2016
This was a fun book and a quick read. It is written from Oberon’s POV, therefor there is a lot of talk about food and smelling other dogs butts and other doggie things. Potty humor aside, I love the way he talks / thinks:
“I mean, it’s a bonafide, certified fact that I am hashtag-blessed in the fighting department.”
When discussing an interview Atticus had with a man, Oberon’s thoughts went something like this:
“I just heard him ask Atticus, “Can I help you?” in a sort of tight, muted English accent, like he had lived with severe constipation all his life and hadn’t heard about fiber.” … “This guy sounds like he hasn’t laughed since Doc Brown invented the flux capacitor.” … “Atticus, he looks like Jafar! Watch out! Don’t let him hypnotize you!”
You just have to smirk and giggle when listening to what goes on in Oberon’s head!
In general, a very fun addition to the Iron Druid series, where Atticus is not in mortal danger and battling vampires, etc. Just a cute little cozy mystery with a unique POV. If you are an Oberon fan, this one is definitely worth a quick read.
“I mean, it’s a bonafide, certified fact that I am hashtag-blessed in the fighting department.”
When discussing an interview Atticus had with a man, Oberon’s thoughts went something like this:
“I just heard him ask Atticus, “Can I help you?” in a sort of tight, muted English accent, like he had lived with severe constipation all his life and hadn’t heard about fiber.” … “This guy sounds like he hasn’t laughed since Doc Brown invented the flux capacitor.” … “Atticus, he looks like Jafar! Watch out! Don’t let him hypnotize you!”
You just have to smirk and giggle when listening to what goes on in Oberon’s head!
In general, a very fun addition to the Iron Druid series, where Atticus is not in mortal danger and battling vampires, etc. Just a cute little cozy mystery with a unique POV. If you are an Oberon fan, this one is definitely worth a quick read.
July 21, 2016
I admit that when I picked up this book I had mixed feelings and expectations.
On the one hand, it’s Kevin Hearne (who we love in unreserved fanpoodling glee). And it was a book about Oberon, who we definitely love. So what’s not to like…
…well, animal companions can be fun and cute and Oberon definitely adds something awesome to the Iron Druid Series… but a whole book around the cute interlude? Yeah that can get… annoying. Also, when it comes to short stories, I do wonder what the point is of many of them. Sometimes it’s for fun, sometimes it’s to explore different elements of the world that haven’t otherwise been touched. And sometimes it’s a way to hold fans upside down and shake them until the loose change in their pockets falls free (also known as The Charlaine Harris method).
Yet this book worked.
It worked because it was balanced. Yes Oberon is a dog, but for the most part he thinks like a human. His narrative is not annoying or impenetrable – because he has spent several decades with Atticus learning how to communicate with humans and among humans. His mind set isn’t frustrating and impossible to follow or awkward or clunky.
At the same time we still have several cute moments that really do convey Oberon’s doggishness – yes Oberon is focused on his mission. But he’s a dog – and he has a low attention span. And a loathing of squirrels. He’s food orientated and he still has absolutely zero concept of time. He has next to no colour vision (or awareness of ethnicity making racial inclusion somewhat fuzzy though there’s at least a Latina police detective) I like this combination of not making Oberon so doggy that he comes off as a gimmick, but also making sure he doesn’t just feel like a human in a fuzzy suit. It’s an excellent balance of making him accessible without making him bland and generally keeping it excellently balanced.
Read More
On the one hand, it’s Kevin Hearne (who we love in unreserved fanpoodling glee). And it was a book about Oberon, who we definitely love. So what’s not to like…
…well, animal companions can be fun and cute and Oberon definitely adds something awesome to the Iron Druid Series… but a whole book around the cute interlude? Yeah that can get… annoying. Also, when it comes to short stories, I do wonder what the point is of many of them. Sometimes it’s for fun, sometimes it’s to explore different elements of the world that haven’t otherwise been touched. And sometimes it’s a way to hold fans upside down and shake them until the loose change in their pockets falls free (also known as The Charlaine Harris method).
Yet this book worked.
It worked because it was balanced. Yes Oberon is a dog, but for the most part he thinks like a human. His narrative is not annoying or impenetrable – because he has spent several decades with Atticus learning how to communicate with humans and among humans. His mind set isn’t frustrating and impossible to follow or awkward or clunky.
At the same time we still have several cute moments that really do convey Oberon’s doggishness – yes Oberon is focused on his mission. But he’s a dog – and he has a low attention span. And a loathing of squirrels. He’s food orientated and he still has absolutely zero concept of time. He has next to no colour vision (or awareness of ethnicity making racial inclusion somewhat fuzzy though there’s at least a Latina police detective) I like this combination of not making Oberon so doggy that he comes off as a gimmick, but also making sure he doesn’t just feel like a human in a fuzzy suit. It’s an excellent balance of making him accessible without making him bland and generally keeping it excellently balanced.
Read More
February 28, 2018
When a prize-winning poodle is abducted in Eugene, Oregon, Oberon learns that it’s part of a rash of hound abductions all over the Pacific Northwest. He decides they need to investigate. For justice and for gravy! They soon begin interviewing owners for clues and end up at the home of a Boston terrier named Starbuck whom Oberon recruits to help him.
Police detectives, wibbly wobbly timey-wimey timelines, and squirrels interfere with the investigation but soon they are hot on the case. The interactions between Atticus and Detective Gabriela Ibarra were hilarious and I almost felt sorry for the poor woman. It was such fun to see Oberon, The Humble shine.
Kevin Hearne has a ridiculous sense of humor and I loved his portrayal of Oberon, the geeky references and of course Atticus the Iron Druid. It was fun sniffing for clues and seeing our four-legged heroes save the day. Talk of sausages, gravy and of all things humping kept the tale light while offering an engaging mystery.
I once again went with the audiobook and was pleased that with my Audible membership it was actually cheaper than the eBook. Luke Daniels is brilliant and has become the voice of these characters.
The Purloined Poodle was a fast, fun mystery that anyone can enjoy, even those not familiar with the Iron Druid Chronicles.
(Voice of Oberon) I just heard him ask Atticus, “Can I help you?” in a sort of tight, muted English accent, like he had lived with severe constipation all his life and hadn’t heard about fiber.” … “This guy sounds like he hasn’t laughed since Doc Brown invented the flux capacitor.” … “Atticus, he looks like Jafar! Watch out! Don’t let him hypnotize you!” This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Police detectives, wibbly wobbly timey-wimey timelines, and squirrels interfere with the investigation but soon they are hot on the case. The interactions between Atticus and Detective Gabriela Ibarra were hilarious and I almost felt sorry for the poor woman. It was such fun to see Oberon, The Humble shine.
Kevin Hearne has a ridiculous sense of humor and I loved his portrayal of Oberon, the geeky references and of course Atticus the Iron Druid. It was fun sniffing for clues and seeing our four-legged heroes save the day. Talk of sausages, gravy and of all things humping kept the tale light while offering an engaging mystery.
I once again went with the audiobook and was pleased that with my Audible membership it was actually cheaper than the eBook. Luke Daniels is brilliant and has become the voice of these characters.
The Purloined Poodle was a fast, fun mystery that anyone can enjoy, even those not familiar with the Iron Druid Chronicles.
(Voice of Oberon) I just heard him ask Atticus, “Can I help you?” in a sort of tight, muted English accent, like he had lived with severe constipation all his life and hadn’t heard about fiber.” … “This guy sounds like he hasn’t laughed since Doc Brown invented the flux capacitor.” … “Atticus, he looks like Jafar! Watch out! Don’t let him hypnotize you!” This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
December 16, 2020
I really enjoy theses between novel novellas in the Iron Druid Chronicles series. While they are not necessary to understanding and enjoying the main story line they add very nice fill in points to the character's background and have some interesting fill in info for the plot line. Very recommended
July 12, 2017
Great fun adventure and wonderful distraction in this short story set in the Iron Druid world! How can you go wrong with an Irish Wolfhound (Oberon) playing Sherlock?
February 28, 2017
This is a story using Oberon's voice and it's adorkable! Adorable yet dorky. Lol. Atticus' dog is determined to rescue a kidnapped poodle. Gotta love a dog who knows when to add a Dr. Who reference.
October 2, 2023
The Purloined Poodle is a delightfully entertaining tale shared from the point of view of series regular, Oberon. Yes… Oberon the Irish wolfhound. As readers of the Iron Druid Chronicles know, Oberon has gained the ability to think and understand with humanlike intelligence thanks to his human, Druid Atticus O’Sullivan. When Oberon and Atticus discover that someone has been dognapping prized hounds in the Pacific Northwest, Oberon compels Atticus that it is their responsibility to save the hounds and get to the bottom of this mystery.
Oberon has become my favorite character in the Iron Druid Chronicles. I’ve enjoyed watching him learn more and evolve as his life is extended well beyond that of a normal wolfhound. His sense of humor and lack of human pettiness endears him to me, but in The Purloined Poodle, it is also his sense of right and wrong, along with his insight that make him the perfect narrator for this tale.
I enjoyed getting Oberon’s take on everything he and Atticus run across as the zigzag across both Oregon and Washington state to uncover what happened to Jack, the prized poodle, as well as several other missing dogs. The addition of the Boston terrier Starbuck was entertaining, even though we have no idea what he is thinking or feeling. He is Watson to Oberon’s Holmes, and shines through both Atticus and Oberon’s impressions of Starbuck. I hope we’ll see him in future tales.
Luke Daniels absolutely shines with his narrative performance in The Purloined Poodle. Maintaining his silly, yet houndish, voice of Oberon for the entire story, I honestly felt like I was inside the dog’s head. The narration only adjusted when one of the other characters spoke aloud, and even then, Mr. Daniels used the perfect voice for each new character.
Although it could be enjoyed as a standalone mystery, The Purloined Poodle is a treat for those who’ve followed Oberon and Atticus since their start. Additionally, the epilogue wraps up a few things for Atticus that were left open at the conclusion of Staked (IDC #8). I highly recommend this mystery to all!
Rating: A-
Narration: A+
Re-listen started 3/21/2018; finished 3/22/2018. Gave me more insight the second time around, after listening the follow up tale. Still Loved so much! Luke Daniels is amazing. A!
Oberon has become my favorite character in the Iron Druid Chronicles. I’ve enjoyed watching him learn more and evolve as his life is extended well beyond that of a normal wolfhound. His sense of humor and lack of human pettiness endears him to me, but in The Purloined Poodle, it is also his sense of right and wrong, along with his insight that make him the perfect narrator for this tale.
I enjoyed getting Oberon’s take on everything he and Atticus run across as the zigzag across both Oregon and Washington state to uncover what happened to Jack, the prized poodle, as well as several other missing dogs. The addition of the Boston terrier Starbuck was entertaining, even though we have no idea what he is thinking or feeling. He is Watson to Oberon’s Holmes, and shines through both Atticus and Oberon’s impressions of Starbuck. I hope we’ll see him in future tales.
Luke Daniels absolutely shines with his narrative performance in The Purloined Poodle. Maintaining his silly, yet houndish, voice of Oberon for the entire story, I honestly felt like I was inside the dog’s head. The narration only adjusted when one of the other characters spoke aloud, and even then, Mr. Daniels used the perfect voice for each new character.
Although it could be enjoyed as a standalone mystery, The Purloined Poodle is a treat for those who’ve followed Oberon and Atticus since their start. Additionally, the epilogue wraps up a few things for Atticus that were left open at the conclusion of Staked (IDC #8). I highly recommend this mystery to all!
Rating: A-
Narration: A+
Re-listen started 3/21/2018; finished 3/22/2018. Gave me more insight the second time around, after listening the follow up tale. Still Loved so much! Luke Daniels is amazing. A!
January 12, 2017
Really fun story - Oberon and Atticus trying themselves as private detectives, as dogs get kidnapped...
The story is told from Oberons POV - which was great, but at times also a bit too much for my taste... I do love Oberon - but as adorable as he is, having him comment on everything and anything does get a tiny bit tedious at times. ;)
Otherwise it was great entertainment, and I definitely enjoyed getting to see more of those two! Oh how I miss them...
The story is told from Oberons POV - which was great, but at times also a bit too much for my taste... I do love Oberon - but as adorable as he is, having him comment on everything and anything does get a tiny bit tedious at times. ;)
Otherwise it was great entertainment, and I definitely enjoyed getting to see more of those two! Oh how I miss them...
February 16, 2019
This fun side-note to Hearne's Iron Druid series is a cute animal cozy, told from the perspective of Oberon, said druid's Irish Wolfhound. In typical cozy fashion, it is light on action, focusing more on quirk... and sausages. There is a light touch of magic, but this is about people and dogs, and the mystery is solved through mostly traditional means. It's fluff, to be sure, but Starbuck is awesome, and the story as a whole is satisfying.
July 19, 2016
Kevin Hearne delivers as usual! While at the park, Atticus and Oberon discover that some show dogs have been stolen in the area. They decide to track down the perpetrators. As always, lots of humor and a great story! I love anything that has anything to do with this series!! I received a copy of this book from Net Galley.
February 6, 2017
I actually enjoyed this quite a bit, though having this much Oberon really pointed out how odd it was for him to be telling a story where he's simple-minded and wants to chase squirrels, then goes into storytelling prose to describe the scenery and weird details that a dog wouldn't mention. I understand the need for storytelling, but it really pulls me out. That said, it was fun, I enjoyed it.
July 22, 2018
Oh my goodness, this was so cute! Told from Oberon's perspective, it's the tale (pardon the pun) about some stolen prize-winning dogs and how Oberon, with a little help from Atticus, and his new pal Starbuck, solve the mystery. I was grinning from ear to ear the entire time! A must read if you're a fan of our mighty Irish wolfhound!
April 25, 2023
I love getting to focus on Oberon, who is my favorite character in the druid series. This was an enjoyable little story.
Reread - I got the signed hardcover at a con - so that brought back good memories, but so did rereading the book.
Reread - I got the signed hardcover at a con - so that brought back good memories, but so did rereading the book.
October 12, 2016
It's banter and silliness with a light mystery as plot. What's not to love?
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October 1, 2017
This short-story audiobook combines the lovable canine characters of this series into a dognapping caper. My wife points out that I've read several books about dogs lately (Watchers by Koonz, and Art of Racing in the Rain by Stein). What I meant to say was that this audiobook combines the excellent voice acting talent of Luke Daniels and the writing of Kevin Kearne to produce a whodunnit, The Purloined Poodle, from the view of a druid's dog.
July 7, 2016
A fun, light mystery featuring Oberon (and Atticus, of course). Oberon obviously watches too much of the right sort of TV (spot the cultural references) but ultimately, of course, they must track down the missing Grand Champion Poodle. And Oberon is the star of the show.
Think cozy mystery meets Iron Druid, but with a canine protagonist, and you won't be far wrong. Expect the usual puns, conversations, meat- and dog-focus. You don't have to have read all the Iron Druid books for this, but there might be some mild spoilers if you're not up to the current one.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Think cozy mystery meets Iron Druid, but with a canine protagonist, and you won't be far wrong. Expect the usual puns, conversations, meat- and dog-focus. You don't have to have read all the Iron Druid books for this, but there might be some mild spoilers if you're not up to the current one.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 17, 2016
A quirky little mystery that was fun to read. A very simple story with the novelty of reading it from the point of view of the dog who has a very shaky grasp of time and an obsession with sausages and gravy.
October 2, 2016
Gotta' love a book from a dog's perspective...even more so if it's Oberon's POV. A cute dog-napping mystery with Atticus and Oberon leading the way to solve the case of the Purloined Poodle.
Want to read
October 7, 2016(*signed @ 2016 NOLA StoryCon)
October 23, 2016
Will review at www.fantasyliterature.com.
December 26, 2016
Oberon is the new Sherlock! Many sausages to you!
September 10, 2017
sherdog howls that's what it is.
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