A murdered chef, a missing gingerbread recipeand a holiday secret to die for…A murdered pastry chef and a stolen family recipe turn Barkview’s annual holiday gingerbread dog house competition into a canine cat-astrophy.Has this competition turned dog-eat-dog or is it something more sinister? A tent full of knife-proficient suspects complicates everything. When Sandy’s sister is accused of the crime, Cat Hawl is on the scent. The deeper she digs she realizes that the recipe itself leads to something far more valuable than the perfect holiday treat.With the help of two devilish Dachshunds, Cat must run with the big dogs to find a 1930’s treasure before the prize is eaten by time.
The award-winning author of the critically acclaimed Barkview Mysteries series, C.B. Wilson’s love of writing was spurred by an early childhood encounter with a Nancy Drew book where she precociously wrote what she felt was a better ending. After studying at the Gemology Institute of America, she developed a passion for researching lost, stolen and missing diamonds–the big kind. Her fascination with dogs and their passionate owners inspired Barkview, California, the dog friendliest city in America.
C.B. lives in Peoria, AZ with her husband. She is an avid pickleball player who enjoys traveling to play tournaments. She admits to chocoholic tendencies and laughing out loud at dog comics.
Who knew a gingerbread recipe could lead to murder?
Not sure how I've missed this series until now but it was a quirky, fun read. The premise seems to focus around Catalina/Cat, the only cat person in a town seemingly dedicated to dogs. It's probably no surprise that Cat winds up fostering two feisty, adorable dachshunds after their chef owner is murdered. Cat has apparently had some bad experiences with dogs, so she's anxious but FBI consultant and new husband Russ, who is said to be allergic to dogs, jumps right in without hesitation and they somehow make it work. I ultimately liked them both.
Perhaps it was because I was new to the series, but the beginning seemed slow, even after the murder. It wasn't until later that the pace seemed to really pick up. That said, the slow build gave me time to sort out the new-to-me characters, not to mention all their dogs (and they are lots of them) as well as connections between them all. I definitely appreciated the town map provided as the book opened as well as two lists of characters, one human, the other canine. Yep, Barkview is dog focused. The characters themselves were intriguing and the dogs seemed to have individual personalities, too, adding to the fun. Don't make the same mistake Cat did, though, and underestimate small dogs. I happen to own a short legged corgi and know that for a fact. Loyalty and courage isn't limited to big dogs.
As for the murder, though the suspects seemed somewhat limited, the inter-connections were intriguing. Even Cat's friend Sandy's sister is a suspect. But, seriously, would someone kill for a recipe, even an award winning one? I just knew there had to be more to this mystery and, boy, was there. Voodoo? Confederate gold? And, whoa, World War II? None of it quite makes sense initially, true, but Cat is doing her best to get to the truth while running the town's annual gingerbread dog house competition. The twist here is that it's ultimately judged by dogs. Hey, fair is fair, right? Toss in two feuding sisters and two now homeless dogs and, well, the story was fun with enough twists and turns to capture my interest. Even if I hadn't been into figuring out whodunit, the canine antics of the story were entertaining, especially seeing non-dog-person Cat deal with them in the midst of the contest and ongoing investigation.Thanks #NetGalley and #BooksGoSocial for introducing me to Cat and Russ. I'll definitely be back and hope to hear more, much more about Skye.
It’s holiday season in dog loving Barkview and the annual Gingerbread Dog House Competition is beginning. Newlywed Cat Hawl-Wright and husband Russ are back from their honeymoon and happily settling into married life. With Mayor Aunt Char awaiting the birth of puppies from her Champion King Charles Cavalier Renny, Cat has taken over the event. However, in an effort to generate more outside interest in the contest with expanded publicity, Cat intensifies the feud between two sisters over a missing family recipe, which just might lead to a long hidden treasure. When one sister is killed, pandemonium ensues and Cat finds herself once again caught up in a dangerous situation. Will the dead woman’s two dachshunds prove instrumental in steering her in the right direction and with the aid of her supportive friends and family lead her to the answers before a killer perceives her as a threat that needs to be stopped?
This series is a favorite and it always delivers an entertaining plot. The residents of Barkview and their canine companions add a clever and often amusing touch to the story. The strategic role that coastal Barkview played in WWII and its impact on the present has been featured in several books and i especially enjoy this element. There is so much to appeal to readers and whether it’s the adorable and clever canines the well-defined and unique individuals who live in Barkview or the intriguing mysteries with clues from past and present, cozy lovers should be anticipating a return to Barkview in the near future. I know I can’t wait. This is my honest review of an ARC I received from the author.
If I attempted to imagine a world designed by dogs, I would end up in Barkview, California. The businesses are all dog friendly, from opulent hotels to the Daily Wag Coffee Shop, serving morning dog cocktails, that the dogs drink seated on counter high chairs. The mystery in Dachshund to Death centers around a murdered chef in the annual Gingerbread Dog House competition. Contestants create homes entirely crafted of dog edible parts, and the dogs assist in judging the winning creation.
The characters in this book are relatable to everyone, whether you root for the humans or the canines. From quirky shop owners to unscrupulous reporters to perfection-demanding chefs and, of course, an array of lovable, if mischievous dogs, their stories are well crafted. The twists and turns of this story will leave you needing a character roadmap to remember all of the suspects and potential motives. I was guessing until the final pages.
Dachshund to Death is a compelling read that helps define the bond between humans and their dogs.
It’s Christmas in Barksville, the most dog friendly town in the country, which means the annual gingerbread house (for dogs, of course) competition. But when one of the contestants is murdered, Catalina ‘Cat’ Hawl-Wright finds herself the foster mom of two very feisty very smart dachshunds, a position she is not sure she’s prepared for. However, when the murder seems linked to a long-hidden treasure and things start heating up fast, they may prove to be the best help as well as protection she could ask for.
Dachshund to Death is the seventh in the Barkview Mysteries cozy mystery series by.C.B. Wilson but the first I’ve read. It started slowly but, once it got going, it was an enjoyable tale with a good mystery that kept me guessing and a likeable main protagonist but, at least for me, it was the dogs who kept me reading. Overall, a fun Christmas cozy.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Thanks to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
I am enamored with these Barkview Mysteries! C.B. Wilson is one of my absolute favorite mystery writers because she incorporates the cutes four legged doggies in all of her Barkview mysteries. In this book, Cat has to solve a mystery with the help of the victim's twin Dachshunds Ginger and Spice (so cute!!). In this mystery Cat has to find out who murdered Ginger and Spice's owner, Noel and why. The Mystery and suspects range from Sandy's sister, Brittany to Noel's sister, Eve, and her so-called friend, Lorna. Following the clues and using her quirky sleuthing skills, pen, and posted notes alongside her husband Russ (love him), she finds the clues that in the end, help Uncle G solve the mystery. The place where great grandma hid the Gingerbread recipe was plain genius!! Loved this book and recommend the whole series to anyone who enjoys well written cozy and adorable mysteries!
I received this book for free as an ARC and my reviews are my own!
"Dachshund to Death (A Dog Lover's Cozy Mystery)" by C.B. Wilson is a warm climate Christmas time cozy mystery. It's centered around a dog contest/gingerbread dog house contest with some Louisiana voodoo flare (just a flare, nothing to start calling it paranormal). I do find it a little funny that this is the "Dog Lover's" series since the main character clearly didn't learn anything about dogs from her dog breeder mother. Maybe I missed where that was a post kids leaving the house thing for her mom.
The mystery felt a little drawn out. It was well done but a bit longer than necessary for all that was really learned. There was maybe one moment I thought it would be a different person than I was originally thinking. That didn't last long.
Over all, it sticks with the Christmas and gingerbread making theme. It doesn't get lost within the investigation. It actually is part of the investigation.
I gotta admit I did jump ahead in the series because the featured dogs were dachshunds and oh my, were they ever the typical little mischief makers dachsies can be. But they were fiercely loyal even to their foster mom and dad, Cat and Russ.
Cat’s sure come a long way since that very first book in how she interacts with dogs. I was really hoping she’d be adding two dachshunds to her life but eventually could see someone else was better suited. Since Jack from the very first book’s still around, I’m hoping Ginger and Spice make an appearance in some future books.
What a showdown! I always love a good takedown done by the main character that involves some amazing pet friends. The side mystery of a family recipe was resolved but there’s still another question or two about it I have no doubts Cat’s gonna look into at some point.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book, and my opinions are my own.
Barky, feisty, pint-sized canine audacity…meet Ginger and Spice. The pair of long-haired dachshunds star in the latest Barkview cozy mystery. Barkview celebrates the Christmas holidays with its annual gingerbread dog house competition. A murder threatens to disrupt the festivities, and it’s up to Catalina, one of the only cat-lovers in town, to get the event back on track. Fortunately, Ginger and Spice are doing their doxie-best to point the slow-moving humans in the right direction. Stir in a missing recipe for prize-winning gingerbread…add a dash of a rumored Civil War era treasure…sprinkle generously with the eclectic mix of local human and canine residents. What’s not to enjoy about this perfectly delicious, dog-centric Christmas cozy mystery? Bring your holiday spirit and your best furry friend to celebrate the season in Barkview where the sweets are pet-friendly and dogs rule.
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, the author and publisher. Thank you to them and this will be an honest review.
This book has some really cute elements to it and I enjoyed the Gingerbread Dog House baking competition as well as the fact that the whole town is dog related.
When the owner of Ginger and Spice, two rambuncious dachshunds, is killed; Cat Hawl is in for a surprise when she is tasked with looking after them. She is really more of a cat person. She is also in charge of the competition and she needs to find the killer. She really has her hands full.
The story has a lot of heart, however, I found some of the plot a little hard to follow and I'm not a big fan of the author's style of writing.
That said though, it has all the cozy Christmas feels and lovers of this series will be over the moon with a new Barkview Mystery.
First of all, I have owned Dachshunds for years, so I enjoy reading any books with them in it. I have never read this series before, and there were some references to other adventures that had gone on, but nothing that really made a difference to the story. The town of Barkville sounds like a fun place to live, but if anything, there are way too many dogs mentioned. Never thought I would say anything like that! One complaint is that throughout the story it seemed the whole point in finding the recipe was that it possibly had clues to finding a treasure from the Civil War. When the recipe was finally found, it seemed like the story ended abruptly, no one really cared about the treasure and everyone went home for the night. So, no follow through on that.
A baking contest and coveted family gingerbread recipe may have led to murder. After discovering the body of one of the chefs in the holiday baking contest, it is up to Cat to find the killer and save the contest.
I have truly enjoy the Dog Lover's mystery series. Every trip to Barkview is a twisty mystery but also so much fun revisiting the recurring characters and their furry companions. The mystery always keeps my guessing while the author's sense of humor keeps me laughing.
All the books I have read in this series has been wonderful and I not only highly recommend this series but eagerly anticipate the next book.
The 7th book in the Barkview Mysteries series is every bit as much fun as the first six! If you're new to the series, each book features a different dog breed, and the pups pair up with an unlikely partner in Cat Wright, a journalist with a...let's just say difficult history with canines. This book centers around a gingerbread house contest with a twist—they're dog friendly houses. When one of the chefs is murdered, and her feisty dogs need a temporary home, Cat steps in, yet again—with the dogs and the investigation. The fast-paced plot and enjoyable characters make this a perfect holiday cozy read. The book is well-written and an easy and satisfying read.
A fun Christmas story with gingerbread houses (for dogs and they get to judge them!), friends, family, dogs...oh and a murder too. I'm in Cat's corner as a cat lover but some dogs do steal my heart as these doxies did with Cat's husband, Russ. Cat, Russ, the Police Chief "Uncle G", and a few others work to solve the mystery. Cat has her hands full with organizing the gingerbread contest, murder, and most of all two crazy dachshunds to take care of, but she masters them all. A very enjoyable Christmas tale without the sappy stories. I received an ARC and I am voluntarily reviewing it
It's the holidays in Barkville! The latest installment of CB Wilson's dog themed cozies focuses on Ginger and Spice, the darling Dachshunds. Wilson's protagonist Cat Hawl-Wright is in the middle of things again, having to weft-and-weave between family dynamics and local politics while juggling a duo of Dachshunds (despite her inclinations otherwise). Wilson's writing is savvy and smart, and the backdrop of Barkville just keeps getting better. Makes me want to visit! "Dachshund to Death" is puns of fun.
'Dachshund to Death' by C.B. Wilson. I mainly picked this book because of the cover and the title. I love dogs and murder mysteries and a good pun, so what a perfect book. This book kept me guessing till near the end, so that is always good with a murder mystery. I love Ginger and Spice the two Dachshunds. I would definitely read more by the author, it was a lovely simple read, perfect for fans of cozy mysteries. Thankyou to NetGallery UK, the publisher and the author for letting me read this in return for an honest review.
It is Christmas time in Barkview and time for the annual gingerbread doghouse contest for which Cat is one of the judges. Unfortunately, murder happens to one of the contestants - who is also a dog mom to two adorable dachshunds. Of course, Cat ends up fostering the dachshunds at the same time as trying to solve the murder and keep the gingerbread doghouse contest moving forward too.
This was a fun read and I recommend it. I received a free ARC and this is my honest review.
I absolutely adore a good cozy mystery! And add dogs to the mix? Perfect!
This book was such a fun read! An interesting mystery (that had me fooled most of the way through). A unique setting filled with quirky, fun (while also believable) characters. A pair of Doxies in danger!!
And it all starts with a gingerbread doghouse competition! (Don't forget the dog-friendly ingredients!)
This is book 7 in the Barkview Mysteries series. I have not read any of the previous books but had no problems enjoying the characters and the story. Barkview sounds like a lovely place to live. It's time for the annual gingerbread house contest and the contestants are dropping like flies. An old civil war mystery is intertwined with the murders. Will be looking for some of the previous titles.
I enjoyed this book but thought the plotting was a bit chaotic, especially in the beginning. It does smooth out towards the end. I loved the dogs! The inclusion of the Civil War treasure is interesting, and I liked how they find the recipe. I thought it highlighted the bad guys by the typical evil behavior throughout the story making it obvious. #DachshundToDeath#NetGalley
Barkview mysteries are puzzles with mystery, intrigue, love and loyalty as the scattered pieces. This one has the usual canines and long-haired dashshunds as leading characters. It is a Christmas story that threads the past into the present.
A cute story with a missing gingerbread recipe, a small town holiday tradition and two miniature long haired Dachsie s. Throw in family rivalry and the reader is invited to a Christmas adventure.
Animal lovers do crazy things, so why wouldn't there be a book written with that in mind. Enjoyable characters and their animals make this a cozy read., all wrapped up with the happy ending.
well plotted, solid and entertaining cozy mystery. I had fun and it kpet me guessing Highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
A old family secret involving a gingerbread recipe, cute daschunds and Renny is having her puppies. Another adventure in barksview who has murdered Noel and will do anything to get the recipe? You have to read this well plotted book to find out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.