Dog Gone Christmas Murder

Smiley and McBlythe #9.5

by Bruce Hammack

Dog Gone Christmas Murder is a short Christmas mystery featuring Steve Smiley and Heather McBlythe.

As usual, Heather is trying to keep Steve from sinking into his holiday doldrums. This time she's dragged him to a friend's holiday gathering whose dog and cat have disappeared. He wants the duo to determine who among the guests could be the animal-napper.

But all the guests get more than they bargained for when a storm takes out the electricity and a guest goes missing.

38 pages, ebook

Published January 1, 2023

About the author

Drawing from his extensive background in criminal justice, Bruce Hammack writes contemporary, clean read detective and crime mysteries.

When he's not writing his next novel, he enjoys reading classic whodunits, watching film noir movies and traveling to see new places.

Having lived in eighteen cities around the world, he now lives in the Texas hill country with his wife of thirty-plus years.

He is the author of the Star of Justice series, the Smiley and McBlythe Mysteries and the Fen Maguire Mysteries. You can find out about his latest release at https://brucehammack.com/.
Follow him on social media at https://www.facebook.com/BruceHammack...
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/bruce...

Reviews

[Mary Heiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short read. But it is not rushed. The story was excellent and Steve and Heather did an amazing job. Really good.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was nice catching up with the protagonists of the Smiley and McBlythe series in this short story I received as a member of the author's mailing list, but it doesn't have the depth or complexity of the novels in the series (nor should it, it's a holiday short story that succeeds at what it sets out to do).

[MGB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really an enjoyable short read. Doesn't have all the twists and turns, but a short story doesn't have room for all of the usual character and storyline development. It revealed each character just enough, and showed the pets in the perfect light.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

First thing that comes to mind is spay and neuter your pets. But, of course, if that happened, Smiley and Heather wouldn't have a mystery. Or would they? Considering it was only a 38 page ebook,it was agood little story.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute Christmas whodunit with some animals. That's enough to make me want to read it. It's a quick pretty straightforward read without many twist. I enjoyed the harmony and protective nature the pets exhibited. A quick mystery I enjoyed.

[Anne G. Kasaba · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming short story featuring two of my favorite fictional characters, Steve Smiley and Heather McBlythe. This is an engaging book that proves good things do come in small packages.

I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review.

[Stephanie Thode · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series! It's a cute little novella, but unlike his other books it felt too rushed; the flow wasn't the same