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How to Talk to Your Dog About Murder
Dogs are better behaved than people in this new cozy mystery where a pet behaviorist finds herself the prime suspect in an upscale murder, perfect for fans of Eva Gates and Victoria Gilbert.
Nikki Jackson-Ramanathan is struggling to get her pet behaviorist business off the ground, making ends meet as a dog walker while keeping her eyes peeled for greener pastures. An appointment in a rich suburb of Saint Louis seems to be her ticket to success. The wealthy Mrs. Van Meer wants Nikki to help the family’s old hound dog who is grieving the loss of his owner. But then Mrs. Van Meer turns up dead.
With a multitude of suspects like the sketchy landscaper, the judgy housekeeper, and the rest of Mrs. Van Meer’s money-obsessed family members, Nikki’s happy to sit back and let the police solve the crime. Until she learns that Mrs. Van Meer’s will leaves Nikki in charge of a sizable amount of money and the police start dogging her every step.
Life would be a lot easier if she just had to deal with the animals, but Nikki resolves to catch the real culprit and convince the cops they’re barking up the wrong tree.
Nikki Jackson-Ramanathan is struggling to get her pet behaviorist business off the ground, making ends meet as a dog walker while keeping her eyes peeled for greener pastures. An appointment in a rich suburb of Saint Louis seems to be her ticket to success. The wealthy Mrs. Van Meer wants Nikki to help the family’s old hound dog who is grieving the loss of his owner. But then Mrs. Van Meer turns up dead.
With a multitude of suspects like the sketchy landscaper, the judgy housekeeper, and the rest of Mrs. Van Meer’s money-obsessed family members, Nikki’s happy to sit back and let the police solve the crime. Until she learns that Mrs. Van Meer’s will leaves Nikki in charge of a sizable amount of money and the police start dogging her every step.
Life would be a lot easier if she just had to deal with the animals, but Nikki resolves to catch the real culprit and convince the cops they’re barking up the wrong tree.
336 pages, Paperback
Published October 21, 2025
27 people are currently reading
4691 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
October 13, 2025
Nikki Jackson-Ramanathan is a pet behaviourist who takes on the case of an old dog who is grieving for his owner who recently died. She spends a lot of time at his home and meets his large family of not very nice people. Then there is a murder and a complication with the will and Nikki finds herself involved in a very uncomfortable way.
An easy to read cosy mystery with an interesting story, an intelligent main character and a loveable dog. Four stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
An easy to read cosy mystery with an interesting story, an intelligent main character and a loveable dog. Four stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
July 27, 2025
This is a new author to me. I am not sure if it is a series, I think it definitely could be. This is, I guess, a cozy mystery, maybe a little too cozy, maybe just bland. Honestly, I read maybe the first third to half of this book waiting for something, anything to happen. We don't really get much of an introduction to Nikki our MC, you just get pieces of information as you read on, she's supposed to be a pet behaviorist but makes her living doing other part time jobs and only interacts with one dog, the basis of the mystery one time, then walks him on a regular basis or she wouldn't be involved in the story at all. The people surrounding the dog and making up the victim and suspects are not likable or relatable. Is this a terrible read? No, the writing is fine, but everything is just so blah. It is just hard to care, for the first time in a long time, I almost DNF, I just feel if I am given a book I should not give up hope till the end. The reveal had a couple of interesting moments, and the method of murder was different, I just didn't think the rest of the book was worth reading to get to the final 20 pages. Thanks to #Netgally, #CrookedLaneBooks, and the author for an opportunity to read. #HowtoTalktoYourDogAboutMurder #EmilySoderberg #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader
July 2, 2025
Nikki, a pet behaviorist of modest means, has been called to the Van Meer mansion to attend to Reginald, the grieving hound dog. While Reginald’s needs are relatable, the human family dynamics are anything but. Nikki soon becomes entangled in the drama like a twisted leash. When the pack dynamics turn lethal, Nikki must solve the case before she is wrongfully collared for the crime.
I found this cozy mystery to be both charming and funny. The sense of humor was right up my alley and I was interested in the characters. The slow burn mystery unraveled ploddingly but neatly. I’ll be following this author for more mysteries in the future.
Thank you NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Emily Soderberg for making this ARC available.
I found this cozy mystery to be both charming and funny. The sense of humor was right up my alley and I was interested in the characters. The slow burn mystery unraveled ploddingly but neatly. I’ll be following this author for more mysteries in the future.
Thank you NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Emily Soderberg for making this ARC available.
June 29, 2025
Nikki is a pet behaviorist that is hired by Mrs. Van Meer to meet with Reginald, her late husband’s dog. Nikki is hired because of concerns Reginald is mourning his unexpected death.
After the initial consultation and taking him on a walk he seems like he is back to his old self. Nikki is then hired to walk him on a more frequent basis.
Unexpectedly, Mrs. Van Meer is found in her home dead. It seems like it was natural causes, as she was just an old lady with no concern for any other cause.
Until, it is discovered that Nikki has added to the will and it was added shortly before Mrs. Van Meer’s death. Now all eyes are on Nikki. Desperate to prove her innocence she tries to solve the mystery of who actually murdered Mrs. Van Meer.
I thought it was a little slow to start with but definitely picked up at the end when everything finally came together. Didn’t suspect who the actual murderer was until it was revealed which always makes the story that much better!
Thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and Emily Soderburg for allowing me to read this ARC. This review is my own opinion.
This book will be published October 21st, 2025
After the initial consultation and taking him on a walk he seems like he is back to his old self. Nikki is then hired to walk him on a more frequent basis.
Unexpectedly, Mrs. Van Meer is found in her home dead. It seems like it was natural causes, as she was just an old lady with no concern for any other cause.
Until, it is discovered that Nikki has added to the will and it was added shortly before Mrs. Van Meer’s death. Now all eyes are on Nikki. Desperate to prove her innocence she tries to solve the mystery of who actually murdered Mrs. Van Meer.
I thought it was a little slow to start with but definitely picked up at the end when everything finally came together. Didn’t suspect who the actual murderer was until it was revealed which always makes the story that much better!
Thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and Emily Soderburg for allowing me to read this ARC. This review is my own opinion.
This book will be published October 21st, 2025
September 12, 2025
AN INHERITANCE PUTS NIKKI IN THE DOG HOUSE -- AND THE BIG HOUSE IF THE POLICE HAVE THEIR WAY
The call seemed way too good to be true. Out of the blue, the very wealthy Mrs. Van de Meer called Nikki Jackson-Ramanathan and stated her interest in hiring Nikki as a pet therapist for her late husband’s dog, Reginald. In fact, the passing of Mr. Van de Meer had made front page news, and while Nikki was saddened by the tragedy, she was happy about the opportunity that presented itself. After all, the young woman’s goal was to switch careers and go from calligrapher to behaviorist. All she need do is meet in person with the recent widow and be subjected to the sniff test to make sure she was suitable for the job … so why was she still sitting in her kitchen?
The drive to the massive estate went quickly. Next? The cozying up to the family, but the very creepy vibe in the air prevented Nikki from becoming besties with the relatives who seemed way too anxious to prosper from Mr. Van de Meer’s death. Luckily Nikki was saved by Mrs. Van de Meer whisking her to a private office to divulge the dog’s peculiar behavior since the passing of his beloved master. It didn’t take much analyzing. Reginald was in mourning … the howling all night was a classic sign. With the introductory talk over, the matriarch made it crystal clear that she wanted Nikki to administer bereavement counseling. Nikki reciprocated by making it a thousand-times clearer that she accepted. And to prove how motivated she was, she prescribed a brand new exercise routine to rid the dog’s depression. The regime had just kicked in when a second tragedy struck. Mrs. Van de Meer was found murdered in bed. Nikki was shocked … just as shocked as discovering Mrs. Van de Meer had written Nikki into her will. It meant Nikki becoming filthy rich overnight, and being in the enviable position of buying a dream house or anything else she desired. But nothing is for nothing—and when looked at in the harsh light of day—it also meant that Nikki had been given an excellent motive to exterminate Mrs. Van de Meers. Yes, it could be that it was just a matter of time before the police tagged Nikki as chief suspect and dragged her off to jail unless … unless she beat the police at their own game and found the real killer first.
Thus begins HOW TO TALK TO YOUR DOG ABOUT MURDER: A MYSTERY by author Emily Soderberg. A stimulating concoction of murder, mystery, and delving into psyches, we find that the dog’s inner workings are much simpler than ours. The storyline interesting enough to pique our curiosity, the gluttony of mischief of the players stirs our own inner hound into working on solving this case. And with a cavalcade of suspects that are nicely fleshed out, and an investigation delving into a past “accident” that may or may not have anything to do with the present one, we have plenty to process.
It’s all good fun as the clues come fast and furious, but then it’s what author Emily Soderberg has fashioned this story to be. This is my first-time reading Ms. Soderberg’s work, and I found this entry quite enjoyable. The mystery is well-written and edited. The pacing is also good, but I would say it’s the tidy pile of plot and clues that is the star of this particular show.
Final take: I would definitely recommend HOW TO TALK TO YOUR DOG ABOUT MURDER: A MYSTERY by Emily Soderberg. I found it entertaining, and with an interesting and unique plotline. I found Nikki Jackson-Ramanathan to be a great lead character. Think her background and profession will allow stories to take a myriad of different directions. So a big thank you to Ms. Soderberg, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advance copy that let me play detective. It’s always fun as is finding a new author to love and I’m giving this one 4 stars!
The call seemed way too good to be true. Out of the blue, the very wealthy Mrs. Van de Meer called Nikki Jackson-Ramanathan and stated her interest in hiring Nikki as a pet therapist for her late husband’s dog, Reginald. In fact, the passing of Mr. Van de Meer had made front page news, and while Nikki was saddened by the tragedy, she was happy about the opportunity that presented itself. After all, the young woman’s goal was to switch careers and go from calligrapher to behaviorist. All she need do is meet in person with the recent widow and be subjected to the sniff test to make sure she was suitable for the job … so why was she still sitting in her kitchen?
The drive to the massive estate went quickly. Next? The cozying up to the family, but the very creepy vibe in the air prevented Nikki from becoming besties with the relatives who seemed way too anxious to prosper from Mr. Van de Meer’s death. Luckily Nikki was saved by Mrs. Van de Meer whisking her to a private office to divulge the dog’s peculiar behavior since the passing of his beloved master. It didn’t take much analyzing. Reginald was in mourning … the howling all night was a classic sign. With the introductory talk over, the matriarch made it crystal clear that she wanted Nikki to administer bereavement counseling. Nikki reciprocated by making it a thousand-times clearer that she accepted. And to prove how motivated she was, she prescribed a brand new exercise routine to rid the dog’s depression. The regime had just kicked in when a second tragedy struck. Mrs. Van de Meer was found murdered in bed. Nikki was shocked … just as shocked as discovering Mrs. Van de Meer had written Nikki into her will. It meant Nikki becoming filthy rich overnight, and being in the enviable position of buying a dream house or anything else she desired. But nothing is for nothing—and when looked at in the harsh light of day—it also meant that Nikki had been given an excellent motive to exterminate Mrs. Van de Meers. Yes, it could be that it was just a matter of time before the police tagged Nikki as chief suspect and dragged her off to jail unless … unless she beat the police at their own game and found the real killer first.
Thus begins HOW TO TALK TO YOUR DOG ABOUT MURDER: A MYSTERY by author Emily Soderberg. A stimulating concoction of murder, mystery, and delving into psyches, we find that the dog’s inner workings are much simpler than ours. The storyline interesting enough to pique our curiosity, the gluttony of mischief of the players stirs our own inner hound into working on solving this case. And with a cavalcade of suspects that are nicely fleshed out, and an investigation delving into a past “accident” that may or may not have anything to do with the present one, we have plenty to process.
It’s all good fun as the clues come fast and furious, but then it’s what author Emily Soderberg has fashioned this story to be. This is my first-time reading Ms. Soderberg’s work, and I found this entry quite enjoyable. The mystery is well-written and edited. The pacing is also good, but I would say it’s the tidy pile of plot and clues that is the star of this particular show.
Final take: I would definitely recommend HOW TO TALK TO YOUR DOG ABOUT MURDER: A MYSTERY by Emily Soderberg. I found it entertaining, and with an interesting and unique plotline. I found Nikki Jackson-Ramanathan to be a great lead character. Think her background and profession will allow stories to take a myriad of different directions. So a big thank you to Ms. Soderberg, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advance copy that let me play detective. It’s always fun as is finding a new author to love and I’m giving this one 4 stars!
October 19, 2025
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Have you ever wished you knew what your dog was thinking or feeling? New pet behaviorist and dog walker Nikki Jackson-Ramanathan may be able to help.
In a well-to-do St. Louis suburb, Mrs. Van Meer has been having issues with her old hound dog, Reginald, since his person, her husband passed away. She is hoping Nikki can get the dog out of its funk. Walking into the mansion, Nikki is a little nervous, but as soon as she sees Reginald, she gets down on the floor to get to know him and his issues. They came up with a plan that included daily walks and more attention.
Just a few days later, Mrs. Van Meer is found dead in her bed. Everyone from the family members to the personal assistant and the landscaper make up the list of suspects. Nikki didn’t know Mrs. Van Meer or her family well, so there is no reason for her to be concerned beyond losing a client whom she had hoped would help her business grow. Then she finds out she is named in the woman’s will, which makes the police very interested in her. Now she has to try to clear her name; maybe her new pal, Reginald, can help.
Will Nikki solve the case? Will Reginald raise the Woof to help her? Or will the killer chew them up and spit them out?
Nikki Jackson-Ramanathan and her husband, Jai, are happily married, trying to make ends meet, and saving for a house. Jai works the day job from home, coaches a collegiate mock trial team, and practices and meets fill his nights and weekends. In addition to getting her pet behaviorist business up and running, she walks several dogs, picks up bartending shifts, makes pet toys, and has a freelance calligraphy business. They are genuine people, so it is easy to get involved in their lives. The new tenant living in the duplex below them is a bit off the wall with a real positive attitude about everything, including convincing their landlord to allow pets.
The Van Meer family may be rich, but they are pretty dysfunctional. Sisters not getting along, a wedding in the works, a house being built, but there are secrets, aren’t there always secrets. Their family lawyer is always on hand; the landscaper may be a little shifty, but the personal assistant/house manager probably knows everything and has shared the stories with her friends. All the characters in the story are well-crafted and fleshed out.
Then there is the hound dog, Reginald; he stole my heart. It is hard on a pet when their person disappears.
Nikki is a worthy amateur sleuth, especially for her first case. The cause of death was evident, but finding out how it was done was crucial to solving the crime. Ms. Soderberg served up plenty of twists and red herrings, and I enjoyed how Nikki worked through what she knew and asked questions to come up with theories to eliminate suspects from the list. I was surprised by the latitude the detective gave her to bring the family together and release her inner Hercule Poirot. When the real killer was revealed, I was happy to see I had focused on the right character.
This is Ms. Soderberg’s debut novel. She has a very descriptive writing style, and at times that is wonderful, yet at times it is too much. As her writing career grows, she will be more comfortable with when to tell all and when to pull back. She is definitely an author I intend to follow and watch.
How to Talk to Your Dog About Murder is a delightfully entertaining cozy mystery. With relatable characters, a splendid whodunit, and a lovable hound dog, this is a fun read. I hope this book is the first book in a series. I give this book 4 paws up!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
Have you ever wished you knew what your dog was thinking or feeling? New pet behaviorist and dog walker Nikki Jackson-Ramanathan may be able to help.
In a well-to-do St. Louis suburb, Mrs. Van Meer has been having issues with her old hound dog, Reginald, since his person, her husband passed away. She is hoping Nikki can get the dog out of its funk. Walking into the mansion, Nikki is a little nervous, but as soon as she sees Reginald, she gets down on the floor to get to know him and his issues. They came up with a plan that included daily walks and more attention.
Just a few days later, Mrs. Van Meer is found dead in her bed. Everyone from the family members to the personal assistant and the landscaper make up the list of suspects. Nikki didn’t know Mrs. Van Meer or her family well, so there is no reason for her to be concerned beyond losing a client whom she had hoped would help her business grow. Then she finds out she is named in the woman’s will, which makes the police very interested in her. Now she has to try to clear her name; maybe her new pal, Reginald, can help.
Will Nikki solve the case? Will Reginald raise the Woof to help her? Or will the killer chew them up and spit them out?
Nikki Jackson-Ramanathan and her husband, Jai, are happily married, trying to make ends meet, and saving for a house. Jai works the day job from home, coaches a collegiate mock trial team, and practices and meets fill his nights and weekends. In addition to getting her pet behaviorist business up and running, she walks several dogs, picks up bartending shifts, makes pet toys, and has a freelance calligraphy business. They are genuine people, so it is easy to get involved in their lives. The new tenant living in the duplex below them is a bit off the wall with a real positive attitude about everything, including convincing their landlord to allow pets.
The Van Meer family may be rich, but they are pretty dysfunctional. Sisters not getting along, a wedding in the works, a house being built, but there are secrets, aren’t there always secrets. Their family lawyer is always on hand; the landscaper may be a little shifty, but the personal assistant/house manager probably knows everything and has shared the stories with her friends. All the characters in the story are well-crafted and fleshed out.
Then there is the hound dog, Reginald; he stole my heart. It is hard on a pet when their person disappears.
Nikki is a worthy amateur sleuth, especially for her first case. The cause of death was evident, but finding out how it was done was crucial to solving the crime. Ms. Soderberg served up plenty of twists and red herrings, and I enjoyed how Nikki worked through what she knew and asked questions to come up with theories to eliminate suspects from the list. I was surprised by the latitude the detective gave her to bring the family together and release her inner Hercule Poirot. When the real killer was revealed, I was happy to see I had focused on the right character.
This is Ms. Soderberg’s debut novel. She has a very descriptive writing style, and at times that is wonderful, yet at times it is too much. As her writing career grows, she will be more comfortable with when to tell all and when to pull back. She is definitely an author I intend to follow and watch.
How to Talk to Your Dog About Murder is a delightfully entertaining cozy mystery. With relatable characters, a splendid whodunit, and a lovable hound dog, this is a fun read. I hope this book is the first book in a series. I give this book 4 paws up!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
August 4, 2025
"How to Talk to Your Dog About Murder: A Mystery" by Emily Soderberg could be the start of a series of cozy mysteries. However, as it ends, it may also just be a one off story. I would read more of this creative cozy mystery world though. Honestly, I saw a lot of myself in the main character. As an autistic woman with drive, I've found myself doing multiple jobs just to get by and if I could do an animal related one, even better. I have found I can relate to animals and understand their needs better than the average human (or at least how the average human wants to be related too rather than reading their underlying ticks they think they're hiding).
The main character Nikki has lots of work from home craft type jobs, a bar tending job, dog walking job and pet behaviorist job. She gets called to a mansion like house to help figure out how to handle a hound dog's grief over the passing of the grandfather of the house. She then finds herself with a new regular dog walking client and the executive of a pet trust when the grandmother who hired her suddenly passes too. Now the other family members think she may have done something to get her hands on the dog's money and quickened the transfer of funds.
In the end, it ended up being one of my top suspects. There were several but really only two that stood out as real possibilities. I hope there are more books to continue this story world into a series.
The main character Nikki has lots of work from home craft type jobs, a bar tending job, dog walking job and pet behaviorist job. She gets called to a mansion like house to help figure out how to handle a hound dog's grief over the passing of the grandfather of the house. She then finds herself with a new regular dog walking client and the executive of a pet trust when the grandmother who hired her suddenly passes too. Now the other family members think she may have done something to get her hands on the dog's money and quickened the transfer of funds.
In the end, it ended up being one of my top suspects. There were several but really only two that stood out as real possibilities. I hope there are more books to continue this story world into a series.
November 10, 2025
What a lovely cozy read! What started off as a business meeting as a pet behaviorist for Nikki quickly turned into a dog walking gig at the rate of being a pet behaviorist. She isn't really complaining about that at all, until the owner of Reginald, Mrs. Van Meer, dies suddenly and she finds herself to be one of the suspects. Nikki enjoys her daily routine of walking Reggie and learning about the family, because she is certain one of them killed Mrs. Van Meer.
I was certainly wrong with who did it, so that's always a fun time for me.
I was certainly wrong with who did it, so that's always a fun time for me.
Read
October 21, 2025Cute cozy mystery about a dog walker/pet behavior specialist who is hired to walk a wealthy widow's dog when more tragedy strikes.
For me, the title and cover might be the best part about this book. It is a solid cozy mystery and I appreciated the dog content, but the rich family characters were a little "meh" to me. And she doesn't even
I'd gladly read more about Nikki but want her to have a better case please.
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Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
For me, the title and cover might be the best part about this book. It is a solid cozy mystery and I appreciated the dog content, but the rich family characters were a little "meh" to me. And she doesn't even
I'd gladly read more about Nikki but want her to have a better case please.
Subscribe to my amazing newsletter HERE at JenRyland.com Let's be friends on Bookstagram!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
December 3, 2025
This was a terrible listen. The beginning and title are misleading... the dog had almost nothing to do with anything and neither did most of the characters. The writing also suffered from "tell don't show." Just overall confusing and unrealistic. Enjoyed the first 10% and then forced myself to listen to the rest on 2.0x - 2.5x speed.
June 28, 2025
Unfortunately this book fell flat for me. The book is very mundane and nothing happens until the ninth chapter. Even then, the book does not pick up speed until the end. It is a very slow pace which seemed irrelevant for the plot of the book. We follow too much on Nikki and her regular life. For a "dog whisperer" type book, it is a very small part of this book. It could be considered a cozy mystery. A grandmother dies and now the family is dueling with who gets what and normal things. The "dog whisperer" hired on before the woman was killed is now figuring out what happened. The book picks up during the last 10% of it and I really enjoyed that but wished the entire book was like that ending. Overall it is a 2.5 stars for me, rounded up for that well written ending.
September 30, 2025
*Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affects my opinion*
What happens when you start walking a dog just to inherit a ton of money to watch over said dog? Why, get accused of murder of course.
I was really drawn to this book simply for the title but it was a complete let down. There was no dog talking happening in regards to the murder.
The writing was not for me. I dont know how to explain it other than there being way too many words to get the point across.
The characters also fell flat for me. They all felt very one dimensional. One character was so hot and cold. One minute shes accusing the FMC for murder and the next shes apologizing then shes accusing the FMC again. It also felt like the author tried too hard to make the FMC funny and quirky.
Lastly, it didn't feel like the character really did any solving. I feel like most mystery novels tried to look for clues. The FMC in this book did a lot of self thinking and talking to with her friends about the murder so her solving it felt very unbelievable.
I think this would be a good book for the right audience but I sadly was not it.
What happens when you start walking a dog just to inherit a ton of money to watch over said dog? Why, get accused of murder of course.
I was really drawn to this book simply for the title but it was a complete let down. There was no dog talking happening in regards to the murder.
The writing was not for me. I dont know how to explain it other than there being way too many words to get the point across.
The characters also fell flat for me. They all felt very one dimensional. One character was so hot and cold. One minute shes accusing the FMC for murder and the next shes apologizing then shes accusing the FMC again. It also felt like the author tried too hard to make the FMC funny and quirky.
Lastly, it didn't feel like the character really did any solving. I feel like most mystery novels tried to look for clues. The FMC in this book did a lot of self thinking and talking to with her friends about the murder so her solving it felt very unbelievable.
I think this would be a good book for the right audience but I sadly was not it.
September 1, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
Nikki is a pet behaviorist who suddenly finds herself tangled in a messy inheritance and a suspicious death. The dead woman’s family thinks she’s involved, but Nikki’s out to prove otherwise and sniff out the truth.
This was a letdown. It’s pitched as a cozy mystery, but there’s nothing cozy or mysterious about most of it. The plot crawls, the writing doesn’t have any spark, and the mystery doesn’t actually kick in until the final stretch. By then, I was already bored. I kept waiting for it to get interesting — it didn’t.
Nikki is a pet behaviorist who suddenly finds herself tangled in a messy inheritance and a suspicious death. The dead woman’s family thinks she’s involved, but Nikki’s out to prove otherwise and sniff out the truth.
This was a letdown. It’s pitched as a cozy mystery, but there’s nothing cozy or mysterious about most of it. The plot crawls, the writing doesn’t have any spark, and the mystery doesn’t actually kick in until the final stretch. By then, I was already bored. I kept waiting for it to get interesting — it didn’t.
August 31, 2025
The title feels a bit misleading. Nobody is really “talking to a dog about murder.” The protagonist is primarily an animal behaviouralist (mainly dogs), but the title feels like it was chosen to be cutesy rather than realistic. But I took form the title this would be a lighter cosy mystery and it met my expectations. And I finished the book already thinking about what could happen in book two.
The writing more descriptive than I usually see in cosies, which impacts the flow, and the tone felt too analytical and stoic for what seems to be aiming at a light-hearted, quirky cosy mystery. It needed to be snappier and sharper to make the most of its premise. But I liked the consistency in the protagonist's voice, a bit cynical and sarcastic, but much of the humour would have landed better with a sharper tone in the narrative voice.
That being said, it is consistent and the character paints a scene well and her observations about other characters gave depth to the story. Another plus. The characters are consistent and well-drawn. I particularly enjoyed the dog-walking angle, which felt natural as a way for the protagonist to meet new people and become part of their lives, even covertly. The mystery had plenty enough intrigue to work, especially for the first book in a series.
One narrative choice did feel odd, which is the protagonist occasionally breaks the fourth wall by addressing the reader directly, or even inserting comments aimed at her husband. This undermines suspense because it tells us upfront she survives the story and is free to recount it.
Overall, it was fun to read and I’d try another in the series. And that is the sign of a cosy that has done its job overall.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The writing more descriptive than I usually see in cosies, which impacts the flow, and the tone felt too analytical and stoic for what seems to be aiming at a light-hearted, quirky cosy mystery. It needed to be snappier and sharper to make the most of its premise. But I liked the consistency in the protagonist's voice, a bit cynical and sarcastic, but much of the humour would have landed better with a sharper tone in the narrative voice.
That being said, it is consistent and the character paints a scene well and her observations about other characters gave depth to the story. Another plus. The characters are consistent and well-drawn. I particularly enjoyed the dog-walking angle, which felt natural as a way for the protagonist to meet new people and become part of their lives, even covertly. The mystery had plenty enough intrigue to work, especially for the first book in a series.
One narrative choice did feel odd, which is the protagonist occasionally breaks the fourth wall by addressing the reader directly, or even inserting comments aimed at her husband. This undermines suspense because it tells us upfront she survives the story and is free to recount it.
Overall, it was fun to read and I’d try another in the series. And that is the sign of a cosy that has done its job overall.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 14, 2025
I thought this was a sweet mystery story. It wasn't without some issues, but overall, the ending was satisfying, and I liked many of the characters, especially Reginald the Basset Hound—such a sweet furbaby.
The thing that I found that really reduced my rating was the slow and overexplained parts of the book. And there were a lot of them. An example, at one point in the story, she goes over to a friend's house to hang out. When I say it took probably three pages of description of why she goes there, how the house is, her friend's life, and so on. It was the unnecessary details that didn't immediately impact the current plot. So when that sort of thing happened, it was a huge stop sign that slowed the pacing.
Now, as a direct example of when it worked was the point at the end where she was discussing how she figured out who the killer was. That went on for a lot of pages, but it was clearly a great part of the story and worked.
Essentially, I think the pacing was off, but even so, I enjoyed the premise of the story, and even though I had a pretty good idea of who the killer was, there were a lot of red herrings dropped to take you in a lot of different directions.
The thing that I found that really reduced my rating was the slow and overexplained parts of the book. And there were a lot of them. An example, at one point in the story, she goes over to a friend's house to hang out. When I say it took probably three pages of description of why she goes there, how the house is, her friend's life, and so on. It was the unnecessary details that didn't immediately impact the current plot. So when that sort of thing happened, it was a huge stop sign that slowed the pacing.
Now, as a direct example of when it worked was the point at the end where she was discussing how she figured out who the killer was. That went on for a lot of pages, but it was clearly a great part of the story and worked.
Essentially, I think the pacing was off, but even so, I enjoyed the premise of the story, and even though I had a pretty good idea of who the killer was, there were a lot of red herrings dropped to take you in a lot of different directions.
October 12, 2025
How to Talk to your Dog about Murder has a cozy mystery vibe when Nikki tries to solve mystery of the death of her employer, Mrs Van Meer. Her employer of less than a week. Nikki is a pet behaviourist (and dog walker and calligrapher and pet toy creator) who has been called because Reginald, the dog, has been behaving oddly since the death his owner, Mr. Van Meer. An interesting cast of characters with her granddaughters, Ali and Teri, Ali’s partner Will, lawyer Brett, handyman Kevin and personal assistant Bonnie. The author has injected doses of humour but I find it inconsistent. Overall, a good story which held my interest.
November 13, 2025
This one hooked me in the beginning with the idea of a pet behaviorist working for a family who had no interest in the cutest senior dog ever and I enjoyed following along as she figured out who belonged where. But then it dragged a little once the murder happened and I didn’t understand her reasoning for a few things or her obsession with her new neighbor’s shirking of the rules. The story picked up again for the ending and if it becomes a series, I will read the next one, but I will agree with another reviewer who said there needed to be more dog.
I received a copy from #NetGalley and #crookedlanebooks for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley and #crookedlanebooks for an honest review.
August 30, 2025
As someone who grew up in the St. Louis area, I loved this book! I enjoyed the central murder mystery- lots of good suspects, twists and turns, all of that. And I also really enjoyed the main character. Her long list of jobs/gigs, her neighborhood, her many different pen choices, and her love for Reginald and her other dog-walking charges made her feel very real and relatable to me. I would have enjoyed this book with any setting, but all the little St. Louis touches brought me a lot of joy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the eARC!
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the eARC!
September 21, 2025
Nikki Jackson-Ramanathan is a pet behaviorist who is trying to start a new business. But she is a dog walker for a few clients. An elderly lady, Mrs. Van Meer called her for an appointment. It seems her elderly hound dog is grieving the loss of her husband. The family to include her granddaughters, housekeeper who also manages the household and others cannot manage the old dogs needs. I truly love his name too, Reginald. Which Nikki later starts calling him Reggie. A perfect name for a hound dog. As time goes on he seems to love Nikki, as he loves seeing her arrive each morning for his walks.
As Nikki goes each day she learns more about the people of the household. There seems to be some goings on that seem strange to her. One granddaughter is very unkind to her.. With words and did physically attack her. There are parties that take place on the weekends and was invited to one while her husband was away. But it seems something happened to Mrs. Van Meer that night. The next morning it was strange that she did not rise early as usual. Upon checking on her, it was found she was dead. The household did not think anything of her passing. Thought she had so much grief for her husband that she passed away. Come to find out that was not the case, someone in the household murdered her.
Nikki finding out later that Sunday afternoon from the lawyer that she was left to care for Reginald. It was a tidy sum of $300,000 to care for all of his needs. Food, vet care and her fees as his dog walker and pet behaviorist. To Nikki it seemed no one else in the household seemed to care about him. When other family members found out about this, they assumed she was the murder. But she takes it upon herself to do an investigation of her own, because she did not kill Mrs. Van Meer. So many things pop up that make her suspicious of certain people in the house. She was living on pins and needles worrying that the police were going to accuse her. The police detective gave her a card to call with any information she might remember. You see, each individual who had access to the house was interviewed by the detective.
When Nikki has it all figured out she called the detective and was allowed to talk at a meeting of the household to tell of her findings. And the police detective let her speak without any interruptions. It seems the most unlikely person has committed the crime.
One of the reason I wanted to read the book was because of the dog on the cover. You see, I grew up with a basset hound and a couple later in my young years away from home. I want to thank Emily Soderberg for her creative penning of this novel. Also a thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read prior to publishing.
As Nikki goes each day she learns more about the people of the household. There seems to be some goings on that seem strange to her. One granddaughter is very unkind to her.. With words and did physically attack her. There are parties that take place on the weekends and was invited to one while her husband was away. But it seems something happened to Mrs. Van Meer that night. The next morning it was strange that she did not rise early as usual. Upon checking on her, it was found she was dead. The household did not think anything of her passing. Thought she had so much grief for her husband that she passed away. Come to find out that was not the case, someone in the household murdered her.
Nikki finding out later that Sunday afternoon from the lawyer that she was left to care for Reginald. It was a tidy sum of $300,000 to care for all of his needs. Food, vet care and her fees as his dog walker and pet behaviorist. To Nikki it seemed no one else in the household seemed to care about him. When other family members found out about this, they assumed she was the murder. But she takes it upon herself to do an investigation of her own, because she did not kill Mrs. Van Meer. So many things pop up that make her suspicious of certain people in the house. She was living on pins and needles worrying that the police were going to accuse her. The police detective gave her a card to call with any information she might remember. You see, each individual who had access to the house was interviewed by the detective.
When Nikki has it all figured out she called the detective and was allowed to talk at a meeting of the household to tell of her findings. And the police detective let her speak without any interruptions. It seems the most unlikely person has committed the crime.
One of the reason I wanted to read the book was because of the dog on the cover. You see, I grew up with a basset hound and a couple later in my young years away from home. I want to thank Emily Soderberg for her creative penning of this novel. Also a thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read prior to publishing.
July 23, 2025
This book follows Nikki and her entanglement with the Van Meer family as she tries to solve a murder. I would say this book is an easygoing mystery filled with lots of humor and fun. It was a little slow to start, but it picks up with a fast and intriguing ending. I would say my favorite part of this book was Nikki. I think she was a fantastic character that was unique and new. I loved hearing her thoughts and ideas about the murder. I thought Nikki's character gave a realistic look at a civilian investigating a murder; however, I think there are some unrealistic parts—mostly the parts with the police—that I wasn’t really able to look past. Overall I would rate this book 3 stars. This is based on the character, plot, and pacing.
Thank you, NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Emily Soderberg, for this review copy.
Thank you, NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Emily Soderberg, for this review copy.
December 9, 2025
not enough dog
October 10, 2025
If you want me to read your book, putting a basset hound on the cover is emotional blackmail. It worked. I folded faster than a lawn chair. How to Talk to Your Dog About Murder had me pre-ordering emotional support snacks and preparing for some highly suspicious tail wags. Unfortunately, what I got was a cozy mystery with excellent vibes and pacing that felt like it was written in dog years.
Nikki Jackson-Ramanathan is our main girl, and she is tired. Not just emotionally, but professionally, spiritually, probably also financially. She’s a pet behaviorist (which is apparently a career path that triggers rich people and confuses the police), a calligrapher, a dog-walker, and a certified magnet for murder-related chaos. She gets hired by the ultra-wealthy, ultra-dead Mrs. Van Meer to help Reginald the basset hound recover from the loss of Mr. Van Meer. What should’ve been a sad-dog-makes-slow-progress story becomes Knives Out: Emotional Support Animal Edition when Mrs. Van Meer ends up face-down in a bed and Nikki inherits way too much money to not immediately be a suspect.
And I wanted to LOVE this. The setup is killer (pun intended). We’ve got the classic rich family in meltdown mode. Granddaughters with trust fund attitudes. A sketchy landscaper. A housekeeper with mean-aunt energy. And through it all, Nikki’s just trying to walk a dog and avoid catching a felony on the way.
But here’s where things go a little sideways. The story moves very slowly at the beginning. Like, I kept checking the page count thinking surely the murder would happen soon, right? RIGHT?? It doesn’t. The first half is vibes and dog walks and Nikki internally monologuing like she’s narrating her own indie podcast. And look, I love a meandering narrator... but when the book is called How to Talk to Your Dog About Murder, I expect either talking dogs or murder. Ideally both. Preferably by chapter three.
And can we talk about the tone? Nikki’s voice is sarcastic and kind of charming, but the narration itself leans stoic. Like, this could’ve been so much snappier and chaotic and fun, but the pacing and wordiness kept dragging me out of it. There’s a lot of telling, a lot of over-explaining, and by the time we get to the actual sleuthing, I was halfway convinced Reginald might be the killer just out of sheer boredom.
That said, the ending kind of slaps?? When Nikki pulls a full Poirot and gathers the family to reveal whodunit, I was finally locked in. It’s a clever solution. The red herrings actually red-herring’d me. I didn’t guess the murderer, and I love being wrong in a mystery. I just wish it didn’t take me so many pages of internal exposition to get there.
Reginald the basset hound, though? A perfect gentleman. Deserves his own novella. 17 years old, still grieving, still putting up with rich people drama and emotionally unstable dog walkers. Give that man a pup cup and a spa day.
Three stars. I wanted more bark, less ramble. But if this turns into a series (and it feels like it wants to), I’d probably still read book two. Mostly for the dog.
Whodunity Award: For Making Me Suspect the Dog for a Full Chapter Before the Autopsy Came Back
Huge thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC, even though now every time I look at my own basset hounds I’m side-eyeing them like, “Are you gonna inherit three hundred grand and frame me for murder, or are we safe?”
Nikki Jackson-Ramanathan is our main girl, and she is tired. Not just emotionally, but professionally, spiritually, probably also financially. She’s a pet behaviorist (which is apparently a career path that triggers rich people and confuses the police), a calligrapher, a dog-walker, and a certified magnet for murder-related chaos. She gets hired by the ultra-wealthy, ultra-dead Mrs. Van Meer to help Reginald the basset hound recover from the loss of Mr. Van Meer. What should’ve been a sad-dog-makes-slow-progress story becomes Knives Out: Emotional Support Animal Edition when Mrs. Van Meer ends up face-down in a bed and Nikki inherits way too much money to not immediately be a suspect.
And I wanted to LOVE this. The setup is killer (pun intended). We’ve got the classic rich family in meltdown mode. Granddaughters with trust fund attitudes. A sketchy landscaper. A housekeeper with mean-aunt energy. And through it all, Nikki’s just trying to walk a dog and avoid catching a felony on the way.
But here’s where things go a little sideways. The story moves very slowly at the beginning. Like, I kept checking the page count thinking surely the murder would happen soon, right? RIGHT?? It doesn’t. The first half is vibes and dog walks and Nikki internally monologuing like she’s narrating her own indie podcast. And look, I love a meandering narrator... but when the book is called How to Talk to Your Dog About Murder, I expect either talking dogs or murder. Ideally both. Preferably by chapter three.
And can we talk about the tone? Nikki’s voice is sarcastic and kind of charming, but the narration itself leans stoic. Like, this could’ve been so much snappier and chaotic and fun, but the pacing and wordiness kept dragging me out of it. There’s a lot of telling, a lot of over-explaining, and by the time we get to the actual sleuthing, I was halfway convinced Reginald might be the killer just out of sheer boredom.
That said, the ending kind of slaps?? When Nikki pulls a full Poirot and gathers the family to reveal whodunit, I was finally locked in. It’s a clever solution. The red herrings actually red-herring’d me. I didn’t guess the murderer, and I love being wrong in a mystery. I just wish it didn’t take me so many pages of internal exposition to get there.
Reginald the basset hound, though? A perfect gentleman. Deserves his own novella. 17 years old, still grieving, still putting up with rich people drama and emotionally unstable dog walkers. Give that man a pup cup and a spa day.
Three stars. I wanted more bark, less ramble. But if this turns into a series (and it feels like it wants to), I’d probably still read book two. Mostly for the dog.
Whodunity Award: For Making Me Suspect the Dog for a Full Chapter Before the Autopsy Came Back
Huge thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC, even though now every time I look at my own basset hounds I’m side-eyeing them like, “Are you gonna inherit three hundred grand and frame me for murder, or are we safe?”
August 19, 2025
Nikki Jackson-Ramanathan is struggling to get her pet behaviourist business off the ground, barely making ends meet as a dog walker, until an appointment in a wealthy Saint Louis suburb offers a chance to change everything.
Mrs. Van Meer wants Nikki to help the family’s old dog, who is grieving the loss of his owner. She agrees, meets with the family, and ends up becoming their personal dog walker.
As lovely as this seems, it wouldn’t be a cozy mystery if someone didn’t turn up dead.
After a party, Mrs. Van Meer is discovered dead in her bedroom.
With a multitude of suspects like the sketchy landscaper, the judgmental housekeeper, and the rest of Mrs. Van Meer’s money-obsessed family members, Nikki’s happy to sit back and let the police solve the crime. Unfortunately for her, she ends up on the suspect list after learning that Mrs. Van Meer’s will leaves Nikki in charge of a sizable amount of money to be used on the dog for the remainder of his life.
Life would be a lot easier if she just had to deal with the animals, but Nikki resolves to catch the real culprit and clear her name.
What’s better than a cozy mystery involving dogs? A cozy mystery with a relatable main character who shares your name—that’s why I wanted to read How to Talk to Your Dog About Murder. After diving deep into multiple fantasies and thrillers, this was the perfect palate cleanser.
How to Talk to Your Dog about Murder is a light-hearted, low-stakes crime story with a touch of mystery and suspense, and little to no anxiety-inducing trauma. It’s the perfect palate cleanser, especially if you want to stay within the crime genre. Despite having a lot in common with the main character, Nikki, I didn’t necessarily connect with her in the way I like to connect with characters. Still, she is likable, and even she has a comforting aura to her, but she didn’t stand out as a character whom I will remember forever. There were several instances where she gave me a strong sense of frustration with her decisions, and I, unfortunately, think that played a part in the lack of connection. It made sense for the story, but her naivety frustrated me.. She did stand out from the other characters in this story, as they were pretty unpleasant people.
As a reader, I had a great time trying to solve the crime alongside Nikki. I was never sure how everything would play out, and I didn't predict the ending, although I’m not particularly good at predicting anything. So, I feel as though there were enough hints that someone could probably piece it all together, but not me. I recommend this read if you are looking for a cozy mystery.
Mrs. Van Meer wants Nikki to help the family’s old dog, who is grieving the loss of his owner. She agrees, meets with the family, and ends up becoming their personal dog walker.
As lovely as this seems, it wouldn’t be a cozy mystery if someone didn’t turn up dead.
After a party, Mrs. Van Meer is discovered dead in her bedroom.
With a multitude of suspects like the sketchy landscaper, the judgmental housekeeper, and the rest of Mrs. Van Meer’s money-obsessed family members, Nikki’s happy to sit back and let the police solve the crime. Unfortunately for her, she ends up on the suspect list after learning that Mrs. Van Meer’s will leaves Nikki in charge of a sizable amount of money to be used on the dog for the remainder of his life.
Life would be a lot easier if she just had to deal with the animals, but Nikki resolves to catch the real culprit and clear her name.
What’s better than a cozy mystery involving dogs? A cozy mystery with a relatable main character who shares your name—that’s why I wanted to read How to Talk to Your Dog About Murder. After diving deep into multiple fantasies and thrillers, this was the perfect palate cleanser.
How to Talk to Your Dog about Murder is a light-hearted, low-stakes crime story with a touch of mystery and suspense, and little to no anxiety-inducing trauma. It’s the perfect palate cleanser, especially if you want to stay within the crime genre. Despite having a lot in common with the main character, Nikki, I didn’t necessarily connect with her in the way I like to connect with characters. Still, she is likable, and even she has a comforting aura to her, but she didn’t stand out as a character whom I will remember forever. There were several instances where she gave me a strong sense of frustration with her decisions, and I, unfortunately, think that played a part in the lack of connection. It made sense for the story, but her naivety frustrated me.. She did stand out from the other characters in this story, as they were pretty unpleasant people.
As a reader, I had a great time trying to solve the crime alongside Nikki. I was never sure how everything would play out, and I didn't predict the ending, although I’m not particularly good at predicting anything. So, I feel as though there were enough hints that someone could probably piece it all together, but not me. I recommend this read if you are looking for a cozy mystery.
December 18, 2025
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I wanted so badly to love this book. It reminded me of Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone which is a humorous cozy mystery, and for the first half of the book it was shaping up to be just that. If you are a mystery reader who likes to be along for the ride and soak up the vibes, then this might be the book for you!
I liked our main character, Nikki, and the Van Meer family. I thought they were well-written and unique, especially Nikki because of her job as a "dog whisperer". I also watch dogs for various families and the funny experiences I've had, even the blind dog that I watch, was a piece of her dogwalking experiences. I also enjoyed the various asides written in for Nikki, such as her thought process while working through the possible suspects. I did want Nikki to stick up for herself a bit more than she did! In particular, Reginald (the dog) and the Van Meers lived outside of the city and it seemed like a far drive for Nikki to be making every day. Knowing how much a drive to can make or break a dogwalking gig, I wish she'd been more firm in not walking Reginald.
Funny enough, Nikki was also coming to the conclusion that any one of the family members could have walked Reginald every day, but that seemed to magically get resolved when the murder suspect was revealed at the end. Other than that minor issue, my biggest issue with the novel was was that the POV was confusing. Nikki was the main character but the POV would occasionally shift to what seemed like other people's thoughts. It makes me think that the book was written with a different POV to begin with and then switched to Nikki's POV later on. Additionally, because we are contending with a family of characters, plus our main character Nikki, the cast is already quite large. When side characters would come up I frequently found myself asking, "who is that?" Including Nikki's friends and her partner made sense to give context to her life, but including the downstairs neighbor seemed irrelevant to the storyline. I see the potential for the neighbor to be more relevant if this is to be turned into a multi-book series following Nikki as the main character.
Overall, I enjoyed my time reading the book, but the confusion caused by the POV and the extra characters resulted in my rating of 2.5 stars.
I wanted so badly to love this book. It reminded me of Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone which is a humorous cozy mystery, and for the first half of the book it was shaping up to be just that. If you are a mystery reader who likes to be along for the ride and soak up the vibes, then this might be the book for you!
I liked our main character, Nikki, and the Van Meer family. I thought they were well-written and unique, especially Nikki because of her job as a "dog whisperer". I also watch dogs for various families and the funny experiences I've had, even the blind dog that I watch, was a piece of her dogwalking experiences. I also enjoyed the various asides written in for Nikki, such as her thought process while working through the possible suspects. I did want Nikki to stick up for herself a bit more than she did! In particular, Reginald (the dog) and the Van Meers lived outside of the city and it seemed like a far drive for Nikki to be making every day. Knowing how much a drive to can make or break a dogwalking gig, I wish she'd been more firm in not walking Reginald.
Funny enough, Nikki was also coming to the conclusion that any one of the family members could have walked Reginald every day, but that seemed to magically get resolved when the murder suspect was revealed at the end. Other than that minor issue, my biggest issue with the novel was was that the POV was confusing. Nikki was the main character but the POV would occasionally shift to what seemed like other people's thoughts. It makes me think that the book was written with a different POV to begin with and then switched to Nikki's POV later on. Additionally, because we are contending with a family of characters, plus our main character Nikki, the cast is already quite large. When side characters would come up I frequently found myself asking, "who is that?" Including Nikki's friends and her partner made sense to give context to her life, but including the downstairs neighbor seemed irrelevant to the storyline. I see the potential for the neighbor to be more relevant if this is to be turned into a multi-book series following Nikki as the main character.
Overall, I enjoyed my time reading the book, but the confusion caused by the POV and the extra characters resulted in my rating of 2.5 stars.
August 11, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy.
How to Talk to Your Dog About Murder sounded fantastic. The title alone had my ears perking up and my head tilting like a basset hound. Unfortunately, the book itself fell a bit short.
Nikki is a part-time dogwalker, calligraphy artist, seamstress of cat toys, dog whisperer extraordinaire. She's got so many irons in the fire, it was a bit difficult to keep up. When she is called out to assess an elderly hound named Reginald, Nikki winds up as a suspect when Reginald's owner mysteriously dies. However, Nikki herself isn't allowed to have a dog... so there's really no talking to her dog about murder. Unless you go by the author's conversational, breaking-the-fourth-wall tone of the novel. Then maybe you're supposed to talk to your own dog? Idk... All I know is that the style didn't work for me. I found Ruby and Sasha more likeable than our FMC and was just ready to get to the end. Because I didn't like our FMC, I felt like at times, given that the character kept breaking the fourth wall, that I was being talked down to... so was I the dog? I mean, she was talking murder to me... Anyway...
There were a few sections of the book that didn't seem to make sense. Nikki would be discussing something at a coffee shop with Teri at one point and then suddenly, she's contemplating a clue while looking out the back window over her sink, with no apparent segue. So it got a bit confusing and pulled me out of the story when I had to read over something several times before shrugging and moving on.
The most enjoyable part of the book came from the ending, when we finally get Nikki's theory, with everyone standing around, including, implausibly, the police as she points her finger at the murderer. So that was nice... but otherwise, I was bored to tears. There really was no active sleuthing happening, so following Nikki going about her normal day and ruminating on the murder got old quick.
Overall, this book has a great title that makes it easy to pick it up. Unfortunately, the writing will make it just as easy to put back down.
How to Talk to Your Dog About Murder sounded fantastic. The title alone had my ears perking up and my head tilting like a basset hound. Unfortunately, the book itself fell a bit short.
Nikki is a part-time dogwalker, calligraphy artist, seamstress of cat toys, dog whisperer extraordinaire. She's got so many irons in the fire, it was a bit difficult to keep up. When she is called out to assess an elderly hound named Reginald, Nikki winds up as a suspect when Reginald's owner mysteriously dies. However, Nikki herself isn't allowed to have a dog... so there's really no talking to her dog about murder. Unless you go by the author's conversational, breaking-the-fourth-wall tone of the novel. Then maybe you're supposed to talk to your own dog? Idk... All I know is that the style didn't work for me. I found Ruby and Sasha more likeable than our FMC and was just ready to get to the end. Because I didn't like our FMC, I felt like at times, given that the character kept breaking the fourth wall, that I was being talked down to... so was I the dog? I mean, she was talking murder to me... Anyway...
There were a few sections of the book that didn't seem to make sense. Nikki would be discussing something at a coffee shop with Teri at one point and then suddenly, she's contemplating a clue while looking out the back window over her sink, with no apparent segue. So it got a bit confusing and pulled me out of the story when I had to read over something several times before shrugging and moving on.
The most enjoyable part of the book came from the ending, when we finally get Nikki's theory, with everyone standing around, including, implausibly, the police as she points her finger at the murderer. So that was nice... but otherwise, I was bored to tears. There really was no active sleuthing happening, so following Nikki going about her normal day and ruminating on the murder got old quick.
Overall, this book has a great title that makes it easy to pick it up. Unfortunately, the writing will make it just as easy to put back down.
October 20, 2025
I was provided an e-ARC of this book through NetGalley. Thank you to the author and publisher for a chance to read it early.
Right off the bat, the summary of this book gives Knives Out vibes, but more chill. Plus, there's a dog — who doesn't like that? Unfortunately, the summary's the most exciting part of the book, and there's not that much about the dog, either.
This is a cozy mystery — my very first, in fact — so I have to say I'm confused by the concept. Someone died, so that should up the stakes. How can it ever be comfy and cozy?
And it's not. The stakes are low, for sure. I'm never convinced there's any danger for anyone, much less the main character, Nikki. There's no fear of her being accused as the murderer although she's convinced that she's being framed as the killer. The deceased's family, this rich family that supposedly have these intricate interpersonal relationships Nikki is stepping in, totally unaware, isn't antagonistic. The one person being totally against Nikki sounds more stressed and out of her depth than malicious.
On the subject of Nikki, her whole reason for being involved in the investigation seems to be her anxiety and overthinking. Which, actually, very fair considering the circumstances. But that's just her all the time and it gets her into the mess more. She's immediately warned not to be too invested because she might be labelled the killer, but she does it anyway. To avoid being seen as the killer. And then she worries about that more. The most ridiculous thing is that she assumes the police know nothing and that she, with her zero knowledge and experience, can logic her way into finding the true murderer. And you know what? She does. It's baffling.
So much that happens in the book is pointless, focusing on Nikki's daily life, turning it into a slog of a read. It's too long but it's somehow only 320 pages. This book invoked no feelings in me but boredom and annoyance, even the dog didn't save it. Someone please rec me a better cozy mystery because it must have some merit.
Right off the bat, the summary of this book gives Knives Out vibes, but more chill. Plus, there's a dog — who doesn't like that? Unfortunately, the summary's the most exciting part of the book, and there's not that much about the dog, either.
This is a cozy mystery — my very first, in fact — so I have to say I'm confused by the concept. Someone died, so that should up the stakes. How can it ever be comfy and cozy?
And it's not. The stakes are low, for sure. I'm never convinced there's any danger for anyone, much less the main character, Nikki. There's no fear of her being accused as the murderer although she's convinced that she's being framed as the killer. The deceased's family, this rich family that supposedly have these intricate interpersonal relationships Nikki is stepping in, totally unaware, isn't antagonistic. The one person being totally against Nikki sounds more stressed and out of her depth than malicious.
On the subject of Nikki, her whole reason for being involved in the investigation seems to be her anxiety and overthinking. Which, actually, very fair considering the circumstances. But that's just her all the time and it gets her into the mess more. She's immediately warned not to be too invested because she might be labelled the killer, but she does it anyway. To avoid being seen as the killer. And then she worries about that more. The most ridiculous thing is that she assumes the police know nothing and that she, with her zero knowledge and experience, can logic her way into finding the true murderer. And you know what? She does. It's baffling.
So much that happens in the book is pointless, focusing on Nikki's daily life, turning it into a slog of a read. It's too long but it's somehow only 320 pages. This book invoked no feelings in me but boredom and annoyance, even the dog didn't save it. Someone please rec me a better cozy mystery because it must have some merit.
August 13, 2025
⟡𓂃 ⟡ 𓂃 ⟡🔪 First and foremost, I want to thank NetGalley and the author for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review 🔪⟡𓂃 ⟡ 𓂃 ⟡
⭐️⭐️⭐️ – 3 stars
Single POV
Genre – Cozy Mystery
⤷ Themes include mystery, small-town life, animals, and amateur sleuthing
⟡🐾 My Thoughts 🐾⟡
This was such an adorable, fast read! I really enjoyed it and found it to be the perfect palate cleanser after heavier, more intense books. Nikki is fun and relatable, and the mix of dogs, quirky townsfolk, and murder mystery kept things light and entertaining. It wasn’t a groundbreaking mystery, but it was easy to follow and charming enough to keep me turning the pages.
⟡🔍 The Plot 🔍⟡
The story is straightforward and cozy, with just enough twists to keep it interesting. I liked the way Nikki got tangled up in the murder investigation—her pet behaviorist skills came in handy in unexpected ways. While the mystery wasn’t super complex, it had enough suspects and red herrings to make it enjoyable. It’s the kind of story that feels satisfying without demanding too much mental energy.
⟡🐶 The Characters 🐶⟡
⤷ Nikki: A relatable protagonist who’s smart, witty, and easy to root for. She navigates the chaos of murder, townsfolk, and mischievous dogs with a charm that makes the story fun.
⤷ Oliver, the side characters, and the dogs all added humor and warmth to the story. Their interactions felt natural and added plenty of lighthearted moments, keeping the story breezy.
⟡🕯 The Vibe 🕯⟡
Cozy, cute, and comforting. This book is perfect if you want something that’s engaging but not stressful. There’s a hint of tension with the murder, but the overall tone stays light, and the animals provide plenty of heart and humor.
⟡🐾 Conclusion 🐾⟡
If you’re looking for a quick, cheerful read with a dash of mystery, this is a solid pick. It’s not a complicated whodunit, but it’s charming, easy to read, and absolutely delightful for animal lovers. A perfect little palate cleanser!
⭐️⭐️⭐️ – 3 stars
Single POV
Genre – Cozy Mystery
⤷ Themes include mystery, small-town life, animals, and amateur sleuthing
⟡🐾 My Thoughts 🐾⟡
This was such an adorable, fast read! I really enjoyed it and found it to be the perfect palate cleanser after heavier, more intense books. Nikki is fun and relatable, and the mix of dogs, quirky townsfolk, and murder mystery kept things light and entertaining. It wasn’t a groundbreaking mystery, but it was easy to follow and charming enough to keep me turning the pages.
⟡🔍 The Plot 🔍⟡
The story is straightforward and cozy, with just enough twists to keep it interesting. I liked the way Nikki got tangled up in the murder investigation—her pet behaviorist skills came in handy in unexpected ways. While the mystery wasn’t super complex, it had enough suspects and red herrings to make it enjoyable. It’s the kind of story that feels satisfying without demanding too much mental energy.
⟡🐶 The Characters 🐶⟡
⤷ Nikki: A relatable protagonist who’s smart, witty, and easy to root for. She navigates the chaos of murder, townsfolk, and mischievous dogs with a charm that makes the story fun.
⤷ Oliver, the side characters, and the dogs all added humor and warmth to the story. Their interactions felt natural and added plenty of lighthearted moments, keeping the story breezy.
⟡🕯 The Vibe 🕯⟡
Cozy, cute, and comforting. This book is perfect if you want something that’s engaging but not stressful. There’s a hint of tension with the murder, but the overall tone stays light, and the animals provide plenty of heart and humor.
⟡🐾 Conclusion 🐾⟡
If you’re looking for a quick, cheerful read with a dash of mystery, this is a solid pick. It’s not a complicated whodunit, but it’s charming, easy to read, and absolutely delightful for animal lovers. A perfect little palate cleanser!
September 14, 2025
Nikki is a bit of a jack-of-all trades with several side hustles. She’s got a calligraphy business, a pet toy business, a dog walking business, and a pet behaviorist business. It’s in the later role that she finds herself at the mansion of Mrs. Van Meer.
Mrs. Van Meer’s husband died recently - suddenly, as in he was diagnosed, hospitalized, and passed away over a week or so, leaving his dog Reginald grieving. Nikki diagnoses Reginald as needing to be back to his routine. Since Mr. Van Meer gave Reginald a daily walk, Mrs. Van Meer promptly hires Nikki to walk him on a daily basis at her behaviorist rate, not her lower dog walking rate. Despite Nikki’s reluctance and her family’s suspicion of Nikki, she agrees. Really, it seems, she doesn’t have much of a choice. Unfortunately, within a week, Mrs. Van Meer dies, leaving Nikki a $300,000 trust for taking care of Reginald. Nikki’s overwhelmed; that would pay off her husband’s student loans and be a nice down payment on that house they were looking at. Things really begin to heat up a few days later when the autopsy shows Mrs. Van Meer died of carbon monoxide poisoning. Was it suicide? If so, who helped her stage it? Or was it murder?
I throughly enjoyed this book. It started off a little slow for me, taking me a couple of chapters to get into it. I liked the characters, especially the dogs. I adored the denouement; rather than figuring it only as the killer is closing in (as it all too frequently happens in cozy mysteries), Nikki figures it out, staging a Poirot-like reveal. (There’s a terrific beat: “ ‘So who did it, then?’ ‘Oh! Sorry! … Once you eliminate [person A] and [person B], it’s pretty obvious.’ [Nikki] shrugged. ‘It was [person C].’ The room erupted…”)
Highly recommended I look forward to future books in the series. I received a copy of this from NetGalley.com that I voluntarily chose to review.
Mrs. Van Meer’s husband died recently - suddenly, as in he was diagnosed, hospitalized, and passed away over a week or so, leaving his dog Reginald grieving. Nikki diagnoses Reginald as needing to be back to his routine. Since Mr. Van Meer gave Reginald a daily walk, Mrs. Van Meer promptly hires Nikki to walk him on a daily basis at her behaviorist rate, not her lower dog walking rate. Despite Nikki’s reluctance and her family’s suspicion of Nikki, she agrees. Really, it seems, she doesn’t have much of a choice. Unfortunately, within a week, Mrs. Van Meer dies, leaving Nikki a $300,000 trust for taking care of Reginald. Nikki’s overwhelmed; that would pay off her husband’s student loans and be a nice down payment on that house they were looking at. Things really begin to heat up a few days later when the autopsy shows Mrs. Van Meer died of carbon monoxide poisoning. Was it suicide? If so, who helped her stage it? Or was it murder?
I throughly enjoyed this book. It started off a little slow for me, taking me a couple of chapters to get into it. I liked the characters, especially the dogs. I adored the denouement; rather than figuring it only as the killer is closing in (as it all too frequently happens in cozy mysteries), Nikki figures it out, staging a Poirot-like reveal. (There’s a terrific beat: “ ‘So who did it, then?’ ‘Oh! Sorry! … Once you eliminate [person A] and [person B], it’s pretty obvious.’ [Nikki] shrugged. ‘It was [person C].’ The room erupted…”)
Highly recommended I look forward to future books in the series. I received a copy of this from NetGalley.com that I voluntarily chose to review.
October 9, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — A quirky, cozy mystery with dogs, intrigue, and a clever protagonist
Talking to a Dog About Murder introduces Nikki, a pet behaviorist hired to help Reginald, the late Mr. Van Meer’s dog, who may be mourning his owner’s unexpected death. What starts as a routine consultation quickly turns intriguing when Mrs. Van Meer herself is found dead under seemingly natural circumstances. When Nikki discovers she has been added to the will shortly before Mrs. Van Meer’s death, all eyes turn to her. Determined to prove her innocence, Nikki sets out to uncover the real culprit.
The story is a bit slow to start but picks up nicely as the mystery unfolds. I didn’t guess the murderer until the reveal, which made the ending very satisfying. The dog-walking angle was charming and served as a natural way for Nikki to connect with new characters and the community, adding depth to the cozy setting.
While the title is more cutesy than literal—the story isn’t literally about talking to a dog about murder—it delivers the lighter, quirky vibe expected from a cozy mystery. The writing is more descriptive than usual for cosies, which occasionally slowed the pace, and the tone leaned a bit stoic where snappier humor might have landed better. Nikki’s cynical, sarcastic voice is consistent and fun, and her observations of others added richness to the story.
One narrative choice felt a little off: Nikki occasionally breaks the fourth wall, addressing the reader or her late husband directly, which slightly reduces suspense by signaling she survives the story. Even so, the mystery is engaging, the characters are well-drawn, and the story sets up the series nicely.
Overall, Talking to a Dog About Murder was a fun, cozy read with enough intrigue to make me want to try the next book in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Emily Soderburg for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Talking to a Dog About Murder introduces Nikki, a pet behaviorist hired to help Reginald, the late Mr. Van Meer’s dog, who may be mourning his owner’s unexpected death. What starts as a routine consultation quickly turns intriguing when Mrs. Van Meer herself is found dead under seemingly natural circumstances. When Nikki discovers she has been added to the will shortly before Mrs. Van Meer’s death, all eyes turn to her. Determined to prove her innocence, Nikki sets out to uncover the real culprit.
The story is a bit slow to start but picks up nicely as the mystery unfolds. I didn’t guess the murderer until the reveal, which made the ending very satisfying. The dog-walking angle was charming and served as a natural way for Nikki to connect with new characters and the community, adding depth to the cozy setting.
While the title is more cutesy than literal—the story isn’t literally about talking to a dog about murder—it delivers the lighter, quirky vibe expected from a cozy mystery. The writing is more descriptive than usual for cosies, which occasionally slowed the pace, and the tone leaned a bit stoic where snappier humor might have landed better. Nikki’s cynical, sarcastic voice is consistent and fun, and her observations of others added richness to the story.
One narrative choice felt a little off: Nikki occasionally breaks the fourth wall, addressing the reader or her late husband directly, which slightly reduces suspense by signaling she survives the story. Even so, the mystery is engaging, the characters are well-drawn, and the story sets up the series nicely.
Overall, Talking to a Dog About Murder was a fun, cozy read with enough intrigue to make me want to try the next book in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Emily Soderburg for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 8, 2025
How to Talk to Your Dog About Murder
Emily Soderberg
October 21, 2025
Our protagonist in this unusual mystery is dog walker and therapist, Nikki Jackson-Ramanathan. She is working on her business although many people feel that dogs cannot be helped with behavior therapy, therefore she has other part time jobs that she specializes in. This novel gives us the story of one of Nikki’s first professional calls. Mrs. VanMeer has called to ask for help with her husband’s dog, Reginald. When she arrived at the extravagant home she was given introductions to members of the family. At this point, after family discussion, she was shown to Mr. VanMeer’s study. Upon entrance, she meets Reginald. He is an aging hound dog. Laying by the desk he looks lonesome and sad. Nikki sits next to him and questions the elder VanMeer about what her husband and the dog did on a daily basis. Reginald did not understand where he had gone. Each day they walked, spoke to each other, had meals together and suddenly no more. Reginald was lost without his master.
How to Talk to Your Dog About Murder will be published by Crooked Lane Books on October 21, 2025. I was able to read Soderberg’s latest novel via NetGalley. As I read this odd journey into Nikki’s life it told of her and her family living in the low to middle income sector of the St. Louis. Reginald and the VanMeer clan lived in the higher status area. Nikki and the dog would walk the neighborhood daily viewing a great many of the same people and dogs that he saw when he was with Mr. VanMeer. She found herself being invited to family parties. Not knowing how to decline, she became more and more involved in the VanMeer household. This book was full of humor and a strange suspense when another death occurs in the house. It’s unusual but fun to read.
Emily Soderberg
October 21, 2025
Our protagonist in this unusual mystery is dog walker and therapist, Nikki Jackson-Ramanathan. She is working on her business although many people feel that dogs cannot be helped with behavior therapy, therefore she has other part time jobs that she specializes in. This novel gives us the story of one of Nikki’s first professional calls. Mrs. VanMeer has called to ask for help with her husband’s dog, Reginald. When she arrived at the extravagant home she was given introductions to members of the family. At this point, after family discussion, she was shown to Mr. VanMeer’s study. Upon entrance, she meets Reginald. He is an aging hound dog. Laying by the desk he looks lonesome and sad. Nikki sits next to him and questions the elder VanMeer about what her husband and the dog did on a daily basis. Reginald did not understand where he had gone. Each day they walked, spoke to each other, had meals together and suddenly no more. Reginald was lost without his master.
How to Talk to Your Dog About Murder will be published by Crooked Lane Books on October 21, 2025. I was able to read Soderberg’s latest novel via NetGalley. As I read this odd journey into Nikki’s life it told of her and her family living in the low to middle income sector of the St. Louis. Reginald and the VanMeer clan lived in the higher status area. Nikki and the dog would walk the neighborhood daily viewing a great many of the same people and dogs that he saw when he was with Mr. VanMeer. She found herself being invited to family parties. Not knowing how to decline, she became more and more involved in the VanMeer household. This book was full of humor and a strange suspense when another death occurs in the house. It’s unusual but fun to read.
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