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Maggie May and Miss Fancypants Mystery #1
A Dead Man and Doggie Delights
This audiobook has everything that makes it a good cozy. Light romance, devoted dog person, curious protagonist, and a mystery.
When Maggie May Carver moved to Baker Valley, Colorado, she wanted two to open a dog barkery with her best friend, and to take care of her aging grandpa.
But when her grandpa is accused of murder-a crime he may well have committed-Maggie finds herself in the role of amateur detective.
With her faithful Newfie, Miss Fancypants, at her side, Maggie is determined to find the real killer and clear her grandpa's name.
Assuming he isn't the real killer, that is.
When Maggie May Carver moved to Baker Valley, Colorado, she wanted two to open a dog barkery with her best friend, and to take care of her aging grandpa.
But when her grandpa is accused of murder-a crime he may well have committed-Maggie finds herself in the role of amateur detective.
With her faithful Newfie, Miss Fancypants, at her side, Maggie is determined to find the real killer and clear her grandpa's name.
Assuming he isn't the real killer, that is.
Audible Audio
Published December 14, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
November 9, 2018
Coming home is full of surprises
A great read. Nice plot with great twists that has you looking at different suspects. Not a big character list but the ones there were well developed and came over as real.
She has come home, not only to look after her grandfather but also to open a cafe and a bakery dedicated to dogs with her BFF. What she doesn't expect is an explosion at the cafe that could halt there opening up. Meeting the young boy she knew as a child and now has turned into a handsome police officer. Then discovering a dead body. The man who had made a pest of himself the day before. Her grandfather being questioned and then arrested when another body turns up. Can she find the real killer before her grandfather is jailed? Can she stop her BFF from making a fool of herself with the local Lothario - Again!
A great read. Nice plot with great twists that has you looking at different suspects. Not a big character list but the ones there were well developed and came over as real.
She has come home, not only to look after her grandfather but also to open a cafe and a bakery dedicated to dogs with her BFF. What she doesn't expect is an explosion at the cafe that could halt there opening up. Meeting the young boy she knew as a child and now has turned into a handsome police officer. Then discovering a dead body. The man who had made a pest of himself the day before. Her grandfather being questioned and then arrested when another body turns up. Can she find the real killer before her grandfather is jailed? Can she stop her BFF from making a fool of herself with the local Lothario - Again!
April 24, 2025
Really enjoyed this book 😊 a short and nice read with a little bit of murder 🤭
June 11, 2019
A Dead Man and Doggie Delights by Aleksa Baxter is the 1st book in the Nosy Newfie Cozy Mystery series, and a delightful and funny beginning. Maggie May Carver moved to Baker Valley, CO to keep a watch on her grandpa and open a dog barkery (bakery) with her best friend who bakes goodies for people on the other side. Maggie has a Newfoundland Dog she calls Miss Fancypaints, who is wonderful. One morning her grandpa pulls a rifle on the town trouble maker. Later Maggie and Fancy find him dead. When grandpa becomes the main suspect, Maggie is determined to find the real killer. I really enjoyed this book, and looking forward to reading the next book in the series. I highly recommend this book, if you enjoy cozy mysteries.
I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and the publisher. Thank you.
I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and the publisher. Thank you.
July 29, 2023
A Dead Man and Doggie Delights is a quick mystery book that involves dogs and murder. I liked this book. I thought Fancy, the Newfoundland, was a great sidekick to the main character, Maggie May. I thought the book moved along quickly and didn’t have a boring moment.
If you are looking for a quick read in between books like I was, then this could be a good one. The book doesn’t require any thinking and you don’t really try to predict who the murderer it is (even though I had an idea of who it was).
This was a cute little whodunnit murder-mystery with a small town, dogs, and the start of a little love story. I rate this book 3 stars because I enjoyed it and wasn’t expecting anything crazy. The writing was easy to follow and the pacing was pretty good.
If you are looking for a quick read in between books like I was, then this could be a good one. The book doesn’t require any thinking and you don’t really try to predict who the murderer it is (even though I had an idea of who it was).
This was a cute little whodunnit murder-mystery with a small town, dogs, and the start of a little love story. I rate this book 3 stars because I enjoyed it and wasn’t expecting anything crazy. The writing was easy to follow and the pacing was pretty good.
August 8, 2021
A Dead Man and Doggie Delights is the debut of the A Maggie May and Miss Fancypants Mystery series. A great locale, a loving relationship between a girl and her grandfather, yummy treats and adorable dogs. A quick and delightful morning read.
January 16, 2022
An enjoyable read even though the main protagonist was egotistical, stubborn, and always knowing best. She solves the mystery by falling over the answer, rather than working it out.
March 1, 2025
Felt like I was reading a lifetime movie but in a good way. It was a nice easy quick read. Not too many twists and turns for it being a mystery but still a good fun read.
August 11, 2020
A cute cozy mystery that is set in Colorado and has a Newfoundland named Miss Fancy pants . I will check out other books in the series
July 4, 2023
Leaving a well-paid corporate job in order to move in with her ageing grandfather in Colorado, Maggie opens a dog bakery to supplement the people bakery belonging to her best friend. When a string of murders occurs and her grandfather's freedom is jeopardized, Maggie spring into action to assist the police in apprehending the culprit.
I, admittedly, did have a couple of problems with this story. First of all, the main character was completely bull-headed when it came to her business plan. It didn't seem as though she'd really thought through the fact that bringing a niche bakery to a small town would have its challenges. Her commitment to calling it a "barkery" despite pushback from everyone including her logo designer seemed foolhardy. She was an absolute bulldozer.
As far as investigating went, Maggie flip-flopped from being determined to prove herself right to bowing down to those who told her to let it be. The plot relied too much on the tropes that small-town police are incompetent and that the police pick a suspect and stay doggedly with it. Though there was an attempt to explain why this was so in this particular case, it still played into those chestnuts.
I may read more of this prickly heroine. In time.
I, admittedly, did have a couple of problems with this story. First of all, the main character was completely bull-headed when it came to her business plan. It didn't seem as though she'd really thought through the fact that bringing a niche bakery to a small town would have its challenges. Her commitment to calling it a "barkery" despite pushback from everyone including her logo designer seemed foolhardy. She was an absolute bulldozer.
As far as investigating went, Maggie flip-flopped from being determined to prove herself right to bowing down to those who told her to let it be. The plot relied too much on the tropes that small-town police are incompetent and that the police pick a suspect and stay doggedly with it. Though there was an attempt to explain why this was so in this particular case, it still played into those chestnuts.
I may read more of this prickly heroine. In time.
June 24, 2019
This is the first in series "Nosy Newfie" Cozy Mystery series and a delightful mystery read ! Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
We are introduced to Maggie May Carver our protagonist who has moved to Baker Valley, CO to care for her aging grandpa. She hopes to open a dog bakery with her best friend . Maggie has a wonderful Newfoundland Dog she calls Miss Fancypants. If your a fan of Newfies you will adore Miss Fancypants. The descriptions of Fancy are delightful and a fun part of reading this book.
After her Grandfather takes out a rifle and threatens the local trouble maker publicly he is found dead. Maggie and Fancy find the body on a walk. Soon her Grandfathers is the primary suspect and Maggie must work fast to both solve the murder, save her Grandfather and manage her new business. She proves to be a apt sleuth and soon has motives and suspects abound .
I highly recommend this book. The descriptions of Baker Valley Colorado are wonderful. Maggie is a smart savvy protagonist and her "Fancy" is a great addition to the series. The sleuth was very well crafted and kept me guessing. I look forward to further books in the series. and the success of the bakery !
We are introduced to Maggie May Carver our protagonist who has moved to Baker Valley, CO to care for her aging grandpa. She hopes to open a dog bakery with her best friend . Maggie has a wonderful Newfoundland Dog she calls Miss Fancypants. If your a fan of Newfies you will adore Miss Fancypants. The descriptions of Fancy are delightful and a fun part of reading this book.
After her Grandfather takes out a rifle and threatens the local trouble maker publicly he is found dead. Maggie and Fancy find the body on a walk. Soon her Grandfathers is the primary suspect and Maggie must work fast to both solve the murder, save her Grandfather and manage her new business. She proves to be a apt sleuth and soon has motives and suspects abound .
I highly recommend this book. The descriptions of Baker Valley Colorado are wonderful. Maggie is a smart savvy protagonist and her "Fancy" is a great addition to the series. The sleuth was very well crafted and kept me guessing. I look forward to further books in the series. and the success of the bakery !
March 8, 2019
First in a series, this book was an enjoyable read. Maggie May Carter has returned to Baker Valley, Colorado to take care of her grandfather and to open a store wither best friend. The store is a café/coffeeshop on one side and special dog food/treats on the other. Soon after arriving, Maggie and Miss Fancypants (Fancy), her Newfoundland, is taking a walk up the mountain when they find a dead body.Because Maggie's grandfather had threatened the man the day before he's immediately considered a suspect and one of the police officers refuses to look at anyone else so it's up to Maggie to prove her grandfather innocent especially since it seems someone is setting him up. And when a second body is found things get even worse.
The characters are great and the plot keeps you guessing but there were a few places where the main character goes off on a bit of a tangent that took away from the story for me.
The characters are great and the plot keeps you guessing but there were a few places where the main character goes off on a bit of a tangent that took away from the story for me.
May 30, 2019
A Dead Man and Doggie Delights by Aleksa Baxter is the first book in A Nosy Newfie Mystery series.
A charming story about Maggie and her beloved dog Miss Fancypants who have moved to a little town to be close to her aging grandfather and to open a barkery with her best friend.
However, tragedy strikes almost immediately when her grandfather is accused of killing a local troublemaker. And lead policeman on the case is no other than a man she used to know long time ago and who was a family friend.
As the situation goes from bad to worse Maggie has no choice but to do some investigating herself and find out the truth with the help of her newfie.
Lovely set of characters, strong willed and honest ,very down to earth and realistically portrayed. I especially enjoyed Maggie's musings about certain people and all the crazy and funny stories that she thinks of inside her head.
Mystery is intelligently plotted and executed. I really enjoyed reading this book.
A charming story about Maggie and her beloved dog Miss Fancypants who have moved to a little town to be close to her aging grandfather and to open a barkery with her best friend.
However, tragedy strikes almost immediately when her grandfather is accused of killing a local troublemaker. And lead policeman on the case is no other than a man she used to know long time ago and who was a family friend.
As the situation goes from bad to worse Maggie has no choice but to do some investigating herself and find out the truth with the help of her newfie.
Lovely set of characters, strong willed and honest ,very down to earth and realistically portrayed. I especially enjoyed Maggie's musings about certain people and all the crazy and funny stories that she thinks of inside her head.
Mystery is intelligently plotted and executed. I really enjoyed reading this book.
April 5, 2020
Having had newfies growing up, I was drawn to this book. Fancy is well-portrayed...very newf in her demeanor. When her grandmother dies, Maggie May moves home to care for her grandfather, and she opens a barkery and cafe with her friend from childhood, too. When she and Fancy find a dead body on one of their walks, she reports it, of course, and the policeman who shows up is also a friend from childhood, one on whom she had a crush long ago. Unfortunately, her grandpa is accused of the murder, as the murder weapon is his. Then a second victim is found, and the murder weapon is again his. Who could be framing grandpa? And can Maggie figure it out in time?
Mystery wasn't terribly mysterious if you've read a few of these cozies, but the story was good nonetheless, and there's room for a few more stories here, even though it's a small town. I'd read more of the series.
Mystery wasn't terribly mysterious if you've read a few of these cozies, but the story was good nonetheless, and there's room for a few more stories here, even though it's a small town. I'd read more of the series.
May 30, 2019
Maggie Mae is starting an exciting new chapter in her life. She moved to Baker Valley in Colorado to open The Baker Valley Barkery and Cafe with her best friend and has self appointed herself to grandpa duty to help her aging grandpa. She is barely unpacked when she finds a dead body and her grandpa becomes the only suspect. Since Officer Clark sees no reason to even consider there may be other suspects Maggie finds it necessary to get involved.
I enjoyed the characters in this story from the somewhat crusty but not helpless grandpa to the 140 pound lovable Newfoundland named Miss Fancypants. There were not a lot of characters in the story yet I still had trouble deciding who was guilty. I look forward to the next book in the Nosy Newfie series.
I enjoyed the characters in this story from the somewhat crusty but not helpless grandpa to the 140 pound lovable Newfoundland named Miss Fancypants. There were not a lot of characters in the story yet I still had trouble deciding who was guilty. I look forward to the next book in the Nosy Newfie series.
June 13, 2021
Maggie and her dog, Fancy, move to Colorado to help her grandpa and to open a doggie bakery with her best friend. She had no idea her trigger-happy grandpa was pointing a shotgun at people.
Things are describes way too much, especially the Colorado landscapes. How many times do we have to hear about the clear, blue skies and the mountains?
Finally, she finds a dead man on a trail. Could her grandpa have gunned this guy down?
What should’ve been an interesting cozy mystery was actually tapered down by the over excessive descriptions and the long-winded monologues. I mean, Maggie contemplates way too much and doesn’t focus on the case at all.
Decent read though.
Things are describes way too much, especially the Colorado landscapes. How many times do we have to hear about the clear, blue skies and the mountains?
Finally, she finds a dead man on a trail. Could her grandpa have gunned this guy down?
What should’ve been an interesting cozy mystery was actually tapered down by the over excessive descriptions and the long-winded monologues. I mean, Maggie contemplates way too much and doesn’t focus on the case at all.
Decent read though.
November 8, 2019
Overall a decent read. It had all the basic elements I enjoy in a cozy. A basically decent woman, business owner of a small shop, cute dogs and even cuter guy.
She solves the crime of course, I think a bit too easily, there were hints and build ups, but I think there could have been a bit more. Still it all played well, and I definitely want to pursue this series.
She solves the crime of course, I think a bit too easily, there were hints and build ups, but I think there could have been a bit more. Still it all played well, and I definitely want to pursue this series.
November 21, 2019
I really like dog books, but not this one. The dog was cute, and not very interesting, just as uninteresting as the owner. For some reason I felt like this book was being shouted at me, as I read it.
February 15, 2021
Perfectly average cozy mystery. Lots of accusations flying around but no clues. An attempt at humor, vaguely. As always an eleventh hour reveal. Nothing noteworthy but if you have a few hours to spare, nothing good on tv, it will at least put you to sleep.
August 7, 2023
It’s not often I give a bad review. I couldn’t get passed the first 1/4 of the book. The narrator annoyed me so much. Finally, I remembered that I don’t have to finish a book where I can’t stand the main character. So, to use crafting terms, I frogged this book. It’s not for me.
January 17, 2019
That was fun! I like a good cosy mystery, having grown up with Agatha Christie, and being a fan of similarly styled Clara Benson, but I seldom read contemporary versions. There are so many of them, and they all seem to feature recipes and quilting and so much quirkiness that the murder seems to take a back seat. Not so here. Yes, there’s some quirkiness, and the heroine is opening a cafe, but it’s a barkery (for dogs, geddit?), there are no recipes or quilts, and the murder is very much the main event.
The premise: Maggie May Carver is giving up city life and moving in with her octogenarian grandfather in a small town in the mountains of Colorado. She’s opening a cafe with her best friend, Jamie (a girl), with Jamie running the part of the cafe for humans, while Maggie, aided by her dog Miss Fancypants, runs the other side of it for canine customers. There are a handful of other characters, but the author doesn’t beat us over the head with a thousand and one potential suspects (or a thousand and one potential stars for followup books). There are just enough to keep up with, including handsome all-grown-up-now cop Matt, the guy Maggie had a crush on years ago. So… we can’t see where this is going, no, not at all.
The murders are just wacky enough to be interesting without getting outlandish, and it’s geriatric grandpa who’s the chief suspect. Well, it was his gun, and his signed baseball bat that was used to do the deed… So then it’s down to Maggie to get grandpa off the hook. I liked that Maggie was very level-headed about this. There are no heroics, no breaking and entering at midnight, no outrageous amateur sleuthing. She very sensibly whistles up a lawyer for grandpa, and when she’s tempted to investigate something, she tells the cops and leaves them to take all the risks. Clever girl.
The solution is logical, and pretty obvious (because I guessed it), but no one expects Primer-level twistiness in a cosy. All the main characters are that perfect blend of interesting and slightly off-centre (real human beings, in other words), with the exception of Miss Fancypants (Fancy for short), who is a very real dog and steals every scene she’s in, for good measure. I really enjoyed this, and I hope the author continues with the series. Five stars.
The premise: Maggie May Carver is giving up city life and moving in with her octogenarian grandfather in a small town in the mountains of Colorado. She’s opening a cafe with her best friend, Jamie (a girl), with Jamie running the part of the cafe for humans, while Maggie, aided by her dog Miss Fancypants, runs the other side of it for canine customers. There are a handful of other characters, but the author doesn’t beat us over the head with a thousand and one potential suspects (or a thousand and one potential stars for followup books). There are just enough to keep up with, including handsome all-grown-up-now cop Matt, the guy Maggie had a crush on years ago. So… we can’t see where this is going, no, not at all.
The murders are just wacky enough to be interesting without getting outlandish, and it’s geriatric grandpa who’s the chief suspect. Well, it was his gun, and his signed baseball bat that was used to do the deed… So then it’s down to Maggie to get grandpa off the hook. I liked that Maggie was very level-headed about this. There are no heroics, no breaking and entering at midnight, no outrageous amateur sleuthing. She very sensibly whistles up a lawyer for grandpa, and when she’s tempted to investigate something, she tells the cops and leaves them to take all the risks. Clever girl.
The solution is logical, and pretty obvious (because I guessed it), but no one expects Primer-level twistiness in a cosy. All the main characters are that perfect blend of interesting and slightly off-centre (real human beings, in other words), with the exception of Miss Fancypants (Fancy for short), who is a very real dog and steals every scene she’s in, for good measure. I really enjoyed this, and I hope the author continues with the series. Five stars.
May 28, 2019
Spend an afternoon reading A Dead Man and Doggie Delights and you won’t be disappointed by this captivating cozy mystery, the first in a new series.
Maggie is risking it all on opening a ba(r)kery and cafe with her best friend, Jamie, in a small town in Colorado. She moves in with her recently widowed eighty-two year old grandfather, Lou. Maggie’s beloved 140 pound Newfoundland, Fancy, moves in too.
On Maggie’s first day in town, an eccentric town resident named Jack first barks back at Fancy and then at Maggie. Lou threatens the man with a shotgun and tells him to leave. The man walks off.
When Fancy and Maggie find Jack dead in the mountains behind her granddad’s house, cute policeman Matt asks her what happened. When the autopsy determines that her grandfather’s shotgun was the murder weapon, her grandfather is brought in for questioning. Even though the gun was left in an unlocked truck, only Lou’s fingerprints are found on the weapon. He has no alibi for the time of death. Lou also has a previous murder conviction. Things look bad for him so Maggie decides to look for the real killer.
There are multiple plot threads to follow. In addition to the main plot, there is a side plot about Jamie’s long ago love Luke being a player. Could he be dating their 17 year old shop assistant, Katie, even while flirting shamelessly with Jamie? Somehow the author succeeds in keeping all these balls in the air in this charming cozy mystery.
The characters in A Dead Man and Doggie Delights are well defined and have rational motives for their actions. The history of Maggie’s grandfather is particularly well written. He’s lived his life on his own terms and continues to do so with his friendship with retired librarian, Lesley.
If you like dogs and cozy mysteries, this is a perfect read. Multiple plots, great characters, and a challenging mystery make this tale worthy of 5 stars!
Thanks to the author, Xpresso Book Tours, and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
Maggie is risking it all on opening a ba(r)kery and cafe with her best friend, Jamie, in a small town in Colorado. She moves in with her recently widowed eighty-two year old grandfather, Lou. Maggie’s beloved 140 pound Newfoundland, Fancy, moves in too.
On Maggie’s first day in town, an eccentric town resident named Jack first barks back at Fancy and then at Maggie. Lou threatens the man with a shotgun and tells him to leave. The man walks off.
When Fancy and Maggie find Jack dead in the mountains behind her granddad’s house, cute policeman Matt asks her what happened. When the autopsy determines that her grandfather’s shotgun was the murder weapon, her grandfather is brought in for questioning. Even though the gun was left in an unlocked truck, only Lou’s fingerprints are found on the weapon. He has no alibi for the time of death. Lou also has a previous murder conviction. Things look bad for him so Maggie decides to look for the real killer.
There are multiple plot threads to follow. In addition to the main plot, there is a side plot about Jamie’s long ago love Luke being a player. Could he be dating their 17 year old shop assistant, Katie, even while flirting shamelessly with Jamie? Somehow the author succeeds in keeping all these balls in the air in this charming cozy mystery.
The characters in A Dead Man and Doggie Delights are well defined and have rational motives for their actions. The history of Maggie’s grandfather is particularly well written. He’s lived his life on his own terms and continues to do so with his friendship with retired librarian, Lesley.
If you like dogs and cozy mysteries, this is a perfect read. Multiple plots, great characters, and a challenging mystery make this tale worthy of 5 stars!
Thanks to the author, Xpresso Book Tours, and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
May 5, 2025
Maggie's plan to open a bakery and bark-ery store for treats for the furry owners of hoomins, er, I mean, the local resident dogs seemed so promising. She loved the place. She has a perfect business partner. She's made contingency plan after contingency plan. None of those involved stumbling upon a dead body. Having the grandfather she has moved in with to keep company being charged with the crime also was not on her bingo card. Or her kitchen exploding. Or a handsome detective who she's been teased about for most of her life despite fuzzy memories of her five year old self being the one handling the case. Or her best friend's player on and off guy being in the picture. Well, no, okay. Maybe the last.
"A Dead Man and Doggie Delights" Is a serviceable cozy mystery. I will even give it bonus points for the main character realizing she is unsuitable for the job. But half that gets knocked off is even after making some rookie mistakes and realizing them...makes similar bad decisions promptly after. Now yes, part of this is necessary for the plot. That doesn't mean I will ever be used to this element in the genre. And my 'guess' at the who-done-it that I had very early on was partially off So kudos.
But let's face it. I am here for the dog content. In that it delivers. Not only is Fancy lovely but so is Maggie's overall relationship and adoration of her. Plus there's a best-pal retriever pup for a little extra sunshine. And- PLEASE - if anyone's continued with this series and can tell me if the randomly noted future Wolfhound resident comes to play I would love you forever if I got a tip off as I'm hopelessly addicted to the fluffs and pleasantly surprised to see them used where many of my other favorite breeds are relatively common. Though I'd bake up cinnamon rolls for anyone who manages to drop a Finnish Lapphund in a tail--er, tale. You know what, scratch that. I'll PURCHASE them. I've not the baker of this duo's talents in the least.
"A Dead Man and Doggie Delights" Is a serviceable cozy mystery. I will even give it bonus points for the main character realizing she is unsuitable for the job. But half that gets knocked off is even after making some rookie mistakes and realizing them...makes similar bad decisions promptly after. Now yes, part of this is necessary for the plot. That doesn't mean I will ever be used to this element in the genre. And my 'guess' at the who-done-it that I had very early on was partially off So kudos.
But let's face it. I am here for the dog content. In that it delivers. Not only is Fancy lovely but so is Maggie's overall relationship and adoration of her. Plus there's a best-pal retriever pup for a little extra sunshine. And- PLEASE - if anyone's continued with this series and can tell me if the randomly noted future Wolfhound resident comes to play I would love you forever if I got a tip off as I'm hopelessly addicted to the fluffs and pleasantly surprised to see them used where many of my other favorite breeds are relatively common. Though I'd bake up cinnamon rolls for anyone who manages to drop a Finnish Lapphund in a tail--er, tale. You know what, scratch that. I'll PURCHASE them. I've not the baker of this duo's talents in the least.
September 27, 2019
Very Cute Theme
The draw for me to this book was the Newfie on the cover. I love dogs, and honestly think they are better companions than some people because of their loyalty, and that trait comes out so well in this cozy. This was a well thought out mystery with great characters, human as well as canine. Lots of detail, sassy dialog, and plenty of action. I did figure out the culprit before the big reveal, but I enjoyed the journey so much it did not matter. I've been to Colorado, and so the description of the mountains was something I could relate to. I have also lived in some small towns and so the small town mentality of Creek, was something I could also relate to. There is a hint of romance in this story which gives it just a bit of spice and expectations of things to come in future books. I really thought this was a good cozy first in the series book and look forward to reading more.
The draw for me to this book was the Newfie on the cover. I love dogs, and honestly think they are better companions than some people because of their loyalty, and that trait comes out so well in this cozy. This was a well thought out mystery with great characters, human as well as canine. Lots of detail, sassy dialog, and plenty of action. I did figure out the culprit before the big reveal, but I enjoyed the journey so much it did not matter. I've been to Colorado, and so the description of the mountains was something I could relate to. I have also lived in some small towns and so the small town mentality of Creek, was something I could also relate to. There is a hint of romance in this story which gives it just a bit of spice and expectations of things to come in future books. I really thought this was a good cozy first in the series book and look forward to reading more.
November 12, 2024
Heartwarming and encouraging, A DEAD MAN AND DOGGIE DELIGHTS recounts the narrator's move to a beautifully scenic Colorado mountain valley to care for her aging widowed grandfather and to simultaneously fulfill her dream, of a Barkery for dogs and dog owners, in companion with a superb bakery run by a lifelong friend.
Great life choices, interrupted by property damage and a deceased, of whom Grandfather becomes the prime suspect. So protagonist "Maggie May" throws herself into investigating along with her faithful Newfoundland, Fancy ("Miss Fancypants"). Enjoy a warm and heartfelt Cozy Scenic Mystery.
Great life choices, interrupted by property damage and a deceased, of whom Grandfather becomes the prime suspect. So protagonist "Maggie May" throws herself into investigating along with her faithful Newfoundland, Fancy ("Miss Fancypants"). Enjoy a warm and heartfelt Cozy Scenic Mystery.
January 7, 2025
Highlights 📝
• ‘I’d never handles a gun before and would probably end up shooting myself if I tried.’ 💯
• ‘Thing die, and when they do, they stink. And when they stink, dogs like to pee on them. It’s the cirlce of life. Or so I tell myself.’ 😂
• ‘“Something doesn’t have to be perfect to be worthwhile, you know.”’ 🥺
Rating ⭐️
4.0
Review ✍🏼
Cute book! I really enjoyed it from the beginning till the end. I need to admit I’m easy entertained and not thinking too much ahead, so that also helps.
But the book was written in a way that it felt like you were calling with a friend.
A nice book for in between other books or when you want something easy and not to long.
• ‘I’d never handles a gun before and would probably end up shooting myself if I tried.’ 💯
• ‘Thing die, and when they do, they stink. And when they stink, dogs like to pee on them. It’s the cirlce of life. Or so I tell myself.’ 😂
• ‘“Something doesn’t have to be perfect to be worthwhile, you know.”’ 🥺
Rating ⭐️
4.0
Review ✍🏼
Cute book! I really enjoyed it from the beginning till the end. I need to admit I’m easy entertained and not thinking too much ahead, so that also helps.
But the book was written in a way that it felt like you were calling with a friend.
A nice book for in between other books or when you want something easy and not to long.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 4, 2019
I cannot resist a cozy mystery with a dog or a cat on the cover and I'm happy I couldn't resist requesting this one.
It's a lovely cozy, well written, entertaining and engrossing.
I loved the likable cast of characters, both human and canine, the setting and the plot.
The mystery was good, full of twists and turns, and it kept me guessing till the end.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
It's a lovely cozy, well written, entertaining and engrossing.
I loved the likable cast of characters, both human and canine, the setting and the plot.
The mystery was good, full of twists and turns, and it kept me guessing till the end.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
March 17, 2019
Good quality cozy
This book has everything that makes it a good cozy. Light romance, devoted dog person, curious protagonist, and a mystery. I will admit I like the books that don't make you groan with a ridiculous protagonist that acts as a parallel police investigator. This is enjoyable and doesn't require you to suspend all facets of being reasonable. If you want something to think about, the different attitudes and personalities of Maggie and Jamie can be considered.
This book has everything that makes it a good cozy. Light romance, devoted dog person, curious protagonist, and a mystery. I will admit I like the books that don't make you groan with a ridiculous protagonist that acts as a parallel police investigator. This is enjoyable and doesn't require you to suspend all facets of being reasonable. If you want something to think about, the different attitudes and personalities of Maggie and Jamie can be considered.
May 10, 2019
Maggie May Carver moved to Baker Valley, Colorado to be with her elderly grandfather, and also to open a doggie bakery/human cafe with her best friend.
When she is sitting in the back yard, a man starts barking at both her dog and her, until her grandpa runs him off with a shotgun. A day or so later that man is found dead in the mountain trail, and her grandpa's gun was the murder weapon.
A good mystery with a satisfactory ending, developed characters, and some humor.
When she is sitting in the back yard, a man starts barking at both her dog and her, until her grandpa runs him off with a shotgun. A day or so later that man is found dead in the mountain trail, and her grandpa's gun was the murder weapon.
A good mystery with a satisfactory ending, developed characters, and some humor.
May 14, 2019
Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley.
I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.
Granddaughter returns home to open up a dog barkery with her best friend. Things soon go to the dogs when her grandfather is accused of murder which he may actually have committed.
Will she be able to solve the case even if it means that her grandfather is the killer? It will be up to her to figure things out. A promising start to this new series.
I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.
Granddaughter returns home to open up a dog barkery with her best friend. Things soon go to the dogs when her grandfather is accused of murder which he may actually have committed.
Will she be able to solve the case even if it means that her grandfather is the killer? It will be up to her to figure things out. A promising start to this new series.
January 14, 2022
This is the first in the series. The main characters are Maggie and Jamie. Maggie moves to Creek to help out her grandpa and Jamie moves back home and they open a cafe and barkery together. Right before they are due to open up, Maggie's grandpa is questioned about a murder and then later charged with murdering two men in the community. Maggie sets out to help find out who really did the murders. Can Maggie figure this all out before it's too late to save herself ?
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