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Doodlebugged Mysteries #4
Bad-Mouthed
Laugh out loud with Doodle, the obedience-impaired labradoodle who has won the hearts of dog lovers of all ages.
Doodle’s the first to admit he doesn’t get Christmas. His job is to find bedbugs for his boss’s bedbug detection business and to watch over the boss’s ten-year-old daughter, Molly. It is not to play a black sheep in a Christmas pageant, a lose-lose situation for sure. Not to mention that just when things start to get interesting, Doodle attracts the attention of a popular video-blogger, whose subsequent “feature” jeopardizes the boss’s business.
Throw in a handful of threatening letters, a devastating fire and some lost dogs, and Molly and Doodle have their hands—well, in Doodle's case, his paws—full finding out just who's been naughty and who's been nice.
A family friendly mystery perfect for any season.
Doodle’s the first to admit he doesn’t get Christmas. His job is to find bedbugs for his boss’s bedbug detection business and to watch over the boss’s ten-year-old daughter, Molly. It is not to play a black sheep in a Christmas pageant, a lose-lose situation for sure. Not to mention that just when things start to get interesting, Doodle attracts the attention of a popular video-blogger, whose subsequent “feature” jeopardizes the boss’s business.
Throw in a handful of threatening letters, a devastating fire and some lost dogs, and Molly and Doodle have their hands—well, in Doodle's case, his paws—full finding out just who's been naughty and who's been nice.
A family friendly mystery perfect for any season.
210 pages, ebook
First published December 3, 2014
178 people are currently reading
334 people want to read
About the author
Susan J. Kroupa
34 books52 followersBefore she let her writing go to the dogs, Susan J. Kroupa won awards for her fiction from such places as the Utah Arts Council Contest, Writers of the Future and the Deep South Writing Competition. Her stories have appeared in Realms of Fantasy and in a variety of anthologies, including Bruce Coville's Shapeshifters. Now, she is perhaps best known for her Doodlebugged Mysteries, a gentle cozy series featuring the irrepressible but obedience-impaired sniffer-dog, Doodle.
Susan lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Southwestern Virginia with her husband and a trouble-prone labradoodle whose superpower is bringing home dead possums. You can learn more about her on her webpage www.susankroupa.com or by subscribing to her newsletter (where you can sometimes get free stories and other cool stuff) at http://eepurl.com/3PUR1.
Susan lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Southwestern Virginia with her husband and a trouble-prone labradoodle whose superpower is bringing home dead possums. You can learn more about her on her webpage www.susankroupa.com or by subscribing to her newsletter (where you can sometimes get free stories and other cool stuff) at http://eepurl.com/3PUR1.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
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January 10, 2015Doodle, the bedbug sniffing dog, is back again with Molly, who solves mysteries using a combination of her camera, smarts, and of course Doodle's nose. This time she and her best friend Tanya are singing in a Christmas pageant when Doodle (who is impersonating a sheep) upsets the pageant by chasing a rat.
The upset over the rat causes a local video blogger to interview Doodle and "the boss," Molly's dad, who runs the bedbug sniffing business. At first things are fine--sort of--except that Molly doesn't like the way Madison acts around her dad. Then comes the big shocker: Madison posts a nasty blog making all kinds of untrue accusations. Then there is a fire at their friend Miguel's dog training ranch.
Molly, Tanya, and a surprise new friend are on the case, unraveling all the mysteries as Doodle (the first person narrator) reports everything from a dog's eye view. It's such a fun series, with plenty going on. All the threads weave satisfactorily amid the Appalachian setting.
When I was a teacher, I frequently had parents ask me for recommendations for smart readers about eight and up, and readers of ages ten and eleven who were not into long series, etc. They didn't want YA as so much of it contained material not appropriate for that age--and often not of interest to a ten year old.
This series is one I would have heartily recommended to those fourth-sixth grade parents, especially for readers who love dogs.
The upset over the rat causes a local video blogger to interview Doodle and "the boss," Molly's dad, who runs the bedbug sniffing business. At first things are fine--sort of--except that Molly doesn't like the way Madison acts around her dad. Then comes the big shocker: Madison posts a nasty blog making all kinds of untrue accusations. Then there is a fire at their friend Miguel's dog training ranch.
Molly, Tanya, and a surprise new friend are on the case, unraveling all the mysteries as Doodle (the first person narrator) reports everything from a dog's eye view. It's such a fun series, with plenty going on. All the threads weave satisfactorily amid the Appalachian setting.
When I was a teacher, I frequently had parents ask me for recommendations for smart readers about eight and up, and readers of ages ten and eleven who were not into long series, etc. They didn't want YA as so much of it contained material not appropriate for that age--and often not of interest to a ten year old.
This series is one I would have heartily recommended to those fourth-sixth grade parents, especially for readers who love dogs.
March 17, 2015
"Bad-Mouthed", the wonderful successor to Susan J. Kroupa's "Bed-Bugged", "Out-Sniffed" and "Dognabbed", is again warmhearted and funny but never superficial. Middle-grade kids will love it; older kids will enjoy it secretly, perhaps not ever admitting that they read it. Adults with the good fortune of having a dog in their lives will treasure the book; adults without canine companionship will start wondering if they need a labradoodle. Book four stands on its own, but fortunate readers will want to read books one, two, and three as soon as possible.
This time Doodle's adventures begin with his finding and catching a rat at a Christmas pageant, an obvious good deed that no one seems to appreciate. Adults in the book exhibit contradictory behavior, which ends up causing serious problems for Josh and his business. However, with the exception of two evil villains with no redeeming qualities, all the adults are depicted with compassion; they are shown as flawed human beings who truly want to do the right thing, but of course fail over and over again.
Fortunately Molly's detective work and Doodle's instincts and actions can save the day for Josh, for Molly's mother, for Grady, the troubled son of one of Josh's initial adversaries, and for innocent, deserving dogs. The happy ending includes a few surprises but satisfies everyone's desire for justice.
This is a remarkable book. As I said with "Dog-Nabbed", buy it, read it, and then buy another one so that someone else can enjoy it as much as you did. You will enjoy every minute you spend with Doodle and his companions.
This time Doodle's adventures begin with his finding and catching a rat at a Christmas pageant, an obvious good deed that no one seems to appreciate. Adults in the book exhibit contradictory behavior, which ends up causing serious problems for Josh and his business. However, with the exception of two evil villains with no redeeming qualities, all the adults are depicted with compassion; they are shown as flawed human beings who truly want to do the right thing, but of course fail over and over again.
Fortunately Molly's detective work and Doodle's instincts and actions can save the day for Josh, for Molly's mother, for Grady, the troubled son of one of Josh's initial adversaries, and for innocent, deserving dogs. The happy ending includes a few surprises but satisfies everyone's desire for justice.
This is a remarkable book. As I said with "Dog-Nabbed", buy it, read it, and then buy another one so that someone else can enjoy it as much as you did. You will enjoy every minute you spend with Doodle and his companions.
December 31, 2014
4 STARS
This is the fourth book I believe in the Doodlebugged Mysteries series. The first one I have read. It is cute and charming. The story is told from the dog Doodle side. I think it was aimed for young kids, but I still enjoyed reading it. Lots of dog information. I had no idea that dogs could be trained to search for bed bugs. Which Doodle does do for his boss.
The mystery is about a blog review that twisted things and wrote lies that effected a lot of different companies. There was another mystery too. Molly Hunter is ten years old but she and her friends decide to find proof and save her father's business Hunter Bed Bug Detection. The internet can really help or hurt a business fast.
Doodle is a labradoodle. He starts the story telling how while on stage for Christmas program being a black sheep smells a rat and chases it and brings it back to the stage and gives it to Molly. Doodle is proud of himself, but Molly was kicked off the stage with him and the boss Joss Hunter is mad.
Molly is bright caring and a good friend. Her father raised her by himself mostly. Her mother has just recently come back into the picture.
I liked all the information about training a dog to obey. Also how much work it is to train a working dog his job.
Bad-Mouthed his a fast read. It is full of drama, dogs and their training. It is also a clean read.
I was given Bad-Mouthed to read so I could give a honest review and be part of it's blog tour.
January 7, 2022
A rat
Doodle is disguised as a black sheep for the school Christmas pageant when he smells a rat! No really, a rat. He runs through the the kids, chasing down the varmint, catching and killing it. Although the audience sees him as a hero, the pageant director bans him from the stage - forever!!
But, this is only the start of the trouble headed toward the Hunter family and their friends.
A blogger using unreliable sources causes a loss of business, someone is causing trouble for Miguel, the barn that is his kennel gets torched. All of this in the two weeks before Christmas.
Who is after Miguel? Why? Is the blogger a part of all this? Is she also a victim? Who set the fire? Will Doodle be allowed in the final pageant performance?
Lots of fun as Doodle learns about Christmas and the people around him.
Doodle is disguised as a black sheep for the school Christmas pageant when he smells a rat! No really, a rat. He runs through the the kids, chasing down the varmint, catching and killing it. Although the audience sees him as a hero, the pageant director bans him from the stage - forever!!
But, this is only the start of the trouble headed toward the Hunter family and their friends.
A blogger using unreliable sources causes a loss of business, someone is causing trouble for Miguel, the barn that is his kennel gets torched. All of this in the two weeks before Christmas.
Who is after Miguel? Why? Is the blogger a part of all this? Is she also a victim? Who set the fire? Will Doodle be allowed in the final pageant performance?
Lots of fun as Doodle learns about Christmas and the people around him.
December 16, 2021
This is a wonderful read especially due to the labradoodle dog being the narrator. "Doodle" has two young friends, Molly and Tanya, who are center to the story. Doodle is a bed bug detection dog who gets it right 100% of the time and revels in his skills. There is so much humor and pathos right from the beginning that the reader is charmed immediately.
For anyone who loves dogs, this is a book for you. Highly recommend!
For anyone who loves dogs, this is a book for you. Highly recommend!
October 25, 2019
Great Great book
A great book wrote from Adobe point of view. There should be more books like this. Doodle doesn't find any bedbugs this time , but showed where he comes from. And about how dog's are trained to be bedbug detectives. And how important Christmas is to family. You must read this it is very good.
A great book wrote from Adobe point of view. There should be more books like this. Doodle doesn't find any bedbugs this time , but showed where he comes from. And about how dog's are trained to be bedbug detectives. And how important Christmas is to family. You must read this it is very good.
August 31, 2020
Perfect Cozy for Dog Lovers
This sweet series is a quiet joy. The narrator is the dog Doodle. I love how he struggles to understand the expressions his human people use. For him, Christmas has always meant being alone in a kennel or crate. Will it be different now that he lives with Molly and the boss? And what exactly is a white Christmas?
This sweet series is a quiet joy. The narrator is the dog Doodle. I love how he struggles to understand the expressions his human people use. For him, Christmas has always meant being alone in a kennel or crate. Will it be different now that he lives with Molly and the boss? And what exactly is a white Christmas?
September 9, 2020
Another great Labrador story
This is a wonderful story narrated by Doodle, a black labradoodle, trained to sniff out bed bugs for the boss and his girl, Molly. He is paid as an employee of the bed bug detecting business with dog treats. This is a story for dog lovers of any age. Looking forward to the next adventure!
This is a wonderful story narrated by Doodle, a black labradoodle, trained to sniff out bed bugs for the boss and his girl, Molly. He is paid as an employee of the bed bug detecting business with dog treats. This is a story for dog lovers of any age. Looking forward to the next adventure!
December 23, 2020
Right Before Christmas and Snow on the Ground
I just finished Book #4. It is all about this time of year. So, I am in the mood for a Christmas story. "Bad-Mouthed" doesn't disappoint. Susan Kroupa's books are genuine dog loving stories. They are aptly themed for all ages. The only requirement is that you have to like our furry friends. I invite you to join me.
I just finished Book #4. It is all about this time of year. So, I am in the mood for a Christmas story. "Bad-Mouthed" doesn't disappoint. Susan Kroupa's books are genuine dog loving stories. They are aptly themed for all ages. The only requirement is that you have to like our furry friends. I invite you to join me.
March 4, 2021
Enjoyable
Who would think you can make a mystery with a bedbug sniffling dog and a dad and his daughter. The author does it so entertaining and enjoyably that you just keep reading. Before you know it, you are at the end of the book wanting more. And so, on to number 4. A good mystery for all the family.
Who would think you can make a mystery with a bedbug sniffling dog and a dad and his daughter. The author does it so entertaining and enjoyably that you just keep reading. Before you know it, you are at the end of the book wanting more. And so, on to number 4. A good mystery for all the family.
May 24, 2022
A great canine perspective on life
Doodles confusion about human terminology is a delight, and the feline observations are an interesting take on life.
I have a hard time putting this down...of course, it helps that I had a standard poodle in my life, and Doodle mirrors his antics in many ways.
Doodles confusion about human terminology is a delight, and the feline observations are an interesting take on life.
I have a hard time putting this down...of course, it helps that I had a standard poodle in my life, and Doodle mirrors his antics in many ways.
July 14, 2019
Doodle does it again!
Another great story about Doodle, Molly, Josh, Tanya and Annie! Doodle certainly loves Molly and loves being with her. Molly has a nose to right things when she and her dad have been wronged or any of their friends. Good story.
Another great story about Doodle, Molly, Josh, Tanya and Annie! Doodle certainly loves Molly and loves being with her. Molly has a nose to right things when she and her dad have been wronged or any of their friends. Good story.
December 25, 2020
Doodle
Can your small business recover from bad publicity that's deliberately placed? Doodles bed bug sniffing ability is questioned, losing many jobs for the boss. Can Molly find out what caused the bad publicity with Doodles help?
Can your small business recover from bad publicity that's deliberately placed? Doodles bed bug sniffing ability is questioned, losing many jobs for the boss. Can Molly find out what caused the bad publicity with Doodles help?
January 22, 2021
Interesting looking st life from a dogs view
This is a nice little fluff story. No gore, violence or foul language. I didn't know there still are authors that write that way. This is a book I will share with my tween grandkids.
This is a nice little fluff story. No gore, violence or foul language. I didn't know there still are authors that write that way. This is a book I will share with my tween grandkids.
September 7, 2021
Doodle Rocks
The author has a unique skill in communication from Doodle's perspective. He is proud of his sniffing out human behavior as well as bedbugs. He may love his human but he still wants to take off on his own.
The author has a unique skill in communication from Doodle's perspective. He is proud of his sniffing out human behavior as well as bedbugs. He may love his human but he still wants to take off on his own.
December 23, 2021
Loved it
What’s not to love.....dogs,kids and Christmas. Doodle is at it again and if anybody can save the day it’s him. Love me some Doodle! Get story that everyone will love! Definitely recommend you read this!
What’s not to love.....dogs,kids and Christmas. Doodle is at it again and if anybody can save the day it’s him. Love me some Doodle! Get story that everyone will love! Definitely recommend you read this!
January 8, 2022
Doodle is a great dog!
This is a different type of series. Molly is a very mature child. Her father adores her and it seems in this story that her mother is realizing what she's missing. The story is told by Doodle and he is hilarious as well as intelligent.
This is a different type of series. Molly is a very mature child. Her father adores her and it seems in this story that her mother is realizing what she's missing. The story is told by Doodle and he is hilarious as well as intelligent.
January 4, 2024
Good dog story.
I loved this book because it was more a dog story than a mystery. Although it should be taken with a grain of salt what the dogs are thinking. But I found it interesting and well written.
I loved this book because it was more a dog story than a mystery. Although it should be taken with a grain of salt what the dogs are thinking. But I found it interesting and well written.
February 17, 2020
I have read all of her books, and they are so very enjoyable. I will never look at my dog the same way any more! Susan is so very entertaining, you don't want to put the book down!
March 16, 2020
Just a fun escape - maybe what you need right now. Author definitely knows dogs. Fun to read
November 25, 2020
Cute
Cute story told from Doodle the dogs view of Christmas, mystery, mahem and life issues. Good clean book. I have read other books by this author.
Cute story told from Doodle the dogs view of Christmas, mystery, mahem and life issues. Good clean book. I have read other books by this author.
December 21, 2021
Another Great Doodle Book
I am ready for the next adventure in the Doodle Series. Fun stories , good characters, and a wonderful dogs.
I am ready for the next adventure in the Doodle Series. Fun stories , good characters, and a wonderful dogs.
June 12, 2022
Doodle's first Christmas & it was a fun one. This is the fourth book in the series I've read and I've enjoyed all four.
August 19, 2023
Enjoyable no matter what your age is.
January 2, 2024
I enjoyed this book, which could be read by anyone from junior high on up.
February 5, 2015
Goodreads win. Will read and review once received.
Even with this being the fourth book in the series I was able to understand it pretty decently. It was a charming and cute book. I love the cover of the book the dog is just so cute. I loved all the information dealing with dogs. There were some interesting things in this book. A great read I would definitely recommend it to everyone.
Even with this being the fourth book in the series I was able to understand it pretty decently. It was a charming and cute book. I love the cover of the book the dog is just so cute. I loved all the information dealing with dogs. There were some interesting things in this book. A great read I would definitely recommend it to everyone.
July 27, 2016
This was another wonderful and fun-filled adventure for Doodle and company. There's a bit of mystery along with some tender moments between the characters that made me cry. All narrated from a humorous canine POV. A good read.
March 12, 2015
Merry Christmas Doodle!
I love the way Susan writes from the dogs view. It is very enjoyable and give a whole new angle to the tale. I like very much that the author writes in a kid friendly style. I look forward to having my grand children read these stories.
I love the way Susan writes from the dogs view. It is very enjoyable and give a whole new angle to the tale. I like very much that the author writes in a kid friendly style. I look forward to having my grand children read these stories.
January 1, 2017
Delightful as the previous 3 Doodle Books.
July 17, 2018
Wonderful
A great series, a joy to read. If you enjoy a good cozy mystery then you'll love this new series.
A great series, a joy to read. If you enjoy a good cozy mystery then you'll love this new series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews