RUNNING SCARED

Sit, Stay, Sleep #4

by Patti Benning

Sometimes hosting a class…
Can really go to the dogs.
Sadie Barton is thrilled to kick off her very first dog training class at the small-town Georgia kennel that she purchased with her bestie. But when one of her new clients never shows up and doesn’t answer his phone, Sadie’s excitement quickly turns to dread. Shocking news soon follows, her client has been found murdered, and his beloved dog is missing.

Armed with determination and a pocketful of her best doggie treats, Sadie dives into the hunt for the lost hound. As she untangles a web of clues surrounding her client’s death, she realizes she may be tracking more than just a runaway dog. She may very well be on her way to coming face to face with a killer.

Can Sadie dig up the truth and find the missing pet? Find out in this barktacular Canine Cozy Mystery!

106 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 11, 2025

About the author

https://www.facebook.com/Patti-Bennin...

When Cozy Mystery author, Patti Benning, isn’t busy plotting the deaths of multiple fictitious characters, she loves to spend time hiking with her rescue dog, Max, who is her bestest writing buddy.

​Patti loves to cook and the food in her books has been tried and tested in her very own kitchen. She’s technologically shy, and stays away from social media a great deal, because it makes her feel more awkward and introverted than meeting someone face to face.

​Writing is the perfect job for her because in her books, she gets to explore all the topics she loves, food, animals, crafts and reading. She loves her readers dearly, and is thankful for the opportunity to share with them through her work.

Reviews

[Shannon Binegar-Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things are starting to pick up with the motel as well as the dog boarding. Sadie is holding her first training class when things take a tragic turn. One of her clients doesn’t show for class. It is soon discovered he was involved in a fatal car accident. It becomes obvious it was no accident. Sadie not only wants to find answers for his widow but also find their missing dog. This was another great read. I enjoyed it very much. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the publisher.

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

It looked like things were going along pretty well now for Sadie and Penny since the dog training classes had started. When Sadie’s client was killed in a car crash before she even met him and his dog, she insisted on helping find the dog which was reported to be wandering.

The killer wasn’t hard to guess this time and I sure love what happened to them at the end, served the person right! And how cool was the ending—I’m sensing a character crossover visit next with one of the author’s other series which ended earlier this summer. I can’t wait to read the next book!

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dog training class goes astray when an owner ends up dead answering their phone. But then a dead person dog goes missing. Sadie will try to use do treats to find the dog and a killer in this cozy treat.

[Linda Nabors · Rating 5 out of 5]

great read! dogs, & mystery were lots of fun.

The characters were real, the dogs entertaining, and the mystery was easy, but I loved the way they enter acted. Couldn’t put the book down.

[Sally Antoinette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who is the owner?

Some people just don't know how to let go. And then there is the problem of that becoming an obsession. So what happens if it's a puppy dog? Well somebody gets to have it but there is usually a murder too.

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it

I am really enjoying this new series. The main characters are great and the stories include dogs! I look forward to the next one.

[Nana Fields · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it!!!