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Murder Bites
A city transplant in a dog-obsessed small town becomes the prime suspect when the local dog walker is murdered in this delightfully quirky cozy mystery.
A LITERARY HUB MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF THE YEAR
Margot Cartwright is not exactly blending in with the residents of Glenville, South Carolina. An unwilling transplant from Washington, D.C., Margot feels like a fish out of water among the Lululemon-wearing, tiny-dog-owning, non-New Yorker-reading locals who are clamoring to have their fur babies star on Pawsh, a reality TV show about couture canines. (Sure, Margot loves her dog, but Sid Vicious is far too cool of a mutt for a show like that!) She even feels like an outcast amongst her family, and after she’s caught channeling her inner “Robin Hood” by stealing her neighbors’ pro-Pawsh signs, further cementing her title as the neighborhood pariah, she thinks things can’t possibly get any worse, right?
Wrong. When the local dog walker is killed in a bizarre incident involving an over-the-top Halloween display featuring multiple Home Depot skeletons, all eyes turn to Margot. To clear her name and save her family from falling apart, Margot vows to find the real killer before they strike again—but she can’t do it alone.
Enter Anne, a glamorous septuagenarian widow determined to maintain her reign over the HOA, and Sally-Claire, a "Mom Life" sweatshirt-clad member of the “Mommy Mafia” who might not be as perfect as she seems. Together, the unlikely trio (along with their canine companions) dives into the mystery, navigating the quirky and secretive world of Glenville’s residents. Can they solve the case before it’s too late, or will Margot’s reputation be permanently dog-eared?
A LITERARY HUB MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF THE YEAR
Margot Cartwright is not exactly blending in with the residents of Glenville, South Carolina. An unwilling transplant from Washington, D.C., Margot feels like a fish out of water among the Lululemon-wearing, tiny-dog-owning, non-New Yorker-reading locals who are clamoring to have their fur babies star on Pawsh, a reality TV show about couture canines. (Sure, Margot loves her dog, but Sid Vicious is far too cool of a mutt for a show like that!) She even feels like an outcast amongst her family, and after she’s caught channeling her inner “Robin Hood” by stealing her neighbors’ pro-Pawsh signs, further cementing her title as the neighborhood pariah, she thinks things can’t possibly get any worse, right?
Wrong. When the local dog walker is killed in a bizarre incident involving an over-the-top Halloween display featuring multiple Home Depot skeletons, all eyes turn to Margot. To clear her name and save her family from falling apart, Margot vows to find the real killer before they strike again—but she can’t do it alone.
Enter Anne, a glamorous septuagenarian widow determined to maintain her reign over the HOA, and Sally-Claire, a "Mom Life" sweatshirt-clad member of the “Mommy Mafia” who might not be as perfect as she seems. Together, the unlikely trio (along with their canine companions) dives into the mystery, navigating the quirky and secretive world of Glenville’s residents. Can they solve the case before it’s too late, or will Margot’s reputation be permanently dog-eared?
320 pages, Paperback
First published August 4, 2026
About the author
Mimi Montgomery
1 book62 followersMIMI MONTGOMERY is a journalist and author who’s written for outlets like Axios, The Washington Post, Washingtonian, Garden & Gun, and Outside Magazine, and her reporting has been featured on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Inside Edition, and CNN, among others. Mimi attended the University of Virginia and has a master’s from Georgetown University. Originally from North Carolina, she lives in D.C. with her family and several furry dependents.
Her first novel, MURDER BITES, will be published Aug. 4, 2026, with Bantam and is now available for preorder.
Her first novel, MURDER BITES, will be published Aug. 4, 2026, with Bantam and is now available for preorder.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews
March 5, 2026
🐶🔍 Murder Bites 🔍🐶
💖💕Happy Release Day! 💕💖
This was such a fun and quirky cozy mystery, even if literally no one in this town was actually likable 😂
Everyone was kind of toxic in their own special way, and honestly Margot was deeply unhinged at times. The Mommy Mafia absolutely deserves a spot on my growing list of irrational fears right next to the PTA because WHAT was that?! 🤣🐾
I really felt for Margot’s family though, especially her young son. A lot of her antics had real consequences for him at school. I was happy with her resolution with her daughter at the end.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable mystery with plenty of eccentric characters, neighborhood drama, and just enough messiness to keep it entertaining.
🔍What to Expect
• Cozy mystery
• Amateur sleuth
• Unhinged FMC
• Halloween murder
• Mommy Mafia
• Dog obsessed community
• Toxic neighborhood
_ _ _ _
⭐ Final Score: 3.75 stars
📅 Pub Date: August 4, 2026
Thank you to Ballantine, Bantam, and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
💖💕Happy Release Day! 💕💖
This was such a fun and quirky cozy mystery, even if literally no one in this town was actually likable 😂
Everyone was kind of toxic in their own special way, and honestly Margot was deeply unhinged at times. The Mommy Mafia absolutely deserves a spot on my growing list of irrational fears right next to the PTA because WHAT was that?! 🤣🐾
I really felt for Margot’s family though, especially her young son. A lot of her antics had real consequences for him at school. I was happy with her resolution with her daughter at the end.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable mystery with plenty of eccentric characters, neighborhood drama, and just enough messiness to keep it entertaining.
🔍What to Expect
• Cozy mystery
• Amateur sleuth
• Unhinged FMC
• Halloween murder
• Mommy Mafia
• Dog obsessed community
• Toxic neighborhood
_ _ _ _
⭐ Final Score: 3.75 stars
📅 Pub Date: August 4, 2026
Thank you to Ballantine, Bantam, and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I admit, I chose this book because of the dogs. Murder mysteries with dogs are very hard for me to resist. "Murder Bites" by Mimi Montgomery is a lighthearted cozy mystery that follows an activist woman who moves to a dog-obsessed small town and finds herself deeply entangled in a murder case, with herself as the prime suspect.
Margot Cartwright moved to Glendale from Washington, D.C., with her family after her husband inherited his parents’ home and the family bank. She feels like a fish out of water among the locals and is a social pariah due to her many protests and her superior attitude. Her daughter left town and cut contact after a falling-out revealed later in the book. Margot feels lonely, sad, and angry, and blames everyone except herself for the estrangement. She makes protesting her life’s work (zealous is the word). After a protest on the first day of filming of “Paws”, a purebred dog reality show, goes wrong, Margot becomes even more isolated than before.
The plot thickens when a local dog walker, Margot’s nemesis, is murdered and Margot becomes the prime suspect due to her many antics, which made her unpopular. When there is a second murder, it puts her in even deeper water, enlarges the cracks in her marriage, and damages the relationship with her son. She becomes the scapegoat for every small incident. Help comes from unexpected quarters. Together with Anne, a septuagenarian and the head of the HOA, Sally-Claire, a member of the “Mommy Mafia", and her loyal canine, Sid, Margot tries to solve the case before the book is thrown at her.
Overall, I liked the book, the humor, the wit, and the quirky characters. The writing was a bit busy, with side plots of the contest, the name-dropping, and the activist streak slowing the pace in places. It explores themes of family, friendship, community, suburban living, bullying, environmental concerns, choices, and finding purpose. There is also the question of doing something bad for a good purpose, which I didn’t agree with.
I didn’t like most of the characters except Anne. I liked Sally-Claire once she grew a backbone. I had a hard time relating to Margot at first. I am all for adopting dogs and against the dog-breeding industry, but Margot was too radical for me with her insane actions, judgmental attitude, and righteous mindset. I thought the event leading to the estrangement with the daughter was unbelievable and a bit of a stretch. Two years without contact seemed too much for such an event. I also didn’t like Margot’s husband and his lack of support. He was a weak character, all said and done.
I liked that all three women went through personal developments. Despite their differences, they managed to find common ground in their shared sense of feeling adrift and eventually found new purpose in their lives. The author went to great lengths to present Margot as an outsider, turning her into an unlikeable and over-the-top character. I understood why Margot acted the way she did, but her characterization often felt overdone. Many times I wanted to shake her and bring her to her senses. “Don’t judge a book by its cover” fits here to a tee, and I liked the gradual revealing of the women’s personalities. They had more sides to them than first appeared at a glance.
All in all, this was a good read, just not quite as great as I expected. I appreciated the mystery and disliked how the town pinned the murders on Margot simply because she didn’t fit their expectations and beliefs. I did enjoy the character growth and the twists. I didn’t guess the identity of the murderer, always a bonus, and was satisfied with the conclusion. The mystery kept me guessing even when Margot drove me up the wall. I rate the book 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to fans of witty, humorous cozy mysteries.
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* Review on my blog: https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2026...
Margot Cartwright moved to Glendale from Washington, D.C., with her family after her husband inherited his parents’ home and the family bank. She feels like a fish out of water among the locals and is a social pariah due to her many protests and her superior attitude. Her daughter left town and cut contact after a falling-out revealed later in the book. Margot feels lonely, sad, and angry, and blames everyone except herself for the estrangement. She makes protesting her life’s work (zealous is the word). After a protest on the first day of filming of “Paws”, a purebred dog reality show, goes wrong, Margot becomes even more isolated than before.
The plot thickens when a local dog walker, Margot’s nemesis, is murdered and Margot becomes the prime suspect due to her many antics, which made her unpopular. When there is a second murder, it puts her in even deeper water, enlarges the cracks in her marriage, and damages the relationship with her son. She becomes the scapegoat for every small incident. Help comes from unexpected quarters. Together with Anne, a septuagenarian and the head of the HOA, Sally-Claire, a member of the “Mommy Mafia", and her loyal canine, Sid, Margot tries to solve the case before the book is thrown at her.
Overall, I liked the book, the humor, the wit, and the quirky characters. The writing was a bit busy, with side plots of the contest, the name-dropping, and the activist streak slowing the pace in places. It explores themes of family, friendship, community, suburban living, bullying, environmental concerns, choices, and finding purpose. There is also the question of doing something bad for a good purpose, which I didn’t agree with.
I didn’t like most of the characters except Anne. I liked Sally-Claire once she grew a backbone. I had a hard time relating to Margot at first. I am all for adopting dogs and against the dog-breeding industry, but Margot was too radical for me with her insane actions, judgmental attitude, and righteous mindset. I thought the event leading to the estrangement with the daughter was unbelievable and a bit of a stretch. Two years without contact seemed too much for such an event. I also didn’t like Margot’s husband and his lack of support. He was a weak character, all said and done.
I liked that all three women went through personal developments. Despite their differences, they managed to find common ground in their shared sense of feeling adrift and eventually found new purpose in their lives. The author went to great lengths to present Margot as an outsider, turning her into an unlikeable and over-the-top character. I understood why Margot acted the way she did, but her characterization often felt overdone. Many times I wanted to shake her and bring her to her senses. “Don’t judge a book by its cover” fits here to a tee, and I liked the gradual revealing of the women’s personalities. They had more sides to them than first appeared at a glance.
All in all, this was a good read, just not quite as great as I expected. I appreciated the mystery and disliked how the town pinned the murders on Margot simply because she didn’t fit their expectations and beliefs. I did enjoy the character growth and the twists. I didn’t guess the identity of the murderer, always a bonus, and was satisfied with the conclusion. The mystery kept me guessing even when Margot drove me up the wall. I rate the book 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to fans of witty, humorous cozy mysteries.
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* Review on my blog: https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2026...
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC for review. To be published April 4, 2026.
3 stars
The blurb for this book describes it as a cozy mystery and I agree with that, but I know some cozy fans don’t like any sign of bad language (which means they wouldn’t like me either, now that I think about it) and there is some here.
The book features Margot, a social justice warrior who is now the ultimate fish out of water after moving from DC to a small South Carolina town. She has run afoul of the ladies of the town more than once and now she must defend herself against murder allegations amid the taping of a reality show about those grownup mean girls and their spoiled designer dogs (the dogs are actually lovely, BTW.)
The book is fun, despite the fact that Margot is a bit of an idiot. I really would have enjoyed it more had she not been such a bumbler who makes a wrong turn nearly every time she is given the opportunity. I get that she is meant to be the heroine, but sometimes I wanted to punch her.
However, for me, the book was saved by the delightful Ann, whom I loved. She is the town’s elder stateswoman, who smokes with zero f*cks (see how I was nice enough not to type the actual word? Am I turning over a new leaf? No. No, I am not.) given and uses a Taser on squirrels out her window all while wearing Chanel. Now HERE is a hero. This is the woman I want to be. I don’t smoke, but maybe I should think about it?
3 stars
The blurb for this book describes it as a cozy mystery and I agree with that, but I know some cozy fans don’t like any sign of bad language (which means they wouldn’t like me either, now that I think about it) and there is some here.
The book features Margot, a social justice warrior who is now the ultimate fish out of water after moving from DC to a small South Carolina town. She has run afoul of the ladies of the town more than once and now she must defend herself against murder allegations amid the taping of a reality show about those grownup mean girls and their spoiled designer dogs (the dogs are actually lovely, BTW.)
The book is fun, despite the fact that Margot is a bit of an idiot. I really would have enjoyed it more had she not been such a bumbler who makes a wrong turn nearly every time she is given the opportunity. I get that she is meant to be the heroine, but sometimes I wanted to punch her.
However, for me, the book was saved by the delightful Ann, whom I loved. She is the town’s elder stateswoman, who smokes with zero f*cks (see how I was nice enough not to type the actual word? Am I turning over a new leaf? No. No, I am not.) given and uses a Taser on squirrels out her window all while wearing Chanel. Now HERE is a hero. This is the woman I want to be. I don’t smoke, but maybe I should think about it?
August 22, 2026
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Margot Cartwright moved from Washington, D.C., to Glenville, South Carolina, with her family to live in her husband’s parents’ home, which he inherited. Margot had been an activist in D.C., but her protests haven’t gone over well in Glenville. She just didn’t fit in the fur-baby-forward town. Every woman in town seemed to be focused on getting their pups on Pawsh, a reality TV show for couture canines. Margot’s dog, Sid Vicious, a lovable mutt, didn’t fit the show’s specifications, but even if he did, she would never want him on a stupid reality show. Okay, she did steal some yard signs promoting the show, but she eventually gave them back. Her actions made her even more of a social pariah in her community.
Then, in a crazy circumstance, a local dog walker was killed when an elaborate Halloween display featuring several Home Depot skeletons and Amazon’s entire inventory of autumnal decor ran over him. Immediately, everyone points their fingers at Margot for setting the tragic incident in motion.
In an effort to get to the bottom of the crime, Margot gains two friends, Anne and Sally-Claire, who want to help her clear her name. Can they solve the case? Or is Margot going to jail for a murder she didn’t commit?
I enjoyed this book so much, but I want to be clear: it is not a cozy mystery; the explicit language and scenes bounce it right out of that genre. That being said, it is campy, funny, original, full of pop culture references, and dogs and their somewhat deranged owners.
Margot Cartwright is not a happy camper. She considers public disruption an art form and herself Leonardo da Vinci. She was in her element in D.C. with her activist friends. In Glendale, she is on her own and terribly misunderstood. The town doesn’t even recycle! Glendale is also where she lost her daughter due to an incident that drove Sadie to pack her bags and move away, cutting off all contact with her family. Her son, Harrison, is embarrassed by his mom’s actions, while her husband Richard tries to be supportive, but the murder charge pushes his limits. Her dog, Sid Vicious, is a comfort and always by her side.
Margot did have a history of clashing with the victim, Boomer, the elite dog walker and Glendale influencer with Hollywood connections. He helped bring the reality show Pawsh to the dog-centric Glendale, and his death has sent the Mommy Mafia over the edge. They are “stupendously obsessed” with their AKC-registered dogs. All of them are contestants on the show trying to win the $250,000 prize. They are all pressing for Margot to be collared for Boomer’s murder. Margot has no canine in the game; what would she gain from Boomer’s death?
I loved when Margot truly met her neighbor Anne Gordon. Anne, a septuagenarian widow and the HOA President, who is determined to keep her job. Then become close as she wants to help Margot in any way she can. Anne has all the spy tools and some wacky ideas to do just that. Later, Sally-Claire Foster, a member of the Mommy Mafia, has had enough of her “friends”. She knows Margot is innocent and is ready to help her prove it. Oh my stars, these ladies had me laughing out loud, so much I had tears in my eyes. The antics, the banter, the comedic timing were all priceless. Plus, readers are kept guessing: WHO KILLED BOOMER?
Murder Bites is a hilarious story with heart. Filled with entertaining characters, crazy capers, a marvelous mystery, with a side of family drama, dogs, dogs, and more dogs, this story has it all. The final takedown was absolutely hysterical! I can’t believe this is Mimi Montgomery’s first novel. This book was a wild ride, and I enjoyed every minute.
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 Bantam Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
*This book contains explicit language and scenes.
Margot Cartwright moved from Washington, D.C., to Glenville, South Carolina, with her family to live in her husband’s parents’ home, which he inherited. Margot had been an activist in D.C., but her protests haven’t gone over well in Glenville. She just didn’t fit in the fur-baby-forward town. Every woman in town seemed to be focused on getting their pups on Pawsh, a reality TV show for couture canines. Margot’s dog, Sid Vicious, a lovable mutt, didn’t fit the show’s specifications, but even if he did, she would never want him on a stupid reality show. Okay, she did steal some yard signs promoting the show, but she eventually gave them back. Her actions made her even more of a social pariah in her community.
Then, in a crazy circumstance, a local dog walker was killed when an elaborate Halloween display featuring several Home Depot skeletons and Amazon’s entire inventory of autumnal decor ran over him. Immediately, everyone points their fingers at Margot for setting the tragic incident in motion.
In an effort to get to the bottom of the crime, Margot gains two friends, Anne and Sally-Claire, who want to help her clear her name. Can they solve the case? Or is Margot going to jail for a murder she didn’t commit?
I enjoyed this book so much, but I want to be clear: it is not a cozy mystery; the explicit language and scenes bounce it right out of that genre. That being said, it is campy, funny, original, full of pop culture references, and dogs and their somewhat deranged owners.
Margot Cartwright is not a happy camper. She considers public disruption an art form and herself Leonardo da Vinci. She was in her element in D.C. with her activist friends. In Glendale, she is on her own and terribly misunderstood. The town doesn’t even recycle! Glendale is also where she lost her daughter due to an incident that drove Sadie to pack her bags and move away, cutting off all contact with her family. Her son, Harrison, is embarrassed by his mom’s actions, while her husband Richard tries to be supportive, but the murder charge pushes his limits. Her dog, Sid Vicious, is a comfort and always by her side.
Margot did have a history of clashing with the victim, Boomer, the elite dog walker and Glendale influencer with Hollywood connections. He helped bring the reality show Pawsh to the dog-centric Glendale, and his death has sent the Mommy Mafia over the edge. They are “stupendously obsessed” with their AKC-registered dogs. All of them are contestants on the show trying to win the $250,000 prize. They are all pressing for Margot to be collared for Boomer’s murder. Margot has no canine in the game; what would she gain from Boomer’s death?
I loved when Margot truly met her neighbor Anne Gordon. Anne, a septuagenarian widow and the HOA President, who is determined to keep her job. Then become close as she wants to help Margot in any way she can. Anne has all the spy tools and some wacky ideas to do just that. Later, Sally-Claire Foster, a member of the Mommy Mafia, has had enough of her “friends”. She knows Margot is innocent and is ready to help her prove it. Oh my stars, these ladies had me laughing out loud, so much I had tears in my eyes. The antics, the banter, the comedic timing were all priceless. Plus, readers are kept guessing: WHO KILLED BOOMER?
Murder Bites is a hilarious story with heart. Filled with entertaining characters, crazy capers, a marvelous mystery, with a side of family drama, dogs, dogs, and more dogs, this story has it all. The final takedown was absolutely hysterical! I can’t believe this is Mimi Montgomery’s first novel. This book was a wild ride, and I enjoyed every minute.
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 Bantam Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
*This book contains explicit language and scenes.
September 30, 2026
I am such a sucker for a great doggie story and this one sounded like a really good one. Meh. Total transparency, I struggled with this story and never really got into it. Every time I picked it up to read, 20-30min later I was closing it and looking for something else on my reading list to read.
The book summary pretty much lays out the entire primary storyline of Margo becoming the town outcast because of her holier than thou attitude and behavior of demeaning anyone who isn’t like her. Granted, I too found the Mommy Mafia annoying af, but their attitudes and antics were actually much more entertaining than Margo’s. For me, the only redeeming character was Anne who added entertainment value to every scene she was in. Sid Vicious was, of course, adorable.
There was a secondary storyline too of Margo’s daughter, Sadie, who left home two years ago after graduating from high school and has ghosted her family ever since. Seems in Margo’s effort to be the “cool mom” she actually outs Sadie in front of dozens of neighbors, mortifying Sadie, who leaves shortly thereafter. Margo is painfully remorse for what she did to Sadie and misses her very much and wishes she knew where Sadie was so that she could apologize to her.
The character development of Margo, Anne, and Sally-Claire was well done; everyone else was just a talking head, except Sadie. The pacing was slow and, once again, it took me a while to finish the book. The storyline was ok, but not that engaging, I think that contributed to my lack of interest. I’m at a loss as to what to say about the writing. Enough said. I’m looking at an overall rating of 2.8 that I will round up to a 3star review because at least I finished it and didn’t DNF it. I want to thank NetGalley and Ballantine for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #Ballantine #MurderBites
The book summary pretty much lays out the entire primary storyline of Margo becoming the town outcast because of her holier than thou attitude and behavior of demeaning anyone who isn’t like her. Granted, I too found the Mommy Mafia annoying af, but their attitudes and antics were actually much more entertaining than Margo’s. For me, the only redeeming character was Anne who added entertainment value to every scene she was in. Sid Vicious was, of course, adorable.
There was a secondary storyline too of Margo’s daughter, Sadie, who left home two years ago after graduating from high school and has ghosted her family ever since. Seems in Margo’s effort to be the “cool mom” she actually outs Sadie in front of dozens of neighbors, mortifying Sadie, who leaves shortly thereafter. Margo is painfully remorse for what she did to Sadie and misses her very much and wishes she knew where Sadie was so that she could apologize to her.
The character development of Margo, Anne, and Sally-Claire was well done; everyone else was just a talking head, except Sadie. The pacing was slow and, once again, it took me a while to finish the book. The storyline was ok, but not that engaging, I think that contributed to my lack of interest. I’m at a loss as to what to say about the writing. Enough said. I’m looking at an overall rating of 2.8 that I will round up to a 3star review because at least I finished it and didn’t DNF it. I want to thank NetGalley and Ballantine for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #Ballantine #MurderBites
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
thank you netgalley for the arc in exchange for review!
well this was fun! super campy and darkly funny and really just a ton of fun, all while delivering a message of the importance of friendship (with both humans and dogs).
this did admittedly take me a good bit to get into - the comedy is laid on so saccharinely thick that it was hard for me to start appreciating the story behind all of the jokes. also, while i respect and imperfect character, my own Issues and Trauma™️ kept me from fully rooting for margot (especially at the end.........like youre not in a place to "forgive" your daughter for leaving if youre the one who drove her away but whatever lmao).
ultimately this was an interesting and memorable switch up from the thrillers that i usually read. i loved how the book still contained heartfelt and touching moments that highlighted the individual humanities of each character while not taking itself too seriously as a whole. this is sure to be a festive, palate-cleansing read for spooky season 2026!
well this was fun! super campy and darkly funny and really just a ton of fun, all while delivering a message of the importance of friendship (with both humans and dogs).
this did admittedly take me a good bit to get into - the comedy is laid on so saccharinely thick that it was hard for me to start appreciating the story behind all of the jokes. also, while i respect and imperfect character, my own Issues and Trauma™️ kept me from fully rooting for margot (especially at the end.........like youre not in a place to "forgive" your daughter for leaving if youre the one who drove her away but whatever lmao).
ultimately this was an interesting and memorable switch up from the thrillers that i usually read. i loved how the book still contained heartfelt and touching moments that highlighted the individual humanities of each character while not taking itself too seriously as a whole. this is sure to be a festive, palate-cleansing read for spooky season 2026!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A lot to enjoy in Murder Bites… for the right reader.
As someone who is familiar with both the Washington, DC, area and the southern US, I very much enjoyed reading about Margot’s problems blending in when she moves to Glenville, SC. One thing she does have in common with the folks in Glenville, though, is a dog, but neither Margot nor her furry Best Friend Sid Vicious is keen on being part of the reality TV show featuring dogs that is in town to film a segment. When a local dog walker is killed, newcomer Margot becomes the main suspect, and she feels she needs to investigate to clear her name.
There is a lot to enjoy in Murder Bites. The supporting characters are quirky and fun, and the subplot about the dog TV show was entertaining. And, of course, there is Margot’s need to avoid being arrested for murder.
Unfortunately, some aspects of the writing seriously affected my overall enjoyment of the book, since it pulled me out of the story. One was very frequent references to pop culture. I relax with books much more than movies or pop music or similar entertainment, and the frequent and unnecessary references to pop culture were a turnoff for me. I often I did not recognize them. In addition, when I see the f-word in the first paragraph, it clues me that the language of the book may not suit my reading taste. I was right.
If you do not have the same problem with the writing style that I did, though, you can find a quite a bit of reading pleasure in Murder Bites.
I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley and Bantam Books.
As someone who is familiar with both the Washington, DC, area and the southern US, I very much enjoyed reading about Margot’s problems blending in when she moves to Glenville, SC. One thing she does have in common with the folks in Glenville, though, is a dog, but neither Margot nor her furry Best Friend Sid Vicious is keen on being part of the reality TV show featuring dogs that is in town to film a segment. When a local dog walker is killed, newcomer Margot becomes the main suspect, and she feels she needs to investigate to clear her name.
There is a lot to enjoy in Murder Bites. The supporting characters are quirky and fun, and the subplot about the dog TV show was entertaining. And, of course, there is Margot’s need to avoid being arrested for murder.
Unfortunately, some aspects of the writing seriously affected my overall enjoyment of the book, since it pulled me out of the story. One was very frequent references to pop culture. I relax with books much more than movies or pop music or similar entertainment, and the frequent and unnecessary references to pop culture were a turnoff for me. I often I did not recognize them. In addition, when I see the f-word in the first paragraph, it clues me that the language of the book may not suit my reading taste. I was right.
If you do not have the same problem with the writing style that I did, though, you can find a quite a bit of reading pleasure in Murder Bites.
I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley and Bantam Books.
September 4, 2026
Read the first 88 pages, skipped to last chapter to find out who did it, and gave the book away to my local little library.
I really really wanted to like this. It's right up my alley. It's very cute and has a fun premise. But I just could not get into it.
I didn't care about Margot. I didn't care about any of the characters. And there were just so many weird inconsistencies. If the book takes place in present day, and Margot has a teenage son, why is he referencing John Hughes movies? But it makes sense since the author has the characters using language like "beeotch" and "fab" as if this was the early 2000s.
Anyway, it wasn't as fun as I wanted it to be. And finding out who did it was underwhelming.
But that's okay because not every book is for me and it doesn't have to be. This book has great reviews on this site and people love it. And I'm glad that they do. I hope this author does really well.
I really really wanted to like this. It's right up my alley. It's very cute and has a fun premise. But I just could not get into it.
I didn't care about Margot. I didn't care about any of the characters. And there were just so many weird inconsistencies. If the book takes place in present day, and Margot has a teenage son, why is he referencing John Hughes movies? But it makes sense since the author has the characters using language like "beeotch" and "fab" as if this was the early 2000s.
Anyway, it wasn't as fun as I wanted it to be. And finding out who did it was underwhelming.
But that's okay because not every book is for me and it doesn't have to be. This book has great reviews on this site and people love it. And I'm glad that they do. I hope this author does really well.
Did Not Finish
September 2, 2026i had looked forward to this for so long :/
i hate it when books misrepresent activism. this here screams girl boss, refillable bottles and currated insta slides. girl, check your privilege, read the communist manifesto and get peoperly organized. this shit is ridiculous - couldn't get through 5 minutes
i hate it when books misrepresent activism. this here screams girl boss, refillable bottles and currated insta slides. girl, check your privilege, read the communist manifesto and get peoperly organized. this shit is ridiculous - couldn't get through 5 minutes
September 6, 2026
This was almost amazing.
The positives (paw-sitives?):
Mimi Montgomery is a fantastic writer. The story is witty, acerbic, and wonderfully weird. If it weren't for the issues I had with the way the novel played out, this could have been phenomenal.
BUT
The misses:
This is a story about dog reality show murder that is over 300 pages long. There are not over 300 pages of story to tell. Three times while reading this I had to check how much was left because my main thought was "this HAS to be wrapping up soon...right?" (I was wrong).
Margot, the main protagonist, is deeply unlikable, which I'm usually down with. However, somewhere through the halfway point we're supposed to believe she's undergone a redemption arc. She hasn't.
Instead, we get to watch her pivot from self absorbed and angry to self absorbed and self pitying. Other characters encouragingly state things like they never realized Margot had such "ooey gooey goodness" inside of her, or that she taught them all the real meaning of what it is to live. But she remains pretty awful throughout.
Then, there are The Inconsistencies:
Each of the POV characters' internal monologues sounds like a millennial writing a Buzzfeed article.
Margot is meant to be an overeducated, performatively liberal DC Gen Xer. Somehow, she has the exact same phrasing and interiority as Southern Millennial Craft Mom Sally-Claire.
We're meant to seriously believe Anne, a woman in her 70s who calls it "the Ticky Tock" has an internal monologue that consists of the words "dude," "roomies," and "twerking." This character, who has neither dogs nor grandchildren, also refers to BabyBjorns and Thundershirts by the brand names.
I will say, the murderer reveal was top notch and so much of this story was fun and razor-sharp. Without the limping side story that took up a third of the book, it would have been sharper AND a lot more fun.
The positives (paw-sitives?):
Mimi Montgomery is a fantastic writer. The story is witty, acerbic, and wonderfully weird. If it weren't for the issues I had with the way the novel played out, this could have been phenomenal.
BUT
The misses:
This is a story about dog reality show murder that is over 300 pages long. There are not over 300 pages of story to tell. Three times while reading this I had to check how much was left because my main thought was "this HAS to be wrapping up soon...right?" (I was wrong).
Margot, the main protagonist, is deeply unlikable, which I'm usually down with. However, somewhere through the halfway point we're supposed to believe she's undergone a redemption arc. She hasn't.
Instead, we get to watch her pivot from self absorbed and angry to self absorbed and self pitying. Other characters encouragingly state things like they never realized Margot had such "ooey gooey goodness" inside of her, or that she taught them all the real meaning of what it is to live. But she remains pretty awful throughout.
Then, there are The Inconsistencies:
Each of the POV characters' internal monologues sounds like a millennial writing a Buzzfeed article.
Margot is meant to be an overeducated, performatively liberal DC Gen Xer. Somehow, she has the exact same phrasing and interiority as Southern Millennial Craft Mom Sally-Claire.
We're meant to seriously believe Anne, a woman in her 70s who calls it "the Ticky Tock" has an internal monologue that consists of the words "dude," "roomies," and "twerking." This character, who has neither dogs nor grandchildren, also refers to BabyBjorns and Thundershirts by the brand names.
I will say, the murderer reveal was top notch and so much of this story was fun and razor-sharp. Without the limping side story that took up a third of the book, it would have been sharper AND a lot more fun.
September 26, 2026
Audiobook 🎧
September 9, 2026
I usually like quirky books, but this one just wasn't for me. I couldn't connect with the characters and didn't find any of them particularly likable. The moms should have been close to my age (40s) but acted/sounded much younger. there were some great analogies sprinkled in that made me pause and think "OK, that was really clever"... but other than that I didn't really get the supposed humor of this story. But maybe those who are dog-obsessed IRL will get it.
2.5 stars
Thank you to Ballantine | Bantam and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
2.5 stars
Thank you to Ballantine | Bantam and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
August 23, 2026
this was fine. i wanted to love it, but alas many parts of it fell flat for me. while there were a lot of funny parts with quirky strange characters, a good majority of the book felt like it just dragged on and i was asking myself when something of importance was going to happen. i enjoyed the eclectic murder mystery of it all within this strange small town in south carolina, but i wanted more from it.
Read
August 11, 2026I was unable to finish this book -- a DNF. I tried but found that it wasn't the book for me. Perhaps it was because I didn't like the main character, Margot. She's not only a hot mess but inconsiderate and selfish. Now, I'm sure there was a redemption arc as the book comes to an end but by the midpoint of the book I found I didn't care.
I'm sure there are many who will enjoy this book. It's well written with some interesting characters. It just wasn't the right book for me.
Thank you to Ballantine, Mimi Montgomery, and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC to read in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed above are my own.
I'm sure there are many who will enjoy this book. It's well written with some interesting characters. It just wasn't the right book for me.
Thank you to Ballantine, Mimi Montgomery, and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC to read in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed above are my own.
September 27, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
Murder Bites.
First, cute cover and title.
Second, I love dogs which is the main reason I requested this ARC.
Third, the premise is pretty cozy-ish, with the murders happening off-screen.
Cozy mysteries aren't my jam but there's a dog on the cover!
The narrative features the usual small-town vibes and standard tropes of mean cliques and underestimated characters.
Margot was really unlikeable and I never warmed up to her, not even at the end.
I felt the author was trying too hard to make her a 'rebel' with her rock band shirts and her activism and her rah rah sis boom bah attitude.
The narrative kept circling back to the fact that she’s a “city slicker” after moving into a small town where her husband went back to run the family’s bank.
Their family home being 'paid off' mentioned several times—which means they can save plenty of money for their children's college educations.
Margot is clearly emotionally unhinged; she accuses every other person of murder based on circumstantial evidence and her own suspicions and lousy gut instincts.
The mystery was…okay.
Margot is framed for the murders and a part of me wanted her to be arrested only because she was so annoying and I wanted her out of the narrative.
Naturally, she finds herself with “two unlikely people who become allies" who end up becoming the friends she so desperately needs.
Margot also desperately needs therapy sessions 3x a week.
The part I liked most was the ending—when her kids all came together to help.
The writing was okay, but it did feel repetitive and the narrative dragged with Margot and her friends engaging in Nancy Drew-like shenanigans but with a lot less professionalism than Ms. Drew.
The tone was kind of mean-ish or perhaps it was just from Margot being the way she is.
I didn't like or care about anyone.
Except the dogs. Dogs over people.
First, cute cover and title.
Second, I love dogs which is the main reason I requested this ARC.
Third, the premise is pretty cozy-ish, with the murders happening off-screen.
Cozy mysteries aren't my jam but there's a dog on the cover!
The narrative features the usual small-town vibes and standard tropes of mean cliques and underestimated characters.
Margot was really unlikeable and I never warmed up to her, not even at the end.
I felt the author was trying too hard to make her a 'rebel' with her rock band shirts and her activism and her rah rah sis boom bah attitude.
The narrative kept circling back to the fact that she’s a “city slicker” after moving into a small town where her husband went back to run the family’s bank.
Their family home being 'paid off' mentioned several times—which means they can save plenty of money for their children's college educations.
Margot is clearly emotionally unhinged; she accuses every other person of murder based on circumstantial evidence and her own suspicions and lousy gut instincts.
The mystery was…okay.
Margot is framed for the murders and a part of me wanted her to be arrested only because she was so annoying and I wanted her out of the narrative.
Naturally, she finds herself with “two unlikely people who become allies" who end up becoming the friends she so desperately needs.
Margot also desperately needs therapy sessions 3x a week.
The part I liked most was the ending—when her kids all came together to help.
The writing was okay, but it did feel repetitive and the narrative dragged with Margot and her friends engaging in Nancy Drew-like shenanigans but with a lot less professionalism than Ms. Drew.
The tone was kind of mean-ish or perhaps it was just from Margot being the way she is.
I didn't like or care about anyone.
Except the dogs. Dogs over people.
September 13, 2026
2.5 to 3. I enjoyed the friendship that was developed between the 3 main characters of this but the mystery was lacking for me. It felt like the investigation was basically the 3 main characters going down the minor character list, accusing someone in an elaborate confrontation, getting proof and exposition from the accused on why it couldn’t be them, and then onto the next person on the list.
September 2, 2026
Don’t piss me off. Not a he or ha to be had.
September 24, 2026
Murder Bites is a cute, cozy mystery with lots of humor, friendship, and sweet moments. I had low hopes, but this book far surpassed my expectations. Plus, I correctly guessed the murderer within the first 30 pages, so I of course had to give this 5 stars ;)
May 3, 2026
This one was such a fun cozy mystery and I had a really good time reading it.It follows Margot who’s basically miserable after being forced to move from D.C. to this super dog obsessed small town in South Carolina. She already doesn’t fit in but things get way worse when the local dog walker is murdered in this bizarre Halloween setup and somehow Margot ends up the main suspect. So naturally she decides to investigate and clear her name.I loved how quirky this was. The town is full of over the top personalities (like the HOA queen and the picture perfect mom friend), and the whole reality show for fancy dogs subplot just makes everything feel extra ridiculous but in the I love this kind of way lol. Margot herself is kind of sarcastic and over it all which made her really fun to follow.The mystery kept me interested, but the characters and small town drama were the highlight for me. It’s one of those cozy mysteries that doesn’t take itself too seriously and just goes into the drama.super entertaining especially for my cozy murder mystery lovers, a little unhinged, and perfect if you want something light, funny, and a bit murdery.
August 9, 2026
Exactly the sort of wholesome, funny, pet-centered murder mystery that my Southern Belle mama would've absolutely adored. Felt like the book version of a movie we would've devoured together alongside Doves and Dairy Queen. Given that, and my recent bad luck with books that somehow embody the worst traits of the protagonist Margot (unfocused, meanspirited, self righteous, smug in the way only someone from the East Coast can be), reading this was a breath of fresh air.
There's SO many things I liked, from the characters to the descriptions to the humor...but also a lot of things that made me go into Editor mode, writing actual physical notes inside the book (blasphemy, I know) so I wouldn't forget. Nothing criminal but made me think "ughhh this would be close to perfect if only...."
It's unlikely Mimi Montgomery will ever read this, but if she does, I hope she knows the following critiques come from a place of absolutely wanting to read more of her work, and wanting to see it improve.
1) SHOW DON'T TELL. There is an absolutely insane amount of "telling" all throughout this novel. Mainly it shows up with character emotions, like just saying "she was happy" "she was sad" "she was a caricature of an angry person" followed by a body language description that absolutely could've stood on its own (clenched fists, set jaw, etc).
There were also several times a really obvious plot twist or commonly known information was told to the reader via forced character dialogue. Without revealing spoilers, one of these had to do with a certain animal being "poisonous" (first of all, it's "venomous", second of all, no shit, everyone knows that, and the characters in this setting would ESPECIALLY know that and wouldn't feel the need to state it aloud).
Exposition like character names, appearances, and backstories were also repeated to the reader when it was 100% not necessary. Unless the reader is taking weeklong breaks between chapters, I guess. Which I certainly wasn't. I don't know if the author received Netflix level, second-screen writing advice from a bad editor, or if she just forgot she'd told us several times already who Quinn is, what her dog's name and breed is, how blue everyone's eyes are (seriously, it was almost every character! I get this town is super white but damn!), why Margot is in Glenville, or how much she loves her husband's idealism (again, would've been better to just SEE that characteristic in Richard rather than be told about it, given how nonexistent of a character he is otherwise). Either way, it's just not good writing practice. If some readers missed obvious information because they weren't paying attention, that's on them. The rest of us already picked up what you were putting down.
2.) Pick a lane when it comes to "adult content". Cursing, sex, all of it. Because I saw one review complaining about seeing the word "fuck" on the first page, and I just laughed because I was annoyed far more by the overwhelming number of "fricks". And one case of an entirely unironic "H-E-double-hockey-sticks", said by an adult, to an adult. It really felt like there was a PG-13 rating enforced here, like careful, you can only say "fuck" once every ten chapters...! "Well, some people curse and others don't" I hear you say, and to that I say, sure! It makes sense for SOME grown ass adults to use cutesy euphemisms in SOME situations, but most of them, most of the time? In a book that also has a graphic sex scene? Come on.
On that note....
3.) Multiple POVs need to be distinct. Why is 77 year old Anne, who doesn't even know who Kurt Cobain is (kind of a stretch if you ask me but whatever), suddenly making an Indigo Girls reference? Why does she and Sally-Claire both have inner monologues that carry the exact same quippy cadence as Margot's?
Those are my main, big picture critiques, though there are definitely a lot more things that felt forced for plot reasons, or just left me scratching my head (a young, tech savvy character using the universal emoji combination for sex in response to...discovering a clue? Is this supposed to be a subtle reveal that this character is a nympho, or does the author somehow not know what an eggplant symbolizes?). I won't keep harping on the negatives though. Because again, I mostly had a good time reading this. While I did predict one aspect of the murder the second it happened, I did not see the actual killer coming at ALL. The ending was sweet and satisfying, and all throughout, there were plenty of moments that made me cackle. Warts and all, it was still a good read.
There's SO many things I liked, from the characters to the descriptions to the humor...but also a lot of things that made me go into Editor mode, writing actual physical notes inside the book (blasphemy, I know) so I wouldn't forget. Nothing criminal but made me think "ughhh this would be close to perfect if only...."
It's unlikely Mimi Montgomery will ever read this, but if she does, I hope she knows the following critiques come from a place of absolutely wanting to read more of her work, and wanting to see it improve.
1) SHOW DON'T TELL. There is an absolutely insane amount of "telling" all throughout this novel. Mainly it shows up with character emotions, like just saying "she was happy" "she was sad" "she was a caricature of an angry person" followed by a body language description that absolutely could've stood on its own (clenched fists, set jaw, etc).
There were also several times a really obvious plot twist or commonly known information was told to the reader via forced character dialogue. Without revealing spoilers, one of these had to do with a certain animal being "poisonous" (first of all, it's "venomous", second of all, no shit, everyone knows that, and the characters in this setting would ESPECIALLY know that and wouldn't feel the need to state it aloud).
Exposition like character names, appearances, and backstories were also repeated to the reader when it was 100% not necessary. Unless the reader is taking weeklong breaks between chapters, I guess. Which I certainly wasn't. I don't know if the author received Netflix level, second-screen writing advice from a bad editor, or if she just forgot she'd told us several times already who Quinn is, what her dog's name and breed is, how blue everyone's eyes are (seriously, it was almost every character! I get this town is super white but damn!), why Margot is in Glenville, or how much she loves her husband's idealism (again, would've been better to just SEE that characteristic in Richard rather than be told about it, given how nonexistent of a character he is otherwise). Either way, it's just not good writing practice. If some readers missed obvious information because they weren't paying attention, that's on them. The rest of us already picked up what you were putting down.
2.) Pick a lane when it comes to "adult content". Cursing, sex, all of it. Because I saw one review complaining about seeing the word "fuck" on the first page, and I just laughed because I was annoyed far more by the overwhelming number of "fricks". And one case of an entirely unironic "H-E-double-hockey-sticks", said by an adult, to an adult. It really felt like there was a PG-13 rating enforced here, like careful, you can only say "fuck" once every ten chapters...! "Well, some people curse and others don't" I hear you say, and to that I say, sure! It makes sense for SOME grown ass adults to use cutesy euphemisms in SOME situations, but most of them, most of the time? In a book that also has a graphic sex scene? Come on.
On that note....
3.) Multiple POVs need to be distinct. Why is 77 year old Anne, who doesn't even know who Kurt Cobain is (kind of a stretch if you ask me but whatever), suddenly making an Indigo Girls reference? Why does she and Sally-Claire both have inner monologues that carry the exact same quippy cadence as Margot's?
Those are my main, big picture critiques, though there are definitely a lot more things that felt forced for plot reasons, or just left me scratching my head (a young, tech savvy character using the universal emoji combination for sex in response to...discovering a clue? Is this supposed to be a subtle reveal that this character is a nympho, or does the author somehow not know what an eggplant symbolizes?). I won't keep harping on the negatives though. Because again, I mostly had a good time reading this. While I did predict one aspect of the murder the second it happened, I did not see the actual killer coming at ALL. The ending was sweet and satisfying, and all throughout, there were plenty of moments that made me cackle. Warts and all, it was still a good read.
September 6, 2026
It seems like I’m a sucker for books about three suburban women becoming unlikely friends while solving murders. Murder Bites is very that, but I thought it was way better than most books with that trope.
For all intents and purposes, this is a cozy mystery. It’s got a little more sex and profanity than a typical cozy, but it still fits the subgenre pretty easily. The mystery/humor ratio was on point, it’s well-paced, and the three MCs are distinct and likable. If Montgomery decides this needs a sequel, I’m seated for it.
This hits for me on a lot of points that make me love a book- female friendships, dry humor, a sassy old broad, likable protagonists, and murder. It gives Marlow Murder Club vibes, so if you’re into that series, you’d probably dig this book.
This is a 4.5. The one real strike against it is that I felt like Margot’s husband was a real piece of shit and the novel never actually reckons with that (so maybe it’s just me?).
I was torn whether to round up or round down for my star rating…but I’ve read so many mid-to-bad mysteries this year, that finding one I genuinely had fun reading made me decide to round it up to a 5.
For all intents and purposes, this is a cozy mystery. It’s got a little more sex and profanity than a typical cozy, but it still fits the subgenre pretty easily. The mystery/humor ratio was on point, it’s well-paced, and the three MCs are distinct and likable. If Montgomery decides this needs a sequel, I’m seated for it.
This hits for me on a lot of points that make me love a book- female friendships, dry humor, a sassy old broad, likable protagonists, and murder. It gives Marlow Murder Club vibes, so if you’re into that series, you’d probably dig this book.
This is a 4.5. The one real strike against it is that I felt like Margot’s husband was a real piece of shit and the novel never actually reckons with that (so maybe it’s just me?).
I was torn whether to round up or round down for my star rating…but I’ve read so many mid-to-bad mysteries this year, that finding one I genuinely had fun reading made me decide to round it up to a 5.
October 2, 2026
Full of sterotypes. Self-consciously 'quirky' which is always a risk and in this case does not come off.
The moral of the story which we are beaten around the head with is "don't judge people who are shallow consumerists and bullies" and then hypocritically there is a whole lot of judgy stereotypical 'humour' about vegans and greenies.
Like which is it? Are we doing liberal tolerance or are we hating on people different than us?
Just in case you miss the heavy-handed moral, after we found out whodunnit there is a chapter more of "love is all you need" coda. Not that I was able to care whodunnit (I have thoughts about the authors choice of demographics around that but don't want to introduce a spoiler).
I think it's supposed to be funny in a U. S coded way. Who decides to publish this instead of the better stuff that gets knocked back?
The moral of the story which we are beaten around the head with is "don't judge people who are shallow consumerists and bullies" and then hypocritically there is a whole lot of judgy stereotypical 'humour' about vegans and greenies.
Like which is it? Are we doing liberal tolerance or are we hating on people different than us?
Just in case you miss the heavy-handed moral, after we found out whodunnit there is a chapter more of "love is all you need" coda. Not that I was able to care whodunnit (I have thoughts about the authors choice of demographics around that but don't want to introduce a spoiler).
I think it's supposed to be funny in a U. S coded way. Who decides to publish this instead of the better stuff that gets knocked back?
August 5, 2026
A satirical novel set in a small town in the south where everyone is dog obsessed to the point there's a reality show based on dogs being filmed there. I enjoyed the cozy mystery and went in with an open mind that what happened in the novel was not suppose to be taken too seriously. It is important to note that the characters are all flawed in their own and we cannot make assumptions about anyone because you don't know what they're going through until you get to know them. The female friendship between Margot, Anne and Sally-Claire was so satisfying to read about because it is the most unlikeliest of friendship.
I recommend Murder Bites for any reader that likes dogs and would be invested in a murder mystery but with a satirical twist.
I recommend Murder Bites for any reader that likes dogs and would be invested in a murder mystery but with a satirical twist.
August 30, 2026
This was a very slow start for me and I honestly wanted to dnf the book until I met Ann. I hated the MFC, she got on my last nerves. I get the whole loving eco friendly vibe, because that’s how I live. However, I do not find it okay to bash other people for their choices to not live that way. There is a way to educate people but not bash them and then turn yourself into a pariah and eliminate yourself from said neighborhood. But maybe that was the point/premise of the book? It was just off putting and left a bad taste for me.
Once Ann got involved things became lighter and a lot funnier. I laughed out loud a few times.
This to me is cozy-ish, it has all the cozy elements but with a lot more storyline. Which from what I have been reading seems to be where cozy mysteries are headed.
I did think I knew who the killer was, but I was wrong, as usual. Lol
Once Ann got involved things became lighter and a lot funnier. I laughed out loud a few times.
This to me is cozy-ish, it has all the cozy elements but with a lot more storyline. Which from what I have been reading seems to be where cozy mysteries are headed.
I did think I knew who the killer was, but I was wrong, as usual. Lol
October 10, 2026
Oh, I wanted to like this book more than I did. The set up is fun -- a local liberal woman, Margot, is stuck living in a conservative SC town that is going bonkers to host a canine reality TV show. When one of the people associated with the show ends up dying in a suspicious accident - all eyes point to Margot.
This promising premise gets lost amid an over-the-top caricaturization of everyone, protagonists and antagonists alike.
This promising premise gets lost amid an over-the-top caricaturization of everyone, protagonists and antagonists alike.
October 7, 2026
I chose this book because it was a dog related mystery. At first, I wasn't too sure if I'd like it, because the main character annoyed me. But as I got into the story, and Margot got her team of friends, I had a hard time putting it down. I especially loved Anne - what a great character! There were some funny moments, and some tender ones. And I'm glad I read it!
August 28, 2026
The most fun, kooky, zany, laugh-out-loud funny murder mystery!! A lovable cast of characters, some absolutely unhinged scenarios that gave me strong second-hand embarrassment, and a nice heartwarming lesson/ending. Must read!!!
September 3, 2026
It's such a silly fun little murder mystery, kind of gives Thursday Murder Club vibes yet very different setting. It's in a town where everyone is obsessed about their tiny purebreed dogs, and our main character is a very proud activist with her rescue mix, and she does not fit in to say the least so when the dog walker gets murder all eyes turns to her. She befriends the nosy HOA elder who also happens to be the only one who thinks she didn't do it to solve the murder before she gets put behind for a crime she didn't commit.
The book is lightbearted yet has commentary on isolation, self sabotage, toxic cliques, not fitting in, personal growth, and mending wounds you caused.
The book is lightbearted yet has commentary on isolation, self sabotage, toxic cliques, not fitting in, personal growth, and mending wounds you caused.
August 29, 2026
2.5 stars. I think the right reader will enjoy this quirky, cozy mystery more than I did! The writing style and the main character weren’t my favorite.
October 7, 2026
C-
This was a fun and quirky read until it wasn't. The last third of the book was too long and ridiculous. I lost all curiosity and just wanted it to be over.
This was a fun and quirky read until it wasn't. The last third of the book was too long and ridiculous. I lost all curiosity and just wanted it to be over.
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