Murder Bites

by Mimi Montgomery

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?

Genres: Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Cozy, Cozy Mystery, Thriller, Contemporary

309 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 4, 2026

About the author

MIMI 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.

Reviews

[BookishKB · Rating 4 out of 5]

🐶🔍 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.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Bella · Rating 3 out of 5]

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!

[Angie Boyter · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Jenna T · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Elizabeth Folks · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!!!

[Devan · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Annie Bingham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was hilarious, quirky, and so fun! Go Mimi!!

[Denise Geelhart]

I 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.

[Quilted.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Kalos · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Gali · Rating 3 out of 5]

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...

[LindaPf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Debut author Mimi Montgomery imagines an over-the top doggy beauty contest/reality TV show, “Pawsh,” (envision “America’s Top Model” for dogs) and sets it in canine-obsessed Glenville, South Carolina. There are so many doggos to fall in love with (if you can disassociate them from their 1%er status fixated owners), but the author brings us a special trio of women who are very unique.

In this quirky, campy, clever, and extremely funny cozy mystery, full of lots of pop culture references, main character, town misfit and DC transplant Margot makes protesting her full time hobby in a village that doesn’t even recycle. Margot is only here because her decent, respected husband Richard has taken over the family hometown bank and is hoping Margot and their two children can find a way to fit in. Margot, however, sort of relishes her outcast status and has moved onto stealing the corny dog-themed re-election signs of Mayor Kathy Jenkins.

The “Pawsh” reality show is going to launch Glenville into the national pop culture psyche and bring in lots of tourism money. Part of that is due to hometown influencer, Boomer, owner of an elite dog-walking service, A Walk to Remember, and his LA film industry connections. Boomer’s sister, Bambi, owns Glenville’s premier pet spa, Bamboozled. Unfortunately, Boomer is killed in an outdoor Halloween display “accident” (involving 12 foot tall Home Depot skeletons holding Starbucks quadruple-Venti pumpkin spice latte cups). Unfortunately, due to a very public country club incident two years ago when Margot blamed Boomer for the subsequent disappearance/estrangement of her adult daughter, Sadie, the immediate gossip targets Margot as a possible murderer.

Margot finds herself forming unconventional alliances with Sally-Claire, of the extreme crafter community and Mommy Mafia, and Anne, the carnation-hating, but hydrangea-safeguarding HOA president (all she wants is to build a Free Little Library as her legacy), both of whom contribute their wacky POVs as well. Margot, Sally-Claire, and Anne set off to solve the presumed crime.

This is a laugh out loud book, with weird comedic scenes including the illegal trafficking of seahorses, attempted Tasering of rose-eating squirrels, and a doggie gender reveal party (gone wrong, of course). Montgomery is extremely imaginative and this a delightfully perfect book for an autumn day, accompanied by a loyal dog, and a steaming pumpkin spice latte. 4.5 stars!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Griffin has green-brown eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO But the Glenville HOA president really hates Hattie’s carnations to the point that someone is sprinkling them with salt and vinegar.

Thank you to Ballantine Bantam and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!

[Angie Miale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder Bites is one of those books that I can absolutely see finding its audience, even though parts of it didn’t completely work for me.

My biggest challenge was the humor. This book is very funny at times, but it also feels like it’s trying very hard to be funny. Nearly every character is written as a caricature, and the sarcasm and snark occasionally drifted into mean-girl territory for me. Whether that lands will depend entirely on your sense of humor. If you’re the type of reader who enjoys watching people argue in the comments section of a local news Facebook post and finds that kind of chaos entertaining, this may be right up your alley.

What worked best for me was the culture clash at the center of the story. Margot, a very self-righteous Washington, D.C., transplant, moves to a prestigious Southern community in the Carolinas where appearances, traditions, and purebred dogs reign supreme. When a dog walker is killed in spectacular Halloween fashion by a giant Home Depot skeleton, suspicion quickly falls on Margot because she’s the outsider. The setup is ridiculous in the best cozy mystery way.

I especially enjoyed the supporting cast. Anna, the 77-year-old head of the homeowners association, is an absolute force of nature—stubborn, outspoken, and impossible to ignore. The dynamic between Anna, Margot, and Sally, who is deeply embedded in the competitive dog-show culture, kept the investigation moving and added plenty of entertainment.

The small-town Southern setting reminded me a bit of Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books with its clash of personalities and competing worldviews. As a cozy mystery, the overall vibe felt closer to Jesse Q. Sutanto’s Vera Wong books, mixing eccentric characters, humor, and amateur sleuthing.

While I wasn’t completely sold on the narrative voice, Mimi Montgomery is clearly a talented writer. The characterization is memorable, the mystery itself works, and the setting feels vivid and lived-in. As a journalist with an impressive career, she certainly knows how to tell a story. I’m just not entirely convinced that this particular style of cozy mystery is the perfect fit for me.

If you enjoy quirky Southern settings, fish-out-of-water stories, eccentric amateur detectives, and a healthy dose of social satire, Murder Bites is worth a look.


Thank you to Bantam for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jessica Johnson (jess_l_lovessmut) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much PRH Audio for the gift of this physical book and audiobook. These honest opinions are all my own.

OH my heavens where do I begin with this? I got this in the mail and got so excited I started it right away knowing nothing about it. For starters, the book feels so good, I know that's weird but the material is different and I like it.

If you are looking for a book that is very real, this is not it. This is so light and funny, so please do not take this book seriously and it will be such an interesting ride. The narrator, Eileen Stevens, did this book so much justice. I believed her and really loved her as Margot, it just fit.

I fell for each of these characters so dang hard, their flaws and all. It is really what made them wonderful. They were all so different and learning from each other. Then on top of all these different personalities, there's the commotion and upheaval of a reality show FOR DOGS! I was cracking up.

Margot and Anne could not be more different, so they think; and they end up partnered together, on their own accord, to figure out what is is going on in their normally quiet town. The camera crew is staying in their town of Glenville, South Carolina, everyone is excited, until someone ends up dead. Margot and Anne are hilarious together trying to solve this case because both of their lives are on the line. Margot's family is being targeted because of her, and Ann is the head of the HOA. This had me cracking up if you are familiar with any HOA. The HOA for my neighborhood has a rating of 2 stars on yelp if that tells you something.

This book is funny and meant to be taken that way and if you do, I think you will enjoy it. They girls deal with the death rather nonchalantly and that made it light and fluffy. The highlight for me were the incredible friendships that formed and when I think of this book I will think of awesome dogs and beautifully crafted friendships and it doesn't get much better than that. While this is wild, I found so many things relatable just on a much smaller scale, it was just wonderful.

꧁𝓠𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼꧂

🫡 𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙖𝙙 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙖 𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜. 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙤𝙬𝙣.

🐟 𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙜𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙛𝙞𝙨𝙝: 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙣, 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙖 𝙨𝙚𝙖 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙗𝙡𝙪𝙚.

[Ashley Cohoon · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5 stars)

Murder Bites by Mimi Montgomery was a fun, quirky murder mystery that definitely doesn’t take itself too seriously. Margot has recently moved from Washington, D.C. to Glenville, South Carolina, where she already feels completely out of place. Things only get worse when a local dog walker is killed in a bizarre accident and Margot quickly becomes the person everyone suspects. With the help of a couple of unexpected new friends, she decides she has no choice but to investigate and clear her own name.

There was a lot about this one that I enjoyed. The dog-obsessed town, ridiculous reality show surrounding couture canines, over-the-top residents, and completely chaotic murder investigation made for a really unique setup. I especially liked the friendship that develops between Margot, Anne, and Sally-Claire. Their personalities and antics gave the story some of its funniest moments, and I liked that underneath all of the craziness there were also some genuinely sweet moments about friendship, family, and finding people who accept you.

That said, the humor was sometimes a little too much for me. There are so many jokes, pop-culture references, and exaggerated situations that at times it felt like the story was trying a little too hard to be funny. It also took me a while to warm up to Margot. She is intentionally flawed and outspoken, which can be entertaining, but there were moments when her choices made it difficult for me to completely root for her.

I also thought some of the writing could have been tightened up. Certain information and character details felt repetitive, and the different points of view didn’t always feel distinct enough from one another. Still, the mystery itself kept me interested, and I appreciated that I didn’t completely figure out where everything was headed.

Overall, Murder Bites was entertaining and memorable, even if it didn’t completely work for me. If you like your murder mysteries campy, chaotic, dog-filled, and heavy on humor, this could be a really fun read. For me, it landed right in the middle at 3 stars.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine | Bantam for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mimi Montgomery’s Murder Bites had me wondering if I’d survive the murder… or the neighborhood. Bantam, thank you so much for the gifted book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I don’t think I’ve ever read a town where people cared so much about their dogs, their neighbors, and what everyone else was doing. It was a little ridiculous, but that’s exactly what made it fun.

Margot is having a rough time from the very beginning. Moving from Washington, D.C., to a small South Carolina town wasn’t her idea, and she never really finds her footing. She’s blunt, she’s stubborn, and she has a talent for making bad situations even worse. So when the local dog walker is murdered, nobody has much trouble believing she did it.

I honestly wasn’t sure how I felt about Margot during those first few chapters. There were moments when I wanted to shake her. Then I realized that’s what made her interesting. She isn’t polished. She isn’t trying to be the perfect heroine. She’s messy, frustrated, and trying to figure out where she belongs.

Anne quickly became my favorite. Every time she appeared, I knew something entertaining was about to happen. I loved the back-and-forth between her, Margot, and Sally-Claire. None of them seemed like people who would become friends, but somehow it worked. Watching that friendship grow ended up meaning as much to me as solving the murder.

The mystery kept moving, but I found myself looking forward just as much to the neighborhood drama. Everyone seemed to have an opinion. Everyone had something to hide. The dog reality show, the Halloween decorations, and the endless gossip gave the whole story its own personality.

This isn’t a cozy mystery that takes itself too seriously, and I think that’s why I enjoyed it. It made me laugh, kept me guessing, and left me hoping we’ll see these characters again.

If you enjoy quirky small towns, memorable characters, plenty of humor, and a mystery that’s more charming than dark, I’d say add this one to your list.

What’s the strangest small-town setting you’ve come across in a mystery?

[Breanna Conklin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of murder bites by Mimi Montgomery for a free via net gallery for review. I did not receive any compensation whatsoever for this review. All thoughts and opinions written here are my own.
I just finished reading murder bites by Mimi Montgomery, I found this to be a wonderfully silly book pulling fun at modern Life in general, and some of the typical stereotypes that we all see on a semi-regular basis. The main character Margo is someone that I see as a pretty regular down-to-earth person but also a very crunchy mama. into all kinds of natural things she finds herself in her cousin's childhood neighbor home. Unable to quite fit in what the town expects her to be, but it's when the cling wrap is peeled back from this flawless image of suburbia that things get interesting. I don't want to give anything away for anyone who would enjoy reading this book, all this to say I was pleasantly surprised. I don't typically enjoy murder mysteries because I don't like scary things or blood and guts for the the purpose of blooded guts Bud. This book does not have any of that at all and brought me back to happy memories of reading Nancy Drew as a kid but with some very adult humor thrown in so it nourished my inner child as well as my adult self which I very much appreciate . Well I didn't always agree With Margo's tactics I understood her her feeling like an outsider in a small town neighborhood. I can also understand the small town drama sort of stuff that comes up when everybody knows everybody's business. I feel that Mimi Montgomery did a fantastic job capturing this to the fullest and balancing it with humor and poking fun at all of the crazy things that people do in the name of Fame. When really all we need is love and if we all took care of each other everything would find a way to work out.
Thank you very much Mimi Montgomery for allowing me to be one of the readers of this book, and I look forward to being able to read your work in the future

[Stephanie Coniff · Rating 5 out of 5]

🐩🐕🐾 Murder Bites by Mimi Montgomery
Genre: Mystery
Length: 309 pages
Pub Date: Aug. 4, 2026
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam Books for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Summary:
Margot is a fish out of water in the South Carolina stepford-vibes town of Glenville. Her husband's hometown is the antithesis of Margot in every way from her social justice, animal-rights way of life in D.C. So, when a reality TV show competition featuring the most bougie dogs (and owners) comes to town to film, Margot and her rescue dog, Sid, fire back to wreak some havoc. Unfortunately, when one of the main men who brought the show to Glenville gets murdered (by rolling wagon), all eyes are on Margot as the most likely murderer.

Margot and her lone wolf personality continue to dig a deeper hole as the investigation goes on, but she soon develops an unlikely friendship with Glenville septuagenarian, Anne, and she begins to realize that maybe it's time to let someone in so she can solve this murder and exonerate herself.

Review:
I loved everything about this book! From the dog reality TV competition setting to the horrendous stepford wives, to the antics of Margot, to all the adorable pups, bougie and rescue! I also have really been loving older woman main or side characters in books this year, especially if they are part of solving murders (Mad Mabel!!). Anne was such a fantastic side character that really evolved as the mystery went on and I loved her developing and often chaotic friendship with Margot. There are a lot of side stories in the plot that keep you engaged throughout as well. I would not miss this one if you love murder mysteries, hilarious antics, witty dialogue, great pop culture references, dogs, female friendships, and all around satisfying endings. Awesome book all around!

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zany. Wacky. Kooky. Those are the words that kept cycling through my head while reading this one.

Glenville, SC, is a town whose entire identity is built around purebred dogs and Instagram-perfect lives. Into this steps - our DC transplant mom, who grows her own oats for oat flour, has a rescue dog, is vegan, and is very vocal about the fact that she is not like these people. Naturally, they don't like her. She doesn't like them. But it all plays out in a hijinks sort of way rather than anything with actual teeth. Think stealing political signs off lawns, getting caught, sheepishly putting them back, an exasperated husband hovering in the background, and an octogenarian who takes our mom under her wing to help fend off the mommy mafia and their keratin-treated dogs.

Yes, keratin hair treatments. For the dogs.

It is a lot. The murder-mystery thread through all of this almost gets lost under the sheer weight of the kookiness, and the character dynamics lean so hard into the culture-clash premise that there isn't much room for anything else - yes, that is the point, and this book's audience will love the romp.

I am not the audience for this book, at least not at this time - in a way, it's Grandma Mazur, Stephanie Plum, and Lula - which I did love at one time - but even more zany - I know this book's audience exists and will have a great time. If you're in the market for a light, goofy, small-town caper with eccentric characters and seemingly low-stakes chaos (but there is actual murder, so...not exactly low stakes, but it feels low stakes), this one was made for you.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of Advance Reader’s copy of an uncorrected ebook file

The first day of filming of “Pawsh” in Glendale, South Carolina has everyone in a tizzy. Margot Cartwright, who moved to this small town from Washington, D.C., is protesting the designer dog trend, advocating for adopting dogs who need homes. Glendale, after all, is filled with dog owners using their designer dogs to bring them fame.

Her interruption of the reality show taping infuriates the townspeople; when they begin throwing plastic bottles at her dog, Sid Vicious, she abandons her protest and runs out.

It isn’t long before the local dogwalker ends up dead and Margot becomes the main suspect. Determined to find the truth, she sets out to find the murderer and clear her name.

But can she survive the wrath of the town?

=========

Glendale is a dog-obsessed town, but the people are not always likeable. Filled with humor, the mystery is likely to remind readers of a madcap comedy. At the heart of the story, readers will find the examination of friendship. There’s plenty of neighborhood drama tossed into the unfolding tale; readers will find the action moves rather quickly.

Although the mystery is intriguing, the humor is often crass and cringe-worthy. Additionally, the overuse of a particularly loathsome [and unnecessary] expletive is likely to offend many readers and lowers the rating for this book.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Ballantine / Bantam and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#MurderBites #NetGalley

[Ayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder Bites by Mimi Montgomery

Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Ballantine, Bantam, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Murder Bites is an entertaining mystery from start to finish. With plenty of satire, a dog-obsessed small-town, and an intriguing mystery, this is a fast-paced and fun cozy mystery! The writing is witty, the characters are absolutely hilarious, and the mystery is well written.

Margot Cartwright is having trouble fitting in with the residents of her new neighborhood in Glenville, South Carolina. The locals are all eager to have their pups star on a reality show about dogs. She also feels like an outsider with her family. After she’s caught stealing her neighbors signs for the reality show, she figures things can’t possibly get worse. However, when the local dog walker is killed in a bizarre incident, everyone suspects Margot. Margot is determined to clear her name, save her family, and find out who really did it. Enter Anne, a 70-something HOA president, and Sally-Claire, a neighbor who may not be as perfect as she seems. Together, they take a deep dive into the mystery and give their all to solving it, including navigating the quirky residents and all the secrets.

A funny, quirky, and interesting read, Murder Bites provides a fresh and unique take on the cozy mystery genre. With plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, a mystery that keeps readers on the edge of their seats, and plenty of small-town drama, this is a fast-paced and exciting read. Overall, a fantastic cozy mystery!

[Juli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Margot Cartwright has moved with her family from the Washington D.C. area to Glenville, South Carolina, where her husband, Richard, is from. Glenville is all about designer dogs and the reality show Pawsh that is filming in the town. Margot is not fitting in with this community, let us say she is an activist. She protests the show, believing it is better to adopt from the shelter then purchase dogs from breeders. She goes around in the dead of night and removes signs from front lawns promoting the show. Uh oh, Margot gets caught one evening by the local dog walker, Boomer. I will just say there is some history. When Boomer, is found killed, Margot is the number one suspect, having been overheard to say, "I will kill you." Margot and unlikely allies and with their dogs set out to find the real culprit. It gets more heated with a second murder.

I liked Margot, although as much as I enjoyed the comedy, sometimes her actions were over the top. I enjoyed how the relationship between the women, Anne, Sally Claire, and Margot grew into a real friendship. Needless to say there are secrets to reveal in this neighborhood. I found myself more invested with characters than the actual mystery. The author does a good job of developing the characters. I will say my favorite character was Margot's dog, Sid Vicious. He definitely stole the show for me. Murder Bites is a fun cozy that does not take itself seriously which makes it most enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Bantam, for an ARC. The opinions in this review are my own.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

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?

[Kate Baxter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A laugh out loud, snarky as they come murder mystery.

Margot Cartwright, a recent D.C. transplant to the canine-centric suburb of Glenville, South Carolina wears her virtue signalling as a badge of honor. Fully woke, she's caught absconding with political placards of (in her opinion) a less desirable candidate. So when the local much-loved dog walker has an unfortunate mishap, virtually the entire town is convinced that Margot is the source of the misadventure. Margot knows that she didn't do it but may soon be wearing an orange jumpsuit if she cannot clear her name pronto. What is a girl to do? Do some independent sleuthing, of course.

Author Mimi Montgomery has written a hilarious, highly eccentric, cozy mystery replete with quirky characters. The writing is solid as it delivers a laugh a minute. The characters are well developed, and the mise-en-scène is cinematically rendered. Yet, underneath all that bluster lies a tender tale of the value of true friendship. If a lighthearted cozy mystery with a dollop of humor appeals, then this may well be a book for you.

I am grateful to author Mimi Montgomery and her publisher, Bantam, for having provided a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.


Publisher: Bantam
Publication date: August 4, 2026
Number of Pages: 320
ISBN: 979-8217092536

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admit I was drawn to this book because of the dogs, everyone in this book seems to own a dog. Margot took a lot more to get my interest. Margot moved from Washington, DC to Glenville, South Carolina, after her husband inherits his parents’ home and family bank. Margot is out of her comfort zone with the locals and spends more time annoying them than trying to fit in even a tiny bit. Finally, she seems to push things too far when she starts stealing her neighbors’ signs promoting Pawsh, a TV series focused on a beauty contest for the town’s local dogs. Once she has seemingly alienated everyone, including her family, she is blamed for the death of the local dogwalker.

She gets lucky (although she fights it) when Anne, an elderly neighbor takes her side and tries to prove Margot’s innocence. Anne was quite a character; she has been head of the HOA and is firmly planning to keep her position in the community. Soon Sally, another neighbor, joins in to prove Margot’s innocence.

It took a while to like Margot, she didn’t seem to care about anyone, only the life she led in D.C. where her group did a lot of protesting. She blamed everyone else for her misery. It took her awhile to form any attachments in her new community; she was even alienating her own family with her behavior. The story was easy to read, nothing too serious, with a satisfying ending.

I received an eARC of Murder Bites from from NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine. This is my honest review.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder Bites by Mimi Montgomery, in this book Margot is a political activist living in a sleepy southern town with not much to rail against although that doesn’t mean she isn’t busy. when the book starts she’s protesting the inbreeding show dogs that are appearing on the next season of PAWSH with her faithful mutt Sid Vicious she interrupts the proceedings something her neighbors are used to but still doesn’t like it, nor do they like Margot. being public enemy number one doesn’t help at all when local dog groomer Boomer is found dead to make matters worse she was the last person to see him. Margot claims her innocence and before it’s over she will gain new allies in the neighborhood a new understanding with her family and all wearing crazy costumes with lots of lol moments in the interim it seems every time they think they have a suspect they strike out will Margo find herself wearing her dinosaur costume in prison or will they eventually get to the real culprit? Let me just say if you read this book in the same spirit it was written in you will have a gasp out loud good time and the great read I was so in the mood for this book and didn’t even know it Margot is a hoot and I loved everything about this book it was awesome Although the part with the snakes in the car freaked me out I cannot take talk of snakes thoughts of snakes… Oh shiver don’t like them! Either way this was a great book and when I definitely recommend #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,

[Bella · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise of Murder Bites by Mimi Montgomery is fun and intriguing:
Margot is an activist, mother , and metropolitan-at-heart who just plain doesn't fit in with the general population of her husband's hometown of Glenville, SC. And then she gets framed for murder. And then she is tasked with solving said murder.

My qualm with this book is that debut author Mimi Montgomery may have gone a little too hard on the kill (pun intended) with millennial parlance. So many brand and pop culture references were made which, I admit, is a personal pet peeve of mine. Not to mention that many of them were hard to grasp as a Gen Z reader.

Margot and her fellow citizens of Glenville are both narrow-minded and zany in their own ways. Through their interactions, Montgomery delivers some legitimate criticisms of southern culture, but I couldn't quite get past the undertones of sexism and northern elitism.

I also wish there had been more ~autumn vibes~ in general. This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year based on the adorable cover and the concept of a cozy Halloween whodunnit. In that regard, I admit that
I may have jumped the gun and broken the golden rule of never judging a book by its cover. Still, I think this book lacks a fair amount of the coziness and charm promised and compensates with over the top humor.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the arc in exchange for my honest review! :)

Actual rating: 2.45 stars

[Monica Hills · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love dogs and a great mystery, this book is for you.

In this story, main character, Margot, is accused of murder after Margot has been caught causing chaos in her small town of Glenville. Margot is going through a lot. Her marriage is on the rocks, her oldest daughter won't talk to her, and she does not have a single friend. When a murder happens, it seems like the whole town bands together to blame Margot. She must find a way to clear her name in order to keep her family togther and her sanity. In the process she starts to realize that other people in this town might not be so bad. She ends up making an unlikely trio with the 70 year old HOA president, Anne, and one of the mean moms, Sally Claire. Together they team up and we learn there is definitely more to this town then meets the eye.

Even though this was a murder mystery there was something really fun and quirky about it that I loved. There were some spicy parts that I was not expecting and I truly had no idea who committed the murder. The book kept me guessing the entire time and I was shocked at the end when it was revealed. I am more of a cat person but the dog aspect to the novel really fit the story and added some levity.

Than you to Bantam Books and NetGalley for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.