Death Under the Dogwoods

by Neil S. Plakcy, Joanna Campbell Slan

Two gripping mysteries. One unforgettable collection.

A suspicious death. A trail of secrets. And a pair of investigators—one human, one canine—who won't let the truth stay buried.

In Neil S. Plakcy's "Dog Moves in Mysterious Ways," Steve Levitan and his golden retriever, Rochester, uncover a hidden online world where access is currency—and silence can be deadly.

In "A Paws Beneath the Petals," Joanna Campbell Slan weaves a twist-filled mystery where charm masks danger and every answer leads to a deeper question.

Two distinct voices. Two unforgettable cases. One collection you won't want to put down.

167 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 23, 2026

About the author

I’m Neil S. Plakcy, and I write mysteries and romances filled with humor, heart, loyalty, found family, complicated heroes, and, very often, dogs.

Readers may know me from the Golden Retriever Mysteries, featuring Steve Levitan and his clue-sniffing golden retriever Rochester; the Mahu Investigations, featuring Honolulu homicide detective Kimo Kanapa‘aka; the Have Body, Will Guard adventure-romance series with Aidan and Liam; the Angus Green FBI thrillers; and the Smiling Dog Café healing fiction.

I began writing seriously in high school after an inspiring assignment on A Separate Peace by John Knowles. I didn’t yet have the words for being gay, but I knew I was longing for deep emotional connection, friendship, and love. That longing still runs through my work, whether I’m writing mystery, romance, adventure, or suspense.

An MFA in creative writing helped me hone my technical skills and understand what kind of storyteller I am. Since then, I’ve written dozens of books, won a couple of treasured awards, and been lucky enough to find readers who care about my characters as much as I do.

I’ve also always believed that dogs make excellent detectives. They notice what humans miss: a faint scent, a subtle shift in body language, the hidden treat in your pocket. That belief helped inspire my Golden Retriever Mysteries, where Rochester helps Steve Levitan nose out the truth.

Every place I’ve lived has made its way into my fiction: the rolling hills of Bucks County, the neon heat of Miami, the beaches of Hawaii, and the cobbled streets of Europe. I love exploring how communities work, from a café where dogs help people heal to a police unit in Honolulu to a romance unfolding under the Mediterranean sun.

I write because stories helped me feel less alone growing up. Now I hope to give readers that same feeling: a companion, a puzzle, a sense of place, and maybe a laugh.

When I’m not writing, I’m probably walking one of my golden retrievers, teaching writing, reading, or daydreaming about my next story.

For free stories, bonus scenes, and new-release news, visit my website or join my newsletter at plakcy.substack.com. You can also follow my author page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neil.plakcy.

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a Kindle copy as a GoodReads giveaway. Two cozy novellas from different authors featuring dogs and dogwood blossoms, but otherwise, they're quite different works. "A Paws Beneath the Petals" by Joanna Campbell Slan is the more traditional cozy of the two; "Dog Moves in Mysterious Ways" by Neil Plakcy has a more digital/cyberspace approach than I'm used to seeing in cozies. I was a little amused to see that the sleuths in both novellas used AI as a tool in their investigations, especially in the Plakcy book. Cozies catching up to the times, I guess.

I haven't read other books in either of these series, and although I was occasionally a bit confused by references to characters and situations from other books, both were readable as standalones. I appreciated being able to sample these two series and I plan to read more of both.

[Carol K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two wonderful authors in the same book. I love their characters especially the dogs. Good stories.

[Lexi Butts · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute little novella. It is perfect for a short mystery read. I love it when dogs solve crimes.

[Kat Irwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute novella with 2 different crime solving dog stories. Perfect for a quick read, for dog lovers, mystery solvers and book lovers alike.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Summer Read

Take a rest and read either at the beach, lake, park or
home. You will enjoy both stories especially with both
dogs.

[Courtney Pityer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this in a giveaway