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Death Under the Dogwoods: 2 Cozy Mystery Novellas with Canine Sleuths
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.
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
Neil S. Plakcy
274 books671 followersThe Smiling Dog Cafe series now has four books in it: The Smiling Dog Cafe, The Bridge Between Us, Hope and Grace, and Drift and Return (published 5/11/2026).
My newest adventure romance books are The Big Race (a takeoff on The Amazing Race) and Driven Together, a Formula 1 MM romance.
I have been a voracious reader all my life, mostly in mystery, romance, and science fiction/fantasy, though a college degree in English did push a lot of literary works into my list of favorites.
Quick note: sign up for my newsletter at plakcy.substack.com to get free prologues, epilogues and short stories.
I began writing seriously in high school after an inspiring assignment with A Separate Peace by John Knowles. I didn't know I was gay then, but I knew I was longing for an emotional connection with a best friend. That desire shows up across my writing, from romance to mystery to adventure. I am lucky to have found my special person, and I want to inspire readers to make those connections, to one person or a found family.
It took getting an MFA in creative writing to kick-start my career. That's where I honed my technical skills and began to understand what kind of storyteller I am.
I remember reading Freddie the Detective about a very smart pig inspired by Sherlock Holmes. I’ve always believed that dogs make the best detectives. They notice what humans miss — a faint scent, a subtle shift in body language, the hidden treat in your pocket. That belief inspired my Golden Retriever Mysteries, where Rochester helps his human, Steve Levitan, nose out the truth.
My passion is telling stories where community, loyalty, and sometimes love solve problems just as much as clues do. Whether it’s a cozy mystery in Bucks County, a thriller on the streets of Miami, or a romance unfolding under the Mediterranean sun, I want readers to feel the heartbeat of the place and the people.
I write because stories helped me feel less alone growing up, and now I want to give readers that same feeling: a companion, a puzzle, and maybe a laugh.
When I’m not writing, I’m probably walking one of my own goldens, teaching writing, or daydreaming about my next story.
Since then I've written dozens of books, won a couple of treasured awards, and enjoyed the support of readers.
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, the cobbled streets of Europe. I love exploring how communities work — from a café where dogs guide healing, to a fraternity house in South Beach, to a police unit in Honolulu.
My goal is simple: to write stories that feel grounded in real people and real places, but with enough twists, romance, or danger to keep you turning pages late into the night.
I hope you'll visit my website, where you can sign up for my occasional newsletter, and also follow my author page on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/neil.plakcy.
My newest adventure romance books are The Big Race (a takeoff on The Amazing Race) and Driven Together, a Formula 1 MM romance.
I have been a voracious reader all my life, mostly in mystery, romance, and science fiction/fantasy, though a college degree in English did push a lot of literary works into my list of favorites.
Quick note: sign up for my newsletter at plakcy.substack.com to get free prologues, epilogues and short stories.
I began writing seriously in high school after an inspiring assignment with A Separate Peace by John Knowles. I didn't know I was gay then, but I knew I was longing for an emotional connection with a best friend. That desire shows up across my writing, from romance to mystery to adventure. I am lucky to have found my special person, and I want to inspire readers to make those connections, to one person or a found family.
It took getting an MFA in creative writing to kick-start my career. That's where I honed my technical skills and began to understand what kind of storyteller I am.
I remember reading Freddie the Detective about a very smart pig inspired by Sherlock Holmes. I’ve always believed that dogs make the best detectives. They notice what humans miss — a faint scent, a subtle shift in body language, the hidden treat in your pocket. That belief inspired my Golden Retriever Mysteries, where Rochester helps his human, Steve Levitan, nose out the truth.
My passion is telling stories where community, loyalty, and sometimes love solve problems just as much as clues do. Whether it’s a cozy mystery in Bucks County, a thriller on the streets of Miami, or a romance unfolding under the Mediterranean sun, I want readers to feel the heartbeat of the place and the people.
I write because stories helped me feel less alone growing up, and now I want to give readers that same feeling: a companion, a puzzle, and maybe a laugh.
When I’m not writing, I’m probably walking one of my own goldens, teaching writing, or daydreaming about my next story.
Since then I've written dozens of books, won a couple of treasured awards, and enjoyed the support of readers.
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, the cobbled streets of Europe. I love exploring how communities work — from a café where dogs guide healing, to a fraternity house in South Beach, to a police unit in Honolulu.
My goal is simple: to write stories that feel grounded in real people and real places, but with enough twists, romance, or danger to keep you turning pages late into the night.
I hope you'll visit my website, where you can sign up for my occasional newsletter, and also follow my author page on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/neil.plakcy.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 24, 2026
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.
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.
April 27, 2026
Two wonderful authors in the same book. I love their characters especially the dogs. Good stories.
May 24, 2026
This was a cute little novella. It is perfect for a short mystery read. I love it when dogs solve crimes.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews