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Almost two years ago the sleepy little community of Dogleg Island was the scene of one of the most brutal crimes in Florida history. The only eye witnesses were a border collie puppy and a police officer. Since that time Flash has grown from a puppy into a vital part of the Dogleg Island Police Department, and has lived happily with the two people who rescued him on that horrible night: Deputy Sheriff Ryan Grady and Police Chief Aggie Malone.
Now the trial of the century is about to begin. The defendant, accused of slaughtering his parents in their beach home, maintains his innocence. Aggie and Ryan, the top witnesses for the prosecution, know he is lying. But only Flash knows the truth.
And with another murder to solve, a tangle of conflicting evidence to sort out, and a brutal storm on the way, the truth may come too late... for all of them.
Now the trial of the century is about to begin. The defendant, accused of slaughtering his parents in their beach home, maintains his innocence. Aggie and Ryan, the top witnesses for the prosecution, know he is lying. But only Flash knows the truth.
And with another murder to solve, a tangle of conflicting evidence to sort out, and a brutal storm on the way, the truth may come too late... for all of them.
358 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2015
363 people are currently reading
411 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
April 14, 2018
I’m a huge fan of dog books, especially mysteries that involve dogs. So I was very interested in this new series involving Flash, a border collie who is a witness to a murder. Initially, I struggled with the idea that the dog has a huge vocabulary and is smarter than most of the humans. I finally had to set aside my unbelief and just sit back and enjoy the story. I’d love to know if some of the facts she inserts into the novel are true. Like the idea that a dog's DNA mutates faster than a human’s because of their shorter life span and increased number of generations within a single one of ours.
This is a decent mystery. The author uses Aggie’s flashbacks to slowly fill us in on what happened the day of the shooting. I found Aggie an engaging character and one I would follow into future books. It didn’t take me long to suss out the culprit but that didn’t dampen my enthusiasm for the story.
I listened to this book and it was a well paced book, easy to stay focused on. I’ve already bought the second book in the series.
I can’t say I cared for the narrator. It wasn’t that she didn’t change voices. It’s just that her voice lacked any spark.
This is a decent mystery. The author uses Aggie’s flashbacks to slowly fill us in on what happened the day of the shooting. I found Aggie an engaging character and one I would follow into future books. It didn’t take me long to suss out the culprit but that didn’t dampen my enthusiasm for the story.
I listened to this book and it was a well paced book, easy to stay focused on. I’ve already bought the second book in the series.
I can’t say I cared for the narrator. It wasn’t that she didn’t change voices. It’s just that her voice lacked any spark.
January 7, 2025
I vacillated in wanting to give this book 3 or 4 stars. 4 stars because it was a good story with likeable characters, I enjoyed the ending, and I tend to grade on the nice side. Then I thought 3 stars mostly because I don't prefer when dogs thoughts in a book seem unrealistic. The 3 star side of me won.
I also like to provide excerpts from the book that I like, but in this case, what stood out where the thoughts of the dog, that while philosophical at times, were not the thoughts a dog would be thinking. Since other quotes from the book would give things away, I thought I would just share the dog thought parts.
'Flash thumped his tail again, but it was in a desultory manner. He did not like to think about that night, and he didn’t like it when Grady and Aggie talked about it, which wasn’t very often. He wished they hadn’t brought it up tonight. Suddenly he was thinking about the smell of oranges and the sound of thunder. And blood. And the truth was that even if he could have told them what had really happened that night, he wasn’t sure he would have. In a dog’s world, some things were simple. It was over. It needed to stay over.'
'Flash listened carefully. It wasn’t that he had difficulty following her reasoning; he had an amazing facility with numbers and an instinctive understanding of time, although it had taken him a while to figure out how people quantified it, and why they wanted to. There had never been a problem in logic that he couldn’t solve, and he liked to help Aggie figure things out.'
'Dead happened, like sunshine happened, like rain and white surf happened. What made little sense to Flash was how people could so easily make dead happen, particularly to those of their own kind. They didn’t need to. They just did. A man with a knife on the night of blood and thunder. A man in a car beneath the water. Dead, dead, dead. Dead and gone. Over, full circle.'
'“Flash,” she said softly, “we might have made a terrible mistake.”
His attention quickened. He had made mistakes, just a few, and he didn’t like them one bit. The skunk in the park, that had been a mistake. The chow mix with the sneaky look in his eye that Flash hadn’t seen until too late was another one. He had never known Aggie to make a mistake, and wasn’t entirely sure she was capable of it.'
I read this book for two reasons. First it is on Wesley Banks list of 100 best dog books of all time. While there is some of the best books in his list, I think he also brings in 'best known' dog books and maybe just helps promote books of other authors he wants to help. So with this book I will have read 70 of his latest list of 100. My second reason is I have a goal of reading book 1 of all what I call the mystery + dog book series, so this will make 28 out of the 87 series I have identified so far. I did enjoy the book so maybe worthy of 4 stars, especially for people who don't mind unrealistic narration or thoughts by a dog.
I also like to provide excerpts from the book that I like, but in this case, what stood out where the thoughts of the dog, that while philosophical at times, were not the thoughts a dog would be thinking. Since other quotes from the book would give things away, I thought I would just share the dog thought parts.
'Flash thumped his tail again, but it was in a desultory manner. He did not like to think about that night, and he didn’t like it when Grady and Aggie talked about it, which wasn’t very often. He wished they hadn’t brought it up tonight. Suddenly he was thinking about the smell of oranges and the sound of thunder. And blood. And the truth was that even if he could have told them what had really happened that night, he wasn’t sure he would have. In a dog’s world, some things were simple. It was over. It needed to stay over.'
'Flash listened carefully. It wasn’t that he had difficulty following her reasoning; he had an amazing facility with numbers and an instinctive understanding of time, although it had taken him a while to figure out how people quantified it, and why they wanted to. There had never been a problem in logic that he couldn’t solve, and he liked to help Aggie figure things out.'
'Dead happened, like sunshine happened, like rain and white surf happened. What made little sense to Flash was how people could so easily make dead happen, particularly to those of their own kind. They didn’t need to. They just did. A man with a knife on the night of blood and thunder. A man in a car beneath the water. Dead, dead, dead. Dead and gone. Over, full circle.'
'“Flash,” she said softly, “we might have made a terrible mistake.”
His attention quickened. He had made mistakes, just a few, and he didn’t like them one bit. The skunk in the park, that had been a mistake. The chow mix with the sneaky look in his eye that Flash hadn’t seen until too late was another one. He had never known Aggie to make a mistake, and wasn’t entirely sure she was capable of it.'
I read this book for two reasons. First it is on Wesley Banks list of 100 best dog books of all time. While there is some of the best books in his list, I think he also brings in 'best known' dog books and maybe just helps promote books of other authors he wants to help. So with this book I will have read 70 of his latest list of 100. My second reason is I have a goal of reading book 1 of all what I call the mystery + dog book series, so this will make 28 out of the 87 series I have identified so far. I did enjoy the book so maybe worthy of 4 stars, especially for people who don't mind unrealistic narration or thoughts by a dog.
January 5, 2018
I am a sucker for a good dog book. This one delivers.
There's a mystery involving a murder and a break-in. There are cops who are doing their best, mostly. There's a dog, a border collie named Flash, who's a little too human to be real. But honestly, he's what we all wish our dogs were like. And there's a small island town, and there's a storm coming, in more ways than one.
I'm pretty much on-record as being anti-romance. This book, however, has a love story that even *I* didn't find objectionable.
This is not a great book or a significant book, but I found it to be a thoroughly enjoyable book. I might even read another one in the series.
Good work, Ms. Ball. Thank you for Flash. :)
(Note: I thought the narrator of the Audible version was adequate, but not exceptional.)
There's a mystery involving a murder and a break-in. There are cops who are doing their best, mostly. There's a dog, a border collie named Flash, who's a little too human to be real. But honestly, he's what we all wish our dogs were like. And there's a small island town, and there's a storm coming, in more ways than one.
I'm pretty much on-record as being anti-romance. This book, however, has a love story that even *I* didn't find objectionable.
This is not a great book or a significant book, but I found it to be a thoroughly enjoyable book. I might even read another one in the series.
Good work, Ms. Ball. Thank you for Flash. :)
(Note: I thought the narrator of the Audible version was adequate, but not exceptional.)
February 15, 2018
I can always count on Donna Ball for a completely satisfying read. But this new mystery series was a step above and had it all - great characters, suspense, clean romance and an intelligent and charming dog. I absolutely LOVED it. 5 stars
Update 2/15/18 - was getting ready to read #2 so I did a reread of this one. WOW!! Just as good the second time around!! I think this is Donna Balls best book ever!!!
Update 2/15/18 - was getting ready to read #2 so I did a reread of this one. WOW!! Just as good the second time around!! I think this is Donna Balls best book ever!!!
June 10, 2015
In the debut of the Dogleg Island Mystery series, “Flash” features humans as interesting as the dog. Aggie Malone and her island felt so real I wanted to look at a map to find it.
Not as cozy as the Raine Stockton mysteries, "Flash" builds to thriller pace right up to the climax. Aggie is as complex as Raine and as delightful a heroine. Flash's POV was perfect, obviously written by a dog lover who knows Border Collies.
All the characters felt like “characters” I’d meet on a Florida island. And by the end, Flash, Aggie, and Ryan felt like new friends I’m looking forward to meeting again.
Not as cozy as the Raine Stockton mysteries, "Flash" builds to thriller pace right up to the climax. Aggie is as complex as Raine and as delightful a heroine. Flash's POV was perfect, obviously written by a dog lover who knows Border Collies.
All the characters felt like “characters” I’d meet on a Florida island. And by the end, Flash, Aggie, and Ryan felt like new friends I’m looking forward to meeting again.
March 16, 2018
Fun story, decently developed plot. The dog perspective parts are a little far-fetched, but fun to believe just in case. The reader of the Audible version was horrible. I hate to say negative things, but she really was awful, shifting from sing-song to monotone and flat. I am very glad she is not the narrator of the next two books of the series!
January 31, 2018
I really liked this story, a lot. Decent characters, solid mystery, kept me interested even though it was the most emotionless narrator I've experienced for an audiobook, but I'm a sucker for a book where the dog is one of the characters. I hope the following books in the series are as enjoyable as this one.
January 14, 2023
I love Donna Ball’s Ladybug Farm books and am nearing the end of that series, so I looked around for more of her books. This is one of two additional series that caught my eye, and I added it to my to-read list several years ago. It has been recommended many times by several different friends, so I put it on my “read in 2023” list and finally gave it a shot – and I’m so glad I did! It hooked me right from the start, and I had a very hard time putting it down. It's rare that I give a series starter four stars, but this one earned it.
I really like the MCs, Aggie, Grady and, of course, Flash. They have a good support system, which is especially important when you’re in law enforcement and live on a small island that can only be reached by boat or by one bridge that becomes inaccessible during storms. Since this is south Florida, storms occur often, and one is key to the events near the end of the book. I like the way we get to know what Flash is thinking, even though he doesn’t tell the story the way Chet does in the Spencer Quinn books, and I like the way Aggie and Grady work together, both professionally and personally.
As the story progressed, I grew more certain that I knew who the villain was, and was only sidetracked a couple of times, but kept coming back to the same character. The motive was a surprise, although it probably shouldn’t have been, and I was very happy to see this person get their deserved comeuppance. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.
I really like the MCs, Aggie, Grady and, of course, Flash. They have a good support system, which is especially important when you’re in law enforcement and live on a small island that can only be reached by boat or by one bridge that becomes inaccessible during storms. Since this is south Florida, storms occur often, and one is key to the events near the end of the book. I like the way we get to know what Flash is thinking, even though he doesn’t tell the story the way Chet does in the Spencer Quinn books, and I like the way Aggie and Grady work together, both professionally and personally.
As the story progressed, I grew more certain that I knew who the villain was, and was only sidetracked a couple of times, but kept coming back to the same character. The motive was a surprise, although it probably shouldn’t have been, and I was very happy to see this person get their deserved comeuppance. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.
March 21, 2021
I suspected I was going to like these mysteries since I've like everything else she's written--so far. And I was right. She also has a few books of the "western" genre--I might try those next.
She tried an experiment in this series--nearly killing her main character in the very beginning. (That's not a spoiler; you'd know it from the cover) Oddly, the experiment worked--having the detective nearly die in the first episode left all sorts of problems for her to deal with. Very interesting.
Also she branched out in her dog characterization, letting the main dog have thoughts that we don't normally think of dogs having. It made me chuckle a time or two. But I like her writing well enough to give her a little "poetic license", if you will.
So to sum up, I loved them all. The plots are good, too, and none of the police people are total idiots.
She tried an experiment in this series--nearly killing her main character in the very beginning. (That's not a spoiler; you'd know it from the cover) Oddly, the experiment worked--having the detective nearly die in the first episode left all sorts of problems for her to deal with. Very interesting.
Also she branched out in her dog characterization, letting the main dog have thoughts that we don't normally think of dogs having. It made me chuckle a time or two. But I like her writing well enough to give her a little "poetic license", if you will.
So to sum up, I loved them all. The plots are good, too, and none of the police people are total idiots.
August 14, 2024
I’ve fallen in love with this series and its characters. Donna Ball’s Flash stories have one foot in the cozy subgenre and one foot in police-procedural land (two of my favorites). A small beach town setting with a tight knit group of colleagues and friends coupled with the investigative details of a procedural.
The characters are likeable, and all are well-developed, even the secondary ones. And the moments presented from the border collie Flash’s perspective are heartwarming and sometimes unexpected.
These stories are well paced. You are drawn into the book’s world and don’t want to leave it. I want to move to Dogleg Island!
The characters are likeable, and all are well-developed, even the secondary ones. And the moments presented from the border collie Flash’s perspective are heartwarming and sometimes unexpected.
These stories are well paced. You are drawn into the book’s world and don’t want to leave it. I want to move to Dogleg Island!
November 12, 2020
This was a good mystery, good suspense, although still easy to figure out. I was a bit put off that Flash, the border collie, was one of the narrators from time to time, even if border collies are extremely smart. And yet I got used to it and it added a bit of suspense when Flash knew something that his owners didn't. It also allowed some introspection about the odd things that humans do--like worrying about the past instead of just dealing with the present. I'll read more in this series, which I borrowed from my sister's Kindle library.
July 5, 2021
I'm a dog lover and i like to read books that feature dogs. This one was disappointing. As a mystery, it lacked suspense as i figured out the killer about a third of the way in. The writing was pretty rough. Characters were inconsistent. The prose was bloated and an awful lot of "tell don't show." Worst of all were the insertions of "oh, yes, this dog can do this" rather than just presenting the action and letting the reader decide whether he wants to believe it.
All this makes a book that should have been fun into a bit of a slog.
All this makes a book that should have been fun into a bit of a slog.
March 5, 2018
I loved this book! Although I read and enjoyed every book in the Raine Stockton Dog mysteries, the heroine always annoyed me somewhat because she seemed never seemed to learn from her mistakes. In this series, the heroine is strong but stubborn and what she does makes more sense in context of events. The bond between Aggie and Flash the border collie is strong and endearing. The mystery is fast paced and exciting and Aggies relationship with Grady is special. On to book Two!
March 5, 2020
This book was an absolute delight. I love Donna Ball's series -- all of them, but this one really got to me. Aggie, Ryan and, of course, Flash, stole my heart from the very beginning. For some reason I suspected who was responsible for the murders about mid-way, but that didn't do anything to take away from the story. In fact, it raised the tension because I wanted to see if I was right (thankfully I was). Give yourself a treat and read this book. I think you'll be glad you did.
August 4, 2024
I’ve read the first four of the Raine Stockton series and thoroughly enjoyed them. As a big fan of Spencer Quinn’s Chet and Bernie mystery series, it doesn’t bother me at all that Flash is probably smarter than the humans in this book. He’s a beautifully sculpted character, and I’m in love. I can hardly wait to read the next book in this series. Yes, I’m a sucker for a well-written mystery with a dog, or dogs, as central characters.
January 5, 2018
What's not to like? An easygoing murder mystery, with a hero dog and romantic love interest between the two cops at the center of the story. I must confess, however, that I'm disappointed to see that the sequels to this Book 1 are narrated by someone other than Ann Simmons. I hate when the narrator changes -- it's as if the characters are no longer the same either!
April 28, 2022
This was a very enjoyable, clean story that jumped right in and kept me engaged all the way through! The characters were interesting and likable and, of course, Flash. I liked the way Donna expressed Flash's thoughts. Nothing silly or supernatural, just down to earth dog thoughts. I look forward to reading the rest of the series!
September 11, 2023
One of the best. K9 books. Ever
I couldn't put this book down til I got to the end. The first one I have read from the perspective of the K9, Flash. A twisted tale of greed and what it does to people. So many suspects, the "obvious" one that had a gun in his hand and strung out on drugs to the possibility that a cop was involved. You literally don't know til the last few pages!
I couldn't put this book down til I got to the end. The first one I have read from the perspective of the K9, Flash. A twisted tale of greed and what it does to people. So many suspects, the "obvious" one that had a gun in his hand and strung out on drugs to the possibility that a cop was involved. You literally don't know til the last few pages!
December 14, 2023
Oh my goodness. This was a fun quick mystery read. The end had me slightly anxious and hoping for a happy ending (for the good guys of course). Does Flash have some deep thoughts about the good, the bad, and being present- yes, but he wasn't the narrator so it did not bother me as it did some reviewers. I think it made me consider thinking more like a dog. :)
April 7, 2024
This book took me a long time to get into. The characters weren’t engaging me at first like the Raine Stockton characters did in Donna’s other series.
The story got really good about 2/3 of the way in and the ending was very good. I did buy the rest of the series as I started to get into the characters better and I really loved the dog Flash.
The story got really good about 2/3 of the way in and the ending was very good. I did buy the rest of the series as I started to get into the characters better and I really loved the dog Flash.
August 15, 2017
Totally different setting from her other series and totally different dog but exciting. All of us on the gulf coast areas are well aware of hurricanes and this book really does a great job with one not to mention the murder mystery.
September 2, 2018
Predictable and talky but fun
This is a quick and fairly predictable book that is made more fun by glimpses into how we have always figured a dog would think. Just skip-read the talky parts and get to the exciting end.
This is a quick and fairly predictable book that is made more fun by glimpses into how we have always figured a dog would think. Just skip-read the talky parts and get to the exciting end.
July 12, 2019
I actually had no intention of reading this book at this time. I love Donna Ball's books so I decided to just check out the first few pages. I could not put the book down!!!!!! I read it in 2 days!
January 19, 2020
Really, really good
So full of everything I like about dogs and mysteries and police and even all kinds of love. Add in really excellent dialogue and characters and plot contortions and this is a fine reading experience. I am on to book two.
So full of everything I like about dogs and mysteries and police and even all kinds of love. Add in really excellent dialogue and characters and plot contortions and this is a fine reading experience. I am on to book two.
March 14, 2020
Suspenseful
Flash has it all-the story is intriguing, the setting is interesting and all of the main characters are well-written people you would like to meet. Of course Flash is the hero and one very smart dog. Looking forward to reading book 2 in the Dogleg Island series.
Flash has it all-the story is intriguing, the setting is interesting and all of the main characters are well-written people you would like to meet. Of course Flash is the hero and one very smart dog. Looking forward to reading book 2 in the Dogleg Island series.
July 3, 2020
Amazing first book in series!!
Love Donna Ball’s dog mysteries!!! I have always been a fan of the Raine Stockton series, but I think this one is going to be an even better series!!!
Love Donna Ball’s dog mysteries!!! I have always been a fan of the Raine Stockton series, but I think this one is going to be an even better series!!!
March 1, 2021
Donna Ball has written 90 novels in her long career, and it has obviously taught her something about the art of crafting a story, because this story flows into the reader consciousness as smooth as honey onto one's tongue. It is an enjoyable read indeed.
March 15, 2021
This was a solid start for a new series, but the characters never fully resonated with me. There was too much background in the first chapter followed by a huge time jump. I don't like being left hanging like that. I'll give the next book a chance and hope I can better connect the the characters.
May 16, 2022
Well done!!
This was the best book I've read in a long time, and i read a lot. I loved all the characters, and hope we meet again. The pace was exciting and thrilling. I highly recommend Flash---the book AND THE dog.
This was the best book I've read in a long time, and i read a lot. I loved all the characters, and hope we meet again. The pace was exciting and thrilling. I highly recommend Flash---the book AND THE dog.
September 25, 2024
A wonderful connection between a woman and a dog!
I love the way that Flash and Aggie met and both understand and look after each other. Also a great mystery and suspense novel, that kept me trying to figure out the whodoneit part. :) Onto the next in series!
I love the way that Flash and Aggie met and both understand and look after each other. Also a great mystery and suspense novel, that kept me trying to figure out the whodoneit part. :) Onto the next in series!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews