Bulldogs & Bullets

Dog Town USA #2

by Meg Muldoon

School teacher Mindy Monahan is missing.
And the single witness who saw what happened only speaks canine...

Ace reporter Winifred "Freddie" Wolf is in the dog house.
After turning down the crime beat at her small town Oregon newspaper because of a conflict of interest, Freddie’s editor at The Dog Mountain Chronicle demotes her back down to the dog beat. Which means covering more boring pooch parades, pet profiles, and canine puff pieces than any serious reporter could handle without losing her doggone mind.
But when Freddie’s friend Mindy Monahan goes missing just hours before the local school teacher was due to expose a ring of law-breaking dog owners, the journalist decides she won’t heel and stay within the lines of her beat.
With the help of her police lieutenant boyfriend and her puppy, Mugs, Freddie launches her own investigation into Mindy’s mysterious disappearance. But little does Freddie know that by trying to sniff out the mystery, she’s walking right into a deadly trap.
Because it’s a dog-eat-dog world out there. And Freddie Wolf is about to learn that lesson the hard way…

Bulldogs & Bullets is the second book in the Dog Town USA Cozy Mystery series, and is preceded by Mutts & Murder.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction

277 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 22, 2016

About the author

For a very limited time receive a FREE cozy mystery and recipe book when you sign up for Meg Muldoon's mailing list! Sign-up here: http://eepurl.com/zcGr1

Meg Muldoon is the author of over 20 feel-good mysteries, including the bestselling Christmas River Cozy Mysteries and The Dog Town USA Cozy Mysteries. A former small town news reporter, Meg has always had a special place in her heart for lost dogs, homeless cats, and feisty old locals. She enjoys Marionberry pie, red cowboy boots, and craft glue guns. Meg specializes in writing stories filled with humor and heart, and her books have been featured in the Amazon Kindle Top-100.

Meg lives in Central Oregon with two Great Pyrenees, a cattle dog named Huckleberry, and a rascal cat named Frank.

Reading Order:

THE CHRISTMAS RIVER COZY MYSTERY SERIES
Murder in Christmas River – Book 1
Mayhem in Christmas River – Book 2
Madness in Christmas River – Book 3
Malice in Christmas River – Book 4
Mischief in Christmas River – Book 5
Manic in Christmas River – Book 6
Magic in Christmas River – Book 7
Menace in Christmas River – Book 8
Missing in Christmas River – Book 9
Meltdown in Christmas River – Book 10
Midnight in Christmas River – Book 11
Mistake in Christmas River – Book 12
Matrimony in Christmas River - Book 13
Malarkey in Christmas River - Book 14 (Coming Spring 2025!)

THE CHRISTMAS RIVER COZY MYSTERY NOVELLA SERIES
Roasted in Christmas River – Novella 1
Cinnamon Peters & the Rabbit Bandit – Novella 2
Caught in Christmas River – Novella 3
Crushed in Christmas River – Novella 4
Hounded in Christmas River – Novella 5
Framed in Christmas River – Novella 6
Trapped in Christmas River - Novella 7
Merriment in Christmas River - Novella 8

THE HOLLY HOPEWELL COZY MYSTERY SERIES
The Silence of the Elves – Book 1
Elf Confidential - Book 2

THE DOG TOWN USA COZY MYSTERY SERIES
Mutts & Murder – Book 1
Bulldogs & Bullets – Book 2
Corgis & Conspiracy - Book 3
Pyrenees & Poison - Book 4 (Coming Soon)

THE COZY MATCHMAKER MYSTERY SERIES
Burned in Broken Hearts Junction – Book 1
Busted in Broken Hearts Junction – Book 2

THE WITCHES OF BROOMFIELD BAY MYSTERY SERIES (with Jools Sinclair)
Ginger of the West – Book 1

Reviews

[QNPoohBear · Rating 4 out of 5]

Freddie Wolf is still writing dog-themed fluff pieces for the local paper. It was actually her choice based on her journalistic ethics. However, her boss seems to have it out for her for not taking the crime beat. He has assigned her to the most boring stories, such as the local school board meetings. Freddie is working on another story on behalf of her high school classmate Mindy Monahan. Mindy, a second-grade teacher, is incensed that citizens of Dog Town blatantly break the dog code laws, letting their pups poop on the school playground lawn. Mindy is concerned for the students who constantly fall in it. She wants to put a stop to the crime and Freddie can help by writing about it for the paper. When Mindy fails to show up for her big presentation to the school board, Freddie is mad her friend stood her up. A few days later when Freddie can't track Mindy down, she becomes concerned. Freddie knows something bad happened when the police discover Mindy's English bulldog Humphrey (as in Bogart) lying injured by the side of the road. There's NO WAY Mindy would ever let someone hurt Bogey or even let Bogey leave her side. Lieutenant Sakai, now Freddie's boyfriend, shares her concerns but is bound by laws that limit when and how he can search and what he can tell Freddie. Freddie is angry that perhaps some angry dog owner may have harmed her friend and she will stop at nothing to find out what happened and why. This isn't just a story to her, it's personal! Freddie also seems to have a stalker. Can this stalker lead her to Mindy? If so, then why was the car following her before she reconnected with Mindy? Is her past about to catch up with her?

This story was rather darker than I expected. Something bad happens to a good person and a sweet dog. I really don't like that. I like my cozy mystery victims to be bad people. I did not guess who did it until Freddie put the clues together. I was distracted by all the red herrings. A clever reader probably will have a good hunch and figure it out. The reveal was kind of a shock. The story goes on for WAY too long after the mystery is solved. The romantic drama twisted my heart and made me upset. I was glad I kept reading even though it was getting late. I skimmed some of the cute, coziness to get to the end though. I prefer my romances slow burn so all of this relationship stuff in one novel was too much for me. Then there's an extra subplot that needs to be resolved. The author seems to have planned to end the series with this book so she had to wrap everything up and not leave it for later. The writing is good enough for this series to be published and sold in bookstores and libraries if the author can trim the excess endings and save some for another book.

Freddie is tough to like. While she has been converted to the dog love by adopting a yellow Lab mutt named Mugs (who is ssooooooo adorable), she still thinks the town goes a little overboard. She's a reporter who has seen too much crime and become toughened by it. Because she's a reporter, she's not as dumb and nosy as most cozy mystery heroines. She has resources and brains to use. However, when it comes to the men in her life, she gets a bit brainless. I did appreciate how she actually talked to Sam and didn't just lie and lie to keep him from being hurt or jumping to the wrong conclusions. She's mature enough for an adult relationship but I don't think she's entirely over Jimmy. Jimmy is a man child, unable to grow up. He dresses like a teenager and is generally a clueless idiot. He can't see how his actions have hurt Freddie, let alone his wife and unborn child. A little more backstory may have made him more sympathetic. Sam is a sweetheart. Their first meeting did not go well and I really thought he was a jerk. Sam is sensitive and has a big heart. He feels things deeply and cares about his relationships, whether it be romantic, business or with rescue dogs. He is an upstanding police officer so he views the law as black and white. Bending the rules for Freddie is against his code of ethics but he knows she means well. Their relationship is progressing too fast, I think, and they need to slow down and talk about what they expect and what they can do about their ethics issues going forward.

Freddie's co-workers are an unpleasant lot. Kobritz is having martial problems and taking his frustration out on Freddie. That isn't fair and he should be more understanding and professional. Erik Royce is the newest crime reporter. He's not too bright and seems pretty lazy. He isn't invested in Mindy's disappearance the way Freddie is but it's his story. She knows that but she doesn't quite trust Erik. His ethics seem dubious and he lacks Freddie's killer instinct for a good story.

Kip Bannow, KTVX’s slickest reporter, can barely read the news. He doesn't have an original thought in his head but a professional rivalry exists between the TV and newspaper.

Mindy is also tough to like. She's a truly dedicated teacher and cares a lot about her students' welfare and their families. She isn't on a crusade because she's a crank. She's doing it for her students, many of whom comes from low income families who can't afford to buy new clothes every time their kid lands in dog poop. (Since when is poop an offensive word or is it used here as a stand-in for a word that isn't as polite?) Mindy loves her dog, Humphrey, a five-year-old bulldog who was known colloquially as Bogey. She knows how to take care of him and where and when he should be doing his business. I don't see why other citizens would be so mad at her, especially if they're breaking the law. I love dogs even more than humans but I agree with Mindy that there are appropriate places for dogs to go and a school yard or neighborhood or someone's lawn are not the correct places. I admire Mindy's passion and everyone else should too.

Other new characters in this novel include Officer Anson Donnally, a cop who supposedly deals with code violations. He's a disgusting, male chauvinist pig and lazy too. Tell me why this man is on the police force? I'm certain Bogey and Mugs are smarter. Friendlier too. Greg, Lou's new boyfriend, is a wealthy developer. He is glitzy, glamorous and sweeps Lou off her feet. Greg is able to provide the romance Pete never was. However, I do not like or trust Greg. He doesn't know Lou very well and he doesn't understand how much the bakery and the Howl-o-Week fundraiser means to her. I think Greg is a sleazy guy and Lou would be better off with Pete. Hal Parker, retired director for the Food Bank of the Willamette and long-time member of the Dog Mountain School District Board, has been a long-time pillar of the community. I really like him and how he has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of underprivileged students. His dog training plan should have worked and could have worked. Freddie is eager to do a feature story on Hal but Kobritz isn't feeling the love.

The chief suspect is Phil, Mindy's husband. He's a sad sack loser of a man with no backbone or moral character. Could he kill his wife? Perhaps by accident while drunk? Mindy wasn't feeling too kindly towards him when she was last seen. The second most likely suspect is Taylor High, a young, hungry, and mildly charming construction company CEO. He does not seem to like Mindy or support her agenda to punish dog code violators. I don't think he's a nice man. He sounds like the slick sleazbag type. His dog is unfriendly and that says a lot. I also would suspect Kayla, Phil's secretary, of knowing more than she should. She would have a good reason to get rid of Mindy. This young woman doesn't seem like she has the brain power to do such a thing though but perhaps she has a daddy or someone who can help rid her of a rival.

This mystery was good enough for me to want to read more but only if there are more dogs and fewer good people getting hurt or killed.

Content
One d-word
The romance is heating up. Sam puts his hands under Freddie's shirt but that's as far as it goes. He wanted her to spend the night at his place but she declined.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written who dun it. Good characters that were either likeable or hareable. A tight plot kept me guessing until the end. Who dun it? Read it and see ifyou can figure it out before the sleuth does.

[Brumby D! · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bogey the Bulldogs makes this book

This was such a fun read. And I love Bogey the Bulldog. He is such a character. What’s fun mystery

[Mary Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bulldogs & Bullets
A Dog Town USA Cozy Mystery
Meg Muldoon
5 Stars

Synopsis:

School teacher Mindy Monahan is missing.
And the single witness who saw what happened only speaks canine...

Ace reporter Winifred "Freddie" Wolf is in the dog house.
After turning down the crime beat at her small town Oregon newspaper because of a conflict of interest, Freddie’s editor at The Dog Mountain Chronicle demotes her back down to the dog beat. Which means covering more boring pooch parades, pet profiles, and canine puff pieces than any serious reporter could handle without losing her doggone mind.
But when Freddie’s friend Mindy Monahan goes missing just hours before the local school teacher was due to expose a ring of law-breaking dog owners, the journalist decides she won’t heel and stay within the lines of her beat.
With the help of her police lieutenant boyfriend and her puppy, Mugs, Freddie launches her own investigation into Mindy’s mysterious disappearance. But little does Freddie know that by trying to sniff out the mystery, she’s walking right into a deadly trap.
Because it’s a dog-eat-dog world out there. And Freddie Wolf is about to learn that lesson the hard way…

Bulldogs & Bullets is the second book in the Dog Town USA Cozy Mystery series, and is preceded by Mutts & Murder. (Goodreads)

Review:

When you look at the cover of Bulldogs & Bullets, you cannot help but smile. Looking at that adorable bulldog is enough to brighten anyone's day. And when you read the book, you will learn all about his personality and his adventure. It is a great story worth reading about and I am so glad that I did.

The characters are well developed, well rounded and three dimensional. Freddie is a good reporter: she is inquisitive, determined and smart. Although she is assigned the “dog beat”, she takes her job seriously and will do whatever it takes to get the story. I enjoyed reading about her relationship with her sister and the sense of family that came with that, and about her relationship with her boyfriend, Sam. The character development and interactions kept me turning the pages as fast as I could.

There were a few things that I thought made this book stand out from other cozies. First, Freddie does not stumble upon a dead body, which is what happens in many of today’s cozies. There was a mystery to be solved, but it was a kidnapping, not a murder. There is still enough suspense and twists and turns to keep the reader guessing and turning pages. Second, Freddie does not take unnecessary chances with her safety. She does ask questions and looks for clues to solve the disappearance, but she does not do things that are sure to put her in danger. Third, she gets along with the detective and does not think that he is incompetent (which is a good thing since said detective is her boyfriend). These differences made for a refreshing change that I found very enjoyable.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a fast easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and the setting pulled me right into the story. Dog Mountain is a place that every dog lover will want to visit. Imagine being able to take your canine companion everywhere with you: shopping, eating, banking and any other activity you want to do. It was great to meet and read about all of the animals that frequent these places.

I would recommend this book and series to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy. I would actually recommend all of the books written by this author, I have loved everyone that I have read. She is one of the authors that I know I automatically have to read and will greatly enjoy.

[Mariko Tsubaki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freddie is at it again

This is the second book in the Dog Town series. A great cozy mystery series with a little something for everyone. Cannot wait for the next book to see what Freddie gets into this time.

[Julie Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book but it was very slow to discover the teacher was missing. I liked the small town feel of this book, especially as it seemed
you had to own a dog to be able to live there. Although don't expect them to play any role in the investigation as they are just there to add the cute factor. The characters were fun real people with the usual relationship woes, romances and dramas. There is a lot going on with a number of characters and this is obviously not the first book in the series but it was still easy to follow. I had guessed the killer but that is more because I am suspicious of everyone than any obvious clues.
School teacher Mindy is on a mission to clean up her playground and she has asked for help from her old school friend Freddie. She needs Freddie to print an article in the local new paper calling out the fact that a number of dog owner's aren't picking up after there dogs and she has the proof. She plans to demand the School board do something about it at the next meeting and is taking Freddie along to make sure they do. So Freddie is surprised when Mindy doesn't show up and her phone calls to unanswered. Then Mindy's bulldog is found at the side of the road hurt from a gunshot wound, with no sign of Mindy. Freddie might have turned down the crime reporting job at the paper but nothing is going to stop her from finding her friend or discovering what happened to her.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent story

I have read other books by this author and thought I would give this series a try. The story is complete and is a pretty good mystery. Freddie's work as a small town newspaper reporter gives her a reason to get involved in crimes and this one revolves around the disappearance of her friend. Her boyfriend cop Sam is her reluctant partner in her investigation. He would prefer that Freddie leave the sleuthing to him but this is a cozy mystery so of course that will not happen. It's an easy read. My complaint is the juvenile romance between Freddie and Sam, and this seems to be a common problem with many cozies. The stomach fluttering, etc. etc. is something I would expect of a junior high couple, not adults. Reminds me of how I felt seeing the Beatles when I was 15. Please, cozy mystery authors, allow your female characters to be adults and not swooning every time a man comes in the room. Your readers will thank you. And have more of the dog in a book with Bulldogs in the title, please.

[Krystyna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love and heartache

Loved it until the end. Too forgiving? Probably. She has turned down the spot of crime reporter but her romance is going great guns. When a friend asks her to cover a meeting in which she is going to ask for action regarding fouling dogs and irresponsible owners, she agrees. Only to have her friend not attend! When her friend's dog is found shot and abandoned, she knows things have taken a dire turn. Will she and her handsome officer find her friend? Will she be alive? Will her own relationship survive? A good plot but the ending (which should have left me feeling uplifted) left me feeling flat.

[Alice Hazelbaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

How could reporter Freddie have known that saying no to a promotion to the crime beat would get her editor so mad at her? She did it for ethical reasons, after all, as she was dating the handsome Detective Sam Sakai. So she’s back to doing fluff stories about pets. She was set to do a story about dog owners no picking up after their pets while on school grounds. But when teacher and friend Mindy doesn’t show up at the school board meeting, Freddie gets worried, especially when she doesn’t show up for school and her bulldog is found shot! These are well-developed characters and the story has lots of twists, some romance and an unexpected ending. What’s not to like? Enjoy 😉

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I have said before in other reviews, I am not normally a romance reader. However this book and others I have read were more than just romance novels. This was a good story with interesting characters, a plot easily followed, and a good story line. I will never hold grammar against an author, unless it is obvious an editor never touched the story. That was not the case in this book. Yes there were errors but nothing bad. I definitely recommend this book, especially to dog or cat lovers. It is heart warming.

[monacia williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Freddie at her best

Nice and interesting beginning, nice and interesting ending but middle of story did not match up, it had material that seemed to only qualify as extra padding.
I liked Freddie's, Lou's and Sam's characters, I was able to 'see' them as real, strong characters. The story of Mindy's disappearance came to a surprising end, there were no suggestions prior to the revelation as to the identity of the perpetrator.
A good read, not overly exciting but enjoyable just the same.

[Eirlys · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Good read.

This was an emotional book, with lots of fun, but also drama too. Freddie is a reporter in Dogtown, which true to its name adored dogs. There is the disappearance of Freddie's best friend, as well as other strange happenings. There are love interests, duplicity and dramatic moments. The characters are well constructed and believable.

[Sheridan Colbourn · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable tale with interesting characters

If you want nice people, a plot twist you never expect and dogs, you will enjoy Bulldogs and Bullets. I enjoyed my morning reading the story.

[Kathy]

A great cozy

Now I can't wait for the next book I already love these characters. If you love a great cozy with characters you will love and a story that keeps you turning the page then this series by Meh Muldoon is a must read.

[Lori Elms · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was good.

This one was good. The chapters are mostly nice and short, so I had a hard time putting the book down thinking I would be able to read "just one more chapter". It's never just one more.

[Laurel Kristick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable cozy mystery set in a dog-crazy town. I liked this even more than the first book in the series, Mutts & Murder

[Peggy Puetz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was a good story

Was about a girl that worked on a newspaper. Her boyfriend is a detective. A friends that was a school teacher was missing and they spent the whole book hunting for her.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid mystery that kept me guessing until the end. My biggest complaint is the love story line between Sam and Freddie. It is getting a little cringe for my liking but I think that goes with the cozy mystery genre.

[Carol L. Caldwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Book

I enjoyed Bulldogs and Bullets. I liked the small Oregon town and the characters. And I liked the ending...no cliffhangers to make you read the next one. I appreciated the clean language and story line.

[M M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable mystery.

Like book 1, book 2 was an enjoyable mystery. There were enough red herrings and false leads to keep the reader guessing until the end. The character development was well done.

[Brenda Ploegstra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good story

This book has all the elements that a cozy mystery should have. A mystery to keep you guessing , a handsome cop to entice the heroine of the story and lots of four legged warm fuzzies to make you smile.

[Sandy Childress · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dog lover delight!

Thoroughly enjoyed the characters, the varied rabbit trails she pursued, and the small town atmosphere. I had a hard time putting the book down till I learned the fate of Mindy.

[Patricia Grigg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of laughs bubbled out during the reading of this book. Give it a try and see what you think.

[Annette Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

an enjoyable cozy

Nothing remarkable, or outstanding, just good characterisations a good surrounding story, enjoyable romances and totally clean. A relaxing read I recommend.

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where is Mindy Monahan??? Who shot her dog Bogey??? Freddie will figure things out though, won’t she??? I enjoyed story and recommend the book.

[Jeffrey Hyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like dogs and cats, this if the book for you. Murder, mystery mutts and pups. A quick read amd a dreamy sheriff to the rescue. Or is it him that save the day?

[Dianne Kwiatkowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book, fun read

The book had twists and turns, good characters, a plot and fun reading. Would recommend. Need to check out the other biiks.

[Mairi Krausse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story

Very cute story about a kidnapping, a dog shooting, and the small town happenings that give the local reporter material for her news stories.

[William LaFond · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not a bad book, but for some reason it did not grab me. I would try a different book by this author, a close friend loves her work.

[Diane Burton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun mystery set in a dog-crazy town.