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Corgi Case Files #1
Case of the One-Eyed Tiger
When a shocking murder shatters the tranquility of a sleepy Oregon town, and a priceless sculpture turns up missing, all fingers soon start pointing at new resident Zack Anderson.
Armed with a determination to clear his name, Zack sets out to solve the case with the help of a feisty canine companion with an uncanny ability to sniff out clues.
With evidence mounting against him, can Zack identify the killer and locate the missing sculpture before he ends up in the doghouse?
Armed with a determination to clear his name, Zack sets out to solve the case with the help of a feisty canine companion with an uncanny ability to sniff out clues.
With evidence mounting against him, can Zack identify the killer and locate the missing sculpture before he ends up in the doghouse?
260 pages, Paperback
Published September 12, 2015
671 people are currently reading
1176 people want to read
About the author
Jeffrey M. Poole
44 books229 followersJeffrey M. Poole is a professional writer living in picturesque southwestern Oregon with his wife Giliane, and their dog, Kinsey the corgi. He is the best-selling author of cozy mystery series Corgi Case Files and of fantasy series Bakkian Chronicles, Tales of Lentari, and the Dragons of Andela. He is presently plotting out his seventeenth mystery novel and writing his fifteenth fantasy novel.
Jeffrey’s interests include astronomy, archaeology, archery, scuba diving, collecting movies, and tinkering with any electronic gadget he can get his hands on.
Proud member of:
SFWA - Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association
MWA - Mystery Writers of America
In September, 2020, the Corgi Case Files mystery series was picked up by Columbine Publishing Group and published under its mystery imprint, Secret Staircase Books. Beginning in 2023, all three fantasy series will also be published under the Secret Staircase Books imprint.
Fans can follow Jeffrey online at www.AuthorJMPoole.com or on Facebook at: Facebook.com/BakkianChronicles.
Jeffrey’s interests include astronomy, archaeology, archery, scuba diving, collecting movies, and tinkering with any electronic gadget he can get his hands on.
Proud member of:
SFWA - Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association
MWA - Mystery Writers of America
In September, 2020, the Corgi Case Files mystery series was picked up by Columbine Publishing Group and published under its mystery imprint, Secret Staircase Books. Beginning in 2023, all three fantasy series will also be published under the Secret Staircase Books imprint.
Fans can follow Jeffrey online at www.AuthorJMPoole.com or on Facebook at: Facebook.com/BakkianChronicles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 217 reviews
August 7, 2017
An enjoyable start to a new series. Zack Anderson inherits an estate from one of his late wife's relatives. Off he heads to Pomme Valley, Oregon. He soon ends up the owner of a Corgi named Sherlock and under suspicion of Murder. He also now owns a winery, part of the estate, despite not liking wine. I had fun reading it. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
March 5, 2019
Humorous, exciting plot with interesting characters and a really smart dog. I plan to read more of this fun and funny cozy series. Recommended for fans of mystery, dogs, and smiling. 😄🙂
July 23, 2023
Okay I do enjoy the occasional Cozy Mystery, but generally not those with animals involved. This one though caught my attention mostly because it is a Corgi. I have to admit that since watching Cowboy Bebop I have a soft spot for intelligent Corgi's. Mostly the Corgi leads the MC around to where the clues are, but not much else. All in all the book isn't really ground breaking or so well written that it leaps out at you, but it is a fun and relaxing read. Will have to give the second one a look.
August 2, 2018
This is an utterly charming cozy mystery starring a likable, mature male protagonist and his newly-adopted corgi sidekick, Sherlock, who is oh-so-appropriately named. Mystery is not my usual genre, but this was a wonderful light break from longer/heavier books.
Our recently bereaved protagonist, Zack, inherits a house and a winery from his deceased wife's aunt. Deciding he needs a change of scene, Zack decides to move to the inherited house and take over the winery to honor his wife. Off Zack goes to the small town of Pomme Valley, Oregon. No sooner does he get to town than his high school friend and resident bad boy, now turned respectable veterinarian, cons him into adopting Sherlock the Corgi. It turns out this is just in time as Zack, as the new guy in town, immediately falls under suspicion when an expensive glass statue is stolen and an art gallery employee murdered just as he arrives. Lucky for Zack, Sherlock is good at sniffing out clues to unravel the mystery.
A fun, light afternoon of reading! Very enjoyable.
Our recently bereaved protagonist, Zack, inherits a house and a winery from his deceased wife's aunt. Deciding he needs a change of scene, Zack decides to move to the inherited house and take over the winery to honor his wife. Off Zack goes to the small town of Pomme Valley, Oregon. No sooner does he get to town than his high school friend and resident bad boy, now turned respectable veterinarian, cons him into adopting Sherlock the Corgi. It turns out this is just in time as Zack, as the new guy in town, immediately falls under suspicion when an expensive glass statue is stolen and an art gallery employee murdered just as he arrives. Lucky for Zack, Sherlock is good at sniffing out clues to unravel the mystery.
A fun, light afternoon of reading! Very enjoyable.
April 21, 2025
This was a freebie a while back and I grabbed it up. One....love a good mystery. Two....PUPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here we follow Zack Anderson who is new to the sleepy town in Oregon. Fingers start pointing to the newest resident when a murder happens and then the theft of a priceless sculpture. Zack needs to clear his name and fast with the help of his feisty canine companion, Sherlock.
The mystery was mysterious, Sherlock was a gem, and the townies are interesting folk. This was enjoyable....except for Zack. Unlikeable, immature, and flat out annoying. I would point a finger at him too. I wish I liked him and I certainly tried, but he just rubbed me the wrong way.
Honestly, I think Zack is one of those characters you love or hate. Some find him charming...some, like me, find him grating and annoying.
Some of the solves and finds were a bit too easy and the cops in this town really stink. They need to be re-educated on basic investigation tasks. They literally just wanted to throw the book at Zack and call it good.
Minus my feelings for Zack and the idiot cops, I did enjoy myself overall. I was so curious to see the whodunit and why. The villain was certainly a baddie and will serve a LOT of time behind bars. Dang.
All-in-all, I might read book 2 someday...we'll see. Maybe Zack will worm his way into my heart in the future. LOL Who knows.
3 stars from me.
Here we follow Zack Anderson who is new to the sleepy town in Oregon. Fingers start pointing to the newest resident when a murder happens and then the theft of a priceless sculpture. Zack needs to clear his name and fast with the help of his feisty canine companion, Sherlock.
The mystery was mysterious, Sherlock was a gem, and the townies are interesting folk. This was enjoyable....except for Zack. Unlikeable, immature, and flat out annoying. I would point a finger at him too. I wish I liked him and I certainly tried, but he just rubbed me the wrong way.
Honestly, I think Zack is one of those characters you love or hate. Some find him charming...some, like me, find him grating and annoying.
Some of the solves and finds were a bit too easy and the cops in this town really stink. They need to be re-educated on basic investigation tasks. They literally just wanted to throw the book at Zack and call it good.
Minus my feelings for Zack and the idiot cops, I did enjoy myself overall. I was so curious to see the whodunit and why. The villain was certainly a baddie and will serve a LOT of time behind bars. Dang.
All-in-all, I might read book 2 someday...we'll see. Maybe Zack will worm his way into my heart in the future. LOL Who knows.
3 stars from me.
January 25, 2023
Zack Anderson has had a very rough six months. His beloved wife and high school sweetheart Samantha was killed in a car accident and he can't seem to get over her. Everything in his Arizona home reminds him of Sam. When a person he's never heard of in a place he's never been to calls and tells him he's the beneficiary of Sam's Aunt Bonnie's estate, Zack is surprised. After a tough decision, he decides to pack up and move to Oregon. Upon arrival, his old high school friend calls him up and invites him to lunch. When Zack realizes his friend is now a veterinarian and dog rescuer, he knows he's been set up but unwittingly becomes the new dad of Sherlock, a canny corgi. Then while eating lunch with Harry and his wife (and Sherlock), a strange woman harasses him to sign the property over to her! In spite of not being a wine lover, Zack vows to keep the winery going in Sam's memory. After that the police arrive to haul Zack away for questioning in the theft of a priceless objects d'art and subsequent murder of the gallery employee. Zack is furious and demands to be let go. Upon returning home, the next morning Sherlock leads Zack right to dead body #2! Yikes! How on earth did he get into this mess and how does he get out?
This story was cute enough but the writing style wasn't for me. It's very juvenile with Zack addressing the audience and describing himself. The canine sleuth, Sherlock, is a little too knowing and canny to be believable but he's cute so I forgive the silly plot. The mystery itself is full of twists and turns and a villain I didn't see coming. I stayed up extra late to finish this.
Zack is not a likable character. He acts much younger and much older than he actually is. At 43 he should be fully digital compliant but he's not because apparently this book is set when Smart Phones first became a thing and Zack graduated high school in the 80s. Apparently being from Gen. X makes him technologically incompetent? That's a little weird. Even my parents know how to use their phones. Not the settings maybe but I know my dad knows how to use his contacts, I think. Zack makes it way more convoluted than it has to be. Just have the person text you their number and save it in your contacts and voila! No fiddling with settings. I think the author had no clue what they were writing about because some of the other digital stuff raised questions with me. Zack is also sexist, not knowing that women sci-fi geeks exist and he doesn't know what chai is or like the taste. Who doesn't like chai? It's not an acquired taste. It tastes like fall and Christmas- warm and cozy. It's probably the soy he doesn't like. Zack also uses a lot of strong language and casual rude words I don't like.
Debra Jacobs was the victim. We don't know much about her except she was an old lady who worked at the gallery. Her death sounds terrible and I don't think she realized she was in danger until it was too late. How sad! Mrs. Abigail Lawson, Aunt Bonnie's daughter, is a crank and a greedy witch. Do we know she didn't poison her mother? Even if she didn't, her constant harassment caused her mother's health to decline. Bonnie sounds like a wonderful person, a strong lady who started and managed her own business. She clearly loved it and brought a lot of enjoyment to people. Selling to a corporation just wasn't her business model. It's no wonder she didn't leave the winery to Abigail. Abigail just wants it for the money. She is not like her mother at all.
I also didn't care for the ignorant, stupid police stereotype. Captain Jason Nelson is an idiot who wants the case wrapped up ASAP. They don't have enough evidence to hold Zack! Detective Vance Samuelson is all right. He's a dog lover and also trusts his instincts which say Zack is innocent. He's fair and listens to Zack's side of the story but still doesn't fully trust Zack.
Who is the mysterious blond stalking Zack? Who was the second victim found in the winery?
Harry is a good vet. He clearly loves animals and has a knack for matching animals in need of people with people in need of animals. His set up was too funny. It's interesting that he claims to be a reformed character now. Is he really? I'm not sure he isn't the thief. How else would Zack's fingerprints get on a notebook? That's really weird. I'm not crazy about his wife Julie. She's too nosy and gossipy for my taste. Jillian Cooper at the Cookbook Nook understands technology in spite of being the same age as Zack. She's nice. I like her. She's a geek raised with older brothers and a lot of fun. I also like how she understands Zack's feelings about moving on. That's nice to have that bond. Do I sense chemistry between them? No but no reason they can't be friends.
Zora Lumen owns 4th Street Galleries where the robbery and murder took place. She's a very eccentric individual and kind of creepy. She makes a lot of sales because she doesn't take no for an answer. She pushes Zack and probably everyone else too. Taylor Rossen is the local beat reporter. She doesn't seem very nice or ethical. She published a story and picture about Zack without his knowledge or consent. She claims she thought they had it but she never tried to contact Zack to double check? That's weird. She's also using the IT guy to get what she wants and then complains when she's forced to agree to go on a date with the guy. That's just rude. Plus the CLOUD is not so mysterious as all that. Anyone with access to the server can find the security data baked up. It's not that difficult to understand or explain. It would, however, take a lot longer to get the image of Zack's supposed friend. Again the author seems to be a techno idiot. Even my DAD understands the cloud.
The villain was incredibly evil and really unhinged. The level this person went to to get what they wanted was astounding. They will be charged with a lot more crimes than murder and theft!
That villain is going away for a LONG LONG time after all that!
This series just isn't for me but I can see why people would enjoy it as a bit of fluffy nonsense.
This story was cute enough but the writing style wasn't for me. It's very juvenile with Zack addressing the audience and describing himself. The canine sleuth, Sherlock, is a little too knowing and canny to be believable but he's cute so I forgive the silly plot. The mystery itself is full of twists and turns and a villain I didn't see coming. I stayed up extra late to finish this.
Zack is not a likable character. He acts much younger and much older than he actually is. At 43 he should be fully digital compliant but he's not because apparently this book is set when Smart Phones first became a thing and Zack graduated high school in the 80s. Apparently being from Gen. X makes him technologically incompetent? That's a little weird. Even my parents know how to use their phones. Not the settings maybe but I know my dad knows how to use his contacts, I think. Zack makes it way more convoluted than it has to be. Just have the person text you their number and save it in your contacts and voila! No fiddling with settings. I think the author had no clue what they were writing about because some of the other digital stuff raised questions with me. Zack is also sexist, not knowing that women sci-fi geeks exist and he doesn't know what chai is or like the taste. Who doesn't like chai? It's not an acquired taste. It tastes like fall and Christmas- warm and cozy. It's probably the soy he doesn't like. Zack also uses a lot of strong language and casual rude words I don't like.
Debra Jacobs was the victim. We don't know much about her except she was an old lady who worked at the gallery. Her death sounds terrible and I don't think she realized she was in danger until it was too late. How sad! Mrs. Abigail Lawson, Aunt Bonnie's daughter, is a crank and a greedy witch. Do we know she didn't poison her mother? Even if she didn't, her constant harassment caused her mother's health to decline. Bonnie sounds like a wonderful person, a strong lady who started and managed her own business. She clearly loved it and brought a lot of enjoyment to people. Selling to a corporation just wasn't her business model. It's no wonder she didn't leave the winery to Abigail. Abigail just wants it for the money. She is not like her mother at all.
I also didn't care for the ignorant, stupid police stereotype. Captain Jason Nelson is an idiot who wants the case wrapped up ASAP. They don't have enough evidence to hold Zack! Detective Vance Samuelson is all right. He's a dog lover and also trusts his instincts which say Zack is innocent. He's fair and listens to Zack's side of the story but still doesn't fully trust Zack.
Who is the mysterious blond stalking Zack? Who was the second victim found in the winery?
Harry is a good vet. He clearly loves animals and has a knack for matching animals in need of people with people in need of animals. His set up was too funny. It's interesting that he claims to be a reformed character now. Is he really? I'm not sure he isn't the thief. How else would Zack's fingerprints get on a notebook? That's really weird. I'm not crazy about his wife Julie. She's too nosy and gossipy for my taste. Jillian Cooper at the Cookbook Nook understands technology in spite of being the same age as Zack. She's nice. I like her. She's a geek raised with older brothers and a lot of fun. I also like how she understands Zack's feelings about moving on. That's nice to have that bond. Do I sense chemistry between them? No but no reason they can't be friends.
Zora Lumen owns 4th Street Galleries where the robbery and murder took place. She's a very eccentric individual and kind of creepy. She makes a lot of sales because she doesn't take no for an answer. She pushes Zack and probably everyone else too. Taylor Rossen is the local beat reporter. She doesn't seem very nice or ethical. She published a story and picture about Zack without his knowledge or consent. She claims she thought they had it but she never tried to contact Zack to double check? That's weird. She's also using the IT guy to get what she wants and then complains when she's forced to agree to go on a date with the guy. That's just rude. Plus the CLOUD is not so mysterious as all that. Anyone with access to the server can find the security data baked up. It's not that difficult to understand or explain. It would, however, take a lot longer to get the image of Zack's supposed friend. Again the author seems to be a techno idiot. Even my DAD understands the cloud.
The villain was incredibly evil and really unhinged. The level this person went to to get what they wanted was astounding. They will be charged with a lot more crimes than murder and theft!
That villain is going away for a LONG LONG time after all that!
This series just isn't for me but I can see why people would enjoy it as a bit of fluffy nonsense.
October 8, 2018
Zack Anderson inherits a winery in a small town in Oregon. He is very happy to have done so because he needs a fresh start after the death of his wife in an auto accident. Just after he gets to his new town, a grouchy gallery assistant is found murdered and a priceless work of art stolen. Being the new kid in town, he is the best suspect.
I think that this book, written from the point of view of a man instead of a MC being a woman, gives it a different feel. I found the characters very enjoyable and the plot good but probably could have been a bit longer to fill in some more details. My one complaint is that Sherlock had a bit too big a part in the story. Some of the characteristics of the dog could have been a bit more realistic.
I think the series has potential and is not a bad start for the first in the series.
I think that this book, written from the point of view of a man instead of a MC being a woman, gives it a different feel. I found the characters very enjoyable and the plot good but probably could have been a bit longer to fill in some more details. My one complaint is that Sherlock had a bit too big a part in the story. Some of the characteristics of the dog could have been a bit more realistic.
I think the series has potential and is not a bad start for the first in the series.
October 3, 2021
I gave this story a shot based on the number of positive reviews. Unfortunately, I have to agree with the folks who hated this story. I'm not sure how an obnoxious and ignorant main character equates to "charming" for some people. Because it was free, Amazon did not offer a sample or a "look inside" for this book. If it had, I could have saved myself some time.
I'm not typically a fan of first person POV, and the quirkiness of the MC's story-telling "voice" rubbed me the wrong way. Having the MC be a bumbling idiot compounded the issue. (Come on -- a writer with no clue how to do research?) I kept pushing, looking for the qualities that made other readers give this story 4 and 5 stars, but did not find the charm or the humor they seemed to rave about. At the 45% point (according to my kindle), I gave up and deleted this book from my library.
I'm not typically a fan of first person POV, and the quirkiness of the MC's story-telling "voice" rubbed me the wrong way. Having the MC be a bumbling idiot compounded the issue. (Come on -- a writer with no clue how to do research?) I kept pushing, looking for the qualities that made other readers give this story 4 and 5 stars, but did not find the charm or the humor they seemed to rave about. At the 45% point (according to my kindle), I gave up and deleted this book from my library.
September 23, 2025
4.5 blue stars, rounded up.
I don't usually rate the first of a cozy series this high, but I found the author's style and the main character to be delightfully different. A breath of fresh air. And an utterly adorable corgi. He must be doing something right with 18 more books in this series to look forward to. Okay, having said that, I'll admit that the main character is sort of borderline unlikeable. He is awkward, sarcastic, a bit judgmental and surprisingly non-tech savvy for a Gen X-er. Some of the jokes at the beginning, especially about older folks, fell decidedly flat. But give him a chance. I think our Zach has hidden depths and sensitivity that may develop in future installments. The dog is almost the main character, totally unbelievable in pointing out clues to our clueless Zach, but it worked for me. And there are some side characters that I hope will be developed further. I look forward to reading more of this series, but with the caveat that reading them back to back might become a little wearing.
Description: The unexpected inheritance of an estate and winery sends recently widowed author Zach Anderson to Oregon for a fresh start. Pomme Valley is a quaint town where everyone knows your business and nothing interesting happens—until a famous sculpture is stolen and a gallery assistant is shot to death the day Zach arrives. Before he can even unpack, he’s interrogated by the police. Together with his newly adopted corgi, Sherlock, Zach must dig up clues to prove his innocence. All evidence points to him, but why would someone want to frame him for the crime? Dark secrets may be buried in the fertile soil of the vineyard now under his reluctant care… And if Zach and Sherlock don’t solve the case soon, they won’t just be playing dead.
I don't usually rate the first of a cozy series this high, but I found the author's style and the main character to be delightfully different. A breath of fresh air. And an utterly adorable corgi. He must be doing something right with 18 more books in this series to look forward to. Okay, having said that, I'll admit that the main character is sort of borderline unlikeable. He is awkward, sarcastic, a bit judgmental and surprisingly non-tech savvy for a Gen X-er. Some of the jokes at the beginning, especially about older folks, fell decidedly flat. But give him a chance. I think our Zach has hidden depths and sensitivity that may develop in future installments. The dog is almost the main character, totally unbelievable in pointing out clues to our clueless Zach, but it worked for me. And there are some side characters that I hope will be developed further. I look forward to reading more of this series, but with the caveat that reading them back to back might become a little wearing.
Description: The unexpected inheritance of an estate and winery sends recently widowed author Zach Anderson to Oregon for a fresh start. Pomme Valley is a quaint town where everyone knows your business and nothing interesting happens—until a famous sculpture is stolen and a gallery assistant is shot to death the day Zach arrives. Before he can even unpack, he’s interrogated by the police. Together with his newly adopted corgi, Sherlock, Zach must dig up clues to prove his innocence. All evidence points to him, but why would someone want to frame him for the crime? Dark secrets may be buried in the fertile soil of the vineyard now under his reluctant care… And if Zach and Sherlock don’t solve the case soon, they won’t just be playing dead.
April 28, 2018
In Case of the One-Eyed Tiger by Jeffrey Poole, newly widowed Zack Anderson has moved to a small town in Oregon where the aunt of Zack’s late wife just left him property, including a winery significant to the community. But the moment he arrives, he becomes the chief suspect in the murder of a famous artist and the theft of a priceless sculpture of a tiger. The phone records from his new house’s landline show suspicious calls before Zack even arrived in town, and Zack’s fingerprints appear on ther artist’s notebook. He discovers that Harry, a high school classmate, now lives in the town and is the local vet who also runs the local animal shelter. Thus Zack gets himself adopted by a special corgi named Sherlock, who helps him in his case. But Sherlock first leads him to another body in the winery. Now Zack has to figure out what is going on before he gets arrested for the murders.
Read the rest of this review and other fun, geeky articles at Fangirl Nation
Read the rest of this review and other fun, geeky articles at Fangirl Nation
October 3, 2021
This was a fun read. It is light hearted, funny, and has a dog as a main character! I enjoyed the story, the characters and the relationships that are beginning to build in this debut novel. I can see myself reading more of them because even if it isn't a mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat and constantly guessing, it moves along at a good pace. I love Zack's character-he shares qualities with me...I too hate coffee or tea! It's also interesting to see that he is not up on technology, and that makes the story more interesting for it. That plot point comes together very well. All in all, I give this a two thumbs up!
September 25, 2022
This was fun! Most cozy mysteries are written by women so I enjoyed reading one from a male perspective. At the beginning I wasn't sure about the MC's sarcasm, but it eventually grew on me. Though the star of the book is most definitely Sherlock - what a dog!!! 3.5 rounding up
June 21, 2018
4.5 stars. I was looking for some cozies with a male protagonist and found this one on Audible. I really enjoyed it. Quirky, funny, and intriguing.
September 16, 2021
Caught my attention and kept me reading, no doomed romance or trite plot, just fun with a few twists and turns
June 6, 2018
I don't read a whole lot of mysteries, but I do enjoy them from time to time. The voice of this one was a bit odd, as well as the narrator. But after a few hours, I grew to like it. The style is different, but fun. The dog was fun as well, though I mostly consider dogs that small to be footballs rather than dogs. I liked how the story unraveled, and how I wasn't able to guess the "who did it" until it was upon me. Very well done. I look forward to looking at the rest of this series.
June 26, 2020
In a moment of depressive desperation, I sought out one of my tried-and-true forms of escapism: a nice mystery book. In that sense, this book did the trick. It was a very easy read. It always shocks me when reading about murders seems like a nice break from reality, but that's 2020 for you.
That said, I almost didn't continue past the first chapter or two. I don't particularly care for the voice of the narrator. It's immature to the point of challenging even the most willing disbelief. He describes his appearance first. Seriously. My teenagers write their stories that way, and I always sort of sigh and, if they have potential, suggest that there are more clever and engaging ways to get the reader to be able to envision the character. He actually addresses the reader as well. After describing his hair, his eyes, and his build, he says, "Why would you care about how I look? The short answer is, you don't." Ugh. Unnecessary second person. Then Poole breaks the other rule I try endlessly to point out to teenagers: verb tense consistency. When we learn the main conflict, told in past tense ("Woody nodded...") the narrator interjects yet again with, "Great. He's talking about art.") Gah. Not only is the narrator unbelievably obtuse (doesn't know how to use a smart phone in 2015, doesn't drink coffee or chai or wine, hates art...) he interrupts his own story in the wrong verb tense. I nearly quit reading.
But... then there was a dog, and the dog's name is Sherlock, which is the one reason I wish my puppy was a boy puppy (family wouldn't go for Agatha, Christie, or Miss Marple.) And then I read the news. Wow. So I thought, "Maybe a few more pages of this mystery with a dog...." And in its favor, the book moves quickly and the cop is likable if also rather unbelievable. So if you, like me, are stuck in 2020 and want to pretend you aren't, this isn't an entirely bad option.
That said, I almost didn't continue past the first chapter or two. I don't particularly care for the voice of the narrator. It's immature to the point of challenging even the most willing disbelief. He describes his appearance first. Seriously. My teenagers write their stories that way, and I always sort of sigh and, if they have potential, suggest that there are more clever and engaging ways to get the reader to be able to envision the character. He actually addresses the reader as well. After describing his hair, his eyes, and his build, he says, "Why would you care about how I look? The short answer is, you don't." Ugh. Unnecessary second person. Then Poole breaks the other rule I try endlessly to point out to teenagers: verb tense consistency. When we learn the main conflict, told in past tense ("Woody nodded...") the narrator interjects yet again with, "Great. He's talking about art.") Gah. Not only is the narrator unbelievably obtuse (doesn't know how to use a smart phone in 2015, doesn't drink coffee or chai or wine, hates art...) he interrupts his own story in the wrong verb tense. I nearly quit reading.
But... then there was a dog, and the dog's name is Sherlock, which is the one reason I wish my puppy was a boy puppy (family wouldn't go for Agatha, Christie, or Miss Marple.) And then I read the news. Wow. So I thought, "Maybe a few more pages of this mystery with a dog...." And in its favor, the book moves quickly and the cop is likable if also rather unbelievable. So if you, like me, are stuck in 2020 and want to pretend you aren't, this isn't an entirely bad option.
October 6, 2018
This was a cute story, and if you like cozy mysteries starring animals, chances are good you will enjoy this book.
This is me just venting (and did not affect the rating I gave the story), but what's with the rain? It bugs me when people stereotype Oregon as rainy. Okay, I must start with the fact that I was born and raised in Medford, Oregon, which is about five miles from the town that Pomme Valley is based on. Having it forecasted to be rainy ten days in a row in August (that's when the wine festival is) is very unrealistic for this particular part of the state (the average rainfall for this part of the state is lower than the state average). There was one year where Medford got less than nine inches of rain. And then there is the Oregon High Desert (think little rain- 7-15 inches of rain per year) which encompasses an area larger than Vermont and New Hampshire combined.
This is me just venting (and did not affect the rating I gave the story), but what's with the rain? It bugs me when people stereotype Oregon as rainy. Okay, I must start with the fact that I was born and raised in Medford, Oregon, which is about five miles from the town that Pomme Valley is based on. Having it forecasted to be rainy ten days in a row in August (that's when the wine festival is) is very unrealistic for this particular part of the state (the average rainfall for this part of the state is lower than the state average). There was one year where Medford got less than nine inches of rain. And then there is the Oregon High Desert (think little rain- 7-15 inches of rain per year) which encompasses an area larger than Vermont and New Hampshire combined.
November 7, 2016
Zach inherits an estate and winery from his late wife's great aunt. He no sooner moves there, than a woman is murdered with a weapon registered to that aunt and an expensive statue has been stolen. He arrives in town to find that he is the prime suspect. He runs into an old friend who is a vet who pushes him to adopt a corgi named Sherlock who seems to have a knack for sniffing out clues. Quite entertaining
November 14, 2016
Thank you for letting me be a beta reader! Another wonderful beginning of a great series! You just can't help but fall in love with all the characters!
December 18, 2021
Go for it, what a nice change for a Cozy mystery 👍👍👍
Truly I have never given 5 stars for any books, no matter the author, not even Robert Ludlum or any other of this caliber. But Mr. Poole you won it, I've been an avid reader since age 4, I'm now 66, do the maths. I'm considered a French Canadian, did all my school in French, but in reality I am just Canadian neither French nor English. But one thing I do have is an unending love of good books, and respect for a good writer. In my family we are all avid readers, must a new gene.
I've volunteered as a librarian in many libraries in my hometown of Montréal QC, and a few other places along the way. Back to this particular book, 1st it is well researched, well written haven't reported errors of any kinds THIS is worth the extra stars, plus there is no extended ending, you get the whole story right where it's supposed to be, in the book you purchased, the author doesn't kidnap your email in order to give you the full ending. I've given only 1 star to author who do this.
Now that we have established that Mr. Poole is a decent author, let's talk about the story, it is well researched and it shows, well written, plausible, funny and the characters will keep you on your toes trying to figure out who did it. And there is a lot to discover, the crimes have already been committed before the main character even move to the city. And Sherlock the Corgi is truly quite a detective, for a rescue dog that was forced on the main character he is worth his weight in gold. The book will almost remind you of an Hercule Poirot/Miss Marple undertone mystery, you know those crimes when all the doors to were all locked, then all of a sudden you have a dead body.? Almost as a good game of Clues
That book is THAT good. What you thought I was going to give the plot away? Hey be fair, get the book, J R Poole is worth it. I've become a fan. Which is a rare occurrence for me when it comes to "Indie" author.
p.s. read it if you can spare the time, because once you start there is no going back, you will be hooked ha ha! Have fun!
Truly I have never given 5 stars for any books, no matter the author, not even Robert Ludlum or any other of this caliber. But Mr. Poole you won it, I've been an avid reader since age 4, I'm now 66, do the maths. I'm considered a French Canadian, did all my school in French, but in reality I am just Canadian neither French nor English. But one thing I do have is an unending love of good books, and respect for a good writer. In my family we are all avid readers, must a new gene.
I've volunteered as a librarian in many libraries in my hometown of Montréal QC, and a few other places along the way. Back to this particular book, 1st it is well researched, well written haven't reported errors of any kinds THIS is worth the extra stars, plus there is no extended ending, you get the whole story right where it's supposed to be, in the book you purchased, the author doesn't kidnap your email in order to give you the full ending. I've given only 1 star to author who do this.
Now that we have established that Mr. Poole is a decent author, let's talk about the story, it is well researched and it shows, well written, plausible, funny and the characters will keep you on your toes trying to figure out who did it. And there is a lot to discover, the crimes have already been committed before the main character even move to the city. And Sherlock the Corgi is truly quite a detective, for a rescue dog that was forced on the main character he is worth his weight in gold. The book will almost remind you of an Hercule Poirot/Miss Marple undertone mystery, you know those crimes when all the doors to were all locked, then all of a sudden you have a dead body.? Almost as a good game of Clues
That book is THAT good. What you thought I was going to give the plot away? Hey be fair, get the book, J R Poole is worth it. I've become a fan. Which is a rare occurrence for me when it comes to "Indie" author.
p.s. read it if you can spare the time, because once you start there is no going back, you will be hooked ha ha! Have fun!
October 15, 2022
Zack Anderson is a happily-married writer, then is wife dies in a horrific car crash. Still recovering he finds out he has inherited a winery in a small Oregon town from his wife's family. Even though he doesn't know anything about wine - he doesn't even drink it - he desperately needs a change after his wife's death so he moves to the house and winery he has inherited.
Zack soon finds out that a good friend of his from high school lives in the town and is the town vet. Zack goes to meet him and ends up adopting a Corgi. At the end of the book, he adopts a second one. this despite not really being a dog person.
And there's been a breaking and entering at a local art gallery and someone was murdered. Zack is interrogated about the crime by the local police - even though he wasn't even in town yet when it happened, having been on the road on the way to his new inheritance.
Oh, and he's not an amateur detective either and thinks trying to be one is silly.
This is a great book with a lot of humor. Zack is a great main character because he doesn't really want to do anything of the almost cliche things he ends-up doing in this story. He's not interested in wine but when circumstances hand him a winery he decides to make a go of it and even finds a manager by the end of the story.
He's not a dog or even a pet person but when he walks though the vet's shelter area he can't help but to fall for the Corgi, Sherlock.
And he is more or less forced to investigate the crime since the local police would rather pin it on him than investigate.
The conclusion is a breathless romp and even though at times it seemed awfully convenient it still worked. I downloaded this book and book 3 for free but bought book 2 and I'm looking forward to reading more of the series. I highly recommend this book as a light, fun, and humorous cozy mystery.
Zack soon finds out that a good friend of his from high school lives in the town and is the town vet. Zack goes to meet him and ends up adopting a Corgi. At the end of the book, he adopts a second one. this despite not really being a dog person.
And there's been a breaking and entering at a local art gallery and someone was murdered. Zack is interrogated about the crime by the local police - even though he wasn't even in town yet when it happened, having been on the road on the way to his new inheritance.
Oh, and he's not an amateur detective either and thinks trying to be one is silly.
This is a great book with a lot of humor. Zack is a great main character because he doesn't really want to do anything of the almost cliche things he ends-up doing in this story. He's not interested in wine but when circumstances hand him a winery he decides to make a go of it and even finds a manager by the end of the story.
He's not a dog or even a pet person but when he walks though the vet's shelter area he can't help but to fall for the Corgi, Sherlock.
And he is more or less forced to investigate the crime since the local police would rather pin it on him than investigate.
The conclusion is a breathless romp and even though at times it seemed awfully convenient it still worked. I downloaded this book and book 3 for free but bought book 2 and I'm looking forward to reading more of the series. I highly recommend this book as a light, fun, and humorous cozy mystery.
May 20, 2018
( Format : Audiobook )
"Meet your new daddy."
Zack Anderson is an author. His books, sexy romance novels enjoyed by both men and women, sell well. At least, they did until the death of his wife in a car crash six months before. Since then his writing seems to have fallen flat. So when he becomes the beneficiary of an estate, with winery, thanks to his wife's great aunt, he decides to make a new start and move to Oregon. It changes his whole life as he reconnects with an old friend, makes some new ones, and some enemies, squires a remarkable corgi named, appropriately, Sherlock - and gets arrested for murder on his first day there.
This is a well constructed book, deliciously written in the first person, with excellent characterisation and a twisty little plot set in very small town Oregon where everyone knows almost everyone else's business. Bob Johnson becomes self confessed 'lazy' author Zack as he faces up to slightly insane locals and gets to know, and enjoy, his new home town and learn a little about wine in a place boasting 24 wineries and which holds an annual wine tasting festival which brings in tourists by the bus load. The text is natural, humourous and this is fully expressed in Mr.Johnson's warm narration, his voice full of cadence and expression: a very believable, likeable Zack.
At my request, I was really fortunate to be gifted a complimentary copy of the Case of the One Eyed Tiger, by the rights holder, via Audiobook Boom. Thank you so much. It was a very enjoyable delight, both book and narrator's performance working together perfectly. A definite recommend to anyone (other than those who only like furious and bloody action). And I will definitely be looking out for more to come in the future.
"Meet your new daddy."
Zack Anderson is an author. His books, sexy romance novels enjoyed by both men and women, sell well. At least, they did until the death of his wife in a car crash six months before. Since then his writing seems to have fallen flat. So when he becomes the beneficiary of an estate, with winery, thanks to his wife's great aunt, he decides to make a new start and move to Oregon. It changes his whole life as he reconnects with an old friend, makes some new ones, and some enemies, squires a remarkable corgi named, appropriately, Sherlock - and gets arrested for murder on his first day there.
This is a well constructed book, deliciously written in the first person, with excellent characterisation and a twisty little plot set in very small town Oregon where everyone knows almost everyone else's business. Bob Johnson becomes self confessed 'lazy' author Zack as he faces up to slightly insane locals and gets to know, and enjoy, his new home town and learn a little about wine in a place boasting 24 wineries and which holds an annual wine tasting festival which brings in tourists by the bus load. The text is natural, humourous and this is fully expressed in Mr.Johnson's warm narration, his voice full of cadence and expression: a very believable, likeable Zack.
At my request, I was really fortunate to be gifted a complimentary copy of the Case of the One Eyed Tiger, by the rights holder, via Audiobook Boom. Thank you so much. It was a very enjoyable delight, both book and narrator's performance working together perfectly. A definite recommend to anyone (other than those who only like furious and bloody action). And I will definitely be looking out for more to come in the future.
January 25, 2019
Synopsis:
Zack is a recent widower who inherits a house and some land in Oregon from a distant relative. Since he is mourning the death of his wife he decides that starting over somewhere else is the best thing he can do for himself. So, he moves. Almost immediately he has a corgi dog named Sherlock foisted on him and he also is accused of murder.
He and Sherlock must prove that Zack is innocent of the crime.
My rating: 4/5
I want to be clear here that my rating is based on my reading enjoyment and not necessarily how amazingly written the book was.
The mystery actually wasn't all that great. And, since it is a mystery I completely understand if that is kind of a turn off to people.
But, I absolutely loved the characters and particularly the authorial voice.
I loved Zack and Sherlock. I really enjoyed the exploration of the relationship between them. Particularly as Zack had never owned a dog before.
I appreciated how deep of a character Zack was. I don't often see a male protagonist in cozy mysteries and especially one who was sensitive and deep. His mourning for his wife touched my heart and Zack just seems like a nice guy. It is so refreshing to see a sensitive male character written by a male writer.
I loved following him.
If you love character driven stories and dogs then I recommend trying this book.
If you need an amazing mystery then this probably isn't' for you. It wasn't terrible. It was fine but the mystery itself didn't knock my socks off. The characters did and for me that was enough to make me eager to read more.
Zack is a recent widower who inherits a house and some land in Oregon from a distant relative. Since he is mourning the death of his wife he decides that starting over somewhere else is the best thing he can do for himself. So, he moves. Almost immediately he has a corgi dog named Sherlock foisted on him and he also is accused of murder.
He and Sherlock must prove that Zack is innocent of the crime.
My rating: 4/5
I want to be clear here that my rating is based on my reading enjoyment and not necessarily how amazingly written the book was.
The mystery actually wasn't all that great. And, since it is a mystery I completely understand if that is kind of a turn off to people.
But, I absolutely loved the characters and particularly the authorial voice.
I loved Zack and Sherlock. I really enjoyed the exploration of the relationship between them. Particularly as Zack had never owned a dog before.
I appreciated how deep of a character Zack was. I don't often see a male protagonist in cozy mysteries and especially one who was sensitive and deep. His mourning for his wife touched my heart and Zack just seems like a nice guy. It is so refreshing to see a sensitive male character written by a male writer.
I loved following him.
If you love character driven stories and dogs then I recommend trying this book.
If you need an amazing mystery then this probably isn't' for you. It wasn't terrible. It was fine but the mystery itself didn't knock my socks off. The characters did and for me that was enough to make me eager to read more.
December 31, 2021
Read it in one night!!! Fans of "Cat Who" books will love!!
I got this book during a sale long ago but at the time was going through a loss and wasn't sure I could read a book where the main character had lost their wife., so I put it off. Last night I wanted something cute to read a d when I scrolled past the cover, the "corgi" caught my eye and I knew it would be fun to read. I wasn't dissapointed! The main character told the story as if we were catching up over a pizza. His humor made me chuckle while reading and I loved the snarky quips from all the people in the story. I was pulled into the mystery almost right away, of course after meeting the star of the book (the dog!!) And after a while I started taking notes to see if I could figure it out before the big reveal. I admit I was surprised when the connection clicked! I was just as fooled by the villain as the main character. I think this is the fastest I've read through a book, and I'm a slow reader! I couldn't put it down!!!! I started last night and just finished. Crazy! I just loved Zack's personality and I'm so excited to read more about him and his new lady friend in the next book.
This story and writing style had a bit of similarity to "The Cat Who.." series (by Lilian Jackson Braun) that I'm also a huge fan of, but this story is great for us dog lovers! If you've read those, then you'll love this book, too.
I got this book during a sale long ago but at the time was going through a loss and wasn't sure I could read a book where the main character had lost their wife., so I put it off. Last night I wanted something cute to read a d when I scrolled past the cover, the "corgi" caught my eye and I knew it would be fun to read. I wasn't dissapointed! The main character told the story as if we were catching up over a pizza. His humor made me chuckle while reading and I loved the snarky quips from all the people in the story. I was pulled into the mystery almost right away, of course after meeting the star of the book (the dog!!) And after a while I started taking notes to see if I could figure it out before the big reveal. I admit I was surprised when the connection clicked! I was just as fooled by the villain as the main character. I think this is the fastest I've read through a book, and I'm a slow reader! I couldn't put it down!!!! I started last night and just finished. Crazy! I just loved Zack's personality and I'm so excited to read more about him and his new lady friend in the next book.
This story and writing style had a bit of similarity to "The Cat Who.." series (by Lilian Jackson Braun) that I'm also a huge fan of, but this story is great for us dog lovers! If you've read those, then you'll love this book, too.
February 2, 2021
I loved the characters, the theme of the story and the story line, BUT, if was torn to pieces in the end by the erroneous idea that if Zack and Sam died, the property would revert to Abigail.
This is a falsehood, as there was no mention of a reverter clause being in Aunt Bonnie's will. Therefore, according to law, in its absence, in the case of Sam's death, title passed to Zack alone and in the case of Zack's demise title would pass to his heirs, and as there were no children, that would mean his remaining heirs; i.e. his mother, father, sisters, brothers, etc.
The only way Abigail could take title would be by a direct deed out of those heirs.
Consequently, Taylor's killing Zack would have served no purpose whatsoever in gaining title to the property.
And that kind of removes the necessity of murdering Zack and kind of squelches the whole story.
It is unfortunate that the author did not look into this matter further and realize what I stated above is the way the law works. All he had to do was to have had the will include the reverter clause and it would have been smooth sailing. But, he didn't and so reduced the story from being excellent to being mediocre or less.
But I do like the way he writes and will try the next book in this series in the hope that he did his homework before submitting it for publication.
This is a falsehood, as there was no mention of a reverter clause being in Aunt Bonnie's will. Therefore, according to law, in its absence, in the case of Sam's death, title passed to Zack alone and in the case of Zack's demise title would pass to his heirs, and as there were no children, that would mean his remaining heirs; i.e. his mother, father, sisters, brothers, etc.
The only way Abigail could take title would be by a direct deed out of those heirs.
Consequently, Taylor's killing Zack would have served no purpose whatsoever in gaining title to the property.
And that kind of removes the necessity of murdering Zack and kind of squelches the whole story.
It is unfortunate that the author did not look into this matter further and realize what I stated above is the way the law works. All he had to do was to have had the will include the reverter clause and it would have been smooth sailing. But, he didn't and so reduced the story from being excellent to being mediocre or less.
But I do like the way he writes and will try the next book in this series in the hope that he did his homework before submitting it for publication.
November 21, 2021
Case of the One-Eyed Tiger: A Review
by Jeffrey Poole
(My rating 5*****}
I love this book. The story line starts out, like many cozy-ish mysteries, with a formulaic structure:
girl; inherits a
—decrepit house/B&B/ bookshop/bakery/winery;
—in a small town/island/cove/farm/foreign land;
—with a hunky, obstreperous minion of the law nearby;
—and she has an adorable pet, such as a dog (a canine genius,) or, if she is a little bit witchy she has a snarky cat as her familiar.
Well, ...Tiger goes off the rails here. The heir is a man (a sorrowful widower,) who has never owned a dog. His profession is as an author of bodice-ripper romances, and he inherits a whole vineyard-winery complex. And adopts his first dog, ever.
Now come the bodies and the law-man, who thinks our heir is a murderer, and thief of of the titular one-eyed tiger. Add some very attractive women and it's all downhill from here.
I loved this book — the characters are great, our hero would be toast without the dog, the plot is twisty, and there might be romance on the horizon.
A light, humourous read, which I recommend highly.
by Jeffrey Poole
(My rating 5*****}
I love this book. The story line starts out, like many cozy-ish mysteries, with a formulaic structure:
girl; inherits a
—decrepit house/B&B/ bookshop/bakery/winery;
—in a small town/island/cove/farm/foreign land;
—with a hunky, obstreperous minion of the law nearby;
—and she has an adorable pet, such as a dog (a canine genius,) or, if she is a little bit witchy she has a snarky cat as her familiar.
Well, ...Tiger goes off the rails here. The heir is a man (a sorrowful widower,) who has never owned a dog. His profession is as an author of bodice-ripper romances, and he inherits a whole vineyard-winery complex. And adopts his first dog, ever.
Now come the bodies and the law-man, who thinks our heir is a murderer, and thief of of the titular one-eyed tiger. Add some very attractive women and it's all downhill from here.
I loved this book — the characters are great, our hero would be toast without the dog, the plot is twisty, and there might be romance on the horizon.
A light, humourous read, which I recommend highly.
December 7, 2020
This is by far the best mystery novel I’ve read so far. My qualifications for stating this is being on several ARC teams for many authors and having read over a hundred+ novels this year.
The protagonist is witty, charming, humorous, naive, self-deprecating , and humble.
The dialogue and inner private thoughts by the protagonist is very real-life and down to earth with musing anecdotes, humorous comparisons and retorts - for example: “ You don’t like hearing yourself called Mr. Anderson? Let me guess. It reminds you of your father.” “No, it reminds me of Neo, from The Matrix.”
His interactions with his newly adopted Corgi named Sherlock is heartwarming as well as in awe with his dog’s perceptive ability to discover clues in solving a murder mystery.
The pace was good and the events unfolding were expected, yet at the same time, surprising.
This is the first time I actually look forward to the next episode to see what adventure awaits Zack and Sherlock and also to find out if there’s a conclusion to a presumptive budding romance with Jillian.
The protagonist is witty, charming, humorous, naive, self-deprecating , and humble.
The dialogue and inner private thoughts by the protagonist is very real-life and down to earth with musing anecdotes, humorous comparisons and retorts - for example: “ You don’t like hearing yourself called Mr. Anderson? Let me guess. It reminds you of your father.” “No, it reminds me of Neo, from The Matrix.”
His interactions with his newly adopted Corgi named Sherlock is heartwarming as well as in awe with his dog’s perceptive ability to discover clues in solving a murder mystery.
The pace was good and the events unfolding were expected, yet at the same time, surprising.
This is the first time I actually look forward to the next episode to see what adventure awaits Zack and Sherlock and also to find out if there’s a conclusion to a presumptive budding romance with Jillian.
November 12, 2018
I was lucky enough to score a free copy of the second book in this series, which was my introduction to this series. After completing that book, I enjoyed it so much that I bought the first book in the series.
There is nothing complex or insightful about this book/story but this book [and the second book in the series] is just a nice way to spend a few hours. There is some good humor and a likeable main character in Zach Anderson, a romance writer. Zach, recently widowed inherits a winery in Oregon from his late wife's aunt and decides to move there to make a fresh start. Very soon after arriving, Zach is accused of murder. With his recently adopted Corgi Sherlock's help, he has to figure out the true perpetrator. There are some humorous cultural references sprinkled throughout the book.
As I listened to this book -- The narrator, Bob Johnson, has a nice easy tone and does a great job.
I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
There is nothing complex or insightful about this book/story but this book [and the second book in the series] is just a nice way to spend a few hours. There is some good humor and a likeable main character in Zach Anderson, a romance writer. Zach, recently widowed inherits a winery in Oregon from his late wife's aunt and decides to move there to make a fresh start. Very soon after arriving, Zach is accused of murder. With his recently adopted Corgi Sherlock's help, he has to figure out the true perpetrator. There are some humorous cultural references sprinkled throughout the book.
As I listened to this book -- The narrator, Bob Johnson, has a nice easy tone and does a great job.
I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
December 2, 2021
Zach's recently deceased wife had an aunt who they didn't know. The aunt passed away and Zach inherited the aunt's home and winery. However just hours after arriving in his new hometown, he's arrested and accused of murder, with a decent amount of evidence pointing to him. Fortunately for Zach, when he arrived in town, an old friend, who is a vet and runs an animal rescue gave him a corgi that had been at the shelter for a while. This corgi, named Sherlock, is a crime solver by instinct. This is a cute cozy mystery, easy to read, and you can tell that the author has corgis. The plot was a bit far fetched (how can a man in his 40's be so unable to understand a mobile phone?). Zach also is a little bit of a douche, his descriptions and opions of people are rather annoying at times. On a more positive note, I want to move to Pomme Valley, the setting of these books, it sounds quaint, and if Zach has been given 2 corgis in a few weeks time, maybe I can pick one up too?
November 29, 2017
Zack Anderson moves from Phoenix, Arizona, to Pomme Valley, Oregon, where he has inherited a winery left to him by his late wife's great-aunt Bonnie. Despite knowing nothing about winemaking (and not even liking wine), Zack is determined to keep the winery a going concern in the memory of his deceased wife Samantha. Within 24 hours of his arrival in town, Zack has a) reconnected with a high-school buddy; b) adopted an adorable corgi named Sherlock; and c) become the prime suspect in the theft of an expensive sculpture (the titular "One-Eyed Tiger") and the associated death of an art gallery worker.
I really enjoyed this book. Zack gives the impression of being rather technologically challenged, and it's pretty obvious that Sherlock is the brighter of the human-dog partnership. Looking forward to the future installments of the series.
I really enjoyed this book. Zack gives the impression of being rather technologically challenged, and it's pretty obvious that Sherlock is the brighter of the human-dog partnership. Looking forward to the future installments of the series.
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