Bow Wow

Bowser and Birdie #3

by Spencer Quinn

"Spencer Quinn speaks two languages -- suspense and dog -- fluently." -- Stephen King

A bull shark in the swamp? No one in the Louisiana town of St. Roch believes it at first, but when a local boy has a face-to-face encounter with the toothy monster, every big fisherman is called out for the hunt. There's a big cash bounty on the shark.Sharp-eyed Birdie Gaux and her handsome dog Bowser can't help noticing that shark fever is causing some shady doings in town. For instance, where is Snoozy, the clerk who works at the Gaux family fishing store? He's the town's best fisherman, but suddenly he's missing. Is a rival bounty hunter behind Snoozy's suspicious disappearance? Or perhaps the marine biologist who said he'll do anything to keep the shark alive?Birdie and Bowser are determined to find Snoozy and bring him home safe, but the job is more dangerous than they know. Bowser better practice his He and Birdie are heading for deep waters . . .

Genres: Mystery, Middle Grade, Fiction, Animals, Audiobook, Childrens, Dogs

304 pages, Hardcover

First published May 30, 2017

About the author

Spencer Quinn lives on Cape Cod with his dog Audrey, and is hard at work on the next Chet and Bernie adventure.

Spencer Quinn is a pseudonym of author Peter Abrahams.

Series:
* A Chet and Bernie Mystery

Reviews

[ReadaBook · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Bark if you want more Bowser!" Yes, please!
Although Mr. Quinn writes this series for young folks (the young readers, not preschoolers or first readers), this adult loves reading about Birdie and her family and friends -- and, OF COURSE, Bowser! I discovered this series as a result of reading his series for adults (Chet and Bernie). I so enjoy the stories themselves, the development of the human and canine (and other critter) characters, and the fact that the series is told from Bowser's perspective. Makes me laugh out loud at times. And Mr. Quinn's talent in playing with the language of humans (the quirks, the expressions, etc) is so much fun. As a former journalist, I love that he is exposing young readers to the magic of words.
This story centers around the disappearance of Snoozy and the hunt for a shark. There also are other issues that hint at more good stories in the future!
This is a series where I can't wait for each new book, then race through reading it....and yet, I don't want the story to end because then I have to wait for the next one! When will the next Bowser and Birdie book be published, Mr. Quinn? :)
I also am a fan of mystery writers who live on, or set their mysteries on, Cape Cod.

[Caryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bow Wow!

Spencer Quinn's dog narrated books are pure pleasure. I'm a seventy year old adult and, although the intended audience for Birdie and Bowser's adventures is much, much younger, I wouldn't want to miss the delight I always feel when reading and listening.

[Elizabeth Dragina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bow Wow indeed. It was just as good as the last two and Bowser is such a funny hero!

[☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are fun cozy reads. I hope the author decides to write more of them.

[Colin King · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was an amazing book!

[Lola Mae · Rating 4 out of 5]

A hilarious, intriguing novel of mystery and friendship told from the POV of Bowser, a goofy, sweet dog! I found myself laughing out loud about a thousand times, enchanted with the story and the good boy telling it! I loved the friendship between Birdie and Bowser, the mystery, and the whole adventure of it!

[Jannene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series. Who doesn’t love a book from the point of view of a dog? If you ever wondered what a dog thinks read this book. I always laugh reading this book.

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting , good book!

[Kathy Hutchins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This youth mystery is a delight to read. It’s written from the dog’s point of view and his point of view is so dog.

[Robin Hatcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5🌟
Audiobook (narrated by James Frangione)
I have been a fan of the Chet and Bernie mysteries for years. This series feels very much the same except is missing the bad language, which I appreciate. It may be written for kids, but I believe most adults will enjoy it too. I did.

Robin’s Ratings
5🌟 = Out of this world. Amazing. Unforgettable. A personal favorite.
4🌟 = Loved/enjoyed it. Will recommend to others.
3🌟 = Liked it. Glad I read it. Engaging/entertaining/interesting.
2🌟 = The book was okay, but I’ve enjoyed other books so much more.
1🌟 = For whatever reason, I didn’t like it and can’t recommend it.

[Thelma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some readers may find parts to be too intense for younger children, but I think it's perfect for its target audience, and then some. Sure seemed shorter than 300 pages. Great addition to my Quinn library.

[Kaylee Winters · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE THESE BOOKS SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!! I hope there's another one!!!

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is told from the first person point of view of Bowser the dog. This time I was so invested in Snoozy's disappearance that I found Bowser's asides distracting. I really wanted more of a third person point of view.

http://pussreboots.com/blog/2017/comm...

[Conor Morrissey]

in this book northerners come to the south and a kid from the north get attacked by the bull shark while fishing and the father puts a $50,000 bounty on the shark and everybody goes crazy. then the best fisherman in town, snoozy, goes missing. the birdie and her dog bowers try to find snoozy.

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

31

[zapkode · Rating 5 out of 5]

{Reason for Content Warning} – It is and will always be at a parents discretion if they’d like to let their child read any book I review. I am placing a content warning on this book for those parents that are overly cautious about what they subject their child to in terms of reading material. We don’t particularly sensor our children and allow them to make their own choices, however, they do know that it is not okay to write, use or say inappropriate language.

In this particular book in chapter ten on page 138 is the following sentence. “Harley’s my ride, now and forever. Any more dumb-ass questions?”

I understand the use of the word within the sentence helps to show the negative, smart alec character of the person speaking. However, this book is geared for 8-12 year-olds and if I heard my young child use that word period I’d be grounding them for quite awhile. I don’t think that bad language should be used in books geared for any child under the age of 14 years. I am not fond of coming across bad language in books geared for a younger age group.

Keeping all of that in mind – I still do believe that Spencer Quinn is a brilliant writer and I’m thankful for being able to read and promote his books.

{Synopsis} – A bull shark in the swamp? No one in the Louisiana town of St. Roch believes it at first, but when a local boy has a face-to-face encounter with the toothy monster, every big fisherman is called out for the hunt. There’s a big cash bounty on the shark.

Sharp-eyed Birdie Gaux and her handsome dog Bowser can’t help noticing that shark fever is causing some shady doings in town. For instance, where is Snoozy, the clerk who works at the Gaux family fishing store? He’s the town’s best fisherman, but suddenly he’s missing. Is a rival bounty hunter behind Snoozy’s suspicious disappearance? Or perhaps the marine biologist who said he’ll do anything to keep the shark alive?

Birdie and Bowser are determined to find Snoozy and bring him home safe, but the job is more dangerous than they know. Bowser better practice his paddling: He and Birdie are heading for deep waters . . .

{My thoughts} – Spencer Quinn has managed to do it again and rather brilliantly in this third book to the Bowser and Birdie series. I really enjoy reading detective type books geared for children. They help to teach children how to put things together and make sense of things that are presented to them. They help children to put a bunch of small clues together in order to form a bigger picture.

Snoozy decides that he wants to help out a bounty hunter looking for a particular bull shark. However, another bounty hunter wants him to help him find it first. There is a bit of disagreeing and Snoozy ends up missing. It is then up to Bowser and Birdie to put all the little clues together in order to try and find Snoozy. Birdie does do the right thing first and explains to the police what she thinks happened, but they don’t seem to take it all that serious, because it’s days later before they really start to investigate.

I really enjoyed this book, it’s a fun and interesting take on a detective book for children. Spencer Quinn can definitely relate to dogs. Has has an incredible ability to show what could possibly be happening in the mind of a dog and he presents it flawlessly in Bowser’s character and personality.

I highly recommend this book for any child that loves animals and mystery. I promise they won’t be disappointed.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading and loving Woof!, part of the Bowser and Birdie series, expectations were high. Bow Wow the 3rd title did not dissappoint. Word around the town of St. Roch, a tiny modest seaside town in Louisiana where Birdie and Bowser live, was that a huge bull shark was alive and swimming in their waters. Every fisherman lusted for the cash they could earn with this catch. Clever Birdie the young owner of Bowser, the funny part time dog narrator of this mystery, make a daring team. When Birdie hears that Snoozy the town's top fisherman and an employee of her Grammy's fishing store goes missing, Birdie ignores her Grammy's directions to stay home, and breaks into his home. Clues are evident, the house is trashed and Birdie knows she an Bowser must rescue Snoozy, and find out what's really going on. This is the most suspenseful title in the action packed clever, and often funny mystery adventure series. Bowser's voice is most entertaining, "I'm a big fan of humans, don't get me wrong, but they can be a little slow at times. For example I knew that the figure sprawled in a curving shape, was not alive, but also that it was not a person. In fact, a fish of some sort. If you can't pick up the dead fish scent, what can you smell?" The suspense never stops, this was so good because the adventure is not predictable. The best part is, even though it's the third title in the series, you get enough explanation of Birdie and Bowser's life at the beginning, to understand everything, the story doesn't skip a beat. Highly recommended for mystery readers, and anyone looking for a high action tale with hilarious doglike thoughts coming from Bowser, that make perfect sense.

[American Mensa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is full of mystery! Bowser, the dog, and Birdie, Bowser's owner, continuously chip away at the problems together throughout this tremendous book. It is simply bursting with adventure and unforgettable characters.

My favorite character is Bowser, the main character, because he is so funny and since he is a dog the book is told from his point of view. A funny passage from the book is when Bowser thinks to himself, "Excuse me? Earn my biscuit? Do....do a trick? Like roll over, shake, or play dead? I hate doing stupid tricks like that wouldn't you?" Bowser is not only funny but he is also smart and good at finding clues to help resolve the mystery of Snoozy's disappearance. From his hilarious thoughts to his brains, Bowser is always motivated to help out Birdie and to find his missing friend.

Bowser helps solve the mystery of the Bull shark and his missing friend, Snoozy. The Bull shark mystery involves a boy almost getting eaten by a bull shark. The mystery of where Snoozy disappears involves a deadly car ride and an out of control trip on a boat. Bowser is determined to find Snoozy and solve the Bull shark issue. Bowser and Birdy solve the mystery with using assumption and logic. Will Bowser lead them down the right path or will they get caught in a trap?
I recommend this book for ages 8-12 because it is an easy read and the vocabulary is simple and the writer's style is not hard to understand. The plot line is enhanced because the author writes it from the dog's point of view.
Giovanna P., 10, Connecticut/Western Massachusetts

[Merrilyn Tucker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bowser, 12-year-old Birdie's dog, narrates this mystery in which a man goes missing. Birdie's mother is an oil rig engineer, so it is up to Birdie and her Grammy to run the family fishing store which sells not only bait and tackle, but also hires out boats with expert fishermen at the helm. When their expert goes missing and a bull shark is said to have attacked him, locals know that's suspicious since bull sharks do not, as a rule, come so far upstream from the Louisiana saltwater into freshwater. Birdie and Bowser begin their spy work and wind up in some scary situations! Bowser's personality is quirky and lovable: he can't remember details from one minute to the next, he doesn't actually know that he's barking when people ask what all the noise is, he has extra sharp smelling abilities, and his most endearing quality is that he adores Birdie. Watch how these two work together to solve this perplexing puzzle. This is the third book in the Bowser and Birdie series, but the author makes it easy to catch up so it's not necessary to start with the first book. Good for grades fourth through sixth. Readers who enjoy Hoot or Spy Camp books would enjoy this series.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Birdie Gaux and her dog Bowser are very close, so close that they can almost sense what the other is thinking. When a rumor of a bull shark in the swamp near their town of St. Roch, Louisiana, spreads, the two get pulled into the frenzy that seems to have seized some locals and attracted out of towners who are determined to find that shark and earn a monetary reward. The fact that the clerk at the family store is missing and a marine biologist pops up add to the mystery. But Birdie and Bowser will need to be careful as they do their detective work since someone is in this for keeps, and he won't stop at anything to reach his goal. Having the story related by Bowser adds to its delights since he is silly, often distracted, sometimes self-absorbed, and always hungry, and his observations are often spot on. Fans of this middle grade series will enjoy this outing and clamor for more from this duo. A secondary plot concerning Birdie's musical talent is also woven into the story, allowing her to work through her feelings about loyalty but also about what she does well. After all, it isn't always necessary to keep one's light hidden under a bushel.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is intended for younger readers but it's fun for adults too. Just like in the author's Chet & Bernie series, these stories are told from a dog's point of view. Being a dog, Bowser looks at life differently than we humans do, but he loves his people, especially almost 12-year-old Birdie. He is easily distracted, and can't understand why the humans are unable to hear and smell the things he does. Bowser and Chet are so alike, I wonder if they're from the same gene pool somehow? 😃

The mystery here was entertaining but easy to figure out. The bad guys were obvious from the start, but it was fun reading along as the characters followed the trail and worked it out. A few personal developments made me wonder what might happen next, but this is apparently the last book in the series, so we will probably never find out.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life on the bayou should be simple and easy, but the possibility of a big cash prize upends the peace and quiet for everyone. This book is appropriate for intermediate grade students and up, especially for those who love everything dog-related. Bowser, the narrator, is a loving and lovable mutt who is totally loyal but not too bright. He is devoted to Birdie, who is the first person to worry about Snoozy, the fairly unreliable employee of her family's store. Worried, Birdie pursues the clues while the adults are still saying Snoozy will turn up like always. The trail leads her and Bowser into life-threatening danger, but her knowledge of seamanship saves both of them. The story includes a few lessons about character, too. A safe recommendation, but not a page-turner until the end.

[Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another exciting and fun mystery in this series for mid-upper elementary students, grades 3 - 7. Birdie and her dog, Bowser, are on the hunt for a missing sometime employee in Birdie's grandmother's store. And there is talk around the area of a bull shark in the waters though many claim it isn't possible for a shark that size to come that far into the bayou. A bounty is put on the shark which creates a frenzy of people in the area who want to catch the shark and claim the bounty. In the midst of all of this Birdie and a few friends write and record a song. Birdie herself is offered a chance to go to Nashville to speak with some music people but she doesn't want to risk her friendships. This book makes for an exciting read whether the earlier books have been read or not.

[Mayda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shark fever has invaded Birdie’s Louisiana town, but Birdie and her two friends are more interested in winning a song contest. And wherever Birdie is, her loyal dog Bowser is right there, too. There’s a reward for capturing a shark that had been sighted, and Snoozy, the clerk in Birdie’s family store, was hired to find it. He gets more than he bargained for, and Birdie, and Bowser of course, hunt for Snoozy when he disappears. It’s an exciting time, and leads Birdie and her friends into danger. This series is a great one for all ages, though it is intended for children. The story is told by Bowser, in his limited doggie way, which just adds to the fun. The audio, notably performed by James Frangione, is highly recommended.

[Natasha Carmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Am I this book's target audience? No, probably not. Did that stop me from enjoying every page? Also a no, and a definitely not.
I first discovered Quinn when I checked out a Chet and Bernie book from the library.
Whatever name it is published under, whatever target audience, the books do not fail to entertain. I look forward to getting my daughter to read this so she can share in the simple joy that is a good, uncomplicated, enjoyable read. Will have to get the other books in the series. This was purchased on a whim (the whim being I have never yet been let down by a Quinn book) at the Book Fair in my daughter's school. Fun, well paced, rich well developed cast of characters, the lead is a dog...what more do you need or want?

[Dan Shonka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bowser and Birdie's third installment is excellent. It's chock full of great characters, including the first-person narrator, Bowser. Spencer Quinn does a fantastic job writing books from a dog's point of view. This volume has much more insight into Birdie's Grammy, and the family store's employee, Snoozy. I like the way the characters continue to be fleshed out. And the ending leaves the reader wondering what's next on several story threads. Oh, and of course it's an entertaining mystery with some twists. It reminded me of that old McGruff the Crime Dog commercial: "Take a bite out of crime."

[Isaac · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is great. It's from the dog's perspective, Bowser, too. Bowser and Birdy become the unlikely heroes in their small town after investigating the suspicion disappearance of one of their grandma's store employees. This is a funny book since it's through a dog's simple, innocent eyes. It's a coming of age story too, and discovering new things in your life that come from bad times. This book is funny and suspenseful.

They run into some close calls along the way, but they make through. They follow the trail till they find their employee's kidnapper, a rival fisherman, greedy for a shark. I like the plot and the characters. It is a long book, and every time they find a clue, more things don't make sense. This book is great, would recommend.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really loving these Birdie and Bowser stories. I know they're predictable and every mystery is beyond easy to figure out long before anyone in the story does. There are so many hints and clues that it would be hard not to know how everything is going to end. But unlike the author's Chet and Bernie series, this one is written for kids, so really, all those clues and hints are probably a good thing. Or not. Who knows. All I know is I love Birdie and Bowser and their relationship. What a pair they are. I find them extremely likable and enjoyable.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always love Spencer Quinn’s books, and this long stretch without a Chet and Bernie novel has worn me out! I was grateful that he at least published a new Birdie and Bowser book. Every novel with Birdie and Bowser makes me love them even more (which I didn’t even know was possible, because they’re such a great pair from the start!). Their latest adventure tackles some new subjects- friendship, environmental questions, loyalty- in a smart and accessible way for its audience. So it’s technically for the younger crowd, but it’s wonderfully written, engaging, and hard to put down!

[Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hen (my 11-year-old) really enjoys these books. They are great for road trips and I can zone in and out and still pick up the basic plot and happenings without having to expend too much of my attention. Having the story narrated by the dog is fantastic and fun. His side comments about the things he does care about (all things Birdie and food) and doesn't care about (pretty much everything else) is often hilarious. We'll probably keep listening until Hen decides he is no longer interested in this series.