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Paw Enforcement #7
The Long Paw of the Law
Texas police officer Megan Luz and her K-9 partner Brigit have come a long way, baby.
A BUNDLE OF JOY. A DOG-EAT-DOG WORLD. . .
One night, while on duty with her four-legged crime-fighting companion, Meg gets an urgent call from her boyfriend Seth, who works for the Fort Worth fire department. A baby girl has turned up at the station with only two clues to her identity: One is a peace-sign symbol stitched into her blanket. The other is a word, written in string: help.
Megan follows every loose thread and, along with Brigit, ends up on a twisted path that leads to the People of Peace compound, the site of a religious sect on the outskirts of the city. Its leader, Father Emmanuel, keeps his followers on a short leash―and his enemies even closer. Could this be the abandoned baby’s original home? And if so, why was she cast out? Now that Megan and Brigit are on the case, the secrets of this reclusive cult are bound to be dug up. . .
A BUNDLE OF JOY. A DOG-EAT-DOG WORLD. . .
One night, while on duty with her four-legged crime-fighting companion, Meg gets an urgent call from her boyfriend Seth, who works for the Fort Worth fire department. A baby girl has turned up at the station with only two clues to her identity: One is a peace-sign symbol stitched into her blanket. The other is a word, written in string: help.
Megan follows every loose thread and, along with Brigit, ends up on a twisted path that leads to the People of Peace compound, the site of a religious sect on the outskirts of the city. Its leader, Father Emmanuel, keeps his followers on a short leash―and his enemies even closer. Could this be the abandoned baby’s original home? And if so, why was she cast out? Now that Megan and Brigit are on the case, the secrets of this reclusive cult are bound to be dug up. . .
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 30, 2018
77 people are currently reading
276 people want to read
About the author
Diane Kelly
69 books1,229 followersAward-winning author Diane Kelly writes romance and romantic mysteries featuring feisty heroines, quirky sidekicks, and sexy leading men, with humor that leaves readers laughing out loud.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
July 26, 2018
Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth. - Buddha
Fort Worth Police Officer Megan Luz and her shelter dog-turned-canine partner, Brigit, returns in the seventh book of the Paw Enforcement series from St. Martin's Press. Kelly's unique story telling creates a new sub genre that falls somewhere between cozy mystery and romantic suspense. Megan tackles "ripped from the headlines" crime while juggling a budding romance with Seth, an explosive expert with the Fort Worth Fire Department. BTW, Seth's K9 parenter, Blast, is the Beta dog to Brigit's Alpha Dog - who doesn't love it when the tables are turned?
The book blurb is an accurate recap of the action in THE LONG PAW OF THE LAW. Rather than share how Megan discovers the truth with Divine Intervention, I would like to focus this review on how Kelly has created a "I can't put this down" story. She rotates the POV in each chapter - Megan's first person POV, Brigit's third person POV (mostly focused on food), and the villain's third person's POV. This method gave me a wider perspective of the action on the page. Indeed, I read this book within 48 hours because I wanted to know there was a happy ending. Just remember, Kelly is a romance author.
Kelly treated readers to a subplot regarding ongoing petty crime in an affluent neighborhood - kudos to Megan for thinking outside the box to solve it! Likewise, I learned more about Seth's cranky grandfather, Vietnam Veterans, car shows, and roller derby. These "extras" further contribute to the "community feeling" that shines through the entire series. Meg has a talent to solve crime, putting her on track to become a detective. But Kelly's subtle references to American life - fulfilling and challenging - creates a heartwarming read that makes me root for the multicultural characters in her books.
THE LONG PAW OF THE LAW can be read as a stand alone book. Yet I recommend reading the series in order to follow how Megan matures as an officer and catches the eye of Seth.
I received an ARC of THE LONG PAW OF THE LAW from Kelly at the RWA Annual Convention in Denver. The book is available October 30, 2018 from St. Martin's Press.
Fort Worth Police Officer Megan Luz and her shelter dog-turned-canine partner, Brigit, returns in the seventh book of the Paw Enforcement series from St. Martin's Press. Kelly's unique story telling creates a new sub genre that falls somewhere between cozy mystery and romantic suspense. Megan tackles "ripped from the headlines" crime while juggling a budding romance with Seth, an explosive expert with the Fort Worth Fire Department. BTW, Seth's K9 parenter, Blast, is the Beta dog to Brigit's Alpha Dog - who doesn't love it when the tables are turned?
The book blurb is an accurate recap of the action in THE LONG PAW OF THE LAW. Rather than share how Megan discovers the truth with Divine Intervention, I would like to focus this review on how Kelly has created a "I can't put this down" story. She rotates the POV in each chapter - Megan's first person POV, Brigit's third person POV (mostly focused on food), and the villain's third person's POV. This method gave me a wider perspective of the action on the page. Indeed, I read this book within 48 hours because I wanted to know there was a happy ending. Just remember, Kelly is a romance author.
Kelly treated readers to a subplot regarding ongoing petty crime in an affluent neighborhood - kudos to Megan for thinking outside the box to solve it! Likewise, I learned more about Seth's cranky grandfather, Vietnam Veterans, car shows, and roller derby. These "extras" further contribute to the "community feeling" that shines through the entire series. Meg has a talent to solve crime, putting her on track to become a detective. But Kelly's subtle references to American life - fulfilling and challenging - creates a heartwarming read that makes me root for the multicultural characters in her books.
THE LONG PAW OF THE LAW can be read as a stand alone book. Yet I recommend reading the series in order to follow how Megan matures as an officer and catches the eye of Seth.
I received an ARC of THE LONG PAW OF THE LAW from Kelly at the RWA Annual Convention in Denver. The book is available October 30, 2018 from St. Martin's Press.
December 31, 2018
I just love this series! Never a dull moment with Megan and her K-9 partner Brigit. It is filled with twists, turns and surprises. I just love reading what Brigit thinks. I think that is my favorite part of the book. I love the cover too! Cannot wait for their next adventure!
August 22, 2019
The Long Paw of the Law by Diane Kelly is seventh novel in A Paw Enforcement series. I found The Long Paw of the Law to be well-written and it zipped along at a lively pace (not as fast as Brigit can eat a treat but close). Megan Luz is a developed character who loves her job and her partner, Brigit. I enjoy the humor interjected into the story and the chapter’s told from Brigit’s point-of-view. Brigit’s commentary always makes me laugh. She has a new piggy toy that oinks that she loves to devour and squeak repeatedly. The mysteries are complex with various twists and turns to surprise readers. There is a dramatic takedown where you know Brigit is hoping the guilty party will run so she can give chase. I like that both mysteries wrapped up at the end with all the details provided for readers. The relationship between Brigit and Megan is delightful. Megan may be in charge, but Brigit has ways of getting back at her when she feels it is needed. My only complaint is the foul language and the intimate references. I like to read cozy mysteries because they do not contain either of those components traditionally. The Long Paw of the Law can be read as a standalone, but I feel it is beneficial to read the series in order. It allows you to watch Megan mature as the series progresses and I believe each book is better than the previous. I am looking forward to the next A Paw Enforcement novel which is Paw of the Jungle. The Long Paw of the Law has a bouncing baby, a devoted K9 companion, a hunky boyfriend, an evil cult leader, a garage bandit, and one tenacious patrol officer.
November 4, 2018
http://openbooksociety.com/article/th...
The Long Paw of the Law
Paw Enforcement #7
By Diane Kelly
ISBN 9781250197351
Author’s website: dianekelly.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
Texas police officer Megan Luz and her K-9 partner Brigit have come a long way, baby.
A BUNDLE OF JOY. A DOG-EAT-DOG WORLD. . .
One night, while on duty with her four-legged crime-fighting companion, Meg gets an urgent call from her boyfriend Seth, who works for the Fort Worth fire department. A baby girl has turned up at the station with only two clues to her identity: One is a peace-sign symbol stitched into her blanket. The other is a word, written in string: help.
Megan follows every loose thread and, along with Brigit, ends up on a twisted path that leads to the People of Peace compound, the site of a religious sect on the outskirts of the city. Its leader, Father Emmanuel, keeps his followers on a short leash—and his enemies even closer. Could this be the abandoned baby’s original home? And if so, why was she cast out? Now that Megan and Brigit are on the case, the secrets of this reclusive cult are bound to be dug up.
Review:
The dynamic duo of K9 Sargent Brigit and human partner Megan is hard at work trying to rid Fort Worth of bad guys, and they are better than ever! Number seven in the series, it can be read as a standalone, but many first-time readers will want to go back and read the rest of the series. I notice this time just how much Megan has matured as a cop since the first novel, and how Brigit is as much fun now as she was then. I very much enjoy Megan and her family, firefighter and bomb squad tech Seth, Detective Audrey Jackson, and Brigit, the 100-pound bundle of energy.
Megan and best friend and confidante Brigit are out on patrol and receive a call from her boyfriend, Seth. An unidentified man just delivered a newborn according to the “safe drop” program in Texas, in which a parent can anonymously surrender a child to a fire department station or other designated public facility. The infant is swaddled in a beautiful baby quilt with a matching hat and booties. These are so perfectly made that Megan is struck by how much this baby girl seemed to have been wanted. As she gives the tiny girl to the CPS worker, Megan notices a loose thread along one edge…attached to embroidery, with what looks similar to a peace sign, and the word HELP! Megan kept the blanket and called her mentor, Detective Audrey Jackson. Brigit followed the scent trail of the man as far as she could, and they watched security footage of the man making the safe drop, but his hat kept them from seeing the man.
On the far outskirts of Fort Worth, a young woman has been told by “Father Emmanuel” that her newborn died at the hospital because of a bad reaction to one of the immunizations. Devastated, Juliette wants simply to be left alone. Father had not allowed her to go to the hospital with him, and her parents always did what Father wanted. Father may claim to be head of this peaceful sect, but his “teachings” are more about him than about any deity. The “refuge” of the compound is less about being a sanctuary and more about keeping those inside in and those outside, including police, out. It is a challenge to Megan to see if she can find the mother of the darling little girl before CPS places her for adoption.
Megan is also in the middle of other challenges, including trying to find the pair of thieves who are stealing people’s garage remotes and how to bring some joy into Seth’s grandfather, Ollie’s, grumpy life. Brigit’s biggest concerns include spending time with Seth’s working yellow Lab, Blast, getting more treats, and being the best partner to Megan. Just when it all seems to be coming together, the worst possible thing happens.
Megan Luz and Brigit are still the same law…um…paw enforcement officers that I came to know and love in their first mystery. Megan has matured into a less impulsive beat cop who is being mentored primarily by Detective Audrey Jackson and when available, Detective Hector Bustamonte. One thing is certain, Megan still has her heart set on becoming a detective, even though she can’t sit for the exam for just over 2 years from now. She grew up with a stutter, and throughout her time of growing into a successful police officer, the stutter rarely occurs. Megan is so three-dimensional I could almost expect to see her driving through town with her K-9 vehicle, Brigit chomping happily on her pink squeaky pig toy in the back.
There are so many things I enjoyed about The Long Paw of the Law! The author’s trademark humor is LOL funny, the sound effects unique, and some characters like Derek Mackey still make an appearance are obnoxious. The chapters are set up in sets of three: the baddest guy, Megan, and Brigit. While I still have mixed feelings about seeing the thoughts and actions of the baddest guy in the mystery throughout, I do enjoy ending each set of three chapters with Brigit’s take on each situation. I like the history that Megan considers throughout, including the background Texas has with cults in the state.
Megan is up for the challenge of finding the bad guy and the sweet infant’s mother, and work with Audrey to find the best way to do so. Even though the reader knows who the bad guy is, the excitement and apprehension comes while watching them do their jobs. The final chapters bring a new level of fear and heartache, but overall, the ending is satisfactory with no loose ends remaining. I highly recommend this to those who love well-written cozy mysteries, dogs/ K9’s, a lot of humor, and a bit of romance.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
The Long Paw of the Law
Paw Enforcement #7
By Diane Kelly
ISBN 9781250197351
Author’s website: dianekelly.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
Texas police officer Megan Luz and her K-9 partner Brigit have come a long way, baby.
A BUNDLE OF JOY. A DOG-EAT-DOG WORLD. . .
One night, while on duty with her four-legged crime-fighting companion, Meg gets an urgent call from her boyfriend Seth, who works for the Fort Worth fire department. A baby girl has turned up at the station with only two clues to her identity: One is a peace-sign symbol stitched into her blanket. The other is a word, written in string: help.
Megan follows every loose thread and, along with Brigit, ends up on a twisted path that leads to the People of Peace compound, the site of a religious sect on the outskirts of the city. Its leader, Father Emmanuel, keeps his followers on a short leash—and his enemies even closer. Could this be the abandoned baby’s original home? And if so, why was she cast out? Now that Megan and Brigit are on the case, the secrets of this reclusive cult are bound to be dug up.
Review:
The dynamic duo of K9 Sargent Brigit and human partner Megan is hard at work trying to rid Fort Worth of bad guys, and they are better than ever! Number seven in the series, it can be read as a standalone, but many first-time readers will want to go back and read the rest of the series. I notice this time just how much Megan has matured as a cop since the first novel, and how Brigit is as much fun now as she was then. I very much enjoy Megan and her family, firefighter and bomb squad tech Seth, Detective Audrey Jackson, and Brigit, the 100-pound bundle of energy.
Megan and best friend and confidante Brigit are out on patrol and receive a call from her boyfriend, Seth. An unidentified man just delivered a newborn according to the “safe drop” program in Texas, in which a parent can anonymously surrender a child to a fire department station or other designated public facility. The infant is swaddled in a beautiful baby quilt with a matching hat and booties. These are so perfectly made that Megan is struck by how much this baby girl seemed to have been wanted. As she gives the tiny girl to the CPS worker, Megan notices a loose thread along one edge…attached to embroidery, with what looks similar to a peace sign, and the word HELP! Megan kept the blanket and called her mentor, Detective Audrey Jackson. Brigit followed the scent trail of the man as far as she could, and they watched security footage of the man making the safe drop, but his hat kept them from seeing the man.
On the far outskirts of Fort Worth, a young woman has been told by “Father Emmanuel” that her newborn died at the hospital because of a bad reaction to one of the immunizations. Devastated, Juliette wants simply to be left alone. Father had not allowed her to go to the hospital with him, and her parents always did what Father wanted. Father may claim to be head of this peaceful sect, but his “teachings” are more about him than about any deity. The “refuge” of the compound is less about being a sanctuary and more about keeping those inside in and those outside, including police, out. It is a challenge to Megan to see if she can find the mother of the darling little girl before CPS places her for adoption.
Megan is also in the middle of other challenges, including trying to find the pair of thieves who are stealing people’s garage remotes and how to bring some joy into Seth’s grandfather, Ollie’s, grumpy life. Brigit’s biggest concerns include spending time with Seth’s working yellow Lab, Blast, getting more treats, and being the best partner to Megan. Just when it all seems to be coming together, the worst possible thing happens.
Megan Luz and Brigit are still the same law…um…paw enforcement officers that I came to know and love in their first mystery. Megan has matured into a less impulsive beat cop who is being mentored primarily by Detective Audrey Jackson and when available, Detective Hector Bustamonte. One thing is certain, Megan still has her heart set on becoming a detective, even though she can’t sit for the exam for just over 2 years from now. She grew up with a stutter, and throughout her time of growing into a successful police officer, the stutter rarely occurs. Megan is so three-dimensional I could almost expect to see her driving through town with her K-9 vehicle, Brigit chomping happily on her pink squeaky pig toy in the back.
There are so many things I enjoyed about The Long Paw of the Law! The author’s trademark humor is LOL funny, the sound effects unique, and some characters like Derek Mackey still make an appearance are obnoxious. The chapters are set up in sets of three: the baddest guy, Megan, and Brigit. While I still have mixed feelings about seeing the thoughts and actions of the baddest guy in the mystery throughout, I do enjoy ending each set of three chapters with Brigit’s take on each situation. I like the history that Megan considers throughout, including the background Texas has with cults in the state.
Megan is up for the challenge of finding the bad guy and the sweet infant’s mother, and work with Audrey to find the best way to do so. Even though the reader knows who the bad guy is, the excitement and apprehension comes while watching them do their jobs. The final chapters bring a new level of fear and heartache, but overall, the ending is satisfactory with no loose ends remaining. I highly recommend this to those who love well-written cozy mysteries, dogs/ K9’s, a lot of humor, and a bit of romance.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
January 10, 2023
Officer Megan Luz and K9 Brigit are 'growing up' and this book has quite the combination of important issues. Brigit's inner dialog is so very anthropomorphic in the best of ways. (Many laughs and stern gazes from the cats on my lap.
There is a real villain who is a real piece of work, and there are general references to similar actual events in the US.
Then there are the inept secondary crooks and Ofcr Luz is learning a LOT from her 2 Detective mentors. And her unorthodox apprehensions is approaching brilliant. And her nemesis.
There is a real villain who is a real piece of work, and there are general references to similar actual events in the US.
Then there are the inept secondary crooks and Ofcr Luz is learning a LOT from her 2 Detective mentors. And her unorthodox apprehensions is approaching brilliant. And her nemesis.
December 5, 2018
Don't tell my cats, but this is one of the series that I look forward to seeing the next mystery to every year, and Brigit and Megan are definitely the reason. My only grumble is while it is a delight to devour, and over too soon. K9 Sergeant Brigit steals many of the scenes with her 'tude and antics.
Megan Luz is looking forward to the day she can be a detective. One detective sees her potential and mentors her. To see Luz now compared to the beginning is no comparison - Megan has grown personally and professionally, and I think it is partly due to Detective Audrey Jackson. There are times that Audrey is in agreement about people, such as Derek Mackey, and one sees the detective trying to reflect the Fort Worth PD's way of referring to even a bumbling idiot.
The author brings another complex mystery. One night on duty, Megan's boyfriend Seth, afire fighter and bomb tech for the FW Fire Department, calls in an official capacity. Someone has dropped off a sweet baby girl, as the fire department is a safe place where people can drop off newborns they can't keep, no questions asked. When Megan officially turns the newborn to the CPS worker, she sees embroidered on the beautifully-stitched quilt the word HELP with something similar to a peace symbol. This changes the case a bit - why would someone surrender a baby yet say help?
The case leads Megan and Brigit to a cult-like sect on the outskirts of town. Inside the compound is a broken-hearted young woman who, like the rest of the people there, are captives. The young woman was told her daughter died of a bad reaction when they took her to the hospital for her newborn vaccines. People within the compound take the leader, Father Emmanuel, as the final word on life circumstances, and the young woman's parents are no exception. They want their daughter to recover and forget about her daughter, even as the rebellious young woman is kept secure from escape. Luz is fully dedicated to getting to the truth about the infant with the lovingly-prepared quilt and clothing whose love ones are clearly not wanting to lose her.
I loved seeing the interplay between Brigit and Megan; there is no doubt who is in charge, especially during scenes like Brigit and the annoying squeaky pig toy. The K9 takes her Sergeant duties seriously. It is heartwarming to see Megan with her family, supporting them in the same way they have her over the years. I also enjoyed seeing how Megan tried to help Seth's father begin to enjoy life again and get out of the house.
This is a new novel in the series that is not to be missed. From the bereft young mother to the LOL scenes with Brigit and Megan to the hard work Megan and Audrey put into the case, this is the best yet in the series. Even though the reader is shown the mind of the bad guy, and his actions, this reader appreciated seeing from beginning to end how Luz caught the first clue and how they worked out finding the bad guy. The lives of Luz and Brigit are on the line as the explosive, unanticipated resolution is reached. I highly recommend The Long Paw of the Law to those who enjoy cozy mysteries with K-9 partners, moments of laughter and moments of true fear, and a procedural that shows the risks our first responders take every day. This can be read as a standalone, but be prepared to go back and read the rest of the series!
From a grateful heart: i received a copy of the e-Arc and this is my honest review.
Megan Luz is looking forward to the day she can be a detective. One detective sees her potential and mentors her. To see Luz now compared to the beginning is no comparison - Megan has grown personally and professionally, and I think it is partly due to Detective Audrey Jackson. There are times that Audrey is in agreement about people, such as Derek Mackey, and one sees the detective trying to reflect the Fort Worth PD's way of referring to even a bumbling idiot.
The author brings another complex mystery. One night on duty, Megan's boyfriend Seth, afire fighter and bomb tech for the FW Fire Department, calls in an official capacity. Someone has dropped off a sweet baby girl, as the fire department is a safe place where people can drop off newborns they can't keep, no questions asked. When Megan officially turns the newborn to the CPS worker, she sees embroidered on the beautifully-stitched quilt the word HELP with something similar to a peace symbol. This changes the case a bit - why would someone surrender a baby yet say help?
The case leads Megan and Brigit to a cult-like sect on the outskirts of town. Inside the compound is a broken-hearted young woman who, like the rest of the people there, are captives. The young woman was told her daughter died of a bad reaction when they took her to the hospital for her newborn vaccines. People within the compound take the leader, Father Emmanuel, as the final word on life circumstances, and the young woman's parents are no exception. They want their daughter to recover and forget about her daughter, even as the rebellious young woman is kept secure from escape. Luz is fully dedicated to getting to the truth about the infant with the lovingly-prepared quilt and clothing whose love ones are clearly not wanting to lose her.
I loved seeing the interplay between Brigit and Megan; there is no doubt who is in charge, especially during scenes like Brigit and the annoying squeaky pig toy. The K9 takes her Sergeant duties seriously. It is heartwarming to see Megan with her family, supporting them in the same way they have her over the years. I also enjoyed seeing how Megan tried to help Seth's father begin to enjoy life again and get out of the house.
This is a new novel in the series that is not to be missed. From the bereft young mother to the LOL scenes with Brigit and Megan to the hard work Megan and Audrey put into the case, this is the best yet in the series. Even though the reader is shown the mind of the bad guy, and his actions, this reader appreciated seeing from beginning to end how Luz caught the first clue and how they worked out finding the bad guy. The lives of Luz and Brigit are on the line as the explosive, unanticipated resolution is reached. I highly recommend The Long Paw of the Law to those who enjoy cozy mysteries with K-9 partners, moments of laughter and moments of true fear, and a procedural that shows the risks our first responders take every day. This can be read as a standalone, but be prepared to go back and read the rest of the series!
From a grateful heart: i received a copy of the e-Arc and this is my honest review.
January 10, 2019
This book was very good, and even though it's the seventh one in the series, it can be read as a standalone without causing any trouble. I liked Police Officer Megan, her furry-pawed partner, Brigit, her colleagues, and her family/friends/love. They were all more or less realistic, down-to-earth, a bunch of normal people. I liked that the police officers had their normal duties to do, like patrolling neighbourhoods, ticketing speeders, responding to accidents/thefts, and doing normal boring work, the way it is in real life. They didn't forget about the main case, but it didn't take up their whole focus.
The mystery wasn't really a mystery since we get to see from the antagonist's point of view. I'm not sure I like that, because it takes away half of the suspense. The only time I really felt on edge was towards the uttermost end, when Juliette actually has a concrete plan to get out of the sickening compound. The rest of the time, I just wanted Megan to whip Father Emmanual real bad and lock him up in some old, stuffy jail.
I really liked the baby, her foster parents, and especially her real parents, who loved each other very much, wanted to do what was right and loved their baby as well. It is refreshing to read about that kind of love rather than about a baby who is abandoned because no one loves it. The reasons here were very original and interesting. I also found the way Juliette manages to communicate to the outside world quite inventive.
I used to watch Kats and Dog with my mom, so I know a little about police officers, their K-9 partners, and how it feels when one of those partners get hurt. I really liked Brigit, her naughtiness, and the way she waited for Megan to fall asleep so she could lick the good smelling face cream off of her face! But I did not particularly enjoy reading things from her perspective; it seemed to just waste pages and words, and prolong the story unnecessarily.
There were a few things that bothered me. For one, I'm not a fan of many POVs in one story; I didn't mind that very much in this story, but what did bother me was that two of the POVs were written in third-person perspective, and one in first-person. It was incongruous.
It was overly detailed. Although that in itself wasn't annoying, it bothered me in some places. Here's an example: "The man stood and extended his arm across his desk to shake hands with the detective."
Now this was what truly made me knock the fifth star off. "Mom had been a college student when she'd met my father. The two married young and, as young people are wont to do, fornicated recklessly. They'd also fornicated without contraception ... the results ... included both yours truly and Mom putting her plans ... on hold." pg. 110
OK. So did I miss something while growing up? Because as far as I know, fornication refers to non-marital intimacy, so what exactly are we talking about here? Awwwkward!!!
And for those who this matters to, there was a fair amount of swear words.
Overall though, a good piece of work.
The mystery wasn't really a mystery since we get to see from the antagonist's point of view. I'm not sure I like that, because it takes away half of the suspense. The only time I really felt on edge was towards the uttermost end, when Juliette actually has a concrete plan to get out of the sickening compound. The rest of the time, I just wanted Megan to whip Father Emmanual real bad and lock him up in some old, stuffy jail.
I really liked the baby, her foster parents, and especially her real parents, who loved each other very much, wanted to do what was right and loved their baby as well. It is refreshing to read about that kind of love rather than about a baby who is abandoned because no one loves it. The reasons here were very original and interesting. I also found the way Juliette manages to communicate to the outside world quite inventive.
I used to watch Kats and Dog with my mom, so I know a little about police officers, their K-9 partners, and how it feels when one of those partners get hurt. I really liked Brigit, her naughtiness, and the way she waited for Megan to fall asleep so she could lick the good smelling face cream off of her face! But I did not particularly enjoy reading things from her perspective; it seemed to just waste pages and words, and prolong the story unnecessarily.
There were a few things that bothered me. For one, I'm not a fan of many POVs in one story; I didn't mind that very much in this story, but what did bother me was that two of the POVs were written in third-person perspective, and one in first-person. It was incongruous.
It was overly detailed. Although that in itself wasn't annoying, it bothered me in some places. Here's an example: "The man stood and extended his arm across his desk to shake hands with the detective."
Now this was what truly made me knock the fifth star off. "Mom had been a college student when she'd met my father. The two married young and, as young people are wont to do, fornicated recklessly. They'd also fornicated without contraception ... the results ... included both yours truly and Mom putting her plans ... on hold." pg. 110
OK. So did I miss something while growing up? Because as far as I know, fornication refers to non-marital intimacy, so what exactly are we talking about here? Awwwkward!!!
And for those who this matters to, there was a fair amount of swear words.
Overall though, a good piece of work.
December 7, 2019
I've really enjoyed this series from the start. Mostly Brigit is the star of the show for me. This one just wasn't as good as the earlier books. There was a bit too much focus on religion -- not the cult issues but on Megan's side. I could do with a little less bringing religious beliefs into stories that aren't really about spirituality. I applaud Kelly for taking on the mental and emotional issues our Viet Nam vets are still dealing with through Ollie, Seth's grandfather. I saw the widow/seamstress coming to the rescue but was surprised that Ollie wasn't brought along to meet her -- a late life romance would be fun and heartwarming to see. I cheered when Emmanuel got it....very upset when Brigit got hurt.
Megan is about half way to the years required for her to become a detective so there's lots of time for more stories.
Megan is about half way to the years required for her to become a detective so there's lots of time for more stories.
May 28, 2021
Loved it as usual, this one almost made me cry!!
March 23, 2023
The end almost killed me, but I survived 'cuz Brigit did too. I did have to flip to the end to make sure though. Even though there are 2 more books, I had to know!!!! AHHHHHHHHH!
September 28, 2018
A police officer and her handler defeat a nefarious cult, one liver treat at a time.
I was given this book for free for the purpose of review.
This was a fun crime-solving novel. I enjoyed it quite a lot, and not just because Brigit the dog was AMAZING. The author did a fine job of weaving together three realistic plotlines into a respectable story. I Recommend it to fans of the cozy mystery genre.
To start things off, I was impressed by the author's research. She demonstrated a clear knowledge of Texas police law and it's rather famous cult history. She brought this knowledge to life in her plot, a plot which featured a prominent cult element. Adjacent to this knowledge was her down-to-earth approach to actual policing- the main character and her dog actually went on patrol and were tasked with solving more than just the main crime. They did boring police stuff, like following up leads and confirming alibis- which I found fascinating to read because so often authors neglect it.
The characters were fun, particularly Brigit the dog. There were three viewpoint characters: Megan the detective, her partner Brigit and the antagonist Father. The author did a good job of making me the reader care about the fate of the characters, rooting for the good guys and against the bad guy. The heroine was a brave cop and her partner a trusty canine which was a good combo.
The plot wasn't really a mystery. We knew from basically page one who the villain was because the villain was one of the POV characters, so there was nothing really mysterious about it. Instead this was a straight up crime-solving story, where the Megan and Brigit must unravel the clues they have and save the kidnapping victims.
The pacing was fast, but not too fast. The author included just enough slow drama-focused scenes to add depth to the characters and narrative. We get to experience Meg's love life and watch her try to piece her boyfriend's family back together again after a tragedy. This secondary plot arc tempered the speed of the intrigue innate to the cult plot.
Spoilers follow from here on!
I like to finish my book with constructive criticism. So here's what I have to give: there was very little tension until the last few pages of the book when (Spoiler) Brigit is shot. Don't worry, the dog lives. The author needed to increase the tension, perhaps by adding fangs to the lawyer's threats or perhaps by having the Father actually threaten to kill the kidnapping victims. We needed consequences, either directly against Megan, Brigit or the kidnap victims.
Net total I Recommend this book. This was a fun, semi-cozy crime solving novel which I heartily enjoyed for it's police procedural elements.
I was given this book for free for the purpose of review.
This was a fun crime-solving novel. I enjoyed it quite a lot, and not just because Brigit the dog was AMAZING. The author did a fine job of weaving together three realistic plotlines into a respectable story. I Recommend it to fans of the cozy mystery genre.
To start things off, I was impressed by the author's research. She demonstrated a clear knowledge of Texas police law and it's rather famous cult history. She brought this knowledge to life in her plot, a plot which featured a prominent cult element. Adjacent to this knowledge was her down-to-earth approach to actual policing- the main character and her dog actually went on patrol and were tasked with solving more than just the main crime. They did boring police stuff, like following up leads and confirming alibis- which I found fascinating to read because so often authors neglect it.
The characters were fun, particularly Brigit the dog. There were three viewpoint characters: Megan the detective, her partner Brigit and the antagonist Father. The author did a good job of making me the reader care about the fate of the characters, rooting for the good guys and against the bad guy. The heroine was a brave cop and her partner a trusty canine which was a good combo.
The plot wasn't really a mystery. We knew from basically page one who the villain was because the villain was one of the POV characters, so there was nothing really mysterious about it. Instead this was a straight up crime-solving story, where the Megan and Brigit must unravel the clues they have and save the kidnapping victims.
The pacing was fast, but not too fast. The author included just enough slow drama-focused scenes to add depth to the characters and narrative. We get to experience Meg's love life and watch her try to piece her boyfriend's family back together again after a tragedy. This secondary plot arc tempered the speed of the intrigue innate to the cult plot.
Spoilers follow from here on!
I like to finish my book with constructive criticism. So here's what I have to give: there was very little tension until the last few pages of the book when (Spoiler) Brigit is shot. Don't worry, the dog lives. The author needed to increase the tension, perhaps by adding fangs to the lawyer's threats or perhaps by having the Father actually threaten to kill the kidnapping victims. We needed consequences, either directly against Megan, Brigit or the kidnap victims.
Net total I Recommend this book. This was a fun, semi-cozy crime solving novel which I heartily enjoyed for it's police procedural elements.
April 24, 2019
Megan Luz works for the Fort Worth Police Department. Her partner, Brigit, is a working canine in the department. One night, Megan’s boyfriend, Seth, a fire fighter and bomb tech for the FW Fire Department, receives a new born baby from an unknown man, who is following the city policy, wherein people can drop off babies they either cannot care for or do not want, with no questions asked. Seth calls Megan, who, once on the scene, is immediately taken in by the baby. After calling Child Protective Services, who arrive at the firehouse and take the baby to the nearby hospital while looking for a family to foster the baby, Meg and Brigit become involved in the search for where the baby came from. The baby’s young mother to be turns out to a member of a religious cult who live in a compound on the outskirts of the city. The mother has been told by the leader of the cult that her baby died, though he has given it up to the authorities. This mother and the baby’s father, who is also a member of the cult, have been forbidden any contact by the controlling cult leader, though each finds this difficult to do. Meg and Brigit work on this case in between their other duties, involving a police detective who has become a mentor for Meg, in the mystery. Jumping right in, Meg and Brigit ferret through a myriad of clues and red herrings to figure things out. However, figuring out what is going on and getting the mother and child reunited is not so easy, as they soon find out.
I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery. I loved the way the author referred to the canine Brigit as an officer, not as some dog who just works along side the police officer. Meg is also a clever, strong woman, who knows what she wants and how to go about achieving her goals and figuring things out. The mystery is not that complex, but it is definitely fascinating and fast-moving. I loved the way the author has Meg and Seth together, while having their two canines, Brigit and Blast, also together. Two romances to provide a good side line in the book! The story was, as I said, fast paced and well done, as were all the characters, so much so that I had some difficulty putting it down. I have not read any others in the series, but now will. I think all dog lovers or readers who enjoy a good, solid mystery will enjoy this one. One plus is the fact that there are no sex/intimate romantic scenes (I did not even miss them). I received this form NetGalley to read and review.
I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery. I loved the way the author referred to the canine Brigit as an officer, not as some dog who just works along side the police officer. Meg is also a clever, strong woman, who knows what she wants and how to go about achieving her goals and figuring things out. The mystery is not that complex, but it is definitely fascinating and fast-moving. I loved the way the author has Meg and Seth together, while having their two canines, Brigit and Blast, also together. Two romances to provide a good side line in the book! The story was, as I said, fast paced and well done, as were all the characters, so much so that I had some difficulty putting it down. I have not read any others in the series, but now will. I think all dog lovers or readers who enjoy a good, solid mystery will enjoy this one. One plus is the fact that there are no sex/intimate romantic scenes (I did not even miss them). I received this form NetGalley to read and review.
October 30, 2018
Loved this book, the K-9 Brigit, and her capable handler, Texas officer Megan Luz. Meg's boyfriend, Seth, is a bomb squad technician and firefighter for the Ft. Worth Fire Department (and army reservist). Seth also has a service dog, a yellow Lab named Blast. It is on Seth's rotation that a baby is dropped off at the fire department, owing to the Texas Safe Haven Statute. As she's marveling at the newborn, however, she detects a hastily sewn in message in the baby's blankee, turning an abandoned baby into a crime that has yet to be determined, but one that Meg is determined to solve.
The story is told in multiple POVs, one of them being Brigit's. Protagonist Megan fills another POV voice, while the antagonist fills the third. Discovering the "who" is not the problem--it's the crime itself that must be ascertained and properly finessed into conclusion. The author has done a very credible job of describing the cults that inhabit the southern area of the U.S. In this, the storyteller paints a composite leader in Father Emmanuel, who created his People of Peace compound. Cut off from society, living without electronics or knowledge of the outside world, the people live simply and self-contained. The author also throws in a sub-plot re burglaries.
Author Kelly has included well-fleshed support characters and many laugh out loud moments including those with Seth's grandfather and Derek, the "Big Dick" Mackey. It's obvious Meg is on a detective track. She's well developed and even as this was my first book with this author and series, found an interesting history, life outside of the department, and keen intelligence.
This novel grabbed my attention immediately, proceeded to bury me in succeeding pages impossible to put down. Really enjoyed the characters, the pace, the locale, the well-plotted storyline.
I was given this ebook download by the publisher and NetGalley and was thrilled to have the opportunity to read and review. Difficult to part with, would absolutely love to follow any succeeding new novels in the series. Recommended for any who enjoy K-9 associated books, police procedurals, suspense, and sweet and easy pseudo cozy. 4.5/5
See my full review at https://rosepointpublishing.com/2018/...
The story is told in multiple POVs, one of them being Brigit's. Protagonist Megan fills another POV voice, while the antagonist fills the third. Discovering the "who" is not the problem--it's the crime itself that must be ascertained and properly finessed into conclusion. The author has done a very credible job of describing the cults that inhabit the southern area of the U.S. In this, the storyteller paints a composite leader in Father Emmanuel, who created his People of Peace compound. Cut off from society, living without electronics or knowledge of the outside world, the people live simply and self-contained. The author also throws in a sub-plot re burglaries.
Author Kelly has included well-fleshed support characters and many laugh out loud moments including those with Seth's grandfather and Derek, the "Big Dick" Mackey. It's obvious Meg is on a detective track. She's well developed and even as this was my first book with this author and series, found an interesting history, life outside of the department, and keen intelligence.
This novel grabbed my attention immediately, proceeded to bury me in succeeding pages impossible to put down. Really enjoyed the characters, the pace, the locale, the well-plotted storyline.
I was given this ebook download by the publisher and NetGalley and was thrilled to have the opportunity to read and review. Difficult to part with, would absolutely love to follow any succeeding new novels in the series. Recommended for any who enjoy K-9 associated books, police procedurals, suspense, and sweet and easy pseudo cozy. 4.5/5
See my full review at https://rosepointpublishing.com/2018/...
October 28, 2018
The sign of a great book for me is staying up until the wee hours of the morning to finish it. The Long Paw of the Law is one of those books. As a rule, I'm not a fan of a mystery written from multiple points of view. I happily make an exception in this case. Megan Luz, police officer and dog handler, Brigit, her very awesome dog partner and The Father alternate chapters. Who knew dogs could have such thoughts about their humans? Brigit's chapters are laugh out loud funny. We meet Megan's boyfriend, Seth, a bomb tech/firefighter for the Fort Worth fire department and his dog, Blast. Blast is Brigit's boyfriend. I love it.
Seth calls Megan to ask her to come to the fire station - a new born baby has been surrendered and he wants Megan to make the arrangements with social services. While caring for the baby and waiting for social services, she makes a discovery - the word help has been stitched into the hem of the baby blanket. That changes everything and the baby is moved from adoptable to protective custody pending the outcome of the search for her parent. Megan works on this case as well as a string of burglaries. The real life police work, the mundane and the exciting, add depth to the mystery. It's more of a puzzle, follow the clues with a hint of romance sort of cozy. Each chapter pulled me into the next one and I was sorry when I reached the last page. I wanted more of Megan, Brigit, Seth and Blast but will have to wait for book #8.
If you are new to this series, The Long Paw of the Law can be read as a stand alone but, be warned, if you enjoyed it as much as I did, you will want to read the previous six books.
My thanks to the publisher, St. Martin's and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Seth calls Megan to ask her to come to the fire station - a new born baby has been surrendered and he wants Megan to make the arrangements with social services. While caring for the baby and waiting for social services, she makes a discovery - the word help has been stitched into the hem of the baby blanket. That changes everything and the baby is moved from adoptable to protective custody pending the outcome of the search for her parent. Megan works on this case as well as a string of burglaries. The real life police work, the mundane and the exciting, add depth to the mystery. It's more of a puzzle, follow the clues with a hint of romance sort of cozy. Each chapter pulled me into the next one and I was sorry when I reached the last page. I wanted more of Megan, Brigit, Seth and Blast but will have to wait for book #8.
If you are new to this series, The Long Paw of the Law can be read as a stand alone but, be warned, if you enjoyed it as much as I did, you will want to read the previous six books.
My thanks to the publisher, St. Martin's and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
December 22, 2018
The Long Paw of the Law (don’t you love those titles?) is Diane Kelly’s seventh novel featuring Fort Worth Police Officer Megan Luz and her K-9 partner, Brigit. This time the action begins when a man drops a newborn baby off at the fire station where Megan’s boyfriend Seth and Brigit’s boyfriend Blast work. This is perfectly legal under Texas’ Baby Moses law, but when Megan unfolds the beautifully hand-made quilt the baby is wrapped in, she finds an embroidered plea for help. There just may be something going on outside the law after all, and Megan intends to find out.
But Megan’s not a detective—not yet, anyway— and she has the usual patrol cases to follow, including a pair of thieves who specialize in stealing garage door remotes from parked cars. Along the way she meets a cosmetics and clothing consultant and an elderly dressmaker, both of whom would love to give Megan a makeover, goes to a car show with Seth’s cranky grandpa, and helps her mom study for an American History exam. Meanwhile with the help of Detective Audrey Jackson (her mentor), Frankie (her roller derby star/fire fighter housemate) and explosives expert Seth, Megan and Brigit pursue the case of the abandoned baby.
As always, Kelly alternates police work with humor, and tells the story from three viewpoints: Megan, Brigit (who is mostly interested in food and chasing perps), and the villain. Paw Enforcement continues to be a most entertaining and enjoyable series.
But Megan’s not a detective—not yet, anyway— and she has the usual patrol cases to follow, including a pair of thieves who specialize in stealing garage door remotes from parked cars. Along the way she meets a cosmetics and clothing consultant and an elderly dressmaker, both of whom would love to give Megan a makeover, goes to a car show with Seth’s cranky grandpa, and helps her mom study for an American History exam. Meanwhile with the help of Detective Audrey Jackson (her mentor), Frankie (her roller derby star/fire fighter housemate) and explosives expert Seth, Megan and Brigit pursue the case of the abandoned baby.
As always, Kelly alternates police work with humor, and tells the story from three viewpoints: Megan, Brigit (who is mostly interested in food and chasing perps), and the villain. Paw Enforcement continues to be a most entertaining and enjoyable series.
May 25, 2024
I enjoy listening to this series since it is set in the area where I live. I enjoy the adventures of Megan and Bridget, and all the other characters.
There are some heart-touching moments in this book, too. I won't spoil it, so go read or listen to the book.
I also liked that my alma mater, Texas Wesleyan University, was mentioned in this novel. Usually, it is TCU, but including other universities in this town is always nice.
There are some heart-touching moments in this book, too. I won't spoil it, so go read or listen to the book.
I also liked that my alma mater, Texas Wesleyan University, was mentioned in this novel. Usually, it is TCU, but including other universities in this town is always nice.
Read
January 14, 2019I really love this series. This book was exceptionally good. The author writes from each characters perspective. Brigit the dog is my favorite character. There are so many interesting people in each book and the crimes keep you guessing. This series is hard to put down. If you love dogs you will really enjoy this series.
October 21, 2023
Series: 7/9 in the K-9 series
Setting: Fort Worth, Texas
Sleuth: As a police officer, Megan is not the normal amateur sleuth found in cozy mysteries, but the K-9 series is not a normal cozy series in other ways as well. It's not set in a small town and the mysteries rarely include a murder. But the feel of the books is still very cozy, because of Megan herself. She is not a hard-bittern cynical detective, but rather a young woman who loved mysteries as a child, studied criminal justice in college and is now determined to make detective as soon as she has done her four years as a patrol officer. She is smart, dedicated, and above all else, persistent. Even if the case is a simple broken window in a car, she understands the impact of the crime on the victim and is determined to bring them justice. (5/5)
Side characters: Once again, Megan's partner and best friend is German Shepherd Sergeant Brigit. The chapters alternate between Megan, Brigit and the bad guy (or woman) and as always Brigit's chapters bring a great deal of humor to the books. There is also Megan's boyfriend firefighter Sam and Megan's roommate. We continue to learn more about Megan's relationship with her family and Sam's relationship with his irascible grandfather. (5/5)
Plot: Megan is working on two cases in this book. The primary case is her effort to track down the parents of an infant that someone turned in at the fire station where Sam works. Megan notices the word "help" sewn into the border of the blanket the baby is wrapped in and is determined to track down the mother and make sure that she is okay. This leads her to a nearby cult run by Father Emmanuel. Since every third chapter is told from Father Emmanuel's point of view, we know right away that he is a baddie but the suspense comes from whether--and how--Megan will be able to discover the truth. Once again, she is supervised by one of the detectives at her station so she is not just running around on her own like some vigilante. The second case involves a series of thefts where garage door openers are being stolen. Can Megan track down the culprits before their break-ins escalate into home invasions and someone is hurt? (5/5)
Extras: Brigit! My favorite scene in this one involves Megan's use of a face cream that smells yummy and Brigit's determination that it should be her midnight snack--while it's on Megan's face. Also, I am surprised how a series that is overall quite humorous can repeatedly make me cry and this one is no exception. (5/5)
Continue with series?: I put the cozy series I have read or am currently reading into bookshelves on Goodreads--finished, DNFed, series to complete--and found out that I am currently reading 62 series that I need to finish. What the heck! Of all those 62 series, this is currently my favorite. Will definitely finish.
Setting: Fort Worth, Texas
Sleuth: As a police officer, Megan is not the normal amateur sleuth found in cozy mysteries, but the K-9 series is not a normal cozy series in other ways as well. It's not set in a small town and the mysteries rarely include a murder. But the feel of the books is still very cozy, because of Megan herself. She is not a hard-bittern cynical detective, but rather a young woman who loved mysteries as a child, studied criminal justice in college and is now determined to make detective as soon as she has done her four years as a patrol officer. She is smart, dedicated, and above all else, persistent. Even if the case is a simple broken window in a car, she understands the impact of the crime on the victim and is determined to bring them justice. (5/5)
Side characters: Once again, Megan's partner and best friend is German Shepherd Sergeant Brigit. The chapters alternate between Megan, Brigit and the bad guy (or woman) and as always Brigit's chapters bring a great deal of humor to the books. There is also Megan's boyfriend firefighter Sam and Megan's roommate. We continue to learn more about Megan's relationship with her family and Sam's relationship with his irascible grandfather. (5/5)
Plot: Megan is working on two cases in this book. The primary case is her effort to track down the parents of an infant that someone turned in at the fire station where Sam works. Megan notices the word "help" sewn into the border of the blanket the baby is wrapped in and is determined to track down the mother and make sure that she is okay. This leads her to a nearby cult run by Father Emmanuel. Since every third chapter is told from Father Emmanuel's point of view, we know right away that he is a baddie but the suspense comes from whether--and how--Megan will be able to discover the truth. Once again, she is supervised by one of the detectives at her station so she is not just running around on her own like some vigilante. The second case involves a series of thefts where garage door openers are being stolen. Can Megan track down the culprits before their break-ins escalate into home invasions and someone is hurt? (5/5)
Extras: Brigit! My favorite scene in this one involves Megan's use of a face cream that smells yummy and Brigit's determination that it should be her midnight snack--while it's on Megan's face. Also, I am surprised how a series that is overall quite humorous can repeatedly make me cry and this one is no exception. (5/5)
Continue with series?: I put the cozy series I have read or am currently reading into bookshelves on Goodreads--finished, DNFed, series to complete--and found out that I am currently reading 62 series that I need to finish. What the heck! Of all those 62 series, this is currently my favorite. Will definitely finish.
December 26, 2021
Ive seen her books on the library shelves so many times .. Im not a fan of humans writing what they think goes on in an animals mind but I finally decided to give it a chance.. Verdicy? EH.
funny? humorous? clever? NO , NOPE and hell NO! Really confused where all the the funny "hilarious" bits are.
I didnt read one funny point no chuckle . And having 3 perspectives is quite annoying especially since the dogs part.. is useless. all it does is repeat what the human part said and not even in a real dog analyzing way.. \
OH and the d og? She would of failed REAL K( course the way she acts/ is treated. 1 You dont feed k9s hideous over processed crap meat aka hotdogs and bologna (hell I wouldnt feed it to a any animal or even human. 2 the fact her "k9 dog" is friendly to the whole world like an untrained pup is idiotic 3 finding her dog having an issue with eating shoes .. again bad behavior for any dog more so a k9. I showed this to a friend who just retired as a K9 officer and she shook her head laughing her ass off at how idiotic this "k9 officer is " and im sure in the other books the dog does more incorrect on the job and off the job behavior . The author has no clue what a k9 dog officer is nor does her "fan club ".
as for the human shes constantly judging other people (outside of crime issues) ie insulting their looks/ personalities )and rags on an old vet then thinks she's his savior because she had his friends show.. ugh. She has a holier than thou/ arrogant atttitude .
The writing is okay but again boring. Book could of been done in 1/4 less pages. And the need to type out every sound is juvenile.
Only good p0int is for once 1 its not a dumb female interfering in a case.. 2 theres no dumb dating angst/ mind game playing with men like most female lead "light "mysteries have(but now i see previous books have more of a dating story line so glad i never read them )
Will never take one out again both bec 1 boring 2 the stupidity about the dog.. and no its not funny or cute any of it .
funny? humorous? clever? NO , NOPE and hell NO! Really confused where all the the funny "hilarious" bits are.
I didnt read one funny point no chuckle . And having 3 perspectives is quite annoying especially since the dogs part.. is useless. all it does is repeat what the human part said and not even in a real dog analyzing way.. \
OH and the d og? She would of failed REAL K( course the way she acts/ is treated. 1 You dont feed k9s hideous over processed crap meat aka hotdogs and bologna (hell I wouldnt feed it to a any animal or even human. 2 the fact her "k9 dog" is friendly to the whole world like an untrained pup is idiotic 3 finding her dog having an issue with eating shoes .. again bad behavior for any dog more so a k9. I showed this to a friend who just retired as a K9 officer and she shook her head laughing her ass off at how idiotic this "k9 officer is " and im sure in the other books the dog does more incorrect on the job and off the job behavior . The author has no clue what a k9 dog officer is nor does her "fan club ".
as for the human shes constantly judging other people (outside of crime issues) ie insulting their looks/ personalities )and rags on an old vet then thinks she's his savior because she had his friends show.. ugh. She has a holier than thou/ arrogant atttitude .
The writing is okay but again boring. Book could of been done in 1/4 less pages. And the need to type out every sound is juvenile.
Only good p0int is for once 1 its not a dumb female interfering in a case.. 2 theres no dumb dating angst/ mind game playing with men like most female lead "light "mysteries have(but now i see previous books have more of a dating story line so glad i never read them )
Will never take one out again both bec 1 boring 2 the stupidity about the dog.. and no its not funny or cute any of it .
February 17, 2019
Megan is a police officer in Fort Worth, Texas. Her partner is Brigit, a German Shepherd. One night Megan gets a call from Seth, her boyfriend who is a fireman. A baby was just left at the fire station where he works. Because of Texas laws, people are allowed to abandon their children at places like this. As the baby is being taken away to a foster home, Megan notices the word "help" stitched into the baby's blanket. Assuming this is the mother's cry for help, Megan is determined to find the mother. This leads her to a cult called People of Peace, run by the controlling Father Emmanuel. Convinced she is on the right track, Megan does all she can to see if the mother is indeed in the compound and needs her help.
In the meantime, someone is stealing garage remote controls from cars with the intent of going back later to rob houses now that they have access and Megan and Brigit are on the case.
I've read many books by this author and I liked this one. Though it's the seventh in the Paw Enforcement series, it can work as a stand alone and you don't have to read the others to know what's going on (there is enough background provided).
I liked the writing style ... it was amusing at times. It is written in first person perspective from Megan's point of view and third person perspective from Brigit's point of view (which is funny) and Father Emmanuel's perspective.
I like Megan. She's gotten more confident as time goes on. Brigit's funny and likeable and it's fun to get into her head. Though she is a trained police dog, she can be naughty when she wants to be (especially if there are treats or squirrels involved).
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2019/02...
In the meantime, someone is stealing garage remote controls from cars with the intent of going back later to rob houses now that they have access and Megan and Brigit are on the case.
I've read many books by this author and I liked this one. Though it's the seventh in the Paw Enforcement series, it can work as a stand alone and you don't have to read the others to know what's going on (there is enough background provided).
I liked the writing style ... it was amusing at times. It is written in first person perspective from Megan's point of view and third person perspective from Brigit's point of view (which is funny) and Father Emmanuel's perspective.
I like Megan. She's gotten more confident as time goes on. Brigit's funny and likeable and it's fun to get into her head. Though she is a trained police dog, she can be naughty when she wants to be (especially if there are treats or squirrels involved).
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2019/02...
October 30, 2018
Forth Worth Police Officer Megan Lux and her K-9 Brigit are asked to report to the local fire station. Arriving at the station, Megan’s boyfriend Seth, a bomb squad tech with the fire department, hands her a wrapped blanket containing a newborn baby. The baby was turned in to the fire station as a “safe drop” by a man who said he was the baby’s father. Megan alerts dispatch to contact CPS and takes care of the baby until they arrive. As the CPS worker starts to leave with the baby, Megan notices something odd about the blanket. When she looks further, it appears that the word “HELP’ was stitched in to the blanket edge. Now they have more than an abandoned baby to investigate. Was the baby kidnapped? Where is the mother? Is the mother still alive and was that really the baby’s father? Megan and Brigit search for clues as to where the baby may have come from. As the investigation continues, Megan becomes suspicious of the religious sect located at the edge of town called the People of Peace. Another engaging mystery in the “Paw Enforcement” series by Ms. Kelly. Although this is book seven in the series, you can read this as a standalone and not feel lost. I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to give an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)
June 14, 2019
These books in the Paw Enforcement series by Diane Kelly are thoroughly enjoyable. As police stories go, the plots are not super complicated or intricate. The focus is more on the adventures of a young female uniformed police officer, Megan Luz and her K-9 partner, Bridget who, together, patrol the streets of Forth Worth, Texas. I like that this is a city not often used as a backdrop.
Also, if anything, these stories are about family and unity - it's about the friendship between a young woman and her dog, it's about the various families that surround Meg and her boyfriend, Seth, a ordnance specialist in the fire-department. All their exploits are indeed entertaining and light. Just perfect if what you need is uncomplicated, but still making great sense.
I do look forward to more books by Diane Kelly. The only minor observation I have is that although I find Coleen Marlo a most wonderful narrator, I can hear from her voice that she's a more mature woman than the character of Megan she's portraying in the audio version. That's a bit conflicting, a bit confusing in my head, buy Marlo's a top notch choice for Bridget the dog, though !
***3,5*** stars.
Also, if anything, these stories are about family and unity - it's about the friendship between a young woman and her dog, it's about the various families that surround Meg and her boyfriend, Seth, a ordnance specialist in the fire-department. All their exploits are indeed entertaining and light. Just perfect if what you need is uncomplicated, but still making great sense.
I do look forward to more books by Diane Kelly. The only minor observation I have is that although I find Coleen Marlo a most wonderful narrator, I can hear from her voice that she's a more mature woman than the character of Megan she's portraying in the audio version. That's a bit conflicting, a bit confusing in my head, buy Marlo's a top notch choice for Bridget the dog, though !
***3,5*** stars.
January 9, 2021
This is another fun entry in the Paw Enforcement series by Diane Kelly. I read several books in the series last year and was almost caught up before other books caught my attention. I’m happy that I was able to get back to the series though and start 2021 with this book.
This story begins with a baby dropped off at the fire station that Seth, police officer Megan Luz’s boyfriend, works at. He calls her to let her know what happened so she can get in touch with CPS and Megan happens to notice that the word help was sewn into the baby’s blanket. Megan’s search for the baby leads her to a cult called the People of Peace. Megan and her K9 partner Brigit are also dealing with a rash of burglaries in the area.
There were all kinds of things going on in this book and I loved every minute of it. This was a solid mystery with some good police work by Megan and Brigit. We also got to see all of the characters that I love in this book. I thought the character growth here was fantastic and I look forward to seeing it continue. I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to continue on with this series.
This story begins with a baby dropped off at the fire station that Seth, police officer Megan Luz’s boyfriend, works at. He calls her to let her know what happened so she can get in touch with CPS and Megan happens to notice that the word help was sewn into the baby’s blanket. Megan’s search for the baby leads her to a cult called the People of Peace. Megan and her K9 partner Brigit are also dealing with a rash of burglaries in the area.
There were all kinds of things going on in this book and I loved every minute of it. This was a solid mystery with some good police work by Megan and Brigit. We also got to see all of the characters that I love in this book. I thought the character growth here was fantastic and I look forward to seeing it continue. I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to continue on with this series.
October 22, 2018
Diane Kelly is one of the most talented authors of our time. She has the ability to take a serious situation and throw in a dash of humor to make you laugh and cry at the same time. In her latest novel in her Paw Enforcement series, “The Long Paw of the Law” Ms. Kelly keeps the laugh and intrigue following from cover to cover. Officer Megan Luz and her canine partner, Bridget, answer a call from her fireman boyfriend about an abandon baby at the firehouse. Megan is in awe of the tiny bundle of joy, but when she inspects the blanket that accompanies the baby she sees a message that concerns her and begins to unwind the mystery surrounding the tiny blessing. She follows the trail to a local cult and is determined to help whoever sent the message. This is a great novel that is fast-paced and I promise it will not disappoint. I was given an advanced copy of this book, and all of the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
October 26, 2018
The Long Paw of the Law by author Diane Kelly is another very good story featuring Officer Megan Luz and her K-9 partner Brigit. I enjoy this series so much! Seth calls Magen while she is on duty one night to come to the station. When she arrives she finds Seth holding a newborn baby girl which has been surrendered according to the safe drop laws. As the baby is given to child protection services, Megan notices something odd about the corner of the beautiful hand quilted bluebonnet blanket. In the corner, there is a stitched word HELP and a broken peace sign. Is this a clue? Is the mother in trouble?
Megan and Brigit work together with Detective Jackson to find answers to where the baby's mother could be and why would the baby be given away.
Also, there is a rash of thefts and home burglaries. I just LOVE the take-down when this crime is solved! Oh and poor Brigit!?!?!
This is such a good book to read on this cold and gloomy afternoon!
Publication Date: October 30, 2018
Megan and Brigit work together with Detective Jackson to find answers to where the baby's mother could be and why would the baby be given away.
Also, there is a rash of thefts and home burglaries. I just LOVE the take-down when this crime is solved! Oh and poor Brigit!?!?!
This is such a good book to read on this cold and gloomy afternoon!
Publication Date: October 30, 2018
October 30, 2018
I have read one or two books by Diane Kelly but none of this series. I wish that I had because The Long Paw of the Law stands out as an excellent police K9 book. The plot is realistic along with local Texas favor. I adored Brigit, shelter dog now Meg’s canine partner. I liked Meg too. I had just been reading of true shelter dogs who had become rescue dogs, so Brigit fit those real life stories well. Also Meg is a regular cop with regular duties that makes her seem to be genuine. Still there are lots of clues with the twists and turns in Meg’s major case.
All in all, Diane Kelly has written an appealing book that is entirely a pleasure to read. While it stands well alone, I now would like to see how Meg has progressed as a police office. How Brigit and she first worked as well as the beginning of her romance with Seth.
An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
All in all, Diane Kelly has written an appealing book that is entirely a pleasure to read. While it stands well alone, I now would like to see how Meg has progressed as a police office. How Brigit and she first worked as well as the beginning of her romance with Seth.
An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 13, 2019
I had a problem with this story or rather a couple of them.
The main one involved a property search that was done by the police office and her partner. There were several units searching a large property for a couple people and the amazing thing was that the office did NOT use her trained police dog to search. She walked around looking in closets and under beds (that is what was written) and never once utilized the tool she was dragging around at the end of a leash.
The large issue I had was that the person reading was actually barking and woofing like a dog. I don't know if that is what was written in the actual book, but it sounds ridiculous when a grown woman is barking in an audio book.
I'm not familiar with the author and I don't know if she actually works with police procedure, but I would think that since the premise is to show what a K-9 team can do, that she would actually show the canine officer being properly used.
The main one involved a property search that was done by the police office and her partner. There were several units searching a large property for a couple people and the amazing thing was that the office did NOT use her trained police dog to search. She walked around looking in closets and under beds (that is what was written) and never once utilized the tool she was dragging around at the end of a leash.
The large issue I had was that the person reading was actually barking and woofing like a dog. I don't know if that is what was written in the actual book, but it sounds ridiculous when a grown woman is barking in an audio book.
I'm not familiar with the author and I don't know if she actually works with police procedure, but I would think that since the premise is to show what a K-9 team can do, that she would actually show the canine officer being properly used.
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October 17, 2019Megan and Seth are back, but we mostly see Megan and Brigit this go around. When a baby is dropped off at Seth's firehouse, Seth calls Megan to work the case. While TX law allows baby drops, there's a cryptic message sewn into the baby's blanket that Megan sees just as they're sending the baby off to the foster parents. She tries diligently to track down the mother to see if she really wanted to give the baby up, but the mother is in a religious cult compound, under lock and key. Meanwhile, she's also on the case of a set of thieves who steal garage door openers so they can return later and break in through the garage when no one is home. Of course Kelly ties it all together and overlaps the strings of these story lines in the end.
As with the others in the series, this book is set up in a trio of perspectives: bad guy/gal, Megan, and Brigit all rotate as the POV for the chapters. Bonus: Tara Holloway make a few-sentences long appearance.
As with the others in the series, this book is set up in a trio of perspectives: bad guy/gal, Megan, and Brigit all rotate as the POV for the chapters. Bonus: Tara Holloway make a few-sentences long appearance.
September 26, 2020
What a cute book. This was my first in the Paw-Enforcement series by Diane Kelly and I hope not the last. It is a very refreshing story that does not focus so much on the worst of humanity. An infant is left at the local fire station with only a couple of clues to help identify her. Seth, a firefighter, calls his girlfriend Megan, who is fast on the case. Megan, after looking at the clues realizes that a religious cult might just be where the infant belonged. The story will keep you on your toes and excite you throughout. It is very nice to read a book that is funny and suspenseful at the same time.
Thank you to netgalley as well as the author/publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to netgalley as well as the author/publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
October 8, 2018
Thank you, Net Galley, I have read all of Diane Kelly's "paw" books and this is wonderful. I love Megan and Bridget, her canine partner. I have a lot of enjoyment too from the location of the book, I live in the area.
The story Is about a little baby who is dropped off at the fire station where Seth, Megan’s boyfriend works. She tracks down the mother who is trapped in a crazy cult. Megan also helps solve a burglary ring.
Megan is on the job with Bridget! She uses clever ways to help. I love the writing and the series.
I laughed a lot and the loved the action. The parts about Ollie, Seth’s grandfather was a treat.
Keep up the great writing Ms. Kelly
The story Is about a little baby who is dropped off at the fire station where Seth, Megan’s boyfriend works. She tracks down the mother who is trapped in a crazy cult. Megan also helps solve a burglary ring.
Megan is on the job with Bridget! She uses clever ways to help. I love the writing and the series.
I laughed a lot and the loved the action. The parts about Ollie, Seth’s grandfather was a treat.
Keep up the great writing Ms. Kelly
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