Murder Unleashed

Jack and Jamie #2

by Lee Charles Kelley

Former-cop-turned-kennel owner Jack Field and his lover, local medical examiner Dr. Jamie Cutter, come to the aid of Roark, a helpless canine accused of killing a State Supreme Court Justice, found in his car with his throat torn out, as the search out the real culprit with the help of a pack of playful beagles. Original.

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Dogs, Mystery, Fiction

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

I'm a dog trainer, songwriter, voiceover actor, and bestselling mystery novelist* living in New York City. I've been using Natural Dog Training techniques since 1992. I write words and music, mostly for Sinatra-style songs and have a few minor songwriting credits (very minor, I'm afraid) including the libretto for a full-length musical comedy. I've been doing voice work since I was 17 (I'm now in my mid-50s) and still do radio commercials and TV voiceovers. I also write a series of dog mysteries featuring ex-NYPD detective turned dog trainer, Jack Field, and his smart and sexy ladylove, state medical examiner Dr. Jamie Cutter. My books are best described as a combination of murder mystery, romantic comedy, and dog training manual, all rolled up into one great read. *(My 4th novel, TWAS THE BITE BEFORE CHRISTMAS was a bestseller.)

Reviews

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found a couple books in this series at a used book store over the summer, and figured it would be worth giving a shot. Unfortunately, the store didn't have book #1, but I've read other series out of order and enjoyed them just the same. I am nearly certain though that Kelly recapped the entire plot of that first book over the course of 'Murder Unleashed'. Jack Field is an ex-New York cop who has retired to Maine to train dogs, but with his budding relationship with Dr. Jamie, one of the town's part-time medical examiners, he finds that he can't keep himself away from the world of crime. When Jamie is called to investigate a body found in a wrecked car, Jack comes along with the intent of just waiting in his car, but it turns out that not only is the victim in the wrecked vehicle, but so is the victim's pet boxer. Based on the condition of the man's head and neck and the aggression the dog exhibits when the car is approached, it seems like the prime suspect in its owner's death. Jack sees things differently though, and is able to get the dog out of the car peacefully, to enable Jamie and the police to do their investigation.
From there, the book goes off on a whole different path, and the boxer seems nearly forgotten as Kelley weaves a story that ventures into the local drug trade, illegitimate children, and blackmail moreso than focusing on dogs. Granted, one of the players in the drug trade owns 10 beagles that get left at Jack's kennel while he sorts out his own trouble, and Jack is called on a special request by one of Jamie's friends to help her with he misbehaving pug, but other than that and playing somewhat of a role in the solution to the crimes, dogs aren't in the spotlight nearly as much as some of the other series I read.
I'll read the other books I bought in the series, and should I find some at the library, it's a possibility, but I don't think I'd actively seek out others, based on the writer's style, particularly his recapping of what I suspect is the entire first book such that I almost feel there isn't a need to read it at this point.

[Suzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Maine, I love dogs, I love mysteries. My dog and husband flunked out of obedience school. Said husband has been sick for a week or so and I have not been able to read in bed as much as usual so this has been slow going. I think I like this series because the guy is a smart ass and I can just close the book and walk away when I've had too much. Can't with my husband. When is why I am reviewing yet another mystery. Some of us read mysteries so we don't murder.

[A. Lieberson · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like dogs and you want a mystery then this is the book to read. The human characters and the dog ones are great. Jack Field, a kennel owner and former big city cop is trying to save a dog from being put down because the police say he killed a State Supreme Court Justice.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 - Good

[Ewa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It wasn't as cozy as I expected it to be, but plot was OK, dogs were OK, some details of investigation were maybe a little bit too complicated and mixed up.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who killed Judge Merton? That's the question that Jack really doesn't want to answer because he's a dog trainer, not a detective. But once again he gets pulled into the case because the accused is Roark, a client's lovable boxer, who is found in the car with the victim. He also ends up on a second investigation because of Jamie, part-time medical examiner and love of his life.

I enjoyed the banter between Jack and Jamie, his love of dogs, and a good mystery that I didn't actually figure out till close to the end. To quote the author, it's "purely...transportational" reading - an easy, light read and a good story.

[Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 2nd installment in the mystery series of an ex-NYPD detective turned dog trainer. The book picks up where the last one left off, just a few months later. Jack and love interest Jamie continue to work together as a team to figure out who killed the Judge. It helps that Jack has the investigative skills and Jamie is a part time ME for the state of Maine.

The characters have expanded a little bit and could expand more in the next few books. Definitely a good read especially if you are a dog lover!

[Nan Hurley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dogs and Maine, gotta love this series. I used to think Mr. Kelley's dog training methods were nuts, but having found myself with a rescued dog that all the usual training methods failed, I'm finding that Mr. Kelley is making a lot of sense.
I love this series, too, because the mysteries are good and I love this man's sense of humor.