What do you think?
Rate this book
Mutt Mysteries #1
To Fetch a Thief: Four Fun "Tails" of Theft and Murder
TO FETCH A THIEF, the first Mutt Mysteries collection, features four novellas that have gone to the dogs. In this howling good read, canine companions help their owners solve crimes and right wrongs. These sleuths may be furry and low to the ground, but their keen senses are on high alert when it comes to sniffing out clues and digging up the truth. Make no bones about it, these pup heroes will steal your heart as they conquer ruff villains.
218 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2018
2 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 6, 2018
A really cute and sweet read, or I should say four short stories, which unfortunately include a body, but for me happily include dogs, all different breeds
These dogs being dogs, help lead us to crimes, and in the end, help lead us to who committed the murder, all the while protecting us.
As a dog owner, I need to be careful when taking my pup for a walk, you never know, as these owners found out. Whether they are walking, playing or just meandering around their own yards, these canine fellows are for justice.
What is really nice, you can sit down and read just one, but I always find myself going on to the next, and pretty soon they are all gone!
I received this book through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.
These dogs being dogs, help lead us to crimes, and in the end, help lead us to who committed the murder, all the while protecting us.
As a dog owner, I need to be careful when taking my pup for a walk, you never know, as these owners found out. Whether they are walking, playing or just meandering around their own yards, these canine fellows are for justice.
What is really nice, you can sit down and read just one, but I always find myself going on to the next, and pretty soon they are all gone!
I received this book through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.
December 19, 2018
Short stories, dogs, and murder - what a great combination!
This book has four short stories that each have a dog or two in them. I think my favorites were the first and the third story.
The first story centers around a dog walker and a client hiring her to do some sleuthing to find a missing necklace. She is able to narrow down the suspects but a major twist is thrown in and surprises everyone, me especially!
The second is a young couple purchase a home where the couple just left. The neighbors have some crazy stories to tell about the couple and the wife keeps finding things in the house that were left behind. There are some crazy things that happen and while the story is good I wanted to know more about how the story ended. I can't say too much but let's just say that this could have gone on for many more pages to maybe tie up the loose ends.
The third story has a couple of mysteries - where are the painted rocks going that represents the passing of some pets and who killed Sean? Another story where I was surprised when the killer was revealed. I think I had some ideas about this character but not many.
The last story feels like it is set in England based on some of the descriptions and it just has a more European feel. The main character is a person of interest simply because a suspected weapon ends up in his bag. This story is a bit more "formal" for lack of a better word. I suppose you could say it is more of a police procedural. I found it interesting that he named his dog after his former girlfriend. Either a sign of love or craziness! There are plenty of clues to determine who the killer is but it is interesting how it all comes together in the end.
You can't lose picking up this book especially if you love dogs and mysteries.
We give it 5 paws up.
This book has four short stories that each have a dog or two in them. I think my favorites were the first and the third story.
The first story centers around a dog walker and a client hiring her to do some sleuthing to find a missing necklace. She is able to narrow down the suspects but a major twist is thrown in and surprises everyone, me especially!
The second is a young couple purchase a home where the couple just left. The neighbors have some crazy stories to tell about the couple and the wife keeps finding things in the house that were left behind. There are some crazy things that happen and while the story is good I wanted to know more about how the story ended. I can't say too much but let's just say that this could have gone on for many more pages to maybe tie up the loose ends.
The third story has a couple of mysteries - where are the painted rocks going that represents the passing of some pets and who killed Sean? Another story where I was surprised when the killer was revealed. I think I had some ideas about this character but not many.
The last story feels like it is set in England based on some of the descriptions and it just has a more European feel. The main character is a person of interest simply because a suspected weapon ends up in his bag. This story is a bit more "formal" for lack of a better word. I suppose you could say it is more of a police procedural. I found it interesting that he named his dog after his former girlfriend. Either a sign of love or craziness! There are plenty of clues to determine who the killer is but it is interesting how it all comes together in the end.
You can't lose picking up this book especially if you love dogs and mysteries.
We give it 5 paws up.
December 11, 2018
The first story begins rather simplistically though unexpectedly. A wealthy man wants to hire a dog walker, not to walk his dog, but to look around the homes of her clients. She feels it is unethical, until he makes his case and solves her financial troubles. This one has a major twist ending.
The second story has a Rear Window vibe. Amy and Kevin buy a house that has been empty quite a while. As she is unpacking Amy discovers items left behind. Her creative imagination builds a sinister story to explain them and the disappearance of the previous residents. Is she wrong about the things her little dog digs up in the yard? Where will your imagination take you?
The third story has a rougher take than the previous tales. It takes place in a small community. Meg is so busy, she doesn`t know all of her neighbors, but has a few very good friends living near by. Her best friend is her dog, the same can be said for many local residents. The dogs are so beloved that there is a garden representing those that have passed away. A mystery involving memorial rocks missing from that garden escalates when a man is murdered using one of those same rocks. A mixture of sweet and vicious. Meg finds herself in the middle of it all and fighting for her own life.
The final contribution offers some police procedural and shows us what it is like to be a person of interest. All our hero wants is to heal a broken heart and spend time with his dog.
Entertaining characters populate this tale.
The second story has a Rear Window vibe. Amy and Kevin buy a house that has been empty quite a while. As she is unpacking Amy discovers items left behind. Her creative imagination builds a sinister story to explain them and the disappearance of the previous residents. Is she wrong about the things her little dog digs up in the yard? Where will your imagination take you?
The third story has a rougher take than the previous tales. It takes place in a small community. Meg is so busy, she doesn`t know all of her neighbors, but has a few very good friends living near by. Her best friend is her dog, the same can be said for many local residents. The dogs are so beloved that there is a garden representing those that have passed away. A mystery involving memorial rocks missing from that garden escalates when a man is murdered using one of those same rocks. A mixture of sweet and vicious. Meg finds herself in the middle of it all and fighting for her own life.
The final contribution offers some police procedural and shows us what it is like to be a person of interest. All our hero wants is to heal a broken heart and spend time with his dog.
Entertaining characters populate this tale.
April 26, 2025
This is a book of four cozy murder mysteries by four different women authors. This is the first story I've read by three of these authors. I've read one book by Heather Weidner before this, which is why I bought it. I loved her novel and her story in this book. The story by Teresa Inge was similar in writing style to Weidner. I like them both. The story by Jayne Ormerod was just okay. There was a wee bit of unnecessary societal pandering that added zip to the story. The fourth story by Rosemary Shomaker was a small change of pace because her writing style is different. It was a breath of fresh air. Overall, IMO, the dogs only play a side role in these stories. Some are more dog-focused, while others seem to only make a passing reference to dogs a few times. Considering it's called Mutt Mysteries, I'd have liked them to be more dog-centric.
Thank goodness for the story by Shomaker because her villains were a woman AND a man, which brings me to a major point. It's true in this book just as it is in almost all modern books, TV shows, and movies. The murderer/criminal/villain is a woman. SHOCKER !!! Not. Maybe in the 70s, 60s, or before, that would have been a huge plot twist. Never before done, never even thought of, and a real treat to read/watch. In the 80s, 90s, and all the way up until today, it has become commonplace. I grow weary of stories that all point to a male character and then, BOOM! It was a woman that was the fiend and nobody suspected the whole time! It's almost enough to make one wonder if men even commit crimes anymore. Not according to modern day books, TV, and movies. I'd like to see it be more even. I like to read stories where both men and women solve crimes that are committed by both men and women.
EDIT: I am only editing this to add something that I forgot. I am one of "those" people that CANNOT read anything without proofreading it at the same time. The title of the book is at the very top of every page and it is misspelled. It's just a typo, but a pretty damn important one. Having to look at it on every page was certainly a distraction to say the least.
Thank goodness for the story by Shomaker because her villains were a woman AND a man, which brings me to a major point. It's true in this book just as it is in almost all modern books, TV shows, and movies. The murderer/criminal/villain is a woman. SHOCKER !!! Not. Maybe in the 70s, 60s, or before, that would have been a huge plot twist. Never before done, never even thought of, and a real treat to read/watch. In the 80s, 90s, and all the way up until today, it has become commonplace. I grow weary of stories that all point to a male character and then, BOOM! It was a woman that was the fiend and nobody suspected the whole time! It's almost enough to make one wonder if men even commit crimes anymore. Not according to modern day books, TV, and movies. I'd like to see it be more even. I like to read stories where both men and women solve crimes that are committed by both men and women.
EDIT: I am only editing this to add something that I forgot. I am one of "those" people that CANNOT read anything without proofreading it at the same time. The title of the book is at the very top of every page and it is misspelled. It's just a typo, but a pretty damn important one. Having to look at it on every page was certainly a distraction to say the least.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2018
Review of TO FETCH A THIEF
I love animal cozies more than any other kind of cozies (and I really love the cozy subgenre), so to discover To Fetch a Thief: Four Fun "Tails" of Theft and Murder (Mutt Mysteries #1) was a delightful find. Four very different tales, each employing our furry friends, and in each case not only does the human not sleuth alone, but the pet sleuths prove themselves instrumental. Settle in for excitement, enjoyment, and intrigue, as those with tails do indeed "fetch" the wrongdoers to justice.
I love animal cozies more than any other kind of cozies (and I really love the cozy subgenre), so to discover To Fetch a Thief: Four Fun "Tails" of Theft and Murder (Mutt Mysteries #1) was a delightful find. Four very different tales, each employing our furry friends, and in each case not only does the human not sleuth alone, but the pet sleuths prove themselves instrumental. Settle in for excitement, enjoyment, and intrigue, as those with tails do indeed "fetch" the wrongdoers to justice.
February 17, 2019
Fun book of short stories!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews