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Molly and Me: An extraordinary tale of second chances and how a dog and her owner became the ultimate pet-detective duo
Pre-order Molly & Me now! It is the extraordinary tale of how a dog and her owner became the ultimate pet-detective duo.
Ex-policeman Colin Butcher had set up his own pet detective agency searching for lost and stolen pets and it was running smoothly but he quickly realized he needed a partner. That's when inspiration struck...
Enter Molly, an unloved and unwanted cocker spaniel on a rescue website. Clever and charismatic, she melted Colin's heart and the two became instantly inseparable.
Colin's detective skills combined with Molly's intelligence, tenacity and sense of smell made them the ultimate team and it wasn't long before they were cracking cases and solving crimes across the country. From the search to find Pablo the ginger tom who was kidnapped in Devon to unearthing a treasure trove of stolen jewels in a north London wood, the duo have many bizarre encounters and make plenty of new friends along the way.
Charming, moving and thrilling, Molly and Me is the story of a rescue cocker spaniel with a troubled past who - thanks to the love and devotion of her owner - finds a new life, a new purpose and a forever friend.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 2, 2019
105 people are currently reading
2943 people want to read
About the author
Colin Butcher
11 books52 followersColin’s passion for writing started as a child in Singapore. When at the age of seven his school essay on the field study of Fire Ants received the award for best story and most improved handwriting. ”I strutted around my school as if I had won the Nobel Prize in Literature as opposed to a hand writing competition” he has said. "It really was a pivotal moment for me, having my work recognised at such a young age had such a big impact, from then on I recorded field notes on all the interesting adventures I had with my brother and read every book I could get my hands on.”
He continued his writing in the Royal Navy and Police and as a Detective Sergeant in 1998 co-wrote the first police training manual for the investigation of criminal cases for Surrey CID officers followed by three other CID training manuals on the investigation of serious crime and homicide and was a awarded a prestigious Chief Constables Commendation for his achievements.
In 2004 Colin received his first paid commission from BP to write a training a manual for the investigation of major incidents and serious injuries. This was followed by several other paid commissions within the shipping and logistic industries, Colin has said ”It wasn’t until 2010 that I actually thought of myself as a writer, by then I was running my own Blog and drafting all sorts of articles on the investigation of crimes against animals and often received emails from journalists asking for contributions to features and news items.”
In 2014 Colin wrote his first book ‘The Owner’s Handbook on Preventing Dog Theft’ and in 2016 his work was spotted by a commissioning editor working for Little Brown Books. Six months later extracts from Colin's second book MOLLY & ME took the London Book Fair by storm resulting in 13 publishing contracts with 11 translations.
MOLLY & ME will be published in the UK on 2nd May 2019 by Michael Joseph an imprint of Penguin Random House.
He continued his writing in the Royal Navy and Police and as a Detective Sergeant in 1998 co-wrote the first police training manual for the investigation of criminal cases for Surrey CID officers followed by three other CID training manuals on the investigation of serious crime and homicide and was a awarded a prestigious Chief Constables Commendation for his achievements.
In 2004 Colin received his first paid commission from BP to write a training a manual for the investigation of major incidents and serious injuries. This was followed by several other paid commissions within the shipping and logistic industries, Colin has said ”It wasn’t until 2010 that I actually thought of myself as a writer, by then I was running my own Blog and drafting all sorts of articles on the investigation of crimes against animals and often received emails from journalists asking for contributions to features and news items.”
In 2014 Colin wrote his first book ‘The Owner’s Handbook on Preventing Dog Theft’ and in 2016 his work was spotted by a commissioning editor working for Little Brown Books. Six months later extracts from Colin's second book MOLLY & ME took the London Book Fair by storm resulting in 13 publishing contracts with 11 translations.
MOLLY & ME will be published in the UK on 2nd May 2019 by Michael Joseph an imprint of Penguin Random House.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
August 20, 2019
I was coming home from walking my two golden retrievers one night and while I was taking off their leads I noticed they were poking around a package on my front door step. They sniffed eagerly as I opened the envelope hoping it would be something for them, but alas it was book mail for mom!! It turned out to be Molly, by Colin Butcher. How fitting that my dogs sniffed this book out from behind a flower pot when this book is about a cocker spaniel who helps people in the UK find their lost cats.
Initially, I was wondering how a whole book could be about this topic, but to my great delight it went into detail on the author who served in the Royal Navy, used to work for various police departments in the UK and his background working with canine units. Obviously, I’m a huge dog person, so I was hooked immediately. It was so interesting learning about the dogs Mr. Butcher worked with on various cases and how each breed of dog was used for something particular and that played to that dog’s strengths.
Next, the book moved to how Mr. Butcher decided to start his own agency and eventually found and rescued his partner, Molly. Molly and Mr. Butcher's relationship throughout the book is incredibly touching and made me miss my dogs who are home while I'm on vacation. There were many times I wanted to give them a snuggle and smattering of kisses because this book is for any animal lover for sure.
Overall, I am really glad I read this book and I learned a lot from it. It couldn't have been more clear how much Mr. Butcher loves animals and that really connects with me. This is an incredibly heartwarming story - and I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to read something uplifting.
Thank you so much to Celadon Books and Colin Butcher for allowing me the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.
Review Date: 8/20/19
Publication Date: 10/8/19
Initially, I was wondering how a whole book could be about this topic, but to my great delight it went into detail on the author who served in the Royal Navy, used to work for various police departments in the UK and his background working with canine units. Obviously, I’m a huge dog person, so I was hooked immediately. It was so interesting learning about the dogs Mr. Butcher worked with on various cases and how each breed of dog was used for something particular and that played to that dog’s strengths.
Next, the book moved to how Mr. Butcher decided to start his own agency and eventually found and rescued his partner, Molly. Molly and Mr. Butcher's relationship throughout the book is incredibly touching and made me miss my dogs who are home while I'm on vacation. There were many times I wanted to give them a snuggle and smattering of kisses because this book is for any animal lover for sure.
Overall, I am really glad I read this book and I learned a lot from it. It couldn't have been more clear how much Mr. Butcher loves animals and that really connects with me. This is an incredibly heartwarming story - and I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to read something uplifting.
Thank you so much to Celadon Books and Colin Butcher for allowing me the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.
Review Date: 8/20/19
Publication Date: 10/8/19
August 23, 2019
Thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the advanced copy of Molly, a fascinating and heartwarming book in return for an honest review.
I was unaware that anything like the United Kingdom Pet Detective Agency (UKPD) actually exists. Had this been a work of fiction I would think that the idea of a dog trained to find lost cats to be intriguing but far fetched and unbelievable. This is an interesting and informative true story.
The author, Colin Butcher, was previously a Detective Inspector with the Surrey Police and was awarded for his contribution to the Criminal Investigation Department. Wanting a new challenge, he set up a Detective Agency with the goal of recovering lost pets. His years of experience as a police detective led him to observe and work alongside police dogs and their handlers. He had seen how the dogs discovered illegal drugs through their highly developed sense of smell, and how they were trained to search for criminals.
He originated the idea of having a companion dog trained to trail lost cats by each cat's individual scent signature. In his search for a trainer, he received many refusals and ridicule. He was told the idea was an impossibility which would never work. He persisted in his goal until finally the centre for Medical Detection Dogs agreed to take on the training. Their usual work is to prepare dogs to detect changes in the health of people with medical conditions or to sniff out certain diseases.
Colin now had to find a dog that he considered right for the training and the work. He wanted a rescue dog, and after a long search found Molly. Molly was willful, stubborn and insecure, having been in a number of different homes during her young life. She is an intelligent, charismatic black cocker spaniel who readily charms the pet owners and others during searches. After successful training, she and Colin became an inseparable team.
The book describes many happy recoveries of missing pets and also the heartbreaking disappointments.it is clear that Colin shows a great deal of empathy for the distraught owners and their missing pets. The book is well-written and engaging. He describes some of their cases, the people they encounter, and the English countryside. By mid-December 2018, Colin and Molly had recovered 74 missing cats, 6 dogs and a tortoise. He intends to write further books about his adventures with Molly.
I would recommend this book to cat and dog lovers, and anyone intrigued by the work of a unique, real-life detective agency.
I was unaware that anything like the United Kingdom Pet Detective Agency (UKPD) actually exists. Had this been a work of fiction I would think that the idea of a dog trained to find lost cats to be intriguing but far fetched and unbelievable. This is an interesting and informative true story.
The author, Colin Butcher, was previously a Detective Inspector with the Surrey Police and was awarded for his contribution to the Criminal Investigation Department. Wanting a new challenge, he set up a Detective Agency with the goal of recovering lost pets. His years of experience as a police detective led him to observe and work alongside police dogs and their handlers. He had seen how the dogs discovered illegal drugs through their highly developed sense of smell, and how they were trained to search for criminals.
He originated the idea of having a companion dog trained to trail lost cats by each cat's individual scent signature. In his search for a trainer, he received many refusals and ridicule. He was told the idea was an impossibility which would never work. He persisted in his goal until finally the centre for Medical Detection Dogs agreed to take on the training. Their usual work is to prepare dogs to detect changes in the health of people with medical conditions or to sniff out certain diseases.
Colin now had to find a dog that he considered right for the training and the work. He wanted a rescue dog, and after a long search found Molly. Molly was willful, stubborn and insecure, having been in a number of different homes during her young life. She is an intelligent, charismatic black cocker spaniel who readily charms the pet owners and others during searches. After successful training, she and Colin became an inseparable team.
The book describes many happy recoveries of missing pets and also the heartbreaking disappointments.it is clear that Colin shows a great deal of empathy for the distraught owners and their missing pets. The book is well-written and engaging. He describes some of their cases, the people they encounter, and the English countryside. By mid-December 2018, Colin and Molly had recovered 74 missing cats, 6 dogs and a tortoise. He intends to write further books about his adventures with Molly.
I would recommend this book to cat and dog lovers, and anyone intrigued by the work of a unique, real-life detective agency.
October 9, 2019
Have you met Molly? Let me tell you a little about her. She’s a dog who rescues cats. Well, first, Colin rescues Molly because she needs a home, and Molly rescues Colin because he needs a new start of his own.
Molly is chosen for the job to help Colin with finding missing pets. She is young and willful, but she’s also intelligent. And eventually, she wins over everyone, and through all her trials, she saves many a cat.
Colin is the most sincere person, and it shines through in his storytelling. He’s an animal lover, and if you are, too, you simply have to read Molly’s story!
Thank you to Celadon Books for the complimentary copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Molly is chosen for the job to help Colin with finding missing pets. She is young and willful, but she’s also intelligent. And eventually, she wins over everyone, and through all her trials, she saves many a cat.
Colin is the most sincere person, and it shines through in his storytelling. He’s an animal lover, and if you are, too, you simply have to read Molly’s story!
Thank you to Celadon Books for the complimentary copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
December 27, 2019
Animal lovers, sit up and take notice! I've got just the book for you! And it's a true story.
Meet Molly, a lovable, spirited, talented, cocker spaniel.
Now, may I introduce you to Colin Butcher, Molly's owner, a true hero, and inspiration.
In 2005, Colin formed the United Kingdom Pet Detective Agency (UKPD), and in 2016, Molly joined the team as his partner, and together they solve crimes. Yes, you read that correctly.
Their mission, to locate and rescue missing and stolen animals, with a specific focus on Molly sniffing out lost cats. They are a godsend to heartbroken pet owners everywhere.
Delightful, adorable, enjoyable and informative. I smiled, I laughed, I cried. There were moments of heartbreak. It was harrowing reading about animals in jeopardy – injured, mistreated and abused, and not all the searches had a happy ending. For the most part though, Molly’s journey was uplifting and remarkable. She's also extra special, because she was a rescue dog. The intensive six month scent-match training programme Molly underwent made for interesting reading, and I am in awe over the amazing team at Medical Detection Dogs, and their massive commitment to Molly's success.
Colin's love for all creatures great and small shone through on every page. His background in the Royal Navy and as a DI in the Surrey Police Force gave him the necessary skills and experience to not only set up and operate a Pet Detective Agency, but also taught him how to deal with traumatised and distressed individuals. Knowledge he applies when faced with distraught families, whose beloved pet has gone missing.
Molly & Me was a book with so much heart, and an absolute pleasure to read.
Meet Molly, a lovable, spirited, talented, cocker spaniel.
Now, may I introduce you to Colin Butcher, Molly's owner, a true hero, and inspiration.
In 2005, Colin formed the United Kingdom Pet Detective Agency (UKPD), and in 2016, Molly joined the team as his partner, and together they solve crimes. Yes, you read that correctly.
‘I think of Molly as the Watson to my Sherlock, and the Lewis to my Morse.’
Their mission, to locate and rescue missing and stolen animals, with a specific focus on Molly sniffing out lost cats. They are a godsend to heartbroken pet owners everywhere.
Delightful, adorable, enjoyable and informative. I smiled, I laughed, I cried. There were moments of heartbreak. It was harrowing reading about animals in jeopardy – injured, mistreated and abused, and not all the searches had a happy ending. For the most part though, Molly’s journey was uplifting and remarkable. She's also extra special, because she was a rescue dog. The intensive six month scent-match training programme Molly underwent made for interesting reading, and I am in awe over the amazing team at Medical Detection Dogs, and their massive commitment to Molly's success.
Colin's love for all creatures great and small shone through on every page. His background in the Royal Navy and as a DI in the Surrey Police Force gave him the necessary skills and experience to not only set up and operate a Pet Detective Agency, but also taught him how to deal with traumatised and distressed individuals. Knowledge he applies when faced with distraught families, whose beloved pet has gone missing.
Molly & Me was a book with so much heart, and an absolute pleasure to read.
September 12, 2019
If my cat EMMA is ever lost, I will be flying Pet Detective duo Colin Butcher, and his rescue dog, Molly, FIRST CLASS , to Gilbert, AZ to find her!
YES, my cat means that much to me! 😻
If you love dogs, you will want to read about Molly, a dog trained to find a missing cat, by smelling its unique scent, off of a tuft of fur, and following the scent to the moggie’s hiding place.
If you love cats, you will be moved by the tearful reunions between the felines and the humans who love them.
Because this is a true story, not every case has a “happily ever after” resolution but as of this printing, 74 missing cats, 6 dogs, and one Hermann’s Tortoise have been located...and Molly and Colin are still on the prowl...
Do I sniff a sequel ? I hope so!
Thank You to Netgalley, Celadon Books, and Colin and Molly for allowing me to read this heartwarming story in advance of its publication date in exchange for a candid review! You can pre-order this now and be reading it for yourself on Oct. 8, 2019!
YES, my cat means that much to me! 😻
If you love dogs, you will want to read about Molly, a dog trained to find a missing cat, by smelling its unique scent, off of a tuft of fur, and following the scent to the moggie’s hiding place.
If you love cats, you will be moved by the tearful reunions between the felines and the humans who love them.
Because this is a true story, not every case has a “happily ever after” resolution but as of this printing, 74 missing cats, 6 dogs, and one Hermann’s Tortoise have been located...and Molly and Colin are still on the prowl...
Do I sniff a sequel ? I hope so!
Thank You to Netgalley, Celadon Books, and Colin and Molly for allowing me to read this heartwarming story in advance of its publication date in exchange for a candid review! You can pre-order this now and be reading it for yourself on Oct. 8, 2019!
September 29, 2019
Molly was such a heartwarming story, and I thoroughly enjoyed this one! I honestly never knew that the UKPD agency existed prior to reading this novel, but this truly opened my heart for this line of work.
Author Colin Butcher had such an interesting take on his previous career as a detective, which led him to recovering lost pets. As a pet owner of three, I would gladly turn my efforts over to this team!
*thank you to Celadon and Goodreads for the gifted copy for review. All opinions are my own.
Author Colin Butcher had such an interesting take on his previous career as a detective, which led him to recovering lost pets. As a pet owner of three, I would gladly turn my efforts over to this team!
*thank you to Celadon and Goodreads for the gifted copy for review. All opinions are my own.
September 8, 2019
If my cat EMMA is ever lost, I will be flying Pet Detective duo Colin Butcher, and his rescue dog, Molly, FIRST CLASS , to Gilbert, AZ to find her!
YES, my cat means that much to me! 😻
If you love dogs, you will fall in love with Molly, a dog trained to find a missing cat, by smelling its unique scent, off of a tuft of fur, and following the scent to the moggie’s hiding place.
If you love cats, you will be moved by the tearful reunions between the felines and the humans who love them.
Because this is a true story, not every case has a “happily ever after” resolution but as of this printing, 74 missing cats, 6 dogs, and one Hermann’s Tortoise have been located...and Molly and Colin are still on the prowl...
Do I sniff a sequel ? I hope so!
Thank You to Netgalley, Celadon Books, and Colin and Molly for allowing me to read this heartwarming story in advance of its publication date in exchange for a candid review! You can pre-order this now and be reading it for yourself on Oct. 8, 2019!
YES, my cat means that much to me! 😻
If you love dogs, you will fall in love with Molly, a dog trained to find a missing cat, by smelling its unique scent, off of a tuft of fur, and following the scent to the moggie’s hiding place.
If you love cats, you will be moved by the tearful reunions between the felines and the humans who love them.
Because this is a true story, not every case has a “happily ever after” resolution but as of this printing, 74 missing cats, 6 dogs, and one Hermann’s Tortoise have been located...and Molly and Colin are still on the prowl...
Do I sniff a sequel ? I hope so!
Thank You to Netgalley, Celadon Books, and Colin and Molly for allowing me to read this heartwarming story in advance of its publication date in exchange for a candid review! You can pre-order this now and be reading it for yourself on Oct. 8, 2019!
November 30, 2020
Are you an animal lover? This is your book! The true story of a cocker spaniel named Molly and her owner retired Royal Navy and police constable Colin Butcher. Though Molly was young and inexperienced when Colin first got her, but after months of training Molly became a man (and feline's) best friend.
Colin was particularly interested in helping people find their lost pets being an animal-lover himself and due to his experience on the police force. Often, helping someone with their pet helped build a connection, and it was much easier to assist them in other matters.
Molly has outstanding olfactory senses and also a determined spirit. The book chronicles their first year together helping to rescue lost cats and reunite them with their owners.
A sweet story that will definitely be a favorite for the pet lovers out there!
Thank you to Celadon Books for my copy. Opinions are my own.
Colin was particularly interested in helping people find their lost pets being an animal-lover himself and due to his experience on the police force. Often, helping someone with their pet helped build a connection, and it was much easier to assist them in other matters.
Molly has outstanding olfactory senses and also a determined spirit. The book chronicles their first year together helping to rescue lost cats and reunite them with their owners.
A sweet story that will definitely be a favorite for the pet lovers out there!
Thank you to Celadon Books for my copy. Opinions are my own.
July 8, 2023
I am so excited to find another book worthy of going in my dogs-favorite-books shelf. This will be the sixty-first one I have added to that category out of the 493 dog books I have read so far. Molly is a great book whether you are a cat or a dog fan. Some books only have one big climax where the animal is reunited with its owners. Here there are multiple peaks to enjoy crossing over.
There is great background stories for why Mr. butcher decides to train a dog to help find lost cats. He also decides that it also must be a rescue dog. Rescuing dogs check a lot of people’s boxes. Here is a bit from that part:
“Right, first the bad news,” said Rob, when, as promised, he called me with an update. My shoulders sagged as I braced myself for yet more disappointment.
“Molly’s very, very demanding. She’s been badly deprived of love and affection. She suffers from terrible separation anxiety. She barks like crazy when she’s frustrated. She steals food from people’s plates and pinches treats from their pocket. And she’s one of the most willful, wayward and stubborn dogs I’ve ever met.”
“And the good news?” I replied despondently.
“I reckon we’ve found our dog, Colin.”
It is almost unbelievable to me, but a lot of people dismissed his idea of training a dog to locate cats. He worked very hard to get to the point where he could prove the concept:
'Four years previously I’d first set out to find and train a cat-detection dog, and had figured that it would take me just six months. I’d spent hundreds of hours researching canine cognition, traveled thousands of miles to meet the country’s top experts in this field and overcome a great deal of resistance and hostility. So many people have told me that it couldn’t be done and had implied that I was foolish and delusional.'
Then Molly. The first chapter opens with her first big test.
'I gave my dog the signal to proceed. With Tim and I trailing behind her, an all-guns-blazing Molly charged across number 38’s lawn, her stride unbroken as she gobbled up some bacon rind that had been left for the birds. She sprang up to the decking, whirled around to face me, locked her eyes with mine, and—a slither of bacon rind drooping from her mouth—gave me the most emphatic “down” I’d ever seen.
“Oh my god, she’s doing that trembly thing again,” whispered Tim, his voice shaking. “Has she found her?”'
The book has background details on why Colin took on this quest. It has information on overcoming behavior issues with Molly. It has details on his training. Oh yeah, and some ribbing when the movie ‘Pet Detective’ came out. But the book is chock full of the fun stuff, little mysteries to find missing animals. At one search and location Colin shares his thoughts while there:
'I contemplated the task that lay ahead. It felt like I was in the middle of a Midsomer Murders case in many respects, since our village location was similarly quaint and rustic and teeming with a cast of colorful characters. The central theme of this particular episode was abundantly clear, and of course: where on earth is Simba? Had he wandered off and got lost? Was he trapped in an outbuilding? Had he been kidnapped by a local? Was he still alive, even? Fortunately, I had my problem-solving pooch waiting in the wings, who’d no doubt help me to get to the bottom of it.'
He had to ask permission to go into people’s backyards to have Molly search for a cat. I like how he gets to meet some colorful characters in some. Here is one bit but without the funny conclusion to this part:
'The next household—a young father—was far more accommodating, thank goodness. He ushered the three of us through his back gate and five minutes later, appeared on the patio with his toddler, who was clad in an all-in-one playsuit.
“You don’t mind if we watch, do you?” he asked. “Ethan and I have had enough of Tom and Jerry for one morning. Molly the detective dog seems far more exciting.”'
I like what we learn about why cats get lost:
‘We learned an awful lot about cats’ day-to-day behavior, habits and movements and, critically, the circumstances that led them to migrate or go missing. Some cats, we noted, reacted adversely to a change within the household—the arrival of a new baby, perhaps, or even a room being redecorated—and others were driven from their usual territory by an aggressive cat encroaching on their home or garden.’
That reminds me of some funny stories of cats that go into other cat’s homes through the cat door and steal their food. I didn’t realize they would do that!
The best parts were the little mysteries. First the worried and tearful owners:
‘Unsurprisingly, the atmosphere around the breakfast table that morning was fraught. A teary Lindsey was inconsolable—“How can I carry on without Simba?” she kept repeating—and both parents, sitting on either side of their daughter, tried their utmost to reassure her.’
Then the search:
'The air was heavy with hope and expectation and the three men watched on, agog, as my smart little spaniel stuck her snout deep into the jar, her tail wagging nineteen to the dozen.
Responding to my usual “Seek, seek” command, Molly raced into the long grass, springing high and squatting low as she traced the rise and fall of the riverside breeze. Then, suddenly, she homed in on the upended oak tree and—bang!—hit the deck immediately before giving me a textbook “down.” She locked her brown, unblinking eyes on mine, as if to say FOUND IT, EVERYONE!'
Then, for most of the stories, the happy reunion when the cat or dog is found as in these bits from different stories:
“MY little baby,” she whispered, gulping down tears as her dog peeped out from the darkness.
“I’ll never forget what you’ve done for us, Colin,” she said. “Our family is complete again.”
“I thought you’d gone forever!” she squealed, flinging her arms around him and smothering him in kisses. “You’ll never know how much I missed you.”
‘The “Bring Newton Home” social media accounts had evidently gone into meltdown when the news of his recover had filtered through—well-wishers from all around the world had posted photos of themselves jumping for joy and holding NEWTON IS HOME!!! posters—and it seemed the little dog had become something of a celebrity, both at home and abroad.’
I could also throw in something about the dog getting bit by a poisonous snake, but I think there already is enough in this review, except for one final pleasant bit.
There before me, in the living room, lay a vision of domestic bliss. Sarah was curled up on the sofa with Marian Keyes’s latest novel and a glass of wine and wrapped around her feet was a snoozing, snoring Molly. I couldn’t help but smile. Once upon a time, Sarah—an avowed cat-lover—could hardly bear to be within a yard of this hair-shedding, handbag-snuffling rescue mutt, but now here they were, snuggling like a pair of old friends.’
Molly is a great book that should be on any ‘best dog book of all time’ list.
There is great background stories for why Mr. butcher decides to train a dog to help find lost cats. He also decides that it also must be a rescue dog. Rescuing dogs check a lot of people’s boxes. Here is a bit from that part:
“Right, first the bad news,” said Rob, when, as promised, he called me with an update. My shoulders sagged as I braced myself for yet more disappointment.
“Molly’s very, very demanding. She’s been badly deprived of love and affection. She suffers from terrible separation anxiety. She barks like crazy when she’s frustrated. She steals food from people’s plates and pinches treats from their pocket. And she’s one of the most willful, wayward and stubborn dogs I’ve ever met.”
“And the good news?” I replied despondently.
“I reckon we’ve found our dog, Colin.”
It is almost unbelievable to me, but a lot of people dismissed his idea of training a dog to locate cats. He worked very hard to get to the point where he could prove the concept:
'Four years previously I’d first set out to find and train a cat-detection dog, and had figured that it would take me just six months. I’d spent hundreds of hours researching canine cognition, traveled thousands of miles to meet the country’s top experts in this field and overcome a great deal of resistance and hostility. So many people have told me that it couldn’t be done and had implied that I was foolish and delusional.'
Then Molly. The first chapter opens with her first big test.
'I gave my dog the signal to proceed. With Tim and I trailing behind her, an all-guns-blazing Molly charged across number 38’s lawn, her stride unbroken as she gobbled up some bacon rind that had been left for the birds. She sprang up to the decking, whirled around to face me, locked her eyes with mine, and—a slither of bacon rind drooping from her mouth—gave me the most emphatic “down” I’d ever seen.
“Oh my god, she’s doing that trembly thing again,” whispered Tim, his voice shaking. “Has she found her?”'
The book has background details on why Colin took on this quest. It has information on overcoming behavior issues with Molly. It has details on his training. Oh yeah, and some ribbing when the movie ‘Pet Detective’ came out. But the book is chock full of the fun stuff, little mysteries to find missing animals. At one search and location Colin shares his thoughts while there:
'I contemplated the task that lay ahead. It felt like I was in the middle of a Midsomer Murders case in many respects, since our village location was similarly quaint and rustic and teeming with a cast of colorful characters. The central theme of this particular episode was abundantly clear, and of course: where on earth is Simba? Had he wandered off and got lost? Was he trapped in an outbuilding? Had he been kidnapped by a local? Was he still alive, even? Fortunately, I had my problem-solving pooch waiting in the wings, who’d no doubt help me to get to the bottom of it.'
He had to ask permission to go into people’s backyards to have Molly search for a cat. I like how he gets to meet some colorful characters in some. Here is one bit but without the funny conclusion to this part:
'The next household—a young father—was far more accommodating, thank goodness. He ushered the three of us through his back gate and five minutes later, appeared on the patio with his toddler, who was clad in an all-in-one playsuit.
“You don’t mind if we watch, do you?” he asked. “Ethan and I have had enough of Tom and Jerry for one morning. Molly the detective dog seems far more exciting.”'
I like what we learn about why cats get lost:
‘We learned an awful lot about cats’ day-to-day behavior, habits and movements and, critically, the circumstances that led them to migrate or go missing. Some cats, we noted, reacted adversely to a change within the household—the arrival of a new baby, perhaps, or even a room being redecorated—and others were driven from their usual territory by an aggressive cat encroaching on their home or garden.’
That reminds me of some funny stories of cats that go into other cat’s homes through the cat door and steal their food. I didn’t realize they would do that!
The best parts were the little mysteries. First the worried and tearful owners:
‘Unsurprisingly, the atmosphere around the breakfast table that morning was fraught. A teary Lindsey was inconsolable—“How can I carry on without Simba?” she kept repeating—and both parents, sitting on either side of their daughter, tried their utmost to reassure her.’
Then the search:
'The air was heavy with hope and expectation and the three men watched on, agog, as my smart little spaniel stuck her snout deep into the jar, her tail wagging nineteen to the dozen.
Responding to my usual “Seek, seek” command, Molly raced into the long grass, springing high and squatting low as she traced the rise and fall of the riverside breeze. Then, suddenly, she homed in on the upended oak tree and—bang!—hit the deck immediately before giving me a textbook “down.” She locked her brown, unblinking eyes on mine, as if to say FOUND IT, EVERYONE!'
Then, for most of the stories, the happy reunion when the cat or dog is found as in these bits from different stories:
“MY little baby,” she whispered, gulping down tears as her dog peeped out from the darkness.
“I’ll never forget what you’ve done for us, Colin,” she said. “Our family is complete again.”
“I thought you’d gone forever!” she squealed, flinging her arms around him and smothering him in kisses. “You’ll never know how much I missed you.”
‘The “Bring Newton Home” social media accounts had evidently gone into meltdown when the news of his recover had filtered through—well-wishers from all around the world had posted photos of themselves jumping for joy and holding NEWTON IS HOME!!! posters—and it seemed the little dog had become something of a celebrity, both at home and abroad.’
I could also throw in something about the dog getting bit by a poisonous snake, but I think there already is enough in this review, except for one final pleasant bit.
There before me, in the living room, lay a vision of domestic bliss. Sarah was curled up on the sofa with Marian Keyes’s latest novel and a glass of wine and wrapped around her feet was a snoozing, snoring Molly. I couldn’t help but smile. Once upon a time, Sarah—an avowed cat-lover—could hardly bear to be within a yard of this hair-shedding, handbag-snuffling rescue mutt, but now here they were, snuggling like a pair of old friends.’
Molly is a great book that should be on any ‘best dog book of all time’ list.
June 28, 2019
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
As a huge dog lover, I couldn't resist requesting this book. And I wasn't a bit disappointed. I absolutely loved this book. The author did a great job writing this book. And I'm so very happy that he trained a rescue dog rather than buying a dog from a breeder.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves animals, especially dogs.
As a huge dog lover, I couldn't resist requesting this book. And I wasn't a bit disappointed. I absolutely loved this book. The author did a great job writing this book. And I'm so very happy that he trained a rescue dog rather than buying a dog from a breeder.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves animals, especially dogs.
April 24, 2022
2.5 Stars, rounded up because doggo
First things first: I love Molly. The title isn't lying when it calls her amazing, nor exaggerating when it says that she rescues cats. Molly is is great - a rescue who was trained to behave properly and track missing pets (particularly cats, though also occasionally dogs) as an offshoot of her new owner's work as an investigator. According to this book, she's even the very first canine pet detective in the UK. There's really nothing not to love about her!
But this book... Well, there's quite a bit not to love about it, unfortunately.
Though it's interesting enough to get a glimpse into what Molly does and her dynamic with 'Team Molly' while working, the narrative is meandering and repetitive far more often than I'd like. I found myself stalling out several times, struggling to pick the book back up, and even occasionally skimming the middle portion of a chapter or two. I get it: Molly's special, she's the first employed dog of her kind, she's been trained to follow specific commands, her working day should not exceed six hours in cooler months or four hours in summer... I don't need to be reminded once or twice per chapter; I promise, I can remember these details for the duration of a book.
There were also far too many moments where the author painted former clients in a rather negative light or used wording I found a bit abrasive and unsettling. It would've been perfectly acceptable in fiction, but left me uncomfortable thinking about how these real people might feel to see themselves discussed in such a way. Most of them were paying clients, some of them the family thereof, and I felt it weighed the book down to see such caricatures of actual people rather than either more nuanced (or more favourable yet vague) descriptions.
At one point, Butcher describes a time when Molly was injured by wildlife while searching the woods per a client's request. The client merely asked and he agreed even though he knew Molly was overworked at the time. Later, he recalls the situation with wording which implies the client did something wrong by making a request which Colin had every chance to refuse yet chose to accept. He refers to the lesson he learned from this as one to "not cave to clients' demands" as if she'd been demanding. I can't help but cringe a bit on the inside reading such a thing, hoping that this client never reads the book and sees the indirect blame placed on her for a terrible situation where Molly was harmed. It also felt a bit like a cop-out, since the 'lesson' worded in such a way follows a lengthy and harrowing expanse about how he felt guilty and blamed himself for not taking better care of Molly. Which one is it? Did he learn from his guilt to watch out for Molly no matter what, or did he offset that guilt onto the client who, not being a trained dog handler, had no means of knowing Molly's limits or the amount of danger she could be in when requesting the search? The leadup would suggest the former, but the verbiage would suggest the latter.
I found myself feeling sympathetic for someone who hadn't even been harmed in the situation, rather than focusing my concern on Molly, in that moment. I'm not a fan of that!
In fact, cringing in sympathy/empathy was something of a constant feeling whenever Butcher described clients. One man makes a well-meaning mistake and gets a bit overbearing when trying to help Colin find his family's missing cat. Colin proceeds to act as if the man is the worst burden ever and refer to the "stern words" the family has with the man (in front of him, rather than in private!) as if it's acceptable and justified to berate someone for making a mistake while trying to help. And in another case, he paints a particularly nasty picture of a client's sister, making the woman seem as if she's completely intolerable and the reason his client's family life is falling apart. Several clients, mostly female, also end up being referred to as if they're fragile (I believe one even used that exact wording) for being so distraught over their missing pets.
It's a bit much and completely detracts from the awe of Molly's skills and the entertainment value of reading about a dog who rescues cats. I'm here for some heartwarming (and sometimes heartwrenching) tales of pets and their owners, not snap judgments on people who are dealing with fear for their pets' lives.
I also couldn't stand Sarah, Colin's girlfriend. She is described as basically loathing Molly even before the poor dog's brought into the home. She's standoffish, jealous, and at times mean to Molly. It's bad enough that Colin takes time to praise the moment when Sarah starts referring to Molly by name instead of "it." (Yeah, seriously, that's a thing. An extremely mentally exhausting thing.) Then there's the time she grumbles in annoyance about Colin being a grown man who cares about missing cats... Frankly, the relationship - based on bits and pieces shown in the book - seems toxic, and is not the kind of thing I want to read about in a feel-good story about a doggo detective.
To each their own, these are real people who have every right to happiness in their relationship, etc. but I don't want to read about this particular relationship dynamic, especially when it involves someone being a jerk to a precious dog. Doubly so, this annoys me when excuse after excuse is made and praise heaped upon Sarah for ultimately accepting Molly. Wow, congrats, she reached the baseline of not being mean to an innocent dog anymore. Someone give her a cookie! 🙄 Every mention of Sarah just dragged the book down for me, perhaps because she made such a sour first impression that I just couldn't care less about the 'progress' she made. Nor could I understand why Butcher would put up with her nonsense when they were clearly very differently aligned on the dog lover vs. dog hater spectrum.
Much like the drawn-out beginning which gives excess detail about Butcher's background pre-Molly and takes forever to get around to the titular character's adoption, the bits about Sarah and Molly clashing could have been left out to provide a much more cohesive story. Likewise, I'd have preferred to see more detail about the training and Molly's tracking skills with less drawn-out dialogue (which feels altered for dramatic effect, considering everyone is either rude or a gushing fan and they all have the same voice) and less judgment of clients. I'm not necessarily opposed to dramatization in a semi-autobiographical story, but it was done in a way which left a bad impression.
That said, however, the parts where Molly saves the day - or even just tries her best - are delightful. Learning about Molly's background was interesting. I adore this dog and I've never met her! I even think Butcher has his heart in the right place most of the time and seems like a generally decent bloke. Maybe Sarah isn't even half bad in real life, either, and just seems so bad because he chose to only focus on the conflict with/about Molly's adoption. This book just suffers from unflattering narrative and editing choices which make it feel a smidge tedious. At times, the repetitive nature of some passages even made me feel bored - and ultimately stretched the reading time out so far that I had to return and re-borrow the book.
I'm glad I read this, though. I feel like I'm a little better off for having knowledge of this precious Cocker Spaniel's existence. Besides, I've been wanting to read this book since it was $15 USD on Amazon - far too expensive for my tastes. The price only dropped to $10 recently, which I still consider a bit too high, but my library did finally get a copy... so I couldn't resist. Was this worth the wait? Ehh, I'm not sure. I probably could have done far better things with my reading time than being annoyed by Sarah's nonsensical conflict with Molly or feeling uncomfortable with the unflattering way some clients (or their families) were portrayed. But like I said: I'm glad I read it, all the same.
If you're curious about Molly and your library has a copy of this book, go for it! But if you're facing the price tag - or if you just want the feel-good parts without being dragged down - I'd suggest checking out videos on YouTube instead. The Pet Detectives appear to have their own channel, and it features clips which cover some of Molly's past cases as well as demonstrations of her tracking in action. I find those far more engaging than the way this book was written.
Look at that gorgeous doggo, though! Molly really is something special. So it does hurt a bit that I can't honestly rate this book higher. But what can I say? I have far more negatives to offer than positives and this was one of those books where I felt a sense of relief that it was finally over even though I enjoyed several chunks of it.
First things first: I love Molly. The title isn't lying when it calls her amazing, nor exaggerating when it says that she rescues cats. Molly is is great - a rescue who was trained to behave properly and track missing pets (particularly cats, though also occasionally dogs) as an offshoot of her new owner's work as an investigator. According to this book, she's even the very first canine pet detective in the UK. There's really nothing not to love about her!
But this book... Well, there's quite a bit not to love about it, unfortunately.
Though it's interesting enough to get a glimpse into what Molly does and her dynamic with 'Team Molly' while working, the narrative is meandering and repetitive far more often than I'd like. I found myself stalling out several times, struggling to pick the book back up, and even occasionally skimming the middle portion of a chapter or two. I get it: Molly's special, she's the first employed dog of her kind, she's been trained to follow specific commands, her working day should not exceed six hours in cooler months or four hours in summer... I don't need to be reminded once or twice per chapter; I promise, I can remember these details for the duration of a book.
There were also far too many moments where the author painted former clients in a rather negative light or used wording I found a bit abrasive and unsettling. It would've been perfectly acceptable in fiction, but left me uncomfortable thinking about how these real people might feel to see themselves discussed in such a way. Most of them were paying clients, some of them the family thereof, and I felt it weighed the book down to see such caricatures of actual people rather than either more nuanced (or more favourable yet vague) descriptions.
At one point, Butcher describes a time when Molly was injured by wildlife while searching the woods per a client's request. The client merely asked and he agreed even though he knew Molly was overworked at the time. Later, he recalls the situation with wording which implies the client did something wrong by making a request which Colin had every chance to refuse yet chose to accept. He refers to the lesson he learned from this as one to "not cave to clients' demands" as if she'd been demanding. I can't help but cringe a bit on the inside reading such a thing, hoping that this client never reads the book and sees the indirect blame placed on her for a terrible situation where Molly was harmed. It also felt a bit like a cop-out, since the 'lesson' worded in such a way follows a lengthy and harrowing expanse about how he felt guilty and blamed himself for not taking better care of Molly. Which one is it? Did he learn from his guilt to watch out for Molly no matter what, or did he offset that guilt onto the client who, not being a trained dog handler, had no means of knowing Molly's limits or the amount of danger she could be in when requesting the search? The leadup would suggest the former, but the verbiage would suggest the latter.
I found myself feeling sympathetic for someone who hadn't even been harmed in the situation, rather than focusing my concern on Molly, in that moment. I'm not a fan of that!
In fact, cringing in sympathy/empathy was something of a constant feeling whenever Butcher described clients. One man makes a well-meaning mistake and gets a bit overbearing when trying to help Colin find his family's missing cat. Colin proceeds to act as if the man is the worst burden ever and refer to the "stern words" the family has with the man (in front of him, rather than in private!) as if it's acceptable and justified to berate someone for making a mistake while trying to help. And in another case, he paints a particularly nasty picture of a client's sister, making the woman seem as if she's completely intolerable and the reason his client's family life is falling apart. Several clients, mostly female, also end up being referred to as if they're fragile (I believe one even used that exact wording) for being so distraught over their missing pets.
It's a bit much and completely detracts from the awe of Molly's skills and the entertainment value of reading about a dog who rescues cats. I'm here for some heartwarming (and sometimes heartwrenching) tales of pets and their owners, not snap judgments on people who are dealing with fear for their pets' lives.
I also couldn't stand Sarah, Colin's girlfriend. She is described as basically loathing Molly even before the poor dog's brought into the home. She's standoffish, jealous, and at times mean to Molly. It's bad enough that Colin takes time to praise the moment when Sarah starts referring to Molly by name instead of "it." (Yeah, seriously, that's a thing. An extremely mentally exhausting thing.) Then there's the time she grumbles in annoyance about Colin being a grown man who cares about missing cats... Frankly, the relationship - based on bits and pieces shown in the book - seems toxic, and is not the kind of thing I want to read about in a feel-good story about a doggo detective.
To each their own, these are real people who have every right to happiness in their relationship, etc. but I don't want to read about this particular relationship dynamic, especially when it involves someone being a jerk to a precious dog. Doubly so, this annoys me when excuse after excuse is made and praise heaped upon Sarah for ultimately accepting Molly. Wow, congrats, she reached the baseline of not being mean to an innocent dog anymore. Someone give her a cookie! 🙄 Every mention of Sarah just dragged the book down for me, perhaps because she made such a sour first impression that I just couldn't care less about the 'progress' she made. Nor could I understand why Butcher would put up with her nonsense when they were clearly very differently aligned on the dog lover vs. dog hater spectrum.
Much like the drawn-out beginning which gives excess detail about Butcher's background pre-Molly and takes forever to get around to the titular character's adoption, the bits about Sarah and Molly clashing could have been left out to provide a much more cohesive story. Likewise, I'd have preferred to see more detail about the training and Molly's tracking skills with less drawn-out dialogue (which feels altered for dramatic effect, considering everyone is either rude or a gushing fan and they all have the same voice) and less judgment of clients. I'm not necessarily opposed to dramatization in a semi-autobiographical story, but it was done in a way which left a bad impression.
That said, however, the parts where Molly saves the day - or even just tries her best - are delightful. Learning about Molly's background was interesting. I adore this dog and I've never met her! I even think Butcher has his heart in the right place most of the time and seems like a generally decent bloke. Maybe Sarah isn't even half bad in real life, either, and just seems so bad because he chose to only focus on the conflict with/about Molly's adoption. This book just suffers from unflattering narrative and editing choices which make it feel a smidge tedious. At times, the repetitive nature of some passages even made me feel bored - and ultimately stretched the reading time out so far that I had to return and re-borrow the book.
I'm glad I read this, though. I feel like I'm a little better off for having knowledge of this precious Cocker Spaniel's existence. Besides, I've been wanting to read this book since it was $15 USD on Amazon - far too expensive for my tastes. The price only dropped to $10 recently, which I still consider a bit too high, but my library did finally get a copy... so I couldn't resist. Was this worth the wait? Ehh, I'm not sure. I probably could have done far better things with my reading time than being annoyed by Sarah's nonsensical conflict with Molly or feeling uncomfortable with the unflattering way some clients (or their families) were portrayed. But like I said: I'm glad I read it, all the same.
If you're curious about Molly and your library has a copy of this book, go for it! But if you're facing the price tag - or if you just want the feel-good parts without being dragged down - I'd suggest checking out videos on YouTube instead. The Pet Detectives appear to have their own channel, and it features clips which cover some of Molly's past cases as well as demonstrations of her tracking in action. I find those far more engaging than the way this book was written.
Look at that gorgeous doggo, though! Molly really is something special. So it does hurt a bit that I can't honestly rate this book higher. But what can I say? I have far more negatives to offer than positives and this was one of those books where I felt a sense of relief that it was finally over even though I enjoyed several chunks of it.
October 12, 2019
There are dog people and there are cat people. This book will give both groups a new appreciation for each other. Molly is an amazing dog and she helps find cats. The best of both worlds. Colin Butcher gives us the background on the birth of this idea to develop the cat-finding division of his pet detective agency. After extensive research on the habits of cats, he determines the best breed for the job. Then he patiently searches for a rescue dog to fill the position. I love that! Also included are stories about Molly and her work with Colin. It fits the feel good button for pet lovers and I wish Molly continued success in her efforts.
Thank you to Celadon books and NetGalley for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Celadon books and NetGalley for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 29, 2019
The true stories of a pet detective! Get Ace Ventura out of your head because this is challenging professional work. The story of Molly the rescue dog turned maverick cat rescuer will make you smile.
This was feel good non-fiction for the pet lover.
October 11, 2019
Just wanted to start off by thanking Celadon Books, for allowing me the opportunity to read this amazing story. I really enjoyed it.
Well written, heartwarming and just a feel good story all around. You can feel the bond between Colin and Molly and the work they do as a team, beyond amazing.
The section in particular, where Molly, Sam and Colin stop by to assist with locating “old Chester” and encounter the sister’s, Katherine and Margaret . Reading about such a strained relationship, and learning how Margaret’s child would not come to visit her unless Katherine was not at home, broke my heart. I immediately realized just how much those kittens meant to Margaret, and her loss of Chester broke my heart a second time. I was literally in tears over the entire scene. Being Molly’s first location of a lost pet who was no longer alive, her reaction, Colin’s assurance to take care to comfort Molly and the owner of Chester, it was so emotional. The story was so symbolic of how she must feel about her daughter’s avoidance of their home.
I just enjoyed this tale beyond words. As I sit here and type my review, my two adopted pups asleep in the background, I don’t know what I would do if either of them were lost. Animal lover here if you did not get that...so I had such a joyful and emotional heart while reading this book. I could not put it down. Every moment I found free, I was cracking open the spine of this one, just dying to find out where we were headed next.
Wonderful gift idea for the holidays, your animal loving, book lover will most definitely enjoy this read.
Well written, heartwarming and just a feel good story all around. You can feel the bond between Colin and Molly and the work they do as a team, beyond amazing.
The section in particular, where Molly, Sam and Colin stop by to assist with locating “old Chester” and encounter the sister’s, Katherine and Margaret . Reading about such a strained relationship, and learning how Margaret’s child would not come to visit her unless Katherine was not at home, broke my heart. I immediately realized just how much those kittens meant to Margaret, and her loss of Chester broke my heart a second time. I was literally in tears over the entire scene. Being Molly’s first location of a lost pet who was no longer alive, her reaction, Colin’s assurance to take care to comfort Molly and the owner of Chester, it was so emotional. The story was so symbolic of how she must feel about her daughter’s avoidance of their home.
I just enjoyed this tale beyond words. As I sit here and type my review, my two adopted pups asleep in the background, I don’t know what I would do if either of them were lost. Animal lover here if you did not get that...so I had such a joyful and emotional heart while reading this book. I could not put it down. Every moment I found free, I was cracking open the spine of this one, just dying to find out where we were headed next.
Wonderful gift idea for the holidays, your animal loving, book lover will most definitely enjoy this read.
March 5, 2020
Really, you learn something new every day. Who knew that there are detective agencies that find lost pets? This team of Colin Butcher and Molly the dog is outstanding, and so is this book. Former member of the UK Navy and later a police constable and detective, Mr. Butcher tells the story of the many steps he went through and the many, many adventures that he and his eventual sidekick Molly, a specially trained Cocker Spaniel, experienced, in order to make an old dream, to help people retrieve their beloved pets, come true. Colin begins with his own childhood love of animals as he grew up in Malaysia and Singapore, and continues right through to the present day as a former police detective turned Private I. The complexity of how one develops this sort of pet business, then searches for an appropriate dog with an extra special sniffer nose to partner with, then train and care for that dog, makes the head spin. Get ready for some great entertainment when the stories, many with wildly and unlikely happy endings, are told! Not every pet, mostly feline, is found alive or at all, but Team Molly does its very best and has an excellent track record. Here is the story of a compassionate man who is a wonderful story teller and his smart and charming pooch. Happy reading!
September 6, 2020
“An animal’s love, trust and loyalty aren’t given freely or easily. They have to be earned.”
A story of a man and idea and the extraordinary working cocker spaniel who brought it to life—even as he saved hers. By and for pet lovers, but others may be entertained and have their hearts warmed.
“What, you mean like Ace Ventura?”
Scattered with enough English-isms and pop jargon, to give a sense of time and place (early twenty-first century Surrey), but accessible to even American readers. Borders on quaint, as if Butcher is reaching for a James Herriot vibe.
“I know that there are some people out there who think I’m over-reacting, and who’ll say, ‘It’s only a dog.’ But they tend not to be pet owners. They think unconditional love is reserved for humans. They just don’t understand.”
Excellent story; middling writing. Butcher’s writing is a bit on-the-nose—meaning, he explains minutely as if he doesn’t think the reader understands or remembers what he explained in the previous chapter. Lots of repetitive pet rescue stories. Of course, dedicated readers will wish for more.
“This whole experience has been so traumatic, and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy, but it’s given me the biggest life lesson. Never give up. And never, ever lose hope.”
A story of a man and idea and the extraordinary working cocker spaniel who brought it to life—even as he saved hers. By and for pet lovers, but others may be entertained and have their hearts warmed.
“What, you mean like Ace Ventura?”
Scattered with enough English-isms and pop jargon, to give a sense of time and place (early twenty-first century Surrey), but accessible to even American readers. Borders on quaint, as if Butcher is reaching for a James Herriot vibe.
“I know that there are some people out there who think I’m over-reacting, and who’ll say, ‘It’s only a dog.’ But they tend not to be pet owners. They think unconditional love is reserved for humans. They just don’t understand.”
Excellent story; middling writing. Butcher’s writing is a bit on-the-nose—meaning, he explains minutely as if he doesn’t think the reader understands or remembers what he explained in the previous chapter. Lots of repetitive pet rescue stories. Of course, dedicated readers will wish for more.
“This whole experience has been so traumatic, and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy, but it’s given me the biggest life lesson. Never give up. And never, ever lose hope.”
October 15, 2019
I received this book as an ARC, thank you Celadon Books! I really emjoyed reading about Molly, a dog trained in the UK to rescue cats. Molly underwent special training at Medical Detection Dogs to learn how to distinguish certain scents about cats. With this training, she and her owner/handler Colin Butcher have gone on several adventures and found many missing cats. Her owner also is the owner of a business called UK PetDetectives where he has also found missing and stolen dogs. Molly has survived a snake bite from an adder and continued to enjoy her job when she recovered. There must be a great deal of satisfaction in knowing that all their hard work paid off.
August 15, 2019
I received an advanced reader copy of this book and I am providing an unbiased review. I love dogs more than anything, and of course this book appealed to me. I was ecstatic to have won a copy and quite anxious to read it. The story is very well written by Colin Butcher who tells of the black cocker spaniel named Molly who at the time of the writing, had rescued 74 cats, 6 dogs, tortoise. Molly was actually a rescue dog, which Colin had hoped for. Colin’s extensive research and Molly’s excellent training helped to save the afore mentioned pets and many more by now, I am sure. It is a sweet story of Molly’s rescues, written with humor and obvious love, that all animal lovers will greatly enjoy.
December 27, 2020
Cats who get outside are horrible to try to find, especially if they are in a environment that they aren't familiar with. They don't generally come to their humans even if they are close by. They try their best to stay hidden even when it isn't the best thing for them.
I tried to use my dog to help me find a missing cat once. She wouldn't tell me where he went. I also just recently had a cat go missing. She was in the house and hiding because we had a guest. We tore the house apart looking for her and never did find her. She showed up on her own about 24 hours later. That just shows how cats can melt into their surroundings when they feel the need to hide.
This book shows the process of training a dog to search for cats. She has to be energetic but not too scary. She has to find the cats but not spook them and make them run farther. It is a delicate balance.
You also get to hear about many cases of missing animals. Not all of them have happy endings so beware. I also didn't know that in England dog theft is a big criminal activity to the point where the author's agency doesn't get involved much anymore after all the credible death threats they have received.
This is a quick, easy read for the animal lovers in your life.
This review was originally posted on Based On A True Story
April 25, 2020
I'm having a hard time writing this review. I love Molly the dog. She seems like a spunky sweetheart and it is so heartwarming to picture a dog helping to find cats. The idea of this book seemed like just what I needed during the COVID 19 pandemic, but it just fell a little short for me. I almost feel like I would've enjoyed this more if it was a magazine article or short story. This just wasn't compelling enough to be an entire book for me. I think I almost would've preferred it to be the backstory from Colin and then the meeting/training of Molly, and have the book end after she finds her first cat. The stories were nice, and I love animals, but the way they were put together just left a lot to be desired for me. I loved seeing the pictures of the animals at the end and some of their owners though. That was a nice touch.
August 21, 2019
Oh how I loved this! I was contacted by celadon books if I would like an advance copy, as an avid pet lover, why would I decline! This book brought me to tears with joy and happiness for those pet owners getting their chance to be reunited, I lost a cat fifty years ago and STILL wonder what happened to her, to have peace of mind would have been so welcome! It's truly a heartwarming book, I ended up googling his tv interview to see Molly wagging her tail walking on top of the sofa smacking the hostesses with her tail. It's a beautiful dog with a feel good story, if you love cats and dogs I highly recommend this, out in October, thank you Celedon books, perfect selection for me!
May 14, 2019
Wonderful read
What a wonderful book. Well written and highly readable, I was sorry when I reached the end. Molly is an amazing dog and her story is well worth the read. I hope there is a sequel soon!
What a wonderful book. Well written and highly readable, I was sorry when I reached the end. Molly is an amazing dog and her story is well worth the read. I hope there is a sequel soon!
June 28, 2020
I do not think I have ever read another feel-good book. I do not know how else to classify it. The title says it all. This is a book about a dog who is trained to search for cats. It does get repetitive at times. I lost track of the individual stories. However, Butcher maintains a positive, upbeat narrative throughout the book, even when describing the life-threatening snake bite on Molly. Along the way he drops hints about investigative work that appeal to me more than the emotional responses of his clients.
Butcher begins the book with background. He was a successful policeman. He was successful and maintained humor. His police recollections are not as scary as American crime busters. His experiences appear to be more simple and less confrontational. He enjoyed working with the dogs more than his fellow officers. For some reason - he is a bit vague -he left the force and went into private investigations. Some of his early capers involved pet detection. Even he laughs at the Ace Ventura comparison. But his job is no laughing matter. Although there is comedy and fun - when are these elements missing if animals are involved - Butcher was successful. But the failures dogged him. Then, he hit upon a radical idea.
The idea does not seem so radical. Train a dog to search for specific animals. Butcher approached a number of agencies that train dogs for that type of work - mostly in law enforcement. Each time he was rebuffed. Finally, a client put him in touch with a group that trains dogs for medical detection. They agreed to help. It took a long time to find Molly because Butcher insisted on a rescue dog. But once they found her, the story progresses quickly. I am a bit surprised that none of the stories ended with Molly carrying a rescued cat in her jaws.
The first few rescues had me entranced. I rapidly read through them. Maybe I felt good. The genre is new to me. But I soon saw a pattern. The stories were as much about the heartache of a lost pet along with the joy in recovering said pet. The middle became smaller and smaller. The last chapters were very slow. I felt less happy and more annoyed. The book may have been perfect at 200 pages, rather than 300 pages. Part of my response had to do with the clients. I increasingly felt less and less of a connection with them. There are vague allusions to wealth connected with many of the stories. It is easy to become sarcastic: "I can replace the Bugatti Charon; but I can't replace Mr. Wuffles! Colin, you are my last hope;" or "The manor house was too big for the family. I was mesmerized by the size of the place;" or "when the family, who was vacationing in Pago-Pago heard from their cat sitter that Mr. Wuffles had run off, they immediately cut short their vacation and returned home to search for him!"
Sarcasm aside, Butcher does not mention his pricing. Only once or twice does money every pop up. Two ladies on a regal property boldly told them they had no money; so he said he was invoicing "it" as a training exercise. I do not doubt his (or Molly's) abilities. Nor do I doubt his happiness in a successful rescue. But the white elephant in the book is money. If you pet detective will go undercover in a dangerous immigrant neighborhood to rescue Mr. Wuffles, he is going to be paid well. That being said, the story of tracking down Eastern European dog-nappers in a Turkish ghetto is one of the better ones in the book.
Overall, this was a light and enjoyable read. I am glad to read about good-natured law enforcement types. It is a nice book for animal lovers. Readers may not learn a lot about missing pet investigations. But the original stories are entertaining (if repetitive) and certainly well-written. Butcher has a writer's gift for establishing an environment and setting a mood.
Butcher begins the book with background. He was a successful policeman. He was successful and maintained humor. His police recollections are not as scary as American crime busters. His experiences appear to be more simple and less confrontational. He enjoyed working with the dogs more than his fellow officers. For some reason - he is a bit vague -he left the force and went into private investigations. Some of his early capers involved pet detection. Even he laughs at the Ace Ventura comparison. But his job is no laughing matter. Although there is comedy and fun - when are these elements missing if animals are involved - Butcher was successful. But the failures dogged him. Then, he hit upon a radical idea.
The idea does not seem so radical. Train a dog to search for specific animals. Butcher approached a number of agencies that train dogs for that type of work - mostly in law enforcement. Each time he was rebuffed. Finally, a client put him in touch with a group that trains dogs for medical detection. They agreed to help. It took a long time to find Molly because Butcher insisted on a rescue dog. But once they found her, the story progresses quickly. I am a bit surprised that none of the stories ended with Molly carrying a rescued cat in her jaws.
The first few rescues had me entranced. I rapidly read through them. Maybe I felt good. The genre is new to me. But I soon saw a pattern. The stories were as much about the heartache of a lost pet along with the joy in recovering said pet. The middle became smaller and smaller. The last chapters were very slow. I felt less happy and more annoyed. The book may have been perfect at 200 pages, rather than 300 pages. Part of my response had to do with the clients. I increasingly felt less and less of a connection with them. There are vague allusions to wealth connected with many of the stories. It is easy to become sarcastic: "I can replace the Bugatti Charon; but I can't replace Mr. Wuffles! Colin, you are my last hope;" or "The manor house was too big for the family. I was mesmerized by the size of the place;" or "when the family, who was vacationing in Pago-Pago heard from their cat sitter that Mr. Wuffles had run off, they immediately cut short their vacation and returned home to search for him!"
Sarcasm aside, Butcher does not mention his pricing. Only once or twice does money every pop up. Two ladies on a regal property boldly told them they had no money; so he said he was invoicing "it" as a training exercise. I do not doubt his (or Molly's) abilities. Nor do I doubt his happiness in a successful rescue. But the white elephant in the book is money. If you pet detective will go undercover in a dangerous immigrant neighborhood to rescue Mr. Wuffles, he is going to be paid well. That being said, the story of tracking down Eastern European dog-nappers in a Turkish ghetto is one of the better ones in the book.
Overall, this was a light and enjoyable read. I am glad to read about good-natured law enforcement types. It is a nice book for animal lovers. Readers may not learn a lot about missing pet investigations. But the original stories are entertaining (if repetitive) and certainly well-written. Butcher has a writer's gift for establishing an environment and setting a mood.
August 13, 2019
After years in England’s Royal Navy and then the Surrey Police, Colin Butcher found himself working for himself as a private detective and finally able to try out an idea he had a long time ago—to set up a detective agency for lost and stolen pets. And after a great deal of time and research, the UKPD was born.
United Kingdom Pet Detectives is Colin and his assistant Sam and their primary canine investigator Molly. Molly is a cocker spaniel with a playful spirit and the training to find a missing cat through scent detection. While dogs have long been used to help find humans, narcotics, and weapons, it was Colin’s original idea to train a dog to follow the scent of a wayward cat.
But for a long time, Colin was the only one who believed in the idea. It took him years to find anyone who thought it was possible to train a dog in such a way, and even longer to find anyone with the ability to train a dog in cat detection. But he didn’t give up. He found the right trainers, and then, eventually, they found the right dog.
Molly was a rescue, energetic and spirited but trainable, and after many long months of training for both dog and handler, Colin and Molly were finally able to head out on their first case, Rusty, an indoor/outdoor cat who would never willingly miss his weekly Friday night treat of haddock. When Rusty’s owners looked everywhere they could and their lost pet posters got no response, they called in the big guns. They called in Colin and Molly.
Colin’s decades of learning to understand human and animal behaviors, his comprehension of environmental factors, and his closeness to Molly gave them an edge on finding Rusty that no other pet detection team has ever had. And it worked! A little footwork, a little nosework, and Rusty was rescued from a nearby village, after he’d gone unnoticed on an ambulance ride with a neighbor.
Rusty’s successful return was their first successful mission, but it was hardly the last. They’ve already had more than 100 cases, and their ability to find lost and runaway cats make this cat lover’s heart happy. Molly is the heart-warming story of the journey from a dream to its fruition, from the rejection of naysayers to the adoration of the public. There are happy stories and ones that get away, criminals, snakes, media appearances, and lots of treats and tennis balls.
Molly is a must-read for pet lovers. I loved this sweet, moving story! It will be a long time before I forget Molly and her mission to find the missing cats and bring them back home.
Galleys for Molly were provided by Celadon Books, with many thanks.
United Kingdom Pet Detectives is Colin and his assistant Sam and their primary canine investigator Molly. Molly is a cocker spaniel with a playful spirit and the training to find a missing cat through scent detection. While dogs have long been used to help find humans, narcotics, and weapons, it was Colin’s original idea to train a dog to follow the scent of a wayward cat.
But for a long time, Colin was the only one who believed in the idea. It took him years to find anyone who thought it was possible to train a dog in such a way, and even longer to find anyone with the ability to train a dog in cat detection. But he didn’t give up. He found the right trainers, and then, eventually, they found the right dog.
Molly was a rescue, energetic and spirited but trainable, and after many long months of training for both dog and handler, Colin and Molly were finally able to head out on their first case, Rusty, an indoor/outdoor cat who would never willingly miss his weekly Friday night treat of haddock. When Rusty’s owners looked everywhere they could and their lost pet posters got no response, they called in the big guns. They called in Colin and Molly.
Colin’s decades of learning to understand human and animal behaviors, his comprehension of environmental factors, and his closeness to Molly gave them an edge on finding Rusty that no other pet detection team has ever had. And it worked! A little footwork, a little nosework, and Rusty was rescued from a nearby village, after he’d gone unnoticed on an ambulance ride with a neighbor.
Rusty’s successful return was their first successful mission, but it was hardly the last. They’ve already had more than 100 cases, and their ability to find lost and runaway cats make this cat lover’s heart happy. Molly is the heart-warming story of the journey from a dream to its fruition, from the rejection of naysayers to the adoration of the public. There are happy stories and ones that get away, criminals, snakes, media appearances, and lots of treats and tennis balls.
Molly is a must-read for pet lovers. I loved this sweet, moving story! It will be a long time before I forget Molly and her mission to find the missing cats and bring them back home.
Galleys for Molly were provided by Celadon Books, with many thanks.
September 27, 2019
In a previous job, I actually selected all the books that went into both PetSmart and Petco for three years. At that time I didn't actually have a pet, which made me somewhat unbiased. But honestly, I am biased towards cats, even when I haven't owned one. Yet most books published are about dogs. (Yes, you can argue there are more dog owners, but there are more cats as pets as cat owners more often have multiples. We have two.) So when I saw my company was publishing yet another dog book, at first I nearly scrolled right by it, but the subtitle caught my eye. Wait--what? This is a book about a dog who finds cats? Yep!
Colin was a police detective in the UK, and after hanging up his hat he opened a PI office. Initially, he did all sorts of work, but as a real animal lover, animal cases seemed to gravitate to him. But after a brutal puppy mill case (during which the lives of him and his employees were seriously threatened), he thought he'd look into working more with cats who never seemed to get into quite the same amount of trouble. Almost all of the cat cases were simply a missing pet. And despite his best efforts, Colin's recovery rate was low (60%) and he really wanted to get it up. He threw himself into research, finding a town with a ton of cats, getting permission to put up cat-height cameras all around town and on a few of the more robust cats, to study their behavior. This helped a lot. But you know what would help more? A cat-sniffing dog. He'd worked with drug-sniffing dogs on the force, and it made a lot of sense to him. But you'd think he was insane with the responses he got to this! The first several places he contacted laughed in his face. He couldn't find anyone willing to try training a dog initially. When he finally did, it was a long time to find the perfect dog (a black working cocker spaniel named, of course, Molly.) But once Molly was ready to go, they were off to the races! Turns out most lost cats haven't actually gone that far. They've just gotten shut in to a basement, a shed, a greenhouse, etc. It can be hard to search dozens and dozens of outbuildings at a variety of neighbors' properties, but when you've got a dog to tell you where to search, your search is much more successful. Sadly, a couple of cases of course don't end well. But the majority do. This is a heartwarming, lovely story that's surprisingly perfect for BOTH cat and dog lovers.
Colin was a police detective in the UK, and after hanging up his hat he opened a PI office. Initially, he did all sorts of work, but as a real animal lover, animal cases seemed to gravitate to him. But after a brutal puppy mill case (during which the lives of him and his employees were seriously threatened), he thought he'd look into working more with cats who never seemed to get into quite the same amount of trouble. Almost all of the cat cases were simply a missing pet. And despite his best efforts, Colin's recovery rate was low (60%) and he really wanted to get it up. He threw himself into research, finding a town with a ton of cats, getting permission to put up cat-height cameras all around town and on a few of the more robust cats, to study their behavior. This helped a lot. But you know what would help more? A cat-sniffing dog. He'd worked with drug-sniffing dogs on the force, and it made a lot of sense to him. But you'd think he was insane with the responses he got to this! The first several places he contacted laughed in his face. He couldn't find anyone willing to try training a dog initially. When he finally did, it was a long time to find the perfect dog (a black working cocker spaniel named, of course, Molly.) But once Molly was ready to go, they were off to the races! Turns out most lost cats haven't actually gone that far. They've just gotten shut in to a basement, a shed, a greenhouse, etc. It can be hard to search dozens and dozens of outbuildings at a variety of neighbors' properties, but when you've got a dog to tell you where to search, your search is much more successful. Sadly, a couple of cases of course don't end well. But the majority do. This is a heartwarming, lovely story that's surprisingly perfect for BOTH cat and dog lovers.
October 20, 2019
This is a fascinating story about Molly, an unusual dog who works with a pet detective to find missing cats. After author had a long history in the Royal Navy and as a police officer, the author was no stranger to figuring out what happened when someone went missing. After starting a detective agency to find lost pets for clients, he moved into the specialized area of finding lost cats. When he first saw Molly, the dog he decided would help him in his endeavors, friends thought he was making a mistake. Yes, she was young, inexperienced, strong willed and stubborn. Colin saw this, but he also saw a keen intelligence as well as a certain charisma. Molly was trained by top canine training experts to find lost cats, using the cat’s unique scent signature. Colin describes in detail how he started his pet detective agency, how he moved in the specialty of finding lost cats, the training he and his team (to include Molly) went through to become effective, as well as providing several anecdotes of events that have occurred during his many searches.
This is an interesting book. It is probably going to be a must-read for both cat and dog lovers. Molly was the perfect partner to Colin in his business. However, she has become more than a business partner, as the black cocker spaniel has wormed her way into his and his family’s life and hearts. They are a wonderful team together, which is one good reason they have such success in their searches. I had not thought of a pet detective agency before reading this, but, with how important pets have become in our lives today, I can easily understand how the agency would be the resounding success it is. I was impressed by the research, thought and training Colin put into this effort. Of course, Molly and well as the lost cats stole my heart away. I think every person who has ever owned and/or loved a per dog or cat will love this book. It a definite must-read for them. Not sure if such an organization exists in many places, but, after reading this, I will be looking for more information. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.
This is an interesting book. It is probably going to be a must-read for both cat and dog lovers. Molly was the perfect partner to Colin in his business. However, she has become more than a business partner, as the black cocker spaniel has wormed her way into his and his family’s life and hearts. They are a wonderful team together, which is one good reason they have such success in their searches. I had not thought of a pet detective agency before reading this, but, with how important pets have become in our lives today, I can easily understand how the agency would be the resounding success it is. I was impressed by the research, thought and training Colin put into this effort. Of course, Molly and well as the lost cats stole my heart away. I think every person who has ever owned and/or loved a per dog or cat will love this book. It a definite must-read for them. Not sure if such an organization exists in many places, but, after reading this, I will be looking for more information. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.
January 18, 2021
Molly is a mischievous and adorable cocker spaniel trained to be a scent detection dog, specifically, to search for cats. Her owner, the author, runs a private detection business but specializes in finding missing pets. He bills himself as a pet detective. This book tells the story of how Molly was discovered, trained and her many adventures and misadventures finding pets. I can't say the book is very well written. The editor needed a sharper blue pencil. It is crammed with treacle and puffery, but ultimately, its merit falls on the heart-warming stories of frantic owners being reunited with missing pets. No, not all the stories have a happy ending. I was most impressed with the amount of work that went into acquiring and training Molly and Butcher and the degree of difficulty required in many of these lost pet cases. Experience and knowledge of cat and human behavior were essential in many of the cases. Molly and Butcher are located in England, and there is a lot of British slang and local knowledge, such as London geography and familiarity with British TV shows, which can be charming to some, but at times is a challenge for the American reader. I think any dog or cat lover would enjoy the book if you can overlook a few stylistic peccadilloes.
September 8, 2019
Molly: The True Story of the Amazing Dog Who Rescues Cats
by Colin Butcher
due 10-8-2019
Caledon Books
4.0 / 5.0
#netgalley #Molly
Heartwarming story of Colin Butcher and his amazing Cocker Spaniel, Molly, and how they became a pet- detective duo.
Colin rescued Molly and immediately began training her for scent recognition. Molly began 4 months training at the Surrey Police Crime Unit in 1993. She learned to identify and find Class A drugs like cocaine, heroin and ecstasy.
In 2003, Colin started his own Private Investigative business, that eventually moved to Bramble Hill Farms, a 500 acre estate used to farm cows and sheep and owned by a long time friend if Colin. Molly began rescuing cats and is a very happy, healthy and loved companion.
Thanks to netgalley for sending this e-book ARC for review.
by Colin Butcher
due 10-8-2019
Caledon Books
4.0 / 5.0
#netgalley #Molly
Heartwarming story of Colin Butcher and his amazing Cocker Spaniel, Molly, and how they became a pet- detective duo.
Colin rescued Molly and immediately began training her for scent recognition. Molly began 4 months training at the Surrey Police Crime Unit in 1993. She learned to identify and find Class A drugs like cocaine, heroin and ecstasy.
In 2003, Colin started his own Private Investigative business, that eventually moved to Bramble Hill Farms, a 500 acre estate used to farm cows and sheep and owned by a long time friend if Colin. Molly began rescuing cats and is a very happy, healthy and loved companion.
Thanks to netgalley for sending this e-book ARC for review.
November 1, 2019
My absolute favorite thing about this book is that Molly is a rescue dog. Colin Butcher could easily have found a breeder to provide the right type of dog, but instead he took the time to find a rescue in need of a loving, permanent home. Molly rewards Colin's efforts with love and devotion, as well as becoming the best cat detection dog he could ever hope for!
This book is fun, heartwarming, and educational. We learn about the arduous training process, and we go on adventures with Molly as she tracks down lost cats. In the process, I felt like I got to explore the English countryside, which was an enjoyable bonus.
Molly is a special dog, and her story is one that any dog - and cat - lover will appreciate.
*I received a review copy from the publisher.*
This book is fun, heartwarming, and educational. We learn about the arduous training process, and we go on adventures with Molly as she tracks down lost cats. In the process, I felt like I got to explore the English countryside, which was an enjoyable bonus.
Molly is a special dog, and her story is one that any dog - and cat - lover will appreciate.
*I received a review copy from the publisher.*
October 20, 2019
Thanks to Celadon Books for an advance reading copy for honest review!
This was such a heartwarming read, and if you're an animal lover, it's a great one to add to your TBR. It's not sappy- Molly's work as a cat (and sometimes dog) detector means that she's helping people who are distraught find their missing animals, with occasionally tragic results. But the story of Molly winning hearts and also doing incredible work was really lovely.
This was such a heartwarming read, and if you're an animal lover, it's a great one to add to your TBR. It's not sappy- Molly's work as a cat (and sometimes dog) detector means that she's helping people who are distraught find their missing animals, with occasionally tragic results. But the story of Molly winning hearts and also doing incredible work was really lovely.
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