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A Dastardly Dognapping
Money. Anger. Bitterness. A possible illegal dognapping cartel run by the local pound. What is the reason that Gunther was stolen? Nobody knows, but there’s plenty of motives floating around Helen and Rita’s home town and it’s up to them to solve the case.
Helen Boyko just wants to mind her own business. Yet, when her neighbour’s dog, Gunther, goes missing and Helen’s eccentric best friend, Rita Hawthorne, offers to find out who took him; Helen finds herself drawn against her will into a tangled web of dognapping and hijinks.
As Helen and Rita’s search for Gunther progresses, it becomes apparent that there is more to this crime than a simple, random dognapping. Someone actually may have more nefarious intentions towards Gunther’s owner. Will Rita and Helen be able to solve this mystery before something worse happens?
This cozy mystery is for fans of light-hearted, humorous mysteries with razor-sharp, elderly sleuths that have a proclivity towards hilarious antics and situations.
Helen Boyko just wants to mind her own business. Yet, when her neighbour’s dog, Gunther, goes missing and Helen’s eccentric best friend, Rita Hawthorne, offers to find out who took him; Helen finds herself drawn against her will into a tangled web of dognapping and hijinks.
As Helen and Rita’s search for Gunther progresses, it becomes apparent that there is more to this crime than a simple, random dognapping. Someone actually may have more nefarious intentions towards Gunther’s owner. Will Rita and Helen be able to solve this mystery before something worse happens?
This cozy mystery is for fans of light-hearted, humorous mysteries with razor-sharp, elderly sleuths that have a proclivity towards hilarious antics and situations.
163 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 3, 2019
24 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Jordan Wood
14 books5 followersJordan Wood is an author who loves to write Cozy Mysteries with a touch (or more) of humour. When you delve into one of her books, you’re guaranteed a fun ride where you never know what twist or turn the characters are going to take. If you’re looking for a fast read that will make you laugh, pick up one of her books and lose yourself in a world of mystery and adventure.
When Jordan isn’t writing, she enjoys heading out with her husband on their own adventures, looking for inspiration for her next book. Addicted to new experiences, Jordan is willing to try anything – whatever that may be. If you have any suggestions for her on new things to try, drop her a line on the contact page.
When Jordan isn’t writing, she enjoys heading out with her husband on their own adventures, looking for inspiration for her next book. Addicted to new experiences, Jordan is willing to try anything – whatever that may be. If you have any suggestions for her on new things to try, drop her a line on the contact page.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 13, 2020
This book was really funny! Rita was such a hoot with all her rambling and excess carrying-on about stuff that made her friend Helen roll her eyes. I was so busy laughing that it didn't even bother me that there was no murder. I didn't guess exactly who the dog stealer was either. There were 3 chapters from the next book at the end of this one. I might borrow that one from Kindle Unlimited if it's available yet.
January 20, 2022
Helen Boyko is a woman with grown but not yet married grandchildren, living in an apartment in a building run by an elected board of the residents. She has an elderly cockapoo named Duffy. This is not the the dog that gets dognapped. Her neighbors include the president of the board, Gloria Vaunn, who has a large, friendly, completely untrained St. Bernard mix named Gunther; cranky old man Harold Keen, who has no pets and no friends; and Helen's best friend, Rita Hawthorne. There are other residents, but these are the ones we meet. Gloria Vaunn has a housekeeper named Lynn, and a son, Stewart, who is apparently financially successful, but we don't know what exactly he does.
Very near the apartment building is a café, owned and run by Carol Wildman.
Late one evening, while Gloria is out, Gunther is stolen. She comes home from a fundraising event to find her apartment door closed and locked, a glass table near the entrance knocked over and broken, and Gunther missing.
She calls the police, who conclude that a dog in an apartment with a closed, locked dog, in a building where the outside door closes and locks automatically, has just "wandered off." Rita decides that she and Helen should investigate this crime themselves.
If I had a nickel for every time someone in this novella said "it's just a dog," including people who supposedly care about Gloria and/or Gunther, I could at least buy myself a good-sized chocolate bar.
Stewart resents the fact that Gloria has changed her will to leave a portion of her money to Gunther. Stewart still gets the bulk of it , but a portion would go to Gunther for his care.
Lynn resents the fact that Gunther is big and clumsy, knocks things over, and also resents that Gloria restricts what cleaning products she can use, for Gunther's safety.
Harold Keen says Gunther is too loud, which would be a lot more persuasive if he didn't also complain that Gloria turns the stove on too loudly. Gloria lives directly over him, but he also complains that other people walk too loudly.
Carol Wildman has a far more rational complaint. Gloria brings Gunther with her to the café, where Gunther, yes, knocks things over, and also jumps on customers, and slobbers over their food and drink. She has banned Gunther, but Gloria ignores this, assuming it's not serious.
These are the suspects in the theft of Gunther.
Helen and Rita are the investigators. Rita is, alas, very imaginative and not much tethered to reality. Nor does she have the slightest clue when to not spill out what's on her mind, whether it's an accusation that someone is obviously the thief--and minutes later that someone else obviously is--or, her latest ridiculous Clever Plan for getting information, such as telling the counter clerk at the local pound (when they finally, ridiculously late, get around to checking the pound), that she's Katherine Hepburn, who of course was dead more than a decade at that point. Merely telling the truth would have been more believable and effective.
I can't really like any of these characters. The sanest and most reasonable, Helen, seems remarkably indifferent to her own elderly dog. She rarely has anything positive to say about Duffy, and when she learns that Harold intends to "implement a no dogs rule for the entire complex," she thinks, "While losing Duffy wouldn't destroy me, it would be very empty in the apartment without her."
That's not the reaction of a normal dog owner to possibly being forced to surrender her elderly dog whom she's had since a puppy.
It's also very, very near the end before anyone bothers to mention that taking Gunther without Gloria's permission was theft, and that theft is a crime, even if what's stolen is, as was said far too often, "just a dog."
And some of what was said about the dogs themselves was just weird, too. I do not believe the author actually know any dogs, or any dog owners, or if she does, she doesn't listen to what dog owners actually say about their dogs.
Not recommended.
I bought this novella.
Very near the apartment building is a café, owned and run by Carol Wildman.
Late one evening, while Gloria is out, Gunther is stolen. She comes home from a fundraising event to find her apartment door closed and locked, a glass table near the entrance knocked over and broken, and Gunther missing.
She calls the police, who conclude that a dog in an apartment with a closed, locked dog, in a building where the outside door closes and locks automatically, has just "wandered off." Rita decides that she and Helen should investigate this crime themselves.
If I had a nickel for every time someone in this novella said "it's just a dog," including people who supposedly care about Gloria and/or Gunther, I could at least buy myself a good-sized chocolate bar.
Stewart resents the fact that Gloria has changed her will to leave a portion of her money to Gunther. Stewart still gets the bulk of it , but a portion would go to Gunther for his care.
Lynn resents the fact that Gunther is big and clumsy, knocks things over, and also resents that Gloria restricts what cleaning products she can use, for Gunther's safety.
Harold Keen says Gunther is too loud, which would be a lot more persuasive if he didn't also complain that Gloria turns the stove on too loudly. Gloria lives directly over him, but he also complains that other people walk too loudly.
Carol Wildman has a far more rational complaint. Gloria brings Gunther with her to the café, where Gunther, yes, knocks things over, and also jumps on customers, and slobbers over their food and drink. She has banned Gunther, but Gloria ignores this, assuming it's not serious.
These are the suspects in the theft of Gunther.
Helen and Rita are the investigators. Rita is, alas, very imaginative and not much tethered to reality. Nor does she have the slightest clue when to not spill out what's on her mind, whether it's an accusation that someone is obviously the thief--and minutes later that someone else obviously is--or, her latest ridiculous Clever Plan for getting information, such as telling the counter clerk at the local pound (when they finally, ridiculously late, get around to checking the pound), that she's Katherine Hepburn, who of course was dead more than a decade at that point. Merely telling the truth would have been more believable and effective.
I can't really like any of these characters. The sanest and most reasonable, Helen, seems remarkably indifferent to her own elderly dog. She rarely has anything positive to say about Duffy, and when she learns that Harold intends to "implement a no dogs rule for the entire complex," she thinks, "While losing Duffy wouldn't destroy me, it would be very empty in the apartment without her."
That's not the reaction of a normal dog owner to possibly being forced to surrender her elderly dog whom she's had since a puppy.
It's also very, very near the end before anyone bothers to mention that taking Gunther without Gloria's permission was theft, and that theft is a crime, even if what's stolen is, as was said far too often, "just a dog."
And some of what was said about the dogs themselves was just weird, too. I do not believe the author actually know any dogs, or any dog owners, or if she does, she doesn't listen to what dog owners actually say about their dogs.
Not recommended.
I bought this novella.
April 8, 2020
A heart-warming uplifting story about a St Bernard x who is dognapped from an apartment block where Helen, Gloria and Rita live and loathe their neighbour Harold. The storyline weaves humorously around in search of the beloved Gunther doggy. The characters all have entertaining quirks and foibles. Local cafes and cleaners are implicated, Grandaughters love lives are scrutinised. This book is a fab light read (that's a positive) about a cosy mystery involving a dog.
April 22, 2020
Oh what a charming and spunky collection of caracters,seniors getting cotup in mayhem while trying to do the right thing for their niebours. I laughed through the hole mystery. I kept thinking these two ladies are trying to help and protect their friend but who's waching out for them. This cozeymystery is the true stile of cozey.If you enjoy your cozey mystery with stellar caracters and plenty of mayhem you're going to want to aquier a copy and start enjoying "A Dastardly Dognapping"as much as I have. ☺🙄😀🤔😃😄Kat
August 4, 2025
A lot of the story is quite silly, but I enjoyed the read. Save this for when you want to read about two biddies trying to find a missing St. Bernard. The clues are fairly rammed down the reader's throat, but the biddies always give someone the benefit of the doubt and try another suspect.
What would have made this nicer is if we had a recipe for the lemon loaf described in the tale. The pets are cute and characters relatively normal, so it's a low-stress mystery.
I read a Kindle version. This is an unbiased review.
What would have made this nicer is if we had a recipe for the lemon loaf described in the tale. The pets are cute and characters relatively normal, so it's a low-stress mystery.
I read a Kindle version. This is an unbiased review.
March 3, 2022
Age has not slowed down Rita and Helen
These two older ladies are all over the place trying to figure out who took their friends beloved St. Bernard. Lots of twist and turns doesn’t slow them down and they catch the dog napper finally. Lots of laughs along the way makes this an enjoyable read.
These two older ladies are all over the place trying to figure out who took their friends beloved St. Bernard. Lots of twist and turns doesn’t slow them down and they catch the dog napper finally. Lots of laughs along the way makes this an enjoyable read.
March 6, 2022
Who said only the young can get into trouble? Senior best friends Helen and Rita are on the case when their friend's, Gloria, dog disappears. Misdirections, false accusations and trouble follow the two spunky woman as they try to find the missing St.Bernard. Added to the mix is Helen's granddaughter who has the worst luck dating. A sweet, funny light read that is perfect for a weekend read.
September 23, 2022
Fun!
This book was very fun to read. The two oldsters, Gloria and Rita make a "good" team to investigate crimes in their apartment building of seniors. And the crime is not filled with nonviolence, which makes it not too difficult. The quirks of old age and manners makes for a goid read. Kudos to Jordan Wood!
This book was very fun to read. The two oldsters, Gloria and Rita make a "good" team to investigate crimes in their apartment building of seniors. And the crime is not filled with nonviolence, which makes it not too difficult. The quirks of old age and manners makes for a goid read. Kudos to Jordan Wood!
February 20, 2021
What a fun little book! I will definitely read more Granny B. books when they are available. When newspaper and serious mysteries/true crime get to me something light is a good remedy. Helen and Rita are a stitch. Jordan Wood provided me with some good chuckles.
February 22, 2021
I received this from an e-book giveaway. It was cute, but had some errors(such as spelling,) It also was repetitive. Not bad for a freebie, or a win. I probably won't read any more in the series, though. If you can get it for free, and want a quick read, I recommend.
March 22, 2022
Too funny!
If you are looking for a hilarious cozy, look no further than A Dastardly Dognapping by Jordan Wood. Helen and Rita a couple of outrageous amateur older sleuths on the hunt for a dognapper. There are so many laugh out loud moments!
If you are looking for a hilarious cozy, look no further than A Dastardly Dognapping by Jordan Wood. Helen and Rita a couple of outrageous amateur older sleuths on the hunt for a dognapper. There are so many laugh out loud moments!
March 27, 2021
Loved the older heroines trying to solve the mystery of a stolen Saint Bernard. It was suprizing who the cuplrits turned out to be. I laughed alot.
January 15, 2022
Entertaining
If you enjoy dogs and mysteries this is a book to read. Dognapping is a serious crime for some people. There are plenty of suspects and motives.
If you enjoy dogs and mysteries this is a book to read. Dognapping is a serious crime for some people. There are plenty of suspects and motives.
August 28, 2023
I loved this book about a couple of Senior Women trying to solve the case of the dog napping of their friends dog. Helen and Rita are on the case when their Friend Gloria asks them to investigate the kidnapping of her dog. Her door was open and her table smashed and her beloved dog gone. Gloria has a maid and a son who both dislike the dog and the lady at the Cafe who complains about the dog causing damage and jumping on customers. Then there is the mean neighbor down stairs who is always complaining about the dog walking on the floor and how big he is and that he should be removed from the building. So there are a lot of suspects who did not like the dog. It was fun trying to solve the case, a lot of hilarity and blunders abound as they question people and get into trouble just being themselves. I recommend this book it was a fun book and there is only a mystery not a murder.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews