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Chet and Bernie Mystery #11
Tender Is the Bite
THE INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER
Spencer Quinn's Tender Is the Bite is a brand new adventure in the New York Times and USA Today bestselling series that Stephen King calls "without a doubt the most original mystery series currently available."
Chet and Bernie are contacted by a terribly scared young woman who seems to want their help. Before she can even tell them her name, she flees in panic. But in that brief meeting Chet sniffs out an important secret about her, a secret at the heart of the mystery he and Bernie set out to solve.
It's a case with no client and no crime and yet great danger, with the duo facing a powerful politician who has a lot to lose. Their only hope lies with a ferret named Griffie who adores Bernie. Is there room for a ferret in the Chet and Bernie relationship? That's the challenge Chet faces, the biggest of his career. Hanging in the balance are the lives of two mistreated young women and the future of the whole state.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Spencer Quinn's Tender Is the Bite is a brand new adventure in the New York Times and USA Today bestselling series that Stephen King calls "without a doubt the most original mystery series currently available."
Chet and Bernie are contacted by a terribly scared young woman who seems to want their help. Before she can even tell them her name, she flees in panic. But in that brief meeting Chet sniffs out an important secret about her, a secret at the heart of the mystery he and Bernie set out to solve.
It's a case with no client and no crime and yet great danger, with the duo facing a powerful politician who has a lot to lose. Their only hope lies with a ferret named Griffie who adores Bernie. Is there room for a ferret in the Chet and Bernie relationship? That's the challenge Chet faces, the biggest of his career. Hanging in the balance are the lives of two mistreated young women and the future of the whole state.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
279 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 6, 2021
458 people are currently reading
2392 people want to read
About the author
Spencer Quinn
43 books2,118 followersSpencer Quinn lives on Cape Cod with his dog Audrey, and is hard at work on the next Chet and Bernie adventure.
Spencer Quinn is a pseudonym of author Peter Abrahams.
Series:
* A Chet and Bernie Mystery
Spencer Quinn is a pseudonym of author Peter Abrahams.
Series:
* A Chet and Bernie Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 348 reviews
January 10, 2022
Least favorite to date. Boring. 1 of 10 stars
July 27, 2021
I enjoyed this Chet and Bernie tale, just not as much as the other books in the series. There were two main reasons: a bit too much Chet-talk, and a convoluted plot with too many characters and insufficient wrap-up at the end. Chet, probably the only dog who narrates mysteries, chatters a bit too much in this book; tighter editing would have made his comments, most completely unrelated to the plot, less obtrusive. I actually found myself skimming over the "Chet parts." The mystery still baffles me a bit, as several plot lines never were fully explained. How was Ellis involved? Who hired the Ukrainians? What about PopPop and Lukie? Neddy? What is going on with Weatherly, and why was she suspended? Etc etc etc. I loved the addition of a ferret to the mix; and I predict that the other dog, likely related to Chet, will reappear in subsequent books.
Enjoyable, but not up to the standard of prior books.
Enjoyable, but not up to the standard of prior books.
July 14, 2021
Humorous detective work by this devastating duo!
Another delightful, dangerous, and confusing mystery with the duo of dudes from the The Little Agency, Bernie Little (hard boiled detective with heart) and Chet the Jet (failed police dog—so it’s rumoured).
This time an almost client disappears. Bernie and Chet turn down a big payout and a sojourn in Hawaii because Bernie’s worried about the almost client and didn’t take to Olek the Rumanian hirer. Although Chet does have a thought, “Was it possible that we were walking away from a stack of cold hard cash that Olek was paying us for a job that was all about surfing?” Somehow Chet’s been listening to their accountant. Wow!
I get so much pleasure from Chet’s moments of enlightment, his running commentary on all things human, and our taken for granted actions and sayings from his doggie perspective.
Like Chet on trains of thought. “Was there a whole world of thoughts out there, just waiting to be found? Whoa! Another thought right there, and on the scary side. I shut the whole thing down.” Huge!
Then Chet on actual “thinking”—always nearly tripping over at the vastness of the idea. About now, his head zoned out, Chet usually takes a nap because it’s all too much!
And what about when Chet realizes he mostly has no thoughts in his head! “My mind was like the desert? How come I was just finding that out now?”
Occasionally I feel like I’m listening to a Steven Wright monologue. Priceless!
Almost every page has either a “whoa there!” or hilarious thought.
And then there’s the heart stopping moments! Like when Bernie is almost framed, almost killed—indeed there’s heaps of almosts!
I must admit that Chet on more than one occasion pulls Bernie’s bacon out of the fire. Although he does get confused when someone mentions bringing home the bacon and he can’t see any. ‘Cause eating is one of his prime delights.
Us humans do confuse a dog like Chet sometimes! Well many times really!
A comic murder mystery that sets the dogs amongst the ferrets—well this time anyway!
Lots of fun!
A Macmillan-Tor/Forge ARC via NetGalley
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
Another delightful, dangerous, and confusing mystery with the duo of dudes from the The Little Agency, Bernie Little (hard boiled detective with heart) and Chet the Jet (failed police dog—so it’s rumoured).
This time an almost client disappears. Bernie and Chet turn down a big payout and a sojourn in Hawaii because Bernie’s worried about the almost client and didn’t take to Olek the Rumanian hirer. Although Chet does have a thought, “Was it possible that we were walking away from a stack of cold hard cash that Olek was paying us for a job that was all about surfing?” Somehow Chet’s been listening to their accountant. Wow!
I get so much pleasure from Chet’s moments of enlightment, his running commentary on all things human, and our taken for granted actions and sayings from his doggie perspective.
Like Chet on trains of thought. “Was there a whole world of thoughts out there, just waiting to be found? Whoa! Another thought right there, and on the scary side. I shut the whole thing down.” Huge!
Then Chet on actual “thinking”—always nearly tripping over at the vastness of the idea. About now, his head zoned out, Chet usually takes a nap because it’s all too much!
And what about when Chet realizes he mostly has no thoughts in his head! “My mind was like the desert? How come I was just finding that out now?”
Occasionally I feel like I’m listening to a Steven Wright monologue. Priceless!
Almost every page has either a “whoa there!” or hilarious thought.
And then there’s the heart stopping moments! Like when Bernie is almost framed, almost killed—indeed there’s heaps of almosts!
I must admit that Chet on more than one occasion pulls Bernie’s bacon out of the fire. Although he does get confused when someone mentions bringing home the bacon and he can’t see any. ‘Cause eating is one of his prime delights.
Us humans do confuse a dog like Chet sometimes! Well many times really!
A comic murder mystery that sets the dogs amongst the ferrets—well this time anyway!
Lots of fun!
A Macmillan-Tor/Forge ARC via NetGalley
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
August 17, 2022
Tender Is the Bite
(Chet and Bernie Mystery #11)
by Spencer Quinn
This was another entertaining story of Bernie and Chet. The story was full of action and suspense but I didn't like it as much as the other stories. It was entertaining and OK but nothing I would re-read.
(Chet and Bernie Mystery #11)
by Spencer Quinn
This was another entertaining story of Bernie and Chet. The story was full of action and suspense but I didn't like it as much as the other stories. It was entertaining and OK but nothing I would re-read.
May 9, 2021
Once again author Spencer Quinn has delivered a funny, warm, entertaining story wrapped around solving very serious crimes. Bernie Little is the private investigator who solves crimes and puzzles with his big, slightly-odd looking, slightly-scary acting dog Chet. Just to be sure you know, the story is told from Chet's point of view as narrator so if you don't think that is for you now is your time to peel off and go down another track. If you are still reading, that's great. I am always amazed as I read one of these stories (and I've read them all) and I realize how easily I can accept Chet's pov. Bernie talks to his dog so lots of the more complex questions regarding plot are worked out in this fashion plus, of course, conversations with the humans involved with the case. In this story a prospective client gets spooked during the initial meeting and Bernie and Chet can't let the situation end there, so the first problem is to identify the client and then to find her. During this investigation Bernie is so confused that he even turns on the swan fountain on his patio and "wastes" water - something you would never expect from a man who is so concerned about the aquafer in that part of Arizona. Before this one is over Bernie and Chet will play body-body-who's-got-the-body and come up against powerful men in high places.
Book number 11 in this series is every bit as good as the others and readers new to the series don't have to be concerned with where they start reading, just start right here if you want. I was very interested in a new dog introduced into this story and have hopes of seeing more of Trixie. Even the ferret was an interesting distraction.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan - Tor/Forge Forge Books for an e-galley of this novel.
Book number 11 in this series is every bit as good as the others and readers new to the series don't have to be concerned with where they start reading, just start right here if you want. I was very interested in a new dog introduced into this story and have hopes of seeing more of Trixie. Even the ferret was an interesting distraction.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan - Tor/Forge Forge Books for an e-galley of this novel.
May 31, 2021
Thank you to Net Galley, the publishers and the author for an ARC copy for an honest review.
Honest review it is !
Chet and Bernie are contacted by a terribly scared young woman who seems to want their help. Before she can even tell them her name, she flees in panic. But in that brief meeting, Chet sniffs out an important secret about her, a secret at the heart of the mystery he and Bernie set out to solve.
It's a case with no client and no crime and yet great danger, with the duo facing a powerful politician who has a lot to lose. Their only hope lies with a ferret named Griffie, who adores Bernie. Is there room for a ferret in the Chet and Bernie relationship? That's the challenge Chet faces, the biggest of his career. Hanging in the balance are the lives of two mistreated young women and the future of the whole state.
Yes read the story and you may feel more confused. Have I read a novel like this before... NO
I guess you can understand that statement when you have read a story from the dogs point of view., the dog is "telling you the story".
So it sure is very different, to me personally a step too far, makes the story a little far fetched, a little light hearted, but yes some funny and witty parts as well. Really a hard book to review.
What more can you say, some will love the story, some will hate it, I was stuck in the middle a little.
Three stars for me. It was okay, sometimes funny, sometimes silly.
Honest review it is !
Chet and Bernie are contacted by a terribly scared young woman who seems to want their help. Before she can even tell them her name, she flees in panic. But in that brief meeting, Chet sniffs out an important secret about her, a secret at the heart of the mystery he and Bernie set out to solve.
It's a case with no client and no crime and yet great danger, with the duo facing a powerful politician who has a lot to lose. Their only hope lies with a ferret named Griffie, who adores Bernie. Is there room for a ferret in the Chet and Bernie relationship? That's the challenge Chet faces, the biggest of his career. Hanging in the balance are the lives of two mistreated young women and the future of the whole state.
Yes read the story and you may feel more confused. Have I read a novel like this before... NO
I guess you can understand that statement when you have read a story from the dogs point of view., the dog is "telling you the story".
So it sure is very different, to me personally a step too far, makes the story a little far fetched, a little light hearted, but yes some funny and witty parts as well. Really a hard book to review.
What more can you say, some will love the story, some will hate it, I was stuck in the middle a little.
Three stars for me. It was okay, sometimes funny, sometimes silly.
March 29, 2022
A delightful read! Highly recommend
August 26, 2021
The world needs more Chet and Bernie.
August 16, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up
This was one of my favourite Chet and Bernie books for some reason--could have been my mood, could have been the humour--I smell a Slim Jim, what was I talking about?
Chet the Jet is back in the shotgun seat helping Bernie solve a new case that has a ferret who likes Bernie (but what a smell!) but no client, an attractive female cop with a missing female dog who looks a lot like Chet and two mistreated women. There are plenty of exciting smells! Some fast driving! Don't worry, people, because Bernie is always the smartest person in the room.
This was one of my favourite Chet and Bernie books for some reason--could have been my mood, could have been the humour--I smell a Slim Jim, what was I talking about?
Chet the Jet is back in the shotgun seat helping Bernie solve a new case that has a ferret who likes Bernie (but what a smell!) but no client, an attractive female cop with a missing female dog who looks a lot like Chet and two mistreated women. There are plenty of exciting smells! Some fast driving! Don't worry, people, because Bernie is always the smartest person in the room.
November 14, 2022
Audiobook:
Another fun romp with my favorite canine detective. This is #11 in the series, and some phrases are getting a little over familiar by now. Still, since it is a dog doing the thinking, how could it be otherwise? 😜
(Note: Some crude language.)
Robin’s Ratings
5🌟 = Out of this world. Amazing. Unforgettable. A personal favorite.
4🌟 = Excellent read. Couldn’t put it down. Will recommend to others.
3🌟 = Liked it. Glad I read it. Engaging/entertaining/interesting.
2🌟 = The book was okay, but I’ve enjoyed other books so much more.
1🌟 = For whatever reason, I didn’t like it and can’t recommend it.
Another fun romp with my favorite canine detective. This is #11 in the series, and some phrases are getting a little over familiar by now. Still, since it is a dog doing the thinking, how could it be otherwise? 😜
(Note: Some crude language.)
Robin’s Ratings
5🌟 = Out of this world. Amazing. Unforgettable. A personal favorite.
4🌟 = Excellent read. Couldn’t put it down. Will recommend to others.
3🌟 = Liked it. Glad I read it. Engaging/entertaining/interesting.
2🌟 = The book was okay, but I’ve enjoyed other books so much more.
1🌟 = For whatever reason, I didn’t like it and can’t recommend it.
August 4, 2021
Love this series. Whole family reads each book as soon as it publishes. Just wish I could meet Chet the Jet.
December 18, 2022
Chet and Bernie are on the case. Another case that doesn’t pay. These are always interesting books.
July 9, 2021
This is actually the second book in two days I’ve read told in the narrative voice of a dog (the other was the romcom Pug, Actually) but this one is a mystery, 11th in a series about private eye Bernie and his failed-out-of-K9-training companion Chet. I have read one of the previous books in the series, Of Mutts and Men, but I don’t think you need to have read any of them to enjoy this, and it’s primarily because Chet is the narrator and Chet, being a dog, lives very much in the moment. He doesn’t spend his days reminiscing about past cases. He’s much more concerned about where his next meal is coming from, and when, than about the last one.
The case, beginning with a scared young woman who comes to Bernie and Chet for help but bails before actually telling them what help she needs, gets political quickly and being politics, it gets dirty. There are at least a couple of dead bodies in the book, and at least one of them is highly illegally dealt with by Bernie for reasons that are never explained because Chet doesn’t comprehend them. It’s an inherent problem with telling the story from the dog’s point of view because Chet can see and hear things - and we can then interpret them - but if Bernie doesn’t actually explain his motivation out loud, there’s no way for us to deduce it.
It’s interesting to solve the case alongside Chet and Bernie, because filtering it through Chet’s point of view means the reader has to do quite a bit of mental gymnastics to put the pieces together because Chet lacks the comprehension to do it for us. He is a Very Good Dog but concepts like blackmail are way outside his understanding.
I didn’t like this one quite as much as the previous one in the series I read, and I can’t quite put my finger on why. I think it’s perhaps because I was more invested in the mystery, and then, just as it was getting good and we were about to learn something… Chet would get distracted or decide it was time for a nap. It got extremely frustrating, and there’s no real acknowledgement of that because Chet, of course, is perfectly happy with his lot. He’s only frustrated when the Slim Jims don’t come along frequently enough. I’ll give it four stars.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
The case, beginning with a scared young woman who comes to Bernie and Chet for help but bails before actually telling them what help she needs, gets political quickly and being politics, it gets dirty. There are at least a couple of dead bodies in the book, and at least one of them is highly illegally dealt with by Bernie for reasons that are never explained because Chet doesn’t comprehend them. It’s an inherent problem with telling the story from the dog’s point of view because Chet can see and hear things - and we can then interpret them - but if Bernie doesn’t actually explain his motivation out loud, there’s no way for us to deduce it.
It’s interesting to solve the case alongside Chet and Bernie, because filtering it through Chet’s point of view means the reader has to do quite a bit of mental gymnastics to put the pieces together because Chet lacks the comprehension to do it for us. He is a Very Good Dog but concepts like blackmail are way outside his understanding.
I didn’t like this one quite as much as the previous one in the series I read, and I can’t quite put my finger on why. I think it’s perhaps because I was more invested in the mystery, and then, just as it was getting good and we were about to learn something… Chet would get distracted or decide it was time for a nap. It got extremely frustrating, and there’s no real acknowledgement of that because Chet, of course, is perfectly happy with his lot. He’s only frustrated when the Slim Jims don’t come along frequently enough. I’ll give it four stars.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
May 15, 2021
I love Chet and Bernie and this is book 11 in their series. Chet, the German Shepard narrator is so true to life. He tells you what's going on but then adds his dog opinion which many times is hilarious. This book has the private eye duo helping out a young woman who disappears before she can tell them about her case. Along their path of investigation they encounter a ferret, Griffie, who decides he loves Bernie, a crocked politician and two women's lives that are in danger. This book can be read as a stand alone but you'll immediately want to go back and read them all. Thank you Spencer Quinn for a wonderful read and insight into the dog world. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
May 22, 2021
When I started, I thought, "Oh, I think I"m bored with this series. It's still as good as it ever was, but somehow I'm not entertained the same way. The gimmick of the narrative voice of the dog just isn't amusing me like it did the first few times I read it." It happens, right? And if I get tired of a series, that isn't the author's fault.
I found myself getting pulled in, though, and kept reading, and I'm glad I did, because this is a better mystery than the last few, with characters who were engaging, a resolution that worked for me, and just enough continuing-through-the-series plot to make me probably read the next one.
Also, Chet remains a very good dog.
I found myself getting pulled in, though, and kept reading, and I'm glad I did, because this is a better mystery than the last few, with characters who were engaging, a resolution that worked for me, and just enough continuing-through-the-series plot to make me probably read the next one.
Also, Chet remains a very good dog.
August 16, 2021
This book was a very pleasant surprise. I won a copy in a Goodreads giveaway and I must say that I will be purchasing the other books in this series. The main characters are likable. The plot is fast paced and often funny. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the others in this series.
December 31, 2021
Spencer Quinn’s Chet and Bernie series has been delighting readers, myself included, for over a decade. The eleventh and latest installment in the beloved series,Tender is the Bite, continues the saga of private investigator Bernie and his beloved dog and crime-fighting partner, Chet.
As political signs begin popping up in neighborhood yards, Chet and Bernie are on a case. Chet isn’t totally sure what the case is, or who the client is. But after a young woman follows them, only to flee following her request for their help, Bernie sets out to discover why she sought them out, and what happened to her. Unfortunately for Chet, this case involves ferrets, horses, and a familiar scent he just can’t quite place. Add in dog that looks remarkably like Chet and her police sergeant owner, and this case has more riding on it than the perp Chet wants to bring in by the pant leg.
I’ve loved these books since I first picked up Dog On It, and I’m always hooked from the first word to the last. While not-too-frightening mysteries are always up my alley, what makes the Chet and Bernie books so perfect is Chet himself.
Chet the dog is our narrator, and what a narrator he is. Part of what makes these books so fun is solving the mystery as they discover new clues, and Chet is the best at finding clues. From his top-rate hearing to his never-led-him-wrong nose, Chet is an ideal partner. As a reader, you get to piece together what Chet experiences with what Bernie discovers through interviewing, solving the case alongside them.
Playing armchair detective is just one component of what makes this series addictive. Chet provides much comedic relief, the kind where you find yourself laughing out loud and looking around to find someone to share these witty insights with. There’s always a deeper level to explore, undercurrents of topical issues handled well, and nods to prior books that make you want to go back and re-read them again and again.
Another plus to a series style novel is piecing together the hints dropped about various cases throughout the books. In Tender, we finally learn a little bit more about the notorious broom closet case that is regularly referenced. Additionally, we get to visit beloved old characters while meeting new and interesting ones.
The characters in Quinn’s books are incredibly well developed, with wild backstories that Chet shares humorously. Every description, from characters to setting to events, is vividly described to paint the image in your mind.
The entire Chet and Bernie series is laugh out loud funny, a perfect balance of humor and mystery that combine to create books you can’t, and won’t, want to put down. Tender is the Bite continues this tradition with perfection, a multilayered story that you’ll be thinking about every moment you aren’t reading it.
Tender is the Bite will be available July 6, 2021. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillian for an advanced copy such that I could write this honest review.
As political signs begin popping up in neighborhood yards, Chet and Bernie are on a case. Chet isn’t totally sure what the case is, or who the client is. But after a young woman follows them, only to flee following her request for their help, Bernie sets out to discover why she sought them out, and what happened to her. Unfortunately for Chet, this case involves ferrets, horses, and a familiar scent he just can’t quite place. Add in dog that looks remarkably like Chet and her police sergeant owner, and this case has more riding on it than the perp Chet wants to bring in by the pant leg.
I’ve loved these books since I first picked up Dog On It, and I’m always hooked from the first word to the last. While not-too-frightening mysteries are always up my alley, what makes the Chet and Bernie books so perfect is Chet himself.
Chet the dog is our narrator, and what a narrator he is. Part of what makes these books so fun is solving the mystery as they discover new clues, and Chet is the best at finding clues. From his top-rate hearing to his never-led-him-wrong nose, Chet is an ideal partner. As a reader, you get to piece together what Chet experiences with what Bernie discovers through interviewing, solving the case alongside them.
Playing armchair detective is just one component of what makes this series addictive. Chet provides much comedic relief, the kind where you find yourself laughing out loud and looking around to find someone to share these witty insights with. There’s always a deeper level to explore, undercurrents of topical issues handled well, and nods to prior books that make you want to go back and re-read them again and again.
Another plus to a series style novel is piecing together the hints dropped about various cases throughout the books. In Tender, we finally learn a little bit more about the notorious broom closet case that is regularly referenced. Additionally, we get to visit beloved old characters while meeting new and interesting ones.
The characters in Quinn’s books are incredibly well developed, with wild backstories that Chet shares humorously. Every description, from characters to setting to events, is vividly described to paint the image in your mind.
The entire Chet and Bernie series is laugh out loud funny, a perfect balance of humor and mystery that combine to create books you can’t, and won’t, want to put down. Tender is the Bite continues this tradition with perfection, a multilayered story that you’ll be thinking about every moment you aren’t reading it.
Tender is the Bite will be available July 6, 2021. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillian for an advanced copy such that I could write this honest review.
September 17, 2023
This is a fun book to read even though this isn’t the best Chet and Bernie book.
This series it’s something you want to delve into it you’re feeling down or hopeless. I particularly like to read of this man/dog team after I’ve read a heavy novel.
Chet the Jet will lift your spirits and make you smile if not laugh out loud.
“There’s lots to look forward to in this life.”
Then there’s the dog thoughts that all of us who have dog companions know our dogs are feeling.
Bernie: “Stay with me.” Wow. And of course I would, for as long as Bernie needed me and then long after that.
This series it’s something you want to delve into it you’re feeling down or hopeless. I particularly like to read of this man/dog team after I’ve read a heavy novel.
Chet the Jet will lift your spirits and make you smile if not laugh out loud.
“There’s lots to look forward to in this life.”
Then there’s the dog thoughts that all of us who have dog companions know our dogs are feeling.
Bernie: “Stay with me.” Wow. And of course I would, for as long as Bernie needed me and then long after that.
July 3, 2021
I love the Chet and Bernie series! I have read all the books so far and they have never let me down. The rapport between Chet, the dog and his owner/partner is something that I hope I have with my own dog. Bernie and Chet are private investigators, and the story is narrated by Chet. In Chet's eyes, Bernie can do no wrong. Okay, maybe he isn't the best with his finances and investments, (still, that storage unit full of Hawaiian pants might come in handy some day) but there has to be a reason that Bernie just hasn't told Chet yet. It is so much fun to read Chet's thoughts as Bernie is talking to him and what he thinks some things mean. For instance, he hears someone talking about a "web of innocence" and thinks that for as strong a man as Bernie is, he really hates spider webs and says things like eek and ick. I confess that I am really jealous that Chet gets to go everywhere with Bernie, whereas I can't take my dog in a lot of places. So therefore....(a favorite phrase that comes up often) maybe I should move from Michigan to Arizona!
August 7, 2021
First Chet and Bernie are being tailed, then they are tailing the one who was tailing them! If you've never had a K-9 failure tell you about a difficult case he and his partner PI Bernie Little survived, you've missed a lot! Chet tells all from his own unique perspective. This includes a ferret, some Ukrainians, a lot of liars, missing persons and more. There are plot twists and red herrings, but all of the characters are engaging, interesting, and occasionally evil. Just not the good guys, sometimes they are a bit clueless, but never evil. A great series and full of laughs! And each is capable of being stand alone.
I requested and received a free temporary ebook copy from Macmillan-Tor/Forge Forge Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
I requested and received a free temporary ebook copy from Macmillan-Tor/Forge Forge Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
August 18, 2022
This is the first book I’ve read by this author in this series. As much as I loved the dog as the narrator, I found myself on the last chapter with the big reveal and just not really caring or wanting to finish it. The mystery itself was just very boring for me.
I do wonder if I started from the beginning of the series if I’d be more invested. Chet, the dog, was amazingly cute and I would read his narration again any day.
I do wonder if I started from the beginning of the series if I’d be more invested. Chet, the dog, was amazingly cute and I would read his narration again any day.
November 21, 2021
Another fun Chet and Bernie adventure! Love Mr. Chet, even though Chet doesn’t like that addition to his name! Many laugh out loud moments, courtesy of Chet
October 17, 2022
Our wonderful canine narrator is back with a new adventure. A young woman attempts to contact Bernie but runs away before she can explain what she needs. Then her friend, a former roommate, also disappears so it's clear that Chet must solve the mystery with the help of his favorite human, Bernie Little. Bernie even turns down a plush job in Hawaii to continue to search for the young women, much to Chet's dismay because Chet knows they need the money. The more they investigate the more dangerous the non-paying job becomes. Ultimately it involves political shenanigans, Ukrainian strongmen and a new female dog that catches Chet's eye. The Chet and Bernie mysteries are always great fun and this is no exception, especially since eagle-eyed (or I should say "nosed") is such a reliable relater of events.
December 8, 2025
I haven’t read from this series in a while because the last handful of them have been a little disappointing. Seemed like it had lost its charm. This one felt just like the earlier ones, with Chet being his usual charming self, working alongside Bernie, on the case of a couple missing girls and a body that has disappeared. I chuckled my way through it and won’t wait so long to pick up the next one.
December 20, 2022
I wouldn’t have thought that an audio book would make me love characters any more, but this one did. The narrator put just the right emphasis on Chet and his adoration of Bernie. And, Bernie’s extremely limited dialogue was more evident when I realized just how much of the narrative was from Chet, pure and simple.
July 7, 2021
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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WHAT'S TENDER IS THE BITE ABOUT?
A young woman—a frightened young woman—approaches Bernie, she needs help. But before she explains herself, something spooks her and she leaves.
Curious, Bernie starts looking for her—and stumbles into the middle of a situation involving stalking, murder, dog-napping, and all sorts of other things. There's an international aspect of this—but it's a very local story. There's a lot to chew on, a lot to talk about—but all of it is in spoiler territory, so I'm going to leave it at that.
APPROACHING THE POLITICAL
This is the second time in a week that I've said something along those lines, and it's a bit strange. Chet and Bernie keep finding themselves in the neighborhood of a senate election. The case brings the two of them across the path of both candidates (one of them repeatedly). But it's closer to home than that—Bernie's neighbors on either side are very invested in this campaign and their enthusiasm spills over onto the a-political P. I. (or so he tries to be)—at least at one point, one neighbor's has a considerable blow-back on Bernie's investigation. This is a new thing for Quinn to dabble in and he does it well.
If you don't catch the parallel between this campaign and the way people are behaving during it and...well, all of American politics right now. Quinn gives us some pretty good commentary to chew on.
NON-CHET ANIMAL CHARACTERS
Sure, we've got Chet's friend, Iggy doing his thing. But we have more animal guest stars. There's a dog—who could be Chet's sister (or niece), and I really hope we get to see more of her.
But the big guest star is a ferret. A ferret named Griffie—without Griffie it's hard to say if Bernie'd been able to very far with things. Chet can't stand ferrets, or so he repeatedly says...I'm not sure about Griffie, though.
Chet talking about adults, criminals or otherwise, is a lot of fun. Chet talking about kids is simply fantastic. But Chet talking about other animals is a different kind of fun.
A LITTLE LIGHT GETS SHED ON CERTAIN EVENTS
For ages now—possibly since the first book, definitely since the second or third—Chet's been alluding to a case that didn't end well. He's given us a little more information here and there about it, but never much. That ends now. Chet tells us some about it. Bernie tells someone else about it. We even get some hints from other characters about it.
I don't know why Quinn's decided now is the time to start clueing us in, but I'm so glad he did. We didn't get the whole story—I don't know if we will (and I'm not sure I care)—but we got a lot of it, and that's enough for now.
THE TRICK TO THESE BOOKS
This is tied to the above point. The trickiest part about reading Chet as a narrator is that he doesn't understand what he's telling you, and because of that he leaves a lot out. He's the best kind of unreliable narrator—he's well-intentioned and honest, he believes what he's telling us and he thinks he's giving us all the information.
What that means for the reader is that we have to think a little more about what he's saying, we have to do almost as much detective work as Bernie to understand what's really going on. Which is just so much fun, really. Sure, you might spend a couple of chapters with the wrong idea, but Quinn doesn't let you keep the wrong idea for long.
I need to spend time writing about this every time I talk about a Chet and Bernie book—I need to do better at this, but it's hard. If I could describe it better, I'd probably get paid to do this stuff.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT TENDER IS THE BITE?
Yes, Quinn gave us a great pair of characters that we love in Chet and Bernie. He gives us a good story. He plays with the unreliable narrator to reveal what he really wants to say. Put it all together and he gives us another great read in one of the most reliably satisfying series in print.
Read this one. If this is your first time with Chet and Bernie, go back and read the rest after it. You'll be glad you did.
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Macmillan-Tor/Forge via NetGalley in exchange for this post—thanks to both for this.
---
WHAT'S TENDER IS THE BITE ABOUT?
A young woman—a frightened young woman—approaches Bernie, she needs help. But before she explains herself, something spooks her and she leaves.
Curious, Bernie starts looking for her—and stumbles into the middle of a situation involving stalking, murder, dog-napping, and all sorts of other things. There's an international aspect of this—but it's a very local story. There's a lot to chew on, a lot to talk about—but all of it is in spoiler territory, so I'm going to leave it at that.
APPROACHING THE POLITICAL
This is the second time in a week that I've said something along those lines, and it's a bit strange. Chet and Bernie keep finding themselves in the neighborhood of a senate election. The case brings the two of them across the path of both candidates (one of them repeatedly). But it's closer to home than that—Bernie's neighbors on either side are very invested in this campaign and their enthusiasm spills over onto the a-political P. I. (or so he tries to be)—at least at one point, one neighbor's has a considerable blow-back on Bernie's investigation. This is a new thing for Quinn to dabble in and he does it well.
If you don't catch the parallel between this campaign and the way people are behaving during it and...well, all of American politics right now. Quinn gives us some pretty good commentary to chew on.
NON-CHET ANIMAL CHARACTERS
Sure, we've got Chet's friend, Iggy doing his thing. But we have more animal guest stars. There's a dog—who could be Chet's sister (or niece), and I really hope we get to see more of her.
But the big guest star is a ferret. A ferret named Griffie—without Griffie it's hard to say if Bernie'd been able to very far with things. Chet can't stand ferrets, or so he repeatedly says...I'm not sure about Griffie, though.
Chet talking about adults, criminals or otherwise, is a lot of fun. Chet talking about kids is simply fantastic. But Chet talking about other animals is a different kind of fun.
A LITTLE LIGHT GETS SHED ON CERTAIN EVENTS
For ages now—possibly since the first book, definitely since the second or third—Chet's been alluding to a case that didn't end well. He's given us a little more information here and there about it, but never much. That ends now. Chet tells us some about it. Bernie tells someone else about it. We even get some hints from other characters about it.
I don't know why Quinn's decided now is the time to start clueing us in, but I'm so glad he did. We didn't get the whole story—I don't know if we will (and I'm not sure I care)—but we got a lot of it, and that's enough for now.
THE TRICK TO THESE BOOKS
This is tied to the above point. The trickiest part about reading Chet as a narrator is that he doesn't understand what he's telling you, and because of that he leaves a lot out. He's the best kind of unreliable narrator—he's well-intentioned and honest, he believes what he's telling us and he thinks he's giving us all the information.
What that means for the reader is that we have to think a little more about what he's saying, we have to do almost as much detective work as Bernie to understand what's really going on. Which is just so much fun, really. Sure, you might spend a couple of chapters with the wrong idea, but Quinn doesn't let you keep the wrong idea for long.
I need to spend time writing about this every time I talk about a Chet and Bernie book—I need to do better at this, but it's hard. If I could describe it better, I'd probably get paid to do this stuff.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT TENDER IS THE BITE?
Yes, Quinn gave us a great pair of characters that we love in Chet and Bernie. He gives us a good story. He plays with the unreliable narrator to reveal what he really wants to say. Put it all together and he gives us another great read in one of the most reliably satisfying series in print.
Read this one. If this is your first time with Chet and Bernie, go back and read the rest after it. You'll be glad you did.
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Macmillan-Tor/Forge via NetGalley in exchange for this post—thanks to both for this.
July 25, 2021
If you are new to the adventures of Chet the Jet, the narrator of Spencer Quinn’s entertaining and exciting mystery series, welcome to the pack (that’s dog-speak for fan club). Chet is an enormous, scary-looking dog of uncertain heritage (no doubt a German shepherd is in there somewhere), which comes into play right off the bat. Be forewarned that Chet tells of his adventures with P.I. Bernie Little, CEO of the Little Detective Agency, where you will be introduced to the ability that only a dog’s impeccable scenting skills (not to mention sense of humor and irony) can convey.
Oh, Bernie does have a speaking role and chimes in to fill in the necessary details. He drives his outdated Porsche and pulls out the cuffs to capture various potential perps. He identifies victims, along with good and bad cops, just to keep the plot rolling. But it’s Chet with his flawless sense of smell who is the hero of the tale. (I wanted to get cute and write “tail” because that’s one of his many talents --- secondary message-sending telepathy --- but my editor wouldn’t let me.)
Politics enters the story when Bernie’s neighbors get involved in a contest pounding stakes to erect the largest opposing yard sign for the U.S. Senate. Bernie is largely apolitical, so he doesn’t realize the importance of the dispute until it becomes clear that one of the candidates may be cozy with some Ukrainian mobster types who hire him to head up security for their Hawaiian facility.
Mavis, a beautiful young woman, approaches Chet and Bernie in their driveway as they leave the office. She is seeking help in locating her friend, Johnnie Lee Goetz, but then abruptly drives off when she spots a political bumper sticker on the floor of Bernie’s car. A puzzled Bernie, who has no idea how it got there, snags Mavis’ license plate number to track her down. This leads to finding Johnnie Lee and her pet ferret, Griffie, mentioned here only because Griffie plays a prominent role in the novel when she is kidnapped by a large Ukrainian. Johnnie Lee hires Bernie to find Griffie and her missing ex-boyfriend, Mickey Rottoni.
Chet’s nose comes into play when he finds Griffie’s scent on a trail, and they discover a lifeless Mickey in an old mine site along with a seriously wounded dog caught in the gunfire, who looks remarkably like Chet. There is no Griffie in sight (or scent). Bernie, hero that he is, hurries down the trail to take the injured dog to the vet, whose chip turns out to belong to Mavis. Then they stop by the police station to report the dead body, but by the time the police get there, it has disappeared along with all evidence of any crime. When Bernie returns to explore, Chet paws at a suspicious-looking lump and uncovers an explosive trigger. The pair barely escape alive.
Dirty cops, bogus Ukrainian financial schemes, shady politicians and planted corpses all come into play as Chet and Bernie engage in hazardous climbing and car chases in an attempt to bring down the bad guys.
The book’s title comes from Chet’s rarely used but effective method of getting his point across. It occurs only when Bernie is otherwise disabled --- like getting shot or knocked out, which of course hardly ever happens because Bernie is totally capable of taking care of himself.
TENDER IS THE BITE is the 11th installment in the series. Chet can’t count past the number two, so he’s not at all impressed with his popularity. But he’s on the job 24-7, and Bernie can rely on him at all times. The action never stops, and Chet’s memorable dialogue has me agreeing with Stephen King when he says this is “[w]ithout a doubt the most original mystery series currently available.”
Reviewed by Roz Shea
Oh, Bernie does have a speaking role and chimes in to fill in the necessary details. He drives his outdated Porsche and pulls out the cuffs to capture various potential perps. He identifies victims, along with good and bad cops, just to keep the plot rolling. But it’s Chet with his flawless sense of smell who is the hero of the tale. (I wanted to get cute and write “tail” because that’s one of his many talents --- secondary message-sending telepathy --- but my editor wouldn’t let me.)
Politics enters the story when Bernie’s neighbors get involved in a contest pounding stakes to erect the largest opposing yard sign for the U.S. Senate. Bernie is largely apolitical, so he doesn’t realize the importance of the dispute until it becomes clear that one of the candidates may be cozy with some Ukrainian mobster types who hire him to head up security for their Hawaiian facility.
Mavis, a beautiful young woman, approaches Chet and Bernie in their driveway as they leave the office. She is seeking help in locating her friend, Johnnie Lee Goetz, but then abruptly drives off when she spots a political bumper sticker on the floor of Bernie’s car. A puzzled Bernie, who has no idea how it got there, snags Mavis’ license plate number to track her down. This leads to finding Johnnie Lee and her pet ferret, Griffie, mentioned here only because Griffie plays a prominent role in the novel when she is kidnapped by a large Ukrainian. Johnnie Lee hires Bernie to find Griffie and her missing ex-boyfriend, Mickey Rottoni.
Chet’s nose comes into play when he finds Griffie’s scent on a trail, and they discover a lifeless Mickey in an old mine site along with a seriously wounded dog caught in the gunfire, who looks remarkably like Chet. There is no Griffie in sight (or scent). Bernie, hero that he is, hurries down the trail to take the injured dog to the vet, whose chip turns out to belong to Mavis. Then they stop by the police station to report the dead body, but by the time the police get there, it has disappeared along with all evidence of any crime. When Bernie returns to explore, Chet paws at a suspicious-looking lump and uncovers an explosive trigger. The pair barely escape alive.
Dirty cops, bogus Ukrainian financial schemes, shady politicians and planted corpses all come into play as Chet and Bernie engage in hazardous climbing and car chases in an attempt to bring down the bad guys.
The book’s title comes from Chet’s rarely used but effective method of getting his point across. It occurs only when Bernie is otherwise disabled --- like getting shot or knocked out, which of course hardly ever happens because Bernie is totally capable of taking care of himself.
TENDER IS THE BITE is the 11th installment in the series. Chet can’t count past the number two, so he’s not at all impressed with his popularity. But he’s on the job 24-7, and Bernie can rely on him at all times. The action never stops, and Chet’s memorable dialogue has me agreeing with Stephen King when he says this is “[w]ithout a doubt the most original mystery series currently available.”
Reviewed by Roz Shea
May 25, 2021
The Little Detective Agency consists of two partners, Bernie Little and Chet, the Jet, who flunked out of police training school due to an unfortunate incident with a squirrel during graduation. A very frightened young woman contacts Bernie and then disappears. Both Chet and Bernie quickly figure out this case will not earn them any money, but who needs money when you know the right thing to do is to find the woman and find out why she is so scared. And when the death threats start and bodies begin piling up, it's just another day in the Little Detective Agency, located in the Valley, the best place to live in the world. Always entertaining.
September 13, 2021
The Little detective agency, composed of Bernie Little and Chet the Jet, is my favorite. Chet, the canine member of the crew, is an excellent clue sniffer, ankle grabber and story narrator. This plot has a lovely missing potential client, a missing ferret, and a dead body. Bernie and Chet pursue clues all through New Mexico and Arizona and rescue Trixie, who is undeniably Chet's sibling. Chet's puzzlement at human idioms such as Bernie's haircut looking like "a rat's nest" is always amusing and there is plenty of danger and unexplained happenings to keep the reader entertained.
July 16, 2021
Private eye Bernie and his dog Chet find themselves trying to figure out who the frightened young woman that approached them asking for help was. She was so scared she left without giving her name.
As Bernie starts to investigate and put the pieces together he finds himself in the middle of uncovering secrets.
Some new characters are introduced and some known characters return. Chet is the narrator and it gives this whole series a very interesting perspective to solving the mysteries.
As Bernie starts to investigate and put the pieces together he finds himself in the middle of uncovering secrets.
Some new characters are introduced and some known characters return. Chet is the narrator and it gives this whole series a very interesting perspective to solving the mysteries.
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