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Luke and Bandit #1
A Tail of Mystery
The only thing between Luke Cooper and a murder rap is his dog.The loss of his job sends Luke crawling back to his hometown with his dog, Bandit. Desperate for cash, he agrees to be the subject of his uncle’s lab experiment.When he wakes up, his uncle is dead--and his dog is talking to him.Since the police find only Luke at the scene of the murder, things aren’t looking good for him. Fortunately, Bandit finds a clue that might lead to the true killer.With the help of his mom, his childhood friend, and his chatty dog, Luke searches for the murderer...but can he find the truth before he ends up in jail?Settle in for a cozy mystery full of humor and adventure. Buy A Tail of Mystery and find out whodunit today!
226 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 3, 2020
About the author
Paul Regnier
29 books85 followersPaul Regnier is a speculative fiction author. He believes one of the closest things to magic on this earth is imagination. His favorite type of story is filled with adventure, humor, and heartfelt moments between characters. He likes to dream up worlds of fantasy, sci-fi, mystery, and the supernatural. Sometimes they end up in a book.
Paul is the writer of The Most Dangerous Pet Shop, The Agency of Magic and Mythical Creatures, Monster Therapist, Bard Tidings, the Luke and Bandit cozy mystery series, the Paranormia series, and the Space Drifters series.
Paul lives in Treasure Valley, Idaho, with his wife and two children.
Paul is the writer of The Most Dangerous Pet Shop, The Agency of Magic and Mythical Creatures, Monster Therapist, Bard Tidings, the Luke and Bandit cozy mystery series, the Paranormia series, and the Space Drifters series.
Paul lives in Treasure Valley, Idaho, with his wife and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
December 5, 2020
A Tail Of Mystery
A Like and Bandit Cozy Mystery, Book #1
Paul Regnier
5 Stars
Synopsis:
The only thing between Luke Cooper and a murder rap is his dog.
The loss of his job sends Luke crawling back to his hometown with his dog, Bandit. Desperate for cash, he agrees to be the subject of his uncle's lab experiment.
When he wakes up, his uncle is dead--and his dog is talking to him.
Since the police find only Luke at the scene of the murder, things aren't looking good for him. Fortunately, Bandit finds a clue that might lead to the true killer.
With the help of his mom, his childhood friend, and his chatty dog, Luke searches for the murderer...but can he find the truth before he ends up in jail?
Settle in for a cozy mystery full of humor and adventure. Buy A Tail of Mystery and find out whodunit today! (Amazon)
Review:
Who of us have not wished that we could communicate with our dogs and know what they are thinking. That is exactly what happens to Luke and his dog Bandit. After an experiment gone wrong, Luke finds his uncle dead and that he can talk to his dog and know what his dog is thinking. He will need the help of his dog to solve the murder and stay out of jail.
The characters are well rounded and well developed. I enjoyed getting to meet Luke and Bandit, they make a good team. His friend Kenny is quite the character, and he is willing to do almost anything to help Luke prove his innocence. There were lots of humorous exchanges between Luke and Kenny.
The author is very talented in his descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The mystery was well plotted and not easily solved. I was surprised to see who the killer actually was.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I cannot wait to read the next one in the series and see what Bandit has to say.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book and provided my honest review.
A Like and Bandit Cozy Mystery, Book #1
Paul Regnier
5 Stars
Synopsis:
The only thing between Luke Cooper and a murder rap is his dog.
The loss of his job sends Luke crawling back to his hometown with his dog, Bandit. Desperate for cash, he agrees to be the subject of his uncle's lab experiment.
When he wakes up, his uncle is dead--and his dog is talking to him.
Since the police find only Luke at the scene of the murder, things aren't looking good for him. Fortunately, Bandit finds a clue that might lead to the true killer.
With the help of his mom, his childhood friend, and his chatty dog, Luke searches for the murderer...but can he find the truth before he ends up in jail?
Settle in for a cozy mystery full of humor and adventure. Buy A Tail of Mystery and find out whodunit today! (Amazon)
Review:
Who of us have not wished that we could communicate with our dogs and know what they are thinking. That is exactly what happens to Luke and his dog Bandit. After an experiment gone wrong, Luke finds his uncle dead and that he can talk to his dog and know what his dog is thinking. He will need the help of his dog to solve the murder and stay out of jail.
The characters are well rounded and well developed. I enjoyed getting to meet Luke and Bandit, they make a good team. His friend Kenny is quite the character, and he is willing to do almost anything to help Luke prove his innocence. There were lots of humorous exchanges between Luke and Kenny.
The author is very talented in his descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The mystery was well plotted and not easily solved. I was surprised to see who the killer actually was.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I cannot wait to read the next one in the series and see what Bandit has to say.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book and provided my honest review.
October 18, 2025
★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
WHAT'S A TAIL OF MYSTERY ABOUT?
Luke has hit a little roadblock in his journalism career—his editor fired him. The newspaper industry being what it is now, he didn't have a lot of options. So he—and his Australian Shepherd, Bandit—are off to his old (small) hometown to live with his mother for a little bit and to lick his wounds.
He has a fairly well-to-do uncle who lives in the same town, too. He's more eccentric than he is well-off, too—and runs some ethically questionable animal experiments in his home. Luke didn't realize exactly how ethically-flexible Uncle Zeke is, but by the time he realized it, he'd already agreed to let Zeke use him in his experiments (Luke really needed money, it should be stressed).
Something goes wrong during the experiment—and when Luke wakes up he can hear Bandit's thoughts in his mind. And vice versa. It's not unlike Hearne's Atticus and Oberon, although Bandit seems to have a stronger command of English (and math). Even more wrong, Zeke has been murdered. As the only person at the scene, Luke's the prime suspect of most of the police town.
And he really can't tell them "I didn't do it, but my dog smelled another human around there."
So, faster than you can say, "Spencer Quinn," Luke has to team up with his mother (who assures him she's watched enough Murder, She Wrote to be qualified) and his best friend from High School to see if they can clear Luke's name, with an assist or two from Bandit.
CRYSTAL FALLS
Doesn't this sound like the perfect, quaint little town? It might as well be Stars Hollow or Del Sol, New Mexico. It's the kind of small town where everyone knows each other, knows each other's business, and the biggest scandal is that someone might be cheating in the annual Cinnamon Festival Bake-off (the investigation into this is Luke's first assignment for the local paper). A murder of an infamous crank definitely gets folks talking—as is any clumsy investigation not done by the police.
We don't get to see much of it in this book, but we get enough to know that I'm going to enjoy spending time here and getting to know the populace over the next four books.
BANDIT
So, you know I have to talk about Bandit, right? I'd forgotten the whole thing about Luke and Bandit being able to talk to each other when I started this book, and I already thought Bandit was a good boi before he started communicating. He's a big dog with a lot of heart, and will surely catch a bird or squirrel soon. He's convinced that raccoons are not to be trusted (and he's probably right), and has strong opinions on baked goods as well as other foodstuffs.
His personality is great—he's generally upbeat, devoted to Luke (but he has a soft spot for some of the other humans around, even the ones who smell). It didn't take me long at all to know I was going to read more of these books just for Bandit (although the rest of the book warranted reading the sequel, too—but I had to wait to decide that).
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT A TAIL OF MYSTERY?
It's getting late, so I won't take the time to get into all the colorful characters we meet here—also, I'd risk giving something away about the murder. But I'll talk about Luke's mother, his friend, Kenny, and some of the other memorable folks in a future post. For now, I'll just repeat myself from above—I want to get to know this Crystal Falls and its populace more. (see what I said about Del Sol and Stars Hollow)
The murder was well-plotted and just mysterious enough to keep you guessing—it would've been very difficult (but not impossible) for someone to figure out without Bandit's nose. Which is one of those notes that I'm always going to love.
I liked Luke—even if he could be a little whiny, hopefully Book 2 doesn't involve him being accused of murder, so we can see more of the good side of his personality. Regnier's narrative voice is charming enough that you'll enjoy the book despite Luke's misery.
It's a fun, quick, easy read that hits all the right notes. I encourage you to pick it up—I'm getting the next one soon myself.
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
I rubbed my temples. “I’m losing it. I’m talking to my dog.”
Bandit walked over and sat beside me. What do you mean? We always talk.
“Not like this!” I stared at him. “Doesn’t this seem different to you?”
He tilted his head. I guess. I mean, sometimes you’re a little thick. You seem to have trouble understanding me. Like when you don’t want to go for a walk, but the weather is perfect. Or you’d rather sit on the couch than play fetch. Or it’s dinner, and we could have steak, but you make a cheese quesadilla. Or—
WHAT'S A TAIL OF MYSTERY ABOUT?
Luke has hit a little roadblock in his journalism career—his editor fired him. The newspaper industry being what it is now, he didn't have a lot of options. So he—and his Australian Shepherd, Bandit—are off to his old (small) hometown to live with his mother for a little bit and to lick his wounds.
He has a fairly well-to-do uncle who lives in the same town, too. He's more eccentric than he is well-off, too—and runs some ethically questionable animal experiments in his home. Luke didn't realize exactly how ethically-flexible Uncle Zeke is, but by the time he realized it, he'd already agreed to let Zeke use him in his experiments (Luke really needed money, it should be stressed).
Something goes wrong during the experiment—and when Luke wakes up he can hear Bandit's thoughts in his mind. And vice versa. It's not unlike Hearne's Atticus and Oberon, although Bandit seems to have a stronger command of English (and math). Even more wrong, Zeke has been murdered. As the only person at the scene, Luke's the prime suspect of most of the police town.
And he really can't tell them "I didn't do it, but my dog smelled another human around there."
So, faster than you can say, "Spencer Quinn," Luke has to team up with his mother (who assures him she's watched enough Murder, She Wrote to be qualified) and his best friend from High School to see if they can clear Luke's name, with an assist or two from Bandit.
CRYSTAL FALLS
Crystal Falls was just off Highway 55, nestled in a mature forest of pines and firs. A short walk from the center of town took you to the Crystal Falls River. On quiet nights you could hear the musical trickle of water as it flowed over the smooth rocks. The more ambitious hiker, heading north for twenty minutes, would arrive at Crystal Falls, the landmark that gave the town its name. The waterfall was two stories high, and thundered down to a pool of water large enough for the adventurous swimmer or college skinny dipping dare. I left the highway, and took Crystal Road.
Childhood memories flooded back as I drove the curving ascent into town. The road, flanked by thick firs, led through a dense mountain forest. I cracked the window, letting the fresh, cool air fill the car. A choir of chirping birds was scattered among the trees.
The center of town was laid out in a giant oval. One and two-story city buildings and retail stores ran along the edges, and a circular park the size of a football field sat dead center. The park was dotted with Douglas firs, and a colorful variety of deciduous trees displaying a canvas of fall colors. The orange-yellow leaves of willows ringed the outer edge, ushering me into town. A large, white gazebo marked the center of the park, a sentimental landmark of small town America. Roads branched off into the hills, leading to residential homes.
Doesn't this sound like the perfect, quaint little town? It might as well be Stars Hollow or Del Sol, New Mexico. It's the kind of small town where everyone knows each other, knows each other's business, and the biggest scandal is that someone might be cheating in the annual Cinnamon Festival Bake-off (the investigation into this is Luke's first assignment for the local paper). A murder of an infamous crank definitely gets folks talking—as is any clumsy investigation not done by the police.
We don't get to see much of it in this book, but we get enough to know that I'm going to enjoy spending time here and getting to know the populace over the next four books.
BANDIT
Bandit crept closer, sniffing the fallen body. I’m guessing raccoons... They’re devious creatures, you know? Totally capable of an attack like this.
So, you know I have to talk about Bandit, right? I'd forgotten the whole thing about Luke and Bandit being able to talk to each other when I started this book, and I already thought Bandit was a good boi before he started communicating. He's a big dog with a lot of heart, and will surely catch a bird or squirrel soon. He's convinced that raccoons are not to be trusted (and he's probably right), and has strong opinions on baked goods as well as other foodstuffs.
His personality is great—he's generally upbeat, devoted to Luke (but he has a soft spot for some of the other humans around, even the ones who smell). It didn't take me long at all to know I was going to read more of these books just for Bandit (although the rest of the book warranted reading the sequel, too—but I had to wait to decide that).
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT A TAIL OF MYSTERY?
It's getting late, so I won't take the time to get into all the colorful characters we meet here—also, I'd risk giving something away about the murder. But I'll talk about Luke's mother, his friend, Kenny, and some of the other memorable folks in a future post. For now, I'll just repeat myself from above—I want to get to know this Crystal Falls and its populace more. (see what I said about Del Sol and Stars Hollow)
The murder was well-plotted and just mysterious enough to keep you guessing—it would've been very difficult (but not impossible) for someone to figure out without Bandit's nose. Which is one of those notes that I'm always going to love.
I liked Luke—even if he could be a little whiny, hopefully Book 2 doesn't involve him being accused of murder, so we can see more of the good side of his personality. Regnier's narrative voice is charming enough that you'll enjoy the book despite Luke's misery.
It's a fun, quick, easy read that hits all the right notes. I encourage you to pick it up—I'm getting the next one soon myself.
January 30, 2021
Cute Cozi
This cute cozy had me laughing but had it's share of suspense, twists and turns.
I enjoyed the storyline snd the characters.
This cute cozy had me laughing but had it's share of suspense, twists and turns.
I enjoyed the storyline snd the characters.
June 15, 2025
Awesome cover, but the story wasn't very good...
April 17, 2022
Luke Cooper has lost his job in the city as an investigative reporter, and now he finds himself forced to move back to his hometown of Crystal Falls. It's a tiny idyllic-looking mountain village where his first big assignment with the local paper is covering the cinnamon festival baking competition. Not nearly the big story he's looking for. But he might have another story in the works, because on his way into town his wacky scientist uncle promised him $500 to be a lab rat for some neurological test, and Luke couldn't pass up the money. But the experiment goes haywire, Luke gets electrocuted enough to get knocked out, he wakes up to find his uncle murdered, and he can now talk telepathically with his Australian Shepherd dog, Bandit. Talk about a horrible welcome back to town. Luke finds himself the local police department's number one suspect in his uncle's murder, so along with getting the scoop on the best cinnamon baked goods in town Luke is trying to see if he can figure out who murdered his uncle. The only help he has are his mom who has too much time on her hands, his high school best friend/computer nerd who lives in the cottage out back of his mom's house, and Bandit, who found a cinnamony thing on the ground near the scene of the crime. If they can find the perfect baked good match, can they find their murderer?
Well, this starts off wacky with the science experiment gone wrong, but it lets us listen to Bandit who provides a good dose of comic relief (and is very believably dog...I love his commentary on raccoons, squirrels, and cats). Luke's mom and his friend are a hoot, especially the ways they get way, way, way too into being private investigators. A lightly comic cozy mystery that did keep me guessing till right before the murderer was revealed. If you are looking for something light to read that has a similar tone to Psych in some ways (mostly the bumbling investigative friends who stumble across the right answer), snatch this up. I'll definitely be looking out for book 2.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. (Luke shows interest in a lady, but nothing more than some hand-holding.) The one murder happened off page with very minimal descriptions of wounds, and further threats only result in some minimal injuries. There's a car crash with no injuries. Some casual drinking of alcohol but never to excess. Some questionable hacking by the best friend.
Well, this starts off wacky with the science experiment gone wrong, but it lets us listen to Bandit who provides a good dose of comic relief (and is very believably dog...I love his commentary on raccoons, squirrels, and cats). Luke's mom and his friend are a hoot, especially the ways they get way, way, way too into being private investigators. A lightly comic cozy mystery that did keep me guessing till right before the murderer was revealed. If you are looking for something light to read that has a similar tone to Psych in some ways (mostly the bumbling investigative friends who stumble across the right answer), snatch this up. I'll definitely be looking out for book 2.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. (Luke shows interest in a lady, but nothing more than some hand-holding.) The one murder happened off page with very minimal descriptions of wounds, and further threats only result in some minimal injuries. There's a car crash with no injuries. Some casual drinking of alcohol but never to excess. Some questionable hacking by the best friend.
December 8, 2020
With the dog featured so prominently on the cover, I wondered whether this cozy mystery would really be for me. I'm more of a cat person, you see. Well, the results speak for themselves: I inhaled this hilarious romp in two days, which is rare for me. It struck the perfect balance of drama and humor, heart-warming and angst.
When the big city boy comes home to a small town to live with his mother, you gotta figure there will be some tension. But there's a twist! Luke's mom has taken on a boarder, and the feeling that she's replaced Luke with another guy to play the role of son is too hilarious. I really enjoyed the geeky references to science fiction and video games that surrounded the character of Kenny, the boarder. I think he's a great sidekick, whether Luke agrees or not. Ha!
If you're looking for a feel-good story with light-hearted humor and delicious pastries... if you're a pet owner who wishes you could talk to your pet (dog, cat, or otherwise!)... if you just want to forget the stress of life for a few hours... this book fits the bill. Luke and Bandit's realistic back-and-forth as owner and dog is too funny. And as someone who grew up with Australian shepherds myself, I found the dog so very familiar, ringing true to all my fond memories. I don't want to own a dog now, but if I did... I'd want one like Bandit.
When the big city boy comes home to a small town to live with his mother, you gotta figure there will be some tension. But there's a twist! Luke's mom has taken on a boarder, and the feeling that she's replaced Luke with another guy to play the role of son is too hilarious. I really enjoyed the geeky references to science fiction and video games that surrounded the character of Kenny, the boarder. I think he's a great sidekick, whether Luke agrees or not. Ha!
If you're looking for a feel-good story with light-hearted humor and delicious pastries... if you're a pet owner who wishes you could talk to your pet (dog, cat, or otherwise!)... if you just want to forget the stress of life for a few hours... this book fits the bill. Luke and Bandit's realistic back-and-forth as owner and dog is too funny. And as someone who grew up with Australian shepherds myself, I found the dog so very familiar, ringing true to all my fond memories. I don't want to own a dog now, but if I did... I'd want one like Bandit.
January 9, 2021
I have a few authors whose writing style I enjoy. Paul Regnier has joined that list with his entertaining stories filled with humor. And he's written in two of my favorite genres (SciFi and Mystery), so that hasn't hurt any either. Tail of Mystery is a cozy mystery. A guy that lost his job now has to head back to his small home town and live with his mother until his employment situation is more secure and successful. And writing for the small town chronicle is probably not going to fast track him back to the big city. While he laments his current situation, his Australian Shepherd seems to relish it. After a quick stop, Luke eventually finds himself in over his head as he regains consciousness and stumbles onto a crime scene. But this won't be the only shock he receives, as Bandit finds a clue and confirms the killer was close by. How? By mentally communicating with Luke. And that's the fun part. I'd love to communicate with my dogs, at least initially. But I can imagine the conversations will invariably lead to "treats?", "dinner?", "breakfast?", "second breakfast?". I digress. This is a fun, lightheaded read filled with humor and excitement. He almost got me with a red herring. Almost. The characters are likable. But it's really the conversations with Bandit that is the, uh, treat of this book. Really enjoyed it and I think you will, too.
December 9, 2020
A Tail of Mystery, by Paul Regneir, is the first book in his new cozy mystery series, The Luke and Bandit Mysteries.
Luke Cooper is a relatable millennial. Unemployed, he has to move back to his mother's house in his home town.
He brings all the things to the table you would expect from this situation, like awkward encounters with his mom's new boy friend. Everyone in town addressing him as Betsie's son. And my personal favorite, the boyhood beat friend that lives in the garage and is now his mom's favorite son.
Once there his eccentric Uncle lures him into a sketchy experiment in exchange for some quick cash. Now Luke can hear his dog Bandit's thoughts. Oh and he's implicated in his uncle's murder.
I absolutely loved Bandit. He was my favorite character. His voice was perfect. It's exactly how I imagine dogs think.
The mystery aspect was well written. It kept me guessing right up until the end.
I look forward to many more mysteries with this dynamic duo.
*I was given a copy of this book for the purpose of review. All opinions stated above are my own, and are provided honestly.*
Luke Cooper is a relatable millennial. Unemployed, he has to move back to his mother's house in his home town.
He brings all the things to the table you would expect from this situation, like awkward encounters with his mom's new boy friend. Everyone in town addressing him as Betsie's son. And my personal favorite, the boyhood beat friend that lives in the garage and is now his mom's favorite son.
Once there his eccentric Uncle lures him into a sketchy experiment in exchange for some quick cash. Now Luke can hear his dog Bandit's thoughts. Oh and he's implicated in his uncle's murder.
I absolutely loved Bandit. He was my favorite character. His voice was perfect. It's exactly how I imagine dogs think.
The mystery aspect was well written. It kept me guessing right up until the end.
I look forward to many more mysteries with this dynamic duo.
*I was given a copy of this book for the purpose of review. All opinions stated above are my own, and are provided honestly.*
December 5, 2020
This was a great start to a new series. Full of laughs, a compelling mystery, a picturesque small town, and likable characters, it had everything I love in a good cozy mystery. I was glued to the pages and reading as fast as I could.
The mystery was a head-scratcher, for sure. The victim was not an easy guy to get along with, so there were plenty of possible suspects. I didn't figure it out until right before the big reveal. I love when I can be surprised like that.
I've always wondered what it would be like to actually talk to and understand my dog, so it was really fun seeing how Luke and Bandit dealt with their newfound skill. They made such a great crime-solving duo and I hope there are many more mysteries to come for them.
If you're a fan of cozy mysteries, I highly recommend this book. I loved every second of it.
I received a copy of this book from the author and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts are my honest opinion.
The mystery was a head-scratcher, for sure. The victim was not an easy guy to get along with, so there were plenty of possible suspects. I didn't figure it out until right before the big reveal. I love when I can be surprised like that.
I've always wondered what it would be like to actually talk to and understand my dog, so it was really fun seeing how Luke and Bandit dealt with their newfound skill. They made such a great crime-solving duo and I hope there are many more mysteries to come for them.
If you're a fan of cozy mysteries, I highly recommend this book. I loved every second of it.
I received a copy of this book from the author and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts are my honest opinion.
June 11, 2021
Why kill Uncle Zeke?
Luke has been fired from his newspaper job in the city and he and his dog Bandit are heading back to his hometown of Crystal Falls. His mother tells him to stay away from his Uncle Zeke, a crazy inventor, but Zeke has offered him $500.00 to be part of an experiment. During the experiment, Bandit tries to attack the monkey Zeke is using in the experiment, causing the electricity to surge and power to go out Luke is knocked out and when he regains consciousness, can hear Bandit speaking in his head. Uncle Zeke is gone and when Luke finds him, he has been killed. He is the only suspect and he said Bandit decide to find the killer. Their only clue is some cookie crumbs from a cookie droped by the killer. Between Zeke, his mom and his old friend Kenny, they search for the killer. Enjoyable read.
Luke has been fired from his newspaper job in the city and he and his dog Bandit are heading back to his hometown of Crystal Falls. His mother tells him to stay away from his Uncle Zeke, a crazy inventor, but Zeke has offered him $500.00 to be part of an experiment. During the experiment, Bandit tries to attack the monkey Zeke is using in the experiment, causing the electricity to surge and power to go out Luke is knocked out and when he regains consciousness, can hear Bandit speaking in his head. Uncle Zeke is gone and when Luke finds him, he has been killed. He is the only suspect and he said Bandit decide to find the killer. Their only clue is some cookie crumbs from a cookie droped by the killer. Between Zeke, his mom and his old friend Kenny, they search for the killer. Enjoyable read.
February 3, 2022
This was a murder mystery where the main character is the suspect. Added to the storyline is the fact that our main character (Luke) took part in an experiment where his uncle was attempting to get communication between a human and an animal. The experiment went haywire but the result was that Luke could communicate with his dog and hear what his dog was thinking. The book itself was a fast and easy read that provided interesting communication on what our pets are thinking.
My only issue - I had a difficult time remembering that Luke was not a female. I was about 40% into the book before it became obvious that he was a male and even though I knew it for a fact at that time, I still felt as though the character acted a bit more like a female. Perhaps simply based on other similar books where the main character (amateur detective) was a female.
My only issue - I had a difficult time remembering that Luke was not a female. I was about 40% into the book before it became obvious that he was a male and even though I knew it for a fact at that time, I still felt as though the character acted a bit more like a female. Perhaps simply based on other similar books where the main character (amateur detective) was a female.
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December 6, 2020I want to recommend a book to everyone – A Tail of Mystery by Paul Regnier – it’s a brozy mystery and truly wonderful. The characters are super and an eclectic mix. The story line is fun and has a great twist. I read it in one day because I could not put it down. I hope there are many more to come in this series. As a 58 year old single female, I feel this book would appeal to a broad range of people.
April 14, 2021
This was such a fun book! I don't think I would've read it if I didn't have previous experience with Regnier, but I'm glad that I was able to read through this. I think this is the perfect example of a fun, cozy mystery story. I love small town mysteries and a murder is so much fun to figure out. The little touch of sci-fi experiment/dog talking was greatly appreciated. It's a solid story with solid writing. Definitely something that people should pick up for an easy read.
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June 6, 2025I really enjoyed this book, but it really bothered me that the storyteller was suspected of the murder but didn't seem to have any motive. He just got into town and didn't really know his uncle who was killed. The sheriff knew all that and still said he was the prime suspect because he was the only one the sheriff knew was at the scene of the crime. He would have needed more than that to have charged him for a crime. I liked how the main suspect set about to solve the crime and free himself.
July 17, 2026
Comical
Luke's uncle wants him to help with an experiment that he will pay him for. During the experiment, something goes wrong with the electric and Luke passes out. His uncle is murdered and Luke becomes the prime suspect. Because of the experiment, Luke can now communicate with his dog Bandit. Their conversations are what prompted me to give the title comical to this review. The killer was a surprise, which was good, but I do feel this was more of a YA book.
Luke's uncle wants him to help with an experiment that he will pay him for. During the experiment, something goes wrong with the electric and Luke passes out. His uncle is murdered and Luke becomes the prime suspect. Because of the experiment, Luke can now communicate with his dog Bandit. Their conversations are what prompted me to give the title comical to this review. The killer was a surprise, which was good, but I do feel this was more of a YA book.
August 3, 2021
Cute, fun story!
OK, I’m a complete sucker for stories where animals talk to their humans, with a mystery & a clean romance included. But this was also a funny book that featured a sweet mom who treats her grown child like, well a child. And the reappearance of a “unique” friend from childhood.
OK, I’m a complete sucker for stories where animals talk to their humans, with a mystery & a clean romance included. But this was also a funny book that featured a sweet mom who treats her grown child like, well a child. And the reappearance of a “unique” friend from childhood.
February 6, 2022
Relaxing easy read
I was smiling and engaged throughout this story. I found the interaction between the main character in his dog engaging in the dialogue was what made the story stand out. I was a fan of the drifter series and although this was present day it had the same relaxing and engaging storyline. Thank you for all the time and effort in creating this book.
I was smiling and engaged throughout this story. I found the interaction between the main character in his dog engaging in the dialogue was what made the story stand out. I was a fan of the drifter series and although this was present day it had the same relaxing and engaging storyline. Thank you for all the time and effort in creating this book.
July 5, 2026
Mental bond
Luke is laid off, he returns to his hometown. He's hired by his uncle for an experiment to link Luke's brain to his chimpanzees which goes wrong. Good story interesting characters, I love the link that accidentally happens between Luke and Bandit. Luke and Bandit investigate his uncle's murder.
Luke is laid off, he returns to his hometown. He's hired by his uncle for an experiment to link Luke's brain to his chimpanzees which goes wrong. Good story interesting characters, I love the link that accidentally happens between Luke and Bandit. Luke and Bandit investigate his uncle's murder.
July 20, 2026
How Many Words Does a Dog Know
How many words does a dog know? Turns out all of them. After an experiment gone wrong, Luke can communicate with his dog Bandit. With Bandit by his side and a bunch of treats on hand, Luke works to clear his name and find out who killed his eccentric uncle. Great story for all who wonder how much does my dog understand.
How many words does a dog know? Turns out all of them. After an experiment gone wrong, Luke can communicate with his dog Bandit. With Bandit by his side and a bunch of treats on hand, Luke works to clear his name and find out who killed his eccentric uncle. Great story for all who wonder how much does my dog understand.
December 5, 2020
Kindle Copy for Review
This is a cute cozy despite murder in the air. Will a man’s talking dog help save him from being accused of the killing? Read and see what trouble will befall them.
A nice new start in this brozy series that all who like cozies will enjoy.
This is a cute cozy despite murder in the air. Will a man’s talking dog help save him from being accused of the killing? Read and see what trouble will befall them.
A nice new start in this brozy series that all who like cozies will enjoy.
January 11, 2021
Loved this book!
It was really great to read a story about a man sleuths for a change instead of a girly one I just really enjoyed not reading about a " hunky" cop falling for a clever female story moved along nicely
It was really great to read a story about a man sleuths for a change instead of a girly one I just really enjoyed not reading about a " hunky" cop falling for a clever female story moved along nicely
January 18, 2021
Cute cozy
Luke and his dog Bandit are moving back home with mother because
He lost his newspaper job. His uncle wants to do some scientific test on him and something goes haywire and he and bandit can read each others mind. This is a funny easy to read book.
Luke and his dog Bandit are moving back home with mother because
He lost his newspaper job. His uncle wants to do some scientific test on him and something goes haywire and he and bandit can read each others mind. This is a funny easy to read book.
November 15, 2021
Cozy, charming, cinnamon laced fun
This book hit all the right spots - mystery, dogs, coffee, fun banter and a hint of romance. Simultaneously relaxing and engaging. Moving on to the second book in the series soon.
This book hit all the right spots - mystery, dogs, coffee, fun banter and a hint of romance. Simultaneously relaxing and engaging. Moving on to the second book in the series soon.
January 2, 2025
If we could talk to dogs
Was a very different spin. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, the mystery, the story line. I loved the bantering between man's best friend and man. It had me laughing and trying to piece together who did it. Good reading!
Was a very different spin. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, the mystery, the story line. I loved the bantering between man's best friend and man. It had me laughing and trying to piece together who did it. Good reading!
July 2, 2026
A Tail of Mystery by Paul Regnier
A fast-paced whodunit with a likable lead and an adorable dog. Moving at a fast pace with engaging dialogue and a compelling plot. I was engrossed from the first page. A good read indeed. I look forward to reading more in this series!
A fast-paced whodunit with a likable lead and an adorable dog. Moving at a fast pace with engaging dialogue and a compelling plot. I was engrossed from the first page. A good read indeed. I look forward to reading more in this series!
December 7, 2020
I absolutely loved this! Lots of humor and small town charm, a good mystery (that I for sure didn't solve before Luke and Bandit), and tons of potential for sequels. Would definitely recommend!
~I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.~
~I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.~
January 5, 2021
A Tail of Mystery
This was a fun read. I can usually figure out who the murderer is but not this time till the very end.
This was a fun read. I can usually figure out who the murderer is but not this time till the very end.
January 12, 2021
Writer in trouble
This was another cozy mystery with a twist. Some romance, some comedy effects and a murder to solve. Read this to solve this murder.
This was another cozy mystery with a twist. Some romance, some comedy effects and a murder to solve. Read this to solve this murder.
January 13, 2021
This was a good book. The beginning was a little strange but all in all I liked it
January 14, 2021
interesting storyline but the writing was more like I would expect from a middle schooler.
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