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A Mystery with Recipes #17

A Catered Doggie Wedding

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When Bernie and Libby Simmons, sisters and co-owners of A Little Taste of Heaven, are hired to cater a doggie wedding for a pair of posh golden retrievers, they wind up stepping into a fresh murder investigation!

At A Little Taste of Heaven, Bernie and Libby Simmons cater all sorts of affairs, from book clubs to bridal showers and everything in between. So when their counterman, Googie, asks them to cater a doggie wedding for his girlfriend Jenni’s eight-month-old golden retrievers, they jump on the opportunity. The reception, which will also serve as a grand opening for Jennie’s new doggie daycare center, is no small affair. Bertha and Ernie—the bride and groom—will be celebrating with more than a hundred guests, including the puppers’ pals and their people.

But all weddings, even shaggy shindigs, come with some drama. Not everyone in town is excited about the upcoming pup-tuials —or Jenni’s business. Someone is sending threatening messages to Bernie, Libby, and others in town, warning them to cancel the festivities. But when folks start dying under curious circumstances, Bernie and Libby know it’s up to them to untangle the leads and find the murderer before anyone else bites it.

Includes Original Recipes for You to Try!

336 pages, Hardcover

First published June 28, 2022

29 people are currently reading
196 people want to read

About the author

Isis Crawford

28 books265 followers
Isis Crawford was born in Egypt to parents who were in the diplomatic corps. When she was five, her family returned to the States, where her mother opened a restaurant in Upper Westchester County and her father became a university professor. Since then Isis has combined her parents’ love of food and travel by running a catering service as well as penning numerous travel-related articles about places ranging from Omsk to Paraguay. Married, with twin boys, she presently resides in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, where she is working on the next Bernie and Libby culinary mystery.

A pseudonym used by Barbara Block

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
Profile Image for Cozybooklady .
2,177 reviews119 followers
February 20, 2022
I was thrilled with A Catered Doggie Wedding by Isis Crawford. I've been reading this series since book one debuted and I did struggle with a few in the past.
This book wowed me. The author brought out the sisters I grew to love, and made this book a pleasant surprise.
Libby and Bernie own A Taste of Heaven, and always seem to find themselves mixed up in a police investigation. Their dad is a fun character, who definitely knows how to work the dad vibe.
This book is centered around a doggie wedding, but includes a lot of lies and deception, and of course, some mouthwatering treats these fun sisters create.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
#ACateredDoggieWedding #NetGalley.
Profile Image for The Cozy Review.
568 reviews43 followers
July 30, 2022
Although I have been a fan of the “A Mystery With Recipes” series through the years, A Catered Doggie Wedding was not one of my favorites. Don’t get me wrong, I adore Bernie and Libby, and their father is the best character in the series, but this story just didn’t grab my attention and keep it. When Bernie and Libby accept a job to cater a dog wedding, they think it will be a fun event or a hairy one depending on how it goes. When they start receiving threats to cancel their involvement, and someone is killed, they rethink their position but decide not to give up. Suspects are plentiful, a little too plentiful, and the evidence abundant and confusing.

Having a dog wedding has become a fashionable event for some people, and some caterers might find it almost irresistible to cater this type of party; most, however, would likely steer clear of anything that could cause their clients, or the health department, to question their business practices. Bernie and Libby don’t pay attention to such matters, or any others for that matter. Investigating and sticking their nose in is what they do best besides cooking, even when it has nothing to do with them. No matter how often they are told to stay out of police business, they plow their way through whichever direction they feel they want regardless of evidence or people's privacy.

The characters in this book, including a dog or two, and the series, are usually fun and make readers laugh. Bernie and Libby are one of a kind and might even be a bit too old-fashioned for today's modern world. They cater all sorts of events, and the recipes all sound delicious. They still live with their father, and even though they are well past the age when they need to do everything their parent tells them to, they generally allow their father to dictate much of their daily actions. The other characters in this series are interesting, and readers will like many of them, especially their father. They could use a change of setting, but readers get a good idea of what the town and their home look like.

In this installment to the series, I have to say that Bernie and Libby might want to rethink their business. It's fine to cater a dog wedding, but I wouldn’t want them to make a habit of it. The victim isn’t at all likable, and no one will be surprised when he is killed. The main suspect is expected and clearly has a motive, as do all the suspects. Unfortunately, the pacing in this book is a bit too slow. The evidence is far too easy to follow; however, the ending and the killer are simply not believable. I would like to see Bernie and Libby grow, but so far, they have avoided any growth over several of the latest books, and this is causing a problem on where to go with the series. I hope that A Catered Doggie Wedding isn’t the last book in this series as that would be disappointing, but I think it's time to change things and bring Bernie and Libby into the 21st century. Hopefully, they won’t cater more dog weddings in future volumes.
Profile Image for Marilyn.
23 reviews1 follower
July 29, 2022
I wanted to like this book. I truly did. However, I could not get past page 75. I'm not one to write reviews on books I don't finish, but the writing style didn't mesh well with me, and I found the author to use a lot of outdated viewpoints that really set me off. A lot of the characters this far into the book are women, and a lot of them were written to seem too emotional or crazy due to the circumstances around the threats/murders.

I didn't like some of the thoughts the main characters had surrounding other people, and the one that really got to me was the last sentence I read before I stopped reading. To give some background about this sentence, the characters were approaching a woman to talk to her to find out if she had any information about her missing/possibly dead neighbor. This woman was in her driveway taking groceries out of the back of her car.... "She looked tired, Bernie reflected. Washed out. Her blond hair needed a good brushing, and her face was bare of makeup. A little mascera and eyebrow liner would make a big difference...." Now, I don't know about you, but I don't put on mascera and eye liner to go to the grocery store. In the year 2022, are we still writing woman characters to bring down others??? Or to have this mentality that you need to wear makeup to look better??

The writing was very repetitve, and looking back now I remember there were a few other instances where a character thought badly about another character in that mentality, and it really just put me off so much that I couldn't bring myself to even finish that chapter. Huge bummer because I loved these types of mysteries when I was younger and was really excited to get back into them.
Profile Image for Bridget.
2,789 reviews131 followers
June 30, 2022
This is the seventeenth book in a series by Isis Crawford and my second.

Catering sisters Bernie and Libby Simmons are asked by their twenty-four-year-old counterman, Googie to cater a doggie wedding so they are providing the goodies for golden retrievers, Bertha and Erni owned by Jennie, Googie's girlfriend, as well as their canine guests and folks. But then bodies begin dropping...

Although I have been exceptionally late to the party in Isis Crawford's 'A Mystery with Recipes' series, I still found A Catered Doggie Wedding an enthralling, fun read. I loved the parts of the story that were set in A Little Taste of Heaven, the sisters' catering business. The character development is excellent, the plotline is well done and I was turning the pages late into the night. A humourous, compelling story of mystery and mayhem that has inspired me to read some of the other instalments.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel, at my own request, from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
Profile Image for Taryn.
1,107 reviews33 followers
June 28, 2022
Bernie and Libby have been asked to cater a doggie wedding, the cat wedding they were in charge of didn't go so well making the ladies hesitant to do a dog wedding. They end up agreeing to cater it because their counterman Googie is the one who asked for the favor. Googie's girlfriend Jenni is opening a doggie daycare and hopes a wedding for the grand opening will really be the business going. Soon all the people involved in the wedding start receiving threats. Bernie and Libby start looking into who is behind the threats when someone is murdered. Now its serious, the ladies must figure out who is behind it all before they end up murdered themselves. Can they put all the pieces together before someone else dies?
5,950 reviews67 followers
August 4, 2022
Sisters Bernie and Libby are asked to cater a doggie wedding to publicize the opening of a new dog daycare center. Since the center is the brainchild of their trusted counterman's new girlfriend Jennie, they agree, but soon everyone involved with the wedding, and the daycare center, are being threatened. Then Jennie finds a body and becomes the chief suspect, although it's clear to the sisters--and their retired police detective father--that someone is setting the young woman up for trouble. There are lots of suspects, a good thing for the reader if not for the detectives, but perhaps too many for comfort by the end of the book.
Profile Image for Jan.
6,531 reviews102 followers
March 2, 2022
A grand opening billed as a doggie wedding gets preceded by felony vandalism and murder. The dad is a retired cop, and the sisters are prone to sleuthing. I felt a little behind it and I'm not sure it can stand alone. A good character driven whodunit with more than enough red herrings.
I requested and received a free e-book copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you.
Profile Image for ☆☆Hannah☆☆.
3,182 reviews46 followers
June 30, 2023
This was a good mystery. Bernie and Libby are told that something has happened. However, a body isn't found right away. Now the sisters have to figure out who is behind it. Of course, they solve it and all is well for now.
2,290 reviews40 followers
March 21, 2022
Who could possibly be against a wedding, even if it is between two dogs. Apparently someone in town is against it and they’ve been sending threatening notes to stop the “Puptials”. Notes are one thing, but when bodies start dropping, it moves things beyond having a grumpy local to having a murderer.

The Simmons sisters are all over it, both the catering and the murder. Because someone has got to figure it out before the guest list grows even shorter.

A solid cozy series that has gotten better with each entry and leaves you wanting more. Come for the mystery, but stay for the wedding….you won’t regret it!
Profile Image for Shirley Ann Stevens.
219 reviews8 followers
March 15, 2022
Caterers and sisters Bernie and Libby Simmons, agree to cater a doggie wedding which will be held during the grand opening of a new doggie day care business. Jenni, the new owner, is going all out with her grand opening and hires a photographer and florist as well. Everyone Jenni hired for her event receive threatening letters and vandalism and murder soon follow. Bernie and Libby investigate and get their dad, a retired cop, to help as well. This was a very good read. Thank you NET GALLEY for the advance copy!
Profile Image for Kristen.
111 reviews9 followers
October 17, 2023
Sisters Bernie and Libby are back solving the murder mystery of two local residents before their friend’s dogs wedding is spoiled and her doggie day care is out of business. Great story, funny characters , highly recommend to all cozy mystery lovers and dog fanatics
Profile Image for Kim.
365 reviews3 followers
July 27, 2022
I always look forward to the next title in the series and this is the first one I didn't enjoy. Too many supporting characters that made the story confusing. Even Sean said "there were just a lot of players".
Profile Image for JoAnne McMaster (Any Good Book).
1,394 reviews27 followers
April 18, 2023
Bernie and Libby Simmons own a bakery called A Little Taste of Heaven, which used to be their late mother's. They're successful at it, and they live upstairs in an apartment along with their retired police chief father, Sean. One day at work, their employee Googie asks if they'd be willing to cater a dog wedding for his girlfriend Jennie's golden retrievers, Bertha and Ernie. Happy to do it, they want to see the space they'll be using.

Jennie is excited, but not about the fact that her business neighbor Rachel is trying to get rid of her any way she can. It's starting to cause problems, and unfortunately, Bernie and Libby are sucked right into the middle of it. Especially when Jennie's contractor, Tom Bannon, is found murdered and Jennie is the main suspect. When the women, along with the florist and photographer, begin to receive harassing messages, they vow to stick with it, even against the new police chief's threats. But when there's another murder, they're on a time limit to find a killer...who will have no qualms about killing again...

This is the seventeenth book in the series, and I have read most of them, and all of the latest. I have mixed feelings about this book (and I believe I mentioned it in other books as well). Bernie and Libby are apparently in their thirties, but they argue like teenagers. Which makes the next thing I mention make perfect sense: They have 'beaus' who apparently aren't really so. They never go on dates, never spend any time with them except at the local bar where Bernie's boyfriend Brandon is a bartender, or anything to do with a murder. I would have thought that their relationships would have progressed at this point. No talking about moving in together? Getting married? Are they going to be two old spinsters who own the local bakery? I know this doesn't bother others, but I like to see progression in mysteries. These have none.

I also don't really care for the cringe-worthy fact that they have no problem just going into someone's home and poking around. It might not be breaking and entering, but it's the next best thing to it. Surely there are other ways to get the information they crave. But other than the things I've mentioned above, I did enjoy the book. Enough that I would gladly read the next in the series. There's no doubt that they can figure out who the murderer is (almost a little too late, but that is also so in other series, so no big deal here). The ending was interesting, and the way it played out. I do like their father Sean and his friend Clyde quite a bit, and look forward to them being in each book.

The mystery was done well, as were the clues, and the time it took to solve it was no more than it should have been. Again, I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to the next by Ms. Crawford. Some of the recipes sounded yummy also and I may very well try them.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.
Profile Image for June Price.
Author 7 books81 followers
March 31, 2022
It sounds like an innocuous, cutesy idea. Have a doggie wedding to celebrate and promote the opening of a new doggie day care in town. What could go wrong? A great deal, actually.

Bernie and Libby brush off an email warning them not to get involved with the promotion. After all, most weddings have their share of drama and surprises....but no one expects murder. Vandalism is bad enough, and it spreads, but murder? Over a goofy doggie wedding promo? Or is something else involved?

There are countless twists and turns, then twists and turns back on the twists and turns as the plot progresses. The story moves along nicely and it would be difficult not to like Bernie and Libby. They seem to maintain their composure and rapid-fire senses of humor no matter what. True sisters, brave and there for each other although Bernie seems to be the gutsier one. Will they believe Jennie when she claims to have seen Tom's dead body in his car, only for no signs of either when the police show up? What could have happened to the body? Is the disturbed grave in the cemetery connected? Who is watching them? Who called the police on Jennie when they do find the missing car and body? Would you have had the guts to walk into the dead man's home and look around? What's with the sawdust on the floor? Well, he did work construction, right? Why are Bernie and Libby out in a violent wind storm?

And.... oh, so much more. I don't want to ruin the story for you so will only say, well, read the book. You'll enjoy the quirky, funny, and, oh, so likeable characters and find yourself quickly caught up in what turns out to be an intriguing plot.

Thanks #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for inviting me to visit with Bernie and Libby again. It's been awhile since I've drifted into their world. Loved the dog and recipes, too. Looking forward to their next adventure now that I've been reintroduced to them.
Profile Image for Susan.
1,561 reviews19 followers
June 12, 2022
Bernie and Libby cater all manner of events for both humans and pets so they are happy to cater the upcoming wedding of Bertha and Ernie, the 8 month old Goldens owned by Jennie who is opening a doggie daycare business. Everything looks like it's going to be a fun event with lots of guests, flowers, good food and even a photographer. Not so fast - it turns out that somebody in town isn't best pleased with the new business or could it be that it's an objection to puppers tying the knot? In any case things go from threats to those involved with the wedding to full blown murder. The event has gone to the dogs and it's Bernie and Libby to the rescue. This isn't their first investigation and the killer will soon be unmasked.
I have read this series since the first book and the whole series is great fun. Well crafted mysteries with wonderful characters - Libby, Bernie, their Dad, the retired cop - it's like enjoying a letter from friends catching me up on what's been happening since the last letter. I've set aside a space on my TBR shelf for more books in the series.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Tari.
3,634 reviews103 followers
June 28, 2022
Another fun and lots of the time funny adventure with Libby and Bernie! Those two never disappoint in how they just crack me up with their crazy banter, and the banter among other characters is always priceless and sometimes great comic relief! I just love their dad and I get such a kick out of Clyde, his police friend who slips them info sometimes in exchange for food and yummy baked items his wife won't let him have, lol.

This was one twisty mystery with more suspects and red herrings as it progressed, not to mention more bodies. What started the whole things was kinda cool as Libby and Bernie found out later...but meeting up with a killer wasn't so cool. Reinforcements came just in time though, and the dog wedding was saved from being scrapped. I was happy that everyone who wasn't a killer but might've done something they'd regret ended up having to account for that.

Everything was wrapped up and explained at the end and of course, one of the goldens, Bertha or Ernie or maybe one of the doggie guests stole the last funny scene.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
2,227 reviews30 followers
July 21, 2022
Princess Fuzzypants here: Bernie and Libby’s employee asks them to cater an event his girlfriend is throwing to celebrate the opening of her doggy day care. Jenny’s two golden retrievers will be the bride and groom but it looks like there are people who want to prevent the wedding and the opening. The most obvious one is the woman who owns a very posh dress shop who thinks a doggy day care will bring down the tenor of the plaza. While she clearly does not like the dogs, both Libby and Bernie suspect there is more to it.

When two murders occur and Jenny is seen as the prime suspect, the ladies get their father and his police friends to help them investigate. It was a bit of a dog’s breakfast with a large cast of characters and plenty of red herrings to muddy up the water. There were so many moving pieces, the real story, ergo the real villains, are not revealed until the end. And it turned out to be quite a complicated mixture. And of course, as is always the case with this series, the two sisters bicker their way through the entire story. Not my favourite of the series so I am giving it four purrs and one paw up.
Profile Image for Johnna.
41 reviews9 followers
June 27, 2022
When a new doggy daycare is about to open the owner decides to commemorate the opening with a doggie wedding. Enter full time restauranteur/ catering sisters Libby and Bernie,who along with a photographer and florist the wedding grand opening plans are set to open with a splash. Someone out there doesn't want this to happen and soon threats and vandalism stress that they are serious. Then a murder takes place and the sisters set out to solve the crime and keep the wedding and opening on schedule.

Latest entry in the long running series by Iris Crawford does not disappoint. I like both the quirky sisters and their ex- policeman father, who both encourages and helps rein in the sometimes over enthusiastic sleuthing pair. A solid 4star read on goodreads.
I received this book free from #netgalley for a fair and honest review.
738 reviews5 followers
August 17, 2022
A Catered Doggie Wedding
Libby and Bernie, sisters, business partners, and amateur sleuths, receive the most unusual catering request yet, a doggie daycare wedding. Surely you are intrigued…if not, you will be as you are drawn into this story right away by the viciousness and lengths that an unknown assailant goes to get the event canceled. If the assailant thinks that Libby and are going to scared off, they are very wrong, in fact, I think it spurs them on even more to get to the bottom of things. The sisters have a great relationship which is evident in the quality and type of banter that they regularly engage in during conversations and brainstorming. Did I mention recipes, such as Pears Poached in Red Wine or Mango, Avocado and Shrimp Salad.
Profile Image for Mayda.
3,835 reviews65 followers
September 28, 2022
This is a fun read, if you can call a murder mystery fun. Libby and Bernie are catering a doggie wedding, which might be hard to take seriously. But when the people involved with the wedding are targeted with malicious mischief and other acts of violence which ultimately end with murder, the sisters are on the trail of the killer, to exonerate their friend. They don’t mind stretching the law to the breaking point, sometimes even seeking the help of their father, a former cop, to use his influence for information. Sometimes the sisters have more luck than sense, and they don’t let locked doors or dangerous people stop them in their quest. It’s a quick read, and the fact that it is so unreal makes it all the more entertaining.
Profile Image for Renjay.
50 reviews
November 21, 2023
Bernie and Libby are sisters who run an eatery and are asked by their employee to cater a dog wedding/doggy daycare opening for his girlfriend. However someone doesn't like the idea and soon nasty notes, slashed tyres and dead bodies appear...

A cute cosy mystery though the author has an annoying habit of re-using the word "countered". I liked there was character with my name.

Although fictitious, it is a bit unrealistic that Bernie and Libby can easily and regularly get into buildings and houses to snoop and question potential suspects when they aren't in law enforcement. Their Dad Sean used to work in the police force and gives his theories on the case, when you'd think he'd discourage his daughters from getting involved in police matters. Overall an easy read
11.4k reviews192 followers
June 18, 2022
Who doesn't want the doggie wedding between two golden retrievers to go forward? Or, is someone really upset about the new doggie day care? That's the question sisters Bernie and Libby, who have agreed to cater the party, must answer because now someone's not only sending them nasty notes, there's been a murder! It's a classic cozy with two sisters and their dad, a retired law enforcement officer, finding not only the villain but the reasoning behind the crime. Although this is the latest in a series, it should be fine as a standalone. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's a classic cozy with enough red herrings to keep you guessing.
Profile Image for Margie.
1,714 reviews26 followers
June 26, 2022
A Catered Doggie Wedding By Isis Crawford is book #17 in the Mystery with Recipes series. Bernie and Libby Simmons get involved with solving another murder when Googie, their counterman at their business, A Little Taste of Heaven and his girlfriend Jennie ask them for their help when Jennie is suspected of murder. This case gets complicated and Bernie and Libby really have to do a lot of sleuthing to solve it. I like the two main characters, Bernie and Libby. I find their bantering and bickering back and forth quite entertaining. This was a fun whodunit to read and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
Profile Image for Ileana Renfroe.
Author 45 books60 followers
February 16, 2022
We have a winner folks!

A Catered Doggie Wedding is the perfect cozy mystery with well-crafted characters and recipes!!!

Libby and Bernie jump at the opportunity to cater the grand opening for Jennie's new doggie daycare. However, things go array when bodies start dropping. So, they decide the only way to find the killer is by investigating.

Can't wait to read more by this author in the future.
Profile Image for Leith Devine.
1,658 reviews98 followers
August 12, 2022
Another charming book starring Bernie and Libby Simmons. Their bakery A Taste of Heavy is catering a dog wedding in this book, but as usual they have to investigate a murder or two. Their dad, former police chief of Longley, helps them out.
The characters are predictably quirky and the plot is fun. The only thing that annoyed me was the repetition, I felt like sometimes the dialogue was just filler.
I liked it, 3.5 stars.
Profile Image for Lacey Harrington.
372 reviews8 followers
March 22, 2022
When Bernie and Libby Simmons, sisters and co-owners of A Little Taste of Heaven, are hired to cater a doggie wedding for a pair of posh golden retrievers, they wind up stepping into a fresh murder investigation! Overall I enjoyed the mystery. The characters are well developed and a wonderful setting.
#ACateredDoggieWedding #NetGalley
Profile Image for Chelsea .
917 reviews9 followers
April 4, 2022
Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of A Catered Doggie Wedding by Isis Crawford in exchange for an honest review. This was a fun story with a doggy wedding driving the whole thing. Acts of vandalism begin after the announcement and then deaths follow. It's up to Bernie and Libby to get to the bottom of matters. This was a fun, easy read and the recipes looked great.
Profile Image for Renee Winter.
465 reviews18 followers
April 20, 2022
Quirky characters and an intriguing story plot await readers with this read. What's more delightful than a canine wedding? When murder happens it's up to sisters, Bernie and Libby Simmons to ferret out the killer. A great addition to a fun series! Thanks #netgalley and #Keningston for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are.
Profile Image for Leah.
1,976 reviews
August 30, 2022
June

This story involves a dog wedding, a dog day care, vandalism, theft, and murder. The story went in a direction I wasn't expecting it to go. I wasn't surprised by who the killer was. I liked the wedding part, but I was hoping it would be a bigger part of the story. I still like the sisters, but I didn't like their dad as much in this book.
439 reviews5 followers
October 7, 2022
A fun, interesting, cozy mystery.
When sisters Bernie and Libby cater a doggie wedding, things get a little out of hand. First some vandalism and threats, and of Course a body. They can't resist some sleuthing to see who is behind all the mayhem.
Fun characters, loved the dad. Cute plot. Overall, enjoyable story.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews

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