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Molly Madison #2
Playing Dead
Molly Madison is back to solve another doggone difficult murder in her California community in this mystery from the author of A Deadly Bone to Pick.
Molly Madison has barely had a moment to catch her breath after moving to the sleepy beach town she now calls home. But as a former PI, she can’t help but notice the odd chemistry between members of Playtime Academy on the first day she and her loyal Saint Bernadoodle, Noodle, and golden retriever, Harlow, visit. When a trainer’s body is found on-site, Molly knows it’s her duty to put her ex-police skills to use. She can’t say no to temporarily taking in the deceased woman’s dog, either—not with those puppy dog eyes.
Relationships at the training facility are not as clean as the prize-winning agility runs, making it difficult for Molly to get a leash on potential suspects. And her personal life is just as messy—her boyfriend is hiding something, her agoraphobic neighbor needs help, and her number of four-legged friends keep growing as she agrees to dogsit a wriggly local French bulldog.
When Molly’s friend is arrested for the murder, she’s not sure who to believe anymore. Is the case as simple as the local cops make it seem, or is something more devious afoot?
Molly Madison has barely had a moment to catch her breath after moving to the sleepy beach town she now calls home. But as a former PI, she can’t help but notice the odd chemistry between members of Playtime Academy on the first day she and her loyal Saint Bernadoodle, Noodle, and golden retriever, Harlow, visit. When a trainer’s body is found on-site, Molly knows it’s her duty to put her ex-police skills to use. She can’t say no to temporarily taking in the deceased woman’s dog, either—not with those puppy dog eyes.
Relationships at the training facility are not as clean as the prize-winning agility runs, making it difficult for Molly to get a leash on potential suspects. And her personal life is just as messy—her boyfriend is hiding something, her agoraphobic neighbor needs help, and her number of four-legged friends keep growing as she agrees to dogsit a wriggly local French bulldog.
When Molly’s friend is arrested for the murder, she’s not sure who to believe anymore. Is the case as simple as the local cops make it seem, or is something more devious afoot?
304 pages, Hardcover
First published February 7, 2023
21 people are currently reading
258 people want to read
About the author
Peggy Rothschild
11 books127 followers I'm an author, mystery-lover, friend of the feline, and avid gardener.
After losing our home in a California wildfire, we moved to the Central Coast where the hiking trails and birds are plentiful!
After losing our home in a California wildfire, we moved to the Central Coast where the hiking trails and birds are plentiful!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
January 4, 2023
Playing Dead by Peggy Rothschild is a 2023 Berkley publication.
This second installment of the series dog-trainer Molly Madison pays a visit to the Playtime Academy for dogs- then promptly discovers one of the trainers, a very nasty human being, has been murdered.
When one of Molly's new friends is arrested for the murder, she agrees to do a little digging on her behalf.
I enjoyed this mystery, overall- I liked the way the author shines a light on the world of dog training- and I like the recurring characters, as well. The mystery is solid enough, though some might guess early on who the murderer is- the motive doesn’t become clear until late in the novel.
There were a few warbles here and there and the book was a little too busy at times, but though it was a little choppy, the threads all come together nicely in the end.
Overall, the series holds its own with the second chapter. It’s an easy read, and dog lovers will appreciate the various breeds represented and Molly’s dedication to them.
3.5 stars
*Content: I put this book on my 'mystery' shelf-but not as a cozy- still the book is marketed as such. The book has no graphic violence- but it does have some 'closed-door' adult situations and some mild, albeit a bit too frequent, language. Though many cozies are super 'clean', this one is still temperate enough for most cozy fans.
This second installment of the series dog-trainer Molly Madison pays a visit to the Playtime Academy for dogs- then promptly discovers one of the trainers, a very nasty human being, has been murdered.
When one of Molly's new friends is arrested for the murder, she agrees to do a little digging on her behalf.
I enjoyed this mystery, overall- I liked the way the author shines a light on the world of dog training- and I like the recurring characters, as well. The mystery is solid enough, though some might guess early on who the murderer is- the motive doesn’t become clear until late in the novel.
There were a few warbles here and there and the book was a little too busy at times, but though it was a little choppy, the threads all come together nicely in the end.
Overall, the series holds its own with the second chapter. It’s an easy read, and dog lovers will appreciate the various breeds represented and Molly’s dedication to them.
3.5 stars
*Content: I put this book on my 'mystery' shelf-but not as a cozy- still the book is marketed as such. The book has no graphic violence- but it does have some 'closed-door' adult situations and some mild, albeit a bit too frequent, language. Though many cozies are super 'clean', this one is still temperate enough for most cozy fans.
May 8, 2025
Playing Dead is a cozy mystery that has as many dogs in it as people. Or so it seems. It’s the second in the Molly Madison series. Molly is a former police officer, now a dog trainer. She takes her two dogs to a dog training center and sure enough, one finds a dead body. She ends up taking the dead woman’s dog since the husband is out of town. Then, basically since she can’t say no when a dog is involved, she ends up taking care of two more. And a kitten.
The book is filled with interesting scenes about dog training and the benefits humans get from dogs. In fact, the book is one long advertisement for dog parenthood, if you’re willing to invest the time, that is. People unwilling to commit to their pets are the nasty cliches you’d expect.
The victim wasn’t very likeable so there are plenty of suspects, although the police focus on one woman to the exclusion of all others. So, Molly feels obligated to investigate on her own.
This is a pretty basic mystery other than the dog scenes. It works when you don’t want anything deep or complicated. That said, I’m not sure I’ll be continuing with this series.
I listened to this and Therese Plummer was just adequate as the narrator.
The book is filled with interesting scenes about dog training and the benefits humans get from dogs. In fact, the book is one long advertisement for dog parenthood, if you’re willing to invest the time, that is. People unwilling to commit to their pets are the nasty cliches you’d expect.
The victim wasn’t very likeable so there are plenty of suspects, although the police focus on one woman to the exclusion of all others. So, Molly feels obligated to investigate on her own.
This is a pretty basic mystery other than the dog scenes. It works when you don’t want anything deep or complicated. That said, I’m not sure I’ll be continuing with this series.
I listened to this and Therese Plummer was just adequate as the narrator.
December 26, 2022
"Playing Dead" is a cozy mystery. It's the second book in a series. You don't need to read the previous book to understand this one, but this story gave pretty strong clues about whodunit in the previous novel.
Molly's an ex-cop and retired private investigator, and she still has access to P.I. research tools. She's currently training dogs, mostly her own on agility runs during this story. The details about what goes into dog agility training was interesting. Molly's scent dog found a murdered woman near a scent-finding course. She stayed out of the investigation until a new friend was arrested for that murder. Then she looked around and asked questions, then passed this information on to the police so that any evidence could be properly collected. You can guess whodunit from the clues, and Molly generally understood the clues as quickly as the reader might. The main characters were engaging and acted realistically. I love the young, smart girl, and there's plenty of dogs.
There were no graphic sex scenes (implied but not shown). There was some bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this engaging, interesting mystery.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
Molly's an ex-cop and retired private investigator, and she still has access to P.I. research tools. She's currently training dogs, mostly her own on agility runs during this story. The details about what goes into dog agility training was interesting. Molly's scent dog found a murdered woman near a scent-finding course. She stayed out of the investigation until a new friend was arrested for that murder. Then she looked around and asked questions, then passed this information on to the police so that any evidence could be properly collected. You can guess whodunit from the clues, and Molly generally understood the clues as quickly as the reader might. The main characters were engaging and acted realistically. I love the young, smart girl, and there's plenty of dogs.
There were no graphic sex scenes (implied but not shown). There was some bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this engaging, interesting mystery.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
March 13, 2023
Pros: Solid mystery with enjoyable detecting. And as a new pup parent, I paid extra attention to the dog stuff, of which there was a lot of useful information, especially about agility and scent training.
Cons: if you're not into dog stuff, this book may have too much of that for you.
Bonus: Noodle is a star.
Warning: sad dog part.
Cons: if you're not into dog stuff, this book may have too much of that for you.
Bonus: Noodle is a star.
Warning: sad dog part.
December 26, 2023
Playing Dead is the second book in the Molly Madison series. Molly is a former police officer and private investigator. She relocated to California, and can’t keep herself from trying to solve murders in her community.
While visiting the Playtime Academy dog training facility, Molly’s dog discovers a dead body. Molly gets involved in the investigation when a friend is suspected of the murder.
A light and charming mystery. Recommended for readers who enjoy cozy mysteries with dogs.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
While visiting the Playtime Academy dog training facility, Molly’s dog discovers a dead body. Molly gets involved in the investigation when a friend is suspected of the murder.
A light and charming mystery. Recommended for readers who enjoy cozy mysteries with dogs.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 17, 2023
such a fun and easy read. not like the typical mystery, this one was light hearted and cozy
February 16, 2024
I feel like I'm the one playing dead after reading this book. So many unnecessary details and a ridiculous excuse for a so-called "ending". If you're looking for a fun murder mystery, this is not it, by any of those accounts. So disappointing after the 1st book.
March 11, 2023
calling all dog lovers! this one’s for you!🐾 i wish i had a pup of my own to pose with these books… someday!🤞
anyways! I really, really enjoyed this book. it’s a nice lil mystery that follows the story of Molly, a former cop/PI who is now a proclaimed dog wrangler.
as someone who hopes to have a fur baby in the future, it was honestly really cool to learn about how Molly was constantly working with the dogs.
peeking out behind Playing Dead is the other book in the series: A Deadly Bone to Pick. although this is a series, Playing Dead was more or less a stand-alone. i can’t wait to read ADBTP!🦴
the only thing i struggled with was keeping track of all the character and dog names, but i got the hang of it a little over halfway through.
anyways! I really, really enjoyed this book. it’s a nice lil mystery that follows the story of Molly, a former cop/PI who is now a proclaimed dog wrangler.
as someone who hopes to have a fur baby in the future, it was honestly really cool to learn about how Molly was constantly working with the dogs.
peeking out behind Playing Dead is the other book in the series: A Deadly Bone to Pick. although this is a series, Playing Dead was more or less a stand-alone. i can’t wait to read ADBTP!🦴
the only thing i struggled with was keeping track of all the character and dog names, but i got the hang of it a little over halfway through.
April 12, 2023
Unputdownable fun! Peggy Rothschild has delivered again with Playing Dead. This is a book I read in one glorious afternoon and, unlike so many mysteries, I know I will be coming back to it in the future to try to recapture that joy. Rothschild's characters are not only three dimensional but I suspect I already know them...possibly from right down the street. They just feel like both friends and enemies, depending upon the character, I know in the real world. And the dogs? Rothschild must be writing from her own knowledge of the pleasures and foibles of each breed. I especially appreciate that the dogs are essential to the story and not just written in for background ornamentation.
The plot of Playing Dead clips right along and several times it was turned in directions I was not expecting. The author has just the right feel for pacing which added to the "unputdownableness" (lol) of the book. I really liked A Deadly Bone to Pick, the first book in the Molly Madison series, but I LOVE Playing Dead. Grab the drink of your choice, a comfy chair (preferably in the shade while enjoying the arrival of Spring), and set aside the rest of the day to read this book. You won't regret it.
The plot of Playing Dead clips right along and several times it was turned in directions I was not expecting. The author has just the right feel for pacing which added to the "unputdownableness" (lol) of the book. I really liked A Deadly Bone to Pick, the first book in the Molly Madison series, but I LOVE Playing Dead. Grab the drink of your choice, a comfy chair (preferably in the shade while enjoying the arrival of Spring), and set aside the rest of the day to read this book. You won't regret it.
April 23, 2023
Too much with the "Saint Bernadoodle," too much with the unnecessary details of the day-to-day, too much with the entitlement of questioning people and intimidating them because of being nosey. You're not a cop anymore, Molly. You're not even a licensed and legal private eye in California... stop acting like people are required to tell you any damn thing. Molly seems to think she's the only one around capable of solving a crime, or even helping a friend. Too much with her being full of herself, and too much with her sarcastic and off-putting go-to answer to 90% of the questions she's asked. Am I giving up on this series? Yuuuup.
April 17, 2023
What breed is Noodle? Idk if the author ever mentions it...
May 2, 2023
Second in the series. Molly is busy with her dogs, taking care of her friend, J.D., and keeping busy with her various side assignments of training with people and their dogs. I like the way this author interacts with the people their problem and also how to interact with their dogs and what would work the best for them. Unfortunately at a dog run she had sign up in for her dog, Noodle, he basically goes off course and finds a body which was one of the dog trainer's. I did like the interaction with her and animals and the different breeds. Also a good combination of mystery and learning about dog habits.
July 10, 2023
A simple mystery, a cute story especially if you are a dog lover.
June 20, 2023
Ex police officer Molly Madison is adjusting to her new life in California as a dog wrangler and is going to the Playtime Academy for Dogs for the first time. Although still hurting from an unfaithful spouse and the recent murder of a neighbor, Molly has made friends with some dog people in her neighborhood. Unfortunately, at her and dogs Noodles and Harlow first competition, a rather nasty woman is killed, and Molly's new acquaintance is accused. There are plenty of people the victim had hurt or annoyed, so Molly has her hands full. Dogs are the heart of Rothschild's mystery series, but Molly is a likeable character and her child pupil Ava, and her dog agoraphobic neighbor J.D., should engage reader's attention. This is the second book in the series so please go back and read "A Deadly Bone to Pick" although it is not completely necessary.
August 8, 2023
Ok, so this mystery with dogs is written by an author who knows dogs and dog sports. Really, really well. I would like for the human to be more likable.
August 15, 2024
Easy read for the "Dog days of Summer". Yes, it has dogs in it. LOL
February 7, 2023
Playing Dead by Peggy Rothschild is the 2nd book in her Molly Madison series. Molly Madison, our heroine, is a former ex-cop and private investigator, who moved recently to the small beach side town, Pier Point, California. Molly has two dogs that she trains, Harlow and Noodle, and in a short time, she adds a couple more to help train for some neighbors. She brings her dogs to a training facility, Playtime Academy for agility and scent training, also meeting new people with dogs. Molly meets many different people, but overhears complaints from others about a nasty member. In a short time, during scent training, Noodle will find the body of a murdered woman, who was Celeste, the person everyone hated.
Trying to stay out of the investigation, Molly agrees to take care of Celeste’s dog, and ends up becoming permanent, since the husband wants nothing to do with the dog, Buster. When Felicity is accused of murder, Molly begins to use her investigative knowledge and find the real killer. Along the way, she finds clues that possibly incriminate a number of people, with the police not too happy with Molly giving them information. With all that going on, Molly’s life is crazy, investigating the murder, discovering her boyfriend being married, and also taking on the job to take care of another dog, Sky during the day.
What follows is an exciting, fun cozy mystery with many possible suspects, and a surprise game changing ending. I did like some of the secondary characters, but I loved the wonderful dogs (Harlow, Noodle, Buster, Sky and Thor). It was wonderful to watch how Molly was so good with the dogs and the fun they had. The last third of the book was exciting and tense, as Molly discovers the truth. Playing Dead was a fun cozy mystery, that was very well written by Peggy Rothschild. If you like lighthearted, cozy, mystery, suspense stories, you need to read this book.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
Trying to stay out of the investigation, Molly agrees to take care of Celeste’s dog, and ends up becoming permanent, since the husband wants nothing to do with the dog, Buster. When Felicity is accused of murder, Molly begins to use her investigative knowledge and find the real killer. Along the way, she finds clues that possibly incriminate a number of people, with the police not too happy with Molly giving them information. With all that going on, Molly’s life is crazy, investigating the murder, discovering her boyfriend being married, and also taking on the job to take care of another dog, Sky during the day.
What follows is an exciting, fun cozy mystery with many possible suspects, and a surprise game changing ending. I did like some of the secondary characters, but I loved the wonderful dogs (Harlow, Noodle, Buster, Sky and Thor). It was wonderful to watch how Molly was so good with the dogs and the fun they had. The last third of the book was exciting and tense, as Molly discovers the truth. Playing Dead was a fun cozy mystery, that was very well written by Peggy Rothschild. If you like lighthearted, cozy, mystery, suspense stories, you need to read this book.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
March 12, 2023
Happy Dogs + Training Tips + Mayhem & Murder
Playing Dead has it all packaged in the Days of Molly Madison, Dog Wrangler & Curious Detective. So many curves and dysfunctional humans functioning! Thank Fido! Molly can keep her furry wards de-stressed. Fun read!
Playing Dead has it all packaged in the Days of Molly Madison, Dog Wrangler & Curious Detective. So many curves and dysfunctional humans functioning! Thank Fido! Molly can keep her furry wards de-stressed. Fun read!
February 21, 2023
Playing Dead
Molly Madison, Book #2
Peggy Rothschild
5 Stars
Synopsis:
Molly Madison is back to solve another doggone difficult murder in her California community in this mystery from the author of A Deadly Bone to Pick.
Molly Madison has barely had a moment to catch her breath after moving to the sleepy beach town she now calls home. But as a former PI, she can’t help but notice the odd chemistry between members of Playtime Academy on the first day she and her loyal Saint Bernadoodle, Noodle, and golden retriever, Harlow, visit. When a trainer’s body is found on-site, Molly knows it’s her duty to put her ex-police skills to use. She can’t say no to temporarily taking in the deceased woman’s dog, either—not with those puppy dog eyes.
Relationships at the training facility are not as clean as the prize-winning agility runs, making it difficult for Molly to get a leash on potential suspects. And her personal life is just as messy—her boyfriend is hiding something, her agoraphobic neighbor needs help, and her number of four-legged friends keep growing as she agrees to dogsit a wriggly local French bulldog.
When Molly’s friend is arrested for the murder, she’s not sure who to believe anymore. Is the case as simple as the local cops make it seem, or is something more devious afoot? (Amazon)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Molly is very content to take care of her dogs, training them and loving them. She enjoys spending time with J. D. her agoraphobic neighbor and her genius young friend, Ava. When a trainer’s body is found dead at the training site, Molly will try to solve the mystery with the help of her friends
The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions helped me enjoy the book immensely. I really enjoyed seeing all of Molly’s animals. Noodle is my favorite, especially with all of his drool. Molly had quite a lot of animals at any given time and that was quite enjoyable. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The mystery was well plotted and there were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider. I was not sure of the culprit until the very end.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well rounded cozy mystery. I am sad that I finished reading this book because now I have to wait for the next one, and I am not a very patient person.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
Molly Madison, Book #2
Peggy Rothschild
5 Stars
Synopsis:
Molly Madison is back to solve another doggone difficult murder in her California community in this mystery from the author of A Deadly Bone to Pick.
Molly Madison has barely had a moment to catch her breath after moving to the sleepy beach town she now calls home. But as a former PI, she can’t help but notice the odd chemistry between members of Playtime Academy on the first day she and her loyal Saint Bernadoodle, Noodle, and golden retriever, Harlow, visit. When a trainer’s body is found on-site, Molly knows it’s her duty to put her ex-police skills to use. She can’t say no to temporarily taking in the deceased woman’s dog, either—not with those puppy dog eyes.
Relationships at the training facility are not as clean as the prize-winning agility runs, making it difficult for Molly to get a leash on potential suspects. And her personal life is just as messy—her boyfriend is hiding something, her agoraphobic neighbor needs help, and her number of four-legged friends keep growing as she agrees to dogsit a wriggly local French bulldog.
When Molly’s friend is arrested for the murder, she’s not sure who to believe anymore. Is the case as simple as the local cops make it seem, or is something more devious afoot? (Amazon)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Molly is very content to take care of her dogs, training them and loving them. She enjoys spending time with J. D. her agoraphobic neighbor and her genius young friend, Ava. When a trainer’s body is found dead at the training site, Molly will try to solve the mystery with the help of her friends
The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions helped me enjoy the book immensely. I really enjoyed seeing all of Molly’s animals. Noodle is my favorite, especially with all of his drool. Molly had quite a lot of animals at any given time and that was quite enjoyable. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The mystery was well plotted and there were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider. I was not sure of the culprit until the very end.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well rounded cozy mystery. I am sad that I finished reading this book because now I have to wait for the next one, and I am not a very patient person.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
March 14, 2025
================================
***This is so important I’m putting it at the top of my review.***
NO NO NO NO NO!! She left her dogs outside when she left town to go to another city nearby. NO!
Don’t ever do that! People steal purebred dogs to sell. They take mutts to sell to unscrupulous labs who ignore regulations. Both of these have happened in my area. Dogs also find ways to get out. People let them out accidentally when checking the meter or if their ball goes into the yard. Some will throw poisoned meat because they don’t like how much the dog barks or throw in drugged meat to break into your house. The dogs also have an unfamiliar dog with them. Is he a digger? Is there a weak spot in your fence? The dogs could decide they don’t like the interloper and get into a fight. You aren’t there to know. It’s worse if you’re out of town because you can’t back fast if a neighbor calls or someone finds the dog that escaped.
She also okayed her neighbor going surfing while leaving the dog on the beach. Have the dog out in public and too far to grab him? It’s a dog beach. It’s not safe to leave him around unknown dogs. Tying the dog down makes him more vulnerable. Letting him run, the dog can easily attack another dog or get caught up in a gang of dogs playing too rough or someone can accuse him of hurting their dog. In addition to all the dogs possibly being injured, you would be liable. You can’t call the dog away. ***Never be out of control of your dog! It’s very dangerous!***
================================
This was definitely better than the first one. The mystery wasn’t complicated. The woman was murdered and everyone despised her. There wasn’t even anyone dissenting to make it interesting. But the reasons varied and people’s reticence to talk drew the mystery out. On top of that, there were two other mysteries, one tiny, one medium-large. All together, they made the book quite entertaining.
What I didn’t like was what happened with her boyfriend. I do like her friendship with J.T. I’m on the fence about her relationship with Ana. I do like where the series is going given what happened in this book.
The narrator, Therese Plummer, is really good. She does both men and women’s voices well. She doesn’t have the biggest variety but her narration voice is perfect, not too down and not too up, not too melancholy and not too cheery. It works for all kinds of situations.
Warning: A stranger’s dog off page is killed and it’s relevant to the plot.
***This is so important I’m putting it at the top of my review.***
NO NO NO NO NO!! She left her dogs outside when she left town to go to another city nearby. NO!
Don’t ever do that! People steal purebred dogs to sell. They take mutts to sell to unscrupulous labs who ignore regulations. Both of these have happened in my area. Dogs also find ways to get out. People let them out accidentally when checking the meter or if their ball goes into the yard. Some will throw poisoned meat because they don’t like how much the dog barks or throw in drugged meat to break into your house. The dogs also have an unfamiliar dog with them. Is he a digger? Is there a weak spot in your fence? The dogs could decide they don’t like the interloper and get into a fight. You aren’t there to know. It’s worse if you’re out of town because you can’t back fast if a neighbor calls or someone finds the dog that escaped.
She also okayed her neighbor going surfing while leaving the dog on the beach. Have the dog out in public and too far to grab him? It’s a dog beach. It’s not safe to leave him around unknown dogs. Tying the dog down makes him more vulnerable. Letting him run, the dog can easily attack another dog or get caught up in a gang of dogs playing too rough or someone can accuse him of hurting their dog. In addition to all the dogs possibly being injured, you would be liable. You can’t call the dog away. ***Never be out of control of your dog! It’s very dangerous!***
================================
This was definitely better than the first one. The mystery wasn’t complicated. The woman was murdered and everyone despised her. There wasn’t even anyone dissenting to make it interesting. But the reasons varied and people’s reticence to talk drew the mystery out. On top of that, there were two other mysteries, one tiny, one medium-large. All together, they made the book quite entertaining.
What I didn’t like was what happened with her boyfriend. I do like her friendship with J.T. I’m on the fence about her relationship with Ana. I do like where the series is going given what happened in this book.
The narrator, Therese Plummer, is really good. She does both men and women’s voices well. She doesn’t have the biggest variety but her narration voice is perfect, not too down and not too up, not too melancholy and not too cheery. It works for all kinds of situations.
Warning: A stranger’s dog off page is killed and it’s relevant to the plot.
June 2, 2024
I wasn’t sure I’d read more than the first book but this second was available immediately and other books I’m waiting for were not available yet so I decided to read this book right after I’d read the first book.
An off the page “animal loving vegan’ character is mentioned by the main character. It’s just a single reference but it’s done in a positive way so I’ll note it here.
I would like fewer mentions of one dog’s drooling. Okay the reader gets it. This is a dog breed that drools.
A kitten and additional dogs make appearances. How many more dogs are going to be possible; I wonder? Still, more dogs, all of these dogs are fun and the story/series is enjoyable. It’s both entertaining and educational.
I appreciate the way one character’s mental health challenge (agoraphobia) is addressed although no professional help seems to be utilized.
This is a well crafted mystery. I liked the solution and the serious story behind it. I like the shades of gray vs. black & white regarding the victim and the murderer.
I am troubled by something our main character and her friend seem to decide to do at the end of the book though even though a part of my loves the idea. This action isn’t related to the murder. It’s about a dog, of course. The motivation is good but the means to the end bother me. It’s the right outcome but I wish they’d thought of another way to accomplish it.
This is a great mystery series for dog lovers. It might be the best one of its subgenre that I’ve read.
There are only these two series books so far. I plan to read any others that become available. I hope that Ava has a larger role in the next book. She’s an interesting child.
The author lost her home in a California wildfire and moved to the central coastal California town of Los Osos. I had to look it up. I hadn’t heard of it but it turns out it’s close in proximity to places I do know. I’m sure the town in this book is based on it. I know people say this sort of thing all the time but I REALLY would LOVE to live there. At the least I’d like to visit on my way down the Los Angeles area next time I drive down there. Hopefully I will be doing that again at some point.
An off the page “animal loving vegan’ character is mentioned by the main character. It’s just a single reference but it’s done in a positive way so I’ll note it here.
I would like fewer mentions of one dog’s drooling. Okay the reader gets it. This is a dog breed that drools.
A kitten and additional dogs make appearances. How many more dogs are going to be possible; I wonder? Still, more dogs, all of these dogs are fun and the story/series is enjoyable. It’s both entertaining and educational.
I appreciate the way one character’s mental health challenge (agoraphobia) is addressed although no professional help seems to be utilized.
This is a well crafted mystery. I liked the solution and the serious story behind it. I like the shades of gray vs. black & white regarding the victim and the murderer.
I am troubled by something our main character and her friend seem to decide to do at the end of the book though even though a part of my loves the idea. This action isn’t related to the murder. It’s about a dog, of course. The motivation is good but the means to the end bother me. It’s the right outcome but I wish they’d thought of another way to accomplish it.
This is a great mystery series for dog lovers. It might be the best one of its subgenre that I’ve read.
There are only these two series books so far. I plan to read any others that become available. I hope that Ava has a larger role in the next book. She’s an interesting child.
The author lost her home in a California wildfire and moved to the central coastal California town of Los Osos. I had to look it up. I hadn’t heard of it but it turns out it’s close in proximity to places I do know. I’m sure the town in this book is based on it. I know people say this sort of thing all the time but I REALLY would LOVE to live there. At the least I’d like to visit on my way down the Los Angeles area next time I drive down there. Hopefully I will be doing that again at some point.
February 18, 2023
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
Playing Dead is the second Molly Madison cozy mystery by Peggy Rothschild. Released 7th Feb 2023 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This is an engaging cozy featuring a likable protagonist and lots (and lots) of dogs. There's a huge amount of info about dog agility and tracking sport which I found interesting. The author is either deeply familiar with the milieu or else has profoundly impressive research skills. (Reading the afterword and acknowledgements, it would seem the latter - quite impressive).
The plot threads are well engineered and controlled and the denouement and resolution are satisfying if fairly predictable. The author did a good job of fleshing out the secondary characters as well. They're three-dimensional and believable. One of the secondary but pivotal characters is a precocious 8 year old who was one of the stars of the book for me. Dog lovers will find a lot to enjoy here.
The language is mild (a few "damns" and nothing worse), and there's no explicit content, gore, or violence. There's a romance sub-thread central to the main character's development which was surprising, and fans of mystery who hate romantic drama in their reads should know that this is a significant part of the plot.
Four and a half stars. This is top shelf cozy mystery. Highly recommended.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Playing Dead is the second Molly Madison cozy mystery by Peggy Rothschild. Released 7th Feb 2023 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This is an engaging cozy featuring a likable protagonist and lots (and lots) of dogs. There's a huge amount of info about dog agility and tracking sport which I found interesting. The author is either deeply familiar with the milieu or else has profoundly impressive research skills. (Reading the afterword and acknowledgements, it would seem the latter - quite impressive).
The plot threads are well engineered and controlled and the denouement and resolution are satisfying if fairly predictable. The author did a good job of fleshing out the secondary characters as well. They're three-dimensional and believable. One of the secondary but pivotal characters is a precocious 8 year old who was one of the stars of the book for me. Dog lovers will find a lot to enjoy here.
The language is mild (a few "damns" and nothing worse), and there's no explicit content, gore, or violence. There's a romance sub-thread central to the main character's development which was surprising, and fans of mystery who hate romantic drama in their reads should know that this is a significant part of the plot.
Four and a half stars. This is top shelf cozy mystery. Highly recommended.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
June 28, 2023
📖My Thoughts📖
Cozy mysteries are one of my favorite genres. They’re perfect for when you just want something with mystery but aren’t in the mood for all the gore and scariness. This one had the essence of canines sprinkled through the entire book and it made the book even better! This was fun, fast paced, entertaining and it quite frankly had me guessing all the way until the very end! I was stumped! I also enjoy how cozy mysteries often have one big mystery with a smaller one or two mixed it. I think it gets your focus on the small one making you think that just that one suspect is to blame for the whole kit and caboodle. Definitely not the case and adds that much more fun to the mystery! This was the first book I’ve read by this author and I absolutely enjoyed the writing style and how it all came together. This is the second book in her series, which I wasn’t aware of, but can absolutely be read as a standalone! I will be definitely going back and reading the first one and learn more about Molly Madison and her love for canines! Definitely check this one out if you’re into cozy mysteries, especially ones with dogs!
Thank you Netgalley, Peggy Rothschild and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review this book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Cozy mysteries are one of my favorite genres. They’re perfect for when you just want something with mystery but aren’t in the mood for all the gore and scariness. This one had the essence of canines sprinkled through the entire book and it made the book even better! This was fun, fast paced, entertaining and it quite frankly had me guessing all the way until the very end! I was stumped! I also enjoy how cozy mysteries often have one big mystery with a smaller one or two mixed it. I think it gets your focus on the small one making you think that just that one suspect is to blame for the whole kit and caboodle. Definitely not the case and adds that much more fun to the mystery! This was the first book I’ve read by this author and I absolutely enjoyed the writing style and how it all came together. This is the second book in her series, which I wasn’t aware of, but can absolutely be read as a standalone! I will be definitely going back and reading the first one and learn more about Molly Madison and her love for canines! Definitely check this one out if you’re into cozy mysteries, especially ones with dogs!
Thank you Netgalley, Peggy Rothschild and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review this book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
March 18, 2023
What an annoying arrogant judgemental interfering woman is molly..can't stand her .
the writer has so much incorrect information about dogs in this boring book j just kept shaking my head.
Invading peoples space..bullying them to give info. She is NOT a cop or P I confused why all these humans are so dumb giving in to get demands ..I wouldn't of .
And then 1/4 of te first half is rhe stupid useless drama with her boyfriend.
Oh and she's quite disgusting to not tell the man who callous killed his dog whrn he had sadly been looking for weeks. Protecting the stupid evil killer but patting herself on the back for telling the poor guy " oh your dogs dead but no way am I telling you who killed it bec I'm a judge and decide. whst an asshole she is . And whst a wimp this boring writer made him.by him not chasing the matter further .
By her annoying personality one knows that if one of Molly's dogs had been killed she wouldn't of been so.placid on finding out who the killer was.Such a hypocritical cruel women she was in this situation
What a waste of my time. ..even just skim reading I was bored.
will not be trying her scribbles again
the writer has so much incorrect information about dogs in this boring book j just kept shaking my head.
Invading peoples space..bullying them to give info. She is NOT a cop or P I confused why all these humans are so dumb giving in to get demands ..I wouldn't of .
And then 1/4 of te first half is rhe stupid useless drama with her boyfriend.
Oh and she's quite disgusting to not tell the man who callous killed his dog whrn he had sadly been looking for weeks. Protecting the stupid evil killer but patting herself on the back for telling the poor guy " oh your dogs dead but no way am I telling you who killed it bec I'm a judge and decide. whst an asshole she is . And whst a wimp this boring writer made him.by him not chasing the matter further .
By her annoying personality one knows that if one of Molly's dogs had been killed she wouldn't of been so.placid on finding out who the killer was.Such a hypocritical cruel women she was in this situation
What a waste of my time. ..even just skim reading I was bored.
will not be trying her scribbles again
March 5, 2024
Molly is living her best life in her California beach community, where she’s now got two dogs, Harlow, and Noodle. On her first visit to Playtime Academy, a dog agility and training center, Noodle, our drooling Saint Bernadoodle, discovers a deceased body of a woman. If that isn’t enough she gets information about her new boyfriend that doesn’t make her happy, picks up more dog wrangling jobs, a wriggly Frenchie named Sky, and a mystery that may be more than Molly’s ex-cop skills can handle.
Think of Finlay Donovan with dogs. As the mystery unfolds so does the hilarity around having so many dogs under your care. Plus, the next-door neighbor JD, who is currently experiencing panic attacks. Molly takes pretty much every hurdle in stride (along with pizza and some wine), a boyfriend who isn’t what she expected, dogs with mysterious owners, and the lot that life throws at her and her friends in this second book. I love the way the author writes, and I’m ready for her next book.
Think of Finlay Donovan with dogs. As the mystery unfolds so does the hilarity around having so many dogs under your care. Plus, the next-door neighbor JD, who is currently experiencing panic attacks. Molly takes pretty much every hurdle in stride (along with pizza and some wine), a boyfriend who isn’t what she expected, dogs with mysterious owners, and the lot that life throws at her and her friends in this second book. I love the way the author writes, and I’m ready for her next book.
May 10, 2023
I loved Playing Dead as much as I loved the first book in this series! Peggy Rothschild knows how to create a traditional mystery that has enough tension to keep it interesting while at the same time applying a voice and dialogue that entertains and leans toward humor. Dog Wrangler (aka dog trainer) Molly Madison is likable and believable while she goes about using her ex-cop skills to investigate a murder that she gets drawn into at a dog training facility. When Noodle, Molly's adorable St. Berdoodle, finds a dead woman, Molly takes in the woman's dog to foster so it doesn't have to go to the pound, but before long she has to take in other dogs that need care as well and soon starts to earn a reputation as a "dog collector." This book has an engaging cast of characters, both canine and human, and entertains while it teaches some great dog training tips. Highly recommended!
February 25, 2023
(free review copy) I adored the first Molly Madison book A Deadly Bone to Pick but I loved this one even more! Rothschild manages to write about dogs as only a true dog lover can, but without anthropomorphizing them or having them be the narrators. This isn't a cutesy cozy, but it's also not a procedural or thriller - there is a wonderful Kinsey Milhone vibe in Molly Madison and the beach location is dreamy to read about. If you like light mysteries and dogs, this is definitely the series for you!
Source: Edelweiss digital review copy
Source: Edelweiss digital review copy
March 3, 2023
I feel like this book lacked something but I cannot put my finger on it. There were a lot of characters and it makes sense since with mystery you need to have multiple suspects but I could not connect with the characters because of how little we were exposed to all of them. I wish I learned more about J.D., Felicity, the little girl she helps, Miguel but it never came. Just fell flat with character development. Molly's ability to get stuck with another new dog is amazing but over the top. It is clear she is all about animals but I think it was too much. I just was not as overly impressed and dedicated as I hope I would be.
March 4, 2023
It was a good book and take on the cozy mystery. The method of murder, location, and characters were different than any other mystery I have read, and I enjoyed the fresh creativity! It also gave insight into the world of dog agility courses/competition and barn hunts. I am interested to see how the main character Molly continues to grow, and how her relationships with J.D., Lupe, Miguel, Ava, her mother, etc. develop! Looking forward to the next book in the series. TW: This book contains discussions of eating disorders!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2023
The second in the Molly Madison series is as good as her first book. Again, Molly and her dogs Harlow (a Golden Retriever) and Noodle (a St Berndoodle) has to assist the local police in solving a murder. Unfortunately, Noodle (incredibly scent-driven) found the body. The murder victim was actively involved in agility with a boxer, which Molly took in for a while (because the woman's husband didn't want Buster, the boxer. The author creates a wonderful plot and it's obvious she knows dogs very well, because the dogs are believable. A great cozy for summer reading.
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