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A Victorian San Francisco Mystery #1.5
Dandy Detects
In the fall of 1879, San Francisco swelters under a heat wave while Barbara Hewitt, a reserved school-teacher, uncovers a mystery with the help of her son’s dog, the Boston Terrier, Dandy. This short story, which comes chronologically after Maids of Misfortune, is set in the 19th century, gas-lit world of Annie Fuller and her O’Farrell Street boarding house, which Locke writes about in her Victorian San Francisco Mystery series.
29 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 17, 2010
51 people are currently reading
578 people want to read
About the author
M. Louisa Locke
30 books486 followersAfter being a professor of history for over 30 years, I am now retired and writing full time. The books in my Victorian San Francisco Mystery series are based in part on my dissertation research on women who worked in the Far West at the end of the Nineteenth Century, and they feature Annie Fuller, a young widow who gives domestic and business advice as the clairvoyant, Madam Sibyl. She is aided in her investigations into crime by Nate Dawson, a local lawyer, and the residents in the boarding house she owns.
Maids of Misfortune, the first in the series, finds Annie investigating a murder by going undercover as a domestics servant. In Uneasy Spirits, she is asked to investigate a fraudulent trance medium, and in Bloody Lessons, she is asked to find out who is attacking local public school teachers. The fourth book, Deadly Proof is set in the printing industry in San Francisco, and in the fifth book, Pilfered Promises, Annie and Nate investigate theft and murder in a modern department store.
Book six in this collection, Scholarly Pursuits, takes Laura Dawson and her friends (introduced in Bloody Lessons) across the Bay to Berkeley to attend the university where unexpected skulduggery is afoot. In Lethal Remedies, Annie is tasked with uncovering who is trying to ruin a clinic run by and for women, and in Entangled Threads it is a woolen factory that is the site of her investigations.
Volume One of my collection of short stories about minor characters, Victorian San Francisco Stories, are free to anyone who signs up to my newsletter. (see my website for sign up at http://mlouisalocke.com)
Not content with just writing about the past, under the pen name Louisa Locke, I have now turned to the future with a new science fiction series set in the collaborative world of the Paradisi Chronicles.
As an indie author I absolutely depend on the readers who have read and liked my cozy historical mysteries and spread the word. This second career has turned out to be more fun and rewarding than i ever thought possible. So thanks to all of you!
Maids of Misfortune, the first in the series, finds Annie investigating a murder by going undercover as a domestics servant. In Uneasy Spirits, she is asked to investigate a fraudulent trance medium, and in Bloody Lessons, she is asked to find out who is attacking local public school teachers. The fourth book, Deadly Proof is set in the printing industry in San Francisco, and in the fifth book, Pilfered Promises, Annie and Nate investigate theft and murder in a modern department store.
Book six in this collection, Scholarly Pursuits, takes Laura Dawson and her friends (introduced in Bloody Lessons) across the Bay to Berkeley to attend the university where unexpected skulduggery is afoot. In Lethal Remedies, Annie is tasked with uncovering who is trying to ruin a clinic run by and for women, and in Entangled Threads it is a woolen factory that is the site of her investigations.
Volume One of my collection of short stories about minor characters, Victorian San Francisco Stories, are free to anyone who signs up to my newsletter. (see my website for sign up at http://mlouisalocke.com)
Not content with just writing about the past, under the pen name Louisa Locke, I have now turned to the future with a new science fiction series set in the collaborative world of the Paradisi Chronicles.
As an indie author I absolutely depend on the readers who have read and liked my cozy historical mysteries and spread the word. This second career has turned out to be more fun and rewarding than i ever thought possible. So thanks to all of you!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
July 2, 2022
I love any story that involves dogs sniffing out crime! I like that these novellas give us a peek into the lives of Annie’s boarders (in this case Mrs. Hewitt and her son Jamie). A mini-mystery to get hyped for the next book in the series!
February 1, 2011
I'll admit I downloaded this story partly because it was a freebie, but it wasn't just the price tag that hooked me. I'm a sucker for anything set in the Victorian era. Throw in an intriguing mystery and I'm there.
Unfortunately there wasn't a very big 'whodunnit' mystery element to this book, something which I put down to its length. It's extremely hard to pack a good mystery plot as well as character growth and a sense of setting into 35 pages. That aside, I was charmed my Locke's writing style, and the main character's devotion to her son. This novella is obviously a teaser to entice you to buy her longer story featuring the same characters in Maids of Misfortune: A Victorian San Francisco Mystery and I must say I'm enticed!
Unfortunately there wasn't a very big 'whodunnit' mystery element to this book, something which I put down to its length. It's extremely hard to pack a good mystery plot as well as character growth and a sense of setting into 35 pages. That aside, I was charmed my Locke's writing style, and the main character's devotion to her son. This novella is obviously a teaser to entice you to buy her longer story featuring the same characters in Maids of Misfortune: A Victorian San Francisco Mystery and I must say I'm enticed!
October 17, 2011
In this short story, school teacher Barbara Hewlitt is assisted by her son's dog, Dandy, in solving a mystery. The lovely piano player across the street from Mrs. Fuller's boarding house has disappeared, and the husband's story just doesn't feel right.
I find that I cannot write more about the plot without spoilers and thus will suffice to say that the settings are evocative and geographically accurate (I live in the San Francisco Bay area) and Locke clearly knows her period and subject matter.
I look forward to reading more by this author.
I find that I cannot write more about the plot without spoilers and thus will suffice to say that the settings are evocative and geographically accurate (I live in the San Francisco Bay area) and Locke clearly knows her period and subject matter.
I look forward to reading more by this author.
January 14, 2012
A short story that features one of the boarders in Annie Fuller's boarding house. Not a particularly difficult mystery, but the story allows the reader to get to know the secondary characters of the San Francisco Victorian mystery series better without un-necessarily cluttering up the plot of a full length novel. When I pick up the next book in this series, I'll know Barbara and her son Jaime that little bit better.
August 22, 2012
Really if you have seen Rear Window you don't need to read this... it is inspired by it or it is a really weird coincidence. There's the window, there's a howling (instead of yapping and digging) dog (though this time it doesn't die) and there's a place where the friends hero thinks a body is buried (like the garden in Rear Window). Well, yeah, watch Rear Window... the plot gets way better and like I said this short-story has a lot in common with it.
May 14, 2011
For such a short story, too much time was spent trying to develop the characters that the plot seemed almost an afterthought.
December 15, 2017
A fun victorian romance series with a twist.
December 29, 2017
I really enjoyed this installment in the series. I love how everyone helps one another out in these stories. Barbara is very perceptive and I thought her concern for the neighbor was nice. And Dandy reminds me of my own dog with the barking.
June 15, 2019
Short little mystery in series about Annie Fuller in Victorian San Francisco. In this story it 's one of her boarders Barbara Hewitt and her son's little dog that are the stars. It wasn't hard to guess the ending, but enjoyable.
September 28, 2020
I keep getting sucker-punched by this series - three books in I have read one book and two very short stories. 'Dandy Detects' is only 30ish pages - when you start it you won't have time to finish a cup of tea before it ends.
It's a piece of Victorian fluff - enjoyable but hardly memorable!
It's a piece of Victorian fluff - enjoyable but hardly memorable!
May 13, 2023
Dandy Detects!
A delightful short story introducing a clever and faithful small dog. Dandy detects a problem at a next door residence and is able to involve his humans to solve the issue.
A delightful short story introducing a clever and faithful small dog. Dandy detects a problem at a next door residence and is able to involve his humans to solve the issue.
April 8, 2018
short story about the lead dog. Cute and works will with Locke book the character is drawn from. And a fun idea to keep me happy while waiting for Locke's next book.
July 9, 2018
You have to love a little story in which the dog gets to save the day.
October 27, 2019
Cute short story cozy mystery.
February 24, 2020
Another short story in the series
I definitely recommend this book to anyone who has read the novels. It is a won addition to the story.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone who has read the novels. It is a won addition to the story.
May 9, 2020
Another fun short! I've always really liked Mrs. Hewitt, so it was fun to get in her head a bit.
September 14, 2020
Just a snippet of a tale. But it was enjoyable.
December 27, 2020
3.5/5 stars.
January 14, 2021
Great novella with the lovable Dandy the dog as detective. Hits all the right notes for satisfying mystery starring one of the main series minor characters.
June 21, 2022
Extremely short. Kathleen's brother Ian is missing. Can Dandy the little terrier help find him?
Amost like a chapter or two rather than a novella.
Amost like a chapter or two rather than a novella.
June 11, 2023
Dandy, a Boston terrier, helps the story along in this short story. Cute.
July 18, 2023
Cute
January 25, 2025
Fantastic short story featuring the series regulars. Great way to bridge the gaps between main novels. I thoroughly enjoy this series. A clever and fun period mystery!
March 16, 2025
Great insights into Barbara Hewitt.
March 19, 2025
I absolutely loved it! I love all the short story collections!
July 3, 2020
Delightful book. Dandy had a chance to shine. Sad story unfortunately!
November 18, 2011
I don't normally read short stories, but this was a free download for my Nook and an introduction of sorts to a series. It intrigued me, so I gave it a go. Glad I did as it was a good read. The mystery wasn't really a mystery as you could see the end coming, however, it was an enjoyable little read.
The story revolves around a teacher, Barbara Hewitt, who lives in a San Francisco boarding house with her son and small dog. Due to the hotter than usual weather, she has her attic room window open most of the time. Because of this, she can hear the goings on across the alley. When the wife disappears and the dog acts strangely at the home/store across the alley, Barbara becomes suspicious. She voices her concerns to several ladies of the boarding house, including the owner, who then introduces her to someone on the police force who follows up.
The mystery wasn't a typical msytery and I could see the end coming, however, I liked it. I look forward to reading other books in this series.
The story revolves around a teacher, Barbara Hewitt, who lives in a San Francisco boarding house with her son and small dog. Due to the hotter than usual weather, she has her attic room window open most of the time. Because of this, she can hear the goings on across the alley. When the wife disappears and the dog acts strangely at the home/store across the alley, Barbara becomes suspicious. She voices her concerns to several ladies of the boarding house, including the owner, who then introduces her to someone on the police force who follows up.
The mystery wasn't a typical msytery and I could see the end coming, however, I liked it. I look forward to reading other books in this series.
September 11, 2015
This short story follows the first book in the series Victorian San Francisco Mystery. #1.5
This is a very, very short mystery that follows one of Annie Fuller's boarders. I've come to believe that most authors write these stories to give background information to secondary characters and/or give readers a "taste" of the story to find out if they might be interested in buying some of their books. Sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn't. This book works because I am interested in this particular boarder (Barbara Hewitt.) I was fortunate to catch this when it was free. Even so, this isn't a bad read, and if one keeps this in mind when buying these short stories, the disappointment (or joy!) isn't as acute.
This one was OK. It almost> felt like the author felt forced to write a story to entice readers to purchase her other books. But her other books are worth purchasing, and they are more complete a mystery as well.
Two stars.
This is a very, very short mystery that follows one of Annie Fuller's boarders. I've come to believe that most authors write these stories to give background information to secondary characters and/or give readers a "taste" of the story to find out if they might be interested in buying some of their books. Sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn't. This book works because I am interested in this particular boarder (Barbara Hewitt.) I was fortunate to catch this when it was free. Even so, this isn't a bad read, and if one keeps this in mind when buying these short stories, the disappointment (or joy!) isn't as acute.
This one was OK. It almost> felt like the author felt forced to write a story to entice readers to purchase her other books. But her other books are worth purchasing, and they are more complete a mystery as well.
Two stars.
December 19, 2014
I've read the second book in the series and loved it so when I saw this free little story I just had to scoop it up. It's more of a vignette that gives one of the secondary characters in the series a chance at the limelight. I enjoyed this and look forward to seeing more from Barbara Hewett in the series after getting to know her better in this one.
As short as this was, it was able to draw the setting, tease out the characters and offer a good strong plot. Well done to the author on that. Now I am eager to pick up more of the little stories the author wrote about the side characters of the series and move along with the main novels.
As short as this was, it was able to draw the setting, tease out the characters and offer a good strong plot. Well done to the author on that. Now I am eager to pick up more of the little stories the author wrote about the side characters of the series and move along with the main novels.
Want to read
February 15, 20163 of 4 books
20p In this short story it is the fall of 1879 and San Francisco swelters under a heat wave while Barbara Hewitt, a reserved school-teacher, uncovers a mystery with the help of her son's dog, Dandy.
For those who have read Locke 19s two full-length Victorian San Francisco mysteries, Maids of Misfortune and Uneasy Spirits, and her other short story, The Misses Moffet Mend A Marriage, this is a chance to learn more about Annie Fuller and the occupants of her O 19Farrell Street boarding house. For those unfamiliar with Locke 19s mysteries and the late nineteenth century world they portray, this is just a taste of things to come. Enjoy.
20p In this short story it is the fall of 1879 and San Francisco swelters under a heat wave while Barbara Hewitt, a reserved school-teacher, uncovers a mystery with the help of her son's dog, Dandy.
For those who have read Locke 19s two full-length Victorian San Francisco mysteries, Maids of Misfortune and Uneasy Spirits, and her other short story, The Misses Moffet Mend A Marriage, this is a chance to learn more about Annie Fuller and the occupants of her O 19Farrell Street boarding house. For those unfamiliar with Locke 19s mysteries and the late nineteenth century world they portray, this is just a taste of things to come. Enjoy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews