What do you think?
Rate this book
Beanie and Cruiser Mystery #1
Howling Bloody Murder
It isn’t “happy trails” when 40-something Elsie MacBean - Beanie to her friends who’ve tasted her volcanic vegetarian chili - and her basset hound, Cruiser, discover the remains of Tallis Corporation’s CEO Chick Robson on a hiking trail near Cave Rock. Cave Rock, sacred ground to the Washoe Indians, is the proposed construction site for fabulous Cave Rock Resort and Casino, which promises to boost South Lake Tahoe’s sagging economy. When Washoe tribal leaders Dan Silvernail and Sonseah Little Feather stage a protest to save Cave Rock and take a stand against Tallis, half-Washoe Beanie is caught between a rock and a hard place. Meanwhile, Tallis' ranks dwindle as the body count rises. When mayor-wannabe Sheriff Stoddard puts Deputy Skip Cassidy under the gun to collar a suspect or lose his job, Skip enlists the help of Tahoe Times stringer Beanie and Scoop Doggy Dog Cruiser to sniff out the perp. But baffling crime scene evidence and Beanie’s chilling sightings of a spectral creature leave everyone mystified as to the killer's identity. Finally, it's up to Beanie and her trusty bow-wow to hold their own powwow and corner the murderer before Tahoe goes completely to the dogs.
- GenresMysteryCozy MysteryDogs
181 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
3 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Sue Owens Wright
9 books13 followersSue is an award-winning author of both fiction and nonfiction about dogs. She is an eight-time nominee for the coveted Maxwell, awarded annually by the Dog Writers Association of America (DWAA) to the best writer on the subject of dogs. She has twice won the Maxwell Award and also earned special recognition from the Humane Society of the United States for her writing about animal welfare issues. She writes the Beanie and Cruiser Mystery Series for dog lovers.
Sue has taught college English and writing courses. She studied fiction writing at the Universities of Dublin and Galway in Ireland and University College London in England. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, DWAA, Sisters in Crime, PEO International, and Daughters of the American Revolution.
Series:
* Beanie and Cruiser Mystery
Sue has taught college English and writing courses. She studied fiction writing at the Universities of Dublin and Galway in Ireland and University College London in England. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, DWAA, Sisters in Crime, PEO International, and Daughters of the American Revolution.
Series:
* Beanie and Cruiser Mystery
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 27, 2017
For complete review check out my blog at https://booksaplentybookreviews.blogs...
January 20, 2015
I loved this book,i love dogs too so a mystery involving a basset hound named Cruiser is so cute and funny.Elsie Mcbean is the main character who solves the crimes ,she is a widow and livrs in a 2 story cabin in the woods at Lake Tahoe,it is a interesting story and keeps you on the edge of your seat along with her,with bodies piling up she has to act fast and she does along with her dog Cruiser,this includes tribal council members as she is half Washoe indian too and it is a page turner.I loved it.
June 13, 2013
I'm afraid I didn't care for this book. I'm not too picky so long as I have fun reading a book, but I found the writing awkward, the plot un-involving and the characters flat. I found myself wondering if it was self published. Am glad other people seemed to like it, but I am unlikely to read other books in this series.
April 12, 2011
There were references in this book to Sherlock Holmes but that wasn't quite what it reminded me of the most. About halfway through I had it - it's like Scooby Doo for adults :)
June 17, 2011
If you like basset hounds and Lake Tahoe you will love this mystery. Its a cozy mystery with characters, dogs and people alike.
July 6, 2020
A dog, a dog mom and a murder… Oh my!
I picked this book up because I love the idea of a basset hound mystery. The picture drew me right in. Cruiser, the basset, is a riot. He’s silly, roly-poly and everything a basset should be. The author wrote him in such a way I wanted to snuggle up on the floor with the big, silly pup.
There were other parts of the book that weren’t so snuggly. I’m all for a good mystery, but this one even I figured out whodunit before halfway. I didn’t figure out HOW, but who. The writing was a mix of drawing me in and easy to walk away from. Confusing, right? There were moments when I wanted to know more. I mean, the dog was a trip. Everyone who has ever had a dog knows the joys of tripping over them, the fun of having to give treats and the yum yum cabinet. In that respect, the author did a great job of portraying the dog and the life of the dog mom.
But then there were the parts of the book that were harder to get through. The mystery had some places to improve. In some places the pacing was a little slow and in others, it was a tad transparent. I wasn’t a fan of how the dog mom referred to the dog as being hefty often and the incident where the dog was accused of biting someone, but didn’t, bothered me. There are incidents when dogs do bite and it’s not great, but this was so quickly glossed over, it took away from the story to me. The heroine also seemed a little too perfect for me. She’s still grieving over her dead husband, but already has a boyfriend of sorts and gets to go to all these scenes of murder, but she’s only a reporter. I don’t know. It seemed a little too easy.
But the story itself is cute and the dog is the best. I loved Cruiser. If you’re interested in a dog mystery, then this might be the story for you.
I picked this book up because I love the idea of a basset hound mystery. The picture drew me right in. Cruiser, the basset, is a riot. He’s silly, roly-poly and everything a basset should be. The author wrote him in such a way I wanted to snuggle up on the floor with the big, silly pup.
There were other parts of the book that weren’t so snuggly. I’m all for a good mystery, but this one even I figured out whodunit before halfway. I didn’t figure out HOW, but who. The writing was a mix of drawing me in and easy to walk away from. Confusing, right? There were moments when I wanted to know more. I mean, the dog was a trip. Everyone who has ever had a dog knows the joys of tripping over them, the fun of having to give treats and the yum yum cabinet. In that respect, the author did a great job of portraying the dog and the life of the dog mom.
But then there were the parts of the book that were harder to get through. The mystery had some places to improve. In some places the pacing was a little slow and in others, it was a tad transparent. I wasn’t a fan of how the dog mom referred to the dog as being hefty often and the incident where the dog was accused of biting someone, but didn’t, bothered me. There are incidents when dogs do bite and it’s not great, but this was so quickly glossed over, it took away from the story to me. The heroine also seemed a little too perfect for me. She’s still grieving over her dead husband, but already has a boyfriend of sorts and gets to go to all these scenes of murder, but she’s only a reporter. I don’t know. It seemed a little too easy.
But the story itself is cute and the dog is the best. I loved Cruiser. If you’re interested in a dog mystery, then this might be the story for you.
May 29, 2018
I was not surprised at who the killer was, but I was surprised at his methods. Like Beanie, I was suspicious of Medwyn from the get go. I understood Beanie's fear about Nona being with him; he was so obviously bad. I was surprised that the Sheriff was in on it, but glad that Skip was made acting sheriff until the election. I will definitely read more in this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2020
I like dog mysteries, Conant, Quinn, Berenson...
By the second chapte of this, I was cheering for the self-centered, obnoxious narrator to be the next victim.
Imagine reading one of Berenson's books from inside Aunt Peg's head. Got it? Yeah?
Now you don't need to read Howling Bloody Murder. You're welcome.
By the second chapte of this, I was cheering for the self-centered, obnoxious narrator to be the next victim.
Imagine reading one of Berenson's books from inside Aunt Peg's head. Got it? Yeah?
Now you don't need to read Howling Bloody Murder. You're welcome.
August 4, 2023
If it's possible for a murder mystery to be slapstick, this is it. A serial killer is on the loose in the Tahoe area. Is it human or animal - and what type of either?
Some information about the area history, including a local tribe, as well as construction and business changes, and local government, are included.
Some information about the area history, including a local tribe, as well as construction and business changes, and local government, are included.
January 4, 2025
Elsie MacBean (aka "Beanie") and her basset hound Cruiser solve a mystery/murder in Lake Tahoe. Beanie is part Washoe and the story also reveals the struggles of indigenous people with construction on what is considered their land. An excellent and quick read - perfect for a winter weekend!!
February 26, 2019
I read this book in one sitting. Very easy reading for a cold February day. Enjoyed the characters and couldn't wait to get to the end to see the solving of the mystery.
November 23, 2025
Entertaining, but predictable. I recommend if you are looking for an easy read and enjoy murder mysteries.
September 29, 2014
In the cozy mystery debut from Sue Owens Wright, Howling Bloody Murder, she introduced us to a remarkable team of Elsinore "Elisie, Beanie" MacBean, a widow with an adult daughter with Washoe heritage through her blood, and her faithful basset hound, Cruiser. When she worked for the local newspaper, she reported about a grisly murder that hit her town of Lake Tahoe. Beanie and Cruiser teamed up with the local law to compare notes about all of the victims, who were all powerful businessmen, who were all up in arms about the environmental dispute about the land. Police leads to the militant tribal councils, who didn't want the local casino built there. Add some supernatural twists and Nona's detestable boyfriend to add to the mix of the plot, when it was up to Beanie and Cruiser to collar the killer before it was too late.
July 15, 2014
This book by Wright is a nice easy to read mystery. It is enjoyable because of the characters and the plot. It is entertaining and one that I enjoyed. Folks who like light mysteries and good stories will enjoy this one.
J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the Isms" "Wesley's Wars" and "To Whom It May Concern"
J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the Isms" "Wesley's Wars" and "To Whom It May Concern"
March 13, 2011
Great book. Sue is a wonderful person to boot!
July 20, 2013
Very cute book... love the Bassett Hound Cruiser....
August 31, 2013
GREAT MYSTERY!!! I couldn't put it down!!!!!
February 14, 2014
Predictable, tad boring
August 9, 2015
Fun read good mystery.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews