Play Book Tag discussion

In book #6, The Sound and the Furry, Bernie Little of the Little Detective Agency and Chet, the almost-K9 (who flunked out of K9 school at the end due to an unfortunate incident with a cat), take their partnership from the dry Arizona desert to humid Louisiana.

While out for a drive, Bernie and Chet see Frenchie Boutette, a perp they previously arrested. Dressed in an orange jumpsuit, he's part of a prison work crew. As narrator, Chet frequently reminds the reader that a lot of perps are breaking rocks in the hot sun due to the Little Detective Agency.

Frenchie Boutette is part of a family of petty criminals from Louisiana. He asks Bernie to find his missing brother Ralph. He claims that the police in the area belong to a rival family, the Robideaus, and that only Bernie can get justice. Frenchie admits he and most of his brothers have been involved in various crime dealings, but not his brother Ralph. Ralph is smart and has always been on the straight and narrow but now he’s disappeared.

As usual there are lots of suspects, lots of threads to be untangled, and lots of confusion. But Quinn, as usual, comes through at the end with it all neatly tied in a bow, crime solved, bad guys in custody, and Chet riding shotgun in the Porsche.

No dog in modern literature is as charming and relateable as endearing Chet. As always, the actual mystery is secondary to Chet and his interactions with Bernie. Chet's thoughts and stream of consciousness flits from one thing to the next. Don’t expect it to make sense. Just be amused by it.

The best way to enjoy this series is with an audio version narrated by Jim Frangione. I can't imagine anyone else as the voice of Chet. If you have ever been certain your dog understands what you’re saying, read this series.

NOT reading your review, Lynda, because I just got to the part where (view spoiler)[Chet tangles with Iko (hide spoiler)]. Love this series. And this one is turning out quite good.

Yes, the audio is wonderful in this series! I'm convinced that Jim Frangione must have been a dog in another life. And the bromance between Bernie and Chet is the heart of the series.