Absolutely love this series - Bernie Little, private eye, is a pretty cool character. But he pales in comparison to his canine companion, Chet - who narrates the books from his wonderful doggie perspective and canine sense of humor. He's also smart as a whippet, even if he did flunk out of K-9 training school on his final day (blame it on an errant cat).When Bernie is called to a meeting with Wendell Nero, a hydrologist and professor at a local college about a possible job, it turns into a worst-case scenario: Professor Nero is in his trailer in a remote desert area, all right, but he's quite dead. Not long afterward, a man known to have been in the professor's trailer is found, and charged with the murder. Problem is, Bernie is pretty sure they've got the wrong killer.
Bernie is hired by Wendell's three ex-wives (largely so they can divvy up his estate), so Bernie and Chet begin sniffing around - with Chet wagging his tail and trying his best to figure out what Bernie wants him to do (sometimes that happens, sometimes not). Bernie wants some advice from an old sheriff friend, but when Bernie lets Chet spend the night with the man, it doesn't end well as a couple of dognappers swoop in and whisk Chet away.
Looking around the murder scene, Bernie spies a vineyard that's thriving despite the obvious lack of water, while Chet smells water and tries to convey his discovery to Bernie. Much more than that would spoil things for other readers, so I'll just leave it at that. I will say this isn't my favorite of the series, but it's mostly because the plot just didn't grab me as much. That said, I chuckled and teared up at moments appropriate to humans as always. If you love lovable pooches, fun and the art of the chase, I strongly suggest that you give this book (and the series as a whole - this is the 10th) a try. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-publication copy.
Of Mutts and Men by Spencer Quinn (Forge Books, July 2020); 304 pp.
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