When Molly Madison, dog-wrangler extraordinaire, stumbles upon a murder in her new hometown, she must track down a killer to save the day.
Ex-police officer and former P.I. Molly Madison is starting over. After the death of her husband, she and her golden retriever, Harlow, move cross-country to California. But as charming and peaceful as the beachside town seems, she soon learns its tranquil tides hold dark secrets.
Â
On her first day in the new house, a large, slobbering Saint Berdoodle wanders in. Molly winds up taking on the responsibility of training Noodle since his owner is too busy to do the job. On one of their daily beachside walks, Noodle digs up a severed hand. Once Molly alerts the police and they run a background check on her, an incident from her past makes her an immediate suspect—after all, Noodle’s testimony to clear her name won’t hold much water in court.Â
Â
To prove her innocence, Molly must rely on instincts keener than a canine’s to sniff out the real killer. But when Molly’s life is put in danger, will her two very loyal pups be able to rescue her?
Release Date: Feb 22, 2022
Publisher:Â Penguin Group
Imprint:Â Berkley
Price: $13.99
When Molly Madison’s husband dies, she and her golden retriever move across the country from Massachusetts to Pier Point, California for a fresh start. She agrees to train her new neighbor’s Saint Berdoodle, who promptly discovers a dead body on the beach on a walk. Molly’s hope for a new beginning gets off to a rough start when she becomes the prime suspect in the murder. Now it’s up to Molly to find the real killer before she takes the blame for a murder she didn’t commit.
This new series is off to a good start. I like Molly and I like the beach town setting of the book. I also like Molly’s background as a former police officer. Her background in law enforcement makes her a believable sleuth. I also liked how all the details about dog training are worked into the story and the important part the dogs and their training play in the story. In addition to obedience training, the author also includes information about agility training, which I find interesting.
The author focuses on the mystery and the dog in this book, but sets up the potential for romance in future books. This is a great way to handle the debut book in a new series. I was surprised when the identity of the killer was revealed and how creepy that person turned out to be. Sometimes in cozy mysteries, poor decisions lead to a showdown between the killer and the main character. I’m so glad that this book has a dramatic ending that showcases Molly’s intelligence instead of making her look foolish. A Deadly Bone to Pick is a nice start to a promising new series. Dog lovers and fans of Laurien Berenson will especially enjoy this fun-to-read mystery.
~ Christine
Amazon | iBooks | B&N | Kobo | Google Play