Helpful Score: 11
I loved this book! Spencer Quinn is the pseudnym of author Peter Abrahams who just won the 2010 Edgar award for Best YA Mystery with his book "Reality Check". So while this is the first book in a new series, it's not a debut book for this writer.
Chet is the narrator of the mystery. He's a Belgian Shepard who almost passed K-9 school. He has one black ear and one white ear, and keen nose and undying loyalty for his human partner Bernie. Quinn captured the essense of what a dog's thought process might be. The narration from Chet's perspestive had me chuckling throuhgout most of the book. There are some parts of high drama where you really could feel the frustration that a dog might feel based on the outward signs of anxiety a keen observer of dogs will have seen in similar situations.
I had the mystery figured out pretty quickly, but solving the mystery wasn't really the point of the book. Seeing how Chet filtered the events, and worked to solve the mystery were the fascinating parts. I've already checked the second book "Thereby Hangs a Tail" and can't wait to see what Chet and Bernie's next adventure is.
Chet is the narrator of the mystery. He's a Belgian Shepard who almost passed K-9 school. He has one black ear and one white ear, and keen nose and undying loyalty for his human partner Bernie. Quinn captured the essense of what a dog's thought process might be. The narration from Chet's perspestive had me chuckling throuhgout most of the book. There are some parts of high drama where you really could feel the frustration that a dog might feel based on the outward signs of anxiety a keen observer of dogs will have seen in similar situations.
I had the mystery figured out pretty quickly, but solving the mystery wasn't really the point of the book. Seeing how Chet filtered the events, and worked to solve the mystery were the fascinating parts. I've already checked the second book "Thereby Hangs a Tail" and can't wait to see what Chet and Bernie's next adventure is.
Helpful Score: 9
Detective stories these days tend to be more about the gimmick tan the mystery. Colorful detectives have run the gamut from Monks and Priests to Antique Dealers and New Jersey Bounty Hunters. The mystery itself is always good to have, but it is no fun solving it if the Private Investigator isn't entertaining on the way.
Spencer Quinn has introduced an original and captivating twist into the Detective novel genre with the first of the Chet and Bernie mystery series. Bernie is a down-on-his-luck Private Investigator, and Chet is his lovable and faithful canine sidekick. It might seem strange that the detective's dog should get top billing, but this is because the entire story is told from Chet's point of view.
This is a little bit different. James Qwilleran might have solved countless crimes with his Siamese cats Koko and Yum Yum, but neither feline has ever bothered to narrate a story for their master. With a narrative device like this, there is a risk of being too campy or silly. Yet Quinn dodges both dangers and delivers a furry Watson that actually manages not to stray too far from believability.
This is mainly due to Chet. It's hard not to like Chet, and his observations on human events and actions manage to be quite humorous, endearing, an occasionally insightful. This might leave his owner Bernie in the backseat in several parts of the story, but the book never suffers from it.
Let's hope there future adventures in store for Chet and Bernie, because finishing this book definitely leaves you wanting more.
Spencer Quinn has introduced an original and captivating twist into the Detective novel genre with the first of the Chet and Bernie mystery series. Bernie is a down-on-his-luck Private Investigator, and Chet is his lovable and faithful canine sidekick. It might seem strange that the detective's dog should get top billing, but this is because the entire story is told from Chet's point of view.
This is a little bit different. James Qwilleran might have solved countless crimes with his Siamese cats Koko and Yum Yum, but neither feline has ever bothered to narrate a story for their master. With a narrative device like this, there is a risk of being too campy or silly. Yet Quinn dodges both dangers and delivers a furry Watson that actually manages not to stray too far from believability.
This is mainly due to Chet. It's hard not to like Chet, and his observations on human events and actions manage to be quite humorous, endearing, an occasionally insightful. This might leave his owner Bernie in the backseat in several parts of the story, but the book never suffers from it.
Let's hope there future adventures in store for Chet and Bernie, because finishing this book definitely leaves you wanting more.
Helpful Score: 8
This is a fantastic book. It is told from the dog's point of veiw. Chet is a K-9 police reject, and he is Bernie's partner in the Private Eye buisness.
When a teen comes up missing, the mother comes to Bernie for help, but as Bernie is investigating, the teen comes home. All seems fine, except Bernie is not satisfied with the answer the teen gives.. not is all as it seems.
The teen comes up missing again, but this time it is for real..... Chet and Bernie are on the job again.
Bernies car ends up vandalized, and Chet gets hurt in the process.
The investigation is on...Chet comes up missing.
What happens next is a slap stick, mystery comedy..
Bernie takes up with bikers.. gets put in the pound and gets rescued.
Wow! Russian gangsters, bikers, shelter workers... a rude parrot and a fishy sounding real estate deal..
Will Chet save the day??
When a teen comes up missing, the mother comes to Bernie for help, but as Bernie is investigating, the teen comes home. All seems fine, except Bernie is not satisfied with the answer the teen gives.. not is all as it seems.
The teen comes up missing again, but this time it is for real..... Chet and Bernie are on the job again.
Bernies car ends up vandalized, and Chet gets hurt in the process.
The investigation is on...Chet comes up missing.
What happens next is a slap stick, mystery comedy..
Bernie takes up with bikers.. gets put in the pound and gets rescued.
Wow! Russian gangsters, bikers, shelter workers... a rude parrot and a fishy sounding real estate deal..
Will Chet save the day??
Helpful Score: 6
Fun, easy read. Dog is interesting but not too humanized (other than he talks and writes a book, of course, but hey..) Characters good,moves right along.
I loved this book! I couldn't stop laughing. Quinn really understands the mind of the dog and reading it from the perspective of Chet is genious. It was a great story,too. Fun summer reading!
