Search - Dog On It (Chet and Bernie, Bk 1)

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.

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??

This is a well written, engaging and humorous mystery told from the detective's dog's point of view. Hints of love and loss for the human protagonist, Bernie, enrich the story. If you dislike dogs...skip it. Otherwise...fetch!

Fun... Fun... Fun... A new perspective on everything.

I really enjoyed this book! It took a bit to get into the dog's perspective thing, but once I did it was a fun read. The language barrier between the dog and his partner provide an interesting tension in this mystery novel. Fun read!

I am a dog person, so of course I would want to read a mystery novel told by the dog.. it was entertaining. Not the best book ever, not the greatest mystery ever, but it was enjoyable, and I'm glad I read it. Cute concept hopefully the next mystery in the series will have a more compelling story. Chet and Bernie seem like a great team.