Dog on It: A Chet and Bernie Mystery (Thorndike Mystery) [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Spencer Quinn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2009 | Series: Thorndike Mystery

I could smell him - or rather the booze on his breath - before he even opened the door, but my sense of smell is pretty good, probably better than yours.
So begins this fabulous, funny new detective novel featuring Bernie, a slightly down-at-heel PI; and his offsider, Chet, a dog - and the captivating narrator of the story.
Chet may have flunked out of police school (I'd been the best leaper in K-9 class, which had led to all the trouble in a way I couldn't remember exactly, although blood was involved), but he's just as much a detective as Bernie - superior, sometimes, in his insight into human foibles.
In Dog On It, their first adventure, Chet and Bernie investigate the disappearance of a teenage girl who may or may not have been kidnapped, but who's definitely gotten herself mixed up with some very unsavoury characters.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Spencer Quinn lives on Cape Cod with his dog, Audrey. He is currently working on the next Chet and Bernie novel. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From AudioFile

There's a new detective on the mystery scene. He's shoeless, never takes off his fur coat, and can follow a scent along any trail. Meet Chet, the canine sleuth who's not a sidekick or a talking dog, but the first-person (first-dog?) narrator of his own story. Jim Frangione gives Chet a laid-back confidence combined with animal innocence. He excels at the chatty "just-between-you-and-me" asides Chet favors. Although the exact location of the Little Detective Agency and Chet's breed (large, black-and-white, pointed ears) are never specified, the story is well drawn, with Chet frequently in scenery-chewing peril. The fur-footed non sequiturs are funny and the danger biting. A second mystery is due out next year. As Chet would say, what's more fun than this? M.M.C. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 417 pages
• Publisher: Thorndike Press; Lrg edition (May 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1410414825
• ISBN-13: 978-1410414823
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,250,714 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Spencer Quinn lives on Cape Cod with his dog, Audrey. He is currently working on the next Chet and Bernie novel.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stephen King was right! (As usual!), January 4, 2010

By 

C. Behme (Federal Way WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dog on It (Paperback)

I'm not one to rely on "best of" lists but decided to use one this past summer. I chose Stephen King, my all-time favorite author. I've read several of the books Mr King recommended (all fantastic!) and decided to get one as a gift for my husband. Hubby loved to read when he was younger but doesn't have much time for it in recent years. So, when he unwrapped this book on Christmas morn, he gave me a little bit of a puzzled look. Then he read the first few pages... and went back for a few more after breakfast... picked it up again after dinner... and that is where he stayed (six straight hours) until he finished it! He has never, in the 12+ years I have known him, sat up until past midnight to read a complete book in one day! I just pre-ordered "Thereby Hangs a Tail." Do yourself a favor. Order both books at once! :-)

BTW... Thanks Uncle Stevie!

Signed,

Faithful Reader

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WONDERFUL DOG!, October 23, 2009

By 

Penelope Fritzer (Coral Springs, Florida USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dog On It (Hardcover)

I LOVED this book!! Chet is a wonderful dog and the author is very funny, giving all the information through Chet's eyes, so it is a bit like a book with events seen through a child's eyes. I love the title, as Chet is "on it" throughout the book, especially when he is needed to save someone. I understand the reviewers who said they didn't like Chet getting hurt, but those portions are very mild and Chet always comes out on top, through skill and luck. I HATE any cruelty to animals, which is why I can't often read dramatic stories or see movies about them (including nature shows with all their killing!). But I LOVED this book, including all the wonderful forshadowing--can't wait to find out more about Bernie's and Chet's backgrounds. Thank you, Mr. Quinn!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic audio book, July 9, 2009

By 

Verin - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dog on It (Audio CD)

I first heard of 'Dog On It' as part of a summer book recommendation list, and since I have a very long commute to work, I decided to get in (from the library) in audiobook format. What a fantastic way to commute! A terrific, hilarious story, very well read in a way that had me laughing out loud in the middle of bumper-to-bumper traffic. Chet had an 'authentic' canine voice, telling us his take on the mystery until he is overtaken by distractions in the form of rabbits, cats, Cap'n Crunch the evil parrot, and food. Especially slim jims. Ah, riding shotgun in the car and eating slim jims...oops? Where was he? Barking with Iggy the neighbor dog who liked to yip? "Iggy barked. I barked back. Iggy barked. I barked back. We had a nice rhythm going. Iggy barked. I barked." It was like a canine version of a Marx Brothers film scene.

I highly, highly recommend this audiobook (or read the actual book, if you prefer, I'm sure it is great fun) to anyone seeking to lighten the mood over large stretches of terrain---oooh! Rabbit!