Hounding the Pavement (Dog Walker, Book 1) [Mass Market Paperback]

Judi McCoy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 3, 2009

Meet Ellie Engleman, psychic dog-walker

The newest dog-walker on Manhattan?s Upper East Side has a talent?she can hear what her canine clientele is thinking. So when a dog?s owner turns up dead, Ellie must bone up on her sleuthing?and perk up her ears to find a killer.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Cozy fans will savor this charming paranormal mystery series opener from romance author McCoy (Wanted: One Perfect Man). Recently divorced Ellie Engleman, ready for a fresh start, adopts a Yorkie and discovers she can telepathically communicate with dogs. Naturally, she launches a dog-walking business on Manhattan's posh Upper East Side. On the way to walk prize-winning Bichon Buddy, Ellie discovers the body of his owner, Professor Albright, murdered in his entryway. Buddy is missing and no one, save Ellie, is concerned. Sexy, annoying NYPD Det. Sam Ryder considers Ellie a prime suspect, but that doesn't stop her from searching for Buddy, hoping that finding the dog will lead her to the killer. Somehow managing to avoid every talking animal mystery cliché, McCoy fills this delightful story with humor, quirky characters and delicious hints of romance. (Mar.)
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Review

“Four paws up.”—Laurien Berenson, author of Dogie day care murder



“Managing to avoid every talking animal mystery cliché, McCoy fills this delightful story with humor, quirky characters and delicious hints of romance.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Signet; Original edition (March 3, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451226313
• ISBN-13: 978-0451226310
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (72 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #169,955 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Judi's been published for eight years. Her first romance, I Dream of You, won Waldenbooks best selling debut novel of 2001. Since then she's published five more books for Kensington, seven for Avon/Harper Collins, and her romantic suspense, A Matter of Trust, was a launch book for Crescent Moon Press. She now writes romantic mystery for NAL's Obsidian line.
All royalties earned from Hounding the Pavement, her first novel in the dog walker series, will go to Best Friends in Kanab, UT, the largest no-kill shelter in the US. Judi is an avid animal activist and will do anything she can to promote canine welfare. If you're holding a rescue event, contact her to see how she can help.
She teaches the yearly two day 'aspiring author' course at the Romantic Times convention and speaks to writing groups across the country. A retired women's gymnastic judge, she resides on Virginia's peaceful eastern shore with her husband and three pocket pooches. Rudy, the star of the dog walker series, passed away, but he lives on in her heart and in her novels. In her spare time, she raises orchids and dreams of seeing Ellie, Rudy, and the dogs they walk on television or the big screen.
Judi promises to personally answer every query. You can reach her via her website: www.judimccoy.com or e-mail her at [e-mail]

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars cute - and for a good cause too., March 23, 2009

By 

she reads (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hounding the Pavement (Dog Walker, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

On the cover of this book (that caught my eye as a dog lover!) I noticed that the author is donating her royalties to charity (best friends- which benefits dogs). AWESOME- and I bought it on spot with just a glance at the back cover.

I was surprised and delighted by the recently divorced Ellie (size 16 and not apologizing!) who finds herself connecting with dogs on a whole new level- they can talk! What I liked about this book is that the dogs choose whether or not they 'talk' to Ellie. They don't have to, and she can't hear just any dog. Mostly it seems the dogs that chat with her are her dog walking clients.

She's new to dog walking and one day she walks into her client's home to find him dead and the dog gone. She gets in and works to help find the missing dog (and the killer). Now, I thought the actual mystery part was rather weak. I picked out the potential suspects and weird activity really quick - some of which I thought Ellie should have picked up quicker I thought. I wished that aspect was stronger, but I adored everything else about this book.

This is definitely a mystery first, bit of romance second novel and from the ending it's clear that she will have to keep working on that 'happily ever after' in future books of this series. Ellie is a character I truly loved, and a strong cast of characters including some truly fabulous dogs will have me coming back for more!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hounding the Pavement by Judi McCoy, April 6, 2009

By 

jjmachshev "jj" (Grovetown, GA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Hounding the Pavement (Dog Walker, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

What a cute and fun mystery by Judi McCoy! "Hounding the Pavement" is the first book of (hopefully) a continuing series about a woman who can 'hear' dogs she has a close connection with. It's a feel-good, non-gory, non-frightening mystery with a healthy dose of sexual appeal.

After ditching her jerk of a hubby, Ellie is ready for a new life and one of the first things she does is head for the pound to find a new dog to love. Imagine her amazement when she encounters a Yorkie-poodle mix that has the soul of her pre-marriage, beloved dog! Once she's over the shock, Ellie decides life can't get much better, especially since her brand-new dog-walking business is taking off. Then while stopping to pick up one of her 'clients', she discovers the dead body of the owner...and no 'client' to be found. After a bit of harassment by New York's finest for finding the body, Ellie quickly realizes they care less than nothing about her missing Champion 'client'. So she argues to an agreement with the grouchy, yet handsome, detective on the case. Now as she hunts down clues, she keeps running into the gorgeous detective, and she has it on good authority (her dog's senses) that Mr. Hotbody has the hots for her. What's a girl to do?

Humorous dialogue, a fun mystery, a handsome detective, and talking dogs. Really now, need I say more?

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hounding the Pavement, April 28, 2009

By 

mac - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hounding the Pavement (Dog Walker, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

Enjoyed this light hearted mystery & learned a bit about the dog walking
profession. Thought the human-dog communications were hilarious. Looking forward to the next book.