A Shot in the Bark: A Dog Park Mystery (Lia Anderson Dog Park Mysteries) [Kindle Edition]

C. A. Newsome (Author), Carol Ann Newsome (Illustrator)

Book Description

Would you recognize a serial killer if you met one? Talked to one every day? Artist Lia Anderson doesn’t, and neither does anyone else who frequents the Mount Airy Dog Park. But a violent death brings Detective Peter Dourson into the close-knit group, and he is convinced someone is not who they seem. As the investigation uncovers secrets, Lia struggles to cope with warring emotions and a killer watches.

(about 60,000 words)

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

C. A. Newsome lives in Cincinnati with her three rescued dogs.

Product Details

• File Size: 333 KB
• Print Length: 230 pages
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005KQ5C2K
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,122 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #25 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Mystery > Series

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars What a delight! September 14, 2011

By Corvus

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was expecting to be entertained, but found this novel to be far more than a delightful romp through the dog park. The author creates believable characters that make me want to know more about these people, all the while presenting an exquisite sense of detail to really flesh out the story, with a compelling sense of humor. Even better than that? The plot twists. Good luck trying to puzzle out who REALLY "done it"! This murder mystery works on many levels. I highly recommend it.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book January 19, 2012

By CollieLady

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I like dogs. I like cozy mysteries that are well-written, well-plotted, have interesting characters, and that keep me guessing whodunit until the end. This book has all that, and is the first dog-themed cozy mystery I have liked. I hope Ms. Newsome turns this into a series. I want to read more of her books, starting yesterday. :-)

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Well-Written Mystery December 19, 2011

By Alaska John

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Mandatory Disclosure--I am a friend of the author from the Mt. Airy Dog Park, and a character in the book is based on me. [Albeit the book version is not as brilliant, witty, and debonair as Moi].
Having made this disclosure, I can honestly state that I found the book enjoyable, and a totally professional work. Carol's book is as well-written as any book on the new book shelf at the local library. Without giving any spoilers on the plot twists and turns, I note that the flow of events is clear and well-managed, with smooth transitions of time and place. The dialog is lifelike and vivid, with varying voices among the characters. There are several shifts in narrative voice, which are well handled.

I gave the book 4 stars, rather than 5, because it is a first effort and I would reserve 5 stars for Conan Doyle or
Lawrence Block.

All of the characters are plausible and well-drawn, and the events are credible.
Be sure to buy this book soon, for the price, it is an outstanding value. Also, a sequel is in the works, and
one will need to read them in order!

More About the Author

I was never supposed to be an author. My brother is the writer in the family (and I'm convinced that someday we'll find a backlog of brilliant manuscripts that he has hidden away over the past several decades) I'm the painter and have spent my life doing odd projects, such as the New Leaf Project, wherein I painted more than 4,000 paintings on wood blocks that have been scattered all over the globe (including Antarctica) for people to find and adopt. (if you're interested, check it out here http://www.newleaf.carolannnewsome.com/)I also like doing collaborative murals with small communities, the most recent of which has been a dragon living under a pedestrian overpass.

In 2001, I suffered a head injury from being struck by a car while riding my bike. Head injuries are funny things, hard to predict what you'll experience, and not much you can do about it except take care of yourself and find a way to pass the time during those periods when you can't function. For several years I spent a lot of time reading popular fiction, often the same books over and over, while hanging out with my dogs. (To this day I am a huge Harry Potter fan because those were the first new books I could read, 5 months after my accident.)

I wrote the first draft of "A Shot in the Bark" longhand during my horizontal episodes. I discovered that it's fun to commit mayhem on paper. I like to write stuff that is fun and scary and romantic, and oh, it has to have dogs. I expect Lia and Peter to have more adventures with their furry children. My only goal is to bring you pleasure. At the end of the day, if I've managed to entertain you, I'm happy.