With “The Art of Racing in the Rain” coming out as a movie, we are all reminded of the importance of dogs in our lives and more and more in our reading. Cats have played a large part in several mystery series and now dogs are showing up as important characters in books.

Reading right now:

Alex Kava’s fifth book in the Ryder Creed series just came out. “Desperate Creed” continues the story of Creed’s work with K-9 rescue dogs. While Creed searches for survivors in storm torn Alabama, his partner, Hannah Washington, receives a call from a desperate friend who witnessed a murder and is running for her life. Unfortunately for her she runs into the storm and finds even more danger.

On hold right now:

“The Dog Who Knew Too Much” by Krista Davis is the sixth book in the Paws and Claws series. Holly Miller and her Jack Russell terrier run an inn in dog friendly Wagtail, Virginia and sometimes solve murders.

Margaret Mizushima’s Timber Creek K-9 series continues with the fifth book in the series “Tracking Game.” Officer Mattie Cobb and her partner, K-9 police dog Robo, work together in Timber Creek, Colorado to solve two murders in her latest novel.

Laurien Berenson 24^th novel in her Melanie Travis series is “Here Comes Santa Paws.” Poodles abound in Berenson’s novels, as does murder.

If there is a corgi in your life, you will love Mildred Abbott’s series called the Cozy Corgi mysteries. “Meddlesome Money” is the 13^th book in the series. 

Other Mysterious Things:

One of my favorite fabulously funny and entertaining mystery series is David Rosenfelt’s Andy Carpenter series. Andy Carpenter loves dogs and spends more time with his dog than on cases. “Bark of the Night” just came out in July and “Dachshund Through the Snow” comes out in October. In March of next year, Rosenfelt is introducing a new series which is a spin off featuring Andy’s wife who is a former cop. Laurie Carpenter plans to open an investigation firm with her former police partner and his German shepherd K-9 partner.