A Fistful of Collars

July 2, 2012
The pseudonymous Quinn’s fine fifth Chet and Bernie mystery (after 2011’s The Dog Who Knew Too Much) finds Bernie Little and his dog, Chet, of the Little Detective Agency, strapped for cash. Fortunately, Mayor Trimble of the Valley, their hometown in an unnamed western state, has a job for them. The avaricious mayor, who has launched a Millennial Cultural Initiative to attract the movie business, has managed to land the next blockbuster action flick featuring megastar Thad Perry. Trimble wants Bernie to keep an eye on Perry, who has a history of substance abuse. The assignment gets off to a rocky start when the actor challenges Little to a fistfight at their first meeting. Some murders that coincide with the filming ensure that the unusual detecting partners have additional work to do. Once again, Quinn (thriller author Peter Abrahams) effectively uses a dog narrator while avoiding the sentimentality that marks many animal-centered cozies. Agent: Molly Friedrich, the Friedrich Agency.

March 15, 2014
This not-to-be-missed fifth entry in the series by Quinn, pseudonym for Peter Abrahams, told from the point of view of Chet, a dog, makes for unique and at times laugh-out-loud funny detective fiction. In this outing, Chet, and Bernie, his faithful companion and PI, are "babysitting" the star of a film being shot in the Valley. Murder, mayhem, mystery, romance, friendship, and a cat named Brando combine to make a great listen. Narrator Jim Frangione once again outdoes himself in his over-the-top portrayal of our hero. VERDICT Although it can be enjoyed as a read-alone, don't miss the others in the series. Fans of Rita Mae Brown's "Sneaky Pie" series and Alexander McCall Smith's "Corduroy Mansions" entries will want to add Quinn to their reading lists. ["Although readers will be able to identify the villain before the denouement, they will enjoy the ride getting there," read the review of the Atria pb, "LJ" 7/12.]--Sandra C. Clariday, Tennessee Wesleyan Coll., Athens

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