Heart of Barkness

July 1, 2019
In bestseller Quinn’s delightful ninth Chet and Bernie mystery (after 2015’s Scents and Sensibility), Chet, the series’ good-natured, loyal, and exuberant canine narrator, and his partner and friend, Bernie Little, the owner and sole employee of the Little Detective Agency (based in an unnamed Western state), receive free passes to a performance at a local dive of country singer Lotty Pilgrim, whose megastar status is a thing of the dim and distant past. Bernie, saddened by the singer’s reduced circumstances, slips a $100 bill into her tip jar, though he can ill afford to do so. He subsequently tackles the thief who tries to steal it, only to have it plucked from his hand by Lotty’s shady manager. When her manager ends up dead and all clues point to Lotty as the murderer, Bernie offers his help, which she hotly refuses. Bernie and Chet, who won’t take no for an answer, stumble on a web of murder, fraud, and blackmail, plus enough sorrow to inspire a ream of country tunes. There’s no real detection, and Chet’s short attention span can irritate, but Quinn eventually steers the meandering plot onto a satisfying course. Dog lovers won’t want to miss this one. Agent: Molly Friedrich, Friedrich Agency.

Narrator Jim Frangione reprises the voice of the Chet, canine sidekick at the Little Detective Agency, in the newest Chet and Bernie whodunit. Frangione's narration is energetic and straightforward, plausibly recounting events from the dog's point of view without excessive cuteness. Bernie is convinced that Lotty Pilgrim, a washed-up country singer, did not wield the knife that killed her lover/manager. Chet and Bernie pursue the truth in a journey through dingy bars, the desert border, and a high-end dude ranch. Frangione gives Lotty only a hint of country twang. Chet tells the story, and recounts Bernie's dialogue; Frangione's voice for Bernie is steadfast and brave because that's exactly how Chet sees his beloved master. Only bacon is better than Bernie. And maybe Slim Jims. N.M.C. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine