Dog Fiction Mystery

Noir: femme fatale seduces men, marries them, then slays them for insurance money.

While estranged twins Oliver and Theo Wingfield are identical in appearance, they couldn't be more different. Theo, an extrovert verging on arrogant, was always a drifter, a nomad, operating on the fringes of the law. Oliver, intense, creative and introspective, was destined to become a winemaker. Each vintage, every bottle from Oliver's Mudgee-based label, Four Dogs Missing, sells out. And now, after fifteen years without contact, Theo unexpectedly turns up at his brother's vineyard, bearing an invitation that his twin knows nothing about.

Alvin, Port Warren’s Sheriff, is super excited when a famous magician visits the town. But the man is not quite the hero he envisioned. There are plenty of suspects when the show turns murder red. The Resplendent Rockford is a hard taskmaster, and not everyone is a fan. Who is the man hiding in the shadows? Why is Rockford’s assistant making threats, and how did poor Clive cope?

When a new bakery opens up, Melody starts to lose business. People are flocking to the new healthy treats across the road. It gets so bad that Melody even loses her temper and now she is in trouble. When the owner of the new bakery is found dead, and Melody is covered in his blood, it looks like she may have snapped. Now she is in jail and has no way of proving her innocence. Luckily, Smudge and Melody’s boyfriend, Sheriff Alvin, are on the case. Can they hunt down the truth when all the evidence points to Melody?

Melody Marshall is worried about her friend and assistant Leslie. The young woman seems to have fallen in love with, Jamison Shepherd, a big shot direct, who is new in town. To Melody and Smudge, he seems arrogant, and there are some worrying rumors that follow him around. Leslie doesn’t care. She is in love and so pleased that she has scored the role of leading lady in his play. Only things don’t go to plan. Leslie is thrown out of the role, and the new leading lady turns up dead.

When Olive Harrington is found dead, local Baker and her loyal French Bulldog Smudge, end up looking after the woman’s cat. Smudge is not impressed, and Melody knows she must solve the crime soon or have more trouble at home. All the clues point to Olive’s relative and a dispute over not only the lamp but her fortune. Will Melody and Smudge sniff out the clues and find the truth? What will happen to Taffy, the poor misunderstood cat?

Melody Marshall can’t understand why her friends are fawning over the visit of the famous artist, Byron Elmsford. Sure, he’s good looking, talented, and rich, but he seems a bit sleazy to her. Flirting and working every woman he meets. When her friend Sam accuses the artist of stealing his work the town is shocked. It doesn’t help that Samm appears drunk and very angry. When Byron is found dead, there appears to be only one suspect. Only Melody and her Frenchie, Smudge don’t believe that Sam is guilty.

After four long years in the army, causing international incidents and trying to eliminate Florida from the maps, Cynthia Sharp and her K-9 partner Sgt. Winnifred Pupperson have retired. Back home in Sweet Pea, OH, they are ready to kick back and relax. Except the damn chickens.

Colin Troughton isn’t excited to visit his family for the upcoming wedding of his cousin. However, his girlfriend PI Hannah offers to come along with her whip smart beagle Mazie to help smooth any feathers that may get ruffled. They never counted on the nuptials ending in murder.

Private investigator Sonny Rush, the newest resident of Haven, California, knows that this fogbound coastal hamlet is every bit as dangerous as her hometown of Los Angeles. And when teenager and repeat runaway Honor Butler shows up at Sonny’s door with terror in her eyes, Sonny is immediately pulled into a new case that lands close to home.

An engagement party should be a happy event but this one ends in tragedy. Can PI Hannah and Dog Detective Mazie solve the case before the wrong people lose everything? Mrs. Ellen Moriarty, a party planner, suspects her soon-to-be ex-husband and business partner is attempting to steal all of their clients and she wants Hannah to prove it. While this isn’t her usual case Hannah is intrigued when she learns that Seth Moriarty’s upcoming event, an engagement party, for a wealthy client is taking place at Priscilla Ralston’s pet-friendly restaurant.

When Elliott Hodge is found dead in a motel room it seems a cut and dried case but Melody and Smudge have other ideas. Can the French Bulldog sniff out the clues and save a friend from jail? A memorial day luncheon is the perfect place for Melody Hennessy to show off her wonderful desserts. The baker and her trusty French Bulldog Smudge are a big hit with the veterans. Lola, a soldier with a troubled past does not seem to like the bulldog or anyone for that matter. When she is accused of murder the sheriff thinks it is an easy case.

When Melody and French Bulldog Smudge attend a graduation party it should be all fun? But a miserable graduate, a body in the pond, and a confused bulldog all boil down to a mystery that needs solving. Graduation season is always busy and Melody and her partners at the Decadently Delicious Bakery are hot on the case of some delicious treats. One particular party has Melody a little worried. Rumors of cheating and dastardly deeds threaten to bring the party down, but Melody won’t allow idle gossip.

Melody and her trusty sidekick Smudge are back in the murder solving business as they find themselves embroiled in the latest Port Warren death. Craving a new look has Melody and her French bulldog Smudge headed to the local salon. However, what she finds there is a lackluster haircut, unhappy clients and fighting hairdressers! She’s not sure who is on the right side of all the arguments at the salon, but she knows she’s not satisfied with her haircut.

Francine Leeson was Murdered at her own retirement party. Super Sleuth Melody and her clue sniffing French Bulldog, Smudge had already left, but there are plenty of suspects — Francine was not well-liked. Francine Leeson had owned the local craft shop forever. No one thought she would ever retire, but a new love with the ex-sheriff has her wanting to travel. Tara, her daughter, arranged a surprise retirement party, but she didn’t get the reaction she hoped for. As always, Francine was rude. Belittling Tara and her business partner as well as Melody and Smudge.

A trip to Las Vegas has Sheriff Alvin feeling antsy, while Melody and French Bulldog, Smudge, are looking forward to seeing their friend finally married. After two murders had postponed the wedding, surely nothing could go wrong this time. Alvin is not a big fan of busy towns and noisy casinos, a losing streak at the tables does not make him feel better. A disturbance in the middle of the night has Smudge making a new friend, and the possibility of some police work perks Alvin right up.

Who took a bite out of the wedding cake and left a waitress in the cupboard? Can Melody Marshal and French Bulldog Smudge find out the truth? Melody is so pleased to see her friend, Kerry, married to her sweetheart, Bradford. It is going to be a wonderful day. Even Smudge has been invited, for once, the last thing Melody wants is a mystery. As they settle in for the wedding, the sound of a scream brings the sort of news that Melody could do without. Now there is a body, and the suspects are mounting. Can Smudge and Melody work their magic and hunt down the killer?

Melody Marshall has been asked to prepare sweet treats and delights for the Port Warren Beauty Pagent. Only, not everyone is impressed with the idea. As always, Melody takes her cute French Bulldog, Smudge, along to the pageant. It isn’t long before they find a woman crying. Smudge offers cuddles and support while Melody discovers that one of the organizers, Ronald Atkins, is having a fling with many of the contestants. It looks like he is leaving them heartbroken. Melody is not impressed, as the man is old enough to be their father.

Melody and Kerry love the beautiful inn, but they are struggling with the behavior of its owner, Ruth Bronwyn. She cannot seem to stop belittling her staff. When she is later found stabbed, there are no shortage of suspects. Melody and her loyal French Bulldog, Smudge must sniff out the clues if justice is to be served. Will it be as cold as Ruth herself or as warm as the passion that lurks beneath the inn’s surface?

Mabel plans to bring the thrills of volunteering to the masses—if she doesn’t go to the dogs first. When Mabel finds herself sharing a thicket with a dead body while volunteering with canine search-&-rescue, her life has clearly—once again—gone to the dogs!