In the Doghouse (Dog Lover's Mystery)

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable mystery
Review: If you like your mysteries "peopled" with dogs, you'll like this one. Unlike other mysteries with animals that talk among themselves and/or solve the crime, in this one, Jake, the former police dog, is quite logically a central piece of the action. He's "starring" in the movie, and he is a highly trained ex police dog.

The solution of the mystery makes sense, although there are a number of lapses in continuity here. At one point, Jackie makes an appointment for lunch, but it's never clear if she keeps that appointment. In another place, she says that she has visited her friend in jail that morning when it's clear that she had visited him the afternoon before. There are some editorial errors as well: "new" instead of "knew" was one glaring one.

Basically, I enjoyed this book, but it could have benefitted from some tighter plotting and more attention to detail

Rating:
Summary: Lights, Camera, Action!
Review: In Melissa Cleary's eleventh mystery, Jackie Walsh and her ex-police dog, Jake, have stars in their eyes. While the recent love of her life, Tom, is in California with their kids, Jackie and Jake are hired to work in a movie being made by one of Jackie's former students. The movie is "Under the Dog Star"; the idea and some of the scenes are taken from Jackie's sleuthing experiences. The movie is being filmed in Jackie's small hometown in Ohio. As we all know, no matter where someone yells "lights, camera, action!", a Hollywood ego is bound to find it's way to the limelight, and in this case it's big time, so Jackie finds herself wrangling a murderer instead of Jake and gathering more background information on the celebrities than she cares to.

Those who have followed Ms. Cleary's series will recognize some of the recurring cast members and remember how enjoyable this series is. For new fans, although subjects from her past books are mentioned I don't consider them spoilers. I liked the way the way the mystery and the characters were presented. Ms. Cleary knows how to lead her readers though the maze of twists and turns. Melissa Cleary is well known for her popular series, Jackie is a seasoned sleuth, and Jake makes for a great tailing partner, so you can't go wrong with In The Dog House.

Rating:
Summary: entertaining
Review: Like green eggs and ham with Sam, Jackie and a homicide investigation with anyone seems to be the norm. Her friends and acquaintances in her small Ohio hometown expect Jackie to become embroiled in a murder investigation. However, currently Jackie is simply enjoying being on the set of movie being directed by one of her star university pupils, John McBride, who hopes to win an award at the Central State Film Festival.

The movie, "Under the Dog Star," is a 1940's film noir loosely based on Jackie's experiences. Things start well until the producer suffers an appendicitis attack. Renowned Hollywood producer, Cameron Clark, who is teaching at nearby Rodgers University, agrees to take over. However, Cameron behaves like a pompous tyrant, alienating everyone on the set. When he dies in a hit and run accident, the police arrest John whose vehicle is the murder weapon. He was supposedly having an affair with the victim's wife. John pleads with Jackie to prove his innocence. She begins to make inquiries, which places her life in jeopardy from the real villain.

The eleventh entry in "The Dog Lover's" mystery series is as entertaining as the previous tales were. IN THE DOG HOUSEE is darker than Melissa Cleary's other works have been, but the story line remains delightful. Jackie's companion Jake, the former police dog, enchantingly plays a major role in a plot that he steals. An entertaining tale that will please series fans.

Harriet Klausner