The Sound and the Furry

I've read clever mysteries before in which a dog plays a major role, but never one told so convincingly from the dog's point of view as The Sound and the Furry - A Chet and Bernie Mystery (#412) by Spencer Quinn.  In most books with animal narrators, the canine or feline characters are way smarter than their human counterparts.  If only they could communicate with other species telepathically...  (I'm thinking of Ralph Vaughan's Paws & Claws series, or Rita Mae Brown's cat detective Sneaky Pie, for example.)  Chet, on the other hand, is sooo easily distracted by smells, sights and the prospect of something delicious to eat that he's constantly wandering down amusing mental detours before he snaps back on target, because hey! He's a pro!!

Chet and Bernie, his human Private Investigator companion, usually do their work in Arizona, but in The Sound and the Furry, a chance encounter with a felon this pair previously put behind bars nets them a case in New Orleans and Louisiana bayou country looking for a lost Cajun inventor.  Big Oil is involved and someone involved has it in for Bernie and his thoroughly pro pet, Chet.  There's water, water everywhere and gators, too as Chet and Bernie pool their talents and skills to solve the case.

This book, the sixth in this series, was just the distraction I needed on a long road trip.  I've already put the previous books on reserve at my library, and a seventh book is just about to come out!  Yippee, Skippy!  A fun read for both dog lovers and mystery fans.