Of Mutts and Men is the tenth novel in Spencer Quinn's Chet and Bernie Mystery. I'll confess that I haven't actually read the first nine novels in this series – my bad. I got so excited about the idea of a mutt mystery that I completely got ahead of myself. Still, I really enjoyed this mystery and had no trouble jumping right on in.

Chet and Bernie run the Little Detective Agency together. It doesn't matter to them that one of them is a man, while the other is a dog. They make a great team, and nothing is ever going to change that.

However, the latest case ended up being more violent than intended. What should have been a normal meeting turned out to be a crime scene, and that means this dynamic duo will not be walking away from the case anytime soon.

"K-nine. That would be like Sherlock Holmes walking a beat."

Oh my goodness! Of Mutts and Men was such a delight to read! I'm glad I took the risk and dove right into this series, despite having no history with it! It was worth it – though I will be adding the rest of the series to my ever-growing TBR list. It's worth it.

Chet is such an endearing – and brilliant – dog! I was immediately charmed by him and by Bernie's steadfast devotion to his canine companion. It made the perfect basis for this mystery novel (though I might be biased here, as I've been finding that I particularly enjoy animal mystery series as of late).

I think the thing I loved the most about this novel is that I went in with one clear expectation of what was going to happen and got something completely different. It's easy to create assumptions when it comes to certain tropes – say, a man and his dog solving crimes. Those assumptions are going to quickly get blasted apart here – leaving lots of fun and thrills.

While I didn't have the full history of this duo, I can sincerely say that I would recommend Of Mutts and Men to any potential readers. I'd also argue that the entire series (Chet and Bernie Mystery) is worth checking out.

Of Mutts and Men

by Spencer Quinn

Although I really enjoyed reading the first book in the Chet and Bernie Series, I was a little disappointed as I read Of Mutts and Men, the tenth book in the series. I felt like I was reading a clone of the first book, sporting a different cover and title and with the same jokes, but repeated too often. The mystery concerning a murder, an aquifer, and big business is fresh but somehow did not thrust me into a page turning mode. Chet, a K-9 school failure but faithful sidekick to P.I. Bernie, is always devotedly at Bernie’s side, but his role in capturing the “perps” in this book is less than I think he deserves. He has valuable deductions, but as a dog can not share them effectively in this tale. The story includes a personal side of Bernie’s life as a former flame reenters the picture, but there is no deep examination and it doesn’t seem believable.

I recommend this book if you like mysteries that involve canines and you want a light read. Unfortunately, although it reads well as a standalone, it does not compel me to read the eight books that I skipped over in the series. I am planning to read the next book in the series to inspire me to read more or to convince me that the series is not worth investing more time.

I would like to extend my thanks to NetGalley and to Macmillan—Tor/Forge for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 3/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: 1. #10 in the Chet and Bernie Series, but can be read as a standalone.
2. Contains some profanity.
3. Link to my review of the first book in the series, Dog On It.

Publication: July 7, 2020— Macmillan—Tor/Forge

Memorable Lines:

“Sometimes I don’t understand you.” Well, right back at ya. Which didn’t change how I felt about him, not the slightest bit. And just to show him, I put my paw on his leg and pressed down firmly, so he’d know how much I cared. We shot through the intersection, the light luckily turning green at that moment, or just about to.
The big heat of summer was coming very soon, and the back of Bernie’s shirt—one of his nicest, with the flamingos drinking at a bar pattern—was getting sweaty, and he was huffing and puffing a bit. I followed him up the slope, first from behind and then from in front, where I do my best following.

I started feeling very good about the case. As for what it was about, exactly, those details would come to me soon, or later, or not at all. But the important thing was that we were cooking, me and Bernie.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this newest Chet and Bernie mystery, one of my favorite series. And this time around, Bernie gets to investigate a case practically made just for him ....the fate of an aquifer! Long time fans of the series know how much of an issue aquifers are to Bernie.

While I enjoyed the book, it was probably one of my least favorite in the series. The pace seemed slower than usual. Plus, a character who had left the series returns in this one, but not in a way I was expecting. And the way that this character has moved on with their life seems very fast, which didn't sit well with me.

But it's still an enjoyable read and not to be missed by any Chet and Bernie fans!

A delightful romp which is precisely what I expected. This is as easy a book to recommend as I have read recently. Well written, well plotted, and well paced all combine to make for a delightful read.

Chet and Bernie are partners in the Little Detective Agency. Bernie is the smartest human in the room, always. Chet is the canine partner, the one who chases the perp and grabs him by the pant leg until Bernie can bring out the cuffs. No one has as much fun as Chet!

Bernie hates to see water wasted, much less squandered. At his client’s over-the-top mansion to pick up a check and return a painting, the one Chet retrieved during a daring chase of the perp, (only two small holes in the canvas), there are pools for fish, pools for humans, a stream, a waterfall, and all without a thought for the poor aquifer. Bernie makes a comment as such and meets a like-minded soul, Wendell Nero, a geologist who studies hydrology. He designed the atrocious backyard water park and says once the client wouldn’t budge, he at least put in some water saving features. Any other designer would have made a mess of it all.

Wendell invites Chet and Bernie to come visit him the next morning but when Bernie knocks on Wendell’s trailer door, there’s no response. Chet and Bernie find Wendell has been murdered, his laptop, phone, and wallet gone. The sheriff breaks all records for incompetency so Bernie decides to investigate. The Little Detective Agency is on the case!

While the area suffers due to a lack of water, just over the mountain from Wendell’s trailer, there’s a lush vineyard. The vines should be dying but the grapes are fat with juice.

Susie used to be Bernie’s girlfriend, but she moved to London and now Eliza, the doctor who made Bernie better after a previous case, is kind of taking Susie’s place. Although Chet is pretty sure he saw Susie a couple of times lately and what with London being somewhere far away, not sure just where, how can that be? But then Eliza came by Bernie’s house when Bernie was sitting out back with Mindy Jo the tow truck driver who was showing Bernie her tats and then Eliza went away and she didn’t even bring Chet any barbecued ribs. Humans are hard to understand, except Bernie who is always the smartest human in the room. And that’s Chet’s take on the day.

This is book ten in the popular series. I’ve reviewed and raved about all ten. Chet tells the story which doesn’t always work in Bernie’s favor as Chet sees clues Bernie might miss but since Chet is easily distracted, he sometimes forgets to point them out to Bernie. Chet’s unique view of human behavior is always a revelation. There’s a darn good mystery too.

Chet and Bernie have a guaranteed spot on my Best of 2020 list.

My first Chet and Bernie book and I really enjoyed it. It was really cute to see events from Chet's point of view. Well written, plausible story. It wasn't particularly thrilling or tense, but a nice read. Don't think I really enjoyed it enough to seek out the other books in the series, though.

Of Mutts and Men by Spencer Quinn is number 10 in the Chet and Bernie Mystery series. It is an extremely entertaining book about private investigator Bernie Little and his canine partner, Chet. The entertaining part is the fact that the narrator is Chet, who has an odd and quirky sense of humor. Chet is not stupid. In fact, if he could talk the crime would be solved sooner because his nose accomplishes wondrous things and he is able to identify not only criminals, but human illnesses. The mystery was a decent one although there were multiple deaths before that happened...all very dramatic. Bernie is a veteran of, presumably, the war in Afghanistan, where he suffered a wound in his leg. The wound is pretty invisible most of the time, but pain still pops up now and then. He is divorced with a seven-year-old son whom he adores. He is a decent father and not-such-a-bad ex-husband. He gets along well with most members of law enforcement, which is not always the case with PIs. It is not Of Mutts and Men is not exactly a cozy mystery, but far from a traditional one.

Although I am not normally a fan or quirky or of comedies, I wound this book to be extremely entertaining. Chet keeps a balance between dog and private investigator that I found appealing. Bernie is an excellent character, always searching for justice, if not necessary looking for legal. He is a young man who has trouble with women, for one reason or another, but they seem to part friends, which is commendable. It is always amazing to me what motivates people to kill. I guess it is usually money, but still, interesting. I recommend this book if you are looking for an entertaining mystery read.

I was invited to read a free ARC of Of Mutts and Men by Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #ofmuttsandmen

This is apparently the tenth in this series of cozy mysteries about PI Bernie Little and his dog Chet, an almost K-9 who failed his final test due to an unfortunate incident involving a cat. There are quite a few references to previous cases but it’s lightly done and I don’t think you lose too much by coming in here, principally because the story is told in the first person narrative voice of Chet. Yes, the dog is the narrator. And being a dog, he lives very much in the moment, regularly distracted by thoughts such as whether it’s dinner time yet, whether any given person he meets might give good pats, and where exactly that slice of pizza went because it was just there.

There’s an intriguing little mystery in here involving the discovery of a new aquifer under the desert which several unscrupulous people would rather nobody knew anything about until they’ve finished buying up all the potential rights. Bernie and Chet stumble into it when a hydrologist asks Bernie to meet him to consult about something, and the duo find the man’s body with a slit throat instead.

This was really fun. There’s an inbuilt limit to how much of the case the reader can understand because the whole thing is filtered through Chet’s point of view, Chet who isn’t sure whether thirty is a bigger amount than fifty. He’s obviously a Good Dog, and Bernie’s just as clearly a smart guy who puts things together quicker than most, and watching the two of them figure stuff out together is really quite charming. The environmental message isn’t dwelled on because Chet has no real comprehension of it, but it’s obvious from the lengths the villains are willing to go to that it matters a lot.

I honestly don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite like this before; I’ve read a few cozy mysteries from the PoV of the animal sidekick, but this was the first one where the narrator really ‘felt’ like an animal. Chet wasn’t anthropomorphised; he’s a dog, a smart one and well trained, but definitely a dog. I definitely enjoyed the read and I’m happy to give it five stars.

I loved this book. Chet is so funny. He is a "good boy" and "a pro", then squirrel! He Bernie and thinks he is the smartest, most wonderful human ever. Bernie and Chet are asked to visit a geologist at his work site. However, when they get to the site, the man is dead. Chet finds the first clue. The policeman who is sent to investigate is dull and has preconceived ideas of who the murderer is. Especially when Bernie and Chet find the owner of the bubble gum Chet found and the guy has the victim's wallet. Case closed as far the the deputy is concerned.

Bernie and Chet make a great duo. Chet is always trying to reason out why Bernie does what he does, but he only gets so far. Chet has some amazing and funny ideas. The mystery was good and if Chet could talk and remember things, he and Bernie would have wrapped the murder up lickity-split. But since Chet cannot talk, Bernie has to reason it out all by himself. Easy-to-read, great mystery, and laugh-out-loud thoughts from Chet.

Thanks to publisher Macmillan-Tor/Forge and NetGalley for a digital advance reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

I've read a few of the Chet and Bernie mystery series and each one is as good as I've come to expect. It doesn't seem to matter in what order you read them, so snap one up if you get the chance. They're narrated by Chet, the delightful dog partner of Bernie Little, who together constitute the Little Detective Agency. In this latest adventure there is a mystery, sinister characters, and danger for both Chet and Bernie. What makes this series outstanding is the humor of Chet's narration and his naive interpretation of humans - both their language and behavior. If you're looking for an intelligent and humorous mystery that will make you forget the real life problems of our days, I highly recommend "Of Mutts and Men."

This is book 10 in the Chet and Bernie series and I enjoyed it as always. I love the interaction between human and canine and how Chet narrates the story. I don;t know how Spencer Quinn thinks like a dog but he does a great job of projecting the animal point of view. This story has lots of action as the PI team investigates the death of a water expert. Water is a hot commodity in the desert and people are willing to kill for it. Suzy makes a return appearance. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I really loved the idea of this novel, but I did not realize it was the tenth in a series. I think it was a mistake to begin with the tenth book--it didn't do the concept any service.

I found it very hard to get into; the narrator, purported to be a dog, for the most part lives in the moment and has doggie reactions, which I enjoyed, but here and there the author slipped through, offering commentary (often about the past) that broke the fragile construct that this was written by the dog.

I didn't get far enough to see how the mystery played out. Though I kept picking the book up and trying to rekindle my interest, there was always some reference to past adventures, or some "humanist" thought that poked me out again. I finally gave up, but three stars for the parts I did enjoy.

I guarantee that I have the best sense of smell of any private detective. I am also the fastest PI on Earth. My name is Chet. I’m a dog and, incidentally, the first-person narrator Of Mutts and Men.

My partner is Bernie. He and I solve crimes for a living. Business may be slow, but it keeps me in Slim Jims.

This case is a dead guy named Wendell, who we just met. He invited us to talk to him about something strange with the water. It sounded like that movie with Jack Nickolson and Faye Dunaway.

But we always are hurting for cash so we went to the office trailer on Wendell’s job site. We found him there, dead with his throat slit ear-to-ear. The stupid copper, Deputy Beasley, thinks it’s a suicide even though the weapon is missing from the scene. Guess Bernie and I better find Wendell’s murderer.

Even though Bernie has done comedy at LaffRiot, I think Chet is the one with a Netflix special in his future. If he can only break down the language barrier. Chet is hilarious—like laugh-out-loud funny! If you like dogs, humor and a mystery, you should try Of Mutts and Men. You won’t be sorry. 4 stars!

Thanks to Forge Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Another humorous mystery starring Chet the Jet and Bernie Little with lots of twists and turns as they try to discover why a well-known hydrologist 1. wanted to see them and 2 was murdered the evening before their apppointment.

Of Mutts and Men is the 10th Chet & Bernie mystery by Spencer Quinn. Released 7th July 2020 by Macmillan on their Forge Books imprint, it's 304 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.

This is a long running series of modern PI murder mysteries narrated by the canine half of the duo. Chet the shepherd carries the stories along with pithy observations about life, love, humans, dogs, and occasionally squirrels. There's a synergy between Chet and his human sidekick, private investigator Bernie Little. Despite being murder mysteries (this one includes a grisly exanguination), there's a real warmth and humor to the writing which makes them appealing. The mysteries themselves, the hidden motives, the interrelationships between the characters, and the nuts-and-bolts technical construction make this an engaging read.

This is a true partnership and they trust and depend on one another and I have really enjoyed every new book in the series. This one sees some nice background character development. Although it's the 10th book, it works very well as a standalone; the author's very adept at providing necessary backstory without spoon feeding. The dialogue is never clunky and the story arc moves along at a good clip. I was so invested in the story I wound up reading it in one setting. Every new entry into the series feels like a welcome visit with a good old friend.

Four and a half stars, honestly closer to five.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Crime detection from the canine perspective--Great fun!

What a rollicking, at times hilarious read featuring Private Investigators, Bernie Little and his dog Chet. (Failed K-9 school are the hints I get--but that's another story and one I dearly need to read!) BTW I haven't read any of this series before. Starting at #10 really posed no problem and I've already lined up to begin from the beginning!
In this story we have a dead hydrologist, an ex girlfriend, various bit players including other friends and some unforgiving baddies.
Bernie and Chet track down the person who appears to have committed the murder. The police are satisfied, but Bernie isn't. And that's where the story gets interesting.
The plot wends its way along at a reasonable pace, but the one who steals the show is Chet (Chester). The story is told from his viewpoint--and what a totally enjoyable, and often wickedly funny that filter is!
Bernie is a PI always looking for a case. Chet is a gumshoe type detective dog character somewhere between Snoopy and Sam Spade with a philosophical bent that made me do double takes from time to time.
Chet's an innocent abroad who has insightful flashes. He's so doggy and so Sesame Street all at once. I underlined so many fabulous Chet musings that the pages started to look like they belonged to redacted official secrets papers.
And those moments when Chet starts to put things together, and then at the last minute is distracted by the smell of another animal or some other canine interest, are priceless. Like his being ok with a fly in his drinking water. "I was sipping water from a bowl with a dead fly lying on the bottom, or, on second look, maybe not quite dead. No complaints. You toughen up in a job like mine." (Maybe he's really a Stephen Wright avatar?)
Chet interpreting what he thinks prayer might be is fabulous. His discovery of pastrami on rye sandwiches is just too much.
Bernie is quite a character too--a rangy, laconic type of guy, hard hitting, with his own brand of integrity, and determined.
Deftly told, clever and funny. I was sold from the first line.
This hard boiled when he needs to be, PI overlapping with his furry friend, sort of puts this story close to cozy mystery genre. But this is so much more!
What a treasure!

A Macmillan-Tor/Forge ARC via NetGalley
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Private Detective, Bernie Little, and his K9 partner, Chet, always get their perp. This unique series is narrated from the POV of Chet the dog. It’s a fun, witty take on the usual crime/mystery novel.

Chet’s adoration of and love for Bernie is heartwarming. According to Chet, Bernie’s only area of improvement is his uncanny ability to make bad financial decision. These two characters make a great team. Their planned meeting with hydrologist Wendell Nero becomes a murder case to be solved. The mystery is good, and well written without being gruesome. For me the best part was the humor stemming from Chet’s misinterpretation of the English language and his canine perspective.

I love dogs and I love mysteries, so Of Mutts and Men was pretty much destined to be a book I liked. Thank you to Forge Books of Macmillan Publishing for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Here we are with the tenth entry in this wonderful series featuring Bernie Little, PI and his partner, Chet, canine extraordinaire. Each case is narrated by Chet with his quick doggie mind and sense of humor. In his doggie eyes his partner, Bernie, can do no wrong.....with those financial failures being the exception. Well, this time around, Chet is glad to see that there is going to be a new case for them to work on. While at a yard party they cross paths with a professor of hydrology who asks them to stop by his RV as he has a case for them. Upon their arrival they find the man with his throat slit. Well, one thing leads to another and it involves a local winery and very well hydrated vineyard. Things are not right and the police are onto the wrong suspect.
I won't give away anymore so I don't spoil it. If you are new to this delightful series be assured it can be read as a standalone. If you enjoy it as much as I do get ready to binge read the previous nine books.
My thanks to the publisher, Forge and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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Bernie meets the man destined to his new best friend—a hydrologist who seems to share many of the same opinions as Bernie when it comes to water usage in Phoenix. I don't think we've managed to get a novel where Bernie hasn't complained about the waste of water in the area (except maybe those two when they were back East), "we only have one aquifer." It appears that Wendell has need of a P.I., too—the two make arrangements to meet the next day to discuss it.

But when our dynamic duo shows up at Wendell's worksite office, they find him murdered. Which puts the kibosh on the bromance. Bernie naturally begins investigating—spurred to action after meeting the Sheriff's Deputy in charge of this case, if nothing else—who is one of the sorriest excuses for a law enforcement officer that I've read this year. Some quick detective work leads Bernie to a suspect—not one that he believes really did it, but he still feels compelled to hand him over to Deputy Beasley.

This was a mistake as Beasley locks in on the suspect and ignores any other possibilities. But the more that Bernie looks into things—if only to find out why Wendell wanted to hire him—the more he's convinced the suspect is innocent. Only no one—including the deputy, and the suspect's own defense attorney—will listen to him.

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT CHET

What is there to say about Chet the Jet? He's the same loveable, heroic champ we've come to know and love. For those who don't know—Chet's our narrator, Bernie's partner, and a 100+ pound dog. Other than a couple of sentences showing a more libidinous side to Chet than we're used to seeing, he's exactly what we've come to expect. Don't read anything into me not having a lot to say about him—he's the best dog in fiction (for my money), but there are only so many ways you can say that.

BUT WE CAN'T FORGET BERNIE (OR ANYONE ELSE)

On the other hand, I think I've given Bernie short shrift over the years—it's easy to focus on Chet. But Bernie's more than just the guy who complains about wasting water while making horrible investment choices. He's a top-notch P.I., but like most fictional P.I.'s, his principles, independence, and lousy business sense keep him from being much of a success. His residence and devotion to Chet are most of what separates him from Elvis Cole, for example (sure, Elvis has his cat, but he doesn't take the cat with him on cases).

I felt more connected to Bernie in this novel than usual—I'm not sure if that's a reflection on me or Quinn's writing. Bernie's outrage at the treatment of the suspect (some directed at himself for getting the Deputy looking at him) drives him more than any desire for a fee or to discover what Wendell wanted.

In addition to the case and the machinations of the principles involved, there's a lot going on in Bernie's private life. He doesn't deal well with most of it, which isn't a surprise, dealing well with personal relationships isn't his trademark. It seems to affect him more in this novel than I'm used to seeing him—both positively and negatively (although, there's a lot of negative in this novel—all around).

In case you can't tell, I can't put my finger on what's different this time—but Bernie seems more human, more real, less "merely the guy who Chet is devoted to" (although he absolutely is that). Quinn puts him through the wringer in many ways here, and the novel is better for it.

It's not just with Bernie, I think that this novel has some of the most subtle and rich character work in the series (last year's Heart of Barkness ) headed in this direction (growth prompted by The Right Side ?). The villain of this novel is the most complex and compelling foe for these two. Beyond that, there were so many characters that showed up for a scene or two—five or six pages total—that were just dynamic. Even Malcolm, the husband of Bernie's ex-wife, Leda makes a couple of positive contributions! He's rarely been much beyond an antagonist for Bernie, a competitor for the paternal role for Bernie's son—and here he's in such a better way, I almost liked him.

DON'T FORGET THE KLEENEX

There are three—maybe four—scenes in this book that "hit you in the feels." One only took two or three sentences to deliver the punch, and could easily be missed. But the emotional core of this novel is shown in a couple of others (some readers will be torn up by them, others will be satisfied—either reaction is warranted).

But there's one scene—it has only the most tangential tie to the plot—that will (or ought to) devastate you. I'm honestly not sure why Quinn included it, but I am so glad he did. You'll know it when you read it, I'm not going to say anything else about it. Chet was still his goofy self, but even he came across differently in it. The book is worth the purchase price for it alone.

SO WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT OF MUTTS AND MEN?

I've said it before, I'll say it again, I've been a fan of this series since maybe the third chapter of the first book eleven years ago. And I'll be a fan until Quinn moves on. But there's something different about this book. Still, I'm going to try to thread the needle here—this is not my favorite book in the series. However, I think it's unquestionably the best book so far. I'm not crazy about some of the longer-term arc events here—hey're the smart move by Quinn, I'll defend them, but I didn't like them.

Still, there's a good mystery, you get the wonderful partnership of Chet and Bernie, probably the best use of Bernie yet, and a new depth to Quinn's writing—it's precisely what the doctor ordered. New readers will have no problem jumping in at this point, returning fans have to be pulling on their leashes to get to this. Highly recommended.

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Macmillan-Tor/Forge via NetGalley in exchange for this post—thanks to both for this. Also, sorry that I didn't get this posted sooner, I really did try.

Of Mutts and Men is the 10th installment of the series featuring Bernie Little and his canine companion, Chet of the Little Detective Agency. Together, Bernie and Chet solve crimes in an almost unbelievable way.

Narrated from Chet's point of view, the story is entertaining and sprinkled with a lot of witty humor. However, the humor does get a little wearisome as it does take away from the entire plot.

Without getting into too much detail, Bernie is invited to a meeting by a hydrologist at a canyon only to find the hydrologist murdered -- throat slit from ear to ear. Evidence gathered at the scene leads to a petty thief. But all evidence against this thief is circumstantial. Now it's up to Bernie and Chet to find the real killer.

A book and series well suited for teens and some YA fans. Very entertaining for me. 3.5 stars rounded up -- I liked it.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan/Tor-Forge Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.