Doggone Dead by Dane McCaslin is a new cozy mystery series that I hoped would be engaging and entice me to become a member of this new community.

Gwen and Nora have been best friends for years and now that Gwen is retired from teaching Nora has decided to begin a pet sitting business with Gwen's help. I didn't feel connected to Gwen or Nora and I definitely didn't understand why they would open a business together when neither one of them wanted to clean up after the pets. The mystery was smoothly paced, the suspects are numerous and there was some humor in the interactions with the characters. My disconnect with the characters throughout the story made this story just a so-so book for me.

3.5 stars

I absolutely loved this book! It is filled with colorful, quirky characters, a good solid mystery and lots of laugh out loud moments.
Retiree Gwen is looking forward to her retirement. She’s dreaming of her days filled with reading, relaxing and catching up with her best friend Nora. Unfortunately, it’s not in the cards for Gwen, and she finds her self tangled up in murder, while trying to keep her friend out of jail.
I’m so glad I read this book and I’m looking forward to reading more.

When school teacher Gwen Franklin retires, her friend Nora Goldstein insists that they work together. Her idea for a pet valet service doesn't work for Gwen, she has allergies, but Gwen could use an infusion of cash. One that Nora is in the position to give. They've also been 'besties' since childhood, so she just can't turn her down.
Nora is set financially, but needs something in her life, having gone through more than a few husbands.
Their foray into business has a neighbor show uo in their kitchen ...dead. Although Linda, the victim and Nora didn't get along, she wouldn't have killed her, besides which she was with Gwen the whole time. Odd things keep happening and the pair decide to investigate on their own, ramping it up after Nora's stepson is also found dead.
We have a list of suspects, means and motives and discard and return suspects to the list. The killer almost gets away, but Gwen is not about to let that happen.
This humorous mystery is a fun read and the author's characters are a hoot.
I requested and received a NetGalley ARC gratis and offer my opinion in the same spirit.

I found myself chuckling at the character interactions, especially when the young man Brent was involved. I could see it happening! This book is not the typical slash-and-dash type. Instead, I enjoyed reading something that really felt ‘cozy’.

Will def read more by this author.

Gwen is a newly retired high school teacher, she has a friend who is very well off and is intent on filling Gwen's newly empty time with her most recent scheme.
Gwen and Nora have been friends for many years. This is stressed repeatedly throughout the book. Nora's plan is to establish a dog walking business. Nora is a lycra wearing, stiletto heeled, pseudo glamorous wig wearing retiree.
On the way over there Gwen is driven by a very poor driver, an ex pupil taxi drier who becomes a major part of the fledgling business.
Out of the blue a dead body is found in Nora's kitchen. The police are not very bright and so the ladies decide to investigate.
I found this story weak. The murder investigation is a series of lucky chances. There is little threat or trepidation around it. The friendship between the two central characters is at times over emphasised and repeated.
I would not recommend the book to anyone looking for a mystery.

A gentle mystery novel for gentle folks.

Retirement seemed like a good plan to Gwen until her best friend Nora decided to drag her into a pet sitting business. All is fine and dandy until a dead woman's body is found in Nora's kitchen followed by the sudden appearance of Nora's many step-children. Gwen decides to play detective to find out who was trying to frame her best friend using all the skills and knowledge she gained from reading Agatha Christie's books.

This book is gently paced for a casual read. It's a mystery novel as much as it is women's fiction and family drama and about pets.

Retirement seems to have provided a new lease of life to this spinster and her sister with the awakening of a new found love for animals and reawakening a love for mysteries .

Written for the faint hearted mystery lovers.

3.5 /5 stars

This is a quick read-cozy mystery with hilarious characters. Although the story is intriguing and sometimes outlandish-five husbands???——-it is sometimes chaotic. I had a difficult time keeping up with the numerous characters,’their histories, and their relatives. A retired teacher and her best friend opening a dog walking service is surprising,’and the events that transpire are even more so. Although this is a light read, I would not read it again. That being said, try it-dog lovers might thoroughly enjoy it.