Cover Image: To Fetch a Felon

To Fetch a Felon

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Member Reviews

I apprecitate the publisher allowing me to read this book. This is a great mystery that kept me guessing until the end, I can't wait to read more.

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What a fun series. I love the setting, and when I read the pet was a Corgi I had to read it. I found this cozy to be a fun and fast read. Furthermore, I love that it is set in Cornwall, which made this book even more charming. I cannot wait for the second book.

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The is a fun new series. The characters are unusual and entertaining. The mystery is a good one. There are only a few suspects but the doesn’t mean it isn’t intriguing and well-developed with twists and turns. I’m looking forward to the next in the series.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.

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Is it any surprise a book with a talking corgi caught my interest? It shouldn't be! The relationship between Emma and Oliver is sweet. She indulges his culinary appetite maybe a bit too much for my own tastes (fatty sausages!) but he is more than willing to remind Emma that she needs to go for a walk instead of spending all day looking at a laptop doing research.

Emma very purposefully moved to Trevena because of childhood memories and the perfect tea shop location. It's a place where she can leave her old finance life behind and make a new life based on what she wants and not what she thinks she should do. The village does have tourists but the year-round residents seem to know everything about everyone else.

This mystery had more than one twist to it which kept me on my toes. Emma's sounding boards, Angelique and Genny, are local business owners who are able to fill Emma in on the village gossip. 

Some of the things I liked were the variety of characters (different ages and ethnicities), the mystery has several red herrings, Oliver's willingness to help Emma even if he didn't understand precisely what was going on, and the entire reason for Emma moving to the village doesn't get derailed by the murder.

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Emma Reed worked in finance in London. Tired of training young men who then became her boss, Emma quit her job to do something she loved.

Where to go and what to do? From trips as a child, she remembered a tea shop in a small village in Cornwall. Baking goodies was her passion. A tea shop would be just the thing. She and her Corgi, Oliver, headed for Cornwall.

There is one other thing. Oliver can talk. Only Emma hears him which had her more than concerned at first, but now she’s used to it and his chattiness often comes in handy.

The tea shop she remembered has been closed for years and is now owned by the town grouch, Victoria. Emma starts off on the wrong paw with her after Oliver tries to explore Victoria’s prize winning rose garden. Of course, Emma’s not the only one Victoria finds upsetting.

In an effort to make amends (and frankly, as a bribe), Emma and Oliver set out to apologize and deliver a batch of Emma’s scones. Maybe that will soften Victoria’s anger. It’s not to be. Oliver warns her something bad has happened! Victoria is on the kitchen floor, dead. Corgis are never wrong. Just ask Oliver.

An ambitious realtor, a reporter turned true crime writer, a forty-year-old cold case, a second death, and an odd police detective (she reads the palms of those she interviews), makes Emma’s dream of the tea shop an iffy proposition.

Emma’s in her forties, single, and retired from the boring job that paid her well. She’s a curious sort, friendly, and a bit odd in that not only does she talk to her Corgi (doesn’t everyone?) but that he talks back. Of course, being more scent-oriented than able to remember names or some details, makes his reporting a bit difficult, but he tries his best and for the most part, Emma understands. Although some readers may be put off by the idea of talking dogs, I recommend trying this book. The tale is delightful, the mystery a good one, and I hated to see it end. Look for book two, Murder Always Barks Twice, in August, available for pre-order now.

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A wonderful start to a wonderful new series. I loved getting to know the quirky characters and the delightful corgi. I can’t wait to see what the next book brings.

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This book has a fun premise and a great setting, but I did have some issues with it that will prevent me from being able to recommend it to others. While I was willing to suspend disbelief over the cute corgi having his own dialogue and point of view, I felt the dog's antics were repetitious and, after a while, tiresome. I also didn't like the profanity and the characters taking the Lord's name in vain. I prefer "clean" cozies, but I did enjoy the author's writing style and setting and wish her the best.

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This was so much fun! But full disclosure - I have owned three corgis (only one of mine talked ;)) - so I might be a bit biased. But this really had all the elements I love in a cozy: small English town, adorable animals, a quick murder and very likable characters. I thought the mystery was a good one, although I did think there was a bit too much thoughtful supposition of who the murderer was, instead of actual clues. Oliver's slight annoyance with terriers was just hilarious and his obsession with sausages was completely on point. This was really delightful to read. I am excited and looking forward the next installment!

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How could I not love Emma and her adorable corgi. This was a cute little cozy mystery with a great balance of interesting characters and twists and turns that make books like this fun.

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To Fetch a Felon by Jennifer Hawkins is the debut of A Chatty Corgi Mystery series. This is a cute story with some unique elements. Emma Reed has been in finance in London and she is now ready to realize her lifelong dream of opening a tea shop. She visited Trevena in Cornwall with her family as a child which is why she picked the charming Cornish town. I liked that Emma is an older protagonist at forty-five. She can also talk to and understand her corgi, Oliver. Oliver is an inquisitive dog with good sniffer. I enjoyed the chapters from his point-of-view. They were amusing and I thought the author captured the dogs’ personality. There are some nice secondary characters who become Emma’s friends and help her solve the crime. The mystery was multifaceted. There are a couple of suspects along with good clues. There is misdirection and then a second death. There is a forty-year mystery as well. Emma soon discovers that a small village like Trevena is rife with rumors and secrets. I enjoyed how Oliver contributed to the investigation. I like how everything tied together in this whodunit and the resolution. The author provided vivid descriptions of Cornwall. She brought the area alive for me with her word imagery. I am glad the author took the time to develop our main character, Emma and establish the setting. It makes for a richer story. To Fetch a Felon is an entertaining cozy mystery with a curious corgi, rampant rumors, scrumptious scones, tasty tea, a cozy cottage, and startling secrets.

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A wonderful cozy mystery with a unique cast of characters! I love the bit of magic in these pages - talking animals seem right at home in the Cliffs of Cornwall!

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To Fetch a Felon follows Emma as she leaves the high stress London financial sector to chase her dream of opening a tea shop in the small town that she used to holiday in with her family. One would think that life would begin to slow down for Emma but her plans are thrown off when she suddenly finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation. Can Emma and her trusty corgi, Oliver, navigate this new world full of small-town gossip, questionable motives, and the ghosts of a previous unsolved murder or will she find herself on the top of the suspect list?

I thought To Fetch a Felon was really fun. Cozy mysteries have such a big place in my heart and I’m excited to see more from this new English “Chatty Corgi Mystery Series.” This isn’t the first time that I’ve read a cozy mystery where a pet is a major character, at least in some respect, but I really do think it was the first that I’ve ever read one where the main character can communicate with them. Going into the book, I thought that the cross communication between pet and human would take away from the story but it actually flowed very well. Emma and Oliver have an adorable relationship and the way they communicate was so fun and light. Fortunately, Oliver was more of a partner in the investigation and loving best friend than a fallback for comedic relief.

The characters in this book are really likeable and decently complex. Some of the characters’ traits did make me guess minor parts of the plot; however, I did think the book was filled with plenty of twists and turns. I also loved how the book was broken down into nice, short chapters that kept ticking by as you charged ahead. I cannot wait to see what lies ahead for Emma and Oliver.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC of To Fetch a Felon by Jennifer Hawkins (OUT NOW) in exchange for an honest review.

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A great start to a new series! I'll be following this author. Emma and her corgi, Oliver move to the countryside. There they get involved iinto a new mystery along with a 40 year old one. With believable characters, dog owners will attest we all talk to our dogs. With twists along the way come along on an enjoyable read.
In exchange for an honest review #netgalley and #Berkley gave this digital copy to me.

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To Fetch a Felon by Jennifer Hawkins is an excellent cozy mystery that is the first, in what I expect to be, an excellent new mystery series: A Chatty Corgi Mystery.

This book starts us off with the newly transplanted Emma and her beloved Corgi, Oliver, attempting to move from the high stress of London to a small village that she visited many times during her childhood vacations in Cornwall. Emma hopes that it is not too late in life to leave the high stress of the financial world and follow her dreams of opening up a tea and bakery. Not only does Emma have the gift of making her family’s treasured scone (and cakes and breads) recipe to a T, but she also has another impressive ability: to communicate and talk with her Corgi, Oliver.

After moving to the village, Emma unfortunately gets wrapped up into a murder/mystery of one of the town’s most mercurial characters: Victoria. Emma and Oliver decide to get to the bottom of the puzzle to help solve the crime, and set the record straight. What then ensues is nothing short of creative, funny, quirky, adorable, entertaining, and suspenseful .

I loved so many things about this book:

1. Hello, ideal coastal village in Cornwall with wonderful landscapes, customs, and descriptions
2. The full character cast of the village. So many wonderful characters that there is plenty of perfect source material for books to come!
3. Emma and Oliver. I love their special and unique relationship and communications. It adds and endearment and they are a great sleuthing duo. Oliver adds just the right amount of help and information without it being a “dead giveaway”. Haha I had to do that.
4. The murder/mystery plot. It was creative, complex, and with the twists and turns, I actually didn’t solve the problem until the true end.
5. The food. The descriptions of the recipes are heavenly. I need some shortbread now.
6. Corgis!!!! I love dogs, I have a Vizsla myself, and I am in love with Oliver!!!!

5/5 stars for an awesome English cozy mystery

I can’t wait until the next book comes out!

Thank you NG and Berkley for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR, Instagram, Amazon, Bookbub, and B&N (under RachelDenise0) accounts.

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This was an outstanding first in a new series.
This has an interesting premise and the characters of Emma and her corgi Oliver absolutely won me over.
A whodunit that I could not put down!
I highly recommend this book and I look forward to reading the next in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed advance reader copy of this book.

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This is the first book in a new Chatty Corgi cozy mystery series! It follows Emma Reed as she moves from London, England to a small town on the Cornish coast. She plans to open a teashop and rent a little cottage for her and her adorable Corgi Oliver.
She immediately runs into issues when Victora, the woman who owns the perfect teashop location, is not keen on renting it out. Emma tries to endear herself to Victoria and perhaps change her mind by visiting her with some homemade scones and instead finds her dead.
She is immediately drawn into investigating the murder because of a special insight she has, the ability to talk to her corgi. Oliver is able to smell and observe things only a dog can and relays that info to Emma.
This does take a minute to get use to, but once you do it's really delightful.

I enjoyed this mystery very much and will absolutely be continuing the series. I found parts of the mystery I could deduce, while other parts were not obvious at all and stayed a mystery until Jennifer Hawkins revealed them.
Such a fun series!

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Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele

To Fetch a Felon is the debut book in the Chatty Corgi Mystery series, and I am in love…with corgi Oliver, his owner Emma, the Cornwall village. It is whimsical with a tangled mystery that keeps readers engaged from the first page to the last. Plus, there are tea goodies.

London financier Emma takes a leap and leaves the city behind to follow her dreams of opening a tea shop in the village where she spent summers as a child. Her best friend and constant companion is a Welsh Pembroke Corgi named Oliver, and their bond goes way beyond the typical owner-pet relationship because Oliver talks to Emma…in complete sentences…with a Welsh accent. Emma has a run in with cantankerous villager Victoria on her first day in town, but when she attempts to make amends, she finds Victoria deceased. It soon becomes apparent that Victoria died by nefarious means, and there are quite a few locals who have plenty of motive. Emma cannot help but investigate to find the killer so that she can get back to her tea shop dreams.

Pets are often featured in cozy mysteries, but here Oliver plays a major role throughout the book. Full confession – I am an obsessed corgi owner so I really loved Oliver’s prominence. He accompanies Emma everywhere and helps her investigate as only a dog can. Some of the chapters are even written from his perspective. He is indeed a noble warrior corgi (his words). I appreciate that Emma, at 45, is a touch older than the average amateur cozy sleuth. Being of a certain age myself, I find her relatable, and she is friendly and methodical in ferreting out clues and motives. I really like the local B&B owner Angelique and fish and chips proprietor Genny. I feel like with Emma they will be a regular trio sure to get involved in plenty of antics.

The mystery is straightforward and engaging. There are several scenarios involving all of the suspects that kept me guessing right along with Emma. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, more threads unraveled making me question myself. A second fatality makes things even more complicated. The story is full of village gossip and secrets, and Victoria collected them along with real estate, but the more Emma investigates two conflicting Victorias emerge. Was she a bitter, controlling bitty who wanted to ruin everything or a not-so-nice lady who tried to take care of those she deeply cared about and loved her garden more than anything?

I know a talking corgi might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I find To Fetch a Felon absolutely delightful. I cannot wait for the next installment. Highly recommended!

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How can you go wrong with a talking corgi sleuth? TO FETCH A FELON is the delectable first book in the Chatty Corgi Mystery series with loads of English village charm, appealing characters, and an engaging mystery that keeps readers guessing.

I really like protagonist Emma and appreciate that she is older than most of the cozy sleuths out there. Other characters that stand out are B&B proprietor Angelique and fish & chip shop owner Genny. I see Emma and these ladies becoming great friends. There is the slightest hint of a romantic flirtation with a local, but it is minimal and does not take away from the mystery plot. Cantankerous victim Victoria meets her end quite early in the story, which I prefer in my cozies, but readers get to know her quite well through Emma’s investigating. Unlikeable as she is, I cannot help but feel bad about her demise. There is ultimately more than one victim, and this adds even more twists to an already complex mystery. I vacillated throughout about whodunit and was a little surprised by the outcome.

Readers must suspend reality to fully get into the talking corgi aspect, but I think it is quite well done. Oliver is prominently featured throughout the book accompanying Emma everywhere and investigating doggy style. As a true corgi enthusiast , I love this whimsical feature. I think other fans of pet themed and culinary cozies will agree.

I adore TO FETCH A FELON and cannot wait to read more about Emma and Oliver. Highly recommended.

I gratefully received an ARC of this title from Berkley Books and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.

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I loved the concept of this story but it really didn't work for me. I did love the writing and the style of the book. It did move fast and it was easy to follow. I know some of my family and friends that would love this book and I will tell them to pick it up.

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"Emma Reed and her beloved Corgi move from London to Cornwall with the dream of opening a tea shop - but first they’ll have to collar a criminal in the first book in a charming new series.

Emma leaves London and her life in high finance behind her and moves to an idyllic village in Cornwall, with its cobblestone streets and twisting byways. She plans to open a village tea shop and bake the recipes handed down to her from her beloved grandmother, and of course there’ll be plenty of space for her talking corgi, Oliver, to explore. Yes...talking. Emma has always been able to understand Oliver, even though no one else can.

As soon as Emma arrives in the village she discovers that the curmudgeonly owner of the building she wants to rent for her shop hates dogs and gets off on the wrong foot with Oliver. Although some might turn tail and run, Emma is determined to win her over. But when she delivers some of her homemade scones as a peace offering, she finds the woman dead. Together, Emma and Oliver will need to unleash their detective skills to catch a killer."

FINALLY! Corgis coming into their own in cozies! Also, That corgi on the cover is beyond adorable which goes into cuteness overload when you see the fox.

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