Cover Image: A Deadly Bone to Pick

A Deadly Bone to Pick

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I liked the premise of this book but unfortunately this one just wasn't for me and so I just didn't finish it.

I know some would love this but I just got bored.

Was this review helpful?

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele

A Deadly Bone to Pick is a supreme dog lover’s mystery. The first book in the Molly Madison series, it is full of California atmosphere, quirky neighbors, murder, and dogs…a satisfying mystery that reads a lot like a police procedural but with all the hallmarks of a cozy.

Ex-cop and private investigator Molly hopes to leave the scars and drama of her life in Massachusetts behind and start over in a picturesque coastal California town. Before she is even settled she meets a new (nosy) neighbor and another neighbor’s really big, drooly pup named Noodle. She agrees to train and pet sit Noodle when she discovers his owner, a local ER doctor, does not have the time or inclination to invest in Noodle. Things quickly unravel when Noodle finds a severed hand on the beach, then another item that might be related. Then a neighbor dies, and Molly becomes the focus of the lead detective once he looks into her background. The danger ratchets up as the body count rises, but Molly must find the truth if she is ever going to clear her name and find some peace in her new hometown.

I like Molly. She is intelligent and obviously a strong woman. Her tragic past makes her all the more relatable. Since she has police experience, she makes a believable amateur sleuth. Her K-9 officer training makes her a qualified dog wrangler. Is there a better way to interact with and get to know neighbors than through their pets? Her neighbors are a bit eccentric, but not caricatures, adding variety to the Molly’s days. I particularly like Lupe, her brother Detective Vasquez, and precocious eight-year-old Ava. Ava’s parents and Detective Wright are the least desirable characters. The paradisaical beachy town provides a glittery veneer that makes the murders feel all the more horrible.

The mystery within these pages is well thought out. There are plenty of discoveries and clues along the way to keep the book compelling, but the pace is somewhat uneven. Dogs and all that goes into training them is at the forefront of the action here, which I greatly enjoyed (and probably learned a tip or two), but even if that is not of great interest to you it is still a quality read. I did not identify the killer before Molly did; their reveal and the climax are both exciting and dangerous if a bit rushed.
I really enjoyed A Deadly Bone to Pick and look forward to more investigations featuring Molly Madison. Highly recommended to pet loving cozy and traditional mystery readers.

Was this review helpful?

I really liked this book. I definitely want more Molly Madison stories. The base for the series is set for Molly. She recently completed a big move across the country. Moving to California from Massachusetts being a widow now, young and needing a change. She is set here for good. She quickly becomes friends with several neighbors in her block. Good and bad.

The story really begins when the dogs unearthed a hand on the beach. There is a lot going on in this seaside town. Everyone know their neighbors and that cozy feel is what draws you in. The main character enjoys dogs, but she has a knack for training them, that is explained in the beginning when they set up her past.

The dogs were the sub-plot but to me they were the stars. The second character I really liked was Ava. This wonder kid was smart. She has a few memorable lines that were LOL funny.

The slight downfall was how thoroughly brutal this killer was. In the end the body count was pretty high, taking away the "cozy" feel.

The publisher invited me to read through NetGalley. Wait until you read this!

Was this review helpful?

Peggy Rothschild has a Deadly Bone to Pick as Molly Madison settles into her new community. Her husband had been murdered in her old place and she sought a new life. Then a neighbor dog discovered a hand on the beach. Whodunit? One police officer thinks she was involved. Another murder happens in the community. Molly is training local dogs and finding new friends, but crime keeps getting in the way.

Was this review helpful?

This book was really well written with fantastic characters. I give it 3.5 rounded up to 4. The only thing that knocked it down was the repetitiveness of all the things involving the dogs. Other than that it was a great novel. The main character was grounded, confident and very relatable, especially because I love dogs. I loved the dogs and felt they added a lot of heart to the story. I enjoyed the main characters back story and how that impacted the investigation. I also enjoyed the mystery. Overall it was a really good start to a new cozy mystery series and I look forward to book two.

Was this review helpful?

Molly Madison moved from Massachusetts to California with her Golden Retriever, Harlow. Her friends back home urge her to get out and meet people, and she’s doing that in her new neighborhood although mostly by accident. She and Harlow also make friends with Noodle, a St. Bernard/Poodle cross. He’s slow to move and quick to drool—and downright lovable.
➡ switch to KingsRiverLife.com for more articles ⬅

Image Source Penguin
He’s also an escape artist, surprising for a 180-pound dog. Rather than let him roam the neighborhood while his person, a surgeon, works, Molly offers to dog sit. Noodle ends up going everywhere with Molly and Harlow.

The mornings start with walks on the beach. While Harlow plays in the waves, Noodle would rather follow the Stroll and Sniff program. And dig. Molly didn’t expect him to show her his treasure—a severed hand. The police must find out if it was a boating accident or murder. Molly is in their sights since she’s new in town, found the hand, with Noodles’ help, and has a few secrets of her own.

Seville is a new neighbor who drops by with gossip and good intentions—like making business cards and flyers for Molly, touting her as a dog wrangler. Molly’s second ‘client’ (both non-paying) is Ava, a kid with a big brain. Her dog chewed dad’s shoe and has been banished outside. As a way to keep busy, dog wrangling is fun. Thank goodness, she doesn’t need it to be a money maker.

When a second death and then a third occur, Molly’s under more scrutiny from the irritable detective with personal problems of his own. Since her one foray into finding a clue on her own turned out badly, she’s inclined to stick to the company of dogs—at least until she finds the killer has been in her house.

This is the first in a new series, and I enjoyed it a lot. Molly, Harlow, and Noodle share a lot of basic training tips, information on agility, and more without it interfering with the plot. Ava adds a quirkiness, and it’s easy to believe she’s an adult in a kid’s body. The mystery is a good one, and I only guessed the killer’s identity about a minute before she figured it out. The only quibble I have with the book is Harlow is sometimes called by name, sometimes called the golden or the retriever, and Noodle is referred to by name or the St. Bernardoodle. It’s distracting. Their names, even used often, are less distracting. I look forward to the next in the series, hopefully coming soon.

Was this review helpful?

I loved the two dogs, and the mystery and suspense were enough to keep me glued to my ereader.

Molly Madison packed up her life in small town Massachusetts and moved all the way to California after her husband’s death. On her first day there, Molly and her dog befriended a huge Saint Berdoodle, and Noodle sort of adopted them even though his owner, a super busy doctor, lived just down the road. Molly’s hopes of a quiet life were dashed one day when Noodle dug up a hand on the beach. The local police did some digging and found out that Molly had a few skeletons in her closet, and that made her a suspect in their eyes.

Descriptions of Molly’s everyday life, feeding, training, and playing with the dogs, chats with her neighbors, errands to the store, and so on fill the pages of this book. You would think that sounds boring, but it’s not. The two dogs are beyond adorable. Molly is looking for a quiet place to start over where no one knows who she is, but she finds herself surrounded with some strange neighbors and even stranger events.

I found this book to a bit of a dichotomy. Molly is quietly going about her day with the dogs playing a prominent role, and it’s all so peaceful. And then suddenly a body pops up almost out of the blue. It certainly kept me on my toes. The identity of the murderer was a big surprise at the end.

It looks to be the start of a new series, and I would love to read more about Molly, Harlow, and Noodle. A Deadly Bone to Pick is more a mystery than anything else. There are some hints of a possible romance and maybe that will be explored more later on. I hope so.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This review is also posted on my blog at hookedbythatbook.com.

Was this review helpful?

I went into this one a little bit wary. Certain things about the title and blurb made me think cozy mystery and others made me think not so cozy mystery. I do occasionally read cozy mysteries, but I prefer a little more grit in my suspense, so I wasn't sure how this one was gonna go. And in the end, I feel like it's somewhere in the middle. It's not quite as Hallmark-like as most cozies but it's not completely gritty either. Whatever the label, I enjoyed meeting Molly and company, including the dogs, and the mystery was entertaining and intriguing. This is the first in a new series, so we get some intro here to both the characters and the setting. With that, it takes a little bit for the mystery to take off, but I enjoyed the setting and introductions almost as much as the suspense. So, we get a new character to follow in what promises to be an engaging series. Based on what I've found in A Deadly Bone to Pick, I'll be interested to see what happens next in Molly Madison's world of sun, dogs, and murder.

Was this review helpful?

A Deadly Bone to Pick is the first book in a new cozy series by Peggy Rothschild. Released 22nd Feb 2022 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley Prime Crime imprint, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats.

This is a very promising beginning to a new small-town cozy series with a widowed ex-cop female protagonist who has moved from New England to the west cost to make a new start. Having traumatically lost her husband, she's unprepared to be drawn into another murder when a neighbor's dog she's helping to train finds a dismembered hand on the beach. It's a bit trope-y in some ways, for example there's the requisite completely unprofessionally antagonistic local misogynistic law enforcement officer harassing her and trying to frame her for some involvement (boo, hiss), but overall I really liked Ms. Rothschild's facility with characterization and plotting. The dialogue is generally good and it's a fast, easy read. I was especially impressed with the way the author handled introducing protagonist Molly's back story and her move to the opposite coast of the USA.

The plot threads are spun out well and the denouement and resolution are satisfying if a tiny bit predictable. The author did a good job of fleshing out the secondary characters as well. They're three-dimensional and believable, even the antagonistic jerk cop (boo, hiss). One of the secondary but pivotal characters is a precocious 8 year old who was one of the stars of the book for me. Dog lovers will find a lot to enjoy here and it's clear the author is either gifted at background research or very familiar with dog training and agility.

The language is mild (a few "damns" and nothing worse), and there's no explicit on-page content, gore, or violence. There's the merest whiff of romance, but nothing even remotely stated in this book. (Possible future romantic interest from the "good" cop partner of the "bad cop"(boo, hiss)).

Four and a half stars. This is top shelf cozy mystery. Highly recommended.

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

Was this review helpful?

I liked the premise of this book, and picked it because of he cute cover - what books isn't better with a dog or two?

I liked the story for the most part, however the pacing felt off, all over the place. Yes we spend a lot of time with background which takes longer, but then it drags, then raced to the reveal and the conclusion so fast my head was spinning.

And here is my bone to pick - the dogs have names, use them. To me it felt pretentious that every second time one of the main dogs, Harlow or Noodle were mentioned, we didn't get their name, we got their breed. Ugh. It was like we were reading a kennel club booklet. It might not bother anyone else, but it irritated me.

I liked the story enough that I would read more by this author or series if it were to happen.

Was this review helpful?

A Deadly Bone To Pick
Molly Madison, Book #1
Peggy Rothschild
5 Stars

Synopsis


When Molly Madison, dog-wrangler extraordinaire, stumbles upon a murder in her new hometown, she must track down a killer to save the day.

Ex-police officer and former P.I. Molly Madison is starting over. After the death of her husband, she and her golden retriever, Harlow, move cross-country to California. But as charming and peaceful as the beachside town seems, she soon learns its tranquil tides hold dark secrets.

On her first day in the new house, a large, slobbering Saint Berdoodle wanders in. Molly winds up taking on the responsibility of training Noodle since his owner is too busy to do the job. On one of their daily beachside walks, Noodle digs up a severed hand. Once Molly alerts the police and they run a background check on her, she's an immediate suspect--after all, Noodle's testimony to clear her name won't hold much water in court.

To prove her innocence, Molly must rely on instincts keener than a canine's to sniff out the real killer. But when Molly's life is put in danger, will her two very loyal pups be able to rescue her? (Goodreads)

Review:

The characters are well developed and well rounded. Molly has decided to move across the country to start over after her husband dies. Her and her golden retriever, Harlow, move to a beach town. Shortly after she moves,she meets Noodle, a huge Saint Berdoodle, who is in desperate need of some dog training. After talking to the dog's owner, Molly begins training him and she gets a couple of other dogs to train. One of her new acquntaines is killed, and Molly finds herself a person of interest in to the murder. She will have find the culprit with the help of her canine friends.

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The mystery is well plotted and there were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider. I did not know who the culprit was until it was revealed at the end but they were on my radar, along with a couple others.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. This book had everything that I look for in a cozy: great characters, adorable dogs, an inviting setting and a great mystery. I cannot wait to read the next one.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

Was this review helpful?

The stars of this book are the dogs, Harlow and Noodle but we also get Buttercup and Ulysses so if you like dogs you are going to enjoy this one. This is a light/cozy mystery that made we keep guessing who it was and who was next. Molly moves across country to get away from it all but seems to not be able to even in small town CA with the beach life. Ava the little girl from next door(s) down is super cute and adds some cute and fun to the storyline as well. This was a great series starter- I can't wait to see what Molly find next. Really enjoyed it!

Was this review helpful?

When Molly Madison’s husband dies, she and her golden retriever move across the country from Massachusetts to Pier Point, California for a fresh start. She agrees to train her new neighbor’s Saint Berdoodle, who promptly discovers a dead body on the beach on a walk. Molly’s hope for a new beginning gets off to a rough start when she becomes the prime suspect in the murder. Now it’s up to Molly to find the real killer before she takes the blame for a murder she didn’t commit.

This new series is off to a good start. I like Molly and I like the beach town setting of the book. I also like Molly’s background as a former police officer. Her background in law enforcement makes her a believable sleuth. I also liked how all the details about dog training are worked into the story and the important part the dogs and their training play in the story. In addition to obedience training, the author also includes information about agility training, which I find interesting.

The author focuses on the mystery and the dog in this book, but sets up the potential for romance in future books. This is a great way to handle the debut book in a new series. I was surprised when the identity of the killer was revealed and how creepy that person turned out to be. Sometimes in cozy mysteries, poor decisions lead to a showdown between the killer and the main character. I’m so glad that this book has a dramatic ending that showcases Molly’s intelligence instead of making her look foolish. A Deadly Bone to Pick is a nice start to a promising new series. Dog lovers and fans of Laurien Berenson will especially enjoy this fun-to-read mystery.

~ Christine

Was this review helpful?

3.5 stars

I was looking for something different from my regular reading material when this book landed in my inbox and I decided to take a chance, a decision I do not regret.

Once a cop, always a cop is a saying that is true to Molly Madison. After moving cross-country and leaving her career as a K-9 cop to start over, it took less than a week for Molly to have a mystery fall into her lap, thanks to a boisterous and drooly dog.

Unearthed body parts and neighbors dropping dead, along with Molly's history do not make for a good combination as she lands at the top of the suspect list and must clear her name.

This was an entertaining story set in a charming fictional southern California town that will have you itching to visit, so you can walk on the beach and boardwalk. An interesting cast of characters, lots of dog-training tips and the possibility of a romance with a snazzily dressed detective round out an enjoyable story.

I do have to say there was a profusion of dog-related information that could overwhelm a non-dog lover, but it's easy to skip most of that and still enjoy the story. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more the series, if only to see where the romance between Molly and the detective goes.

Was this review helpful?

I'm so glad that I read this book before release day. And I got to say that I was surprised how much I enjoyed reading this book. I know, I know. I keep saying that the books with low expectations exceed my expectations. And that's what A Deadly Bone to Pick by Peggy Rothschild did.

A Deadly Bone to Pick is a new series about a female character, Polly Madison, who moves into a new town after the horrible ordeal that she dealt with. We will get back to that later on. But Polly will discover a lot of things as she gets accustomed to her new town. There is more to the eye when murders happen.

Do you know what I love about reading about a strong-willed female character? They will always find out the truth even though she is facing other things in her life. And that's what Polly does when she discovers a hand with her fellow dogs. She has the experience and the instinct to follow even if the cops don't trust her ability.

Was this review helpful?

Princess Fuzzypants here: Whew! *Wipes forehead with paw*. That was an exciting finish. This book will keep you riveted from start to finish.. When Molly moves to California she hopes the shadows from her past will be long gone. She and her beautiful dog Harlow meet a big lumbering drool-faced dog as they are moving in. The Saint Bernadoodle is named Noodle. He is a bit of a neighbourhood menace, or so says the other neighbour who welcomes her. The dog’s owner, a busy surgeon, is happy to let Molly dog sit and train his beast.

Things are not going to be cheerful. First Molly and the dogs find a severed hand and then a buried ring. By the time the local police arrive, the misogynistic cop thinks Molly is a murderer and is bound and determined to link her to any and all crimes. Unfortunately, he is going to have plenty of murders where she is the common denominator. Two murders and one attempted murder before Molly is confronted by the killer. She is going to be his next victim but Molly and her two shaggy defenders have something to say about that.

Molly is a great heroine. Tough, smart and compassionate, she befriends a lonely little girl and her dog. She fast becomes the dog whisperer in the neighbourhood and you can see where there is a lot of potential for wonderful relationships both two and four legged. But the best part is Molly, Harlow and Noodle. I just loved reading how the three became a family. I am so looking forward to more adventures. Five purrs and two paws up.

Was this review helpful?

A Deadly Bone to Pick is the first book in the Molly Madison series by Peggy Rothschild. Molly Madison is a dog lover’s sleuth, and what better excuse to interact with new neighbors than training their dogs? A flawless and descriptive story.

Was this review helpful?

A Deadly Bone to Pick by Peggy Rothschild has Molly Madison relocating to the West coast with her golden retriever, Harlow after the death of her husband. Molly is instructing the movers when a large Saint Berdoodle walks into her home (he is a drooler). It turns out that Noodle’s owner is too busy in the ER to take care of the affectionate dog or train him. Molly takes over the task and walks him on the beach each morning with Harlow. Noodle has a good sniffer. He uncovers a hand on the beach. Unfortunately, Molly becomes the prime suspect when the cops learn about what happened in Massachusetts. When Noodle digs up another item, it is clear the lead detective has it out for Molly. If she is going to get her fresh start, Molly needs to use the skills she learned as a copy and PI to uncover the responsible party. A Deadly Bone to Pick is the first book that I have read by Peggy Rothschild. I liked the author’s writing style. It made for an easy-to-read story with likeable characters. I like Molly and her canine companion, Harlow. We also get to meet some of her new neighbors. Noodle is a delight. He adds humor to the story as well as those “ahhhh” moments. Noodle is one clever canine. The author shares information about dog breeds and training as well as agility training. I learned some interesting facts. My dog is part St. Bernard (only drools when food is present) and I learned that he has a nose for scents (explains his tracking ability). The mystery was appealing, but there was not enough of it. I wanted more details and investigation. Solving the whodunit is a snap. I was not a fan of the nasty lead detective (I do not care if he is going through an acrimonious divorce—he should not take it out on Molly). His younger partner is much nicer and easy on the eyes. I loved eight-year-old Ava. She is extremely smart and has parents who are self-involved. Molly and Ava have a lot in common despite their age difference. Molly helps Ava train her dog, Huckleberry. I hope A Deadly Bone to Pick is just the beginning of Molly Madison’s adventures. A Deadly Bone to Pick is a charming new cozy with cute canines, a clever child, a diligent doctor, an exhumed hand, a distressing detective, a perturbing past, and a determined dog wrangler.

Was this review helpful?

Molly Madison and her dog have relocated to Pier Point, California, and she is looking forward to starting all over. However, she has not completely unpacked before a dog she is dog sitting uncovered a hand in the sand of a nearby beach. With the police looking at Molly as a suspect because of a scandal in her past, she has to figure out what is going on. But if she doesn’t even know her neighbors, can she do that?

I picked up this book because of the Southern California setting, and I loved that. Even though Pier Point is fictional, I could easily picture it. I also enjoyed meeting Molly and the rest of her neighbors. They are slightly eccentric, but not so over the top that they didn’t still feel real. There are plenty of dogs, and they are equally charming. Unfortunately, the pacing of the book is very off. It was slow in the beginning, focusing on Molly settling into her new life. The ending, while logical, was rushed. That kept me from fully enjoying what was a promising debut.

Was this review helpful?

Be still my happy heart: I read almost all the way to the end of a cozy mystery before realizing it's a cozy. Why? It's missing all the annoying hallmarks of other cozies: No hand-wringing heroine who won't listen to reason. No wacked-out loud-mouthed friend who gets her into even more trouble . No paranoia, questioning everything every other character says and does or waffling between two hunky guys. Better still, apparently it's the first of a series. My reaction? Thank you - and bring on the next one quickly, please!

That's not to say that Molly Madison isn't carrying around some serious baggage; after her husband's demise - for which some still blame her - the former Massachusetts police officer and private eye has moved to coastal California, taking very little except her beloved golden retriever, Harlow. Even before she gets settled in her new digs, she gets a visitor - in the form of a huge, exceptionally slobbery Saint Berdoodle (that's a blend of St. Bernard and well, you know). Turns out he belongs to a down-the-street neighbor who is happy to share a dog he doesn't care much for anyway.

A practiced dog trainer (who shares her expertise with readers, a plus for dog-lovers), Molly tolerates the drools and takes a shine to Noodle - as does Harlow. On a beach walk, though, Noodle starts digging around, triumphantly retrieving a human hand. Uh, oh, Molly thinks - time to call the cops. When she does, she bumps into perhaps the only similarity to most cozies: A cop with an ax to grind, and it's name is Molly - and his sympathetic, good-looking sidekick who steps in to dull his partner's blade.

After that, nothing much goes according to plan except Molly's training schedule for Noodle - approved by his emergency doctor owner - and training sessions for the dog belonging to super-smart eight-year-old Amy, whose parents are, shall we say, less than attentive. This is followed by a couple of neighborhood murders (which, of course, that unfriendly cop would love to pin on Molly if he could just figure out how). The closer Molly gets to the truth, though, the more she puts her own life in jeopardy.

The whole thing is an engaging romp with plenty of action from both people and canines, for which I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the privilege of reading and reviewing. For those who enjoy an entertaining, well-written book, I have this advice: Sit. Stay. Read!

Was this review helpful?