I unfortunately really struggled with this book. The premise of the book sounded right up my alley but as I got into it I found myself wanting to put it down and move on
Although I did finish it, I had predicted the murderer too which added to the disappointment

Huge thank you to @netgalley, @crookedlanebooks and author Emily Soderberg for giving me early access to ‘How to Talk to Your Dog About Murder’ 🖤

I think it’s safe to say both Miss Ruby (my oldest GSD) and I loved it 😍 I love a good cozy mystery, so when I saw the opportunity to have a new read about dogs and sleuthing, I immediately jumped! It gives Finlay Donovan vibes, which is one of my personal favorite series. This is one you don’t want to miss! 4/5 ⭐️


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I chose this book because it had a dog on the cover and that’s usually how I pick my cozy mystery books.

The end was a bit abrupt and it did seem to have characters that were described in such a way with plotlines that teased something that never came to leave me feeling puzzled. We get pieces of information about Nikki as the story progresses but it’s very choppy and jumpy, for example why is she shipping cat toys does she own an online shop as a side hustle?

I loved the light, humorous tone mixed with the intrigue of a classic whodunit. Nikki is a likable, resourceful protagonist, and the St. Louis setting, combined with the quirky cast of characters (especially Reginald!), added to the cozy charm.

This book was just okay! It was pretty slow and honestly boring throughout, the end had some excitement and the murderer was a surprise to me. It’s a nice cozy murder mystery for an animal lover but nothing that exciting in my opinion and not sure I’d recommend to others.

Okay, but why was this *so* unexpectedly fun?! Like, I came for the quirky title and stayed for the murder, the sass, and the dog therapy realness.

Meet Nikki Jackson-Ramanathan: part-time dog whisperer, part-time dog walker, full-time “how did I just get framed for murder?” queen. She’s just trying to pay her bills and vibe with her canine clients when *bam* — she lands in the middle of a rich-lady-dies-mysteriously-in-a-mansion situation. Classic cozy setup, right? But Soderberg flips the script with sharp humor, a genuinely likable heroine, and a murder mystery that actually keeps you guessing (no shade, but not all cozies manage that).

Also… shoutout to the *drama* in that Van Meer household. Between the salty housekeeper, shady gardener, and heirs who clearly watched too much *Succession*, it’s giving "claws out in Chanel." Nikki’s stuck juggling suspects, a dead body, and one very sad (but very sweet) old dog — who lowkey stole the show, not gonna lie.

What I loved? The fresh voice, the pacing (not a dull moment), and how Nikki’s relationship with the dogs wasn’t just a gimmick — it felt genuine and heartwarming. The murder part? Twisty enough to stay intriguing but not so dark that it ruins the cozy vibes.

If you’re a fan of Victoria Gilbert’s library mysteries or Eva Gates’ Lighthouse Library series, this one’s absolutely going to scratch that cozy whodunit itch. Bonus points if you love animals — because let’s be real, the dogs are the real MVPs here.

🐕💬 Would definitely recommend to:
– Cozy mystery stans
– Dog people
– Readers who want light murder, heavy banter, and a heroine with a sense of humor and a good heart (and okay, maybe a little dog hair on her clothes)

**Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!**

How to Talk to Your Dog About Murder is a cute, light mystery with a fun premise and a quirky title that immediately caught my attention. The setup is classic: a murder among a cast of wealthy characters, each with potential motives. The mystery itself was enjoyable, I had fun following the breadcrumbs and seeing how the clues came together.

That being said, it didn’t really work out for me and the story felt pretty bland. I expected the dog to play a more central or at least more charming role in the story, but I felt it ended up being fairly minimal. The cast of characters, while diverse in background, felt flat or overly stereotypical (this is the one who’s super suspicious, or this is the one who is totally nice). The dialogue was written in long chunks without clear breaks which was kind of hard to read.

Lastly, told from a first-person POV, the narration leaned heavily into telling over showing, with a lot of “I did this, then I did that” sequences that made it difficult to fully engage with the main character.

Overall I think I mostly enjoyed the mystery itself and didn’t connect with the rest of the characters or found the cosy/quirky elements I was expecting.

I did enjoy this first book . It was a quick read. for a mystery and it was very suspenseful. I did find some of the characters to be like able and the dog was my favorite.. My only problem with the book is it took to long at the end to find out who did the murder. I recommend reading this book especially if you enjoy a cozy mystery and dogs.

This is a new author to me. I am not sure if it is a series, I think it definitely could be. This is, I guess, a cozy mystery, maybe a little too cozy, maybe just bland. Honestly, I read maybe the first third to half of this book waiting for something, anything to happen. We don't really get much of an introduction to Nikki our MC, you just get pieces of information as you read on, she's supposed to be a pet behaviorist but makes her living doing other part time jobs and only interacts with one dog, the basis of the mystery one time, then walks him on a regular basis or she wouldn't be involved in the story at all. The people surrounding the dog and making up the victim and suspects are not likable or relatable. Is this a terrible read? No, the writing is fine, but everything is just so blah. It is just hard to care, for the first time in a long time, I almost DNF, I just feel if I am given a book I should not give up hope till the end. The reveal had a couple of interesting moments, and the method of murder was different, I just didn't think the rest of the book was worth reading to get to the final 20 pages. Thanks to #Netgally, #CrookedLaneBooks, and the author for an opportunity to read. #HowtoTalktoYourDogAboutMurder #EmilySoderberg #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader

I enjoyed this mystery. Nikki Jackson-Ramanathan is an interesting main character. I wonder if she might be a little on the spectrum? She seems to have found her calling in her dog behavioralist career and dog walking. I loved the way this story unfolded, but it kept me guessing who the murderer was until the end. I think this is a debut novel, and if so, Emily Soderberg does a wonderful job, and I hope this becomes a series. I was gifted this book with the understanding that I would leave an honest review. Thank you, Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books, for the ARC.

How to Talk to Your Dog About Murder is a cozy mystery that introduces Nikki Jackson-Ramanathan, an animal behaviorist and dog walker, who unexpectedly becomes entangled in a murder investigation. The premise is quirky and engaging, and the writing is polished with a gentle sense of charm. Nikki’s character setup is appealing, though her involvement as a suspect felt forced and detracted from the story’s realism. I found myself wishing for a deeper look into Nikki’s backstory and a more organic integration of her role in the plot. Still, it’s an enjoyable and breezy read for cozy mystery fans who appreciate an unconventional lead and a canine twist.

Thank you, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books, for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

Wow! I now want to read every single book by this author. This mystery keeps you guessing up until the very end. This author paints a perfect picture of the characters while leaving some things up to your imagination. I definitely recommend!

Nikki is a “dog whisperer” who is hired to consult a grieving hound named Reginald. Reginald’s family is wealthy and Nikki does not come from a wealthy background. This story has potential to be good but it falls a little awkward to me? Like there is effort in making Nikki seem like a quirky,snarky and relatable character but it does not fully come through. The side characters in Reginald’s family lack depth and that would’ve added to the story line. We get pieces of information about Nikki as the story progresses but it’s very choppy and jumpy, for example why is she shipping cat toys does she own an online shop as a side hustle? Then there is a hint of some cultural clash where the author hints at Mrs van meer potentially being racist and attempting to correlate Nikki’s experience with her own husband cultural background. This needs more depth, it is a potential fun read.

Thank you Netgalley for the arc #netgalley #howtotalktoyourdogaboutmurder.

“The trust for Reginald's support. In Mrs. Van Meer's will. The three hundred thousand dollars.”

That's honestly where this book hooked me. One minute, it is only about walking a dog, and the next, you're knee-deep in rich family drama and a murder. I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did, but it really works.

The main character, Nikki, is just so normal. She’s not some genius detective, just a pet behaviorist who ends up way out of her depth because someone decided to leave her in charge of a $300,000 dog trust. I liked that, she is super relatable, and her perspective (especially how she reads the dog, Reginald) actually ends up mattering to the plot cleverly.

The Van Meer family is messy: everyone's got secrets, grudges, or some reason to side-eye everyone else. It gives you that "anyone could have done it" vibe. I also liked how the humor slips in; it's not laugh-out-loud funny, but it lightens things when it gets heavy with betrayal and money fights.

If I had to nitpick, some reveals feel a bit obvious, and the tone shifts (funny one minute, serious the next) are a little jumpy. But the emotional side of it, especially Nikki stepping up and how the dog becomes more than just a cute prop, made up for that for me.

A cozy murder mystery that's weird in the best way, heartfelt, and yeah, I would read any book where the pet is basically a character too.


Thank you, NetGalley, for making this ARC available!

I chose this book because it had a dog on the cover and seemed to be a mix between a murder mystery and a cute pet story. I enjoyed the storyline and the mystery, which was laid out in little nuggets along the way. Of course, the dog, Reginald, is the true star of the book. It starts a bit slowly, but once the murder happens, the book moves quickly and kept me turning the pages until the end. The end was a bit abrupt and it did seem to have characters that were described in such a way with plotlines that teased something that never came to leave me feeling puzzled. Overall, I enjoyed the book and hope that the dog whisperer can show up in the future.

Such a fun read! The first half was rough for me to get through, but I was super invested by the second half. I tried to figure it out but I didn't get it so, I would consider that a success on the authors part. I love that Nikki is a pet behavioralist and the many animal references!

How to Talk to Your Dog About Murder by Emily Soderberg is a sharp, well‑paced mystery that kept me turning pages. The plot unspools with wit and drama as secrets come to light and each clue throws you and Nikki into a new theory.

I loved Reginald, he’s a standout character in his own right and added so much warmth and charm to the story.

It was very slow to start and only truly picked up when the murder had actually happened. It was charming and cozy, but there was not enough of Reginald. I thought that he would have been more involved in the solving of the murder than he was considering the title. Terri was an extremely annoying and bitchy character, which made me dislike her even in the end where she did have a bit of a slight redemption, it didn’t make up for all the nasty of things she had done.

How to Talk to Your Dog about Murder is a fun, engaging novel with quirky characters and a mystery that will keep you guessing. Soderberg nails the dynamics of a dog behaviorist and the lovable hound's dysfunctional family. The story is crafted with a charming voice that had me turning the pages, unable to stop. For fans of dogs, a great whodunit, and well-rounded characters, How to Talk to your Dog about Murder is a must-read.

This book follows Nikki and her entanglement with the Van Meer family as she tries to solve a murder. I would say this book is an easygoing mystery filled with lots of humor and fun. It was a little slow to start, but it picks up with a fast and intriguing ending. I would say my favorite part of this book was Nikki. I think she was a fantastic character that was unique and new. I loved hearing her thoughts and ideas about the murder. I thought Nikki's character gave a realistic look at a civilian investigating a murder; however, I think there are some unrealistic parts—mostly the parts with the police—that I wasn’t really able to look past. Overall I would rate this book 2.75 stars. This is based on the character, plot, and pacing.
Thank you, NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Emily Soderberg, for this review copy.

A fun read involving a murder, a heroic dog, a canine behavioral expert, and a wealthy family. The story kept me engaged and wondering who did it until the end. The story reminded me a bit of the game Clue, guessing which character, motive, and method. The only thing I would've liked to see was more "screen" time for the beloved dog, Reginald. Thank you to #Netgalley for the opportunity to review an ARC.