Bending the Paw

Another winner!  This might be the best "Paw" book yet.  I love the characters and love Brigit's role and point of view - it adds a extra element to the story.  I really like Megan's character and how she interacts with others and approaches solving crimes.  While this is a light mystery, it has a depth that makes it feel real.  I like how the characters have grown and developed over the series

If you enjoy the genre, you will love this book.  While it is part of a series, this is a stand alone book, however, it's so good that you really owe it to yourself to read them all.  The author is on my must read authors' list.

this was another entertaining K-9 book from Diane Kelly I am glad that she has allowed her main character to be smart; as often the female lead in cozy mysteries is just lucky. I enjoy the relationship between Megan and her dog Brigit. For those of us that are pet lovers, giving Brigit a voice seems normal. I have to say that I had a good suspicion early on about the who and why of the case and I was right, but it was still an enjoyable book.

I enjoyed reading this book! A well thought out mystery, with the added bonus of 2 special dogs. I’m hoping this is a series because I would like to read more!

law-enforcement, k-9, mystery, investigation, fraud

It was really interesting having both the K-9 and her handler's perspective on all the steps to solving both the bloody disappearance of a man from his home and the fraudster with a reroofing scheme.
Megan is a uniformed officer being mentored by a FWPD detective, recently engaged to a firefighter and his dog, and the handler of K-9 officer Brigit. The first crime appears in the blood soaked kitchen of an apparently devoted couple discovered when the wife came home with a female co-worker. The second series of possible crimes comes after a particularly nasty hailstorm has damaged countless roofs in the area. Both cases involve extensive due diligence, red herrings, and plot twists. An exciting read from an author new to me!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. Thank you!

I really enjoyed this installment in the series featuring Megan and K-9 Bridgit  
I have read them all and loved to see all the recurring characters.  This book can be read as a standalone, but the others are so good you need to read them all. 
This one had Megan assisting in a murder case.  She also has a few other cases woven in.  I love the writing and hearing from both Megan and Bridgit the dog. I really love the relationship between the two.  
I figured out the case early on but that did not detract from my enjoyment, in fact, it made in better.  
I was lucky to receive an advance copy from Net Galley for an honest review.

This is book 9 of the series and they just keep getting better. Brigit and her spots of POV just make these books even more brilliant. This book picks up right where book 8 left off with a huge cliffhanger. I won't spoil it for you. But in the midst Megan and her partner Brigit have not one but two mysteries to solve. The first is a murder with many twists and turns and a surprise ending. The second is a con man who almost gets away with it. You can not go wrong with the Paw Enforcement series. I highly recommend it.

I was anxiously awaiting this book and was very pleased to see it available for comment.   I have read the entire series and was excited to know another one was coming out.  As always', a good story well told.  Highly recommend The Paw Enforcement series.  I am glad I largely read them in order, though it is not necessary.  The important ongoing details are summarized in each book.  The stories have a good mystery at the base and the characters are well written.  They are an easy reading and an engaging set of books.  I especially like the format of the story told alternately from the point of view of the criminal, Officer Megan of the Fort Worth police force and Brigit her K-9 partner.   Reading the scenes from the point of you of Brigit is a major plus.  Gives on a very different view of things.   Makes me think of how a dog's mind might work.  Shows well the value that K-9's can have in law enforcement.  I was almost sad to finish the book since it meant I would have to wait and hope another episode is in the works.

Bending The Paw by Diane Kelly is the 9th book in the Paw Enforcement series. Patrol Officer Megan Luz wants to become a detective with the Fort Worth Police Department. Even though she is celebrating her engagement on Valentine’s Day, she is thrilled when she gets a call from detective Audrey Jackson asking if Megan and her K-9 Brigit can assist at a crime scene.

A wife had returned home after dinner with her co-workers to find her kitchen splattered with her husband’s blood, along with three sets of footprints. The grisly scene is dubbed The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. The husband’s car is later found at a park near the Trinity River, but his body isn’t located. Since he is an assistant manager of a local movie theater, it is possible he was targeted since he made deposits at the local bank. As the novel progresses, the case seems to be going cold.

In addition to assisting Detective Jackson, Megan is also dealing with an unscrupulous roofing contractor who was going door-to-door after a major hail storm hit Fort Worth. Was he really a con-artist or an honest guy who can’t get the supplies he needs? Megan is determined to find out.

As in the other books in this series, chapters are told from the point of view of Officer Luz, K-9 Brigit, and “the bad guy”, who in this book is referred to as the slasher. The storyline moves along briskly as we hope that Megan and Brigit help bring in the crooks.

Thank you to #Netgalley and #St. Martin’s Press for my Advanced Reader Copy. 5-Stars. I recommend this series to anyone who loves cozy mysteries. The book will be released on October 27, 2020

BENDING THE PAW by Diane Kelly is the ninth book in the Paw Enforcement police procedural series. I have also seen it classified as a cozy animal mystery. Despite being ninth in the series, it worked fine as a standalone novel, but background information and experiences from books one through eight would likely add to a reader’s enjoyment of the book.
Fort Worth, Texas Patrol Officer Megan Luz and her K-9 partner Brigit are called to assist at a crime scene. A woman had returned home to find blood all over her kitchen along with her husband’s phone and wallet, but no husband or body. In addition to helping Detective Jackson with the case, Megan has her usual patrol duties and cases that arise from that.

The unusual approach to this novel is that we get not only the point of view of Megan and the antagonist, but also Brigit’s take on each situation. Megan and Brigit are likeable characters with distinct voices and clear goals. Their motivations seem believable. The secondary characters were not quite as well developed, but they did enhance the story rather than overwhelm it. The internal and external conflicts were well defined and arose out of characterization and circumstance rather than feeling contrived or forced.

Overall, this was an enjoyable and entertaining police procedural with plenty of hard work, some action, a little humor and a bit of romance. If you are a fan of cozy animal mysteries or police procedural, then you may want to check this one out. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series as well as reading the earlier books in the series.

St. Martin’s Press and Diane Kelly provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

Great read.  The author really draws the reader into the story. Will definitely read another book by this author.

“Bending the Paw” is Diane Kelly’s latest novel in her Paw Enforcement series. Officer Megan Luz and her trusty canine partner Brigit are thrust head first into a murder investigation that has no body , but plenty of evidence.  While the dynamic duo is chasing down leads, Megan finds herself tracking down a potential con artist who has been scamming local homeowners out of their hard earned money, and she is tenacious in her task of remedying the situation. Brigit’s commentary throughout the book is one of my favorite parts. Ms. Kelly has created a great series that offers humor while digging into an investigation. I was given an advanced copy of this book, and all of the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A Great Story about a Police Officer and her K9 dog. They have to solve  two Cremes. Very entertaining.

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of BENDING THE PAW (Book 9 of the Paw Enforcement Mysteries) by Diane Kelly in exchange for an honest review.  Police officer Megan Luz and her K-9 partner Brigit often assist detectives in their investigations.  In turn, those officers mentor Megan as she works toward becoming a detective.  The current case is a bloody Valentine’s Day massacre.  Blood coats the kitchen of a couple known to be very much in love, the wife is frantic, and the husband and his vehicle are missing.  Megan and Brigit hunt for the husband, his car, and the killer.  Meanwhile, recent storms have resulted in an influx of out-of-town home repair contractors and, unfortunately, contractor fraud.  Megan also works a contractor fraud case and hunts the scam artist.

I enjoy Diane Kelly’s books.  Though I haven’t read the prior books in this particular series, I had no trouble following the storyline or keeping the characters straight.  I recommend the book to fans of the series and to fans of cozy mysteries featuring murder, con artists, law enforcement, K-9 officers, and family.

I received an email asking if I would mind reading this book and then give an honest review. I honestly am so glad that I did. This is the first in the series for me but at no time did I feel as though I needed more info that would have been provided by the other books. I found myself not putting this one down until I absolutely had to. I loved the fact that there were two different crimes going on and the author incorporated everything perfectly.  Megan and her K-9 Bridgit have been called to the scene where there is blood everywhere. It looks as though a terrible murder had been committed yet there was no body. A husband is missing and so is a large amount of money that he was in possession of. Then, there are storms popping up all over doing damage to many houses in the area. A contractor decides to use that opportunity to scam homeowners and Megan finds out. Will Megan solve two cases in time? Was there really a murder? This is one of the best in this genre that I have read so far. I truly enjoyed becoming a part of this story as it brought you in from the start. I recommend this book.

Thank you to netgalley as well as the author/publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

I love the Law Enforcement series! Reading about Officer Megan Luz and her K-9 partner Brigit is always an enjoyable experience.. In Bending the Paw  Megan and Brigit are helping Detective Jackson solve a missing person/possible homicide case. Shelby Olsen came home to discover her kitchen covered in an unbelievable amount of blood and her husband and his vehicle missing. Solving this one will require Megan to think like the detective she hopes to be one day. There is also news about Megan and boyfriend Seth's relationship.Lots to like in this delightful series. Each book in the series can be read as a standalone. I've had the pleasure of reading this series from the beginning. If you enjoy this offering, I recommend reading this series from the beginning.

I received an Advanced Reader's Copy from St Martin's Press through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
#BendingthePaw #NetGalley

They say that there is no greater bond than a boy and his dog. I disagree, there is no greater bond than a lady cop and her run-you-down dog aka Officer Megan Luz and Sgt. Brigit. Valentines is when you paint the town red, not when you should be getting called to see a kitchen that has been spattered in red (blood) with no body to be found. This was a strange case and  was definelty thinking outside of the dog bone box. Be prepared to not only know what Megan is thinking but also you get to read Brigit's thoughts and some criminal commentary as well. So this is a she said, she barked, they (nope not telling you if it was a man or woman) plotted story line. Pay attention because the clues are there scattered like so many Valentines day rose petals not to be confused with the petals from a bridal bouquet because newly engaged Megan needs to be thinking about that as well with her upcoming wedding. I was so close to figuring this one out and in fact I came up with part of the solution but I saw this going a different direction. Which means that this story drew me in completely. These stories give you not one crime but two as Megan and Brigit work to determine if there is  a con man or a man who was conned while also  working on the case to find a dead man and still make time for her man, Seth.

This is a well written book that will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. I love how the author gives Brigit's point of view. This is a very enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more books in this series. Thank you St. Martin's Press via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Ms. Kelly's latest  cozy murder mystery  is a winner. She takes you into the minds of the K-9 Officer, Megan Luz, her canine partner Bridgit and the  mind of the 'slasher'. We get treated to the officer's normal beat, her work with the detectives and her home life. 
  There are plenty of twists and turns and we get to see the officer run the information through her mind until she comes up with some off the wall questions of her own, but she manages to do what the detectives didn't...solve the case. I enjoyed this cozy immensely.
  I requested and received a NetGalley Arc and offer my opinion freely.

Megan is a police officer in Fort Worth, Texas.  Her partner is Brigit, a German Shepherd.  Megan has aspirations of becoming a detective and is being mentored by Detective Jackson.  Jackson has been called to the scene of a potential kidnapping and/or murder and invites Megan along.  A wife arrives home to find her kitchen awash with blood and her husband is missing.  Blood tests show that it's the husband's blood and his car, also full of blood, is eventually found, but there's no body.  The couple seem to have had a great relationship so it's puzzling as to who would kill the husband and why.

A roofer is taking money from new clients but isn't doing the work.  He is blaming the rest of his crew and a shortage of supplies and Megan isn't sure if he's telling the truth or if he's a scam artist.
This is the ninth in the Paw Enforcement series (I've read them all) but can work as a stand alone and you don't have to read the others to know what's going on (there is enough background provided).

I liked the writing style ... it was amusing at times.  It is written in first person perspective from Megan's point of view and third person perspective from Brigit's point of view (which is funny) and the Slasher's perspective (the chapters alternate and are labeled).

I like Megan.  She's gotten more confident and ambitious as time goes on.  Brigit's funny and likeable and it's fun to get into her head.  Though she is a trained police dog, she can be naughty when she wants to be (like figuring out how to open a cupboard that has been child-proofed and eating a box of Megan's crackers).

Bending the Paw is the ninth book in the Paw Enforcement series by Diane Kelly. it worked fine as a standalone novel as it was the first I have read! During the story line you are given some background to help you out.

Patrol Officer Megan Luz gets a call from Detective Audrey Jackson to help with a bloody crime scene, so much for celebrating hers and Seths recent engagement. Megan and her k-9 partner, Brigit are off to help solve another  crime. Upon arriving at the crime scene Megan finds out the kitchen is a blood bath with no body. Detective Audrey and Megan are working together to solve this mystery. Along comes another mystery with the Stormchaser Roofing Company with many of the neighbors in Mistletoe Heights not having their roofs replaced per their contracts. And Megan still has a wedding to think about.

I love this story! The best part is reading Brigit's point of view in this story along with the Slasher and Megan.. I wan't prepared for this but it was a great addition to the story. The characters were well developed, unpredictable, page-turner and action-packed! 

Thanks to NetGallery for recommending this book to me and giving me a complimentary digital ARC of this novel. This is my honest review and the opinions are mine alone.

Officer Megan Luz and her trusted K-9 partner Brigit are back in the 9th Paw Enforcement mystery! I love this series. Megan is a feisty, intelligent main character....and Brigit is capable and loyal! They are a well matched team! The plots are always entertaining and a nice mix of background story, investigation and humor. 

This time, Megan and Brigit are called to a bloody crime scene. Despite all the gore and an obvious hint at a murder, there is no body. The duo also investigate some home repair scammers. 

I love the fact that this series doesn't just have the point of view of the main character. Brigit gets to make her opinions and thoughts known, as do the bad guys. I don't usually go for POV flip-flopping, but in this series it really works! This newest book in the series kept my attention from start to finish. The story develops at a nice pace, and there are several side plots woven in as well. Never a dull moment! 

I enjoyed this newest book, and look forward to the next! 

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St Martin's Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

'Bending the Paw' had it all for me!  The mystery was one of the most intriguing I'd read in a long while.  The point of view of an officer's K-9 partner (Brigit, the dog) was charming and quirky.  This added an extra dimension to the story.  There is romance, family drama, and even humor.  Above all, it was strangely believable.  I could relate.  I highly recommend this and look forward to more.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.  The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

The appeal of Bending the Paw is that the story is told from several different points of view including Brigit, the K-9 partner of Megan Luz. Megan and Brigit are called to a scene that must have been a brutal murder, except there is no body. With the amount of blood lost, there is no way the victim could still be alive, but Megan continues to pursue the case along with her other caseload. The victim's wife says every loved her husband and they had no money issues or domestic problems. Someone didn't like Greg Olsen though based on the crime scene.  An intriguing puzzle.

Hello, hello! St. Martin’s Press offered me access to Diane Kelly’s latest canine police procedural mystery, Bending the Paw and I couldn’t say no (I actually could say no, but I wanted to read it). It’s the ninth book in her Paw Enforcement series about a Fort Worth police officer and her K-9 partner. Publication isn’t until the 27th, but I was told an early review was fine. I received access to the ARC through NetGalley, so I must thank them as well as Sara Beth Haring at St. Martin’s Press for the chance to read it in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Let’s get to it!

Bending the Paw follows Officer Megan Luz and her K-9 partner Brigit as they try to help detective Jackson solve what appears to be a grizzly murder. The problem? There’s no body, only ludicrous amounts of blood. Throw in an engagement and wedding prep, plus a hailstorm and the onslaught of both legitimate and scam artists roofers, and you’ve got everything you need to keep this pair busy.

I’ll say it. I knew what was going to happen from the first couple of pages. The whole main plot was fairly standard. However, the subplots with Megan’s engagement and the whole roofing company thing kept the story interesting even though they were pretty predictable as well. It might just be all of the stuff I read and watch, but it wasn’t hard to see where everything was going. But again, that didn’t make it any less enjoyable to read.

I don’t want to give everything away if you’re going to read it, so feel free to skip ahead to the end of the spoilers, which start now.

My biggest complaint with this book is that despite all of the tests they do on the blood, no blood thinners are detected. Blood coagulates! In order for it to be collected over a period of time, something has to keep it thin, especially in this instance. And I’m sure a seemingly legitimate excuse for the presence of blood thinners could have been devised by the “killers.” They seem smart enough for that.

No more spoilers.

Beyond that, I didn’t really have any major problems with the book. I love Brigit. Megan’s a little annoying with her whole making it known she’s a K-9 officer so she can take Brigit in restaurants and other places when she’s off duty, but other than that she’s an interesting character. Frankie and Seth seem cool, but I’ll have to go back and read the first eight books to get a better grasp of them. That being said, it’s fine starting at book nine. It works well as a standalone.

The writing was tight and fast-paced. Kelly does a wonderful job at giving you pertinent details from previous books to help make reading this one possible without having to start from book one. It’s a quick and fun read.

Ultimately, I really enjoyed Bending the Paw. In fact, I’ve added the first couple of books to my want-to-read list so I can pick them up soon. I might also check out some of Diane Kelly’s other series.

Overall, I gave it 4 out of 5 stars. Probably closer to 3.5, but that’s just because I figured it out so early. If you want a quick, fun read, you should check it out.

The beginning of the book threw me for a loop for I was not expecting the intensity.  I had to check that this was the same series I had been reading.  I started at number 8.  After the beginning, the story did mellow out. I was not expecting a missing body at the crime scene.

Officer Megan Luz and her K-9 partner Brigit are in the search for clues and the victim.  They were called into this investigation by Detective Audrey Jackson.  Officer Luz respects and likes Detective Jackson.

What I like about this series is the humor, tenacity, and feistiness of the protagonist.  Ms. Kelly makes the series a delight to read.  Since this is just the second in the series that I have read, I was not sure that the point of view writing style would continue to change.  It is not written from just one person’s or dog’s view point.  The changing kept the story moving along.

The setting is Forth Worth, TX. Along with investigating a murder with no body, the K-9 team investigates home repair scammers. I found the pace lively.  The plot was terrific.  I enjoyed the red herrings before the big reveal.
I am looking forward to some time in the near future to catch up on this series.  Looking forward to the next installment.

I was given an advanced reader’s copy. I am not required to leave a positive review.

I had no idea when I read this book that it's number eight in the series. It was so good, and I never felt like I was missing anything. That being said, I thought the murder mystery with no body and the different points of view from various characters, including Brigit, the K9 added to the overall tone of the story. The subplots kept it from getting too gruesome. I really enjoyed reading about Megan Luz and Brigit, and I'll add the earlier stories in this series to my TBR. Well done.

Bending the Paw:  A Paw Enforcement Novel 
By Diane Kelly
St. Martin’s Paperback
November 2020

Review by Cynthia Chow

Valentine’s Day is a true day of romance for Forth Worth Police Officer Megan Luz.  She has just accepted the proposal from her firefighter boyfriend Seth, and they and their canine companions are formally forming a new family.  The celebration with Megan’s family is cut short when she is called to the scene of the crime of what is obviously a Valentine’s Day Massacre.  At the home of Shelby and Greg Olsen there is a missing husband, a body’s worth of blood, and their French Bulldog as the only witness.  With no corpse on the premises and a lack of evidence on site, it’s up to Megan and her very capable K-9 partner Brigit to track down clues that will lead them to the fate of the missing theater manager.

As Megan and her investigating Detective mentor follow the path of the film buff who was apparently beloved by all, Megan is also made aware of a possible scam artist taking advantage of seniors victimized by a recent storm.  Megan has more than surpassed her former chauvinistic partner, the same one she tasered and ultimately led to becoming partner with the much more intelligent Brigit.  Chapters usually narrated by both Megan and Brigit also include ones by The Slasher, the knife-wielding criminal hiding his identity as he attempts to stay one step ahead of them.  Lightening up the novel are Megan’s efforts to find a wedding dress, along with her job-related friendly youth outreach to Brigit’s adoring fans.  Brigit’s narrations are always highlights, with the standout being a playdate with Seth’s Blast and their cooperative mission to break through childproof-but-not-dogproof treat cabinets.

This ninth in the series continues to balance fascinating police procedural investigations with the delightful relationship between Megan and Brigit.  Seth and Blast bring a new dynamic to their family, but the ladies have become an unbeatable team despite their occasional communication mishap.  Megan really needs to learn to speak dog better.  Megan’s lifelong devotion to reading mysteries leads to her discovery of the biggest clue to help crack the case, and crafty readers will not be far behind.  Shifting narrations and focusing on different cases keeps the pace lively and spurs the action forward.  The novels by this prolific author always have her trademark humor, romance, and thrilling action, but this series excels with the realistic and heartwarming bond between Megan and Brigit.  The Valentine’s Day setting highlights the romantic relationships between the human characters, some more successful than not.  The next appearance by Megan, Brigit, and the upcoming wedding – one which must have a Canine Wedding Party – can’t come soon enough.

If Greg was killed, where is his body?  That's the question Megan and her K9 partner Brigit hope to answer in this latest installment in a well done procedural series that's lighter than most in the genre.  Don't worry if you haven't read the earlier ones- I've only read one- this will be fine as a standalone.  Megan has just gotten engaged to Seth when she gets the call- a wife (Shelby) has come home and found a kitchen covered with blood and her husband missing.  They seemed like the perfect couple but Megan, a patrol officer who wants to be. a detective, finds some interesting anomalies.  At the same time, she's trying to figure out what's going on with a roofer who appears to be ripping off customers.  Kelly does a nice job of switching perspective between the slasher, Megan, and Brigit the dog (don't worry- it's not twee).  I enjoyed this for the characters and the plot is sufficiently twisty to keep you engaged ( like Megan, whose effort to find a wedding dress is a hoot).  Thanks to the publisher for the arc.  It's a fun read and I'm looking forward to more from Kelly.

He reached over to the wooden block of serrated steak knives on the kitchen counter and yanked one out, clutching it in his fist.

What a wonderful addition to the Paw Enforcement series! Megan and Brigit are called to a grisly scene covered in blood but with no body. Megan becomes back up for Detective Jackson as they try to find the victim.

This series gets better with every book. I love that Megan and Seth's relationship is solid and progressing towards marriage. Seth was a bit of a background character in this installment as it was all about Megan and Brigit. What a team they are! Both are bright, strong females that know their job and do it well.

I love that the chapters are told from different points of view. Brigit's chapters tend to make me smile. It's always interesting to be inside the mind of the culprit.

The mystery was very well done. I started getting the same feelings Megan was about what truly happened just as she did. There are lots of twists and turns that keep you turning the page. (I read it in one sitting because I didn't want to put it down.) i like that Megan also has a side case she is investigating in addition to the  main event.

Brigit is one of my favorite dog characters. I love that she wants to chase suspects and bring them down. She does an excellent job. Her love of treats is amusing. Her resourcefulness in getting treats is even better.

This is an excellent addition to the series. I have enjoyed watching Megan grow in confidence in each book. I highly recommend this book!

A mystery, police procedural, a grisly crime scene with a touch of cozy. Quite a combination that kept me guessing and formulating a hypothesis and then doing it all again. Add in the interesting characters and it is a story I won't soon forget. 

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

Bending the Paw by Diane Kelly could be classified as a cozy mystery I guess. However unlike many of the books in that genre Megan Luz is not an amateur sleuth but a Fort Worth, Texas Patrol Officer working towards making detective. With her K-9 partner Brigit they seek to solve a murder crime that is missing the actual body as well as their regular police work. This is a police procedural series in my opinion that manages that wonderful thin line of having action with humor so that does not stray into being too dark or morbid. 

Several POVs are seen in this book, Officer Megan Luz’s and the villain’s. This is not unique in books. Yet it stands out in originality because the reader is also able to know K-9 Brigit’s POV. Together Megan and Brigit go after a killer while trying to solve another mystery/crime subplot.

Megan and Brigit are a police team to follow. Bending the Paw is book nine in the series. While each book is a stand-alone, you will want to read all of their cases.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars

This is the ninth book in the Paw Enforcement series by Diane Kelly.

This book was greatly complex and so well written. I loved how this was easy to get into and I didn’t need a ton of backstory to understand all the characters. This is totally in the standalone category even though it is in a series. If you are looking to try out a book in a series, pick this one for sure!

We started off with what seemed to be a crime scene in a woman’s house with three sets of men’s footprints over the house. Megan’s K9 dog Brigit, can tell there is a difference in the blood samples left all over the floor but they don’t realize what this clue means until later. They only know that no one could lose that much blood and live.

We get a perspective of the killer after he leaves the scene of the “maybe” killing and watch him as he lives out the next month during Megan, Brigit and Det. Jackson’s investigations.

There is a secondary story featuring a con man trying to get residents to sign on to his roofing contracting business after a pretty bad hail storm hit the area. Megan does a lot of digging on this mystery and it is so fun to follow.

I loved it so much! Great series worth digging into! I need to read more ASAP!

If you like police procedural/detective fiction, mystery, cozy or thriller, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

Fort Worth Police Officer Megan Luz is getting ready for a romantic Valentine’s Day celebration with her firefighter boyfriend when she is called to a crime scene. Along with her K-9 partner, Brigit, they head out to the most grisly sight they’ve ever seen. Quite the opposite of what you’d expect to find on Valentine’s Day. There is blood everywhere…the wife is in shock while the husband is nowhere to be found. The days pass by with no answers. 

Megan is also assigned to another case. The weather is bad and roofing contractors are in high demand. Many people are signing up to get their roof repaired, but nobody is seeing any actual work being done. Megan is very suspicious and begins her investigation. 

Megan and Brigit have their work cut out for them with these two cases. Together, the plan is to put the guilty behind bars, but it won't be easy.

This is the ninth book of Diane Kelly’s Paw Enforcement series. It’s the first one I’ve read and all I can say is - where have I been? Without knowing any of the characters, I immediately fell in love with Megan and Brigit. I do wish I had started with the first book to get a better feel for all the characters, but I had no trouble at all jumping into this series. The mystery is contained in this book…there are no carryovers from other books as far as the current storyline goes. The author does provide information throughout the book so readers aren’t lost as to the relationships of characters and how everyone fits together. 

The story is told in three different POVs - Megan’s, Brigit’s, and the Slasher’s. I found this to be quite an interesting technique. It gave us the unique opportunity to get inside the heads of the K-9 partner as well as the killer’s. Brigit’s POV, of course, was the most fun for me. Even this cat lover fell in love with Brigit. 

The chapters that are the POV of Brigit and the Slasher are very short. The story was fast-paced. It’s a police procedural that grabbed from page one. I couldn’t put this down as I had to see how it all played out. I had my suspicions, but I so enjoyed how it all unfolded. 

This is going to be a “must read” series for me and I fully intend to start at the beginning. From the looks of it, I’m in for many hours of reading fun.

I recieved this book from netgalley. I loved it, I can't wait for more of this author books.  I loved the character's and the cover to it
 thank you for the opportunity to read it.

Patrol Officer Megan Luz and her K-9 partner, Brigit, are back again in the 9th book in the excellent series. It can be read as a stand alone but reading them in order would be my choice. Megan works for the Fort Worth, TX police department and her goal is to become a detective. She has been lucky in that regard with a mentoring relationship with two detectives. Megan's day is going well - it's Valentine's Day and her firefighter boyfriend, Seth, has just proposed and she said yes. Before day is done, however, crime intrudes and she and Brigit are called to the scene of what could be called a blood bath. A wife returns home from dinner with co-workers to find her kitchen awash in blood and every indication that the one who did the copious bleeding was her now missing husband. Along with this case, Megan is also trying to sort out a possible roofing scam. It's a lot to juggle but Megan and Brigit are up for the challenge.
This series is different with the use of three points of view. The reader is privy to Megan's POV, Brigit's POV and the "bad guy" as well - in this case called The Slasher. The mystery is balanced out with humor, great family relationships and some romance. The mystery itself is well laid out and it kept me guessing.
My thanks to the publisher, St. Martin's Press and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Bending the Paw by Diane Kelly is the 9th A Paw Enforcement Novel.  It can be read as a standalone, but you will be missing out on some entertaining cozy mysteries.  I have read each book in this series and they just keep getting better. Plus, there is background information in the previous books that would enhance your understanding of the characters.    The story is told from three different points-of-view:  Megan, the antagonist (aka The Slasher), and Brigit.  I just love Brigit’s chapters.  I like getting her take on the situations plus they are amusing.  There are a variety of secondary characters that include Seth (Megan’s boyfriend), Frankie (Megan’s roommate), Blast (Seth’s bomb sniffing dog), Derek (Megan’s former partner), and Detective Audrey Jackson (Megan’s mentor and role model).  They are not as developed as our main characters, but they enhance the story.   Megan Luz is a police officer in Fort Worth, Texas who works with her K9 partner, Brigit.  Megan and Brigit make a great team (and Brigit is a step up from her last partner).  I enjoyed the two mysteries in Bending the Paw.  The death of Greg Olsen was a fun one to solve.  It is an unusual whodunit for cozy mysteries.  We get to follow Megan and Brigit as they work to solve this case.  It is a police procedural mystery with Megan reviewing security footage, talking to people, digging through emails, and checking financials.  The second mystery involving a roofer allowed Megan and Brigit a little more time on the street.  There still was time spent searching for information, but Brigit gets a chance to stretch her legs.  Megan and Seth’s romance is developing nicely.  I like the direction of their relationship.  Bending the Paw is a fun cozy mystery to read.  I cannot wait for the next A Paw Enforcement Novel.  Bending the Paw is an amusing cozy mystery with a crafty roofer, a crime scene conundrum, a sneaky slasher, beaucoup blood, lackluster leads, and a romantic proposition.

Megan and Brigit are back in two baffling cases. She has a lot of blood but no body and she has a roofing contractor who isn’t following through but is it a crime? With the help of her furry partner and an active imagination Megan proves once again that sometimes you have to think outside the box to solve a puzzle. This is a wonderful addition to the series.

Enjoyable series addition. The various different character chapters lent humor and insight. I especially enjoyed one of the Slasher's chapters. There is a mystery in addition to the murder mystery. I suspected the culprit(s) immediately, but that did not diminish my interest.

Excellent Police K-9 Crime Story
This book is 9th in the Paw Enforcement series and the first that I have read. The book was written to stand alone, yet be part of a story arc. This story has an intriguing plot with plenty of twists. Nothing is given away so the reader is discovering things along with the police. The German Shepherd K-9 is wonderful and is shown as a professional, working dog that is exceptionally well trained. The other animals are also totally believable and lovable. I definitely want to go back and read the previous books. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

I love every book I’ve read in this series. Bending the Paw is Book 9 and I’ve read at least 5 so I think I can have a legitimate opinion. I love the cop and the cop dog and I love the fireman and the fire dog :) I love the mystery and story of a cop’s life and I love the humor of a chapter or two where the POV is from the dog’s view. The cop dog (Bridgett, that is).

I’m going to say I thought this one started out a little slow. As I thought back, I decided that maybe too much cop procedure or description of a crime slowed it down. However, it didn’t take long til I couldn’t put it down. It’s story and the writing did not disappoint. 

I hope we can count on Dianne Kelly to keep writing about her great characters and their lives and of course about Bridgette and Blast. I’m not going to tell you which of the characters I love the most, but they do have perky ears and they wag a lot. Hint, hint.

What’s not to like? A smart, intelligent female character partnered with a smart, intelligent dog, working together to solve crimes, with each installment better and better. I really enjoy reading about the dog Brigit, especially when we see the world through her eyes. Wonderful characters, interesting mystery....I highly recommend.

I have read several books by this author and have enjoyed them all. The adventures of Megan and Brigit continue in this cozy mystery. If you decide to check this series out I suggest you start with the first book in this series. The view point of Brigit is wonderfully written and the mysteries themselves quite intriguing. So, get a glass of wine or whatever and sit down for a (I'm sorry I have to say it) doggone good time! I received an e-book from NetGalley in return for an unbiased review.

Bending The paw was an exciting and intriguing book. A cozy mystery but yet not a cozy mystery. The details of the murder are shocking and gruesome and with various points of view it felt like crime fiction or a thriller but you have Bridgit the K9 police dog. Her point of view was not of her being able to talk but her thoughts which I found was so delightful and it was a cozy mystery definitely. Like the book has two identities.
I loved Megan,the police woman together with Bridgit they made a killer team. No pun intended. Bending the paw has a well thought out plot,the crimes and how The protagonist solved the crimes were very complex and interesting.

Thank you St.Martin Press and Netgally for this Advanced Reader copy.This was a honest review

Bending the Paw is the ninth installment in the Paw Enforcement series set in Fort Worth, Texas and featuring Police Officer Megan Luz and her K-9 Shepherd, Brigit.  Megan and Brigit are called by Detective Audrey Jackson to assist at the scene of what appears to be a gruesome attack.  When they arrive at the home of Shelby and Greg Olsen they discover a kitchen that looks like a real bloodbath has occurred - Megan has never seen so much blood and wonders how anyone could have survived such a vicious attack.  The body of Greg Olsen is missing along with his car and Brigit's nose suggests that there was more than one attacker involved.

Megan finds herself juggling two separate cases:  the disappearance of Greg Olsen and a scam being run on the citizens of Fort Worth by a fly by night roofing company.  In addition to her investigations Megan is also preparing for her upcoming wedding to firefighter and bomb squad member, Seth.

This was the first book I've read in the series and while it definitely reads as a stand alone it would have helped to have just a little more background on the main characters.  It was relatively easy to solve the main mystery within the first few chapters but that didn't detract from finishing the book.  I will be going back to start the series from the beginning and enjoying more adventures with Megan and Brigit.

I received an advanced copy of Bending the Paw from NetGalley via St. Martin's Press.   While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC.
This is the first book in this series that I have read although I have read both books in her House Flipper series which I found very enjoyable.
This book was entertaining with a sharp-witted main character, Megan,  who has a great canine partner to add to the fun.
There is a wide range of other characters including a hot firefighter boyfriend plus his bomb dog, Megan’s  extended family, a Roller Derby roommate, and assorted detectives and police officers. Some are nice, some are not. 
The main mystery was easy to figure out but still made for a good story. There was also a side story of a scam that involved a group of older adult victims who take justice into their own hands.
It was also nice to see that this book was set in DFW since I live nearby and could recognize numerous locations.

The majority of this book is told from the point of view of Megan Luz, a Fort Worth Police Department officer. There are also some parts told from the point of view of her K-9 partner Brigit, as well as an unknown person simply referred to as “The Slasher.” The first scene with Megan in the book also includes her firefighter boyfriend, Seth, in a sweet, romantic scene. Romance has to be put aside, however, when Megan and Brigit get the call to a horrendous crime scene. A woman comes home to find the kitchen covered in blood. Her husband isn’t home, but there is no body. The detectives on the case need Megan and Brigit’s help to trace whoever was at the scene of this horrible crime. 

“Bending the Paw” is the ninth book in this series. I read the book immediately preceding this one, but not the others. I think the book works well as a standalone even if this is your first introduction to the series. The investigation stands on its own and Megan is an easy character to get to know. She is intelligent, dedicated, and ambitious. She wants to move up from officer to detective, but is putting in the hard work to get there. Her chapters give the reader a narrative of the investigation, as well as allowing us to get to know her, her co-workers, and Seth. I enjoy seeing how she and her canine partner work together to discover clues that help in the investigations, both the murder and a fraud case Brigit is assigned to. 

If you’ve not read any of the prior books, you may be skeptical seeing there are chapters from Brigit the German Shepherd’s point of view. I am not a fan of whimsical talking animals that are in some cozies, but this is different. Brigit’s chapters are short and funny and describe what she is thinking during the investigation and give additional insight into the crime. Dog lovers will especially appreciate these chapters. Also interspersed throughout the book are short chapters  from  the point of view of “The Slasher” which give the reader more insight into the crime.

This book could be classified as a cozy mystery since it has both humor and romance mixed in with the murder and fraud cases. However, with all the details about the process of the investigation, I would call it a “light procedural.” There is more depth in the plot and the investigation than is found in many cozies. The humor and lighter moments, such as Brigit’s observations about her part in the investigation and about humans in general, lighten the mood and quicken the pace of the story. The way the story is told intrigued me from the beginning, and I remained invested in finding out more about the crime throughout the book. Clues to the solution are there, but it took awhile for me to begin to figure out the truth of the case. I like how things wrapped up and really enjoyed this book, which I would rate as 4.5 stars, rounding up to 5.
 
I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of St. Martin’s. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

his was a fantastic mystery told from three points of view: the detective, the culprit, and... the police dog! I loved the charm that the dog's POV brought to the mystery. Having dogs myself, I often wondered what they thought. I also loved the plot and how the police officer was portrayed. She was smart, capable and never stopped until the mystery was solved. I received an advanced reader's copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Bending the Paw by Diane Kelly  (Paw Enforcement #9)  5 stars (or 5 paws)

It is time again to visit with the team of Officer Megan Luz and Brigit.  During the momentous final chapter of "Paw of the Jungle" we get the proposal readers have been waiting for and wedding bells are now ringing for Megan and Seth.  But while wedding preparations are being made, Megan and Brigit are asked to assist at a crime scene that looks like a bloodbath, however, the victim Greg Olsen is not at the crime scene.  We have a missing body and a couple of potential suspects.  Megan is assisting Detective Jackson with this investigation.  During this time, Fort Worth is hit with a huge hailstorm and roof repair contractors descend on the homeowners.  Megan responds to a complaint of a scam artist who is taking orders but doesn't deliver the services.  

The missing body case was interesting and it kept my attention.  I didn't guess the culprit until 3/4 into the book.  The con artist case illustrated the dogged determination for justice that Megan feels and her enthusiasm for the job.  I love the chapters that are from Brigit's viewpoint, they are always a highlight of the Paw Enforcement series.  Megan and Brigit get the bad guys and the readers have a wedding to look forward to.  I can only hope that there will be a Tara Holloway cameo in the next book, after all Megan and Tara did meet in Death, Taxes and Mistletoe Mayhem.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Paperbacks for this ARC.

Bending the Paw is the ninth book in the Paw Enforcement series (I just love the punny name of the series)...but I believe it works fine as a standalone.

What a fun cozy mystery! The characters, the storyline, and the mysteries were interesting and intriguing. They held my attention from the first chapter until the last. I absolutely love Megan and her K-9 partner, Brigit.
Highly Recommend.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.

Megan Luz is a police officer and Brigit her partner is a trusty canine, and they are on their way to try and solve a new mystery. When they arrive at the scene, it looks like a brutal murder has taken place but there is no body, just a lot of blood. Now they have a frantic wife and a missing husband who must be dead after all that blood left at the scene.

On the other side of town after a major hailstorm, it looks like a shady contractor Is up to no good and Megan and Brigit offer to help the people track him down. Megan just will not give up trying to figure out what this contractor is up to while still trying to solve the murder.

While this is the ninth book in the Paw Enforcement series by Diane Kelly, I did read it as a stand a lone novel. I would like to go back though and read the series from the beginning as I adored Diane Kelly’s writing style and the characters in the story. The story was also told by three different views, Megan’s, the antagonist, and Brigit. I enjoyed the unique twist and especially liked Brigit’s point of view. This series will be going to the top of my cozy mystery list and I would love to thank Diane Kelly, St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for an advanced copy of the book to review. It was fabulous! All opinions expressed for this review are unbiased and entirely my own.

This is the first book I've read in this long standing series (this is the ninth) but it was extremely easy to follow and could function as a standalone.  

The book has an interesting format-chapters are told in the POV of the main character, police officer Megan and her canine partner Brigit as well as the main character involved in a grisly murder.  Megan is a likeable character, she's recently became engaged to her firefighter boyfriend who also works with a canine, bomb sniffing partner.  Megan and Brigit are called to assist on a bloody murder scene with no body.  Megan is appreciative of the opportunity and the mentors she's had to date in her career (did I say likeable character) and she offers a fresh perspective as they try to discover what happened.  There is also a secondary situation with a roofing salesman-is he genuine, or running a scam due to recent hail damage.

Both mysteries are wrapped up well, with plenty of leg work and deductive reasoning that we get to follow along with and even a stroke of dumb luck.  I enjoyed the romantic element as well as Megan's relationship with her family and roommate.

I enjoyed this book immensely and look forward to future installments as well as discovering the backlist.

I received an ARC via NetGalley but the opinions expressed are my own.

Bending the Paw by Diane Kelly
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Release Date: October 27, 2020

Bending the Paw is the ninth book the Paw Enforcement series by Diane Kelly. I have not read the previous books in the series, but I fell in love with that gorgeous German Shephard on the cover and knew I just had to read this book! This book worked really well as a standalone novel and was easy to get drawn into.

This was a captivating police procedural/cozy mystery. I loved reading the storyline from law enforcement's perspective, as well as the criminal's. Also, there are some really cute chapters from Brigit's perspective (she is the true star, after all)!

I look forward to reading the previous books in the series, as well as the future books! I can't wait to find out what happens next!

I'm so grateful to Diane Kelly, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Bending the Paw is the ninth installment in Diane Kelly's Paw Enforcement series. I enjoyed this book immensely. Our main character, Megan Luz, is a police officer with the Fort Worth Police Department. Megan is definitely a protagonist you can root for. She is warm, genuine, determined, and clearly passionate about her job. Her K-9 partner Brigit is just adorable and adds plenty of humor to the story. The relationship between the two is very heartwarming and they make a great team.

In this installment, Megan and Brigit are called in to help investigate the disappearance of a man named Greg Olsen. His wife Shelby came home to find blood everywhere but no sign of her husband. Along with Greg's disappearance, Megan is also investigating a home repair scam.
 This was a gripping, lighthearted police procedural, with engaging characters and a well-plotted mystery that will keep you on your toes. I enjoyed getting to know Megan and following her perspective as she tries to piece together what happened to Greg Olsen. We also get the perspective of the culprit, which makes the story even more intriguing. There was never a dull moment in this book and I thought the twist was really clever.
 All in all, an enjoyable read that works perfectly as a standalone. I will definitely be reading more from this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Bending the Paw, the 9th in the Paw Enforcement series, by Diane Kelly begins with a bloody crime scene and a missing husband /body.  This cozy mystery is mostly told from the viewpoint of Megan, a Fort Worth policewoman and aspiring detective.  There are also short, interspersed chapters that share the viewpoints of the police canine and one of the criminals . This was definitely an intriguing mystery with an ending that totally floored me! Once I began reading I couldn't put this cozy mystery down and I am anxiously awaiting future installments.  5 stars!

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own.

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Office Megan Luz and the best partner ever, K-9 Sergeant Brigit are among my favorite cozy mystery teams. Megan wants to be a detective when she has been with the Fort Worth PD long enough. She has been invaluable help to Detective Audrey Jackson on several cases and Jackson is an excellent mentor.

Megan is called out with Brigit, the best partner ever, to a murder scene where she is warned to expect a lot of blood. Shelby, the weepy wife of her missing husband, Greg, came home to find a blood-splattered kitchen, as if one were mimicking the Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre. Is it a coincidence that it is Valentine’s Day? There is more blood than it seems is in the human body, but…there is no body!

Brigit sniffed around the kitchen while Megan took in the crime scene. There seemed to be three sets of footprints, different sizes, different wear patterns. A knife from the block was missing, and there were drag marks going to the garage. Since Greg’s car was missing, it is assumed he was put into the trunk of his own car and the bad guys left in it.

Shelby had an alibi for the entire day. After work, she and some co-workers went to have drinks, as Greg, a manager at a local movie theater, was working that evening. The two of them had reservations to go away for the weekend, so Regina, one of her co-workers, followed her home to meet the dog she would care for the pet in their absence. Shelby held onto hope that Greg would walk in the door any time, despite the amount of blood lost in the kitchen. All the photos of the couple around the home showed a couple still very much in love.

It was a few days before Greg’s empty, blood-stained car was found on a trail overlooking a river where divers were sent to search for anything that might have been dumped. All the divers found was the key ring and a bag of bloody clothes, shoes, and a steak knife. No fingerprints, no clues, and Brigit lost the scent trail when going back to the parking area. The trail was as cold as could be.

Two days later, Megan responded to a possible fraud call while out on her beat. A hailstorm had occurred, and roofing companies were either trying to drum up business from hail damage or their crews were hard at work. A woman had been signed a contract with a professional-looking roofing company rep, gave him a deposit, sent him to a couple of the neighbors who needed work done, and never heard back from his company. The salesman, Tommy Perkins, did not return her phone calls. While it is more of a civil suit than police case, Megan promised to look into it, copied the contract, and planned to do her research on it.

Researching a murder and a disappearing roofer and spending time with Seth, her firefighting sweetheart, leaves little time for Megan and Brigit! They love what they do, and I have been so impressed to see how much Megan has grown over the course of the series. I remember with glee the events leading to Megan being assigned as a K-9 handler and the rocky start she and Brigit had. The characters are defined so well, with enough backstory that a new reader can easily pick up on them. I wouldn’t suggest missing out on the earlier novels, as the author shares laugh-out-loud humor that really helps make the series a favorite. Megan and Brigit are stars in my book!

There are several plot twists, and few clues for even some of the best detectives to get any leads from! Megan is more determined than most and has several lightbulb moments throughout. I delighted in watching her sift through possible clues and how her ideas paid off…even when it didn’t seem like it would. There are excellent surprises that wrap up both cases! I especially enjoyed what happened with the roofing salesman! I was totally satisfied with the resolutions and am looking forward to the next in series. I highly recommend Bending the Paw as well as the rest of the series!

I've really enjoyed this series, ever since I started it. I just love how we get a bad guy's perspective, Megan's, and then Brigit's. I love Megan and Brigit's relationship, and I love watching them solve crimes. It's a great cozy mystery read! 

Once we have the prologue, which chapter 1 we dive right back where we ended with the previous book, which was really fantastic, I loved watching them tell her family their news! And watching the wedding planning in between solving crime was really great! 

I had a suspicion about the main case. I just didn't want it to go one way, so I though of a possibility where it didn't. And when Megan thinks of it, well, I was pretty glad, because like I said, I didn't want it to go in that one direction! 

The way that the smaller case was solved was pretty poetic, and I enjoyed how it, and the main mystery, were solved. Megan was smart and she was through, and I enjoyed seeing Megan get another win, to get more experience under her belt, to one day make her goal and dream of becoming a detective! 

This was a really great, fun read, I really enjoyed it, and I can't wait for the next installment!

This crime was exceptionally well researched and thought out. A strong police procedural, Bridgit's point of view added humor and a cozy warmth. The main characters are strong females. The third viewpoint offered (Slasher) showed human weaknesses. You almost felt compassion.

As Megan and her K-9 partner are following the clues toward answers in their bloody kitchen case, another crime comes into play. An unhappy home owner claims she is being scammed and protests loudly that the police are not taking her seriously. She demands someone take action and keep her informed,

The descriptions are precise, the cases muddy enough to cause suspicion in many directions.
This crime novel will appeal to all ages and genders.

**I received 'Bending the Paw' through NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, in exchange for an honest review**

I'm so happy that I received 'Bending the Paw'! I enjoy a cozy mystery, especially when it involves adorable animals. What I especially love about Bending the Paw is that it offers insights from both Megan and her K9 Brigit. as they're solving a murder mystery. It has plenty of possible outcomes and delightful turns!

Reading 'Bending the Paw' made me want to check out Diane Kelly's other works. I'm looking forward to reading more about Megan and Brigit's adventures!

It's hard to decide what I liked best!

I want to say I liked the he location best.
But.
I want to say I liked how the book was written from the perspective of several of the characters.  My favorite being Brigit the K9 officer.

And I want to say I liked the characters the best.

Or maybe even the plot/storyline after I got past the gory beginning.  Yes I was surprised but.
Even with the surprising beginning
I loved this book!
I could not put it down.  I did love the location and author Diane Kelly knows Fort Worth!
I did love the characters. The main character Megan is a strong willed determined, smart and caring Beat Cop aspiring to be a detective.  And she is good at following clues.  Even her mentor Detective Jackson realizes Megan's skill.  
Even though I love Megan's character I wonder if I can root for her to become detective because what would happen to Brigit?

Megan's family makes a cameo appearance bringing the reader up to speed since Bending The Paw  is book in the series.  This is first one I have read but I am certain each one in the series is a standalone. 
Author Kelly gives the reader enough background and history to lure you to wanting to read read l series.
I am looking forward to visiting Fort Worth again and hopefully see some of my favorite places developed into the next story line!

I received a complimentary copy from Net Galley. 
My review will appear on retail sites Good Reads.
Bending the Paw will be promoted on social media and featured in future posts her and on My Journey Back the Journey Back.

I was given this novel by Netgalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Bending the Paw is the ninth book in the Paw Enforcement series by Diane Kelly, and I am happy to say that I have read the first two novels in this series, so I know that I love the characters. In the ninth installment, Officer Megan Luz and her K-9 Brigit are called by mentor Detective Jackson to a bloody crime scene. And that's all that it is. Blood with no body. When the spouse of the victim appears to have a air-tight alibi and no motive, the case begins to go cold. 

In addition to assisting Detective Jackson, the duo must continue their usual patrol. During this time, a hailstorm has hit Fort Worth which means roof problems. When a neighbor makes a complaint against a roofing company, Megan must search through records, and use her own judgement to determine if the suspect is a crook or the real deal. Oh, and did we mention she just got engaged and has to plan her wedding?

I love this series so much. Its a cozy mystery about a female officer and her female K-9 companion. I enjoy the female empowerment with Megan, not just in her professional life, but her personal life as well. Megan is striving to become a detective, and she isn't letting anything stop her. She found another female detective who agrees to mentor her, but also gives her the reality of the situation. 

Another aspect I enjoy is the layout of the story. There is a chapter from Megan's point of view, as well as from the culprit. However, there is a third point of view from Brigit the K-9 that I believe lends a line of originality and humor to the story. I, also, find those chapters to be very spot on coming from a dog's perspective, because I have 3 of my own and they act very similar to Brigit. 

The crimes I have read about so far have been plausible with no hints of stretching the imagination. Overall, I rate this novel 5 out of 5 stars, and cannot wait for book 10.

Megan and Brigit are on the case of a gruesome murder and a con man fleecing people in a roofing scam all while celebrating a development that will change her (and Brigit's) life!

I love this series and stayed up very late to find out "whodunit".  Megan is a wonderfully written, relatable character. She's kind, thoughtful and looks at all possibilities before jumping into danger.  Her relationship with K-9 officer Brigit is so much fun and I enjoy the three "POV'S" from Megan, Brigit and the criminal.  It brings so much more to the book.  The murder is not graphic and it sets the stage for a mystery full of twists and turns!  

You can read this as a standalone, but go back and catch up on their earlier cases...you'll love them!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the 9th book in the delightful "Paw Enforcement Mystery Series" by cozy author Diane Kelly. I have read many in the series and enjoy returning to each new release. This is the perfect series for dog lovers .  Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own., 

In this next in series our Protagonist police officer Megan Luz and her K-9 partner Brigit  are on a new case . They are a terrific team and work closely together solving crimes.  Megan is a savvy smart woman with a talent for her job .  This book has her investigating two very different crimes. The first a gruesome crime scene with a lot of blood but no victim. Clues are left behind that both Brigit and Megan find suspicious.  The second crime wave is happening among shady roofing companies repairing roofs after a storm for local homeowners.  Megan and Brigit are on both cases simultaneously and in the end solve both crimes as only they can..

I love the humor in this series . This is a engaging fun read with a outstanding set of sleuthing that kept me guessing to conclusion. I love the charcters and K-9 Brigit is a favorite of mine.  I look forward to the next in series. Review cross posted.

Hey folks, daddy Steve here with some doggiebook talk. This one is the 9th book in the Paw Enforcement series by Diane Kelly titled Bending the Paw.

If you were following my doggiebook reports about a year ago, you might remember that I had talked about the 8th book in the series, Paw of the Jungle. That was the first book I'd read in the series and it had made me think about going back and read from the start but I kinda ran out of time in the year, or well, I read other books. 😉

I think I liked this one even more than the previous one and very honestly, I now really want to go back and read the series from the start. I felt like I knew Megan and Brigit a bit more thins time around, as well as the surrounding cast of the series. 

While this is probably qualified as a cozy mystery, it's a bit more police procedural than the usual cozy mysteries you can find out there. These mysteries usually have a woman in the role of an amateur sleuth but in this case, Megan is an aspiring detective but is already a police officer, so she is not totally out of her element...

That's another recommended read for any dog lover. It's fun and entertaining.

Huge thanks to NetGalley who provided a free eBook advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review. This is as honest as it gets...

#Malcolmstories #doggiebooks
#Netgalley #BendingthePaw

Megan and Brigit are a K-9 unit in Fort Worth and she's also involved with the hunky Seth, a fire fighter and his dog Blast. Megan and Brigit are called to a very grissly murder scene. It is a bloodbath on Valentine's day. Brigit uses her sniffing skills to try to determine what has happened but there is so much blood that it is unbelievable that someone could have survived such a horrendous act of violence. The wife, of course, is always the first suspect but by all rights: they are a very happily married couple enjoying life together.  There has been no body recovered from this murder site and the longer it goes, the less leads they have.  Also along the way, Megan gets involved with a scammer and it looks like he may have outwitted the smart cop and her partner.  
Great twists and turns and lots of crazy action

Bending The Paw by Diane Kelly

Make way for Police Officer Megan Lutz and her K-9 partner, Brigitte. They investigate a baffling new mystery.  A murder without a body is like a dog without a bone.

Great story.  I loved the way Brigit, the K-9 dog, gets here own chapters.  Megan is a great cop.  Good, friendly characters.  I like the Paw Series.  

Thank you Net Galley for sending me an advanced reader’s copy for review.

I enjoyed this book. It's a little graphic at the beginning with all the blood but afterwards is fine. I like the characters and especially the dog Brigit. The plot is very clever and well written. I was very surprised by the ending. #Bending the Paw #NetGalley

The thing I liked about this story the most is that it gives points of view from a human, Megan, and Brigit, her K-9 partner. A nice change of storytelling in my opinion. Both Megan and Brigit are looking for a killer along with Detective Jackson. The killer left the victim's kitchen in a blood bath and there was no body. The wife and a friend, unfortunately, found the crime scene. But why take the body? What was the purpose of that? Was there more than one killer and what were they after? Why did they kill this person? The answers are in the book. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

Megan and Brigit, her K9 dog, come to a brutal murder scene and start to unwind a very puzzling mystery without a body.  Cozy police procedural.  Good for covid reading.

A fun, light cozy mystery series where readers get the perspective of the K-9 as well as the human detective, this entry has newly-engaged officer Megan wrestling with a crime scene drenched in blood, as well as a possible scam artist making their way through her city.

I enjoyed the characters and their relationships, especially Megan and her now-fiance Seth, and the bond each of them have with their dogs. The search for the scam artist, as the lower stakes crime, lends itself to some moments of humor and clever detecting, while the bloody home has heartbreakingly high stakes. I did figure out the solution to the bigger crime before it was officially revealed, but that didn't mean it felt any less clever or unique. 

This isn't a series I go and actively seek out, but when I get to read one, I always end up enjoying it. This is a great match for dog lovers and mystery lovers alike.

I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading more in the series by this author.  Officer Megan Luz and her K-9 partner Brigit have been called in to assist Detective Audrey Jackson at a brutal murder scene.  The only problem is that there is a ton of blood, a frantic wife, and missing husband and no body.  While working the case Officer Luz and Brigit also encounter problems in another case where due to the heavy storms in the area of Fort Worth there appears to be a scam artist working as a contractor in the area.   The story has a most unexpected ending.  I received this e-book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

I received this book, for review purposes, through Netgalley and all thoughts and opinions are my own. 
In this gripping installment, Brigit and her human partner Megan Luz are on the job. It"s Valentines season, the season of love and devotion. The crime scene call out is a particularly brutal one, a bloodbath. Shelby Olsen has discovered her home a crime scene and her husband missing. With Brigit's nose and Megan's detecting skills this will prove a tough case but they always prevail. Add to this the impending hurricane season and a roofer intent upon helping himself over helping others. Their skills will be put to the test. 
I enjoyed this mystery. The characters are strong and likeable. I look forward to more from this author.

Megan and her police dog Brigit are called to a crime scene straight out of a horror movie.  Blood everywhere.  This is book 9 in the Paw Enforcement and it seems it might be a little more graphic than others but it's not. Can be read as a stand alone but you'll want to get better acquainted with Brigit and the other characters.   I love the fact that Brigit the dog narrates part of the story and points out so many human problems.  With the duo concentrating on the murder, it seems some home improvement contractors may be fleecing friends and family with shoddy repairs after a hail storm.  Lots of fun reading.  I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This book is an excellent addition to a well established series. The characters are likable and Brigit, the K9 is wonderful. It's quite delightful to read a series that let's Brigit share her POV. This is a well crafted mystery and I look forward to more in the series.