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A Dog Days Mystery #1
Deadly Dog Days
New to the historic town of Metamora, Indiana, Cameron Cripps-Hayman is looking to make friends with her neighbors. What she isn’t looking for is one of their bodies floating in the canal.
When she and her estranged husband, the town sheriff, are both named suspects for the murder, Cameron takes solving the crime into her own hands, teaming up with her eccentric co-workers who dub themselves The Metamora Action Agency.
As if hunting for a murderer with two high school geniuses, the town drunk, and an elderly kleptomaniac isn’t hard enough, Cameron adopts the five mangy guard dogs of her deceased neighbor. But maybe a stint at playing gatekeeper is just what she needs to come face-to-face with the killer and save another neighbor from being the next victim.
When she and her estranged husband, the town sheriff, are both named suspects for the murder, Cameron takes solving the crime into her own hands, teaming up with her eccentric co-workers who dub themselves The Metamora Action Agency.
As if hunting for a murderer with two high school geniuses, the town drunk, and an elderly kleptomaniac isn’t hard enough, Cameron adopts the five mangy guard dogs of her deceased neighbor. But maybe a stint at playing gatekeeper is just what she needs to come face-to-face with the killer and save another neighbor from being the next victim.
233 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
October 16, 2016
Enjoying the peace while she ate her lunch beside the canal in Metamora, Indiana, Cameron Cripps-Hayman was horrified when she looked across the water and spied a protruding hand near the shore. Her immediate reaction was to ring her soon-to-be ex-husband Ben who was town sheriff. The ensuing chaos when police, rescue units and paramedics arrived on the scene had Cam trembling with shock. But when both Cam and Ben were announced as suspects, Cam knew she needed to prove her innocence as quickly as she could.
When Cam discovered the deceased had owned five dogs, she decided to care for them – but there was nothing lovable about them. Untrained and unruly, Bruno especially was a problem – what had Cam let herself in for?
While Cam moved forward in the investigation, her erstwhile volunteers continued to baffle her. But she was determined – could she find the killer before there were more victims?
Quirky and light, Deadly Dog Days by Jaime M. Blair was a fairly slow moving cosy mystery. I will admit to once again being pulled in by a book cover, plus my love of dogs! I was a little disappointed in Deadly Dog Days but lovers of a light cosy mystery involving animals are sure to find some fun in this one.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy to read in exchange for my honest review.
When Cam discovered the deceased had owned five dogs, she decided to care for them – but there was nothing lovable about them. Untrained and unruly, Bruno especially was a problem – what had Cam let herself in for?
While Cam moved forward in the investigation, her erstwhile volunteers continued to baffle her. But she was determined – could she find the killer before there were more victims?
Quirky and light, Deadly Dog Days by Jaime M. Blair was a fairly slow moving cosy mystery. I will admit to once again being pulled in by a book cover, plus my love of dogs! I was a little disappointed in Deadly Dog Days but lovers of a light cosy mystery involving animals are sure to find some fun in this one.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy to read in exchange for my honest review.
October 13, 2016
While enjoying her lunch along the canal in the small town of Metamora, Indiana, the last thing Cameron Cripps-Hayman expected to find was a body under the edge of the water. Calling in local law enforcement Cam finds that the woman in question happens to be one that her estranged husband had been seen around the small town dating.
Cam finds herself quickly put at the top of the suspect list when it's determined that what she stumbled upon was definitely a murder. Trying to clear her name and get those in the small town to stop looking at her as a criminal Cam volunteers to take in the victim's now homeless dogs and rounds up a group of volunteers to help her look into the crime.
I have to admit it would have been really really hard to make me not like Deadly Dog Days since it is set in a small town in my state. Reading about places that I've actually been to in a fictional story is always fun and I think the author did a great job bringing to life small town Indiana.
Along with the setting though this was actually a cute cozy mystery read with likable characters and a bunch of unruly canines and other critters that would steal the show. There's a lot of really funny moments along the read that had me laughing out loud along with a decent mystery to be solved by a rather unique group investigating.
Overall, a fun cozy mystery set in a lovely small town setting.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Cam finds herself quickly put at the top of the suspect list when it's determined that what she stumbled upon was definitely a murder. Trying to clear her name and get those in the small town to stop looking at her as a criminal Cam volunteers to take in the victim's now homeless dogs and rounds up a group of volunteers to help her look into the crime.
I have to admit it would have been really really hard to make me not like Deadly Dog Days since it is set in a small town in my state. Reading about places that I've actually been to in a fictional story is always fun and I think the author did a great job bringing to life small town Indiana.
Along with the setting though this was actually a cute cozy mystery read with likable characters and a bunch of unruly canines and other critters that would steal the show. There's a lot of really funny moments along the read that had me laughing out loud along with a decent mystery to be solved by a rather unique group investigating.
Overall, a fun cozy mystery set in a lovely small town setting.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
September 25, 2016
Ever heard of Metamora, Indiana? Well, join the club. But because I was born and lived in the Hoosier State for the first eight years of my life, I've always been proud of my Bobby Knight country roots, so the setting for this book is what first got my attention. Turns out, according to Google Maps, that it's a tiny but historic canal town about a 66-minute southwesterly drive from my home town of Union City. That, and the fact that it's a cozy mystery - the kind of thing I enjoy reading in between those mess-with-your-head whodunits - prompted me to ask for (and was granted, thank you) this book in exchange for an honest review.
On the subject of location, I got more than my money's worth. Turns out that lead character Cameron Cripps-Hayman is new to Metamora, coming from Columbus (Ohio); reminiscing over her past life, she mentions several places I know and love there, like the Short North district. The jackpot, however, came when she sat in on a class at Ivy Tech in Richmond, Indiana - the community college at which my late father taught business law for several years.
Of more import to the rest of the reading world is that this is a very good story. Cameron, recently separated from her husband Ben (Metamora's only police officer), finds a body floating in that aforementioned canal. When it's discovered that the dead woman has ties to both Cam and Ben, they become suspects - and Cam vows to do whatever it takes to find out who really did the deed. Along the way, she takes in the now-ownerless dogs that belonged to the victim (leading to the possibility of a business venture). She's also been providing telemarketing jobs for a group of people who have been ordered by the court to do community service, so she switches gears, dubs them the Metamora Action Agency and puts them to work on solving the case (much to Ben's dismay).
In between, she must deal with Ben's teenage daughter Mia, who could use an attitude adjustment (or better yet, a couple of slaps upside the head) and his snobby mother, Irene (ditto). As might be expected, Cam's relationship with Ben is on again, off again; also predictably, Cam goes off on her own despite warnings from Ben and a neighboring police chief to keep her nose out of the investigation. Is she successful? Will she and Ben patch things up or go their separate ways? Will the domineering mom-in-law and stepdaughter get their comeuppance? My lips are sealed, of course, but keep in mind that this is a cozy mystery, where, in the end, God's in his heaven and all's right with the world.
Good job!
On the subject of location, I got more than my money's worth. Turns out that lead character Cameron Cripps-Hayman is new to Metamora, coming from Columbus (Ohio); reminiscing over her past life, she mentions several places I know and love there, like the Short North district. The jackpot, however, came when she sat in on a class at Ivy Tech in Richmond, Indiana - the community college at which my late father taught business law for several years.
Of more import to the rest of the reading world is that this is a very good story. Cameron, recently separated from her husband Ben (Metamora's only police officer), finds a body floating in that aforementioned canal. When it's discovered that the dead woman has ties to both Cam and Ben, they become suspects - and Cam vows to do whatever it takes to find out who really did the deed. Along the way, she takes in the now-ownerless dogs that belonged to the victim (leading to the possibility of a business venture). She's also been providing telemarketing jobs for a group of people who have been ordered by the court to do community service, so she switches gears, dubs them the Metamora Action Agency and puts them to work on solving the case (much to Ben's dismay).
In between, she must deal with Ben's teenage daughter Mia, who could use an attitude adjustment (or better yet, a couple of slaps upside the head) and his snobby mother, Irene (ditto). As might be expected, Cam's relationship with Ben is on again, off again; also predictably, Cam goes off on her own despite warnings from Ben and a neighboring police chief to keep her nose out of the investigation. Is she successful? Will she and Ben patch things up or go their separate ways? Will the domineering mom-in-law and stepdaughter get their comeuppance? My lips are sealed, of course, but keep in mind that this is a cozy mystery, where, in the end, God's in his heaven and all's right with the world.
Good job!
January 15, 2022
Cameron Cripps-Hayman has moved to Metamora, Indiana, with her husband, but now they have drifted apart, and she is feeling a bit lost. To make matters worse she finds a body floating in the canal. Even worse than that, she and her estranged husband, the town sheriff, become suspects in the murder case. Cameron decides to take solving the crime into her own hands, teaming up with her eccentric co-workers who dub themselves The Metamora Action Agency.
This is a cozy murder mystery, and a pretty good one at that. There is nothing very surprising here for someone that has read a few mysteries in the genre, but it is well written. It’s humorous, with an entertaining cast of characters, both human and canine. The dogs don’t solve the crime, though they do both hinder and help with that, but they are certainly entertaining. I enjoyed reading it, and I may read the next in the series to see how things turn out.
This is a cozy murder mystery, and a pretty good one at that. There is nothing very surprising here for someone that has read a few mysteries in the genre, but it is well written. It’s humorous, with an entertaining cast of characters, both human and canine. The dogs don’t solve the crime, though they do both hinder and help with that, but they are certainly entertaining. I enjoyed reading it, and I may read the next in the series to see how things turn out.
November 9, 2016
This is a super cute start to a new cozy mystery series and if you know me by now, you probably know that with the pups on the cover, I'm sold. However, I must add that I found this to be a well written cozy mystery possessing all the elements I know and love without being redundant or boring.
Cameron Cripps-Hayman moved to Maramora, Indiana four years ago when she married Ben, a town sheriff. During the four years, she has encountered numerous problems such as an eye-rolling step-daughter, an IMPOSSIBLE mother-in-law, but none have presented the hurdle that finding a dead body in the canal one day while eating lunch has. And if that isn't enough, her husband, whom she separated from six months ago was dating the deceased so both he and Cam become prime suspects.
The dogs in this book are a rather ragtag group. Perhaps because she is one of the prime suspects, Cam feels the need to rescue the dogs of the deceased and opens her house to them. One is mean and cranky, one is huge, one is vicious and two don't have names - although by the end of the book they are called Thing One and Thing Two. Plus, one is still missing and may hold the secret to what really happened the night of the murder. Cam and a group of individuals who are trying to help he revitalize the town (and work of their community service) form a detective group and try to locate a murderer.
Like most cozy mysteries, I loved the small town setting and the characters. For such a cozy little town, there sure are a lot of people with issues living there. Cam also gets a visit from her sister Mel and I love the familial bond and dynamic between the two of them. Cam is a flawed individual and her detective work does not fall into place like it seems to do in some cozy mysteries. For me, that just made the book that much enjoyable. The ending was satisfying and the promise of future installments, which I hope include more of Cam's newly adopted mongrels, has me curious. Definitely considering picking this book up if you like cozy mysteries and like me, love some pups!
Cameron Cripps-Hayman moved to Maramora, Indiana four years ago when she married Ben, a town sheriff. During the four years, she has encountered numerous problems such as an eye-rolling step-daughter, an IMPOSSIBLE mother-in-law, but none have presented the hurdle that finding a dead body in the canal one day while eating lunch has. And if that isn't enough, her husband, whom she separated from six months ago was dating the deceased so both he and Cam become prime suspects.
The dogs in this book are a rather ragtag group. Perhaps because she is one of the prime suspects, Cam feels the need to rescue the dogs of the deceased and opens her house to them. One is mean and cranky, one is huge, one is vicious and two don't have names - although by the end of the book they are called Thing One and Thing Two. Plus, one is still missing and may hold the secret to what really happened the night of the murder. Cam and a group of individuals who are trying to help he revitalize the town (and work of their community service) form a detective group and try to locate a murderer.
Like most cozy mysteries, I loved the small town setting and the characters. For such a cozy little town, there sure are a lot of people with issues living there. Cam also gets a visit from her sister Mel and I love the familial bond and dynamic between the two of them. Cam is a flawed individual and her detective work does not fall into place like it seems to do in some cozy mysteries. For me, that just made the book that much enjoyable. The ending was satisfying and the promise of future installments, which I hope include more of Cam's newly adopted mongrels, has me curious. Definitely considering picking this book up if you like cozy mysteries and like me, love some pups!
October 20, 2016
This book takes to Metamora county for this amusing cozy mystery.
Cameron Cripps-Hayman becomes the foster parent of several unruly dogs of a murder victim. Estranged from her husband, the Metamora police officer, she is stunned to learn that her husband was having an affair with the victim. Cam learns she is considered the killer by most of the folk living in the area. Cam is in charged of a work released program and her group includes a kleptomaniac, the area's drunk and two high schoolers. In addition, her husband's daughter is living with her and her MIL delights in causing her various problems. Her sister arrives for a visit to help her. There are numerous funny situations. The group calling themselves Metamora Action Agency sets out to clear Cam's name. Will they succeed? I am ready to read more about Metamora county. I highly recommend this book.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Midnight Ink through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book The opinions expressed are my own.
Cameron Cripps-Hayman becomes the foster parent of several unruly dogs of a murder victim. Estranged from her husband, the Metamora police officer, she is stunned to learn that her husband was having an affair with the victim. Cam learns she is considered the killer by most of the folk living in the area. Cam is in charged of a work released program and her group includes a kleptomaniac, the area's drunk and two high schoolers. In addition, her husband's daughter is living with her and her MIL delights in causing her various problems. Her sister arrives for a visit to help her. There are numerous funny situations. The group calling themselves Metamora Action Agency sets out to clear Cam's name. Will they succeed? I am ready to read more about Metamora county. I highly recommend this book.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Midnight Ink through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book The opinions expressed are my own.
November 9, 2016
Cam leaves her job in the city and moves to historic Metamora, Indiana, with Ben, her new husband and town sheriff. Estranged from him after an embarrassingly short time, as she tries to figure out what comes next, she stumbles across a body in the canal. When she and Ben are both named as suspects, Cam and her group of ragtag volunteers try to find the killer before s/he strikes again.
I love stories involving dogs, so I was excited to read this book, hoping I'd found another series to add to my ever-growing list. Unfortunately, this book failed to hold my interest. I didn't really care for, or about, any of the characters, and the mystery seemed to be going nowhere fast. I even found the dogs annoying, through no fault of their own, as they appear to be a pack of untrained animals. I won't write off this series entirely, but if the next book isn't a significant improvement, I won't be reading any more.
I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I love stories involving dogs, so I was excited to read this book, hoping I'd found another series to add to my ever-growing list. Unfortunately, this book failed to hold my interest. I didn't really care for, or about, any of the characters, and the mystery seemed to be going nowhere fast. I even found the dogs annoying, through no fault of their own, as they appear to be a pack of untrained animals. I won't write off this series entirely, but if the next book isn't a significant improvement, I won't be reading any more.
I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
September 26, 2016
In this story, middle-aged Cameron Cripps-Hayman takes in several homeless dogs when their owner is murdered. Mentoring a ragtag group of criminal misfits who name themselves the Metamora Action Agency, Cam allows them to spend their community service hours tracking down clues to the killer. Some type of pandemonium reigns continuously throughout this story. As much as I love animals, I must say these dogs weren't exactly lovable and needed major training along with TLC. There are some humorous moments I enjoyed. However, there was simply too much going on for this story to hold my attention, and not enough mystery to interest this reader.
I received a digital ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
I received a digital ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
November 18, 2016
3.5 stars
Deadly Dog Days is a cozy mystery with a lot going on behind the scenes. It starts with Cameron finding a dead body on her lunch break and gets more chaotic from there. Or maybe I should say we’re introduced to more chaos from there … because I have a feeling Cam’s life was already pretty chaotic pre-dead-body-discovery! Between turning 40 and her sore knee, her separation from her estranged husband (who may or may not have been dating the dead girl) and her mother-in-law from you-know-where, the bee infestation at her house and her cookie hoarding, not to mention her call center volunteers who are earning community service hours for various reasons, Cam is already the poster child for “frazzled”. Then, of course, she adds her teenage step-daughter, her own sister, 5 untrained dogs, and a new business to the mix. Because she clearly needed more chaos.
And oh yeah – let’s solve a murder in our free time. lol.
What I liked most:
--Cam and her narrative voice – Slightly wry, her perspective on everything going on kept the mood light in spite of the chaos.
--Cam’s call center volunteers-turned-detectives – Such a quirky bunch, this ragtag group is always good for at least a smile and usually a laugh or two.
--Metamora – The small town has its share of interesting characters, which gives the series lots of intriguing possibilities!
--Cam’s sort-of cat – Ok, don’t tell my dog Zuzu but the cat intrigued me with its mysteriousness.
--The dog treat recipes – definitely going to try some of these for Zuzu!
What I liked least:
--Ben – Cam’s estranged hubby may want to reconcile but he doesn’t seem to have a backbone and thus doesn’t defend her against his mother’s craziness or his daughter’s disrespect or much of anything really. But he wants her to drop everything and help him whenever he needs her. I’m all for reconciling marriages but she deserves better so he needs to get it together!
--The dogs – *gasp* I know. I normally love all things dog but I felt no warm fuzzies for this wild brood. They’re the dogs I would be scared of if they lived in my neighborhood lol. But they do have potential so I’m curious to see what they’ll be like as the series progresses and they maybe get some training?
Bottom Line: In Deadly Dog Days, Jamie M. Blair gives cozy mystery fans a fun new alternative. Quirky characters and a mysterious little town provide the ideal setting for future books, and a likable main character with a dry sense of humor keeps reader interest engaged. While this isn’t my favorite cozy mystery, I did enjoy it and look forward to more from this series and these characters.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.)
See my review at Reading Is My SuperPower
Deadly Dog Days is a cozy mystery with a lot going on behind the scenes. It starts with Cameron finding a dead body on her lunch break and gets more chaotic from there. Or maybe I should say we’re introduced to more chaos from there … because I have a feeling Cam’s life was already pretty chaotic pre-dead-body-discovery! Between turning 40 and her sore knee, her separation from her estranged husband (who may or may not have been dating the dead girl) and her mother-in-law from you-know-where, the bee infestation at her house and her cookie hoarding, not to mention her call center volunteers who are earning community service hours for various reasons, Cam is already the poster child for “frazzled”. Then, of course, she adds her teenage step-daughter, her own sister, 5 untrained dogs, and a new business to the mix. Because she clearly needed more chaos.
And oh yeah – let’s solve a murder in our free time. lol.
What I liked most:
--Cam and her narrative voice – Slightly wry, her perspective on everything going on kept the mood light in spite of the chaos.
--Cam’s call center volunteers-turned-detectives – Such a quirky bunch, this ragtag group is always good for at least a smile and usually a laugh or two.
--Metamora – The small town has its share of interesting characters, which gives the series lots of intriguing possibilities!
--Cam’s sort-of cat – Ok, don’t tell my dog Zuzu but the cat intrigued me with its mysteriousness.
--The dog treat recipes – definitely going to try some of these for Zuzu!
What I liked least:
--Ben – Cam’s estranged hubby may want to reconcile but he doesn’t seem to have a backbone and thus doesn’t defend her against his mother’s craziness or his daughter’s disrespect or much of anything really. But he wants her to drop everything and help him whenever he needs her. I’m all for reconciling marriages but she deserves better so he needs to get it together!
--The dogs – *gasp* I know. I normally love all things dog but I felt no warm fuzzies for this wild brood. They’re the dogs I would be scared of if they lived in my neighborhood lol. But they do have potential so I’m curious to see what they’ll be like as the series progresses and they maybe get some training?
Bottom Line: In Deadly Dog Days, Jamie M. Blair gives cozy mystery fans a fun new alternative. Quirky characters and a mysterious little town provide the ideal setting for future books, and a likable main character with a dry sense of humor keeps reader interest engaged. While this isn’t my favorite cozy mystery, I did enjoy it and look forward to more from this series and these characters.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.)
See my review at Reading Is My SuperPower
November 18, 2016
In Deadly Dog Days, the first book in the Dog Days Mystery Series, author Jamie M. Blair weaves an intriguing cozy mystery tale that follows the amateur sleuth adventures of Cameron Cripps-Hayman when she finds herself a suspect in the death of local resident Jenn Berg.
Set in the dying historic tourist town of Metamora, Indiana, Cameron Cripps-Hayman is still trying to find her place in the community, but it has put a strain on her marriage to Sheriff Ben Hayman. After four years of marriage Cameron and Ben separate, and Cameron is left trying to pick up the pieces and move forward with her life. But it isn't easy to move forward when Cameron unexpectedly stumbles upon the dead body of local resident Jenn Berg in the town's canal, and suddenly finds herself a prime suspect in the murder because it has been rumored that Ben has been seeing Jenn. And to make matters worse, Cameron is at odds with her controlling mother-in-law from hell Irene, while also having to deal with her sister Monica and her step-daughter Mia. And if that isn't enough, Cameron adopts the dead woman's five ill-behaved dogs! With the help of a motley group of community service volunteers calling themselves The Metamora Action Agency, Cameron is determined to find the real killer and clear her name.
Deadly Dog Days is a captivating and fast-paced whodunit tale that has enough quirky characters, witty banter and humor, drama, danger, and intriguing twists and turns that will keep you guessing the identity of the murderer. You can't help but get caught up in the drama, calamity and mayhem that ensues as Cameron and her motley crew of call center co-workers and five lovable dogs try to solve the murder and clear her name. Cameron's amateur investigative adventure unfolds with a wonderful balance of comedy, drama, and suspense that easily kept me guessing, and left me wanting more. I can't wait to read the next book in this delightful new cozy mystery series!
I would be remiss if I didn't mention how much I liked the the dog treat recipes that were included. I am going to have to make them for my three fur babies (two Bichon Frises and one crazy Chocolate Lab)!
Deadly Dog Days is an entertaining cozy murder mystery that will easily engage you to join Cameron and her lovable dogs in her amateur investigative adventure!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
Set in the dying historic tourist town of Metamora, Indiana, Cameron Cripps-Hayman is still trying to find her place in the community, but it has put a strain on her marriage to Sheriff Ben Hayman. After four years of marriage Cameron and Ben separate, and Cameron is left trying to pick up the pieces and move forward with her life. But it isn't easy to move forward when Cameron unexpectedly stumbles upon the dead body of local resident Jenn Berg in the town's canal, and suddenly finds herself a prime suspect in the murder because it has been rumored that Ben has been seeing Jenn. And to make matters worse, Cameron is at odds with her controlling mother-in-law from hell Irene, while also having to deal with her sister Monica and her step-daughter Mia. And if that isn't enough, Cameron adopts the dead woman's five ill-behaved dogs! With the help of a motley group of community service volunteers calling themselves The Metamora Action Agency, Cameron is determined to find the real killer and clear her name.
Deadly Dog Days is a captivating and fast-paced whodunit tale that has enough quirky characters, witty banter and humor, drama, danger, and intriguing twists and turns that will keep you guessing the identity of the murderer. You can't help but get caught up in the drama, calamity and mayhem that ensues as Cameron and her motley crew of call center co-workers and five lovable dogs try to solve the murder and clear her name. Cameron's amateur investigative adventure unfolds with a wonderful balance of comedy, drama, and suspense that easily kept me guessing, and left me wanting more. I can't wait to read the next book in this delightful new cozy mystery series!
I would be remiss if I didn't mention how much I liked the the dog treat recipes that were included. I am going to have to make them for my three fur babies (two Bichon Frises and one crazy Chocolate Lab)!
Deadly Dog Days is an entertaining cozy murder mystery that will easily engage you to join Cameron and her lovable dogs in her amateur investigative adventure!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
June 13, 2016
Deadly Dog Days by Jaime M. Blair is a cute story about a woman who finds a dead body in a canal and then rumor in the town is that she is the one who murdered her. She finds out why the rumor is going around is that her estranged husband went out with the deceased a couple of times. She sets out to clear her name and takes in the dead woman's five dogs while she is at it. Meanwhile, her mother-in-law from hell is at war with her and she is fighting back, her husband is trying to get back with her, her step daughter is in town for a visit, and then she finds yet another body. The characters are interesting but I didn't find the main character very likable in the beginning, it took a while to warm up to her, maybe at the end of the book! She seemed to care for the dogs more than the step child. Our main character also seemed to have more flaws then redeeming factors at times and but maybe it was me. The mystery was cute and plotted well. Pace was slow but steady. I received this book for a honest review.
August 7, 2016
Cameron Cripps-Hayman and her husband, Ben move
to his hometown in historic town of Metamora, Indiana.
Cameron is trying to adjust to the move and a rigid ruled
town.
She and Ben end up separated. Her mother-in-law tries to
irk Cameron about the least little thing. Ben’s daughter
arrives in town to stay them.
To complicate matters, Cameron finds a dead body down
in the canal. The Police Chief perceives Cameron to be his
prime suspect as there is a rumor circulating around town
that her estranged husband was dating the dead woman.
This was the first Cameron had heard this story. Things
keep escalating when Cameron adopts the deceased’s five
dogs.
Taking things under control, Cameron sets out to solve the
murder before she ends up in jail. You will meet the quirky,
fun and engaging community service volunteers, her sister
and town folk that get involved.
This book blends mystery, action and humor for a quick
interesting read.
Thank you to Net Gallery and for this eBook. My
opinion is my own.
to his hometown in historic town of Metamora, Indiana.
Cameron is trying to adjust to the move and a rigid ruled
town.
She and Ben end up separated. Her mother-in-law tries to
irk Cameron about the least little thing. Ben’s daughter
arrives in town to stay them.
To complicate matters, Cameron finds a dead body down
in the canal. The Police Chief perceives Cameron to be his
prime suspect as there is a rumor circulating around town
that her estranged husband was dating the dead woman.
This was the first Cameron had heard this story. Things
keep escalating when Cameron adopts the deceased’s five
dogs.
Taking things under control, Cameron sets out to solve the
murder before she ends up in jail. You will meet the quirky,
fun and engaging community service volunteers, her sister
and town folk that get involved.
This book blends mystery, action and humor for a quick
interesting read.
Thank you to Net Gallery and for this eBook. My
opinion is my own.
September 26, 2016
I am new to this author but I found Deadly Dog Days to be a very interesting anf colorful cozy mystery.
The story is set in Metamora, Indiana, and Cameron Cripps-Hayman is the lovable main character in this delightful story.
She made Metamora her home when she married local sheriff Ben Hayman. Sadly, her marriage is in disarray, and when she finds a body floating in a canal, she has no idea just how out of control her life will become.
Cam and her husband are separated, and when she finds out that he has been spending time with the murder victim, tongues wag and she is at the top of the suspect list.
Teaming up with her sister and her eccentric co-workers who dub themselves The Metamora Action Agency, they soon set out to clear her name.
This story had some quirky characters who made the story fun to read.
The writer created a believable scenario when she wrote this story and I can't wait to read more!
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my fair and honest review.
The story is set in Metamora, Indiana, and Cameron Cripps-Hayman is the lovable main character in this delightful story.
She made Metamora her home when she married local sheriff Ben Hayman. Sadly, her marriage is in disarray, and when she finds a body floating in a canal, she has no idea just how out of control her life will become.
Cam and her husband are separated, and when she finds out that he has been spending time with the murder victim, tongues wag and she is at the top of the suspect list.
Teaming up with her sister and her eccentric co-workers who dub themselves The Metamora Action Agency, they soon set out to clear her name.
This story had some quirky characters who made the story fun to read.
The writer created a believable scenario when she wrote this story and I can't wait to read more!
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my fair and honest review.
September 24, 2016
Cameron is still fairly new to the town of Metamora. It is the hometown of her husband, Ben. They have been separated for about 6 months. When Cam stumbles upon a dead body in the canal she is accused of being the murderer because Ben has been seen out with the woman. To add to her troubles, she is at war with her mother in law, has Ben's daughter to deal with and adopts the dead woman's dogs. Cam and her band of misfits have to put their heads together to find out who did the woman in.
This was a fairly good cozy mystery. It doesn't have the typical love triangle, but it does keep you guessing as to who is guilty. It also includes some recipes for homemade dog treats for your own furry friend.
I was given an advanced eARC by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fairly good cozy mystery. It doesn't have the typical love triangle, but it does keep you guessing as to who is guilty. It also includes some recipes for homemade dog treats for your own furry friend.
I was given an advanced eARC by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 11, 2017
The author's note says that she loved the TV series "Northern Exposure" and enjoyed visiting the quaint canal town of Metamora, IN. She wanted to create a group of characters and interactions much like Northern Exposure, but in this small town instead of Cicely. Having watched the show and been to Metamora, I honestly can't rate this as a success.
Stilted writing, overly cutesy cardboard characters and a trite plot ended up feeling like an injustice was done both to the show and the town!
Stilted writing, overly cutesy cardboard characters and a trite plot ended up feeling like an injustice was done both to the show and the town!
October 26, 2020
I received a free audiobook copy of this book from Tantor Audio and voluntarily reviewed it.
Deadly Dog Days is a fun cozy mystery featuring plenty of dogs, like the title promises. I liked the sound of the concept and was happy I got to listen to the audiobook version of this one. The narrator did a great job. While the story wasn't as compelling and engaging as I had hoped, I still had fun listening to this one
Deadly Dog Days starts with main character Cameron enjoying her lunch until she finds the body of a dead women in the canal. She ends up becoming one of the main suspects and is determined to find out who killed her. The runs a volunteer phone bank and transforms her group of people who do community service hours and help her into the Metamora action agency who not only help put the town on the map again, but also catch the murderer.
I liked the idea of the book and it had plenty of good parts, but to me it also felt kinda slow. There is a lot of focus on the daily life of the characters and side characters and while the mystery and the topic of murder was a big part of it, at times I felt like the mystery didn't progress as much. There aren't any big clues at the start and no suspects that really stand out or who get cleared. There is quite the interesting reveal at end, but I would've liked a bit more build-up and hints in that direction as it lacked a bit of impact to me. And I would've liked just a bit more focus on the mystery as I was more interested in the mystery than the big amount of minor plot lines surrounding the characters daily lives. For me it was hard at times to keep all the pieces together about the mystery and there were so few real pieces of evidence till later in the book that it didn't really feel like progress until then.
Cameron was a decent enough main character, but at first I struggled to really get a feel for her. I didn't really get why she did the things she did and only till the later half of the book did I feel like I got a feel for her personality. I kept wondering why she and husband were estranged as it seemed she still had feelings for him and it felt like I was missing a piece, but it was one of those bits of info that don't get mentioned till late in the book. I liked the glimpses into her character we got later as it made me understand her character a bit more. And I liked how she was trying to find her place in town and help the town out.
The side characters didn't really click for me at first. Monica was a tad overbearing, controlling and annoying. Mia didn't seem likable. Ben wanted to tell Carmen what to do. The action agency people seemed to go from helpful to too helpful or a bit too involved in Carmen's live at times. The dogs were an untrained mess and I didn't feel their connection to Carmen or get a feel for their personalities. It was hard to really warm up to anyone, but it all got better as the book progressed. Monica turned more into a close sister to Carmen. Mia showed some emotions and put a bit of effort into her relationship with Carmen. It was obvious Ben still cared about Carmen and worried about her. The action agency's huddling around Carmen felt more touching than annoying. And the dogs got more their own personalities.
There are a lot of side characters, from friends and family to possible suspects and other town inhabitants and at times I struggled remembering who was who and what their role was in the story.
There is an interesting set-up for plot lines that I think will progress throughout the series. The town is in bad shape and not enough tourists and visitors are coming in. This was an interesting set-up and I liked seeing what the events in this book contribute to this. Then there are some side characters whose lives change and develop and some decisions that are made and I think we'll see more of in future books. I liked series that have a set-up like that as it's a nice way to tie the books together and have an overarching plot line.
I am happy I picked this one up in audiobook format. The narrator did a great job and I liked how she did the voices for the characters. I had trouble recognizing who some of the characters were and remembering their names and at times the voices the narrator did made me remember who a character was. I liked her voices for the different characters and the book was pleasant to listen to.
To summarize: This was a fun cozy mystery. The focus is more on the character's daily life than the mystery, but the murder is a big part of their lives. The mystery was a decent one and there was a nice twits, but I wasn't as invested in solving it as I had wanted to be. I felt like there wasn't as much progress in the first part of the story and not as many clues to progress the mystery. It took me some time to warm up to Carmen and the side characters. Only later in the book I felt like I got a bit of a feel for Carmen. And the side characters started off as not as likable and only later I warmed up a bit to them. There are a lot of side characters, which made it difficult at times to remember who was who. The narrator did a great job with this one, I enjoyed listening to this audiobook. I liked her different voices for the characters and thought her voices fit the characters well.
Deadly Dog Days is a fun cozy mystery featuring plenty of dogs, like the title promises. I liked the sound of the concept and was happy I got to listen to the audiobook version of this one. The narrator did a great job. While the story wasn't as compelling and engaging as I had hoped, I still had fun listening to this one
Deadly Dog Days starts with main character Cameron enjoying her lunch until she finds the body of a dead women in the canal. She ends up becoming one of the main suspects and is determined to find out who killed her. The runs a volunteer phone bank and transforms her group of people who do community service hours and help her into the Metamora action agency who not only help put the town on the map again, but also catch the murderer.
I liked the idea of the book and it had plenty of good parts, but to me it also felt kinda slow. There is a lot of focus on the daily life of the characters and side characters and while the mystery and the topic of murder was a big part of it, at times I felt like the mystery didn't progress as much. There aren't any big clues at the start and no suspects that really stand out or who get cleared. There is quite the interesting reveal at end, but I would've liked a bit more build-up and hints in that direction as it lacked a bit of impact to me. And I would've liked just a bit more focus on the mystery as I was more interested in the mystery than the big amount of minor plot lines surrounding the characters daily lives. For me it was hard at times to keep all the pieces together about the mystery and there were so few real pieces of evidence till later in the book that it didn't really feel like progress until then.
Cameron was a decent enough main character, but at first I struggled to really get a feel for her. I didn't really get why she did the things she did and only till the later half of the book did I feel like I got a feel for her personality. I kept wondering why she and husband were estranged as it seemed she still had feelings for him and it felt like I was missing a piece, but it was one of those bits of info that don't get mentioned till late in the book. I liked the glimpses into her character we got later as it made me understand her character a bit more. And I liked how she was trying to find her place in town and help the town out.
The side characters didn't really click for me at first. Monica was a tad overbearing, controlling and annoying. Mia didn't seem likable. Ben wanted to tell Carmen what to do. The action agency people seemed to go from helpful to too helpful or a bit too involved in Carmen's live at times. The dogs were an untrained mess and I didn't feel their connection to Carmen or get a feel for their personalities. It was hard to really warm up to anyone, but it all got better as the book progressed. Monica turned more into a close sister to Carmen. Mia showed some emotions and put a bit of effort into her relationship with Carmen. It was obvious Ben still cared about Carmen and worried about her. The action agency's huddling around Carmen felt more touching than annoying. And the dogs got more their own personalities.
There are a lot of side characters, from friends and family to possible suspects and other town inhabitants and at times I struggled remembering who was who and what their role was in the story.
There is an interesting set-up for plot lines that I think will progress throughout the series. The town is in bad shape and not enough tourists and visitors are coming in. This was an interesting set-up and I liked seeing what the events in this book contribute to this. Then there are some side characters whose lives change and develop and some decisions that are made and I think we'll see more of in future books. I liked series that have a set-up like that as it's a nice way to tie the books together and have an overarching plot line.
I am happy I picked this one up in audiobook format. The narrator did a great job and I liked how she did the voices for the characters. I had trouble recognizing who some of the characters were and remembering their names and at times the voices the narrator did made me remember who a character was. I liked her voices for the different characters and the book was pleasant to listen to.
To summarize: This was a fun cozy mystery. The focus is more on the character's daily life than the mystery, but the murder is a big part of their lives. The mystery was a decent one and there was a nice twits, but I wasn't as invested in solving it as I had wanted to be. I felt like there wasn't as much progress in the first part of the story and not as many clues to progress the mystery. It took me some time to warm up to Carmen and the side characters. Only later in the book I felt like I got a bit of a feel for Carmen. And the side characters started off as not as likable and only later I warmed up a bit to them. There are a lot of side characters, which made it difficult at times to remember who was who. The narrator did a great job with this one, I enjoyed listening to this audiobook. I liked her different voices for the characters and thought her voices fit the characters well.
April 25, 2020
Cam's having a hard time fitting into the new town to which her (now estranged) husband's mother enticed them with the offer of the old family home. She's working with a group of people trying to fill their volunteer/community hours as a well to become more a part of the township. Cam has made a couple of friends and is on the way to finally belonging when she finds a dead woman and is accused of her murder.
As a person, Cam is good-hearted - she 's helping her community by setting up a programme for those who need to fulfil societal commitments and doing it as a volunteer herself. As a detective, Cam is timid and allows her rambunctious group to do most of the questioning. She feels like a delegator to me - someone who knows someone who can get the job done. For the most part, I liked her character, especially after she took in dogs that no one else seemed to be stepping up to take.
I am not as attached to some of the people around her. Her husband sounds as though he's not supportive nor is he empathetic. Her step-daughter, for the most part, is a spoilt brat. Her volunteers seem to be unappreciative (mainly the ones serving community service). And her mother-in-law is a complete nightmare.
The mystery felt a little random. It didn't feel like all the clues were made available at the right time. The motive felt a touch thin, too.
Putting everything together, I liked this introduction to the series - enough that I'm heading on to the next book to see how things work out for Cam.
As a person, Cam is good-hearted - she 's helping her community by setting up a programme for those who need to fulfil societal commitments and doing it as a volunteer herself. As a detective, Cam is timid and allows her rambunctious group to do most of the questioning. She feels like a delegator to me - someone who knows someone who can get the job done. For the most part, I liked her character, especially after she took in dogs that no one else seemed to be stepping up to take.
I am not as attached to some of the people around her. Her husband sounds as though he's not supportive nor is he empathetic. Her step-daughter, for the most part, is a spoilt brat. Her volunteers seem to be unappreciative (mainly the ones serving community service). And her mother-in-law is a complete nightmare.
The mystery felt a little random. It didn't feel like all the clues were made available at the right time. The motive felt a touch thin, too.
Putting everything together, I liked this introduction to the series - enough that I'm heading on to the next book to see how things work out for Cam.
Read
June 19, 2020Deadly Dog Days is the debut of the Dog Days Mystery series set in the small canal town of Metamora, Indiana and featuring Cameron Cripps-Hayman. Having giving up a decent job four years ago to move with her police officer husband, Ben back to his hometown and into his dilapidated family home, Cameron now finds herself separated and battling his mother in law to stay in the house.
A quiet lunch on the banks of the canal watching the town mascot, a duck named Metamora Mike, turns deadly when Cameron discovers a body submerged in the water. Jenn Berg was in her mid twenties, working as a gatekeeper for the wealthy Carl Finch, and was well known for her rescued dogs. Much to Cameron's surprise, she was also apparently seeing Ben. It's no surprise when Sheriff Reins immediately puts both Cameron and Ben on the top of the suspect list, but Cameron knows that not only is she innocent of murder but so is Ben.
Teaming up with the members of her phone bank and her visiting sister Monica, Cameron forms the Metamora Action Agency and the group sets out to track down a killer. A perfect, lazy Summer afternoon read filled with a quirky cast of characters, a band of misfit dogs and a mysterious cat.
A quiet lunch on the banks of the canal watching the town mascot, a duck named Metamora Mike, turns deadly when Cameron discovers a body submerged in the water. Jenn Berg was in her mid twenties, working as a gatekeeper for the wealthy Carl Finch, and was well known for her rescued dogs. Much to Cameron's surprise, she was also apparently seeing Ben. It's no surprise when Sheriff Reins immediately puts both Cameron and Ben on the top of the suspect list, but Cameron knows that not only is she innocent of murder but so is Ben.
Teaming up with the members of her phone bank and her visiting sister Monica, Cameron forms the Metamora Action Agency and the group sets out to track down a killer. A perfect, lazy Summer afternoon read filled with a quirky cast of characters, a band of misfit dogs and a mysterious cat.
September 21, 2022
Super cosy mystery, I didn't love our main character, if I see another in the series I will likely give it a try. It's a little corny and silly but...there are dogs and they are sweet.
Isobel
Brutus
Thing 1 and Thing 2
Gus
Liam
My hands are tied.
Isobel
Brutus
Thing 1 and Thing 2
Gus
Liam
My hands are tied.
May 25, 2019
I started this book weeks ago and just now finished it, not due to lack of trying. I love mystery, suspense, crime, who dunnit books, and this one was no different. I love cam and her insatiable desire to do what's right, despite everyone telling her not to 😂😂😂. Mia and her eye rolling, was a whoot,I loved the relationship between Mia and cam, the way it started and how it was in the ending, awesome. Now, what I'm wondering is, when is Ben and cam getting back together?? I'm starting the second book, canal days calamity in moments, I'll find out then.
February 2, 2021
Cam(Cameron) found a dead body Jenn in the creek. Was her estranged Ben husband really having affair with the girl who got murdered. Cam is still living in her soon to be ex_husband living quarter really his mother Irene. Cam finds out the dead girl Jenn had 5 dogs. So Cam decided to keep them But Cam mother in law does not want to dogs living there. With the help of her friends and family can Cam find out her murdered the young 21year old. I really enjoyed this book. I defiantly will read next one
April 5, 2021
Good first book in the series. The story flowed well and the characters were interesting although I felt like they were all just thrown at you, not too much introduction for her Action Agency. I look forward to the next one in the series.
July 17, 2020
Cozy mystery includes dogs!
November 27, 2017
For complete review check out my blog at https://booksaplentybookreviews.blogs...
November 8, 2020
Cameron stumbles across a dead body and her husband is the lead suspect. They are separated right now so this doesn't look good for her marriage. She is also dealing with a mother-in-law who keeps taking things out of her house. There are lots of kooky characters in this town. Cameron works with people who are required to perform community service and the make themselves into The Metamora Action Agency. The town is delightful and the killer is well hidden until the end.
August 10, 2020
Totally enjoyed the about 40 year old heroine who even though she'd suspected of murder goes to rescue the victim's dogs, help her sister start a business , deal with family problems and solves the murder.
March 11, 2020
Cameron Cripps-Harman is having a rough time. She's separated from her husband and feels isolated in Metamora, his hometown. Adding to the pressure is her disagreeable mother-in-Law and her approaching 40th birthday. Lucky that she has a stash of cookies to ease the pain. Poor Cam! She doesn't know that her life is going to get even worse when she finds a body in the canal. Jenn Berg has been murdered. Rumor has it that Ben, her estranged husband, was dating her. Now the town thinks she's a murderer. She won't take this. She'll find who killed Jenn. I liked her spunk. Cam is a fighter. With her group of misfit helpers, she's on the case. I had to laugh at how she ended up with her doggie posse. I wouldn't have had the courage to take these rambunctious dogs on. I was rooting for Cam to triumph. I hoped that she and Ben would solve their problems. I loved this fast paced cozy mystery. It's filled with interesting and quirky characters as well as nonstop action. Jaime Blair kept me entertained. I plan to see what else is in store for Cameron by reading the next book in this series.
February 5, 2017
When a woman is found dead in a canal, the walker who discovered her isn't the most likely suspect for her murder, but she finds herself under suspicion anyway. Partly because she's agreed to adopt the five large dogs belonging to the deceased, to save them. Isn't that a sign of guilty conscience? The setting is the historic town of Metamora, Indiana, which is quiet and doesn't have much of a police department.
The tone of the book struck me as serious, but it's a lighter mystery, not a police procedural. I found it hard to get to grips with all the relationships in the story. Everyone was married to or divorced from or dating everyone else and the girl our heroine treats as a daughter is her ex husband's daughter from his previous marriage. If you live in America this may feel normal. I felt the author might have been aiming for the integrated spread of characters in the Meg Langslow books, Murder With Peacocks etc. by Donna Andrews, but those are written for laughs and the relationships are all kept really clear.
Dog lovers will enjoy the dog aspect and not all the dogs are friendly. Well, their owner has just been killed. To charm them, our heroine is thoughtful enough to bake dog cookies from healthy ingredients; recipes are in the back of the book.
I downloaded a copy from Net Galley and this is an unbiased review.
The tone of the book struck me as serious, but it's a lighter mystery, not a police procedural. I found it hard to get to grips with all the relationships in the story. Everyone was married to or divorced from or dating everyone else and the girl our heroine treats as a daughter is her ex husband's daughter from his previous marriage. If you live in America this may feel normal. I felt the author might have been aiming for the integrated spread of characters in the Meg Langslow books, Murder With Peacocks etc. by Donna Andrews, but those are written for laughs and the relationships are all kept really clear.
Dog lovers will enjoy the dog aspect and not all the dogs are friendly. Well, their owner has just been killed. To charm them, our heroine is thoughtful enough to bake dog cookies from healthy ingredients; recipes are in the back of the book.
I downloaded a copy from Net Galley and this is an unbiased review.
October 30, 2016
2.5 stars
I found this kinda 'meh'. It wasn't bad, but it was a pretty generic cozy mystery. Pacing was fine. The plot was ok. The characters were mostly alright (some were super annoying, though. I was kinda hoping the daughter would go back home to her mother). But that's really it. It was just...ok. Nothing about it was terribly gripping or kept me invested in the characters. If you like cozy mysteries and think the plot sounds interesting, then ok, give this one a go. But I really don't have any enthusiasm for it, thus can't really recommend it. One thing, though, if you go into it thinking it's in that niche 'dog lover' sub-genre of cozy mysteries, I think you'll be disappointed. The dogs are in the plot, but they don't really play a role in the narrative.
**I received this copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
I found this kinda 'meh'. It wasn't bad, but it was a pretty generic cozy mystery. Pacing was fine. The plot was ok. The characters were mostly alright (some were super annoying, though. I was kinda hoping the daughter would go back home to her mother). But that's really it. It was just...ok. Nothing about it was terribly gripping or kept me invested in the characters. If you like cozy mysteries and think the plot sounds interesting, then ok, give this one a go. But I really don't have any enthusiasm for it, thus can't really recommend it. One thing, though, if you go into it thinking it's in that niche 'dog lover' sub-genre of cozy mysteries, I think you'll be disappointed. The dogs are in the plot, but they don't really play a role in the narrative.
**I received this copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
August 11, 2016
3.5 stars - I enjoy cozy mysteries, and this one was a step above the average cozy. (One thing I specifically liked is there wasn't a stupid love triangle!) Cameron is trying to find her own identity as a newcomer in a small town when she discovers a murder victim - and learns that she may have a motive as the killer. The situations were entertaining and the book has some fun and quirky supporting characters.
Thanks to netgalley for the review copy!
Thanks to netgalley for the review copy!
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