Sunday, August 5, 2012

Dial C For Chihuahua-Waverly Curtis

Dial C For Chihuahua


Waverly Curtis

Kensington, Oct 2 2012, $7.99

ISBN: 9780758274953



Geri Sullivan is irate rather than hurt when her husband demanded a divorce as she paid the bills while he attended graduate school; once he received his advanced degree he told her he loved his new secretary Amber. She agrees to his request as Geri wants the rat out of her life and besides she keeps Albert the independent cat (I know oxymoron). Deciding she needs a canine to feel less lonely, she goes to select a dog only a Chihuahua with big brown eyes staring at her in a take me way hooks Geri. After taking Pepe home, Geri learns her new companion speaks Spanish and some English and that she apparently is the only who understands him.



Eccentric private detective Jimmy G. hires Geri to find the missing billionaire husband of Rebecca Tyler. Geri and Pepe head to his home only to find him murdered. The widow is the suspect while Pepe is biased as he is attracted to Rebecca’s Pomeranian and the victim had many enemies. However when his pet human becomes endangered, Pepe puts aside treats and female canines to keep Geri safe.



This Barking Detective Mystery is an engaging quirky private investigative anthropomorphic thriller though talking animal sleuths have been used a lot (see the Chet and Bernie hard boiled noirs by Spencer Quinn). Though his attitude is similar to Midnight Louie (by Carole Nelson Douglas) Pepe still brings freshness to the sub-genre with his passion for females, food and his feisty partner. Canine detective fans will enjoy his first bite at crime solving.



Harriet Klausner

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