I recently updated my Cats are Cozy entry, so thought I should give the dogs in our lives equal time. I know that cats are typically what most of us think of when we think of a “cozy animal”… to go with the white-haired sleuth, no less! Gone are those days! Now we have young sleuths who manage their professions along with their family lives. But… I’m not going to be focusing on the sleuths… rather on their dogs. So, here are the site’s authors with dog themes in their mysteries.
I will start out with the White House Pet Detectives: Tales of Crime and Mystery at the White House from a Pet’s Eye View. It is an anthology which was edited by Carole Nelson Douglas. In it, you will find stories by some of your favorite mystery authors.
There are some veterinarians and veterinary technicians who have series all of their own! Dr. Nightingale is the veterinarian in the Deirdre Quinn Nightingale Mystery Series by Lydia Adamson. And Karen Ann Wilson writes the Samantha Holt Mystery Series. While Samantha is not a full-fledged veterinarian, she is a veterinary technician.
Sparkle Abbey: Pampered Pet Mystery Series
Kristi Abbott: Gourmet Popcorn Shop Mystery Series (Sprocket is the sleuth’s Poodle)
Ellery Adams (aka Jennifer Stanley & J. B. Stanley) writes the Books by the Bay Mystery Series which features Olivia Limoges and her Standard Poodle (Captain Haviland), and a writers club… all of whom solve crimes!
Barbara Allan: Trash ‘n’ Treasures Mysteries Series
Annie’s Amish Inn Mystery Series (Beans is the sleuth’s English Bulldog)
Cynthia Baxter‘s series is the Reigning Cats & Dogs Mystery Series. The series name lets you know that this series will have puppies and dogs, galore!
Carol Lea Benjamin knows all about training dogs… and I don’t mean just her dog Dash! (Rachel Alexander Mystery Series)
Laurien Berenson writes the very popular cozy mystery series that features a Special Education teacher who participates in dog shows. (Melanie Travis Mystery Series)
Bethany Blake: Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery Series
Michael Bond‘s Monsieur Pamplemousse Mystery Series has Pommes Frites, Monsieur’s dog. With a dog named French Fries, is it any wonder that Monsieur’s business is restaurants!?!
Duffy Brown has a mutt named Bruce Willis in her Consignment Shop Mystery Series.
Rita Mae Brown fans know Tee Tucker (the Corgi) in her Mrs. Murphy Mystery Series. But a lot of us are just becoming aware of Brown’s new series about foxhunting… and could you ever “foxhunt” without the horses and hounds?
V.M. Burns: Lilly Echosby Dog Club Mystery Series – Lilly is a recently divorced CPA who is a member of a dog club in Tennessee.
Nancy Bush writes the Jane Kelly Mystery Series which not only features Jane, but her Pug, The Binkster (aka Binks and Binkster)…
Claudius, a Siberian Husky/German Shepherd mix is Annie O’Hara’s sidekick in the mystery series that is written by Ann Campbell. Annie owns an antique shop, and Claudius owns Annie’s love and devotion! (Annie O’Hara & Claudius Mystery Series)
Laura Childs writes the Tea Shop Mystery Series, which is set in Charleston, South Carolina. And of course, Thea Browning’s dog’s name is Earl Gray.
Edie Claire writes the Leigh Koslow Mystery Series. While Leigh is not a veterinarian, her father is. Every once in a while Leigh works as a tech at her dad’s office. Also, the second book features a zoo vet and setting.
The Melissa Cleary cozy mystery series is known as the Dog Lovers Mystery Series, and features Jake, with his professor Jackie Walsh.
Nancy Coco writes the Candy Coated Mystery Series, which stars Allie, and features her dog, Mal.
Waverly Curtis writes the Barking Detective Mystery Series, which features Pepe (along with his owner) who thinks of himself as “Chihuahua extraordinaire”.
And no cozy mystery book list featuring dogs would be complete without Susan Conant‘s Holly Winter Mystery Series. Holly is a writer for Dog’s Life Magazine and also a dog trainer.
Kathi Daley: Zoe Donovan Mystery Series – Zoe does her sleuthing with her dog, Charlie.
Evelyn David is a pseudonym for two authors, one with a degree in Political Science and the other with a degree in Biology. They write the Sullivan Investigations Mystery Series which features an ex-policeman and his Irish Wolfhound (Whiskey) and a divorcée mortician who sleuth together…
Rae Davies writes the Dusty Deals Mystery Series, which features an Alaskan Malamut named Kiska.
Krista Davis: Paws and Claws Mystery Series
Devon Delaney: Cook-Off Mystery Series – Sherry Oliveri-Frazzelle is a competitive cook who works part-time with her dad AND Chutney, her Jack Russell Terrier in Connecticut.
Abigail Deuel: Mandy Bell DVM Mystery Series
J. F. Englert writes the Bull Moose Dog Run Mystery Series which features a Black Labrador Retriever (who is actually the narrator of this mystery series) and his often-confused owner…
Christy Evans writes the Georgiana Neverall Mystery Series which has, as its dog-stars, Daisy and Buddha, Georgie’s two darling Airedales…
Chrystle Fiedler writes the Natural Remedies Mystery Series, who gets a dachshund, Zeke.
Susan Furlong: Bone Gap Travellers Mystery Series – Brynn is an ex-Marine with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder who returns to Tennessee with her cadaver dog, Wilco.
Patricia Guiver writes the Pet Detective Mystery Series which features Delilah Doolittle and her Doberman Pinscher, Watson, who helps her solve her cases.
Victoria Hamilton writes the Vintage Kitchen Mystery Series, which features Jaymie Leighton, a collector of vintage cookware and cookbooks, and her three-legged Yorkie Poo, Hoppy.
David Handler writes the Stewart Hoag & Lulu Mystery Series. Lulu is Stewart’s faithful Basset Hound.
Sue Henry‘s first cozy series featured Jessie Arnold, a dog sled racer in Anchorage. She now has a new series about a widow in her 60s (Maxine McNab) who travels in her RV, accompanied by her Mini Dachshund, who could only be called “Stretch!” (Maxie & Stretch Mystery Series)
Gabriella Herkert writes the Animal Instinct Mystery Series, and her second book in that series features dogs.
Marion Moore Hill pens the Scrappy Librarian Mystery Series, which has the librarian and her collie/mongrel, Rip…
Suzette A. Hill writes the Reverend Oughterard Mystery Series. Bouncer (his dog) and Maurice (his cat) enjoy the British village life, even with all of the mysteries to solve…
Richard Houston: Books to Die For Mystery Series
Linda O. Johnston writes the Pet Rescue Mystery Series which features an animal advocate who runs a pet rescue agency.
Linda O. Johnston: Superstition Mystery Series – Rory Chasen is an employee at the Lucky Dog Boutique, and Pluckie is her “helper” dog.
Lee Charles Kelley is a dog trainer (along with being an author!) who writes the Continuing Adventures of Jack & Jamie Mystery Series which happens to feature a dog trainer/dog kennel owner/ex-NYPD detective.
Diane Kelly writes the Megan Luz Mystery Series which takes place in Fort Worth. Megan is a police officer who solves cases with her K-9 partner, Brigit.
Annie Knox (aka Wendy Lyn Watson): Pet Boutique Mystery Series
Amanda Lee (aka Gayle Trent) writes the Embroidery Mystery Series. Marcy owns an embroidery shop and has her loyal companion Irish Wolfhound, Angus, join her.
Kylie Logan (aka Miranda Bliss & Casey Daniels): Jazz Ramsey Mystery Series
Dixie Lyle: Whiskey, Tango, & Foxtrot Mystery Series
Nancy Martin: Miss Ruffles Mystery Series: Miss Ruffles, a very wealthy woman’s dog, inherits the woman’s estate!
Judi McCoy writes the Dog Walker Mystery Series which features Ellie and her dog Rudy… and, lest I forget, Ellie’s ability to communicate telepathically with her charges.
Jenn McKinlay writes the Library Lover’s Mystery Series, which stars librarian Lindsey and features her dog Heathcliff.
Leslie O’Kane writes the Allie Babcock Mystery Series. Don’t all dogs deserve a dog therapist? And, Allie not only solves their problems, but she also solves mysteries!
Spencer Quinn (aka Peter Abrahams) pens the Chet and Bernie Mystery Series. This mystery series is narrator by Chet, Bernie’s loyal side-kick, ex K-9 agent. (Well, technically, he never made it to graduation.)
David Rosenfelt writes the Andy Carpenter Mystery Series, in which Andy is a defense attorney who manages a dog rescue facility – with the help of his Golden Retriever, Tara.
Dana Stabenow‘s Kate Shugak mystery series has Mutt, a half-wolf/half Husky playing second fiddle to Kate, an ex-investigator and current sleuth, in Alaska. (Kate Shugak Mystery Series)
Nancy Jill Thames writes the Jillian Bradley Mystery Series which features a gardening columnist and her Yorkie.
Maggie Toussaint writes the Cleopatra Jones Mystery Series which features a golfing-accountant-sleuth and her side-kick, Madonna (a rather huge St. Bernard)…
Diane Vallere: Mad for Mod Mystery Series – Madison Night’s Rocky (Shih Tzu)
Peggy Webb writes the Southern Cousins Mystery Series which features a Basset Hound named Elvis.
Tracy Weber writes the Downward Dog Mystery Series, which features a German Shepherd named Bella.
Nina Wright, who writes the Whiskey Mattimoe Mystery Series which features Whiskey’s Afghan Hound, Abra.
Sue Owens Wright pens the Beanie & Cruiser Mystery Series which features a Basset Hound (Cruiser) and Beanie, a freelance reporter in Lake Tahoe…
There are two authors who feature dog trackers in their mystery series: Donna Ball‘s Raine Stockton Dog Mystery Series‘ dog is a Golden Retriever named Cisco. He keeps an eye on Raine Stockton, the North Carolina ex-tracker. Virginia Lanier‘s Jo Beth Sidden Mystery Series features a Bloodhound trainer and tracker.
While I was working on this Cozy Mystery Dog Theme List, I came across some books about dogs that look like they would be a lot of fun… They are not mysteries, but with titles like they have, if you are a dog lover, you might enjoy checking them out:
Why Do Dogs Drink Out of the Toilet?: 101 of the Most Perplexing Questions Answered About Canine Conundrums, Medical Mysteries and Befuddling Behaviors, by Marty Becker & Gina Spadafori
bowWOW!: Curiously Compelling Facts, True Tales, and Trivia Even Your Dog Won’t Know, by D.V.M., Marty Becker, Gina Spadafori, & Molly Pearce (Illustrator)
Dogs For Dummies – A Reference for The Rest Of Us!, by Gina Spadafori; Foreword by Marty Becker
Let’s Dance: a Beginner’s Guide to Dancing with Your Dog by Donna Ball.
Here’s a list of Favorite Dogs in Cozy Mysteries, recommended by Cozy Mystery readers!
♦To access more Cozy Mysteries by Theme click on this link.♦
So, you say you love cats… And even more, you love your cozy mysteries with cats… Not just a cat purring at your side while you read your cozies… But a cat (or maybe two or three!) in your cozy mysteries. Then, here is a list of books that might just interest you, the cozy-cat lover…