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Dandy Detects (A Victorian San Francisco Mystery #1.5)
by
M. Louisa Locke (Goodreads Author)
In the fall of 1879, San Francisco swelters under a heat wave while Barbara Hewitt, a reserved school-teacher, uncovers a mystery with the help of her son’s dog, Dandy. This short story is set in the Victorian gas-lit world of Annie Fuller and her O’Farrell Street boarding house, which Locke wrote about in her historical mystery, Maids of Misfortune. For those of you alrea...more
ebook, Kobo Edition
Published
by M. Lousa Locke
(first published April 17th 2010)
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I'll admit I downloaded this story partly because it was a freebie, but it wasn't just the price tag that hooked me. I'm a sucker for anything set in the Victorian era. Throw in an intriguing mystery and I'm there.
Unfortunately there wasn't a very big 'whodunnit' mystery element to this book, something which I put down to its length. It's extremely hard to pack a good mystery plot as well as character growth and a sense of setting into 35 pages. That aside, I was charmed my Locke's writing style...more
Unfortunately there wasn't a very big 'whodunnit' mystery element to this book, something which I put down to its length. It's extremely hard to pack a good mystery plot as well as character growth and a sense of setting into 35 pages. That aside, I was charmed my Locke's writing style...more
In this short story, school teacher Barbara Hewlitt is assisted by her son's dog, Dandy, in solving a mystery. The lovely piano player across the street from Mrs. Fuller's boarding house has disappeared, and the husband's story just doesn't feel right.
I find that I cannot write more about the plot without spoilers and thus will suffice to say that the settings are evocative and geographically accurate (I live in the San Francisco Bay area) and Locke clearly knows her period and subject matter.
I...more
I find that I cannot write more about the plot without spoilers and thus will suffice to say that the settings are evocative and geographically accurate (I live in the San Francisco Bay area) and Locke clearly knows her period and subject matter.
I...more
I don't normally read short stories, but this was a free download for my Nook and an introduction of sorts to a series. It intrigued me, so I gave it a go. Glad I did as it was a good read. The mystery wasn't really a mystery as you could see the end coming, however, it was an enjoyable little read.
The story revolves around a teacher, Barbara Hewitt, who lives in a San Francisco boarding house with her son and small dog. Due to the hotter than usual weather, she has her attic room window open m...more
The story revolves around a teacher, Barbara Hewitt, who lives in a San Francisco boarding house with her son and small dog. Due to the hotter than usual weather, she has her attic room window open m...more
Aug 22, 2012
France-Andrée
rated it
1 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
mystery,
short-story
Really if you have seen Rear Window you don't need to read this... it is inspired by it or it is a really weird coincidence. There's the window, there's a howling (instead of yapping and digging) dog (though this time it doesn't die) and there's a place where the friends hero thinks a body is buried (like the garden in Rear Window). Well, yeah, watch Rear Window... the plot gets way better and like I said this short-story has a lot in common with it.
A short story that features one of the boarders in Annie Fuller's boarding house. Not a particularly difficult mystery, but the story allows the reader to get to know the secondary characters of the San Francisco Victorian mystery series better without un-necessarily cluttering up the plot of a full length novel. When I pick up the next book in this series, I'll know Barbara and her son Jaime that little bit better.
This is a very short story. I was thinking that Mrs Fuller the boarding house owner and clairvoyant in the story would be fun to follow and it looks like she will be in her other bookMaids of Misfortune.
Part of the Victorian San Francisco mystery series, its a cute little short story about a woman who was once abused by her husband in Kansas. She and her son relocates to a boarding house in San Francisco and she uncovers the death of her neighbor because of her dog. If you enjoy the Victorian San Francisco mystery series its worth reading.
I enjoyed the charcters, the setting and the time period. That being said I do not believe this story was served well by its length. While there is a strong premise for a good mystery, it could have used a little more space to develop. I would like to read these charcters in a longer work rather than a short story.
This little story is a quick and engaging read...especially if you like dogs. I always like nosey neighbor stories...you never know what you will find out ? It probably could have been stretched into a longer book but no need. Set in Victorian times and a dog as a key player what could be better!?
It's actually a short story, but it wasn't bad for a really quick read. I usualy prefer novels, but this was fine. I was stuck between rating it a 2.5 or a 3, but I went with the 3. If you don't care for short stories, pass this up, but if you like them, you could do worse than Dandy Detects.
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book but I was pleasantly surprised. It was well written with the right blend of historical accuracy and fiction.
It is only 44 pages long so it doesn't take long to read but the characters are still solid (with obvious background stories to them)
It is only 44 pages long so it doesn't take long to read but the characters are still solid (with obvious background stories to them)
A completely satisfying short story. If you are suffering withdrawal symptoms from M. Louisa Locke's historic San Francisco mysteries, this one will help you overcome that affliction. It concerns two sewing sisters - but what is the secret? You'll be delighted!
Mar 31, 2012
Ashley Vail
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Everyone
Recommended to Ashley by:
No Onr
Dandy Detects is a short story depicting a handful of characters from the Victorian San Francisco Mystery series. It is quite entertaining and gives you a different perspective of the series as it it told from a different character's view point than in the series.
This is a pleasant, short story. I would not consider it to be a true mystery. I found it to be very well written. I would definitely consider looking into other works from the author.
Enjoyable short story. I particularly enjoyed getting to know some of the secondary characters from Maids of Misfortune. I hope we are treated to more short stories at regular intervals.
I enjoyed this and the other short story about the Moffett sisters a good bit, perhaps even more than the actual novels themselves.
For such a short story, too much time was spent trying to develop the characters that the plot seemed almost an afterthought.
The characters in this very short novella are the same as the other books by the author. It was quick and good.
I've read the two full-length novels in this series, Maids of Misfortune and Uneasy Spirits. Though I'm not usually a fan of short stories, I really liked this one. It allows you to learn a little more about the supporting characters in the novels, in this case boarder Barbara Hewitt. I'm looking forward to reading more shorts about the rest of the characters.
I enjoyed this stand-alone short story, but I really wanted a full-length novel.
Not really a mystery. I wished it gave a little history about Jamie's parents.
Quick short story about one of the boarders in Annie's boarding house. The dog, Dandy, detects something while the mother of Jamie is worried about missing people.
very short and lacked depth. i read it in about 15 or 20 minutes.
Cute, short doggy whodunit.
recommended by Martha Johnson
Kindle/Short Story.
Good short story.
Super short freebie read
For a short story with a child's boston terrier as the title character, this was a little more macabre than I had expected. It was an enjoyable little short story though. Feels like a fun, little piece the author did while she worked on the next full book.
Nov 06, 2012
Whitebeard Books
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical-suspense-mystery
It's official now. I am a Fan of M. Louisa Locke and her series based in late 19th Century San Francisco! The characters are likable, real and consistent. The scenerios are believable and entertianing. Can't wait for the next installment!
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After being a professor of history for over 30 years, I am now retired and writing full time. My first book, Maids of Misfortune, was actually written over twenty years ago, based in part on my dissertation research on women who worked in the Far West at the end of the NIneteenth Century. However, a full time career of teaching and an active family life left me little time to do what was necessary...more
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