Skull And Dog Bones

Dog Lover's Mystery #4

by Melissa Cleary

When ex-screenwriter Ralph Perrin dies in a motel swimming pool immediately after making an appointment to see her, Rogers University film professor Jackie Walsh begins an investigation.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Animals, Fiction

202 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Victor · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't hate reading this, but I can't honestly list reasons why someone should read this. I can, however, list what I did not like about it, and that is exactly what I'm going to do.

1. Maybe I would be into this if I knew anything about old film, but I felt like it talked about old actors and actresses a bit too much. I understand why they talked about them, but I think the author could have scaled it back a little.

2. I'm fourteen and I have classmates that sound more mature when talking about their boyfriend than Jackie did. Also, it seems really unprofessional for her to be dating the detective.

3. The McGowan (I think I got that name right) really should take some anger management classes. It's not good that Jackie kept having to interfere. McGowan should not have gotten as upset as he did with most of the stuff.

4. There is no way we (the readers) could have known who committed the murder. I realize that this one is a matter of personal preference, but I see very little use in reading a mystery if you can't solve it.

5. Jake wasn't in it as much as I was expecting. I thought it was cool when Jake helped Jackie play poker, so I was looking forward to him solving the mystery. Sadly, he didn't really do anything to help solve it because he got maced. (Side note: Does anyone else think it's weird that the dog's name and the human's name are the same name basically?)

I think that's it. Hopefully that wasn't too boring to read. Ta!

[Michelle]

I am currenlty reading Skull And Dog Bones by Melissa Cleary.

Skull And Dog Bones
Melissa Cleary
Mystery
202 pages

Ex-screenwriter Ralph Perrin has said good-bye to Hollywood. Someone's spiked his bottled water and left him to die in a motel swimming pool. And now Jackie's getting involved in the murder-because one of Perrin's final acts was making an appointment to see her. To solve this case, Jackie has to take a trip to L.A.-and rely on her dog, Jake, to help her trip up a killer.

[Suzanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had such high hopes for this #4 in series…started well. It read as if whole sections were written by different writers and assembled haphazardly! Disappointed with little involvement with Jake, the dog, except to have him injured again and the rambling plot resolution too!
Also, what does this title have to do with anything in this book?

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

My rating is 2.5 - normally I love cozy mysteries, but this one left me flat. The book was very disjointed with large gaps in the story and little/no connection from chapter to chapter. Only reason it got as high as 2.5 was because I didn't guess the killer until near the end (maybe because of the huge gaps in the storyline?)

[Shan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmmmm a rather less intriguing story but also quite random- maybe cuz I’m not familiar with the film history? Does it really matter with all the political and Hollywood preaches? Feels like trying too hard on coming up with a good twist/motive but didn’t arrange it well

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jackie Walsh and her ex-police dog, Jake, solve a murder in Los Angeles. A quick read cozy with great characters and a wonderful dog.

[Karen-Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

When ex-screenwriter Ralph Perrin dies in a motel swimming pool immediately after making an appointment to see her, Rogers University film professor Jackie Walsh begins an investigation.

Ex-screenwriter Ralph Perrin has said good-bye to Hollywood. Someone's spiked his bottled water and left him to die in a motel swimming pool. And now Jackie's getting involved in the murder-because one of Perrin's final acts was making an appointment to see her. To solve this case, Jackie has to take a trip to L.A.-and rely on her dog, Jake, to help her trip up a killer.

[Rachelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the interaction between Jackie and the detectives - her boyfriend and the California police. I would not mind owning Jake as we had 2 shepherds and a mutt that was part beagle before I got married. The shepherds never solved any crimes but were very protective. Buffy, the mutt once showed how smart he was by going to a fountain and then stealing a bucket from a sandbox and bringing it to the fountain to show us he needed a drink. Thus, I know how smart dogs can be.