A Tail of Two Murders

Dog Lover's Mystery #1

by Melissa Cleary

Introducing Jackie Walsh and her crime-solving shepherd, Jake. When a beautiful Alsatian shepherd shows up in her backyard--with a bullet wound in his leg--Jackie has no intention of keeping him, despite her son's pleas. And soon the matter of the dog takes second place to her investigation of a murder at the university.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy, Cozy Mystery, Dogs

179 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1992

Reviews

[Regan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute cozy. Even though it came out in 1992 -- 30 years ago -- the scenes on campus were applicable even today. You have to like Jackie if for no other reason than she rescues an injured dog, Jake.

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking for murder mysteries with dogs, and even though there wasn’t much dog in this mystery I enjoyed reading it so much I tracked down and bought the next four books in the series. The young son Peter was spirited in a believable and not cute or obnoxious way and bonded with the dog Jake, and the mom Jackie was freshly back in academia after time away and trying to deal with a film studies dept (a minor detail, but I really liked that it wasn’t set in an English dept. like most other books in an academic setting) and being a single mom. I just enjoyed reading about them, although it was published in the 90s and the predatory/entitled men and their condescension towards women were more than a little annoying.

[Shan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's really quite enjoyable! I have never read anything from the author before and was hooked immediately - went to the bookstore and got the rest of the series as soon as I finished this one. Not so complicated plot but all characters are light and vivid and likable (even the bad guys)!

[Suzanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay for a quick mystery read featuring a dog!

[Karen-Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a series that I have read several times before. First I read it and gave all the books to a neighbour who read them and gave them away so after a year or two I bought them all again and reread them. That time I gave them to my vet and then forgot who I gave them to until after I bought them for a third time. Somehow I had the impression that the reason I gave them away was they were not good enough to keep and then I would get curious and be reading dog mysteries and being a completist of sorts I would want to read this series and well that is the picture. It has been a good ten years since I last read this series and having just finished book one found it surprisingly good. I am looking forward to the next bunch. Each time one rereads a book one brings something different to the experience. I am older, I have read other things since, I know more and am in a different place in my life which gives reading this book an entirely different feel and pleasure.

Introducing Jackie Walsh and her crime-solving shepherd, Jake. When a beautiful Alsatian shepherd shows up in her backyard--with a bullet wound in his leg--Jackie has no intention of keeping him, despite her son's pleas. And soon the matter of the dog takes second place to her investigation of a murder at the university.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

First up is Melissa Cleary's A Tail of Two Murders, the first in a longer series featuring film teacher Jackie Walsh, her son Peter, and the dog that soon becomes theirs, an older Shepherd named Jake. The basic plot to this one was simple: the lecherous chairman of their department is murdered. Jackie, of course, finds him, and ends up heavily involved in solving the crime. It was a quick read, and a nice mystery. There are many possibilities for who murdered the man in question and in the end, I was surprised to find out who really did it.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a big fan of mystery series that are centered around animals, but this one was quite enjoyable. I think because the dog involved was incidental to the story. I enjoyed the college setting and honestly did not suspect the guilty party. It was a fun, cozy mystery.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Toesnorth's mom]

fair

[Bea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very much a product of its time but not bad. I doubt if I'll look for more in the series.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Divorced mom with one son get an ex-police dog Jake.
6 books follow their life and she solves a mystery in each one.
She teaches a film class in a university.

[Lois Hecksel · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy read...as much a romance as a mystery. The characters were lightweight and made some foolish choices.