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Creature Cozies
A clever cast of crime-solving canines and felines highlights eleven mysteries, written by such noted mystery authors as J. A. Jance, Jan Burke, and Ed Gorman, that are accompanied by photographs of the authors and their pets. Reprint.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 27, 2019
Mystery, Thriller and True Crime writers were invited to write a 'cozy' featuring their pets. The definition of 'cozy' is most definitely stretched in some selections and are darker, more explicit or rough than your typical cozy.
I enjoyed most of them and some enough that I have noted the author for future reading.
I enjoyed most of them and some enough that I have noted the author for future reading.
April 10, 2020
2.5 stars - Meh not great. It’s a lot of short stories, that must have at some point included photos but mine copy did not. There’s a few interesting stories but most were rather dull or very slow for short stories.
April 16, 2026
This was an ok read for me. Most of the authors I have never read before.
November 3, 2012
Junior Partner in Crime-This story was about a cat who became a stray. One day, while he was out looking for food, he came across a house, where an elderly woman was being abused. The cat got the mail carrier's attention, and one day the people abusing the elderly woman got caught. The cat ended up in a shelter, where he was eventually adopted and became a double for a movie.
Highest, Best Use-An elderly woman owns two golden retrievers. She likes to take them out for exercise on the beach behind her house. While swimming in the water, the dogs bring back a purse they discovered. It has a passport, and a large amount of money inside. After discovering who it belongs to, Maddy calls the home of the woman, but the husband says she isn't home. He comes over to retrieve the purse, and Maddy expects a thank-you note, but receives none. After sort of reporting a missing person to the police, someone burns down her house, nearly killing her in the process. After the incident, Maddy believes that the man killed his wife.
Diamond Dog-There was a very large dog, who got adopted as a birthday gift for a detective. The day after his birthday, he got called out on a case, because a man was murdered and another detective was arrested for it. The man who was murdered was trying to buy the very large dog, Beau, for some reason, and was very irate about it. I don't remember much about this story, but the murder ties in with one that happened many years ago, and the killer recognized Beau.
Scratch That One-A woman owns inherited an antique store from her great-aunts, and she brought along her cat to keep her company while she worked. One day, the cat breaks a mirror and peels the backing off, revealing a picture taken many years ago, right before the attack on Pearl Harbor. The woman is determined to find the whereabouts of the girl and her possible parents. Eventually she finds out the girl in the photo was adopted and never found out who her real mother was. It wasn't until the cat ran away that the woman who turned out to be the girl in the photo, turned up and learned the truth about her past.
Had He but Known-This story was confusing because of how it was written, but I'll try my best. This cat lives in a bar in which no women are allowed. There is a gentleman who is wanted all over the county, and he just recently killed someone else in the alley out back...or so he thought. The cat knows something is up, and apparently distracts the crook long enough for him to be caught and killed. The person was a man in woman's clothing, and he made it look like his throat was slit. The "woman" then hid behind some barrels, and ended up shooting the crook. Then the cat left to go his own way.
Crystal's Big Night-This story takes place back in WWII. There are people who live in an apartment building, and they all know one another. A woman turns up murdered, and her brother is determined to find out who killed her. Some of the neighbors keep secrets.
Edelweiss-There are two high school girls who plot to kill people whom they think deserve it. One of the people they want to kill is their neighbor who owns a cat. When the two girls plan to kill the neighbor, the plan backfires because of the cat. It turns out the neighbor lady was doing the same thing these girls have been doing, but more much longer.
Going to the Dogs-There is a private investigator who gets called to be a body guard for some dogs. The owner believes that there is someone after one of the dogs, Mocha, who turns out to be very smart. After a week of dog-sitting with no results, everyone goes to a park, when a van nearly runs them over and takes Mocha. The investigator knew who took the dog, and was able to get the dog back, with no sign of the perpetrator.
The Accomplice-Someone broke into a senior center for some money. A homicide detective had sex with a woman, who stole his gun from its hiding place. Apparently the woman who stole the gun, and the person who broke into the senior center are connected. They are eventually tracked down to a security company, where two women are arrested, and the secretary's gun gets pilfered and buried by the detective's dog.
Black Zak and the Heart Attack-A small group of stores are about to go under, and they could all use a little bit of money. One of the owners of a restaurant ends up in the hospital because someone attacked her. The cat scratched the attacker, and the store owner will be ok, while the attacker spends time in jail.
Lost and Found-There are dogs that are trained to find body remains at crime scenes. The owner of a particular cadaver dog is trying to find out what happened to her sister. It turns out that she inadvertently killed her, when her sister fell down the ravine.
Highest, Best Use-An elderly woman owns two golden retrievers. She likes to take them out for exercise on the beach behind her house. While swimming in the water, the dogs bring back a purse they discovered. It has a passport, and a large amount of money inside. After discovering who it belongs to, Maddy calls the home of the woman, but the husband says she isn't home. He comes over to retrieve the purse, and Maddy expects a thank-you note, but receives none. After sort of reporting a missing person to the police, someone burns down her house, nearly killing her in the process. After the incident, Maddy believes that the man killed his wife.
Diamond Dog-There was a very large dog, who got adopted as a birthday gift for a detective. The day after his birthday, he got called out on a case, because a man was murdered and another detective was arrested for it. The man who was murdered was trying to buy the very large dog, Beau, for some reason, and was very irate about it. I don't remember much about this story, but the murder ties in with one that happened many years ago, and the killer recognized Beau.
Scratch That One-A woman owns inherited an antique store from her great-aunts, and she brought along her cat to keep her company while she worked. One day, the cat breaks a mirror and peels the backing off, revealing a picture taken many years ago, right before the attack on Pearl Harbor. The woman is determined to find the whereabouts of the girl and her possible parents. Eventually she finds out the girl in the photo was adopted and never found out who her real mother was. It wasn't until the cat ran away that the woman who turned out to be the girl in the photo, turned up and learned the truth about her past.
Had He but Known-This story was confusing because of how it was written, but I'll try my best. This cat lives in a bar in which no women are allowed. There is a gentleman who is wanted all over the county, and he just recently killed someone else in the alley out back...or so he thought. The cat knows something is up, and apparently distracts the crook long enough for him to be caught and killed. The person was a man in woman's clothing, and he made it look like his throat was slit. The "woman" then hid behind some barrels, and ended up shooting the crook. Then the cat left to go his own way.
Crystal's Big Night-This story takes place back in WWII. There are people who live in an apartment building, and they all know one another. A woman turns up murdered, and her brother is determined to find out who killed her. Some of the neighbors keep secrets.
Edelweiss-There are two high school girls who plot to kill people whom they think deserve it. One of the people they want to kill is their neighbor who owns a cat. When the two girls plan to kill the neighbor, the plan backfires because of the cat. It turns out the neighbor lady was doing the same thing these girls have been doing, but more much longer.
Going to the Dogs-There is a private investigator who gets called to be a body guard for some dogs. The owner believes that there is someone after one of the dogs, Mocha, who turns out to be very smart. After a week of dog-sitting with no results, everyone goes to a park, when a van nearly runs them over and takes Mocha. The investigator knew who took the dog, and was able to get the dog back, with no sign of the perpetrator.
The Accomplice-Someone broke into a senior center for some money. A homicide detective had sex with a woman, who stole his gun from its hiding place. Apparently the woman who stole the gun, and the person who broke into the senior center are connected. They are eventually tracked down to a security company, where two women are arrested, and the secretary's gun gets pilfered and buried by the detective's dog.
Black Zak and the Heart Attack-A small group of stores are about to go under, and they could all use a little bit of money. One of the owners of a restaurant ends up in the hospital because someone attacked her. The cat scratched the attacker, and the store owner will be ok, while the attacker spends time in jail.
Lost and Found-There are dogs that are trained to find body remains at crime scenes. The owner of a particular cadaver dog is trying to find out what happened to her sister. It turns out that she inadvertently killed her, when her sister fell down the ravine.
September 17, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. Nice mix of authors, some of my favorites - Carole Nelson Douglas and J. A. Jance, and some that I now have to start reading - Dick Lochte and Jan Burke.
This book includes 11 short stories by various authors. The initial premise of the story is that each author had to use the name and species (dog or cat) of one of their own pets, and you can tell by each story that this was a task truly enjoyed by each writer. The book includes about an equal number of dog vs. cat, and the pets are central to each story, definitely a part of each of the solutions of the murders. We enjoy a story from the old West - Had He But Known (Marlys Millhiser) starring a seriously nasty cat, another of a plotted murder gone seriously awry - Edelweiss (Jane Haddam), and a new personal favorite - Lost and Found (Jan Burke), starring 3 wonderful dogs, 2 of them cadaver dogs. All of the stories are great reads, and I love anthologies both because I don't have to stay up all night to finish the book (which I do way too frequently) and because I get to meet new authors.
If you have the same horrible reading past bedtime habit that I suffer with (wink, wink), and also enjoy meeting new writers, I think you'll love Creature Cozies too.
This book includes 11 short stories by various authors. The initial premise of the story is that each author had to use the name and species (dog or cat) of one of their own pets, and you can tell by each story that this was a task truly enjoyed by each writer. The book includes about an equal number of dog vs. cat, and the pets are central to each story, definitely a part of each of the solutions of the murders. We enjoy a story from the old West - Had He But Known (Marlys Millhiser) starring a seriously nasty cat, another of a plotted murder gone seriously awry - Edelweiss (Jane Haddam), and a new personal favorite - Lost and Found (Jan Burke), starring 3 wonderful dogs, 2 of them cadaver dogs. All of the stories are great reads, and I love anthologies both because I don't have to stay up all night to finish the book (which I do way too frequently) and because I get to meet new authors.
If you have the same horrible reading past bedtime habit that I suffer with (wink, wink), and also enjoy meeting new writers, I think you'll love Creature Cozies too.
July 18, 2011
This collection of short stories not entertained, but inspired me to write my own pet tales. I couldn't put this one down. In fact, I was up late last night finishing the last four stories in the collection. The author and pet photos on the back cover were a nice addition as well. Can't miss this one, if you are a mystery lover!
Check back soon for a link to my full book review on my blog.
Check back soon for a link to my full book review on my blog.
March 2, 2011
Although I really enjoy the writers that contributed to this book I am just not a fan of short stories.
September 18, 2011
Fun to read mysteries that involve animals and are written by some of your favorite authors. I love to read books about or with animals and I always love a good mystery.
August 7, 2014
Some very nice stories. The collection as a whole is a bit uneven, but that's par for the course.
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January 19, 2015A fun read.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews