Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Little Dog Diner #6

Dicing Up Disaster: A Cozy Dog Mystery

Rate this book
Another day, another murder. At least that’s what it’s beginning to feel like in the small coastal town of Misty Harbor.

Who’d have ever guessed that owning the Little Dog Diner would put me right in the middle of deadly plot after deadly plot? No sooner had I put the last big mystery to bed, then another shows up at the diner’s doorstep—literally.

Soaking wet and shaking with fright, this peculiar stranger tells me she and her enormous Newfoundland companion leapt overboard to escape a killer. Helping her stay safe will put me directly in the line of fire, but it’s also the right thing to do. Can my Jack Russell terrier, Pip, and I save our two newest visitors from the already rolling wheels of fate and manage to keep the diner afloat?

We’ve never failed before, but then again we’ve never quite faced a case like this…

282 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 18, 2024

473 people are currently reading
246 people want to read

About the author

Emmie Lyn

40 books146 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
461 (58%)
4 stars
235 (29%)
3 stars
77 (9%)
2 stars
14 (1%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
Profile Image for Shawna Shaheen.
332 reviews25 followers
March 26, 2021
Dani (Danielle and Pip the Jack Russel are at it again. Book 5 Luke and Dani got married. Luke is taking Dani out on a ride in a helicopter. The thing is Dani is scared of them. But does not tell Luke. When they up in the helicopter Dani sees a big black dog and a woman swim away from a boat. When they land on they're town. The woman and her big black dog is looking for Dani. Dani does not know this woman. But Sunny (the woman that Dani saw when she was on helo.) Said that this guy named Benny told Sunny to look for Dani in Little Dog Diner (Dani resturaunt).The dog name is Jasper. Harper and Pip got along great. Benny got killed on the boat when Sunny was on it with Benny but Sunny did not know who killed him. Dani was trying to find out who all these people were. The 6th book is a good cozy mystery like all of the Little Dog Diner books have been
Profile Image for Kristina Anderson.
4,088 reviews83 followers
February 1, 2020
Dicing up Disaster by Emmie Lyn is the sixth novel in Little Dog Diner series. I always enjoy returning to Misty Harbor where Dani owns the Little Dog Diner and solves mysteries with her Jack Russell terrier, Pip. I like Emmie Lyn’s conversational writing style which draws me right into the story. I can always count on a fun time with Dani and Pip. The mysteries are light and entertaining. Each book in the Little Dog Diner can be read on its own or you can read them in order. Be prepared to laugh often while reading. I thought Dicing Up Disaster was a refreshing and diverting tale (nice break from heavier books and reality).
Profile Image for QNPoohBear.
3,596 reviews1,567 followers
June 22, 2020

Dani and Luke are celebrating their 6 month anniversary with a helicopter ride over Blueberry Bay. While Luke and Pip are excited, Dani regrets not revealing her fear of heights. Happily for Dani, the view is gorgeous once she gets over her fear. The view of Blueberry Bay shows boats in the harbor, people sunbathing... or ... a fast boat speeding away, a body and a woman and a giant dog jumping overboard into the frigid bay. What the heck is going on? When Ace, the pilot, hints at wanting one of the Little Dog Diner's famous lobster rolls for lunch, Dani and Luke put romantic plans on hold to head back into town. Dani finds a surprise waiting for her in her office A dripping wet woman and giant dog need her help! The woman, Sunny Shaw, is from a nearby town and was out on a boat, in the bathroom, when her friend Benny was murdered. He apparently told her to go to Dani if anything happened to him. Dani wants to let AJ handle this but when he seems to suspect Sunny, Dani steps in to help. The mystery seems connected to a missing environmental study and a meeting at the Blue Harbor Inn this coming weekend, Lily's grand reeopening! Can Dani trust Sunny or is there more to this case than meets the eye? Dani believes Sunny and will do anything to protect her new friend, even put her own life in danger.

This book should not have been published as is. The author needed to take way more time, sit down with an editor (and a millennial) and review this book. There are way more typos than normal and some massive continuity errors that ruined the ending. For instance, Dani is with Pip at the inn in town, then she goes to SueEllen's and Pip jumps into her arms before anyone notices Dani has arrived. Dani asks Pip if she's having fun there, indicating Pip has been there all along and separated from Dani. At the end, if the suspects AND Dani were at the inn and Dani went out in the helicopter, how did the suspects get from their meeting at the inn to the harbor THAT fast? The ending too rushed and just doesn't make sense. The plot would be really good otherwise. I wasn't sure which one did it until the big clue towards the end. The villain's motive makes sense from their perspective but I didn't understand why

Dani is a good, loyal friend even if she hasn't known someone very long but here I think she goes above and beyond. First, she's too nice. If Luke paid Ace for the helicopter ride, they don't owe him anything OR they could have said "No we're heading out for more celebration but I'll call the diner and let them know to expect you, on the house." She could have let AJ handle the investigation but her insatiable curiosity gets the better of her. Dani's loyalty to Sunny nearly gets her killed and it has nothing to do with Dani or Misty Harbor. I love how she communicates with Pip! Of course Pip understands her and answers back! Pip is just so adorable. Luke is too nice. I don't know why he puts up with Dani!

It's nice to see Lily back. I'm glad she's happy now. The inn is perfect for her, even if it's a lot of work. She needs extra help. Once again, Dani is not a good friend. Maggie has become a good friend to Dani, helping with investigations and still battling AJ. He seems more relaxed now and knows Dani will do what she wants. SueEllen is not so much a force of nature anymore. She's charming and fun but really a bit naive.

Dani's new friend Sunny Shaw is a bit mysterious. She comes from the nearby town of Pineville with an unusual mystery. It sounds dangerous and she could be lying. I want to trust her because she seems so upset but I think AJ is right to be cautious. I don't think Sunny is a murderer though. She's devoted to her Newfoundland mix Jasper and while Jasper adores everyone, she is protective of Sunny. Plus, she has Tilly, her pistol-packing guardian grannie who trusts Sunny. Tilly is a pistol all right. She sounds like a real character.

Sunny's friend Benny was murdered. Benny sounds like a great guy. He was hired to study the environmental impact of developing a piece of property in Pineville. Benny believed the shoreline should remain undeveloped and Sunny agrees. Dani seems to agree as well but there are others who are eager to develop and make money.

There are 5 suspects from Pineville. Hunter Bodane owns the Nine Pine Nursery. He's on the verge of bankruptcy and needs to sell. Hunter is eager to sell to the highest bidder so he has an extra cushion to start over. He doesn't care so much about the environmental impact. Hunter seems suspicious. I don't full trust him. Officer Mick Wallace of the Pinevile PD is another suspect. He's a lazy cop and Sunny thinks he's crooked. Mick has the hots for Sunny and doesn't back off even though she indicates she finds him creepy and isn't interested. He's a bully and on a power trip. Sunny doesn't trust him and neither do I. I got a bad vibe from him. Crystal Tilson, assistant to Senator Matt Nash basically shields him from anything unpleasant. Could she be running the show trying to push the golf course deal through by killing Benny and making his environmental report disappear? Crystal is not a pleasant person and she worships Senator Nash. I suspect they're hooking up in the modern sense of the phrase. Finally, the creepiest of all suspects and most likely is Josh Whiting, the developer interested in turning that property into a golf course. He has motive and means to do murder in order to get his own way. He seems to be missing too and that makes him extra suspicious. When all these people converge on Lily's inn, will one of them reveal the truth?
12.7k reviews190 followers
January 27, 2020
Adorable story. Owning a diner shouldn’t include murder, but it definitely seems to. Once you start reading, impossible to stop. Loved it.
Profile Image for Joan.
970 reviews
May 3, 2020
Dani and Luke are up in a helicopter celebrating their 6th month wedding anniversary when Dani spots a huge Newfoundland dog, then a woman, jumping off a boat. There is what appears to be a dead body lying on the deck of the boat. She later finds the dripping wet woman and dog waiting for her in her diner. The woman tells her that her dead friend told her to look up Dani if anything happened to him. Dani did not know either the woman or the deceased.

This series reads like a fairy tale. Details make it as implausible as stories about witches and talking animals. If you manage to suspend belief, you can sit back and enjoy the story.

We are hit over the head with clues that Dani does not appear to notice:

“Let me see that.” Maggie took her phone back. “Is that a lime green jacket she’s wearing? Hideous. Totally not her color.” “I’ve seen a jacket like that before,” Sunny said, carefully studying the photo. “Yeah, on Benny’s boat after I found him dead.” I slipped my phone from my pocket to call Luke, not caring one bit about Crystal’s fashion sense.

A bit later:

“The senator plans to moor his boat here until he has his own oceanfront property and that’s exactly where it was."

Most annoying to me is Dani's habit of blurting out whatever she is thinking, totally unaware of doing so. Yet people still seem to trust her with secrets. This is a very dangerous habit!

Dani promises her Lilly that she will make the clam chowder for her BFF's first important event, yet she forgets to do so in spite of reminders. Naturally grandmother Rose steps in to save the day.

The books do have a certain charm, but I still find Dani to be very impetuous and flighty.
221 reviews4 followers
January 4, 2025
A Fun Who Done It

This is delightful puzzle. While I will not call murder delightful, the many suspects, the classic land development vs conservation trope, plus sifting through leads is delightful. So is the classic act of the facts suddenly coming together at the end, with the murderer confessing.

Altogether, this is a fun read and it's satisfying to have the killer caught. That's a cozy mystery "HEA."

Even better is that Writer Emmie Lyn gives us a more complex view of the impact of the death. There is real grief and appreciation for the good, honest man who died. There is the landowner's legitimate fear of bankruptcy, if he is unable to sell his land. Sunny, the victim's close friend, and those who help her have their lives disrupted and threatened. All this gives this classic cozy mystery a completeness I savored.

And the dogs? Awesome, just awesome!

Happy sleuthing!
~ L J Sagian
499 reviews6 followers
December 9, 2020
A special helicopter ride arranged by her husband Luke around Blueberry Bay for their six month anniversary turns into a murder mystery that Dani, owner of the Little Dog Diner must solve. Pip, her sweet terrier is her constant companion and always tags along on the quest to solve the murder and find the killer.

Sunny and her dog Jasper seek Dani's help solving the murder of her friend. He was doing research into the possible land development of property into a golf course or preserving the Nine Pines Nursery land owned by Hunter Bodane.

I enjoyed many of Dani's friends which included Maggie, AJ, Lily, Mary Ellen, and sweet Grandma Rose.

The Blue Moon Inn played host to a luncheon business meeting that included the suspects.

There was lots of page turning action and adventure and this book will have you guessing up until the end who the killer was.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
2,273 reviews44 followers
November 13, 2025
Sunny Shaw (from the Mint Chocolate Chip mysteries by this author) meets Danielle "Dani" Mackenzie in Misty Harbor, Maine in this story. The action starts six months after Dani and Luke Spencer got married. Dani's tendency to stumble into problems continues when Sunny seeks her help. Sunny's friend Benny Chadman was murdered on a boat. Sunny swam off with her dog Jasper, and went right to the Little Dog Diner looking for Dani. What ensues is a clue finding mission with help from Lily who recently bought the Blue Moon Inn and other friends of theirs. I liked the line, "There's something going on that smells like a dead fish on a hot summer day.". I like that this author always has dogs play a part in the storyline, in this case, Pip, a Jack Russell Terrier, and Jasper, a Newfoundland dog. I enjoy reading this mystery series.
Profile Image for Susan Shearer.
403 reviews2 followers
January 24, 2020
Little Dog Diner series is one of my favorites! And Dicing Up Disaster by Emmie Lyn doesn’t disappoint. In the little town of Misty Harbor there is a little café called the Little Dog Diner owned by Dani with her special friend, Pip, her Jack Russell Terrier, murder seems for find her whether she is looking for it or not! This time it is dropped into her lap. On a helicopter ride she sees some unusual things that don’t make sense. When Sunny and her Newfoundland, Jasper show up at the diner to see Dani the adventure starts happening and she is involved in another murder case. Enter bad men, a hard-headed sheriff, unusual happenings and then solving a crime before you become a victim. With Pip helping all the way. This is a book that will keep you reading until the end.
Profile Image for Darla Taylor.
1,870 reviews
April 8, 2020
Dani is spending some time off with her new husband, Luke, when she gets a visit from an unlikely pair at the diner. The strange woman and her giant Newfoundland companion tell Dani that they jumped overboard from her friend's ship in order to escape a killer. There's quite the list of suspects, can Dani and Pip find the killer before someone else dies?

I have really enjoyed this series and this book is no exception. It's well-written with well-rounded characters, some of whom you'll like and others you won't. The mystery ensnares you from the beginning and keeps you hooked until the end. I'm looking forward to the next book. I highly recommend both book and series which I suggest you read in order.
Profile Image for Kristen Lewendon.
8,429 reviews64 followers
April 21, 2020
This book kept me guessing from the beginning to the end. I had my eye on who I thought was the villain, but I was fully prepared to blame the wrong person. This story saw Dani getting into some of my pet peeve territory. She willfully interfered with the investigation. And there were a couple of times she engaged in risky behavior that could have fallen into the “too stupid to live” category. I realize that the romance isn’t the most important part of a cozy mystery, but when the celebration of their 6-month anniversary was what started this book, I would have loved to have seen just a little bit more of Luke. Particularly the pair of them all cuddled up and adorably in love – together.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher as part of a box set.
Profile Image for Andrea Stoeckel.
3,176 reviews132 followers
January 8, 2025
Great addition to series

"Luke squeezed my hand. With him at my side and Pip too, of course, I’d succeed."

What do you do when a woman and her dog arrive sopping wet to your office? Well, if you Dani, you get her dry clothing in exchange for her story. But who was she?

Sunny Shaw was on a boat when her friend Benny was killed. She and her dog Jasper swam to shore and came to the diner for help. But why Dani? This convoluted mystery takes us in a strange direction as each possible suspect is, in Dani's round about fashion, studied. What a way to celebrate 6 months of marriage, eh Luke?

I love this series and I highly Recommend it. Each book is a stand alone cosy and well written, keeping your interest until the last page. 5/5
Profile Image for Krystyna.
5,134 reviews55 followers
January 25, 2020
Not my favourite in the series

The plot was good but was it probable - not for me. I just found it too out of the norm for this series. A report, a murder and a young woman afraid for her life make up the main part of this. Sorry but it just felt a bit too out there.
A helicopter ride turns into her spotting a woman and her dog jumping into the sea whilst a body lay on the deck. It's not until later that she finds out that the body was that of a young man who was engaged on writing a report on a farm being turned into a golf course. Add in a shady cop, a senator, another murder, a flash drive and a report. Who is behind the killings and why?
Profile Image for Donna.
Author 7 books33 followers
January 26, 2020
Dani doesn't go looking for trouble but it seems to find her anyway. There has been another murder in the quiet town of Misty Harbor and Dani is right in the middle of figuring out whodunnit. With help from Luke, Pip, and her friends, Dani has to sift through the suspects and wade through the twists and turns to solve the murder. I had figured out who the murderer was before the reveal but only figured out the motive shortly before that. I have enjoyed this series. There were numerous typos, grammatical errors, and inconsistencies throughout the book.
Profile Image for Danielle Carpenter.
1,852 reviews12 followers
April 24, 2020
This story is the first where Luke & Dani are married. They are taking a helicopter tour over Blueberry Bay for a romantic interlude. Dani sees someone jump off a boat and swim to shore during the helicopter ride, but no one believes her. The washed up pair end up in "The Little Dog Diner" and plead for Dani to help them. This one is different because it doesn't have all the witty elements that the first one did, and the tone is much more of a serious nature. All the same, I enjoyed the plot and the wonderful characters of Blueberry Bay.
610 reviews7 followers
January 24, 2020
Just like the rest of the books in this series, Dicing Up Disaster won’t disappoint you. Dani and her Jack Russell, Pip, always seem to find themselves in the middle of a murder investigation. With the help of her small group of friends and her husband of 6 months, she always seems to find the killer before the police can. She’ll keep you laughing at their antics and keep you guessing to the very end. Don’t miss this wonderful cozy mystery!
493 reviews6 followers
January 24, 2020
I received a free advance review copy of this book and am voluntarily providing my honest review. I was not disappointed in this latest Little Dog Diner book! :Luke surprises Dani with a helicopter ride on their 6th month wedding aniversary and that starts everything. Dani finds out that she is not afraid of heights and is enjoying the ride when she sees something strange in the Bay. This book was hard to put down, I really enjoyed it and recommend it.
Profile Image for Shonda.
Author 10 books48 followers
January 25, 2020
I love the Little Dog Diner series, these can be read as a stand alone. The characters are so fun including Pip the dog. The characters are part of what draws you into the book and will have you laughing. I love trying to figure out who committed the murder, the author does a great job at keeping you guessing. I’m looking forward to reading the next book!
Was given a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Sheila.
613 reviews4 followers
January 31, 2020
Tag your it....again!
Once again murder finds Dani, which always includes Luke, Rose, Maggie, AJ, Lily and of course Pip.
Plot is different for me this time around. I had no idea on the guilty party. There are many to choose from; Hunter, Mick, Crystal, Sunny, the Senator and Josh. Some clues are given like the missing folder, clothing, the boat etc., nothing solid til almost the very end.
But my favorite part?? Besides Pistol Totin Grannie? Saying things out loud, some are way too funny!
Profile Image for Mary Kearney.
184 reviews1 follower
June 6, 2020
This light mystery was good. It is an easy,fast read which was I was looking for. Dani, the main character, is on a helicopter ride with her husband and sees a dog and then a woman jumping off a boat. She also sees someone laying on the boat.Later, when she reaches shore she finds the woman in her diner, waiting for her in her office. The woman tells Dani that while she was in the bathroom on the boat, her friend Benny was murdered. Dani decides to investigate, there are several suspects and the book takes several twists to get the solution. The book involves dogs which is always good.
Profile Image for Carol L. Caldwell.
Author 9 books8 followers
February 6, 2025
The Plot Whizzes By

The author wrote an active story. The heroine hardly ever sits down. Action is good for a story. But this story seems to whiz by and I had to stop to catch my breath.
The character's interaction was good and there were a lot of characters. I liked the canine ones. The feline could have stood in for the villain. A few of the people could have been fleshed out a little more. The story left me wondering who really was the bad guy.
4,589 reviews33 followers
January 25, 2020
What a combination. I always get hungry when reading this series, between Little Dog Diner and Lily’s creations, my mouth is watering. Dani and Pip seem to have an attraction for murder even when just celebrating an anniversary. There is plenty of action and questions to keep you reading. I really would love to move to Blueberry Bay.
Profile Image for Annette.
3,173 reviews9 followers
January 27, 2020
This is entertaining and a pretty good read. In the scope of the others that I have read in this series, this is more of a 3 1/2 star read. I guess I'm used to the usual approach to the cozy mystery and things are a bit different this time around, including the time line. All the supporting characters come together to make this another successful whodunnit. I was provided a free copy without obligation from the author and am voluntarily reviewing.
1,788 reviews15 followers
January 26, 2020
This is a very enjoyable read such a great story. The storyline is real action packed, fast paced, page turner filled with wonderful characters.

This story takes you on an adventure that is filled with suspense, emotion and some humour and dogs!

Loved it and can't wait for the next book.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Nancy Garbe.
468 reviews8 followers
January 31, 2020
Dani and the Pipster are once again deep into solving a murder - or two! With no shortage of suspects and a lovable wolfhound as Pip’s sidekick the action is non-stop.

I received a free advanced copy of this book and am voluntarily providing an honest review. The Little Dog Diner series is great fun and “Dicing Up Disaster” does not disappoint.
Profile Image for Lcr.
909 reviews7 followers
March 22, 2020


Dicing up Disaster is a stand-alone cozy mystery that is also part of the Little Dog Diner series. This welcome return to Misty Harbour sees Dani and the wonderful Pip caught up in another murder mystery. Great characters, both human and canine, and a touch of humour make this an enjoyable, easy to read book.
2,036 reviews
October 10, 2023
amazoin synopsis:
Don’t get married on Christmas Eve, they said.

The holiday will overshadow your special day, they insisted.

Little did they know that a shockingly festive murder would put everything else on hold.

When all signs point to my sometimes friend, sometimes rival, Detective Crenshaw, I’ll need to work fast so that he’s not forced to spend his holiday in the slammer. But in throwing myself feet first into the real crook’s crummy conspiracy, I could be risking so much more than a spoiled day… The future of my forthcoming marriage could very well be on the line too.

Oh, boy… Can Pip and I solve this one in record time so that my fiancé’s and my perfect day can go off without another major hitch?
Read less
Profile Image for Michelle Kssili.
426 reviews5 followers
January 13, 2025
A friend in need is a friend indeed

A small town business owner afraid of helicopter rides but not at solving murder mysteries. And let's not forget a good cook on top of that. Dani is not one to back down from helping anyone, especially if there is a dog involved. The writer did an excellent job. She surrounded Dani with good friends. I love these kinds of stories.
Profile Image for Gail.
566 reviews1 follower
May 8, 2025
Delightful, suspenseful cozy mystery!

This book is intriguing, exciting, and loaded with humor! PiP and Jasper, the dogs definitely add to the experience of the readers while finding the murderer or murderers. I recommend this book to anyone with a sense of humor and love for mysteries. Happy reading! 😊
1,292 reviews19 followers
January 25, 2020
Dicing Up Disaster is a wonderful book. It is engaging and entertaining. The mystery is interesting and has many twists that will keep you guessing until the end. I love the characters, both people and dog characters. I really enjoyed this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.