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The Cora Baxter Mysteries #1
The Dead Dog Day
When your Monday morning begins with a dead dog at four a.m. and a dead boss by ten, you know it’s going to be one of those days. And breakfast TV reporter Cora Baxter has already had the weekend from hell, after the man she was planning a fabulous future with unceremoniously dumped her.
Now Cora’s much-hated boss has been murdered, and Cora is assigned to cover the story for the breakfast show – but as the murder enquiry continues, the trail of suspects leads frighteningly close to home. Why is Cora’s arch-rival, glamorous, bitchy newsreader Alice Lomas, so devastated by their boss’s death? What dark secret is one of her camera crew hiding? And why has her now ex-boyfriend vanished? The race to stop the killer striking again is on …
Now Cora’s much-hated boss has been murdered, and Cora is assigned to cover the story for the breakfast show – but as the murder enquiry continues, the trail of suspects leads frighteningly close to home. Why is Cora’s arch-rival, glamorous, bitchy newsreader Alice Lomas, so devastated by their boss’s death? What dark secret is one of her camera crew hiding? And why has her now ex-boyfriend vanished? The race to stop the killer striking again is on …
300 pages, Paperback
First published October 22, 2015
348 people are currently reading
800 people want to read
About the author
Jackie Kabler
19 books433 followersJackie Kabler is a journalist, TV presenter and author. She spent twenty years as a TV news reporter for GMTV, ITV and BBC news, and now works as a presenter for shopping channel QVC and is author of the Cora Baxter Mysteries, a series of murder mysteries set in a television newsroom.
The Development is her third novel. Jackie lives in Gloucestershire with her husband, who is a GP.
The Development is her third novel. Jackie lives in Gloucestershire with her husband, who is a GP.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
May 30, 2021
My review is for this retitled edition: The Fallen. I don't know why that Kindle edition links to this edition on Goodreads. Take care not to buy both.
This got my attention because of the cover (on Amazon). It's a lot more eye-catching and got me to buy it. It was a cozy-ish read but Cora, the main character didn't do much sleuthing. Honestly, she happened into what she found out but the main men in the story were all more pivotal here than she was. The mystery itself was pretty good but did get a bit lost in the chick-lit aspect of the story with Cora's love life, friends and her steadfast but repetitive "I don't ever want children!" (which was pretty impressive to read in a female character but she was a tad manic about it). The middle lagged a bit but this picked up in the last third and was a good read through the end. One of her co-worker friends, Scott has an adorable malapropism habit that reminds me of Flis of The Kensington Kidnap .
One real criticism is that there weren't transitions to different characters or scenes as one reads along. It was abrupt and made for a shock when you realize the change has occurred. I didn't like that and hope it's adjusted for a more smooth read in the next book.
I liked Cora and her friends enough to read the next (I've already bought it).
Each of the three books in this series exists under two titles with alternate covers. This first book's alternate title is the only one listed on Goodreads. So if you're looking for them on Amazon they're here:
The Development: The Cora Baxter Mysteries is renamed The Accused
The Deadline is renamed The Silenced
This got my attention because of the cover (on Amazon). It's a lot more eye-catching and got me to buy it. It was a cozy-ish read but Cora, the main character didn't do much sleuthing. Honestly, she happened into what she found out but the main men in the story were all more pivotal here than she was. The mystery itself was pretty good but did get a bit lost in the chick-lit aspect of the story with Cora's love life, friends and her steadfast but repetitive "I don't ever want children!" (which was pretty impressive to read in a female character but she was a tad manic about it). The middle lagged a bit but this picked up in the last third and was a good read through the end. One of her co-worker friends, Scott has an adorable malapropism habit that reminds me of Flis of The Kensington Kidnap .
One real criticism is that there weren't transitions to different characters or scenes as one reads along. It was abrupt and made for a shock when you realize the change has occurred. I didn't like that and hope it's adjusted for a more smooth read in the next book.
I liked Cora and her friends enough to read the next (I've already bought it).
Each of the three books in this series exists under two titles with alternate covers. This first book's alternate title is the only one listed on Goodreads. So if you're looking for them on Amazon they're here:
The Development: The Cora Baxter Mysteries is renamed The Accused
The Deadline is renamed The Silenced
May 30, 2021
My review is for the Kindle edition. It also exists under an alternate title The Dead Dog Day. Take care not to buy it twice.
This got my attention because of the cover (on Amazon). It's a lot more eye-catching than the original cover and got me to buy it. It was a cozy-ish read but Cora, the main character didn't do much sleuthing. Honestly, she happened into what she found out but the main men in the story were all more pivotal here than she was. The mystery itself was pretty good but did get a bit lost in the chick-lit aspect of the story with Cora's love life, friends and her steadfast but repetitive "I don't ever want children!" (which was pretty impressive to read in a female character but she was a tad manic about it). The middle lagged a bit but this picked up in the last third and was a good read through the end. One of her co-worker friends, Scott has an adorable malapropism habit that reminds me of Flis of The Kensington Kidnap .
One real criticism is that there weren't transitions to different characters or scenes as one reads along. It was abrupt and made for a shock when you realize the change has occurred. I didn't like that and hope it's adjusted for a more smooth read in the next book.
I liked Cora and her friends enough to read the next (I've already bought it).
Each of the three books in this series exists under two titles with alternate covers. This first book's alternate title is the only one listed on Goodreads. So if you're looking for them on Amazon they're here:
The Development: The Cora Baxter Mysteries is renamed The Accused
The Deadline is renamed The Silenced
This got my attention because of the cover (on Amazon). It's a lot more eye-catching than the original cover and got me to buy it. It was a cozy-ish read but Cora, the main character didn't do much sleuthing. Honestly, she happened into what she found out but the main men in the story were all more pivotal here than she was. The mystery itself was pretty good but did get a bit lost in the chick-lit aspect of the story with Cora's love life, friends and her steadfast but repetitive "I don't ever want children!" (which was pretty impressive to read in a female character but she was a tad manic about it). The middle lagged a bit but this picked up in the last third and was a good read through the end. One of her co-worker friends, Scott has an adorable malapropism habit that reminds me of Flis of The Kensington Kidnap .
One real criticism is that there weren't transitions to different characters or scenes as one reads along. It was abrupt and made for a shock when you realize the change has occurred. I didn't like that and hope it's adjusted for a more smooth read in the next book.
I liked Cora and her friends enough to read the next (I've already bought it).
Each of the three books in this series exists under two titles with alternate covers. This first book's alternate title is the only one listed on Goodreads. So if you're looking for them on Amazon they're here:
The Development: The Cora Baxter Mysteries is renamed The Accused
The Deadline is renamed The Silenced
October 31, 2015
Oh wow! I never thought I'd enjoy this book SO much. I still can't believe it's the author's debut novel.
Everything starts on the 18th of December in a TV studio, with a dead dog... and a dead boss. Jeanette Kendrick, a breakfast TV programme editor, is murdered at the TV station under the noses of all her subordinates. Who killed the scary boss from hell? Why? And how come none of the employees have seen or heard anything?
The main character, TV news reporter Cora Baxter is such a great character. Funny, witty and glamorous, you cannot do otherwise but fall in love with her. She's the kind of person you'd want to work and chat with on a daily basis. Apart from a murdered boss, Cora is also suddenly faced with the mysterious disappearance of her ex-boyfriend.
It really shows that the author has drawn from her vast experience in news reporting and journalism to write this book. Cora took me on a journey like no other. I found myself in the news van with her and the 'boys' going up and down the UK reporting some of the most bizarre and hilarious stories I have ever heard of.
However this story is not just about newscasting. It's a clever combination of murder mystery, comedy and romance and I admired the author's ability of maintaining a perfect balance between these elements throughout.
At one point while I was reading this book, my wife asked me what I was reading since I was sporting this huge smile on my face and she'd heard me howling with laughter from the other room. This shows how much I was enjoying it.
I liked the fact that the author included the unexpected odd chapter from the killer's point of view to further spike the reader's curiosity. I really wanted to know who the killer was and was left open-mouthed when the identity was finally revealed. I loved the way in which the author has wrapped up the mystery at the end.
With a bunch of likeable, interesting characters, believable dialogues, numerous laugh-out-loud moments, an original murder plot, suspense and many possible suspects all in one book, I couldn't ask for more. The book kept me entertained and interested till the end.
My only problem with this book was that it had an ending - I wanted to keep on reading. Now, I just wish I can somehow 'unread' it, so that I can read it again for the first time.
Well Done Jackie! I'll certainly keep you on my radar. But now please hurry up with the second Cora Baxter book. I already miss Cora and I want to know what she will be up against next.
Everything starts on the 18th of December in a TV studio, with a dead dog... and a dead boss. Jeanette Kendrick, a breakfast TV programme editor, is murdered at the TV station under the noses of all her subordinates. Who killed the scary boss from hell? Why? And how come none of the employees have seen or heard anything?
The main character, TV news reporter Cora Baxter is such a great character. Funny, witty and glamorous, you cannot do otherwise but fall in love with her. She's the kind of person you'd want to work and chat with on a daily basis. Apart from a murdered boss, Cora is also suddenly faced with the mysterious disappearance of her ex-boyfriend.
It really shows that the author has drawn from her vast experience in news reporting and journalism to write this book. Cora took me on a journey like no other. I found myself in the news van with her and the 'boys' going up and down the UK reporting some of the most bizarre and hilarious stories I have ever heard of.
However this story is not just about newscasting. It's a clever combination of murder mystery, comedy and romance and I admired the author's ability of maintaining a perfect balance between these elements throughout.
At one point while I was reading this book, my wife asked me what I was reading since I was sporting this huge smile on my face and she'd heard me howling with laughter from the other room. This shows how much I was enjoying it.
I liked the fact that the author included the unexpected odd chapter from the killer's point of view to further spike the reader's curiosity. I really wanted to know who the killer was and was left open-mouthed when the identity was finally revealed. I loved the way in which the author has wrapped up the mystery at the end.
With a bunch of likeable, interesting characters, believable dialogues, numerous laugh-out-loud moments, an original murder plot, suspense and many possible suspects all in one book, I couldn't ask for more. The book kept me entertained and interested till the end.
My only problem with this book was that it had an ending - I wanted to keep on reading. Now, I just wish I can somehow 'unread' it, so that I can read it again for the first time.
Well Done Jackie! I'll certainly keep you on my radar. But now please hurry up with the second Cora Baxter book. I already miss Cora and I want to know what she will be up against next.
November 23, 2017
This book came as a vent of fresh air and surprised me with a fine thriller story. Easy to read, it was a pleasure dipping into its pages. When mystery mixes with some good romance and an intriguing murder, it keeps my mind and interest wide open. And the author, Jackie Kabler, did a great job for a debut novel.
Here is my complete review: https://readingbadger.club/2017/11/23...
All in all, the book is built around the criminal case, in a way that keeps the reader entertained but also curious to know who is the murderer and which was his reason to do that.
Interesting characters, believable dialogues and well documented journalistic facts, an original murder plot and so many suspects in a single lecture! This debut thriller book has the perfect recipe for an enjoyable lecture.
Here is my complete review: https://readingbadger.club/2017/11/23...
All in all, the book is built around the criminal case, in a way that keeps the reader entertained but also curious to know who is the murderer and which was his reason to do that.
Interesting characters, believable dialogues and well documented journalistic facts, an original murder plot and so many suspects in a single lecture! This debut thriller book has the perfect recipe for an enjoyable lecture.
November 24, 2015
Originally posted on This Chick Reads
* Copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review *
'The Dead Dog Day' is the first book by Jackie Kabler in what (as far as I know) is going to be a trilogy. Ms Kabler is also a journalist and TV reporter and can be seen currently on shopping channel, QVC. Years spent on TV and in reporting have obviously given Ms Kabler lots of writing material, so no wonder her debut is actually about a reporter, Cora Baxter and her search for the killer in, what's also known as 'the dead dog day' among the employees.
Seemed just like any other Monday morning, which always starts at the TV station way before dawn. One week before Christmas and just about to hit program, a dog which was supposed to be the star of the show is found dead. This however is only the start, as things will get a lot more bloodier when Cora's boss, Jeanette is found dead. Jeanette was definitely someone most hated at the station and it's a strange situation when everyone seems to have at least bit motive, but who is actually capable of doing such an awful thing? Just before dying, Jeanette manages to say a word, a name, which makes people start creating stories and gossiping. Cora is a morning TV reporter who's job is to cover stories around UK. Some are interesting, some are simply hilarious, however it's a job Cora loves and hopes one day to be in London and do the morning show from the sofa. Left by her boyfriend by phone, after two years spent together and less than 10 days before Christmas, I totally didn't envy her. However, dishy Benjamin enters the picture and DI Adam responsible for the case of her dead boss is also gorgeous. Will one of them win Cora's heart and will they find the killer? The situation gets crazier once Cora starts receiving messages she's in danger and is next on the killer's list. What could the killer possibly want her for? What has she done to this person? All leads show it could be someone from the TV station, or someone very close to Cora.
'The Dead Dog Day' was indeed a very enjoyable cosy mystery. It's been years since I've read one and it was a nice change after so many chick lits. Ms Kabler creats a story which quickly pulls you in, holding your attention till the very last page. It was such a fast read for me and I was completely immersed in the story. Ms Kabler's writing style is so easy to understand and everything in the story simply flows.
Cora Baxter is a very interesting and well portrayed character. She is ambitious and doesn't want to have children of her own, but I didn't get the impression she's the one who's so ambitious she'd walk on dead bodies if she had to. Her carrier is everything to her, but only because she knows she's so good at it. However, she doesn't think she's the motherly type, though she adores her friends' kids. Bearing in mind I'm someone who adores kids, I really thought Cora and me will just not get along. But on the contrary, I really liked her despite the fact I found her too different to everything I am. What I loved the most about Cora is the fact she's nice to everyone working in the station and is especially close to her crew. She deeply cares about the boys she works with every day, and I loved the banter between them. I've never worked or had any connection with the TV world, however I do know some people who get to be part of the TV magic have strong ego and ambition. But Cora is really friendly and someone I'd loved hanging out with. I honestly don't know how she could do her job, waking up at 3-4 am, being in the car and on the road long hours, going from one to another corner of the UK, having lunch at 8 am when most people are starting their day... it's not easy and a medal for everyone who can do this.
What I loved the most about this book is the fact we not only get a mystery to solve but we also get a glimpse of that TV world, which might not be as glamorous as we think. It's obvious Ms Kabler is full of stories and I love how she used them as well as her knowledge in TV, to create an interesting and unique story. I honestly had no idea who the killer might be, and to be frank completely, I didn't even push myself to think who they might be as I was way too immersed in reading about Cora's day on field. There's also a bit of romance but a very clean one, which was just about the right dose so we could see that side of Cora too.
The only thing which was a slight problem for me was Cora's indecisiveness when it came to men, and the fact she seems to be able to move on just few short weeks after being dumped by someone who she was with for two years, even lived together for the last 10 months. She seems rather eager to move on with her life, which is OK, she's entitled to it and seems doesn't have much choice, but I thought she'd take things more slowly or feel more hurt after the break up. However, despite this, 'The Dead Dog Day' was definitely an amazing debut and one which had my attention throughout. Fast paced, with some humour and loads of TV drama, it's a book I can recommend to everyone who likes cosy mystery. Ms Kabler proved she's not only a good observer with loads of valuable TV experience, but also a talented writer with a knack for pouring these stories to paper and creating a unique fictional world and story.
Ms Kabler is definitely and author to watch out for and I'm most definitely looking forward to reading the next book in the 'Cora Baxter' series, as well as anything else she writes in the future.
March 5, 2019
A fun book made more fun by a favorite Audible reader. I will be listening to the next in the series soon.
June 22, 2024
Cora Baxter is a news reporter for a breakfast television show. In the week before Christmas, Cora’s boyfriend dumps her and her boss is murdered at the TV studios while everyone is busy working on the live show. How could it be that no one had seen or heard anything? Is the killer someone that Cora works with?
While the police investigation into the murder continues we learn more about Cora’s life as a news reporter as she and her crew criss cross the country reporting on bizarre news events. A cosy mystery read.
While the police investigation into the murder continues we learn more about Cora’s life as a news reporter as she and her crew criss cross the country reporting on bizarre news events. A cosy mystery read.
October 23, 2015
Cora Baxter is a well known woman because of her job for a breakfast television show. She's recently been dumped by her boyfriend. Unfortunately the bad luck isn't over yet as her boss, who nobody at work really likes, has been murdered. The killer might be someone she knows as it happened at work. Cora doesn't feel entirely safe as she thinks someone's watching her, but she soon forgets about it when she meets someone new. Her friends and the men in her life are keeping her busy. The same goes for her work. She has to get up early almost every day and sometimes she finds herself in the most bizarre situations. Will they find the killer and does Cora indeed know this person?
The Dead Dog Day is the first book of the Cora Baxter mysteries. I really liked this book. It's fast paced and Jackie Kabler has a unique writing style that's very fitting for the world she's writing about. It's amazing to read about Cora's television work and her coworkers. It intrigued me and I wanted to keep reading. I felt like that from the start, the story immediately fascinated me. I like the way Jackie Kabler shares her knowledge about the television world.
Cora has an exciting life. She does live shows, she's often going out and spends many merry evenings drinking with friends or gorgeous men. She's also someone who wants to be loved for who she really is. I liked that aspect a lot. The reader has the chance to get to know her well, to come close to her. The mystery itself is a good one. I couldn't wait to find out who the killer was and really liked the ending. Jackie Kabler has written a great finale. The Dead Dog Day has it all, it's clever, it's witty, it has many terrific settings and the main characters are fantastic.
The Dead Dog Day is the first book of the Cora Baxter mysteries. I really liked this book. It's fast paced and Jackie Kabler has a unique writing style that's very fitting for the world she's writing about. It's amazing to read about Cora's television work and her coworkers. It intrigued me and I wanted to keep reading. I felt like that from the start, the story immediately fascinated me. I like the way Jackie Kabler shares her knowledge about the television world.
Cora has an exciting life. She does live shows, she's often going out and spends many merry evenings drinking with friends or gorgeous men. She's also someone who wants to be loved for who she really is. I liked that aspect a lot. The reader has the chance to get to know her well, to come close to her. The mystery itself is a good one. I couldn't wait to find out who the killer was and really liked the ending. Jackie Kabler has written a great finale. The Dead Dog Day has it all, it's clever, it's witty, it has many terrific settings and the main characters are fantastic.
December 5, 2016
This is a cozy mystery with a touch of romance, full of humour with a strong cast of characters. A very enjoyable combination of murder mystery and romance.
During a recent local book festival I went to see Jackie Kabler talking about her Cora Baxter mysteries series and she also read an extract from this book. I hadn't come across her books before but they sounded right up my street so I listened to this one on audiobook. Cora Baxter is such an engaging character and I can't wait to listen to the next one now!
During a recent local book festival I went to see Jackie Kabler talking about her Cora Baxter mysteries series and she also read an extract from this book. I hadn't come across her books before but they sounded right up my street so I listened to this one on audiobook. Cora Baxter is such an engaging character and I can't wait to listen to the next one now!
February 25, 2018
This is the fluffiest of fluffy books and if you want a very light and easy read this will do nicely.
(SPOILER) Just to give you a flavour of it, imagine that there has been a murder which the police have failed to solve. Your friend then informs you that he knows who the murderer is and it is someone you know. What would your next question be? (Hint: One word, three letters, begins with a W.) Does our protagonist ask this question? She does not! And there are many such moments in this book. However, it wasn't terrible so, if easy reading is your aim, this will do the trick.
(SPOILER) Just to give you a flavour of it, imagine that there has been a murder which the police have failed to solve. Your friend then informs you that he knows who the murderer is and it is someone you know. What would your next question be? (Hint: One word, three letters, begins with a W.) Does our protagonist ask this question? She does not! And there are many such moments in this book. However, it wasn't terrible so, if easy reading is your aim, this will do the trick.
May 8, 2022
Not as good as her later work
Story structure was weak and it was easy to work out who the killer was early on. This is a shame as her more recent work is much better and unable to put down.
Story structure was weak and it was easy to work out who the killer was early on. This is a shame as her more recent work is much better and unable to put down.
January 10, 2020
In 'The Dead Dog Day', a typical busy Monday morning at the newsroom kicks off with the boss, Jeanette berating an employee and takes a turn for the unexpected when she winds up dead. With the victim widely disliked and several malfunctioning CCTV cameras in proximity to the crime scene, nabbing the killer is a tough feat to accomplish.
This book combined the elements of chick lit and murder mystery, leaning heavily towards the former. That wouldn't have been an issue if the immaturity and denseness of some characters hadn't been taken too far in the effort to be humourous and light-hearted. The main character Cora's male colleagues behaved like naughty toddlers while her best friends only gossiped and gushed over men.
There were numerous characters yet not even one was fleshed out or interesting. Cora was at best, boring and at worst, annoying. She had zero presence even when she whined about getting dumped by Justin and not being able to find a man who didn't want to have kids. Her decision to be child-free and why was reiterated ad nauseum. 'Child-free' and 'desperate' summed her up.
Considering her job (reporter), I found it strange that she wasn't curious to find out who had offed Jeanette. Whilst the investigation was as slow as a sloth (probably because the lead detective Adam paid far more attention to her), Cora's new relationship progressed at the speed of light. It was completely unbelievable as everything was told, not shown. Plus, none of her love interests had personality, just good looks (repeated to death).
When the truth was finally(!) revealed, there were an avalanche of implausibilities and ridiculousness that simply couldn't be ignored:
Overall, 'The Dead Dog Day' was bland and forgettable due to the stereotypical, paper-thin characters, unrealism and reliance on coincidences or assumptions to generate suspense.
This book combined the elements of chick lit and murder mystery, leaning heavily towards the former. That wouldn't have been an issue if the immaturity and denseness of some characters hadn't been taken too far in the effort to be humourous and light-hearted. The main character Cora's male colleagues behaved like naughty toddlers while her best friends only gossiped and gushed over men.
There were numerous characters yet not even one was fleshed out or interesting. Cora was at best, boring and at worst, annoying. She had zero presence even when she whined about getting dumped by Justin and not being able to find a man who didn't want to have kids. Her decision to be child-free and why was reiterated ad nauseum. 'Child-free' and 'desperate' summed her up.
Considering her job (reporter), I found it strange that she wasn't curious to find out who had offed Jeanette. Whilst the investigation was as slow as a sloth (probably because the lead detective Adam paid far more attention to her), Cora's new relationship progressed at the speed of light. It was completely unbelievable as everything was told, not shown. Plus, none of her love interests had personality, just good looks (repeated to death).
When the truth was finally(!) revealed, there were an avalanche of implausibilities and ridiculousness that simply couldn't be ignored:
Overall, 'The Dead Dog Day' was bland and forgettable due to the stereotypical, paper-thin characters, unrealism and reliance on coincidences or assumptions to generate suspense.
January 22, 2023
Meh. That’s all I can describe this book as. Really disappointed as I’ve read several books by this author and enjoyed them, so was expecting to like this. This is book number one in the Cora Baxter series and I did download the others to read, but this was so shockingly bad, I think I won’t bother with the other two…
What I struggled with:
* Cora. She was boring, one dimensional and as much charisma as a plastic bag. She kept harping on every five seconds about being childless by choice, never wanting kids and detesting them. It was like flogging a dead horse.
* The men in the story: Justin, Benjamin Boland and Adam and their constant descriptions of being gorgeous and sexy, and all they were good for was a bit of eye Candy. There literally wasn’t much to their personalities and that their looks were the only redeeming feature.
* Benjamin Boland as a character just wound me up. Your typical player/f***boy who literally just thought with his penis/about sex every five minutes, yet all the ladies fell at his feet (even Cora who is meant to have her head screwed on: yawn- predictable.) misogynistic a**hole at its finest.
* The really disjointed chapters at some points: it would randomly jump around at points to different perspectives and I was like “have I missed something here?” Generally really confusing and I had to keep going back to re-read the sections to make sure I hadn’t accidentally skipped pages.
* The murdered person: Jackie Kendrick- forgettable… I didn’t even realise she was dead until a couple of chapters later then I had to back and re-read it as I’d obviously blocked it out…
* I struggled to remember the characters and whose who as they were all one dimensional and poorly written and thought out.
* Generally couldn’t get into the book and found it a slow slog to read… which is weird as I’ve binge read the same authors other books in the space of 24 hours… so I don’t understand why the writing is so disjointed this time?
* Not giving away any spoilers but the killer was too damn predictable and when you eventually uncovered who: it wasn’t much of a shock: just kind of fell flat on its face in a heap.
* The writing style: disjointed, jumpy, rushed with forgettable characters: it’s like the author forgot how to write and build up plot/characters whilst composing this.
The only reason why I have given this a 2 star review rather than 1, was the ending. I actually enjoyed the build up and the twist at the end so that was one redeeming factor. Also that this is a quick and easy read so if you want something quick to plough through you may enjoy it.
Other books read by this author:
* The Perfect Couple
* The Happy Family
* Am I Guilty?
What I struggled with:
* Cora. She was boring, one dimensional and as much charisma as a plastic bag. She kept harping on every five seconds about being childless by choice, never wanting kids and detesting them. It was like flogging a dead horse.
* The men in the story: Justin, Benjamin Boland and Adam and their constant descriptions of being gorgeous and sexy, and all they were good for was a bit of eye Candy. There literally wasn’t much to their personalities and that their looks were the only redeeming feature.
* Benjamin Boland as a character just wound me up. Your typical player/f***boy who literally just thought with his penis/about sex every five minutes, yet all the ladies fell at his feet (even Cora who is meant to have her head screwed on: yawn- predictable.) misogynistic a**hole at its finest.
* The really disjointed chapters at some points: it would randomly jump around at points to different perspectives and I was like “have I missed something here?” Generally really confusing and I had to keep going back to re-read the sections to make sure I hadn’t accidentally skipped pages.
* The murdered person: Jackie Kendrick- forgettable… I didn’t even realise she was dead until a couple of chapters later then I had to back and re-read it as I’d obviously blocked it out…
* I struggled to remember the characters and whose who as they were all one dimensional and poorly written and thought out.
* Generally couldn’t get into the book and found it a slow slog to read… which is weird as I’ve binge read the same authors other books in the space of 24 hours… so I don’t understand why the writing is so disjointed this time?
* Not giving away any spoilers but the killer was too damn predictable and when you eventually uncovered who: it wasn’t much of a shock: just kind of fell flat on its face in a heap.
* The writing style: disjointed, jumpy, rushed with forgettable characters: it’s like the author forgot how to write and build up plot/characters whilst composing this.
The only reason why I have given this a 2 star review rather than 1, was the ending. I actually enjoyed the build up and the twist at the end so that was one redeeming factor. Also that this is a quick and easy read so if you want something quick to plough through you may enjoy it.
Other books read by this author:
* The Perfect Couple
* The Happy Family
* Am I Guilty?
July 17, 2023
A good cosy crime read but nowhere near as good as the author’s later, proper thrillers.
One star knocked off because I hate it when people don’t tell the police things
I loved all the stories of how a morning news show works, but felt there were too many. It was interesting how long it took for the case to be solved too i.e. about 4 months. C.f. Death in Paradise where things are solved in a couple of days! The murderer was a big surprise for me, an enjoyable one too.
Onto the next book though.
One star knocked off because I hate it when people don’t tell the police things
I loved all the stories of how a morning news show works, but felt there were too many. It was interesting how long it took for the case to be solved too i.e. about 4 months. C.f. Death in Paradise where things are solved in a couple of days! The murderer was a big surprise for me, an enjoyable one too.
Onto the next book though.
April 8, 2016
First, a big thank you to Jackie Kabler and Accent Press for providing me with an advance copy of The Dead Dog Day in return for an honest review. Also, apologies to the author for the delay in posting the review.
Story follows Cora Baxter, a TV reporter for a popular breakfast programme. Kabler, herself a former GMTV reporter, gives us a great insight into the world of breakfast TV as we follow Cora and her camera crew around the country from one location to the next as they concentrate on regional news stories which include some very early starts and some unusual locations. They say to write about what you know and I think Kabler’s past experience has given her plenty of material to write about.
When we first meet Cora, the rug has just been pulled out from under her feet (metaphorically speaking) when her boyfriend of 2 years, Justin, dumps her unceremoniously by telephone 2 days before Christmas, ruining her plans for their happy future together. Things then just go from bad to worse when, after a particularly stressful day, her much-hated boss Jeanette Kendrick is found murdered at the TV studio, making for a very uncomfortable working environment.
As handsome DI Adam Bradberry is put in charge of the investigation he faces the very difficult task of working out who killed the boss - young trainee producer Christina Evans, Cora's missing boyfriend Justin, Jeanette's partner Clancy Carter, budding director Sam, newsreader Alice Lomas etc...? Jeanette, in the couple of pages where we meet her, is instantly such a deliciously unlikeable character, so demanding and critical, that the list of suspects just keeps growing and growing! The situation also leads Cora and her colleagues to understandably begin questioning which one of them might be guilty of such an awful crime!
Cora is a great main character. She’s smart, hard-working, career-minded and a great friend. In a world of celebrities and egos, Cora seems to be a genuinely nice person. If life throws a curve ball her way, she just adjusts her stance and carries on going. The supporting cast are a varied bunch and add great dimension to the story. I particularly liked the close and supportive relationship that Cora has built up with her camera crew, Rodney, Nathan & Scott. They are constantly shoved together in close quarters and for long hours, making for an efficient and well-working crew. There is a lot of banter flying around between them and that adds a great light-hearted element to the story. Kabler has also included some great characters that the reader will love to hate in the form of Jeanette and newsreader Alice Lomas, two women who appear to be as thoroughly unpleasant as each other.
Cora’s newly re-started love life is also a point of interest in the story. After a very funny and drunken first meeting with TV star Benjamin Boland, Cora finds herself being pursued for a date, something that she finds very flattering after her recent romantic disaster. For me, Cora seemed to jump in to this new relationship very quickly bearing in mind how recently her previous relationship had ended. However, I imagine that realistically when one long term relationship ends, a lot of peole will be overly keen to regain the companionship and security that comes with a relationship. The situation is, however, somewhat complicated by the immediate chemistry between her and DI Bradberry as he continues to investigate the murder.
I liked that the book was told from a dual point of view. The majority of the story is told through Cora’s eyes, however it will flit occasionally to the killer’s viewpoint and it is interesting to read how they were perceiving the events unfolding. Hearing from the killer helped to build a feeling of suspense as, by their presence in the story, the reader can tell that things have not yet reached a conclusion. I also liked the somewhat unique angle to the story in the fact that whilst being a murder mystery, the main character (Cora) does not get stuck in with some amateur sleuthing but is happy to let the police get on with their job.
I had my suspicions throughout as to who the killer might be, although I did change my mind on a few occasions. There are so many questions raised throughout the investigation – why is Alice so upset by their boss’ death? Where has Cora’s ex-boyfriend run off too? Why is Rodney being so secretive? How much did Sam want the director’s job? Who is sending Cora messages warning her she’s in danger? Will the killer get chance to strike again? The mystery is cleverly created by Kabler and the build-up to the reveal was well done, resulting in a satisfying ending to the story.
The Dead Dog Day is a perfectly balanced mix of crime novel and rom-com. The book is well-written and the writing style is engaging and fun. I found myself immediately caught up in the story. It contained a good mix of mystery, suspense, romance and humour. Overall, this was a hugely entertaining read.
This may be a debut novel, but it did not feel that way and I am now expecting many more good things from Kabler. The Dead Dog Day is a fantastic choice for those looking for a slightly lighter crime novel – there’s little in the way of gore or ickyiness (I don’t think that’s a real word!) but there is a good story there.
I understand that this book is intended to be the first of a trio and I sincerely hope that we will be reading more about Cora Baxter in the not-to-distant future.
Story follows Cora Baxter, a TV reporter for a popular breakfast programme. Kabler, herself a former GMTV reporter, gives us a great insight into the world of breakfast TV as we follow Cora and her camera crew around the country from one location to the next as they concentrate on regional news stories which include some very early starts and some unusual locations. They say to write about what you know and I think Kabler’s past experience has given her plenty of material to write about.
When we first meet Cora, the rug has just been pulled out from under her feet (metaphorically speaking) when her boyfriend of 2 years, Justin, dumps her unceremoniously by telephone 2 days before Christmas, ruining her plans for their happy future together. Things then just go from bad to worse when, after a particularly stressful day, her much-hated boss Jeanette Kendrick is found murdered at the TV studio, making for a very uncomfortable working environment.
As handsome DI Adam Bradberry is put in charge of the investigation he faces the very difficult task of working out who killed the boss - young trainee producer Christina Evans, Cora's missing boyfriend Justin, Jeanette's partner Clancy Carter, budding director Sam, newsreader Alice Lomas etc...? Jeanette, in the couple of pages where we meet her, is instantly such a deliciously unlikeable character, so demanding and critical, that the list of suspects just keeps growing and growing! The situation also leads Cora and her colleagues to understandably begin questioning which one of them might be guilty of such an awful crime!
Cora is a great main character. She’s smart, hard-working, career-minded and a great friend. In a world of celebrities and egos, Cora seems to be a genuinely nice person. If life throws a curve ball her way, she just adjusts her stance and carries on going. The supporting cast are a varied bunch and add great dimension to the story. I particularly liked the close and supportive relationship that Cora has built up with her camera crew, Rodney, Nathan & Scott. They are constantly shoved together in close quarters and for long hours, making for an efficient and well-working crew. There is a lot of banter flying around between them and that adds a great light-hearted element to the story. Kabler has also included some great characters that the reader will love to hate in the form of Jeanette and newsreader Alice Lomas, two women who appear to be as thoroughly unpleasant as each other.
Cora’s newly re-started love life is also a point of interest in the story. After a very funny and drunken first meeting with TV star Benjamin Boland, Cora finds herself being pursued for a date, something that she finds very flattering after her recent romantic disaster. For me, Cora seemed to jump in to this new relationship very quickly bearing in mind how recently her previous relationship had ended. However, I imagine that realistically when one long term relationship ends, a lot of peole will be overly keen to regain the companionship and security that comes with a relationship. The situation is, however, somewhat complicated by the immediate chemistry between her and DI Bradberry as he continues to investigate the murder.
I liked that the book was told from a dual point of view. The majority of the story is told through Cora’s eyes, however it will flit occasionally to the killer’s viewpoint and it is interesting to read how they were perceiving the events unfolding. Hearing from the killer helped to build a feeling of suspense as, by their presence in the story, the reader can tell that things have not yet reached a conclusion. I also liked the somewhat unique angle to the story in the fact that whilst being a murder mystery, the main character (Cora) does not get stuck in with some amateur sleuthing but is happy to let the police get on with their job.
I had my suspicions throughout as to who the killer might be, although I did change my mind on a few occasions. There are so many questions raised throughout the investigation – why is Alice so upset by their boss’ death? Where has Cora’s ex-boyfriend run off too? Why is Rodney being so secretive? How much did Sam want the director’s job? Who is sending Cora messages warning her she’s in danger? Will the killer get chance to strike again? The mystery is cleverly created by Kabler and the build-up to the reveal was well done, resulting in a satisfying ending to the story.
The Dead Dog Day is a perfectly balanced mix of crime novel and rom-com. The book is well-written and the writing style is engaging and fun. I found myself immediately caught up in the story. It contained a good mix of mystery, suspense, romance and humour. Overall, this was a hugely entertaining read.
This may be a debut novel, but it did not feel that way and I am now expecting many more good things from Kabler. The Dead Dog Day is a fantastic choice for those looking for a slightly lighter crime novel – there’s little in the way of gore or ickyiness (I don’t think that’s a real word!) but there is a good story there.
I understand that this book is intended to be the first of a trio and I sincerely hope that we will be reading more about Cora Baxter in the not-to-distant future.
December 21, 2021
This is the first book I've read by Jackie Kabler but it won't be the last. I really liked the Cora Baxter character and felt like I could have been friends with all her friends. It was a really interesting insight into life as a morning TV reporter, something I have never really thought about. The storyline was surprising and the book was really hard to put down.
July 20, 2024
Jackie will always have a place in my heart there is not a single book I havent enjoyed yet. Enjoyable read. Just felt that more could of been said about the killer than the couple of snippets before it all came out who did it...plus I appreciate we needed to learn about Cora and what she does but feel it was all very much about that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2021
I love the recent Jackie Kabler books & only discovered her earlier novels by being part of her Insta Book Club.
I enjoyed this first Cora Baxter novel, but knocked stars off as it’s nowhere near as good Jackie’s later books. Looking forward to reading the next one in this series of three.
I enjoyed this first Cora Baxter novel, but knocked stars off as it’s nowhere near as good Jackie’s later books. Looking forward to reading the next one in this series of three.
August 4, 2022
Nice easy listen with a few good twists however some bits did feel a bit too obvious for me. Possibly the writers intention. Looking forward to reading the next Cora Baxter mystery, she’s a great character!
August 6, 2022
Another great book from Jackie
What a great book! Story line was great. You start on chapter one and no housework done until the end lo!! Keep them coming Jackie, really enjoying your books
What a great book! Story line was great. You start on chapter one and no housework done until the end lo!! Keep them coming Jackie, really enjoying your books
August 8, 2022
Fairly predictable
A good yarn. It took a while for the different strands to come together but once they did the outcome was predictable.
I would read another of I wanted an easy and entertaing read.
A good yarn. It took a while for the different strands to come together but once they did the outcome was predictable.
I would read another of I wanted an easy and entertaing read.
September 9, 2022
What can I say? Jackie Kabler books are always exciting and full of suspense. I never want to put them down once I start them. This is no exception. It is another one in the Cora Baxter series. I don't want to spoil it for anyone, so I'll just say, read it. You won't be sorry.
May 26, 2017
Very enjoyable. A good murder mystery with all the fun of chick lit thrown in for good measure.
January 20, 2018
One of those books you can’t put down. Storyline was good and the ending wasn’t who you expect.
March 17, 2021
Loved this book. Kept me hooked on my Daily lockdown walks. Can't wait to read the other cora baxter mysterys
December 23, 2021
Brilliant
Another terrific storey unfolds drawing you in,marvellous characters first-class plot believable characters and blurred lines every page.Very enjoyable read .regards
Another terrific storey unfolds drawing you in,marvellous characters first-class plot believable characters and blurred lines every page.Very enjoyable read .regards
January 23, 2022
gripping read!
Really good book. Had me guessing till the end and couldn’t put it down. Can’t wait to read the rest of the series
Really good book. Had me guessing till the end and couldn’t put it down. Can’t wait to read the rest of the series
June 3, 2023
Smashing
An excellent read to pass a couple of days. Not too macabre but a neck of a lot of boozing.
An excellent read to pass a couple of days. Not too macabre but a neck of a lot of boozing.
September 12, 2025
Excellent thriller, excellently written with superb characters. A very good book with a shocking twist and lots of humour
October 19, 2025
Probably a 3.5, not the best book for my 100th of the year!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews