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One murder. Two super cute animals. And a multitude of suspects. But, no-one hears me.


Hey there. Pleased to meet you. I’m Albertus Eagle. I’m now known as the Detective Beagle. I see things. And I hear more. But what’s best is that no-one suspects me of being the guy who feeds back what the humans can’t unearth.

It all started with one case.

The one where my owner, Milly was bumped off. It landed me, and the cat, otherwise known as Cleo to her friends, not that she has many, in a shelter for unwanted animals.

But, I didn’t let that stop me. Here’s my story.

Sleeping dogs don’t lie is the prequel to the Cozy Mystery series of novels starring Albertus Eagle, his two sidekicks, Cleo the cat and Bella Schuhmann, the smart human who actually understands him. In this wonderful short which is packed with humour and satire, we see the world of murder and intrigue set up through the eyes of a loyal dog turned amateur sleuth.

23 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 16, 2019

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Chloe Grace

11 books7 followers

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5 stars
123 (30%)
4 stars
110 (27%)
3 stars
92 (22%)
2 stars
47 (11%)
1 star
34 (8%)
Displaying 1 - 29 of 60 reviews
Profile Image for Belinda.
1,331 reviews238 followers
May 20, 2019
4 stars - Free English E-book 🦋🦋🦋
Lovely little read where we meet with Albertus Eagle, a smart little dog. 🐺🐺🐺
Profile Image for Cheryl .
2,415 reviews80 followers
May 26, 2019
An awesome little teaser snippet introducing us to Albertus Eagle and the start of the tale of how he became a detective beagle. I'm not a doggy person (#teamcat yay!) and I didn't think this was going to be my type of book ..... but geez I'm glad I did ..... such a fun, cute read! I look forward to reading the first book in the series.

I received a free ecopy of this short story from the author via a Bookfunnel giveaway. I have voluntarily chosen to review this book and the gifting in no way influences my review/rating, which reflects my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Belinda Vlasbaard.
3,371 reviews101 followers
July 25, 2022
4,25 stars - English

One murder. Two super cute animals. And a multitude of suspects. But, no-onr hears me.

Hey there. Pleased to meet you. I’m Albertus Eagle. I’m now known as the Detective Beagle. I see things. And I hear more. But what’s best is that no-one suspects me of being the guy who feeds back what the humans can’t unearth.
It all started with one case.

The one where my owner, Milly was bumped off. It landed me, and the cat, otherwise known as Cleo to her friends, not that she has many, in a shelter for unwanted animals.But, I didn’t let that stop me. Here’s my story.

Sleeping dogs don’t lie is the prequel to the Cozy Mystery series of novels starring Albertus Eagle, his two sidekicks, Cleo the cat and Bella Schuhmann, the smart human who actually understands him. In this wonderful short which is packed with humour and satire, we see the world of murder and intrigue set up through the eyes of a loyal dog turned amateur sleuth.

This is all told from a beagle's point of view however unfortunately it ends before you get to anything nitty-gritty. A warm style of writing that had my following the storyline with avid interest and the main character is a loveable dog, one although I must admit, that he does think rather a lot of himself.

His owner is a concert pianist and at 70 is still not only playing publicly but is still composing movie soundtracks. Her accompanying pianist is fed up with being in her shadow and can't wait for her to die.

Likewise her son and his avaricious greed are also waiting to get her money. Plus the latest movie track has her butting heads with her link to the movie. All seems well but she, her beagle and the resident cat go to bed and she dies during the night.

The first thing that happens to the animals is that they are taken to the shelter. But for a healthy woman to go to bed and die unexpectedly? That is strange.

Lovely cozy mystery.
Profile Image for Elaine - Splashes Into Books.
3,884 reviews136 followers
May 30, 2019
I had read the second book in this series before discovering this prequel to it and having thoroughly enjoyed reading it couldn't resist downloading this book and reading it, too.

This book is only 23 pages long and introduces many of the characters involved in this second book, telling about what happened with Milly, especially on the night she was murdered, and how her pets Albertus Eagle (aka Albie) and Chloe the cat met Bella. It is told from the point of view of Albie and is a fun introduction to the events and many of the characters in the second story where Albie helps guide the investigation into just what happened to Milly. . . . You don't need to read it to enjoy the second story but it was a free download and great introduction to the second story, I really enjoyed it!
Profile Image for Clemmie Jackson.
195 reviews13 followers
April 1, 2019
Short introduction to the 1st series, it held my interest where I want to read the next book
Profile Image for Frank Carver.
327 reviews6 followers
February 5, 2021
This is a very short introduction to a cozy mystery series. When I picked it up it was being offered for free as a “reader magnet” for the other books in the series. It’s written by ‘Chloe Grace’ which she freely admits is a pen name for romance author Karen Botha. She uses a different name to distinguish these books from her main writing.

This book is written in first person, which I don’t usually enjoy, but the writing style is so smooth and the character of the narrator so clear and well-developed that this one is actually a joy to read. Unusually, though, the narrator is a dog! The story describes the dog’s life in just enough detail, and also gives us his slightly slanted insights into the suspects in a murder mystery. In this case, the victim is the dog’s beloved owner. This part of the story is genuinely sad, and I really felt for the poor dog as his comfortable and familiar life was ripped away.

The mystery parfait of the story is very difficult to rate. On the one hand the setup is very nicely done - we get to watch the victim as she goes about her life, then each suspect is introduced in a natural and unforced way. There’s even some clever foreshadowing when the dog matter-of-factly reports that there are some ghosts in the dining room of people who had been poisoned some time ago. It’s all very pleasant to read.

Despite all this I was left unhappy with the book, and that’s entirely because the initial mystery is never resolved. We have been led through the whole set-up of a mystery, and then the observant narrator is ripped away, handed over to a new owner, and the story just ends. I found this deeply unsatisfying and annoying. I can understand a bit of a cliffhanger to lead readers into the next book, but to blatantly only write part of a story is a step too far for me.
Profile Image for Teresa Collins.
1,121 reviews19 followers
July 16, 2019
I really loved this short story and that's very unusual for me; I usually avoid them like the plague. However, I was looking for something quick and easy to read and this definitely fit the bill. At first, I wasn't sure about the "talking dog" part of the story, but Ms. Grace carries it off quite well. Albertus doesn't talk to just anybody and he doesn't actually "talk". It's just that somehow Bella can understand him. I really liked this plot device, plus the characters are delightful and the mystery isn't really heavy and over-done. Just what I needed.
I have seen some reviewers who seem to be put off by the fact that the story isn't "complete". But I have to say, Ms. Grace says in the synopsis that it is a "short prequel" that is continued in the first full-length novel. And that's what a prequel is supposed to do; whet the reader's appetite for the series. Now, I don't normally like a cliff-hanger or an incomplete story, but since I had fair warning going in it was fine. And since I had already picked up the next book I was ok.
I really recommend this series for lovers of cozy mysteries. it has everything a cozy needs: a murder, an amateur sleuth, a dog &/or cat, a touch of romance and an easy read.
Profile Image for Krystyna.
5,134 reviews55 followers
May 25, 2019
A cute little read

This is all told from a beagle's point of view however unfortunately it ends before you get to anything nitty-gritty. A warm style of writing that has you following the storyline with avid interest and the main character is a loveable one although I must admit that he does think rather a lot of himself.
His owner is a concert pianist and at 70 is still not only playing publicly but is still composing movie soundtracks. Her accompanying pianist is fed up with being in her shadow and can't wait for her to die. Likewise her son and his avaricious greed are also waiting to get her money. Plus the latest movie track has her butting heads with her link to the movie. All seems well but she, her beagle and the resident cat go to bed and she dies during the night. The first thing that happens to the animals is that they are taken to the shelter. But for a healthy woman to go to bed and die unexpectedly?
Profile Image for David Caldwell.
1,673 reviews35 followers
July 21, 2020
Very short

This says it is an introductory short story for the series. It isn't a story, more like the first two chapters of a book. This makes it very hard to accurately judge. I felt that I was starting to get to know the dog but I learned next to nothing about the other characters. I am guessing the first book is the real story that solves the murder that happens here (if it really is a murder). I also don't think that I got enough to judge the writing in the book. It seems okay but it would really need to show how the characters interact and how the story unfolds before I felt comfortable judging it. So giving it the benefit of the doubt, I am going with three stars.
90 reviews1 follower
May 17, 2019
An interesting beginning...

This prequel may be short but it sets the scene very nicely for the first full length cozy mystery in the series which is to follow. It enables one to get a feel for the protagonist...who just happens to be a "talking" dog and a few more key characters are introduced, along with the circumstances of the first mystery. I am looking forward to reading more of this series which will appeal particularly to animal lovers of all ages, and fans of the cozy mystery genre.
Profile Image for Short, Sweet and Cozy.
1,505 reviews
May 20, 2019
Cute novella prequel for the Albertus Eagle Detective Beagle series

This is a cute short prequel to introduce Albie the beagle and Cleo the cat. Albie lives with Milly who is a 70 year old concert pianist and Cleo the cat who he avoids. Life is good until circumstances change. This book just sets up the characters. I'm looking forward to reading the next book to find out what happens.
Profile Image for Kristen Lewendon.
8,429 reviews63 followers
July 10, 2019
Ack! I don’t want to stop there! This story is just enough of a teaser to have gotten me completely hooked. I need to know the rest of the story. NOW! Albertus Eagle is looking like quite the fascinating character; curious, smart, and loyal. A true canine hero. And as someone who’s been owned by cats, his relationship with his feline cohort rings very true to life. I’m happily looking forward to reading more about his adventures.
294 reviews13 followers
May 19, 2019
Fun storyline.

I like the dog point of view, and that his thoughts sometimes ramble on as thoughts tend to do. This novella does a good job of being entertaining while setting the stage for subsequent chapters/books. I'm looking forward to Albie's supersleuthing adventures .... and hoping Cleo gets some credit, too!
102 reviews
May 20, 2019
Very entertaining but too short!!

I am a animal lover but my pets of choice are cats. Poor Ablie and Cleo the cat cafe they lost the love of their lives, they are rushed out of their home and dumped at a homeless shelter for animals. They are so lost and confused. Then Bells comes into their lives. So the new adventure is afoot for the three of them. Can't wait!!
Profile Image for DENICE.
1,383 reviews5 followers
May 27, 2019
ALBERTUS EAGLE’S DETECTIVE BEGINNING

A very short preview narrative of a talking dog that no one understands until his mistress dies and he is sent to an animal shelter. There is a cliff-hanger to make you want to know more of what happens in this canine’s and maybe his vile cat family member’s lives.
409 reviews2 followers
June 14, 2019
Murder and loss

A happy life with a loving owner, then a horrible loss
in one night. Then dumped in a pound by a cruel greedy
son. What's to happen Albe and Cleo. Will they get adopted
by a loving person or what? Have t read book # 2 to find out.
But the dog a d cat better not die!
Debra H.
32 reviews
June 16, 2019
A short and sweet story. This book is a great introduction to the Albertus Eagle, the Detective Beagle series. It does a great job of explaining how Albie (aka Albertus) got his start as a detective. As soon as I finished it, I had to get going on the next book in the series! The story was well-written with a good plot
2 reviews
May 17, 2020
Disappointed!

It's a very slow go to even figure out who Albertus is. Why did she wrote the book? It is like life in general. We live, we die and our pets are given to the shelters. What do I want to know? What was the book about! I didn't get a connection with the dog in either case. Sorry, this was disappointment to read
1,602 reviews14 followers
May 17, 2019
Fun prequel

This is a short, fun read. The story is being told by a chatty dog. He gives us an insight into how he gets into his current life situation. This is the first work that I've read by this author and I enjoyed it.
2,259 reviews6 followers
May 17, 2019
Funny, and smart. Just this little prequel makes me think Albie is going to be quite the character. I loved his take on humans, cats, and being a dog. Makes me wonder what my cats and dogs think of me. Hmmmm.
69 reviews2 followers
May 17, 2019
Cute prequel

This was a quick read and I'm looking forward reading the series and have already pre-ordered the next 2 books. The characters of a Beagle and a cat especially appeals to me as we are Beagle owners.
Profile Image for Sharon Richmond.
1,118 reviews11 followers
May 19, 2019
This is a cute read

This is a cute read!!!

This may be just the prequel to the series to come, but I got a kick out of it. That it's written in the dogs pov is priceless. I think I'm gonna enjoy what's to come with Albie.

Profile Image for Janet Miller.
906 reviews3 followers
May 31, 2019
This was a free prequel to a new series. The writing was good and the characters were well done. The only reason I gave it 3 stars was because it was only 2 chapters long. I like the way it is told by the dog. I'm sure the full novel will get at least a 4 star rating or more. Recommended.
Profile Image for Laura.
3,205 reviews348 followers
June 8, 2019
This prequel sets the scene and introduces us to the major suspects.
An animal themed cozy mystery featuring a beagle who sometimes can't help himself from following his instincts. His sidekick, besides the humans, is a cat with typical cat attitude, but also a soft spot for HER dog.
Profile Image for Lynn.
315 reviews
June 23, 2019
I did not like this book.

Let me repeat, I did not like this book.

I realize it was a short story to fill in the back-story for the characters in a new series, and in that, it did fairly well. But I did not like the story. And the way this short story finished, I have no real desire to seek out the new series, despite liking the main character.

On paper, this book had everything going for it for me to like it: a lovable canine detective character with an owner who loved him, a set up for a murder, and a good number of suspects. And then, the story took a turn and I did not like it. All the good things that drew me in were wasted or not used to the best of their ability to advance the story. And in the end, I did not care one bit what happened to any of the characters with the exception of the dog.

The set up for the first-in-series book was not intriguing enough and I just don't care. For that I'm sorry, because I wanted to like this series. I wanted to find a new series with friendly animal characters. But alas, for me, this is not the series.
Profile Image for Barbara.
1,610 reviews22 followers
July 19, 2019
Fun

This is a new author to me and the story was a very quick read. It mainly introduces the dog and cat, as well as a few possible suspects. A fun break from the usual mystery stories I read.
460 reviews14 followers
April 28, 2020
Well written and just as the description said, this is a very short prequel to the series so you won't find out who dunnit quite yet. But the dog is sweet and I'm looking forward to how it turns out.
80 reviews
September 3, 2020
A cute short story about Albertus Eagle and his acquaintances. It was of course written from the beagles view point and somewhat adolescent. It sets the mood for the full length, which may or may not reveal the murderer.
2,873 reviews11 followers
March 20, 2022
Just an introduction to Albertus Eagle. Possibly an introduction to a mystery. But that is unclear. The story ends shortly after he finds his voice: or at least someone who seems to understand.

Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Haunting. Tragic. Twisted. Unpredictable.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 60 reviews

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