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Golden Retriever Mystery #7-9
Golden Retriever Mysteries 7-9: Honest to Dog, Dog is in the Details & Dog Knows
The 7th, 8th and 9th books in the golden retriever mystery series. (No need to read in order!)
Book 7: Honest to Dog
Semi-reformed hacker Steve Levitan and his crime-solving golden retriever Rochester need to find the truth behind his colleges friend’s mysterious death…and Steve may have to risk his freedom to do it.
When his college friend Doug moves to Stewart's Crossing after an ugly divorce, reformed computer hacker Steve Levitan sees a way to pay forward the help he received under similar circumstances. But when Doug dies under mysterious circumstances, Steve and his crime-solving golden retriever Rochester have a new Find the truth behind Doug's death, even if Steve has to risk the freedom he has fought so hard for to do it.Contains Ponzi schemers, a Quaker funeral and cute jump drives shaped like llamas.
Book 8: Dog is in the Details
As Steve teaches a class in Jewish American literature at Eastern College, he and Rochester nose out suspects and dig up clues to present-day crimes-and ones in the past which still influence the living.
In this eighth of the golden retriever mysteries, Steve explores a part of his background I hadn't looked at yet -- growing up Jewish in the Trenton suburbs. Since he has a lot in common with me (except for the whole divorce and imprisonment thing) it seemed logical that he'd share this part of my own heritage.
Years ago, I took my first golden, Samwise, to a blessing of the animals at our synagogue here in South Florida, and that seemed like a good place to start a new story, one that would lead Steve to explore his roots. A young man suffering from mental illness disrupts the blessing of the animals at the synagogue he attends, a congregation where he grew up and celebrated his bar mitzvah. This starts Steve and Rochester on their newest investigation, one that will take Steve back into the past of his family, his congregation, and the Jewish population of the city where he was born.
As Steve teaches a class in Jewish American literature, he and Rochester nose out suspects and dig up clues to present-day crimes-and ones in the past which still influence the living. From the rabbi's Talmud study group to a homeless shelter in Trenton, our two intrepid sleuths are on the trail of someone with deep secrets, and the will to kill to protect them.
Book 9: Dog Knows
When semi-reformed computer hacker Steve Levitan learns that a girl who was kind to him in high school is accused of three murders, he and his clue-sniffing golden retriever Rochester are on the case. Could sweet, ambitious Peggy Doyle be guilty of killing three husbands? Is she “The Black Widow of Birch Valley?”
When semi-reformed computer hacker Steve Levitan learns that a girl who was kind to him in high school is accused of three murders, he and his clue-sniffing golden retriever Rochester are on the case. Could sweet, ambitious Peggy Doyle be guilty of killing three husbands? Or is someone out to make it look that way?
As teens, Steve admired Peggy because of the way she fought back from a difficult childhood to travel to France and aspire to a college degree and a career as a lawyer. When he discovers she’s been addicted to drugs, danced at a strip club, and married a biker, he’s surprised. How could the girl he knew grow up to be the woman the media are calling “The Black Widow of Birch Valley?”
Can he and Rochester dig up the clues that might acquit Peggy, while avoiding the slippery slope of hacking that could cause him to lose everything he cares for? Trust Rochester to keep Steve on the straight and narrow, and bring the real killer to justice.
Book 7: Honest to Dog
Semi-reformed hacker Steve Levitan and his crime-solving golden retriever Rochester need to find the truth behind his colleges friend’s mysterious death…and Steve may have to risk his freedom to do it.
When his college friend Doug moves to Stewart's Crossing after an ugly divorce, reformed computer hacker Steve Levitan sees a way to pay forward the help he received under similar circumstances. But when Doug dies under mysterious circumstances, Steve and his crime-solving golden retriever Rochester have a new Find the truth behind Doug's death, even if Steve has to risk the freedom he has fought so hard for to do it.Contains Ponzi schemers, a Quaker funeral and cute jump drives shaped like llamas.
Book 8: Dog is in the Details
As Steve teaches a class in Jewish American literature at Eastern College, he and Rochester nose out suspects and dig up clues to present-day crimes-and ones in the past which still influence the living.
In this eighth of the golden retriever mysteries, Steve explores a part of his background I hadn't looked at yet -- growing up Jewish in the Trenton suburbs. Since he has a lot in common with me (except for the whole divorce and imprisonment thing) it seemed logical that he'd share this part of my own heritage.
Years ago, I took my first golden, Samwise, to a blessing of the animals at our synagogue here in South Florida, and that seemed like a good place to start a new story, one that would lead Steve to explore his roots. A young man suffering from mental illness disrupts the blessing of the animals at the synagogue he attends, a congregation where he grew up and celebrated his bar mitzvah. This starts Steve and Rochester on their newest investigation, one that will take Steve back into the past of his family, his congregation, and the Jewish population of the city where he was born.
As Steve teaches a class in Jewish American literature, he and Rochester nose out suspects and dig up clues to present-day crimes-and ones in the past which still influence the living. From the rabbi's Talmud study group to a homeless shelter in Trenton, our two intrepid sleuths are on the trail of someone with deep secrets, and the will to kill to protect them.
Book 9: Dog Knows
When semi-reformed computer hacker Steve Levitan learns that a girl who was kind to him in high school is accused of three murders, he and his clue-sniffing golden retriever Rochester are on the case. Could sweet, ambitious Peggy Doyle be guilty of killing three husbands? Is she “The Black Widow of Birch Valley?”
When semi-reformed computer hacker Steve Levitan learns that a girl who was kind to him in high school is accused of three murders, he and his clue-sniffing golden retriever Rochester are on the case. Could sweet, ambitious Peggy Doyle be guilty of killing three husbands? Or is someone out to make it look that way?
As teens, Steve admired Peggy because of the way she fought back from a difficult childhood to travel to France and aspire to a college degree and a career as a lawyer. When he discovers she’s been addicted to drugs, danced at a strip club, and married a biker, he’s surprised. How could the girl he knew grow up to be the woman the media are calling “The Black Widow of Birch Valley?”
Can he and Rochester dig up the clues that might acquit Peggy, while avoiding the slippery slope of hacking that could cause him to lose everything he cares for? Trust Rochester to keep Steve on the straight and narrow, and bring the real killer to justice.
494 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 9, 2020
202 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Neil S. Plakcy
244 books651 followersI have been a voracious reader all my life, mostly in mystery, romance, and science fiction/fantasy, though a college degree in English did push a lot of literary works into my list of favorites.
Quick note: sign up for my newsletter at plakcy.substack.com to get free prologues, epilogues and short stories.
I began writing seriously in high school after an inspiring assignment with A Separate Peace by John Knowles. I didn't know I was gay then, but I knew I was longing for an emotional connection with a best friend. That desire shows up across my writing, from romance to mystery to adventure. I am lucky to have found my special person, and I want to inspire readers to make those connections, to one person or a found family.
It took getting an MFA in creative writing to kick-start my career. That's where I honed my technical skills and began to understand what kind of storyteller I am.
I remember reading Freddie the Detective about a very smart pig inspired by Sherlock Holmes. I’ve always believed that dogs make the best detectives. They notice what humans miss — a faint scent, a subtle shift in body language, the hidden treat in your pocket. That belief inspired my Golden Retriever Mysteries, where Rochester helps his human, Steve Levitan, nose out the truth.
My passion is telling stories where community, loyalty, and sometimes love solve problems just as much as clues do. Whether it’s a cozy mystery in Bucks County, a thriller on the streets of Miami, or a romance unfolding under the Mediterranean sun, I want readers to feel the heartbeat of the place and the people.
I write because stories helped me feel less alone growing up, and now I want to give readers that same feeling: a companion, a puzzle, and maybe a laugh.
When I’m not writing, I’m probably walking one of my own goldens, teaching writing, or daydreaming about my next story.
Since then I've written dozens of books, won a couple of treasured awards, and enjoyed the support of readers.
Every place I’ve lived has made its way into my fiction: the rolling hills of Bucks County, the neon heat of Miami, the beaches of Hawaii, the cobbled streets of Europe. I love exploring how communities work — from a café where dogs guide healing, to a fraternity house in South Beach, to a police unit in Honolulu.
My goal is simple: to write stories that feel grounded in real people and real places, but with enough twists, romance, or danger to keep you turning pages late into the night.
I hope you'll visit my website, where you can sign up for my occasional newsletter, and also follow my author page on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/neil.plakcy.
Quick note: sign up for my newsletter at plakcy.substack.com to get free prologues, epilogues and short stories.
I began writing seriously in high school after an inspiring assignment with A Separate Peace by John Knowles. I didn't know I was gay then, but I knew I was longing for an emotional connection with a best friend. That desire shows up across my writing, from romance to mystery to adventure. I am lucky to have found my special person, and I want to inspire readers to make those connections, to one person or a found family.
It took getting an MFA in creative writing to kick-start my career. That's where I honed my technical skills and began to understand what kind of storyteller I am.
I remember reading Freddie the Detective about a very smart pig inspired by Sherlock Holmes. I’ve always believed that dogs make the best detectives. They notice what humans miss — a faint scent, a subtle shift in body language, the hidden treat in your pocket. That belief inspired my Golden Retriever Mysteries, where Rochester helps his human, Steve Levitan, nose out the truth.
My passion is telling stories where community, loyalty, and sometimes love solve problems just as much as clues do. Whether it’s a cozy mystery in Bucks County, a thriller on the streets of Miami, or a romance unfolding under the Mediterranean sun, I want readers to feel the heartbeat of the place and the people.
I write because stories helped me feel less alone growing up, and now I want to give readers that same feeling: a companion, a puzzle, and maybe a laugh.
When I’m not writing, I’m probably walking one of my own goldens, teaching writing, or daydreaming about my next story.
Since then I've written dozens of books, won a couple of treasured awards, and enjoyed the support of readers.
Every place I’ve lived has made its way into my fiction: the rolling hills of Bucks County, the neon heat of Miami, the beaches of Hawaii, the cobbled streets of Europe. I love exploring how communities work — from a café where dogs guide healing, to a fraternity house in South Beach, to a police unit in Honolulu.
My goal is simple: to write stories that feel grounded in real people and real places, but with enough twists, romance, or danger to keep you turning pages late into the night.
I hope you'll visit my website, where you can sign up for my occasional newsletter, and also follow my author page on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/neil.plakcy.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 24, 2022
Plakcy is an excellent author, and not only of cozy mysteries. I also loved the MAHU series. The Golden Retriever series is simply an entertaining, fun read with serious undertones that cause the reader to think (religion, academia, socioeconomic statuses, etc.) without hammering her over the head. It's very seldom I read more than two or three of a series, but the Golden Retriever series is worth it.
These three avoid a five-star rating purely because they're not as tightly edited and punctuated as most. When I read a story about an English professor - even adjunct - who teaches at a select college, I expect that character's narrative to be well-written and punctuated. In fact, in the first six books, I noticed the excellence. Not so in this set. It's not atrocious, but it is noticeable, particularly in Book 8.
These three avoid a five-star rating purely because they're not as tightly edited and punctuated as most. When I read a story about an English professor - even adjunct - who teaches at a select college, I expect that character's narrative to be well-written and punctuated. In fact, in the first six books, I noticed the excellence. Not so in this set. It's not atrocious, but it is noticeable, particularly in Book 8.
April 15, 2021
Great Stories
I was drawn to these cozy mysteries because they feature a Golden Retriever, my favorite breed. The characters are easily likeable and realistic.
In addition to the mysteries, these books also provide insight into the Jewish faith with history, culture, customs and language, and also background from Trenton, NJ and the ethnic enclaves of immigrants.
I only gave these books a rating of 4 because the editing isn't quite up to par, which I find distracting.
But worth the read, definitely!
I was drawn to these cozy mysteries because they feature a Golden Retriever, my favorite breed. The characters are easily likeable and realistic.
In addition to the mysteries, these books also provide insight into the Jewish faith with history, culture, customs and language, and also background from Trenton, NJ and the ethnic enclaves of immigrants.
I only gave these books a rating of 4 because the editing isn't quite up to par, which I find distracting.
But worth the read, definitely!
July 20, 2023
This book is a continuation of the previous books (Books 1 - 6). I absolutely loved the first 6 books so I knew I would feel the same about books 7 - 9. The stories were about how Steve and Rochester found each other and the escapades they get involved in. And boy do they get involved!!
I really loved every book in this set and hope the stories will continue for some time.
Thank you Neil S. Plakcy
I really loved every book in this set and hope the stories will continue for some time.
Thank you Neil S. Plakcy
September 4, 2020
Excellent story line with suspense , humor
Loved the well rounded characters and suspense. Kept me guessing until the very end. I was however very disappointed to see numerous grammatical errors throughout the book.
Loved the well rounded characters and suspense. Kept me guessing until the very end. I was however very disappointed to see numerous grammatical errors throughout the book.
August 21, 2021
Three dog tales in a row
Rochester isn’t quite the sleuth depicted, maybe; but, he comes up with some really good suggestions. His best friend, so motivated to solve puzzles, is the real hero. Thanks for some great reading.
Rochester isn’t quite the sleuth depicted, maybe; but, he comes up with some really good suggestions. His best friend, so motivated to solve puzzles, is the real hero. Thanks for some great reading.
August 20, 2024
Enjoyed the whole series
Once again, Rochester helps solve a mystery and everyone lives to see another day. I wish there were more books in the Golden Retriever Mysteries series as I really enjoyed these stories!
Once again, Rochester helps solve a mystery and everyone lives to see another day. I wish there were more books in the Golden Retriever Mysteries series as I really enjoyed these stories!
August 20, 2020
Just one thing that bugged me is when he says Rochester rolled over on his belly for a belly rub. Excuse me but he would have to roll over on his back to get a belly rub.
November 23, 2020
It Ended too Soon
I love books with dogs as the "main" character. This series did NOT disappoint. I am happy to recommend Neil Plakcy's work to anyone who loves dogs.
I love books with dogs as the "main" character. This series did NOT disappoint. I am happy to recommend Neil Plakcy's work to anyone who loves dogs.
January 14, 2021
Love this series!
April 29, 2021
Good books
I enjoyed reading these books and I think that everybody else will to. Good pot and All around good story
I enjoyed reading these books and I think that everybody else will to. Good pot and All around good story
August 30, 2021
Cute series, clever plots. A bit repetitive with references to previous books, annoying, but those parts are easily skimmed through.
February 20, 2022
Enjoyed the series!
Great storyline and characters! Rochester the golden retriever is a super sleuth who helps his master solve crimes. I enjoyed the plot lines for each book.
Great storyline and characters! Rochester the golden retriever is a super sleuth who helps his master solve crimes. I enjoyed the plot lines for each book.
March 13, 2022
Loved it ! The series
January 11, 2025
good story
Nice to see lead characters evolve. The stories continue to keep me interested. Will continue in the series recommend the book.
Nice to see lead characters evolve. The stories continue to keep me interested. Will continue in the series recommend the book.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews